Ugh. Christmas time is here. I am not exactly sure when I transformed from a Black Friday-shopping, 24-hour Christmas music listening, hall decking, mistletoe hanging cornball into a scrooge, but it has definitely happened. I have managed to drag out some of my pretty Christmas decorations and put up the tree but I can't seem to muster up any holiday spirit. It must be part of growing old. It is SO darn stressful to find just the right gifts for everyone and plan visits to everyone even though there just aren't enough work-free days to do so. And I must make a yummy dish for each of these gatherings even though most of my dishes are inevitably not-so-yummy. Not to mention that my almost-6-year-old has about 10 things on his list that he MUST have for Christmas this year (or he can not go on living, of course), most of those things being $75+... How could I possibly get into the holiday spirit with all of this stress? I could chose to be a non-holiday celebrating atheist or something but I don't think that's the most practical solution. Any ideas?

Also (opinions welcome here), am I being a total bitch by deciding that my son will give 3 of his gifts to charity this year? My mother is notorious for being over-the-top and has elected to by my children 13 gifts a piece this year. This is way. too. many. I have told her over and over again to please limit her amount of gifts because A) it is excessive and gives my son the wrong idea about Christmas and B) our house isn't that big. She chooses not to listen so I chose to give some of those unnecessary items to kids who actually need things. If it hurts her feelings too bad. I warned her.

In other news, one of my oldest and dearest friends has won a cruise and has decided to take little old me with her. I. cannot. wait. I am going to be drunk for a week straight, I am sure of it. MKH is going to get the awakening he deserves kick'n it single-parent style. Yay!