Christmas...?

Beautiful, sunny, temperate Los Angeles, California--Center to the entertainment industry, sprawling metropolis, home to many a celebrity, and my new stomping grounds. Park LaBrea with its diligent grounds crew, overflowing fountains, and majestic palm trees. The Hollywood hills as they appear today, crisp and clear and glowing in the Southern California sunlight after an evening rain. The shades in my office swaying back and forth from the breeze coming in through my open window and the salty ocean smell that wafts in with it. Opening my sun roof on the way to work as I drive past the Palazzo, new home to "LC" from Laguna Beach. ARE YOU FUCKING KIDDING ME?!?! Not that I don't enjoy sending evil text messages to my counterparts in New England with photos of the beach, me in a t-shirt, or my view of the Hollywood sign with a comment something like "75 and sunny," but come ON! It's December here people. All this beauty has left me in a state of confusion about the holiday season in general. It's no wonder I couldn't force myself to buy my ticket to go visit family for the HOLIDAYS until a week and a half ago...It's 75 and sunny...and most decidedly NOT Christmas. Has anyone else witnessed the palm trees decorated with Christmas lights? PALM TREES! Or that strange feeling that you've crossed into a parallel universe when you go to The Grove and are emersed in Christmas trees, white lights, garland, those really big ass ball shaped ornaments, elves, Holiday signage in all the stores, and holiday sales?! It's that feeling that has prevented me from going shopping at all--for any reason. Whether it be toilet paper, cleaning supplies, food, or God forbid, a Christmas present, I just can't get past the feeling that some secret puppetmaster is playing a huge joke on me. Either that or I'm the main character in some ridiculous video game--that he's probably playing on his damn cell phone--trying to get at the heart of the Christmas spirit. I can just imagine him, sitting there laughing... "I'll just put up a bunch of tacky decorations, make these retail establishments mark down some prices, start selling pine trees, and THEN these stupid LA people will think it's Christmas." Well puppetmaster--you can't fool me. It's 75 and sunny. Christmas in Los Angeles? Boo to that shit.