Here we go again - Chrismukkah 2005

OY the year went fast! Since my last post in April, there have been a lot of changes around this here household. In August, we moved "over the hill" from Livingston to Bozeman... primarily to facilitate Minna's play dates and shorten the Target supply runs. Our daughter is now 2 1/2, talking non-stop, and doesn't miss a thing. My mother (the true creator of Chrismukkah no matter what Josh Schwartz or the trademark lawyers at Warner Brothers might proclaim) has moved to Bozeman... all the way from Hackensack, New Jersey. What culture shock it was for her after 55 years in the New York City metro area. From the garden state of Tony Soprano to the wild west of Calamity Jane. Much to the surprise of her dubious friends back East, she absolutely loves it here and we love having her. She's already conquered the local bridge club at the Seniors Center. Michelle opened her new art studio and gallery at the Emerson Cultural Center (www.MichelleGanttceramics.com)and the space turned out beautifully. It features her own colorful and quirky mugs, bowls, urns and pitchers... plus she's brought in the work of a dozen of her favorite ceramic artists from around the country. The gallery has been very well received by the local community, but I'll miss Michelle's help in filling the greeting card orders this year. Regarding Chrismukkah...after 6 months of development, the new and improved Chrismukkah web site is now up and running with Flash animations and a greatly improved store. We're really proud of it. Props to Ryan and Sean at Future Farm. Awesome job guys. There are 7 new Chrismukkah greeting cards this year (thanks to Rachel, our conspirator in San Francisco) along with a whole bunch of exciting new stuff on the site.... music, menorahs, matzoh and mistletoe. You can even buy Chrismukkah US postage stamps. The cards are now available both from the Chrismukkah site and also at select retail locations nationwide... including Whole Foods and Urban Outfitters. Our licensing partners at Nobleworks have been doing a great job spreading Chrismukkah cheer to mainstream America. Following months of schlepping groceries and slaving over a hot stove for you, the little Chrismukkah cookbook is nearly completed and expected to start shipping in mid November. You'll soon know our secret recipes for gefilte Goose, Matzoh Pizza, Kris Kringle Kugel and Meshugga Nog. The bigger book of Chrismukkah will not be published until Chrismukkah 2006. All in all, it's now the calm before the storm as we get ready for another frenzied and chaotic November / December. More soon.