I know…duh. But, it’s coming, ready or not, this lovely, festive occasion meant to celebrate with family, friends, neighbors and even the occasional stranger. I love this time of year!
Not that you’d ever guess it though. I’m an utter Scrooge. I hate to decorate more than anything else in the world. My tree is a very sad Charlie Brown Christmas Tree that I bought on Amazon. It came in a box, my son assembled it, and it plays the Charlie Brown Christmas theme. Easy peasy for Ms. Scrooge. Plus, it makes a statement. Don’t ask me to decorate. It just ain’t gonna happen.
I don’t send out cards except to a few friends (usually with a gift card tucked inside, which was the excuse to send the card in the first place). My mother and husband’s parents do get special cards because I’d be a chump if I didn’t send them one. But you know, I think I’ve started a trend, because we don’t get many cards anymore, either. Or maybe it’s because we pissed everyone off and they struck us from their lists? Whatever.
I hate to shop. As in, there’s-not-a-snowball’s-chance-in-hell-you’ll-find-me-near-a-mall-in-December, hate it. I got a free month of Amazon Prime a month ago when I activated my new Kindlefire. I get free two-day shipping? I’m so there. The UPS guy and I are on a first-name basis now. I may even send him one of my rare Christmas cards, we’re that close. Option to renew for an annual Prime membership is tomorrow…I renewed it last week, just to be on the safe side that there’d be no interruption in service. On the flip side…
I do adore Christmas music, doesn’t matter what kind, I’ve got it playing all day long. And Christmas-themed movies? Don’t get me started…the Hallmark and Lifetime channels are my best friends in December. It makes the men in my house want to barf. But I don’t care how cute or cliché these cinematic jewels are, I watch them. The 12 Men of Christmas is one of my favorites. Think Calendar Girls, but with men. Yay!
Cooking and baking are big deals for me. Lots of Christmas goodies in my house this month! It can be dangerous, but I did join a gym last week so that I can eat what I make, without so much guilt. I haven’t gone to said gym yet, but I’m hoping the damned monthly membership fee will tip the weight scale in my favor. I’m a big believer in miracles, even when undeserved.
No matter how you celebrate (or don’t celebrate) it. Try to have a happy holiday season. We call it Christmas in our house, but whatever holiday you celebrate, I hope it’s a joyous and safe time with all you hold dear!
15 comments:
Lol. Lifetime does seem to activate the gag reflex in men, but hey, they should be used to it by now. I found an all Christmas music station that had my husband frothin at the mouth a couple of nights ago when we drove to his mothers accross town. I still have to shop--am dreading it. Guess we have a lot in common, weeelllll, except for that #12 thing.
Don't make me say it again: other than the "baking cookies thing" we are way too much alike.
bah humbug. Bring on Love Actually!
Love
Liz
Well, DL...we all know what men are really handy for. Sentimental music and movies aren't anything they feel the need to be handy for. Liz ~ I'll send you some cookies. When I'm enroute to the gym. So, yeah, good luck with that. LOL!
I sent a picture of my beautifully decorated 8 foot high Christmas tree done in a 'beach theme' this year to you via text message...The tree I love, and baking, cards I do because there are some folks we only connect with that way, and UPS and I...yeah, they know me! I got dragged into a mall, tricked! the other day.
Holy cow, Valerie, you sound just like me!!!
Kate ~ it's your stupid fault I'm hooked on Amazon Prime. Between your recommendation and a free month was all it took to sucker me in.
Faith ~ I think there are more of "us" than "them".
So this is where all my Amazon buddies are hanging. lol Sad to say, the UPS man comes while I'm at work, but I'm sure he loves me for giving him job security. Haven't tried Prime yet, but it's tempting.
My mom is a Christmas fanatic. She completely strips her house of all its regular decor and puts up Christmas. She loves the family time, the music, the movies. You know all the touchy feely crap. I, on the other hand, love Christmas because it's a good excuse to drop loads of money on shit I don't need. Now, if you'll excuse me, this 20% off coupon is not going to redeem itself.
Katie wins...I think LOL
This year is a rare year where I'm not so much in the Christmas spirit. And the fact that the rain just washed all the snow we did have away, doesn't help. I have ordered more gifts online than ever before. Maybe it's a new trend. LOL
Merry Christmas!
If ANYONE doesn't follow Katie Harper, they are missing out. Just sayin'!
Val, I personally enjoy 'Holiday In Handcuffs' and 'Santa Paws'. I record a holiday movie every day, I think, and next week the DVR will be on overload because all of the claymation classics will be on ABC Family (Nestor the Christmas Donkey, Santa Claus is Coming to Town, Rudolph, and our new favorite--the Miser Brother's Christmas!)
I love the holidays, but this is the first year I've gotten into the mood early enough to enjoy it. I'm making a real EFFORT to decorate and do fun stuff.
I like shopping, but everyone knows to keep me out of Walmart/Target/any mall on the weekend--I want to beat people and I stare people down thinking any one of them is a purse snatcher on the make. I actually have to do holiday stuff tonight with the kids, they have to go get little gifties for their school BFFs.
We still have to make the gingerbread house (kit) and I have a mountain of cards to do and we have to do candy and we still have decor to put up and.....ok, December sucks.
OMG, I LOVE everything about Christmas. I usually decorate the weekend after Thanksgiving. AND I love the 12 Men of Christmas movie!
We celebrate Christmas, but it's more about being with family, giving gifts, and Santa.
I do enjoy decorating, but I don't like the mess. I like wrapping, but I don't want to pull the wrapping paper out or put it away. Right now, our house is a disaster area. It drives my husband batty. Lily doesn't care. The cats are ecstatic. (They love hiding behind the tree. Thankfully, they don't climb it.)
I try to avoid the malls at peak hours, although we went around 10:30 am today, and the parking lot was packed. Oddly enough, people were polite. It was a nice surprise. (g)
That's the extent of my shopping, though. Well, I still have to get for the rug rat. I am not sure what, though, as I have told everyone else what she wanted. (sigh)
I love Christmas music. Let me rephrase that: I love real Christmas music, not the stuff they play on the pop stations. (Madonna's "Santa Baby" is a poor rip off of Eartha Kitt's.) Give me Frank Sinatra, Bing Crosby, choral renditions of Hark the Herald Angels Sing, etc., Ella Fitzgerald, Eartha Kitt, Dean Martin, Rosemary Clooney, etc, any day. Oh, and the Chipmunks. (g) I love the Chipmunks. Just spare me the barking dogs Jingle Bells. LOL It's cute for about 5 seconds.
And thank you for reminding me about the music. I just turned on our traditional Christmas music TV station. :)
I'm no longer "into" turning my house into a winter wonderland. Someone else can bake the cookies. If I bake them, I'll eat them, and I shouldn't. I don't want to do crowded malls. I'll take a little Christmas music. It takes no effort and I won't gain a pound. LOL
I did nearly all my shopping this year online on cyber Monday. And my hubby and daughter picked out their own gifts, so I'm done.
I wasn't going to send out cards this year, but a few people (including Faith) sent one to me so I'll have to make one of kitties pose in a Santa hat so I can make cute cards to send out.
Janice~
Post a Comment