What I'm Reading This Week #16
Good Friday to you! Literally. I can't believe Easter is here. Anyone else having epic wind and rain storms over the past month? I mean good friggin' luck trying to enjoy any time out there and we're not afraid of weather. As I type, there are 40mph gusts. I went out to paint the critter cages on the planters and feel like I have hypothermia at 47 degrees when yesterday's weather forecast said it would be 74 today. Da fuq? Guess who finally took the bedroom Christmas tree down Wednesday? It was neutrally decorated so it was fine but it came on every night and gave a cozy glow. I knew one day I would look at it and know it needed to go to sleep until November 1st. That's the other thing, I will be decorating for everything extra early from now on. August 1st- Fall decor as I will thoroughly be over summer by then and given that's the day Mom passed, I'll need something to lift my spirits. November 1st it'll be ...
It is off this year. We're all going thru the motions, cause that's what you do in December, but it's off. The retailers started "Black Friday" 2 weeks before Thanksgiving, so it's not like we haven't been reminded everywhere we go that the shopping season was underway. Maybe the collective mind decided to rebel against their early shopping manipulation. Who knows.
ReplyDeleteI'm so far behind it's ridiculous. I travelled for work last week so shopping begins today. I feel rushed and overwhelmed.
ReplyDeleteEnjoy your day
I don't know if it's the late Thanksgiving or something else. I'm not a huge Christmas person in the best of years, but this year is extra not exciting for me. I'm always pressed for time b/c the end of the quarter is right before Christmas (so much better than when it used to be after break) so I'm scrambling at work and personal stuff takes a back seat. Usually though I at least have a plan by now even if the actual shopping hasn't happened yet. This year... nope. It doesn't help that I don't have lists from anyone so I'm flying blind. Even my kiddo hasn't had time to make me a list yet. I do have some things I've picked up for people throughout the year stashed in a closet. I haven't made the time to inventory that yet, I'm hoping that once I inventory and wrap those this weekend (weekend phhhhh - Sunday is my only day off so that's when everything has to happen) I will realize I'm more prepared than I thought.
ReplyDeleteDefinitely, but I can list several reasons: husband at a new job and this is a very busy time of year, study for a major professional certification, work stress, etc. But yes, I put up maybe 75% of my decorations and called it good. Doing the best I can and trying not to let my expectations get in the way of enjoying the rest.
ReplyDeleteI think it's a contrast from last year having nearly 5 weeks between TDay and Xmas then this year not having 4. It also feels like the stores put Xmas up early. I saw Xmas stuff in mid-October. There's a mix of too much and not enough for me.
ReplyDeleteOn the bright side we finally have our trees and lights up and are almost done with the must do before Xmas projects so we might be able to enjoy the season soon. I hope you find a way too. I know it's one of your favorites.
Feeling weird here as well. We just moved back 'home' two months ago after 15 years in FL and 15 years before that in various places. It's great to be close to family and best friends again, but I'm also having trouble feeling like this is 'real' and I think that's impacting my holiday spirit some. Also it's the first Christmas since my dad passed in May, so there's that...
ReplyDeleteDefinitely weird and I can't use the excuse of a late Thanksgiving as an excuse, as I am Canadian and live in Canada. But I definitely feel off. I'm behind in my baking, decorating and my shopping. Only two types of cookies have been baked so far. I haven't bought Christmas wreaths for my exterior doors and there hasn't been talk about helping our friends sell natural Christmas trees from their farm yet or getting a tree for ourselves. I know it isn't just me in my house either. My partner's work Christmas party was cancelled due to poor planned attendance. No one seems to be in the mood. I'm just looking forward to my two week break from work, even if it means more hockey travel and family drama.
ReplyDeleteMy decorating is very minimal and I don't have very much planned as far as holiday-themed meals/desserts go for the month. In one way, I'm ahead of the game because of surgery that I absolutely could not procrastinate on some things like shopping and wrapping. So for that I'm grateful because that's all done and all I have left to wrap is a few things for the hubs. So the usual stress of all that (and feeling overwhelmed) isn't there. But I'm also not in a "holiday" frame of mind either. I think I've lowered my expectations so far over the years, that it's hard for me to get too "up" for anything, so a "meh" holiday still feels better than some in the past. Sad, isn't it? But I can't say I feel down or unhappy with anything. Just kind of coasting though, while my head whips around at how fast weeks and months go by. That's probably it more than anything -- how fast time seems to go so I don't feel I have a chance to slow things down to embrace a holiday or season because we're always on to the next one before the current one is even here!
ReplyDeleteOn one hand, I put all the decorations up and am enjoying them. (Late thanksgiving is a huge factor, I agree). I have pared down to the xmas decorations I love and use. (But I also increased my decorations for other holidays and use them).
ReplyDeleteOn the other hand, since I have been doing serious decluttering/rehoming/selling/donating continuously (house/attic/garage) since the spring of 2018, I can just barely stand the thought of more stuff. So very little is under the tree.