Ba Humbug

I don't like December. There, I've said it. But you know, it makes me feel really bad. I mean, this twelfth month did nothing to deserve these negative feelings. And as much as I'd like to cut December some slack. It's just not going to happen for all the reasons below:

1. Winter - That's right. The coldest, most dreary season of the year on the East coast arrives with the winter solstice. Bleh. I don't like snow and I abhor being cold. Really, it makes me grouchy.

2. Shopping - I'm not one of those that has ever planned further ahead than a few weeks. I fly by the seat of my pants. (Just like I write.) I like to think I'm a spontaneous kind of gal. What this means is that I now not only have to think about what to gift my family (namely my children), but I also have to go out, purchase, schlep home, wrap and then transport to various Christmas tree locations ingenious gifts that will be exactly what the recipient has been lying awake yearning for for months. Yeah, like that isn't any pressure!

3. Baking - It's not that I dislike baking so much, it's just that, well... okay, I dislike baking all those special treats my children insist are part of their traditional Christmas. Too much of a mess with the mixing and the pans. And waaaay too many calories calling my name when they're all baked and sitting on the shelf.

4. Decorating - See, now this is a double-edged sword. I absolutely LOVE Christmas lights twinkling in greenery festooned with beautiful red ribbon. I can sit in front of a lighted Christmas tree for hours just enjoying our collection of ornaments. Some even made by my children in grade school. *sigh* Okay, all of that is nice. But pulling all of that stuff out for 3 or 4 weeks is a bit overwhelming. (I get a reprieve this year ... it's all in storage. Very odd not to have our Christmas tree. But I digress ...) It really is so much work unpacking and repacking and lugging it up from the cellar only to lug it all back down.

5. Gift Giving - I don't mean I mind giving them. It's just they don't magically appear all perfectly wrapped and ready to go. If there's any confusion here ... refer to #2.

6. Time - I have seriously come to believe that these elf people who are supposed to be helping Santa are stealing minutes, hours, even days from the month of December. (I think they're ready for their vacation.) Seriously, ever noticed how we go from Thanksgiving to OMG! Christmas is a week away! And where does all that time go? It's an elf conspiracy I'm telling you! Because I've been doing this Christmas preparation thing awhile now and it only seems to get worse, no matter how hard I try to diligently schedule all the activities, there's NEVER enough time in December.

See? None of that is anything December can control. And I've tried not to blame it on the month. But seriously, if it never arrived all the above stressors would be none existent. I'd stay and chat more, but it appears the elves just stole another day which means I'm precariously close to panicking.

Hope your December is a happy time for you!