There is so much conflict this time of year, it's full-blown yin and yang of the holidays. While I'm running like a nut trying to write Christmas cards, buy presents, wrap the darn things, and do everything to get ready for Christmas, I'm also packing the social calendar with moments to just chill as well. It's one extreme or the other at the Kautz house these days.I'm feeling overwhelmed and stretched to the maximum. My blog habit is sorely neglected, with me scrambling to post and sneak a few visits in here and there. I haven't sat on the couch with the kitties in over a week, and I feel stressed with each Christmas carol that is singing reminders that the day is coming and quickly. Ugh.
I love that feeling when the tree is up, the cards are mailed, the cookies baked, and presents bought and wrapped. It is the moment of calm and whatever isn't done, just isn't going to get done. Ahhhhh. I wish I was there, but I'm not. Not yet anyway.
We are off to the see the Nutcracker this weekend with the Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestra. We went to it last year and it was incredibly wonderful. It's held at a small college nearby and we went mainly because our Ted was playing with the CYSO. I never imagined that while the music was extraordinaire, the local dance school kids fabulous, that the principal dancers were from the American Ballet Theater. Who knew?! We are making this an annual event now. So, off we go to the ballet with G'ma Phyl.
I'm purposely scheduling breakfasts with the band parents and hanging out with our friends because if I don't, I'm gonna go Christmas crazy. The madness of have-tos takes hold and I find that all I do is work. I'm making time to breathe in all of this, and I hope you are too.
Happy weekend, pallies. May you find a few hours of peace in the rush of holiday preparations. Enjoy the twinkly lights of the season.
16 comments:
Scrambled eggs? Yes, the only way to go. Scrambled Lin? Well, it does make for interesting blog posts (when she gets around to it.)
Oh, yeah. I meant to add "Party on!"
The "Nutcracker" is one of the few ballets I can sit through, and of course the music is beyond wonderful!
Still can't figure out what to get hubby for xmas - I just bought him new slippers, socks and jammies...he could have waited and gotten them all for xmas - he likes to have something to unwrap, regardless of what it is - but nooooo - he wanted them right away.
I will not be receiving any xmas presents, yet again - it makes me a bit sad but it seems no one knows me well enough to actually get me a present...
I, on the other hand, always choose the perfect gifts - I LOVE giving gifts! I should be a professional gift buyer - such fun finding just the right thing!
Gifts for everybody! I'm choosing!
I am feeling the same stress right now. Add on top a big proposal for work and I am going to lose my mind. I did take yesterday morning for myself and ended up paying for it for the rest of the day but I had such a good time, it was worth it. I hope you get through with a minimum of stress.
Would it make you feel less stressed if I told you I don't have a tree or any decorations up. Or that I don't have gifts bought and wrapped. Oh and no cards written and sent either... Yeah seems I missed the boat this year.
What is it about Christmas that we allow ourselves to get so wound up? It's total crazy making.
I HAVE to work on writing Christmas cards this weekend. AND I have to figure out presents that need to get in the mail. CRAP, there's just not enough downtime. That is until I crash on the 26th.
It's too bad all of these fun things come hand in hand with a ball of stress. Hopefully you do find some more moments to just chill on the couch with the kitties!
This is the first year in a long time that I'm actually in the holiday mood. My decorating isn't done, my baking isn't done, my shopping isn't started and my cards are not written and mailed. It just doesn't matter if it gets done or not. I'm just enjoying the feeling of the season this year. My gift to me :)
Vanilla--Actually, I think the blog posts are boring when I'm frazzled. I need some time to think about things in order for them to be good. If I ever get the tree up, it will be a miracle!
Grace--How come nobody gets you anything?? Not even your husband? Hmmm... I would wrap some coal for him to open.
Anne--I feel your pain. I've got some crazy deadlines with work, plus the big fundraiser of the band year was delivered last week--$10,000 worth of frozen coffee cakes and cookie dough. Guess who the chairperson was?? :) Now I'm stuck trying to sell the rest of the frozen stuff to get it out of my freezer. Ugh. I hope we make it through the holidays you and me.
Stephanie--Well, you have been sick so you have an excuse. I sure hope you are feeling better now and you do find time to do something for Christmas.
LJ--I'm panicking with gifts too, although I think I am done--I just need to check. I don't like this deadline thing for mailing, ordering, and getting it all done. It's madness! I'm glad I am not alone.
Nancy--Some would say we make the stress, but I don't agree. There are a lot of expectations out there. I like the week between Christmas and New Year's when all I do is relax. Ahhhhh.
Ann--Wow. I wish I could let it all go too. Maybe I should learn from you. But what do I do with the cards if I don't send them??? Easter cards???! ;)
I keep watching the date get later and later and I'm not even close to being ready for Christmas. All my family is out of town which means I have to mail packages yet nothing is bought. I don't even have cards yet! I can only do what I can do I guess so just need to breathe!
Hope you enjoy the Nutcracker this weekend!
I am hereby ordering you to spend time on the ouch with the kitties instead of visiting my blog! ;)
And thank you for having my back with the blog stealing - I appreciate it!
I'm exhausted reading your list of things to do for the holidays. Hold on ...................
(Sorry, I had to take a cat nap) Now I can finish up my comment!
So, is there anything on your list you can get rid of? Do you HAVE to or WANT to do all those things? Personally, I stopped sending Christmas cards after I realized I just tossed the ones I was getting because most people just sign their name to the cheesy "Joy to the World" writing that comes printed on the card.
Plus, I'm saving a tree (during the season when so many are chopped down). No, I'm not a hippie, but I sound like one, right? LOL!
Nellie
http://midlifecruiser.blogspot.com
(36 year old fulltime RVer living la vida loca with a cute-butt husband and a stink-butt dog!)
Awww, don't let it stress you my friend!
You describe us all. The best version of the Nutcracker was one I saw put on by a local college. I always love the part where the little mice are hiding under the skirt and we find them.
Isn't it nuts when the blog becomes something on the list of things to do rather than a fun pastime? I hate it when real life gets in the way and I, too, have been MIA at my buddies' blogs.
I guess it'll get better when Christmas is over, eh?
p.s. You know I love you Jesus, it's the commercialism that I hate.
Beaded Tail--I'm glad we are together in this! Let's ditch it all and just meet for cocktails. ;)
Storm--Oh, I saw the his explanation. Uh, it's stealing--why would he possibly think that is okay???
Nellie--Here's the thing--I started all of this when the kids were little--you know, to make memories. Now they ask for all these things because they still like it. So, while I still have them here, I'm doing it because they are gone too fast. It's a love/hate thing. Ugh.
Rumblepurr--I need a good kitty to sit on my lap and force me to chill a bit. :)
Marilynne--I love the Nutcracker. The snow scene got me this year--it was just so lovely.
CG--I love to just peruse the blogs and leave silly comments, so I miss that in all of this madness. I wish I was off for two weeks with my kids to just blog in my jammies.
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