After I opted out of the company after-Christmas holiday party, Candace texted to inform me that I was missing out on free candles. Damn it!

She snuck back to the party and nabbed these:

Not pictured: The candle I have burning in the living room right now. Thanks Candace!

(Approximate value: $17.00)

“But I don’t want to ride Santa, Mommy!”

(My pic taken in a local pancake house.)

I am alone in the world, and yet not alone

enough

to make each hour holy.

I am lowly in this world, and yet not lowly

enough

for me just to be a thing to you,

dark and shrewd.

I want my will and I want to go with my will

as it moves towards action.

And I want, in those silent,

somehow faltering times,

to be with someone who knows,

or else alone.

I want to reflect everything about you,

and I never want to be too blind or too ancient

to keep your profound wavering image with me.

I want to unfold.

I don’t want to be folded anywhere,

because there,

where I’m folded,

I am a lie.

—Rainer Maria Rilke

Recently, I was shopping at a newly opened Save-A-Lot. It was much better than the dinky, ghetto strip mall one by my house. It was well-lit, with wide aisles and more than one cashier!

I had a coupon to save $5 when I spent $20 (click here to print), so I was trolling for groceries cheaper than Walmart’s prices.

Lo and behold the humble turnip. My Walmart doesn’t even sell them. I don’t think I’ve ever eaten them, so I picked up a couple to give ‘em a spin.

Tonight, I peeled and boiled them, then tossed them with butter, salt and pepper. They were like potatoes but waxier. They had a more rooty, earthy flavor, too. Yum.

But this picture is just flipping funny.

No, don’t hurt the puppy!

I knew I hated Circuit City for a good reason!