So, I took half a day off work to sit in a courtroom, just to be told by a judge that {in menacing tone} “no, I can’t lower your traffic ticket fine, but I can certainly make it go up.” I don’t really know why taking a late-yellow left hand turn is so bad that it costs me $450, particularly in light of the fact that crossing a freeway median while talking on one’s cell phone costs only $245, and driving the wrong way on a one-way street costs about $215. I was denied a payment plan, denied the opportunity to talk about how I’ve tried (really) to be a better driver these past two years, denied anything but an extra 30 days to come up with the money (and I get to take another 1/2 day of work off for the privilege of going back to court.)

Uh oh, they’ve come. They’re finally here. The Weird Winter Blues.

Which is a total coinkidink, because: Today’s Hambox Advent Window for December 23rd is: Weird Winter Blues! Maybe, for you, it’s that last minute trip to the Target Hellhole; the sound of your Druncles revving their boozy holiday engines; that sudden, horrible knowledge that Christmas will never be like the Christmas you remember when you were seven. Suddenly, it’s all too much. During the small, quiet calm before the storm, a little whiff of Sad breezes in the door. Sits at your kitchen table and eats all the cookies. Steals the covers. Leaves the wet towels on the floor.

Oh, it’ll pass through quickly enough. But I invite you to wallow, just for a bit, in the Weird Winter Wistful mode. I’m here already, keeping a seat warm and somewhat dry for you.

NOTE: There are some broken links on today’s calendar. Check back after 4pm PST when they will be fixed and awesome. Sigh.

Please walk, quietly and in single file, to the Calendar.