Don’t Call It A Comeback
The first of November marks the start of Tiny Secret Festive Season, and if you don’t know what Tiny Secret Festive season is, that’s because it’s something I made up back in 2019. I created the season to combat the subset of people who have things going on in their lives that make them mildly hostile to those people who find joy in early celebrations of the upcoming holiday season. I find it hard to believe that anyone is suffering harm or hurt from another person, say, taking advantage of mild temperatures to string up holiday lights, or grooving along to Last Christmas, or setting up their Christmas villages, but lo, there are many people who DO think this way, who DO think that November 1st is too “early” to be feeling festive.
And after one too many people telling me that it is disrespectful to think about Christmas before Remembrance Day, I took it upon myself to find joy in tiny, secret ways. No one can call you out for Tiny Secret Festive Season, because it’s tiny! And secret! And oh, so very festive.
For me this year, I am celebrating Tiny Secret Festive Season by wearing my Christmas bracelet and washing my hands with festive-scented soap, by practicing my Charlie Brown Christmas music on the piano and setting out my holiday tea towels, by drinking my coffee in Buddy the Elf mugs and using Vanilla Candy Cane foot cream. It brings me a little burst of happiness every time I see or think of any of those things, and if those are somehow disrespectful or harming someone, SO BE IT. I encourage everyone to celebrate Tiny Secret Festive Season! The more joy, the better.
Soap On The Water
Speaking of soap, I had an odd interaction at Superstore a few weeks ago, which feels like an evergreen comment. I ALWAYS have odd interactions at Superstore. The same day of the Soap Incident, I was in the pharmacy aisle looking for Advil, when a woman came up to me and started talking in a very upset way about the store renovations. And this is where I will say that I get it, I really do, when a supermarket is going through renovations, all is chaos. Who even can say where anything is anymore? I have spent many minutes just standing and staring around me, trying to figure out where, for example, is the hand cream or toilet paper. Anyway, this woman was complaining to me, because I have a face that says please tell me everything, I am desperate to listen, about the renovations, and she reached out and grabbed my arm. The cat food is now where Housewares used to be. Then she gestured in the general direction before saying, with INTENSE eye contact, That’s where you need to get your cat food now. And litter.
Okay! Noted. Not needed, but noted.
Anyway, back to the Soap Incident. I had finally located the aisle where the liquid soap is displayed, and I was looking at all the different kinds and scents, when a woman came up to me and started talking about the high price of liquid soap. And she was not wrong, the little “T” for tariffs on the display really do explain a lot. She was trying to do the per-100mL math on which bottle was the best deal, and I am good at math so I helped her, at which point she grabbed the remaining three bottles of cheap soap and put one in my cart. There you go! she said cheerfully.
We stood looking at each other, me with an unwanted item in my cart and in a strangely awkward situation. I am VERY fussy about hand soap, since I wash my hands a thousand times a day. I am fussy about scent and about moisturization, and I did not want this bargain soap. But the woman was beaming at me, so I did what anyone would do. I thanked her, pretended to look at something else, and then swapped it out when she had left the aisle.
It’s tradition for me to Buy Three Get Three Free holiday soaps at Bath and Body Works, but I am really trying to reduce my plastic consumption, so I’m using these bottles and refilling them. The white bottle and the bar soap were hostess gifts from last year’s holiday open house, and the other one was a Superstore buy. How could I possibly resist?
Hello Darkness My Old Friend
Speaking of gnomes, I brought a few small light-up ones out for the season.
Because look at when the sun sets now.
I have had a grievance with time change for decades now, as you are all well aware. And listen, it’s Canada. We just don’t get a lot of daylight from November to January. That said, as of yesterday the sun sets at 4:32 pm and a month from now, it will set BEFORE FOUR O’CLOCK. Having dusk start at 3:00 pm is really quite grim, so light-up gnomes are much needed.
Weekly Reading
The Joy Luck Club. I first read this in 2017, but honestly didn’t remember much except for the abandoned twin babies and the disastrous piano recital. I picked it up again because of my friend Engie‘s book club (HI ENGIE) – and it was even better than I remembered. I love this look at the complicated, often fraught, mother-daughter relationship, shown through four Chinese-born mothers and their American-born daughters. It’s beautiful and moving and shocking and wrenching and, ultimately, very satisfying.
