My neighbor has the most gorgeous camellias in bloom right now. And how many flowers does one old lady need?

So I might have grabbed a few yesterday as I casually walked by for the third time. Don’t worry, I’m delivering Meals on Wheels for 4 days over my holiday break to settle the score. I know, I know it’s gonna take more than a few meals to undo a years worth of devilish behavior. But I’m willing to try.

Lately LA feels like a small town. In the good ways, not the scary-everyone-knows-your-hideous-personal-business ways.

My very first Christmas card was from the sweet woman who runs my dry cleaners. Then the lady at the library overlooked my $2 fine. My neighbor gave me a jar of homemade jam for bringing in her mail while she was out of town. The flower guy at the farmers market is happy to see me. Hey wait a minute, maybe people are just nicer around the holidays?

And just like out in the country, we have wildlife. A possum was on my porch eating my neighbors trash last night. So disgusting. And kinda hillbilly for Santa Monica.

Ok so LA is still just big and dirty. But easier to love at the holidays.

Now here’s a great idea, rent a live Xmas tree instead of one’s that been chopped down. This place delivers and picks it up. The live tree returns to the nursery to keep on growing. I wish I had seen this sooner, I already bought a wreath to decorate. So yep, I’m both lazy and eco-minded this year.

http://www.livingchristmas.com/

Here’s another cute house I might buy. I’m getting good at the almost buying part.

Prices are great. Such bargains, that the competition is fierce. I lost my first one a few weeks ago, there were 17 other offers and 6 were over the full asking price within the first week. My agent tells me, I’ll likely make 5 or 6 offers before it happens. It’s crazy to me. You take a quick look around, try and imagine yourself living there everyday, then move fast to spend about 400k.

Will I be happy here? Did anyone die here? What’s that weird smell? Are the neighbors nice? Is it safe? Is it a fair price? Am I making a huge mistake?

And finally, when can I have my first martini party here?

I’m indecisive about lunch, how am I supposed to do this.

We all know they’re important. But seriously.

The commercials running as part of CBS Cares, are just ridiculous. Well-intentioned, sure. But cute guy advising men to call and make their woman’s pap smear appointment if they really love her, is just awful. And wrong on most every level.

To see the family for 5 days. And eat. Then feel guilty and go for long walks. Perhaps I should be walking to Austin instead of flying, that sure would burn lots of calories.

The Leaf, an electric car with zero emissions is finally here.

Ok, I’m biased since we’ve been working on it for months. It is cool to be involved with a brand new car, and one that I’d love to drive. We all just saw it in person yesterday at an event and I still love it. The last new car I loved working on and then saw in person, um, well, I’m not driving it.

Who cares that the Leaf only gets 100 miles per charge? And that I have to lease the battery? And that I’ll need to charge every night after my 60-mile a day commute, or move. I like it and I want to buy one. It’s roomier inside than it looks and the idea behind it is a good one.

Or maybe I’m just falling for the advertising? Confession: we spent half a tank of gas to get down to Irvine and check it out. Saving the planet is not gonna be easy.

Read what my favorite car critic, Dan Neil says about the Leaf:

http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-neil20-2009nov20,0,5609464.column”>

And he lives right down the street. Seriously.

My friend who cuts my hair offered him up since he and I are both buying houses right now. She tells me he’s tall, cute and mountain bikes. That’s all I get. But she likes him. So he’s no crazy psycho. And bonus points for no fresh divorce, so no ex-wife. Yay!!!

When he called last night for the interview, turns out he lives 2 blocks down and we’re both in advertising. He seems funny and pretty fab. And she was right, he’s very cute. I looked him up on facebook. But if he were to read this, then hell no…that’s creepy. I didn’t even think of looking him up.

For a swell sunday night dinner at Cecilias with the girls. Always the perfect hostess, there were five bottles of wine for six of us.

An early thanksgiving dinner was the theme with cute little cornish hens instead of turkey. Then each of us brought a side. My mashed potatoes with fennel and rosemary were delish but not worth all the work so I won’t even bother giving out the recipe.

It was a great evening and I have the hangover to prove it. When is nap time?

It sucks. And I only got serious and started looking a month ago.

My original agent named “Maple” has already stopped emailing me back. Turns out, there are tons of buyers right now and multiple offers on almost everything.

So I’m on agent #2 and hoping for the best. The minute something new pops up you have to see it and be ready to make an offer. I’ve seen plenty of HGTV but what the hell do I know? And this is serious. How can I commit quick AND get friends help that have offered. “Hello friend, you have 5 minutes to get over here and give me your opinion cause I wanna spend lots of money.”

And thanks, but advising me to stay in my great rent controlled place in Santa Monica doesn’t count as actual advice.