Unbelievably, a friend of mine is one of those residents!

I'll admit that I laughed at first during our series of text messages that went something like:

"Evicted."

"Evicted? You?"

"Whole building. Illegal matzo factory in basement. Swear to g-d."

Because, really, how often do you get a text message like that? But, as I've heard how the day has unfolded for her, with zero new information, no clue how to proceed and so this a weird forced limbo, well, it is pretty horrible for her to say the least.

Now I feel like a jag for complaining about the sketchy hot water in my building.

There is a church near my apartment building that posted on the marquee: "Pray for a good harvest, but keep on hoeing." Naturally, someone stole the "e" in "hoeing". 

Soccer, relax.

David,

Seems like you want to direct your comment to the organization. If you'll notice in the post, I was quoting their copy. 

This is a great post, Tamar, one that raises thoughts I often have myself. I don't have answers, really, but it's a good issue to personally consider and revisit often, I feel. LifeHack ran a post yesterday about transforming widely-celebrated holidays that you don't personally observe (days that most places are closed for business and you have no choice but to slow down for at least on some level) days of personal productivity, catching up on household stuff, email, lists, etc. Eh, it's a option.

http://www.lifehack.org/articles/productivity/5-things-to-do-if-you-arent-celebrating-christmas.html 

Jonathan, I enjoyed your comment, btw.

You make a great point, but we aren't limited to fighting one thing. I'm the first to say we should all pick out battles, but I also think that if something bothers us, we should ask ourselves why, and then act accordingly. I don't think writing a letter and asking someone to think outside of social majorities for a moment is a waste. 

Jonathan, fabulous! Thanks for sending it along. 

Tamar, darling, Mazal Tov for giving us, your devoted fans, a year of insightful, intelligent and wonderful postings.

(Remind me to tell you, one of these days, about the Chanukiot I made out of tampons once. So wrong it was right.)

Isn't that funny re: the tree business, Anon? A similar thing happened here in Chicago. A lot of Christian holidays have such glaringly obvious pagan roots, but say that out loud and it's on. Silly if you ask me. I don't see the harm in admitting the root of anything.

Right??