Tuesday, November 27, 2012

Grinch List


Let me preface this by saying that I enjoy the Christmas season. I like to deck my halls, share good cheer with those dear to me, send and receive cards, sing Fairytale of New York at the top of my lungs, marvel over ugly Christmas sweaters, sit on the couch and admire the glow of our tree, put reindeer antlers on my dogs, donate toys for tots, bake Christmas cookies, watch Christmas Vacation and A Christmas Story, see everyone's tree and Santa pics, the whole nine.


But there are things I don't like too, and I'm probably not the only one. We rarely mention the stressful dark side of the holiday season for fear of being branded a Scrooge. Even though this is a season cloaked in magic, there is a reality to it, like there is to everything. Not loving everything about the holiday season doesn't make me or you Scrooge. This year my gift to myself is acknowledging that.


So what don't I like?

Doing the Christmas tree. I like it when it's up, but putting it up? No. Thankfully I'm married to MFD W. Griswold and he does it start to finish. And he does it very well - he clips it lovingly with scissors, he places each ornament carefully. He has an eye for symmetry and our tree is always beautiful. I usually have to take it down, which I also hate, but I'll take it. And, pine needles. Insidious vacuum hose ruiners.



Christmas music 24/7. Or that Christmas Shoes song, ever.

The attempt to cram a year of cheer into one month. By 12/26, I'm tired.

Seeing Christmas decor in stores at Halloween (I'm looking at you, Kohl's), really irks me. It takes away some of the rush. I remember when nothing was up in stores until after Thanksgiving, and it seemed like magic happened overnight. Now it's the sales that happen overnight. It puts me in a bad mood. I feel like greed and consumerism take over a lot of the season.

Expecting shiny happy kumbaya love circles because it's the holidays. Not everyone gets along or likes everyone else, and that's okay. That's life. Pretending for December is awkward.


Scheduling Christmas Day. Have I timed it right? Are we spending enough time everywhere? Someone is invariably disappointed and I am always anxious about it in advance. Why is it harder to keep in mind during the holidays that if you try to please everyone, you end up pleasing no one?

The holiday season tests my desire to keep a good life balance. I want to do everything and be everywhere and see everyone. I have to remember that I can't do it all without getting totally run down, rendering me useless like Randy in A Christmas Story.


This concludes the airing of the grievances and holiday whining.


Next up: feats of strength and holiday posts about pooping candy cane scented sunshine.











Linking up with Helene, Emily and Kathleen for Tell Me About it Tuesday.

Helene in Between

25 comments:

  1. "Doing the Christmas tree" Hahahah! I can DEFINITELY tell that you don't like that chore ;-) We have yet to get our decorations up yet. I had plans to do it all on Sunday, but I wasn't feeling it and didn't want to make it a CHORE!

    And YES to the Christmas Shoes song, hahaha!

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  2. Your furry babies look like they loooove the antlers as much as Hawkeye does!
    I think nothing makes me crazier than Chritmas stuff up before Halloween, since Halloween is clearly my favorite. And pine needles, although now I only do my gorgeous fake tree ;)
    What's the Chritmas shoes song? Why don't I know it?

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  3. I LOVE DECORATING THE TREE. Taking it down, however, is one of my least favorite chores of the year.

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  4. Nordies does not decorate until Thanksgiving, which I thoroughly respect (even if I am too cheap to buy their stuff).

    As far as giving everyone enough time, we made a point this year to ensure that we are content with our plans and that we will have an enjoyable holiday season. We choose who to spend time with, and when, and everyone else is welcome to pound sand. My kids will only be small once, and I will not have their holidays ruined by adults who can't think beyond their own selfish wants. And if that makes me a scrooge, I'll wear the label proudly while my kids dance around in wrapping paper costumes, smelling of cookie dough and joy.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I am totally with you on this...I feel like just me and MFD wanting relaxing and nice time at home isn't justifiable. Even though logically I know it is.

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    2. Gus & Geege would be much happier having Mom & Pop at home than galavanting over the countryside in a one-horse open sleigh. Enjoy the holidays on your own terms.

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  5. That shoe song irritates the hell out of me! Every single time!
    Christmas Vacation and A Christmas Story ate the best. Over and over and over.
    And I need an MFD Griswold and a cookie baker! Badly.

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    Replies
    1. The thing about the Shoe Song is that it's made to intentionally upset people. It makes me mad!

      Delete
  6. That shoe song irritates the hell out of me! Every single time!
    Christmas Vacation and A Christmas Story ate the best. Over and over and over.
    And I need an MFD Griswold and a cookie baker! Badly.

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  7. I'm decorating the tree today, started last night. I kind of like doing it by myself. God bless MFD, I'm over it looking perfect. I just want it to look like mine.

    Loathe the shoe song.

    Love that it's just Pam and me for holidays now. Sometimes having such a tiny family is burdensome, but 99% of the time it makes my life infinitely easier. I have other family, but they are loons and I refuse to be around them. TTFN, losers.

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  8. hahaha have to agree with you on this!! i hate decorating the tree- just be done with it already!

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  9. that tree looks AMAZING!!! can MFD W. Griswold come to my house when I get my real one? I'll have him back by dinner (if he finishes). and hell-to-the-yes about stressing over being in each freaking place on time. i HATE this. there is just not enough of me to go around. :)

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  10. I agree with you on the Christmas decor out before Halloween. I love Christmas, but I can only take do much. Also, I can't stand the Christmas shoes song.

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  11. I agree with pretty much everything you said...except the Christmas tree, because I don't mind putting it up once we ARE putting it up...I hate the anticipation though, because I know how much work it is. We do have a lovely fake tree though, so we don't have to mess with lights/pine needles/etc, which is great. Everything else though...yeeahh. I concur.

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  12. I don't mind decorating the Christmas tree but I do HATE doing the lights - Tom takes care of those. Ugh. I always take it down too so I feel you on that. BTW - the picture of your tree was lovely, MFD does a great job!

    I also have scheduling conflicts too and I hate when stores are decorated at Halloween and not after Thanksgiving. I also don't listen to Christmas music unless it's my own and it's only at specific times - not all month long.

    Perfect post.

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  13. "...if you try to please everyone, you end up pleasing no one?" And to that I would add, "especially yourself."

    Could not agree more about pretending for December. 'Nuff said about that.

    I despise the Christmas shoes song. I know that a lot of our friends love "Mary, did you know?" but I really hate that one, too.

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    Replies
    1. Especially yourself, you're right about that.

      I do not want my Christmas carols to make me sad.

      Delete
  14. I agree - I know someone will be disappointed this year. It will probably be my family. :(

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  15. I do love putting up the Christmas tree, but I got so angry at Target this year when they had a haunted house thingy set up and I could see the Christmas snowmen and lighted reindeer through the display.

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  16. This time of year always gives me fond memories of Ralphie.

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  17. I totally agree with all of your gripes! I wish people were more willing/excited to get together the whole year and not just within two weeks of Christmas.

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  18. Your tree is gorgeous! And the Christmas Shoes song? No. Never. Nevereverever. Worst song ever. I want to kick the person who came up with it.

    ReplyDelete

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