Leno

So you know I'm not much of a shopper. I know, weird, huh? But really, I'm not. Except when it comes to the "after Christmas" sales. I have a bit of a compulsion when it comes to the day after Christmas. It involves all the Christmas related decorations. Years ago I discovered that amazing deals can be had on all sorts of holiday decor. Boxes of ornaments for a buck. Tree skirts for a song. Ninety-nine cent Nativity pieces? You betcha. (So what if they are missing one of the Wise Men and the Baby Jesus?) But it doesn't really matter to me if the decorations are complete or even particularly attractive. It's the DEALS I'm after, naturally. So while the rest of you are out shopping the sales for clothes and electronics, you can be sure I'll be at the great Wall, up to my eyeballs in twinkle lights and gaudy lawn ornaments.

One of my recent (and let's just say it, not lovely) holiday purchases was the word "NOEL" carved out of granite. (It was like 2 bucks!) After I had put up most of our decorations, and after the kids had gone to bed, I pulled out NOEL and kind of slapped it up on the window ledge above our fireplace, thinking that I would find a better home for it some other time. In the morning I walked downstairs and laughed out loud:

It was the work of our Jos. When questioned, apparently she wasn't familiar with either Noel or Leno and didn't appreciate my laughter.

p.s. Last night we were singing Christmas songs as a family and during "The First Noel" I distinctly heard her sing "Oh, Well...Oh, Well" during the "Noel....Noel" part. I guess that explains her lack of familiarity with the word.

p.p.s She's already broken the L and the N.