Santa Claus Has Arrived!

It's a little ridiculous, considering we're still two weeks out til Thanksgiving, but Santa Claus has arrived in Grand Rapids.

How do I know? Because my son, James, and his pals in the Jazz Band played a bunch of jazzy Christmas songs at the Mall when he came cruising in. (I wasn't aware that Santa had a red Lexus convertible, but he does!)

For all the time we've been in this city, we've never bothered to go down to the Mall to see Santa come in to begin his stint in the "Sit On Santa's Lap" exhibit. Our kids were never taught that there was a magical Santa Claus who brought toys at Christmastime -- there were too many logical inconsistencies with that story, regardless of what the Christmas specials say -- so there was really no point, other than to walk past and marvel at the patience required to put up with all those little kids and their innocently selfish desires.

Actually, over the past few years, we haven't bothered to go to the Mall much at all. We're not into crowds. We don't like cruising through parking lots looking for open slots. And there are other stores nearer to the house which offer better deals on the merchandise.

But, for the sake of our son and his Jazz Band, we'll go see Santa. We'll even walk through the Mall as the band marches and plays their escorting tunes for dear Kris Kringle. And we might even stop by the jewelry store to have Cheryl's rings cleaned.

But as soon as possible, we're out of there and heading home.

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What Is It?

I've started yet another crazy wood project. It's a bit bigger than the other one, in the vertical sense, so that might make it's purpose more evident.

What do you think it is?