The Favorites. I have a HARD time not writing Favourites. Anyway. ICE DANCE DRAMA! I love watching ice dance – remember Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir? National treasures. This book explores the wild world of ice dance through the eyes of a scrappy heroine who comes from nothing to be an Olympic ice dancer – BUT AT WHAT COST? You’ll have to read it to find out. Lots of drama, romance, intrigue, and SABOTAGE, as well as a nice redemption arc to discover what “winning” really means. It’s written in the style of a documentary, with interviews and also first person narration, which makes for a very fun and dishy read.
Since we are in the season, who would like to exchange holiday cards? Note that I say “exchange,” I only want to send one out if I’m going to get one back, hashtag holiday spirit. If we exchanged last year – or 2023, I give grace because of the postal strike – then you are already on my list, no need to respond! But if you’d like to be added, please let me know by the end of the week, November 7th. Send me an email with your address and we can be festive pen pals! Happy Tiny Secret Festive Season, friends! xo
Happiest tiny secret festive season to you, friend… it feels so warm and delicious to even read about it <3
Thank you, dear sweet friend! xo
Happy Tine Secret Festive Season!!! You know I’m here for it. Here in the US it’s kind of annoying that Thanksgiving is so late. In the past, I’ve always waited to start Christmas until Thanksgiving is over, but I’m going to relax that rule from now on. Christmas is the best, and the season is short enough as it is- why not make the most of it.
On a different note… shudder. I would have a really hard time making it through a Canadian winter. I need as much sunlight as possible (which, of course, is why I moved to Florida.) Light up gnomes wouldn’t do it for me… unless there was one GIANT light up gnome that could tower over me, like the sun. Hmm, that’s getting kind of weird.
I’m pretty sure we already exchange Christmas cards!
I am just picturing the giant light-up gnome towering over you, and I LIKE THIS PICTURE. Maybe this is what we all need in our lives!
Yes! You are on my card list!
I am not feeling Christmassy this early, but you do you. Maybe I would if I lived somewhere where it gets dark at 4. Here the leaves haven’t even peaked yet (almost but not quite) so it still feels like fall. I hope the light-up gnomes bring you joy.
Speaking of joy, I read the Joy Luck Club quite a long time ago (90s?) so I don’t remember it too well, but I did like it. Maybe I will re-read it some day.
Steph, I really loved The Joy Luck Club, and I remembered almost nothing from the first time I read it! So maybe it will be a fresh new read to you too (and I read it in 2017! Not that long ago!)
Well, my daughter has been BLASTING Christmas music since November 1st, she deep cleaned her room and set up all her Christmas decorations (over a series of hours; I will text you pictures) and she is DYING to put up the tree. I’m not sure how long I’ll be able to hold her off.
I love the idea of Tiny Festive Season and want to copy this! It does feel a bit early to really deep dive into Christmas decor (for me, not for her), but I think doing one festive thing each day these first few weeks of November sounds perfect.
Today might be lighting candles at dinner for the first time because, like you, the dratted time change means we are not eating supper IN THE DARK. Which I don’t actually hate…
I am on your card list; as you know I am being a Scrooge and not ordering a photocard this year, but you know what my kids and I look like so just imagine that when you get a pre-fab Christmas card.
I feel at one with your daughter! Right now, she’s like “what’s that weird feeling, like some kind of crazy woman across the country is beaming warm Christmas lights at me.”
Yes you are 100% on my card list AND YOU ALWAYS WILL BE!
Sometimes I wonder about how there are so many people in this world going about their days thinking exactly the opposite about everything. I was so relieved that when I got back from a weekend away doing seriously depressing things that my husband had put away all the Halloween and fall decorations. Whew! I thought, I don’t have to worry about seasonal things FOR ANOTHER MONTH. And here you are reminding me that I should order holiday cards and an advent calendar and do all prep things. But, EVEN MORE, you are ENJOYING IT, while I will be upset about the sheer drudgery of it all.
Speaking of drudgery, I found the Joy Luck Club to be such a slog. And here you are RAVING ABOUT IT. How are we people on the same planet?
But, Nicole, you make my day brighter and happier and I am so happy you are here to remind me that there is joy in this world. Because The Favorites is a perfect novel and on that very important point we definitely agree.
Life is a rich tapestry, Engie! Here we are, all doing our things, all different and yet not so different!
