SantaLand Diaries

On December 11, we braved the snowstorm to see a stage adaptation of David Sedaris' SantaLand Diaries, which details Sedaris' stint as an elf at Macy's SantaLand. It was an o.k. performance. Just o.k. It made me laugh, and I was thrilled to support local theater. But I'm so accustomed to Sedaris' delivery from This American Life that nothing else measures up. His cadence and tone are so distinctive. They're snarky, yet deadpan; sarcastic, yet insightful. 

My favorite part is the scene where a child is throwing a tantrum at SantaLand. His mother informs him that if he doesn't behave, Santa will bring him coal for Christmas. The child's tantrum continues, unabated, and the mother asks Crumpet (Sedaris' elf alter ego) to support her in her coal argument. But Crumpet has had enough. He tells the child that Santa no longer traffics in coal. Instead, St. Nick is going to invade the child's home and strip it of all worldly possessions. Crumpet tells him: He'll take your TV and all other major appliances. He'll steal your furniture and your food. You'll be left shivering in an empty, cold house all alone.

Because of the storm, everyone in our party headed home after the play ended. Jason and I weren't ready for bed, though, so--after I'd made my requisite annual snow angel--we walked along the lake. The lake was cloaked in fog, and it, along with the icy variations on gray and white, made me feel like I was caught in a Victorian novel.

We looped around and somehow ended up at the Harmony's doorstep. (How'd that happen? :)) Our faces and clothes were crusted with snow, so upon entering, we After I'd repaired my running mascara a bit with some napkins from the bar, we settled in for a drink. We had the bar nearly to ourselves, excepting 5 or 6 people who lived within walking distance of the joint. Because it was so empty, we got to chat with the bartender about travel and a whole host of other things. We left after a few because everyone else had filtered out, and we didn't want to keep the bartender there just for us.

After we got home, we ordered pizza and watched The Man Who Came to Dinner (1942 with Ann Sheridan, Bette Davis, Monty Woolley, Jimmy Durante) until we finally dozed off.