Over cocktails.....

Swarovski Crystal Tree at Galleries Lafayette, Paris 

Year end is a great time for pop culture nerds--those of us who wish we were much cooler and plugged in than we are. There are all kinds of lists telling us which books, movies, trends are the most intellectual, hip, cutting edge and that intel is great material for holiday cocktail parties and family gatherings. Throw out a little knowledge of Golden Globe nominations and you're in for at least five minutes of awesome conversation.

Let's face it, our culture is fascinated by the rich and famous (or infamous) and we're drawn to stories about William and Kate, Brad and Angelina, and even Kim and Kanye. We don't have to admire them or even  like them to be sucked into the hype of their latest outfits, outings or personal disasters. Outrageous and shallow require no commitment and are amusing. These people are rich, famous, have lots of freedom and often make REALLY bad choices. Who can resist a smug moment of WTF over a silly photo of Madonna and her latest 22 year old boy-toy making out in a New York nightclub. On that note, I've considered topics I do and don't want to discuss over eggnog. Indulge me while I share.

Let's not talk about:

Who is going to be cast as Christian Grey? I don't care unless Chris Hemsworth takes the role. That would be a travesty of epic proportions almost as disgusting as.....

Tom Cruise playing Jack Reacher. This is just wrong. Cruise is rich and creepy and 5'7". Reacher is cool and hot and 6'5". Do the math. This casting just wrong on every level.

Anything Kardashian. Do we really need another magazine cover with Kim overflowing a lycra ensemble? Do we care what Kris Jenner wore for Halloween?

Kristen Stewart cheating on Robert Pattinson or him taking her back. They aren't really Bella and Edward, girls. Really.

Count me in:

New movies. This is the time of year we actually go to the theatre to see new releases. I want to see LES MISERABLES (LOVED the book, wasn't impressed with the play but Hugh Jackman as Jean Valjean--YES!), SKYFALL and maybe LINCOLN but want feedback on what's out.

Meryl Streep and Tommy Lee Jones in HOPE SPRINGS. This isn't usually my sort of film (no action, no violence, no Jason Statham, Chris Hemsworth or Channing Tatum) and yet this story of a middle-aged woman who wants to resurrect a dead marriage was very well done. Only Meryl Streep would allow herself to look so frumpy on screen--and she has another Golden Globe nomination for her performance. Tommy Lee Jones was also excellent.

Winter fashions, spring lines, anything Tom Ford does. Stylish clothes fascinate me--when the topic turns to trends, designers, fabrics, sales I'm all in.

Books! Romances, suspense, thrillers, cookbooks, biographies--what's everyone reading these days? Give us the low down!

So what do you want to talk about? What subjects would you prefer to avoid?

‘TIS NOT THE SEASON--IT’S ONLY NOVEMBER 14th!

It’s mid-November and Christmas decorations went up in at least two upscale Houston shopping areas over a month ago. My reaction was something between disappointment and disgust. Really, people? You had to push the season forward two months? Why? Is it greed or did they just want to get on the lighting contractor’s schedule? Having little respect for the motives of shopping centers, I assume the former.

Last week I saw a notice from Nordstrom that said they weren’t decorating until after Thanksgiving. I’ve never shopped much in the store, but their restraint has earned my respect. They’re treating the holidays as a special time, a limited season to be celebrated as a lead-up to a the main events—Christmas or Chanukah—not a three month promotional opportunity followed by the January sales. Result—I’m applauding their decision and have decided to shop there in the future, when possible.

Don’t get me wrong, I love all the holiday lights and things that sparkle. As a child I was enchanted by the magic of the Christmas displays in the windows of New York department stores--elaborate fantasy lands which materialized right after Santa wound up the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.  December was the special time of the year when the world seemed to don its storybook attire—decorations of silver and gold, bright red bows, twinkling lights, glittering snow and magical creatures. Maybe Nordstorm’s decision is the first in a trend to bring back a true holiday season. Wouldn’t that be grand!

Am I alone here? Speak up. I'd love to hear what you think.