It just doesn't feel like Christmas this year... I don't know what it is exactly, everything feels slower, and it's also much quieter around here with it just daze days away from the most important dates on the calendar.

Stores that would maybe be packed at this time of year are seeing a "meh" crowd. The long lines that we had this time last year in front of the checkout lines are gone. Maybe they're all just tariffed out and are waiting for something, anything to happen.

Its been a minute since I heard the ringing of gunshots in the night, which had always been a barometer that somebody was out and about. Even the discount hookers seem to be taking it easy, it's almost as if we're all walking through a soupy mess in the ether like listening to a podcast a slow speed.

Me? I don't go out much anymore, so as to avoid the crazies still ambling about in the biting cold. Some dude came up to me all bundled up today trying to ask me something.

His face was wrapped with just his eye showing and his speech was slightly slurred. Maybe its different in Canada, Europe or New Zealand where everybody's nice and there's little crime, but here, your next-door neighbor could be the next Jeffrey Dahmer.

So of course, I pretended not to hear him (thank God for headphones!) and slipped away.

I live in the northeast region of America, and we don't do that "Southern Hospitality" thing up here. Likely to get you killed. Unlike Europe where everyone seems to be a 'Close Talker' Americans believe in 'Personal Space' reminding me of that song by The Police 'Don't Stand So Close To Me.'

Just picture an invisible bubble surrounding each and every Yank. If you stick your arm straight out in front of you, that's about how far away you should be when you approach us. Any closer and you're definitely intruding and need to back the fuck up.

Normally around this time of year, you'd have that feeling of "rounding the horn" as the new year approaches. Not this time. Now, it feels as if January 1st (1-1-26, month-day-year, I'm American remember?) will be just another day of avoiding the used condoms and drug needles on the sidewalks ("footpaths" to you Aussies).

I do have a feeling that 2026 will be even wilder than this year has been. Look for things to get really crazy after the mid-terms in November when The Dev..., I mean Trump, knows his time is short. Some may ask how much ruckus can one person cause in two years being a "lame duck" at that time and all, well, we're about to find out.

And will you Brits please stop saying Happy Christmas? It's MERRY Christmas. Get it right over there in our father country! :) Even though Christ was born during the harvest season (not the freezing cold middle of winter) but whatever. I still wish all of you a merry fucking Christmas and a kick-ass 2026!