That was a very awkward soap situation. I would have done the same thing; we can’t hurt someone’s feelings can we? I think I will reread The Joy Luck Club after reading both your and Suzanne’s reviews. I believe I read it in the 90’s when I was very very busy with very many young children. At that stage of my life I fell asleep every time I tried to read so I don’t think I really enjoyed it. Looking forward to it now!
Hahaha Pat, I didn’t know what else to do! I didn’t want to buy it but also, after she said “Who would pay $10 for soap?” I didn’t want to pick up the soap (it was a big bottle). I felt like I was one of those rappers, making it rain, if I picked up the more-costly soap (the cheap soap was about $7, for context).
Oof, putting soap in your cart! Sheesh! That is a ballsy move. Come on, lady. Nicole is a grown ass woman. She can choose her own soap. I feel like a cart is an extension of my body. Do not touch my cart!!
We also start the holiday celebration in November. I will put our tree up mid-November. I know there are hardcore “wait until Thanksgiving” people in the states but oh well. They are not the boss of my house. I need the glow of the tree during these dark months! Paul got a holiday book of songs at his piano lesson last week so he’s working on learning jingle bells AND I LOVE IT. I will hear no complaints or judgments about when I start my holiday season!
I did not like The Favorites as much as nearly everyone else did! It felt just way too long for my liking. I say this as a person that is very into all things skating. I must have read it at the wrong time, though! So it’s probably more of a me problem, not the book.
I support your early festivities, Lisa! I mean, it’s SO dark. Why not? I love that Paul is practicing his music – that’s what November is for, in my mind!
The Favorites WAS long but I felt it kept me going!
Girl, you DO have weird store run-ins! Mine are more of the variety of seeing short people who can’t reach top shelves and me getting it for them. Hopefully, they don’t find me weird!
As we have Thanksgiving in late November, none of my Xmas decor appears until the day after. I love my Thanksgiving/Indigenous People decor! However, I did break out a Gingerbread Bakery scented hand soap for my sink in the master bath, so I’m joining you in a tiny secret festive season activity.
Chinese mother-daughter relationships seem fraught no matter where they were born or live. I’ve witnessed it firsthand with my DIL and her mother. Yikes is all I’ll say.
Oh I get that too, reaching for top-shelf items! I don’t know, I must have “please talk to me” written on my face.
Oooh gingerbread hand soap! I’m here for it!
Ha, I’m one of those people who do not want to get into Christmas too early, but I don’t begrudge others their festive spirit and enjoy looking at others outdoor lights and decorations. You must definitely have a face that says ‘tell me everything’. I can’t imagine putting something in someone else’s shopping cart!
I mean, it was kind of wild. IMAGINE.
I love all the holiday decor and if someone wants to put it up early why complain about it? I will start later in November but have also started Christmas shopping so there’s that. Sometimes I’m like the top picture you shared and then when it comes to holiday family drama and expectations I am the bottom character! Oh dear. 🙂
Oh yes, the drama and expectations are definitely not so fun.
I admit that when Costco has their trees up in July I just feel…happy! BTW I wonder if the Calgary Costcos have those enormous Lindt Advent calendars that are like six feet tall and cost $250? I saw one last time I was in Costco and forgot to take a picture! It was INSANE.
I do love Christmas and the earlier the better. I feel the season goes by so fast and there is so much to enjoy. We usually put up our outside lights early November. This year we put our lights and garland up on our front fence on Thursday, Oct 29th because we were expecting rain for the foreseeable future – nothing like an atmospheric river to get you out the door. We haven’t turned them on yet as I do like to respect the “after November 11th”. I just don’t want to be standing in pouring rain, freezing cold etc. putting up my lights.
I was at my first Christmas event yesterday and am looking forward to more over the next 2 months. I love the music, food, decorations, all of it!
I really enjoyed revisiting The Joy Luck Club as I read it when it first came out. The Favorites was a fun read!
THANK YOU JACQUI!! I feel seen! One year we did put allllllll the outdoor decorations up before the 11th, because it was around zero and there was a massive cold front forecasted. Putting up decorations in minus 20 is not fun!
Ah! I am SO happy you commented. Yes, the earlier the better! Let’s make the most of the season!
I know it must sometimes be challenging, but I love how people stop you and tell you so many things. Such a fascinating array of people you encounter! I think you could fill a book or ten with your interactions.
