nutmeg

is everyone else out there as busy as i am? or was... don't get me wrong i love christmas, i really do. but it is so overwhelming. the tree, the gifts, the post office, travel plans, etc. these are all things that i do not recall dealing with (much), until after college. as an adult, they are taxing.

ideal scenario #1
christmas gifts would be bought and wrapped by early december to avoid the hectic mess of the mall and to avoid nail biting at the post office

actual scenario #1
it is december 22nd and i'm not totally done. i've accepted the fact that 1 or 2 gifts will be given after the holidays - it's a bonus to get a gift after christmas, right?

ideal scenario #2
christmas cards would be mailed to the nearest and dearest, letting them know i'm thinking of them

actual scenario #2
that's funny, christmas cards. trust me friends and family, i still love you, even though you didn't get a card in the mail. trust me.

ideal scenario #3
the post office would be open until 7 (or maybe 8), mailing packages to family was never easier

actual scenario #3
i can't use the post office, m-f because it closes before i can get to it. mailing packages must be done on a saturday, or involve driving to work and doing it during lunch
    * i did mail a box on a saturday, which involved doing all shopping for the box from 11-2, rushing like mad home from the mall and wrapping all gifts and getting it to the post office before it closed at 3.
     * i also drove to work to mail a package. this involved running (and falling in the mud), illegally parking (there was a line to park), and waiting in line for 30 minutes .
     * jury is out on which situation was better

ideal scenario #4
we would be celebrating the christmas holiday with aaron's fabulous family in wisconsin. i couldn't have asked for a better boyfriends family. they are the bees knees.

actual scenario #4
 we procrastinated so long that flying to wisconsin became ridiculously expensive ($500-600). we will be staying home during the holidays (the hidden bonus here is that we will not have to deal with airports). we will have a skyped video christmas (thank you technology)

ideal scenario #5
i will celebrate christmas by drinking some wine (or eggnog, or buttered rum) by a beautiful christmas tree.

actual scenario #5
i will celebrate christmas by drinking some wine (or eggnog, or buttered rum) by a beautiful christmas tree.

thankfully, i'm at a place where i can begin to relax a bit and enjoy the spirit of the holidays. incidentally, if you are really in the true spirit of christmas, and feel like donating to others, whose biggest concern doesn't involve the hours of the post office, consider donating to kiva.

have a wonderful holiday season everyone!