It's times like this I'm glad I don't have credit cards any more.

It's bad enough that we had to scrimp and save to afford Christmas at all, let alone face months of crazed credit card bills ahead of us.

If we can just get through the next few weeks, we'll be fine. Hey, it even says so in my budget.

Don't let the title of this entry fool you. We had a GREAT Christmas.

Certainly it was excellent enough to prevent me from writing for nearly a week, which totally blew the whole 'Holidailies' idea away, hey? Ah well. I still posted a record number of times for this month, so I still feel pretty good. I'll try to come up with a regular schedule in the New Year.

Anyway. Here's what happened:

Saturday, Dec. 22. Christmas Eve Eve Eve (Shopping Day)

The weekend before Christmas is indeed the worst day to try to do your shopping. Thankfully, we already had most of our presents bought, and I just had to get Lisa's, plus some odds and ends.

I was smart though. I was sitting in a Starbuck's at the mall at eight o'clock in the morning, drinking a fresh cup of café mocha, so I would be wired and ready when the doors opened at 9:30.

I did pretty darn well. No real crowds until eleven or so, and I wrapped it up at 12:30. From what I hear, everyone was packed in like a cattle car later that afternoon. There were times when I didn't even have to wait in line to buy something. And I got a couple good 'doorcrasher specials' for being so early, so Lisa got more presents that she would have otherwise.

The rest of the day was spent wrapping. And I'm serious when I say the rest of the day. Yeesh.

I had this whole gag entry planned for Saturday, where I would write something like 'I bought all Lisa's presents today, and just HAVE to talk about them', and then have a big section where the text is the same color as the background. Like how I hid the ending in my review of 'Pay It Forward' last year, but with a warning to Lisa about how she shouldn't read it if she wants to be surprised on Christmas morning.

Of course, the hidden text would have read, 'What, you think I'm nuts or something?'

Sunday, Dec. 23. Christmas Eve Eve (Church Day)

This year's schedule didn't leave me enough time to go to a Christmas Eve service at my family's church, so I went down for the morning service. It was nice, although I don't think I've ever heard a longer prayer of offering in my life. I had to keep glancing up to make sure everyone was still praying, and I hadn't missed the 'Amen'.

Had lunch with my folks, and then went back to the mall. I had picked the wrong thing for Lisa's work gift exchange and had to scramble to find a replacement. So much for all my planning on Saturday.

Sunday afternoon and night included more wrapping while Lisa went to her store's Christmas dinner. The store was paying for everything, so no spouses or partners allowed. Ah well. I got to finish wrapping Lisa's stocking stuffers.

Monday, Dec. 24. Christmas Eve

This was a scheduled regular workday for me, so I was in the car at 8 in the morning, braving the totally non-existent traffic to come to the office, where they sent us all home at 10:30 anyway.

So I dropped off our VCR for warranty repairs -- our warranty expires on the 30th, and the store where I bought it has their repair department closed until the New Year, so I had to find the actual repair outlet to take it to -- and headed home.

I took a quick nap, and started ramping everything up for the next couple days, what I've come to call the 'Dance of the Houses'. I roasted some garlic for the mashed potatoes I was to bring to Tricia's for dinner Christmas Day, so the house smelled wonderful. I picked Lisa up from work and we scrambled to shower and change clothes for dinner at Lisa's parent's apartment.

After dinner, we watched 'It's a Wonderful Life'. Perfect.

Tuesday, Dec 25. Christmas!

The most hectic day of the year. Up at 6 to open stockings and presents (Books and DVDs and candy for both of us. A new sweater and jammies for Lisa, and a giant stuffed hippo for me*). Over to Lisa's folks for 8:30 for breakfast and more presents (A new duvet and pillows, plus a no-stick fondue pot). Over to my folk's for 12:30 for lunch and more presents (A new winter coat for me, and flannel shirt for Lisa. Plus another bottle of 12-year, single malt Glenfiddich from Granddad. One of these days I have to tell him that I just can't handle scotch). A quick nap, then whip up some Garlic and Chives Mashed Potatoes, and off to Tricia and Dan's for Christmas Dinner and still more presents (A murder mystery game).