Please send some tiny secret festive vibes this way because I just feel GRINCHY and there is no reason for it, I just do. Normally I love Christmas! Maybe I need to FORCE IT, Nicole. Just like push my face right into all the Christmas I can until I’m breathing it like oxygen and have no choice but to submit.
But also… I don’t wanna.
I’m just getting the most amazing visual of you shoving your face into wreaths and peppermint-scented things. SUBMIT TO ME MY PRETTIES.
I do mostly love all the (weird) interactions I get every time I’m in Superstore. My family thinks I actively invite it, and maybe this is something I do, but subconsciously? Like why is no one else having someone put soap in their cart?
I love your tiny, secret festive season! I also think it’s very fitting to get out the light-up gnomes in Gnovember! I mean….it’s GNOVEMBER after all! I absolutely love people who put out their Christmas lights early. In places where it’s dark for so many hours, those lights offer a lot of joy. I would not complain if they stayed out all winter long. I especially love the yellow lights (or are they called gold? Or white?) They’re so charming for every season!
However, flashing lights drive me crazy. Luckily, not too many people seem to use those around here.
Well, you brightened my day with your festive post!
You know what, I totally forgot about Gnomevember until your blog this morning! I mean, for us, every month is Gnomevember, AM I RIGHT???
I do love seeing lights, and honestly it could be any time of year. It is SO dark right now though, so I extra appreciate them!
Haha, if Soap Lady really wants to save money, she should take lessons from Elisabeth’s dad and his legendary soap-shard-mushing hack (I do it too!).
And I have to admire your composure, I probably would have BOUGHT the bargain soap just to avoid hurting her feelings. So conflict-averse, sigh.
Totally unrelated, but in yesterday’s Duolingo lesson I learned that “grumpy” in French is “grincheux / grincheuse” which is incredibly easy to remember!
I totally soap-shard-mush too Catrina! Twinsies! Until my husband gets exasperated and throws out my little shards that have all broken apart. This happens once every 4-6 weeks or so.
Hahahah I REALLY didn’t want that soap! But I equally did not want to hurt her feelings!
GRINCHEUSE!!! I love it.
Love your light up gnomes!! I forgot to read Joy Luck the week and last week– yikes!!
That’s so weird, because YOU DON’T HAVE ANYTHING GOING ON AND YOU ARE NOT BUSY AT ALL!
Sigh. I am That Other Person. Why can’t November just be about Fall and Thanksgiving, the one true holiday that’s not about buying a bunch of gifts and totally commercialized? In our house, the C-word was verboten until December 1st, as were its decor and music. To be fair, however, it may be because Cmas was always so damn worky for me, even as a kid, and it was always fraught with bad vibes for my husband when he was growing up.
Anyway–you sound like you truly enjoy it, and I’m happy for you. I would never take that away from anyone, nor do I. Please, however, do not allow your outdoor decorations to linger long into February and March. Or have them year ’round, like one of my neighbours does, with their huge candy-cane holding gingerbread people peeking out from their windows. That is just hurtful.
Nance, if it makes you feel better, Canadian Thanksgiving is the second Monday in October, so really, I’m LATE. Lol!
The outdoor decorations are not under my jurisdiction, but my husband usually takes them down in January. But when I lived in Calgary I remember a house that had them up until May. I say, why not? The more lights the better!
Happy tiny secret festive season! What a wild shopping interaction. I don’t know if I’ve ever dropped something in someone else’s cart or basket… nor had anyone touch mine! If it did happen, I would exactly what you did and hope I didn’t run into them at the checkout. Here’s to tiny joys as we navigate this whole daylight situation!
Isn’t that wild? I mean. I guess she was thinking I was as budget-conscious as her, but oh boy. I can’t imagine just putting something into anyone’s cart!
When the calendar flipped over to November 1st; my first thought was tiny secret festive season for Nicole! Usually, I’m a wait until after Thanksgiving person but given everything that is going on here (*waves hands wildly about*) I may have to revisit that this year.
Aww Gigi! You remembered! Oooh that gives me the warmest, sunshiney feel! Thank you!
Maybe I’ve celebrated tiny secret Christmas all year, because I got my first ever holiday scented soap last Christmas and it’s still in use in the kitchen!? Smells like yummy candy, didn’t even know things like that excisted before! 😘
Hapoy holiday girl!
