Musing Interruptus is a podcast meant for sharing thoughts and stories and enjoying idiomatic phrases and words in general. You can read along; the transcription is in the description of this episode. The idiomatic expressions are in italics. Try to get the meaning from the context and then look them up to see if you were right. If you like it, share it, but more importantly, continue the conversation. 
Hello. Welcome, I’m Renée Valentina and this is Musing Interruptus. Tis the season to be holly, jolly, and otherwise kind to people at large. Santa is watching. Today, Naughty and/or Nice. 
Listen to me closely boys, girls, young and old, there is an old man with grey hair, a long grey beard, and a large belly, presumably from eating cookies just once a year. In his defense, he eats them at night, and that is not the best time to eat sweets. Let Santa’s experience be a tale of caution. It is best to have your sweet treats after a balanced meal. 
A visit from Santa depends on how good or bad we’ve been during the year. The thing is… I don’t think people are quite as worried about being nice as they are in December. Being naughty until you remember it's time to be nice can be alluring. However, the results might be devastating come Christmas morning. 
You have to think about how you are going to feel on Christmas morning every day of your life. That could be the filter to evaluate your actions. You do want Santa to leave presents for you under the tree, right? Were we better behaved when we were children because of that? My sister was told (and in her mind promised) that if she drank massive amounts of milk she would grow tall, therefore fulfilling the height requirement for the rides at Kennywood, the amusement park in Pittsburgh, Pa. Incentives work. In the carrot or stick analogy, carrots are by far the best option. Unless you are into the whole stick thing, in which case, more power to you. 
The trick is to stick to it. January comes along and you are like, should I stop to help that senior trying to cross the street? February rolls in, you don’t want to send your friends with benefits a Valentine’s present, but you know it is the nice thing to do. March comes along, you have Covid for the umpteenth time and you have to decide whether to wear a mask at work and other public places. April showers bring umbrellas and muddy shoes. Be kind and don’t poke eyes out with your heinous umbrella. May’s appliances vs something mother would actually like. June don’t forget good old dad. The choice is not between a nice tie and funny socks, we must go beyond that section at the department store. July, well if you have summertime weather in July then we can just agree that it is a bit harder to be nice. So if we are all naughty at the same time, Santa will grade us on a curve. I’m just putting it out there. Same for August, please. September is back to school, you can all stand to be nicer to the teacher. Santa is watching… October and trick or treat comes around, be mindful of the tricks. Strike the balance between permanent and funny… not so permanent, not painful, and no expensive consequences. If this is hard for you to do, just think what it will feel like when you suffer the consequences at Santa’s white-gloved hands. Picture yourself, in Christmas pajamas, cookies, and hot chocolate wafting through the air, sitting around the tree. The smell of fresh pine mixing with the freshly baked cookies. The sound of heart-warming holiday music, the exchange of glances denoting expectation and excitement to open up the presents, and you, having been excessively naughty in October, putting your level of naughtiness over the median of Santa Claus believers, you are handed a beautifully wrapped ball. You quickly shred the wrapping paper and lo and behold, you have a lump of coal in your hands. 
November and December aren’t hard months to be nice. Continue Reading

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