I didn’t get mine out again. They’re beautiful, too. I bought them last year after I lost the ones I didn’t sent out the year before. I’d like to tell you I don’t do it because it wastes trees or something, but the truth is, I love holiday cards. I’m just too disorganized to send the damn things out.
But I love the ones I get. (More guilt.) I don’t know if most of them have dogs on them because I love dogs or because the people I know are dog lovers. I got one from Susan Wiggs that was a beautiful beach scene with “Peace” spelled out in shells. She put a picture of her dog inside. (He’s darling.) Kathleen from Dachshund Rescue sent me a cute card of a Christmas tree filled with animals. There were no dachshunds so she drew one on. I had to look close to tell she’d added it, but it was so much fun.
I love the newsletters, too. I know it’s fashionable to make fun of those, but I love hearing what everybody did. My life is so boring–I wrote, I fed the dogs, I wrote, I fed the dogs, I wrote–so to hear about the places people went and all the things their kids did makes me happy. Susan Elizabeth Phillips has the best one: it’s all pictures with captions.
And then sometimes people send me stuff, and that’s lovely, too, although really you don’t need to. I rip the packages open with great glee, but you don’t need to. My second fave there: both my agencies give to charity instead of sending gifts to their authors. Makes me feel good all over, not just for the charities but also because I was so smart to choose such thoughtful people to work with. My fave because I’m greedy: Lani made me a blue canary night light to put in the outlet by my light switch which just plain makes me happy. And then there’s Milton and Veronica, my gifts to myself that keep on giving. And chewing.
The truth is, the holidays just sneak up on me. I’m not going to get the tree up this year, although I’m determined to do better next year. I’m not much for carols, either, although I do like watching this one. Best Christmas caroler ever was Judy Garland, extremely good for listening to while looking at a lighted Christmas tree in a dark room. (My favorite comment on this video is “I like her nose. I’ve always liked her nose.”) Holiday food is good, but it’s fattening. Plus it’s the end of the year. Time is running out to keep those resolutions I can’t remember I made. Time to look back at all the things I screwed up this year (like my Christmas cards) before looking forward to all the things I’m going to do brilliantly in 2008. Maybe that’s why looking a lighted Christmas tree in a dark room makes me kind of melancholy. Or maybe it’s Judy.
But I want to get those cards out. And a lot of my friends do other holidays besides Christmas so it’s not as if they have to go out now. Next week would be good. If I could find them . . .
Happy holidays to everybody I owe cards to. Next year, I’ll get them out in time, I swear. I think I’ll send them in January.
And especially happy holidays to all Argh readers everywhere. Whatever you’re celebrating, I hope you’re merry and bright and safe and warm and surrounded by those who love you. Especially if those who love you are dogs. Listening to Judy Garland. In the dark under a lighted Christmas tree.
Waiting for the card that never comes.
ARGH.
That’s okay sweetie, because it’s entirely possible that I sent yours to the wrong address – I’ve just had a scan through my internet address book and realised I never got round to changing several people’s addresses in my paper address book, and that’s the one I used when addressing cards.
Oh well. Merry Christmas everyone.
I did get my cards out, but no time for the tree. Oh well, I can see the neighbor’s tree through my window – good deal. Not as good as the community tree in the center of all the cabins in Clitoris, but a start.
Merry Christmas everyone. Stay warm, eat until you’re full, and enjoy the day. It’s back to it soon enough.
I feel better about not having time to decorate this year. But if it would help anyone, Orthodox Christmas isn’t until the 6th/7th so you have plenty of time to switch all sorts of things. Thank you for all the well-wishes and HAppY HOlidays to you too! 🙂
On that note, thanks for posting fun links. I have some that would probably cheer anyone up in an emergency case of holiday relativiness (i.e. to your drunk ass-grabbing uncle…or at least I HOPE it’s just your uncle)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r48hRGTGyyw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9oYMOqwwYn8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_OtnXn2b6LA
ENJOY!
I have major surgery to prepare for, which is pretty much a free pass to blow off cards and all that jazz this year. For which I am truly thankful. Wait, that’s Thankgiving… um, I’ll get back to ya. Card’s in the mail?
Happiest Christmahanukwansolstica to ya in any case babe!
I’m the same way about cards. I have last year’s cards, too, and I had such good intentions, and then life went to hell and they never got sent. I figure I’ll make them New Years cards. Hey, they say “seasons greetings” on them. That works, right?
