Two things I love about the holidays

OK, I don't love them - but they fascinate me.

1. Oprah's Christmas show. I was amazed the first time I caught the episode a few years back. I finally saw what all the fuss was about. I couldn't believe that everything she was featuring on her show, and it wasn't cheap stuff - the audience received as well. Last year, I happened to be flipping channels at 1am, and I came across a rerun of the show from that day. It was about school teachers - and suddenly, from above comes a whole fireplace scene and lights... ah! The Christmas Show!

Now most of the things she gave away, I didn't care for, but that washer and dryer set was the exact one that I totally want for my house some day. Especially the dryer. You place your delicates on racks and you can run the airdry cycle. No more net baggies - no more trying to unhook all your delicates from the netting.

So, that was my big envy of last year.

2. The Neiman Marcus catalog. I don't shop there all the time, but I get the Christmas Book in the mail anyway. Each year, I eagerly flip through the pages of everything I can't afford, and see how NM has outdone itself again.

Forget about the million dollar bras that Victoria Secret offers each year. From Neiman Marcus you can buy a water park for your backyard for $3.5 million. You and several friends can have a sports lovers dream package, where you attend the major event in every sport next year. For example, tickets to the Superbowl. But not only that. You will also have an opportunity to dine with a legend of that sport. I think they mentioned Troy Aikman for the football part of it. How about a $3.8 million dollar membership to an exclusive resort in Europe? It's not just membership, it's considered equity that you can pass down to your family.

And the grandest, yet oddly cheapest extravagance (considering) - that if I had the money for, HELL YAH I would buy it... A trip for you and 5 friends onboard the Virgin Galactica. A trip into space my friends! For just under $2 million, you and five friends will be prepared for a launch into space! Unbelievable. I would do that in a heartbeat. After that, you get several days with Sir Richard Branson (Virgin Airlines guru - multibillionaire extraordinaire) on his private island in pure paradise. Actually for that part, each of the initial 6 people can invite one more person. So, 12 people in paradise.

Incredible.

Yep, two of my guilty pleasures of the holidays.