Gnomes in the snow

Off to the Kunert Christmas I go. Sadly I have to ride with the gnomes all the way to Des Moines and back. How will I survive? Well, I've hit up the library for entertaining reads, and plan to sit in the back of the van near a window, so I can avoid conversation by pretending not to hear them. I don't know how I wouldn't, but I can pretend. A lady gnome can make such loud, irritating chatter that it is almost possible to ignore, but ignore I shall. Wish me luck.