Hahaha I love that – Christmas the whole year round!
Okay, I’m not QUITE ready to start TSFS, but you have my gnome out, and that makes me happy. And honestly, I use the Vanilla Candy Cane foot stuff all year round. And HARD AGREE about liquid soap – I go to Winner’s or Marshall’s for more affordable soap, but I am not buying something I don’t like just because it’s cheap.
As I was putting your gnome out, I thought of how you put a little note “Help I can’t breathe” in the bag and it made me laugh.
Vanilla Candy Cane is the best foot cream and I will die on that hill. Although I do like their blood orange scent too. And vanilla coconut. BUT NOT LEMONGRASS OR EUCALYPTUS!
That’s the best made-up holiday! I am not an early decorator but I can care less if you put your July 4th decor up inside your house right now. (TBH, I WOULD be irritated if a blow up Uncle Sam showed up in someone’s yard right now.) It’s whatever makes you happy within your 4 walls. Yesterday I bought a little Christmas tchotchke and instead of putting it in the basement where my holiday decor is packed, I put it up. The first sign of Christmas!
It would be very weird for me to have any July 4th decor but I definitely take your point! Ooooh I love little Christmas tchotchkes – IT BEGINS! (but in a good way!)
I’m not thinking of it as Christmas yet, but I am thinking that it’s time to pull out the candles and light them nightly. Speaking of which, my in laws gave us a pumpkin spice ish scented candle, and FUCK that thing REEKS. It is SO STRONG. And my husband is lighting it and it is making him happy. So I am going to SHUT UP ABOUT IT, because we all need what happiness we can find, and if I smell it and it stinks to me, I will just think, “Yay, Ted is happy about this fucking candle!” And I would not say anything about it on my blog, because he reads my blog, but it is safe to come here and tell you WHEW. I mean, come on. Let me tell you how non-fond I am about most of the candles at Bath and Body Works….too strong.
Guess what else Nicole? I wrote out my first Christmas Card today! It has to go to Germany, so I feel like it needs to go early. Then I’m going to write out my Canadian Cards, then eventually my US Cards. The US Cards will not hit the mail until at least the week after Thanksgiving, but the others will go out earlier I think. I’m old school and just buy a box of cards at the store, and I write a message in each one, so it’s definitely a project, but it makes me happy so I do it.
I love that you refuse to give up your Early Christmas Joy, but that you have found a way to have your secret little happiness without offending folks who want to wait a bit.
Woof, pumpkin spice anything doesn’t smell great to me, so I can’t imagine a big scented candle. I also cannot burn candles in my house because of a immobilizing fear of house fires, so this is a double negative for me!
Yay for cards, and I’m sure that we are on each other’s lists!
When I was in London, they had copies of The Favorites, but spelled with the U!!! I was rather perturbed at myself for already having bought and read the book because there’s nothing I wanted more than a copy of The Favourites, sighhhhh.
I started listening to Christmas music yesterday and I WILL NOT APOLOGIZE. Honestly, I would already have started decorating if I hadn’t just moved 55 seconds ago. But once the apartment has been put to order, those bins of Christmas decor are COMING OUT. (I tried not to be too embarrassed at my FIVE BIG BINS of Christmas decor for one tiny apartment lololol).
Stephany, you know I love you but this made me love you more! Five bins! Yes!!!! And I am THRILLED that it is “The Favourites” because that is amazing. I think the words just look better with an extra U.
Oh man, I’ve had a couple of instances where a Concerned Shopper really wanted me to get in on a special deal. The last one was a few years ago in Florida and I stopped by the grocery store to grab a few things, including a single bowl of cut fruit, which was as much as I could eat before the end of the trip. A woman pointed out to me that they were two for one and was desperately trying to persuade me to get a second one. She was so concerned that I was just walking away from the freebie.
Happy Tiny Secret Festive Season! I’m in Ottawa so this is my first taste of remembrance. On my side of the border Nov 11 is Veteran’s Day, which is at least a federal holiday but the “why” isn’t highlighted anywhere near as strongly, which is a shame. The poppies are out in full force, but I also saw the city setting up Christmas decorations today, so it’s coming.
Lololol I am just imagining this fruit exchange and expecting something like this to happen to me in the future. I would have probably taken the second one and just given it to her merely to end the conversation!
