Santarchy

Yesterday I did some desultory Xmas shopping that was mostly an excuse to take a long walk. I'd thought about heading downtown to check out the Buy More Stuff folks at Westlake Mall, but I ended up just taking a circuit through Fremont, Wallingford, and the U District. In Wallingford, at the corner of the 45th and Wallingford, I ran into a gang o' Santas. They were smoking and playing loud music and jeering at the passersby. Although actually the one guy who said anything to me as I passed through the gang said, "Merry Christmas!" But maybe he said it jeeringly, who knows?

I took them for Santarchy, and I was really pleased to see them, because it was something Anita used to do. She and jackwilliambell told me about it a couple years ago. I loved their rowdy gang spirit.

And I was actually kind of pleased that the only things I ended up buying yesterday were a small latte, a big bowl of split pea soup, and two snifters of barleywine. 'Tis the season to Buy More Stuff, but I didn't!

Today I'm being initiated into the mysteries of the panto by daveon and another gang entirely. Oh, these charming foreign customs!