Brown Paper Packages Tied Up With String

Dave and I have been together for almost 6 years. This season will be our fifth Christmas together. Five holidays of gift-giving. Five seasons of trying to find the perfect gift for parents, siblings, nieces, nephews and the occasional cousin. Five. This year is is the first time I have gone shopping with Dave. Usually I do it all myself. It wasn't terrible. For me, at least. I think it was terrible for Dave when I kept asking him questions about what women would love to get. But hey, if you're going to be tagging along, you have to play the part.

So yes, we have started the Christmas shopping. I was amazed to find out that most people start shopping after Thanksgiving. Amazed! That seems like so much work to cram in such a short period of time. I started in August. I have a lot of people on my Christmas list.

I have found as I've gotten older that Christmas has flipped for me. I used to be so excited to get presents. And, don't get me wrong, I still do! But now I find the true excitement lies in hunting for the perfect present, wrapping it in adorable paper, tying the ribbon, and then watching in anxious anticipation for it to be opened. And then hoping they love it, love it, LOVE IT...otherwise, I am ashamed to admit, my feelings are hurt. I know it's silly, but I want to find the perfect gift for everybody on my list.

Is anybody else like this?

More Letters I Would Love to Send

Dear NBC,

Hi. The Great Jay Leno 10pm Experiment? Not working. Let's just chalk it up to a bad idea and a lack of leadership to veto it.


Dear Pandora,

Really? Petra? Really?!? On my Keane channel? Can I assume it was a computer glitch that won't happen again? Thanks. Also, Christian Music from 1989 called...they need their synthesizers back.

Petra...are you freaking kidding me?

Dear Jon Gosselin and Hailey Glassman,

Yeah, I'm not sure if you know this already, but going on Entertainment Tonight isn't considered a couples therapy session. What, exactly, were you thinking?!? Mary Hart doesn't moonlight as mental health professional. Stop it, please. It's awkward, this train wreck masquerading as your "relationship."

Dear Jim Carrey,

Could you please stop ruining Christmas movies for me? First the Grinch and now A Christmas Carol? That's quite enough.


And speaking of Christmas, one last timely letter...


Dear Santa,

I have been a very good girl this year, so I am asking for a trip to Tahiti. Thank you!

Letters I Would Love To Send

Dear Lady in the Seat to my Left,

Here's the thing...my husband and I came early. We knew what time the movie started and we planned accordingly. That is so we could pick out our seats. You and your husband were late. You chose to shoehorn yourselves into our row, taking the last two seats right as the movie started, even though there were other seats you could have had. I didn't say anything when your husband kept talking to you; I knew he would shut up eventually. And he did. Eventually. But here's the thing...when you get there late, you lose your right to the armrest. I was early. I claimed it. Did you really think I was going to give it up? Please! Next time, show up early.

Dear Every Other Driver on I-71,

It's called the fast lane for a reason. You camping out in it going ten miles less than the other lanes isn't really helping anyone. It doesn't matter that you're going the exact speed limit. Did you miss the signs telling slower traffic to get into the right lane? Guess what? If you're in the left lane and traffic in the other lanes is passing you, you are the slower traffic to which the sign refers.

Dear Ohio Turnpike,

Thanks for catching up to the late 1990s and finally using E-ZPass. You rock.

Dear Raising Canes,

Your sauce is crazy delicious. SO freaking yummy! But what the heck is up with your entrances to the drive-thru? It's like navigating a maze in a car. I feel like you're applying an IQ test before people can eat at your establishment. I'm not saying that's a deal-breaker.

Dear Adam from Man Vs Food,

I'm worried about you. Seriously. You need your agent to renegotiate your contract to include cholesterol testing, appropriate meds as prescribed and the occasional stress test. Hey, you're fun to watch, but there is no way you can get approved for life insurance. You need to think about the future.

Dear Any Bus Driver Who Gets the Chance,

Please run over Heidi and Spencer. Back up. Run them over again. Please feel free to repeat as you deem necessary. Thanks from a grateful nation.

Prayers Needed for Another Blogger

Please head over to Jen Murray's blog, 4tunate, and give her some support. If you aren't familiar with Jen or her blog, she is the mom of 2 1/2 yr old quadruplet boys, who are just as gorgeous as can be.

Her husband, Brad, was laid off from his position this past week, and they can use prayers and positive thoughts.

It's a bad time for a lot of people...Dave and I are so blessed that we are both gainfully employed and relatively safe in our positions. Having been through job loss for several months last year, I know how scary and frustrating it can be. Even though we are apart quite a bit, things could be so much worse.

Jen, I am praying for you, Brad and the boys. God bless!