It's not just a case of raining on other people's parades... Some people really get off on torrential downpouring on other people's parades. You can count on there being soggy wet blanket parade soaking bullies everywhere throwing thunderbolts of spite the more sparkling and glorious your floats, the more horses that you have, and the better your route looks. And that is because they mistakenly think that you have a parade and they don't. So, if you have a parade, (and of course you do, now don't you?) I would just like to say that I really love what you've done with it. I know it wasn't easy, and that you had a lot of decisions to make and a lot of work to do to make it happen. And I hope that it takes you far, and that it continues to be a source of joy and inspiration for you and everyone who sees it. It is an abundant world that has so many opportunities for parades in it. My parade is no less and no more remarkable than your parade. We can all get a high stepping, baton twirling kick out of each other's marching bands. Have confidence in your own parade, and let it be what it is. Keep working. Keep doing. Keep thinking. Keep splashing through.

I'm thinking about writing an article during the next week or so, and I need some help collecting some anecdotal evidence that supports my theme. As an experiment, I am looking to my zaadzy friends and cohorts for some thoughtful participation in that process. I am happy to quote (with attribution to your first name, occupation or city depending on which is most relevant) or change names completely and make some composites if you don't want to be identified... and you can send thoughts to me in email if you prefer that to posting comments. I'm hoping that you will treat this post as an opportunity for a kind of mini-interview to explore your own stories and reflections on the topic. Here goes: There seem to be two visions of the holidays being bandied about in the media these days. The first is of beautiful table settings and grand feasts with lots of smiling family members sitting around the table in reindeer sweaters. The second is of harried and irritated, over eating, stressed out folks struggling to figure out the timing of the bird, get the shopping done or stampeding for game boxes. As a person with a strong interest in what it takes to live happy balanced lives, I can't help but wonder if these are both extremes that have little to do with the reality of the whole holiday scene for most folks. My premise is that most of us have a bunch of helpful techniques that we use to step back from the brink of getting angry or upset many times during the holidays, and that the holiday season represents an annual opportunity for practicing patience with our families, strangers and acquaintances. Are you excited about the holidays or wigging out? or somewhere in between? I would really like to know what you have planned, what you intend to do and what you expect from the holidays. Do you go nuts? or do you go with the flow? or a little of both? How do you go about making decisions -- about where to go and what to do? Do you try to do it all, or do you pick and choose? What is that decision making process like for you? I am interested in identifying some helpful and healthy patterns for those who may be trying to take on too much this holiday season or who might have family concerns that are not likely to produce a picture perfect William Sonoma experience. How can you get the most out of the holiday experience even so. What do you find are the "trigger points" that signal trouble and that get you to ease back into the enjoyable holiday mode vs. the crazy too much of a good thing gone wrong mode? What holiday survival tips would recommend to a good friend who is about to lose it? Do you have a story of a funny holiday fiasco? And what counts as "normal" holiday antics in your family? What works for you? :-)

Blog not... Blog not... Blog knot. Aaaaargh! a variation on good old writer's block.... Which is silly because I've been on a creative razzle recently.... so what's wrong here? I got nothing to say to Zaadz today at all. Sorry folks. Maybe next time.