'Cause Baby, it's Cold Outside!

Damnit, winter has found us. I was sure that maybe, just maybe, this year we would squeek by with some disproportionately cold days - but still not REALLY need the long underwear. Alas, somebody did not knock on the proverbial wood, and we're at minus twenty with an ethereal frost fog surrounding us.

There are certain signs that Mr. Almost Poshlust and I have come to rely on that tell us that yes, it really is cold. For instance, it is not just the tennants of our building that walk by the boiler room and spit at the door, the building manager is now down there banging around with his wrench. Our cats switch from sleeping near the radiators to snarling over who gets to sleep under or on top of them. The seventies styled couple that live across the alley switch from their summery Adidas track jackets to their long fur lined pimp coats, and the number of animal rights posters in our area diminish to a tolerable level as all the sign wavers tuck in under sable blankets.* (*this statement refers to an admirably low number of home-made-mayonaisers, but by god, they are out there!) Let me tell you, all the signs were there this morning as the street grater rumbled and shrieked by at 3:30 this morning. It's cold, and by the prophesizing of our somewhat annoying fake British forecaster.. it's going to stay that way.

Our tree is finally up and lit and decorated somewhat artfully, and we're dutifully watering it within an inch of it's life, afraid that it will lose all it's needles and I'll have a minor obsessive compulsive attack with the vacuum cleaning.. not so very Christmas. Actually, to be perfectly honest, it was Mr. Almost Poshlust who had to shove himself under the tree last night, improperly clad, to check if it had enough water. What love does to a man still amazes me. We'll (he'll) take some pictures and put them up ASAP. We're going to my almost sister in law's birthday this evening, so it will probably be tomorrow before we put them up.

Camote and I spent Monday Christmas shopping all over the city, with a huge list in hand. I think we covered every single direction of the city, with the exception of maybe East. I've got most of my shopping done, with only Mr. Almost Poshlust's brother and girlfriend left. I've got one present left to get for Mr. Almost Poshlust as well, but I'm going to need some expert advice that I can't get until Friday, so I'll have to wait until then. Overall, I finished pretty early this year, I even took my family their gifts in October when we went to India.. so overall, I say I'm freakin' set! The only thing left is Christmas cards, and I started on those last night. So we're on a roll.

Alright, it's cold in the living room and even the cats have left to find warmer climes. (ie- around the oven I have turned on.) The perils of living in a "character" building are never ending. Like the crack going up our kitchen ceiling that looks like maybe it might just shear off and leave us sans refridgerator. *smile* Thus is life in a walk-up! Stay warm everyone, much love!