So this is Christmas.....

Wow....what a day.

After an early morning rise, I started my day with my Dad and breakfast. I chose to cook again this year because this was a new tradition that my brother and I decided would be a good idea last year. So I was determined to keep up the new tradition and kept the menu to a minimum since I was the chief cook and bottle washer.

Then....on to Mom's for more food. This meal was more filling than the first and I was glad to see this "last meal" coming to tell the truth. The last 24 hours - including Christmas Eve - has been one big food fest leaving me in a sizable food coma. I have summoned just enough energy to blog this evening. Actually....I was hoping that a little more activity would allow me to work off a few calories.

Lyn headed home with her family today and methinks that she is in a food coma now herself because my text messages since 6:30 have garnished no response. I think Fried Chicken was on her menu today. I have seen many o' women fall into a deep food coma after several helpings of Fried Chicken and all the fixins. If I get no response soon, I may have to go out in the backyard and send up a few signal flares so she can find her way home. I realize that drinking and driving is not a good combination, but a food coma is not something to take lightly!

Tomorrow will be a day of taking it easy and unwinding a bit. Cocktails and a movie sound like a really good plan. I have a feeling that it will also include a few trips to a local mall or favorite department store just to check out the bargains. Just typing that last sentence made the "non-shopper" in me scream out in angst......(sigh)

Enjoy the food coma while it lasts. Tomorrow is another thing entirely.......

Christmas gifts

As I sit here this evening and catch up on my blog reading, I am reminded of some of my "Christmas gifts past". Some of them I have conveniently forgotten.....I suppose it is better to just blame my old lesbian memory, but there are some Christmas' that I just simply can't remember what I received from my significant other at the time. I am sure that they were all fabulous - the correct size, color, shape and blinked, beeped and buzzed. I'm sure that I was thrilled with each and every one of them.

I think.

I don't recall getting a "bad" gift per say. I mean....nothing sticks out in my mind as something that was just so wrong I will not only remember it in this lifetime but in the next three lifetimes. And, I am just as hopeful that in all of my years of bestowing gifts......I made sound decisions. Again....no recollections of gifts being hurled back in my direction or loud wailing cries from significant others.

I have always thought I was more of a receiver than a giver, but after recollecting on "Christmas gifts past", I am not so sure. I love buying for other people and seeing the joyous expressions on their faces when they receive something fabulous! That makes me feel wonderful!

This season is about giving, but in order to give.....someone has to receive. This leads me to my question this evening. What makes you more happy - giving or receiving?

Christmas decorations

There are hundreds (maybe thousands) of opinions on when it is the best time to decorate for Christmas. In my opinion, thirty days ago was too soon and twenty days from now is too late. I subscribed to the whole "day after Thanksgiving" notion. I mean, if I am going to shop for Christmas the day after Thanksgiving, why not decorate for it too? This year, however, I was so tired from my midnight shopping brigade at the outlet mall, I just couldn't get it done on time as planned. I am running a little bit behind but I have managed to do some light decorating tonight as I watched the evening news.

"Light decorating" means one small tree in my living room, one small tree in the family room, a wreath above the fireplace and a Santa hat on my front door. I have not put up the lighted garland around the banister leading down to the family room and I haven't "decked out the cats". So I am doing pretty well methinks.......

So what is too early and what is too late? Obviously, Christmas trees that are still twinkling on Valentine's Day is waaaaaay too late and may indicate that someone needs a good therapy session. YIKES! Lyn calls me "Mother Christmas" because of my endless humming of Christmas carols and the need to throw up the decorations while munching on a leftover turkey sandwich. And, I have been known to listen to Christmas carols before Thanksgiving Day. Sad but true.

So let me see a show of hands! Have you started to decorate already or are you waiting until next month?

TA TA!