Get Real!

It's one thing to have the spirit of the holidays, it is another to

basically have them pushed down your throat. For instance, one

of the local radio stations started playing Christmas music the

day after Thanksgiving....needless to say, I am frequenting other

stations while driving. Then you have those folks who started

decorating the day after Thanksgiving.....lights galore, lighted

wire reindeer in the yards, the big plastic lighted snowmen and

such in front of houses, etc. etc.. Basically, on our street there 

are only 2 houses that haven't decorated, and yes, ours is one of

them! I generally wait until about the 10th or so of December,

so I will get in gear the first part of next week. We'll get our 

tree, decorate it with the lights showing out of the window,

put a wreath on the door, and we are done. I am actually more

concerned about getting my Christmas cards out (and yes, I

have already received 2!), which will be quite a trick this year

as I have lost/misplaced my address book. Thus I am scram-

bling to gather envelopes of cards and letters I have received

throughout the year, check phone book listings, and garner the

rest of my addresses as I see potential card recipients. Oh well,

I am sure the old address book will turn up....after the holidays

of course! Then I need to actually figure out who will get what

as far as gifts go. I have a couple ideas, have scoured catalogs,

and may actually get that done by the 15th or 20th. Nothing

like cutting it close! To those people who proclaim that they

have not only gotten their cards out, but also have completed

their shopping I say WHATEVER!!!