Bah Humbug
Have you noticed the general air of malaise and grumpiness around here? It’s getting so bad that I’m considering buying Aimee Mann’s Christmas album because there’s nothing like a little Aimee to put the down back in downtime. (Or the dour in your whiskey and dour. Or the hum in your humbug. Or the… but enough is enough.)
It’s not exactly infecting the house, or rather, I’m keeping it all reasonably well packed away until cocktail hour starts. Still, I would not say that I’m exactly on top of the Christmas shopping. This is partly because that general air of bah humbug to which I referred earlier. But also it is because I am not a good shopper. I run out of oomph very quickly, even online and decide it’s time to go for a walk or for cocktail hour again! But it’s also because I am a person who is pretty much ruled by her sneakily rebellious subconscious. And in my subconscious, Christmas present buying feels a little like this:
I mean, seriously. Bog off, Capitalist Stooge and let Christmas be about love and twinkly lights (with lead on them – wash those hands!) and the light coming back to the world and snow and fa la la la la la.
And if I needed MORE proof that Santa is merely a pawn of the evil empire, try this on: apparently Santa is a Disney character which gives the Land of Disney the right to tell some nice, white haired chap to change his shirt. Where do I start with that?
I’ll tell you one place I’m going to start. I’m going to make mince pies and maybe mull some wine and look forward to the early evening dusk. I love this time of year, the chance to hibernate in the encroaching dark and light candles and listen to Lorena McKennett and think about all the wonder that is in my life, lest I forget. Bah Humbug, Christmas presents. I have everything I want right here.
(Well, except for some bras that fit, but that’s what the January sales are for).
That picture is flipping awesome. I’m putting it up on my site too. Thanks!
My boyfriend and I got into a long discussion (argument) about Santa and the spirt of Christmas yesterday. It had to do with whether or not it was okay to spoil your kids, or even let “Santa” spoil your kids (of which we have none by the way, so don’t ask why we were having this argument in the first place), or if you should teach them about the importance of love and togetherness at Christmas.
I just sent him that picture and said “this is what I’m talking about.” Hope that tells you what side of the argument I was on.
most definitely and i love this picture … : )
(found you via silent k)
Worst Christmas ever around here. Blech. I just want it over, and I’m usually a pile of carol singing glitter throwing cheer.
It’s WARM out. That’s offensive. And my closet if full of money wasted by other people on my kids and not me.
Ho ho ho.
Love the Bad Santa Poster, where on earth did you find it? Hmm, anyway I am so with you. Even unto the needing of the new bras. Speed the day to the January sales!
The warmth Thordora mentioned is a bit of a drag, but I’m kind of enjoying myself this year. Mind you, I have no idea what it is that we’re celebrating exactly (atheist and a lapsed baha’i), but I have a living tree with pretty lights, plenty of wine and have enjoyed doing random, secret santa-ish activities.
Love the angry santa though!
I heard a few cuts of the new Aimee Mann album on World Cafe the other day, and thought “That’s the soundtrack to my effing holidays for sure…”
amen for cocktail hour. And I’m taking this post of yours as permission to go home tonight, order in dinner, pour a cocktail, pop in some Loreena M. and enjoy the soft glow…maybe I’ll even manage to ignore the mess. Maybe.
I’m kinda enjoying this holiday season. But I think it is largely because I have avoided the mall after Halloween, bought very few gifts and none that were useless, or any of the other stuff that bogs me down this time of year. But the warm weather is a real bummer. Not digging it.
Can you catch grumpiness online b/c I’ve got a serious case of it, too. DH hasn’t exactly been a prince lately either. Here’s my shopping strategy: beginning in late summer I start picking up presents for various people on my list. I do lots of shopping at Sam’s and Costco and, occasionally Target. At some point, I make a list and group the children by age. Kids of similar age and the same sex get the same stuff — easy when they’re on non-related sides of the family. I also prefer to start shopping as early in the day as possible. That way, I can stop for a little lunch and keep going.
Just get out there and finish your list before this weekend!
i’m so with you on this! was hoping to send you an e-card but can’t find an email address around here. (it’s probably under a pile of papers – everything else in this blasted house is!). if you come on over to my place, you can send yerself one – not quite the same, i’ll concede, but free and fast and therefore very much my style!
x
I’m definitely not my usual spirited self–not that I’m ever all that spirited, but usually a little less–ehhh–than I am this year. Must be in the water or else those damned inflatables are releasing some sort of weird depressing chemical into the environment & we’re all suffering its effects.
I seriously love this post.