My nephew Peter was very pleased with the stuffed elephant we gave him. He should be - it's bigger than he is!

Then home, and coma-like sleep under our new duvet.

Wednesday, Dec 26. Boxing Day

Up at 8. Headed over to FutureShop for 9:30 to spend Grandma's Christmas cheque (thanks Grandma!). After being unable to find a decent CD burner that we could afford, I picked up a new cordless, Caller ID phone and the Shrek DVD and went home.

Lisa came home from work at 1:30, feeling ill, and went to sleep for a bit. Then it was off to my parents' for their annual Boxing Day open house, and then to see Lord of the Rings again with Ronja and Joel.

Home and sleep.

Thursday, Dec 27. Back to work day

Another regular scheduled workday at the Sporting Goods Company. We're busy pulling off all the Christmas information and articles off our online site, so I was quite swamped. That particular task will probably take until January at least.

Home around 4:30 to relax a bit and watch Shrek. This was the least hectic day of the lot.

Today.

I'm back at work again. The place is still barren, as half the building won't be back until the 2nd of January. The cafeteria is closed, but at least I brought turkey sandwiches to chew on. Plus about 18 pounds of Christmas goodies to add to my waistline. And using a Pez dispenser doesn't count as exercise.

This weekend will be spent cleaning the apartment, as we're having family over for dinner Sunday night. They haven't seen the place yet, so we just can't pile all the crap in my office and close the door on it. No, everything has to be AWAY.

Then Monday is New Year's Eve, and we're having some people over in the evening, so more mess and hassle. New Year's Day will be more cleaning, plus tearing down the decorations and tree. Then back to work for three more days.

I need a vacation.

One rule I need to remember about online journaling: Be wary of poking fun at old friends, for they shall find it and call you on it. After I posted that bit about my old friend Dave in my Lord of the Rings review, Dave wrote me an email to complain about my portrayal of him. Okay, he's only 6'4", and his acne wasn't all that bad. His hair was unruly though.

It's okay. I don't feel so bad making fun of him after hearing that he's been reading these pages for some time without letting me know he was even there.

So let that be a warning to all you lurkers out there. You are all fair game.

So there.

For those of you who may need to shed a few pounds (like, ahem, ME), How Stuff Works has a good grass roots article on 'How Diets Work'. You'd think it's common sense stuff, but this puts it all together clearly, and dispels some myths about the process.

Aaaaand finally, this week's Friday Five.

1. What was your biggest accomplishment this year?

Getting back to work. Not only was this an effort in terms of work load and tasks, but it was an effort to get past the feelings of personal uselessness that resulted from being laid off. I've learned a lot, and I'm wiser (I think) as a result.

2. What was your biggest disappointment?

Silly question. Being laid off, of course. My job at the newspaper was crafted for me, and fit my skills and wants perfectly. To have that removed hurt a lot.

3. Will you be making any New Year's resolutions?

Yeah. I'm getting into better shape. I need to add exercise to my lifestyle, and cut back on the nasty foods. I have this damn bike I didn't use all summer, and I want to get out on it. My goals are realistic - I'm not looking to be all buff by summer, but I'd like to take care of some of my physical issues before they become full-blown problems.

4. Where do you wish you were celebrating?

I wish we could afford to go away. I would like to have celebrated the New Year from somewhere warm. Tahiti maybe. Australia definitely.

5. What do you plan to do for New Year's Eve?

No big plans. Just a few people over for the evening. Maybe we'll crack those bottles of Glenfiddich.

*Funny story about that hippo. Lisa originally bought it as Peter's present, but I fell in love with it when she brought it home. I know, a 30-year-old guy wanting a stuffed animal. He's cute. Shut up. Anyway. She bought Peter the elephant instead, and wrapped up the hippo for me, all without telling me she made any sort of swap. So my question after unwrapping the hippo, and stopping my giggles, was, 'So what did we get Peter?'

Mom Rating: 4.5 out of 5. Have I mentioned that Mom loves Christmas? She especially liked that she didn't have to cook dinner this year.

Friday Breaks and Toothaches

New Year's Revolution

Take me home, big fella

A solemn pledge to try to post daily during the month of December, as both a gift to my readers, as well as a thank you for your support.