City Sidewalks

Driving around town The Mayor pointed randomly at Christmas wreathes, lights, trees and other holiday decor and at each one he yelled,

"MUT!"

("Mut" sounds like Put - as in "Put. the cookie. DOWN, Lady Flabina!")

Pardon? Mut?

As it turns out, "Mut" means "everybody is getting ready for Christmas" in Mayorese.

Because I am a super-efficient, anal freak, I have always loved simple, economizing words.

For example, I'm a big fan of the British word "chuffed" which means "quite pleased" but also connotes a sort of blushing pride. All of that captured in one word? Brilliant.

So it follows naturally that I would appreciate the word "Mut," --- in particular, I like the idea that I can walk into a department store and loudly say,

"FOR THE LOVE OF DOG WOULD YOU LOOK AT ALL THIS MUT!!"

I'm not sure The Mayor has developed an enduring sense of the Christmas spirit despite his contribution to the holiday lexicon.

Yesterday, as my neighbor was straddling his roof (in a rather provocative way, I might add) trying to get the "DOG, JAM, EFFING CHRISTMAS LIGHTS" to work, The Mayor picked up a toy rifle from their yard, aimed it at the struggling, roof humping neighbor and yelled,

"I'M GONNA BRING YOU DOWN!"

Oh, I'm just tingling all over with the holiday cheer.