Hey, at least you bought cards you never sent. I had great plans to do a photo postcard. The photo got taken (eventually) but never printed…maybe next year? Happy holidays!
Last years cards were sent without The Kid’s picture, so this year some lucky folks get last years and this years picture. No one gets pictures of me because I’m fugly looking, thats my gift to my friends. Of course I have only managed to send out two-thirds of the cards I am supposed to send, the rest sit sullenly on my desk, waiting for thir chance to shine. I’ll send them after Christmas, then they will be a surprise, like the ten dollar bill you find in the pocket of that pair of jeans you only wear when everything else is dirty.
Happy Holidays, hope you get nothing but pleasant surprises.
Merry Christmas, Jenny!
Thank you for brightening up our days and warming up our nights and bringing smiles to our faces.
Despite my good intentions, my Christmas cards went out this afternoon. And thank you Jenny for those wonderful Christmas tunes. I agree with you, Judy Garland’s nose is cute — and her voice divine.
Merry Christmas, Jenny, and may all your future ones be bright. A healthy and prosperous New Year; and be sure to remind Bob who’s righter.
Don’t forget the inner peach!
May I just post a link to this on my blog and say, “WJS”? Cause, minus the dogs, I could have written darn near every word of it. Especially the Christmas cards. If (when!) I finally get this place straightened out, I am undoubtedly going to find a couple dozen absolutley lovely boxes of Christmas cards. Sometimes I go to a card shop after the holiday and pick out something funny to send to the folks I really must send to. Sometimes…
I didn’t do a tree this year. First holiday after my mom died. I’m pretty okay by now, but I don’t think the tree and decorations would have been a good idea. Maybe next year. Thank God I’m a card-carrying intravert. None of my friends think I’m weird for wanting to be alone on Christmas. ;+)))
About my only concession to the hols would be to play my two favorite Christmas songs: “Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer” and the dogs barking “Jingle Bells”. /;+))) I haven’t done the Christmas carol thing since I was in a choir.
Have a peachy Christmas and lots of love to you and the gang. (((hugs)))
Still only a few cards out from me, and a few e-cards as well. I think I made it into the “C”s, but I wasn’t very motivated this year, and I should’ve been, because I moved, so no one will find me, ever again, if I lose them this year. Not that most of them are faithful card-senders, but maybe every three years or so, I get something…
Or not.
I did get my tree up (I cut one down myself, at an abbey near my home) – but then took it down again, because I left to spend the actual holiday with my family. So, mine was up for about 2 1/2 weeks.
And I almost didn’t get around to playing my favorite Christmas carol CD (Waverly Consort), but a chance comment from someone reminded me.
Forced celebration is no celebration at all, so it’s good if you can feel joy, but inner peach is also good.
Merry Christmas to those who wish it, and Peace on Earth to all!
I wasn’t able to make the Blog Carols, but I was there in spirit. I just want to wish you another wonderful, happy, joyous year. And good luck on the dog chewing thing. Just don’t let them anywhere near unfinished manuscripts. We need those.
I only sent a few out and hand delivered the rest. Don’t worry about them. Merry Christmas!
It’s the second year running for me. I’m surprised anyone still talks to me.
Have a wonderful, wonderful Christmas and thank you for all the happiness you bring!
I have so many unsent boxes of Christmas cards, I could open my own store. But next year I’m going to send them. I just know it.
Merry Christmas, Jenny! Thanks for all of the great reading-in both book and blog form. May your new year be filled with all good things.
Merry Christmas Jenny and to all the Cherries who celebrate. Those Cherries of other religious or secular persuasions have a happy day anyway. With any luck you’re off work and getting stat pay.
I took Christmas off this year, had the house to myself and a good friend came and shoveled so I didn’t even have to leave the house.
And you know what I found? The stash of thank-you notes I wrote and never sent for the baby gifts I got when my son was born, two and a half years ago.
Maybe I will include them in the New Year’s cards we’re planning on sending.
Merry Christmas, happy post-Solstice!
Putting up a tree is fun. Taking it down is murder, so for the last few years I’ve gone to Home Depot and bought a tree in a pot. It’s cool to have a tiny tree that only needs a tiny string of lights. Also you can put it out in the yard and keep it alive – I unfortunately have a brown thumb so that doesn’t work for me.