Where Do They Come From, Where Do They Go?

Last night saw another world championship complete with the Philadelphia Phillies winning the 2008 World Series. I could care less about the Phillies - but what has always fascinated me, growing up, is how fast a championship team gets their championship gear after their win. This applies to any of the championships - the Superbowl, the Stanley Cup, the NBA (what is their championship called?) and the World Series being the major of the championships.

I remember growing up, watching championship games and being AMAZED at how quickly the winning players had their 'Championship' hats on right after the game. I was always wondering, 'How did they know that this team was going to win?' Thus was the mind of a very, young girl. But now I know better - they make championship gear for both teams - that's what makes it so easily accessible to the general public as well.

After figuring that piece out, the question then became, what happens to the losing team's championship accessories and apparel? I mean, you have to think that they had to make equal amounts for both teams - so you have enough to cover the team and all it's staff, and stuff that's ready to go on sale to the general public as early as the following day - what happens to all that stuff?

Well apparently, they get donated to third world countries. That's nice to know - at least it isn't a big waste and someone is getting some use out of the stuff - but just think, if you're ever on a trip for Unicef in Africa or touring the underdeveloped nations of South America, you just might run into natives that believe that the Patriots won the 2007 Superbowl...and you'll have to stop and think about it and say, 'Hmmm - I could've sworn the Giants won that game.'

Night of the Living Puffy

Apparently, Halloween is the second most decorated holiday (behind Christmas, of course). I didn't really notice this in D.C., probably because most of us in our compact townhouses simply didn't have the kind of yard that easily accommodates a faux grave yard or a collection of creepy scarecrows. That kind of decorating takes space.

In my new town of Del Rio, Texas, however, I've seen several houses that seem to take this idea of Halloween decorating seriously. Tombstones, cobwebs, skeletons, spiders, the works. But you know what else has made a rock star showing this year? Halloween-themed puffies.

For those of you not familiar with this technical term, "puffies" are those inflatable yard characters that became popular around Christmas a number of years ago. They started with oversized Santas and Frosties and escalated to rotating snow globes. "Puffies" is the term of endearment given to these characters by my mom, who became a little violent as we passed by a particularly tacky row of houses on the way back from my brother's house one Christmas eve and blurted out, "I can't stand those puffies!!"

I do see her point. The kinds of Christmas decorations I like are the more traditional ones: pretty wreaths and lights on the trees, maybe a few ribbons here and there - not a scene that looks straight out of a North Pole-themed episode of "SpongeBob SquarePants." The worst of the lot, in my opinion, is the Christmas tree puffy, especially in my hometown - in MICHIGAN - where there are evergreens-a-plenty. Really? It never occurred to these people to just string a few lights on the pine trees already in their front yards?

I have to say, though, I am actually enjoying the Halloween puffies. I guess I never considered Halloween decorating to be a big tradition, so it is kind of a nice treat to drive down Main Street and see that house with the sitting scarecrow with a pumpkin head that rotates 360 degrees. He's pretty cool. And I smile every time I see those Casper-like ghosts coming out of a jack-o-lantern.

Puffies - I have to hand it to you. I never thought I'd see the day . . .