Santa should apply for diplomatic license plates

Archbishop Dolan has his work cut out for him to imbue New York City with the Christmas spirit. They gave Santa Claus a parking ticket:

A New York City man who fought a parking ticket he got while dressed as Santa Claus and giving out toys says the city's response is more ho-hum than ho-ho.

Chip Cafiero said he learned Friday he'd lost his attempt to contest the $115 ticket he got in Brooklyn on Nov. 28. A spokesman for the city Department of Finance, which handles such matters, wasn't immediately able to access records on the case Sunday night.

The 60-year-old retired schoolteacher had a sport utility vehicle double-parked near him while he handed out holiday bounty from a horse-drawn carriage. The SUV was ticketed.

In a city full of illegally parked diplomatic cars, surely there was an exception to the parking laws for the Ambassador from the North Pole?

Almost as good as visiting the North Pole

The annual Wigderson Christmas traditions march on. My wife and I took the children to see Santa Claus at Cuddles Hallmark in downtown Waukesha. Visiting with Santa at Cuddles is unlike the assembly-line mall experience. The children actually get to talk to Santa, and so do the parents.

The mall experience is a quick photo opportunity after a near-interminable wait in line. Like waiting for toilet paper in Moscow before the fall of Communism. Only the KGB was friendlier than the mall elves.

My son asked Santa for a zero-gravity car. My daughter asked for "everything pink." Both children hugged Santa and posed with him for a picture, and then hugged us, too.

After visiting with Santa, the Wigdersons boarded the minivan for an excursion to Candy Cane Lane to see the lights. It's a small donation to the MACC fund, and it beats driving aimlessly looking for houses lit up for the season. I noticed less lights this year, possibly the result of the economy and the early-but-persistent snow coverage. Still better than driving the subdivisions in the vain hope of finding the perfect combination of the secular and religious yard decorations necessary for a Quimby Award.

Finally a return home to hot chocolate and a quick admonishment to the children that Santa Claus is watching. "Brush your teeth and to bed with you. I have Santa's phone number!"

Christmas in October

Christmas is in the air. Wal-Mart has already started selling Christmas lawn decorations. Milwaukee Journal Sentinel columnist Joanne Weintraub is already wishing former staff members a "Merry Christmas!" The indispensible Tom McMahon is already putting up his Irish Santa Claus. Invincible Armor has advice on avoiding the Christmas rush. Lawyers are advising about suing over Christmas lights.

Of course, you can start your Christmas shopping now by buying a license plate frame, "Chicks dig the car, not light rail" or other fun gifts.

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