Oh, and this:

I had to run to the wal-mart before lunch (needed jack cheese for the mac and cheese I am making for a potluck tonight, plus I needed more earplugs for traveling).

They had Hello Kitty longsleeved Christmas t-shirts. And I admit, I bought one (maybe it's a fluster for the bad dental impression experience).

It has HK's face (winking!) on the front, and the legend "Always on the Nice List."

Because really, I think if the fat man in the red suit kept lists on adults, I'd HAVE to be on the nice list given the number of times I've cheerfully swallowed disappointment, done things I didn't really want to do, kept from saying what I was REALLY thinking, and putting what I wanted to do on hold so what needed to get done got done.

And it's Hello Kitty! As I said on Twitter, one of the beauties of HK is you can enjoy her earnestly or ironically, and no one can tell which way you are enjoying her. (I admit it: I kind of love Hello Kitty, partly because she is something that was around when I was a kid and she is still going strong. Also she's just sweet and cute and friendly and uncomplicated in a world that is too often none of those things)