I’m so happy you’re experiencing our poppies! It is an important time of the year.
I meant to read the joy club in october but fell off the trail. will pick it up again after the current book. chinese born mother, american born daughter…. oh i can’t wait to read about that.
Elizabeth tried to send something to my brasilia home and never arrived, so as much as I’d love to be your penpal, I think we can do virtual pen-pal? is that an option?
Virtual pen-pal is totally an option! Yes!
I am so grateful that you have introduced tiny festive season to me. I have someone in my life who gets very irritated by early decorators, and it really bothers me that they get so bothered. I love joy in the face of resistance. Maybe I’ll decorate my mantel this week.
I’m not a fan of how dark it gets at night now, but it gets light so early in the morning! And that makes me so happy!
Kari, I feel this “it really bothers me that they get so bothered.” WHY. I find when I hear people complaining, well, I just don’t understand. How is this hurting anyone???
Exactly!
You know, I cannot even think about Christmas yet (and I LOVE Christmas!) but I would never ever rain on someone’s parade if they want to start celebrating the season. I am ALL FOR IT.
Ok, you said you’re picky about soap, but have you tried Mrs Meyers Seasonal “Snowdrop” hand soap? You should. It’s lovely. I will stock up so I can use it throughout the year LOL
BTW, I saw some “gnome ribbon” the other day and it made me think of you <3
San, I don’t think we get those here! I mean, we get Mrs Meyers, but only the standard scents, none of the holiday ones. I know this because someone mentioned that exact product last year (MAYBE IT WAS YOU!) and I looked and looked and couldn’t even find it online. Ah well, I guess I will survive!
GNOME RIBBON! Did you buy it?
I can not believe she put the soap in your cart. That is way out of line and just a weird thing to do. You would have avoided this in Australia because retailers over a certain size have to provide unit pricing so you can compare different-sized products. You would never have needed to help her out with the maths so she wouldn’t have felt she needed to “help” you by putting the cheapest soap in your cart.
I do not start Christmas preparations early. I usually put the tree up on the 1st of December, but I don’t do much seasonal stuff other than the nativity and the tree. I love that you stretch out the season, though. Why not do what brings you joy, and why would other people begrudge that?
I could not deal with such early sunsets. Our earliest sunset in Melbourne is just after 5 pm although our sunrise is 7:30, so about 9.5 hours of light. Since I am not a morning person I prefer light at the end of the day instead of them morning.
It was definitely weird, but I do think it came from a good place. She seemed very invested in saving money, and because I was empathizing with her, she thought I was as well – and it was the last bottle of cheap soap.
Melissa, I AM a morning person and the early sunsets bother ME, so I can only imagine what a non-morning person must feel like! Oh well, it is that time of year and in another *checks calendar* six and a half weeks things will start getting lighter. I NEED ALL THE LIGHT UP GNOMES I CAN GET!!! Our sunrise is before 7 now, but in a month it will be after 7:30, and that is just not a lot of daylight!
I love Tiny Secret Festive Season!. I enjoy that year-round with a couple snowmen decorations that stay out (one is a electric, lighted snow globe-ish thing that is magical). I did put out our lights on the tree Sunday when the weather was not freezing or raining. I let them be lit that night but have turned them for off. Snow (gasp) is predicted for Monday night so they may have to come back on. I, too, have taken advantage of the Bath and Body sales, usually after Christmas when the foaming hand soap is $3. I have a few in stock so will probably not participate this year.
Early sunsets are such an indicator of snow that it makes me a bit sad.
Ooooh your snowmen sound amazing!!! I bet they look fantastic. The temperature is milder here but when we lived in Calgary, we really had to figure out a time to put up the decorations when it wasn’t -20 degrees. Sometimes that was very early in November!
I am such a fan of Nicole’s Tiny Secret Festive Season, and I’m here for all your gnomes. I love how your gnome collection has been growing, and I feel honored that I’ve been a witness to it.
Girl, I’m a fan of any holiday decoration that lights up. It’s as though I’m a child and need something sparkly and bright, and those early sunsets—woo, that’s tough! You gotta pull out all the stops to get through it.
You have a lot of fun while shopping! (She says sarcastically!)
Awww thanks Suz! You really have been there since the beginning of my Gnome Era! I love that.
