“Rudolph, with your nose so bright… couldn’t you have at least found me a Howard Johnson’s that’s open all night?”
Belated tip of the kerchief and cap to WiQ 2.0 for the anonymous email forward.
An “augmented” traditional artificial Christmas tree designed to remind celebrants who the holiday’s all about (for $199.99).
The lapsed Catholic in me can only sigh and say, “Oh, Jesus,” still confident that the Nativity set/Créche double-team in homes throughout the world handles the reminding just fine.

The CHRIST-mas Tree I. (Image © Boss Creations)
Mach II features an “All new design with an illuminated cross feature”… for $399.99. Heavens.
Because if it’s on the Internet, it must be free for the taking.
(Image: Lifted from MSNBC.com)
You see, Mrs. Walker, this is quite an opportunity for me. For the past 50 years or so I’ve been getting more and more worried about Christmas. Seems we’re all so busy trying to beat the other fellow in making things go faster and look shinier and cost less that Christmas and I are sort of getting lost in the shuffle.
Mint and sugar overdose in progress. Missing Marshall Field’s for the holidays in Chicago. Macy’s just doesn’t cut it.
More music in heavy memory rotation during the holidays…
1965 — 1959 — 1963
In heavy memory rotation during the holidays…
1963 — 1963 — 1962
© John Darkow - The Columbia Daily Tribune (via)