And to all a good night.

You wouldn't think it would be that hard. But after spending no less than three hours on two different evenings I have given up on taking a picture that captures some bit of holiday spirit downtown. Maybe Olympia is just too small and doesn't have the money to decorate it's tree-lined streets with a bunch of lights. Or maybe they've just had their hands full with 'Occupy' and don't have the time (or gumption) to worry about it. Or maybe I'm just not creative enough.

Yes, the blue snowflakes on Capitol Way and 4th Ave are nice, they're festive. I just feel they fall a little short of what I'd expect from a Capitol city. Even the decorated tree in Sylvester park looks like it's missing something - like it's lacking some luster, like someone hastily wrapped clear lights around it and declared it Christmas.

Maybe that's all it takes these days, a few blinky lights here and there and a ho-ho-ho and it's suddenly Christmas. And here I am searching, peering into the darkness, looking for something, anything that says, "Hey, it's Christmas! And it only comes once a year! Rejoice and be happy!"

Maybe the city thought that would just be too hard.

Merry Christmas.