Day 7 started out right. I got to sleep in a little (usually been waking up between 4:00 and 5:00am), and then I got to run around NYC. I’ll admit, I’ve never been in love with New York, but it was great. The people there aren’t at all surprised to see a scraggly dude in a Santa suit wandering around the streets. I was not the biggest weirdo around, that’s for sure. Then on to the Today show…where in the world is Matt Lauer???? Find out…

Well, didn’t actually get on the Today Show, but got sort of near the building. As usual, Lauer was ducking me. No doubt he fears what I might say.

And Diane Sawyer is just as hard to get to. When I approached a door that might lead me to a hall that could possibly connect with a room that Ms. Sawyer might be in, I was confronted by several police officers. Not a bad security detail for a daytime TV host.

Met some construction workers who were fired up about Santa, and I even ran into a few groups of elves (but none like my pal, “Big Elf”).

I then dined at the famous Waldorf-Astoria (not my idea, boss, so don’t blame me for the expenses), got a make-over so I’d fit in with the hipoisie, and rode around with our madman of a driver, John, who you should totally call if you need in a driver in NY.

Then, it was all over. The fresh air, the sunshine, the normal food; all gone. It was time to fly again. I have to admit, the idea of getting back on a plane made me want to weep like a small child.

Planes have become my office, my bedroom, my restaurants, my respected foe. I hadn’t realized it fully until I actually got to escape the asylum for a few hours.

Of course, the show must go on, so we loaded up and headed out. New York to Cincinnati, Ohio to Charleston, West Virginia to Charlotte, NC to Birmingham, Alabama. Yep, that’s how Grumpy Santa rolls on a half-day.

On a non-travel note, when I landed in Birmingham I found out that I have two new nephews. Identical twin boys. So, because of that, I’m not nearly as grumpy as I could be. Hope to see you soon, boys!

–Grumpy Santa (Uncle Mike)

Grumpy Scale - 2

What’s on Grumpy Santa’s iTunes? The Cars (Greatest Hits)