Its (usually) the most wonderful time of the year

I usually love christmas.  I'm usually as excited as most children get.

For some reason, this year I'm not. 

I've put up decorations at home and at work and this doesn't seem to have nudged me into the festive frame of mind.  I was a little bit excited to put a christmas template on the blog though.  Its quite pretty.  I might leave it there all year, like a redneck blogger.  The template being the equivalent of christmas lights on my front porch in July.

I've bought all my presents now (bar a bottle of scotch for my dad) meaning I no longer have to face the crowds of insane shoppers, wandering through the local shops in a zombie-like state.  Logically this should make me very happy, but doesn't.

I bought my cards and gift wrap yesterday.  I'm a bit of a geek, I usually love putting together a colourscheme for paper and ribbons.  None of this patterned paper malarkey for me.  Until this year, when my inspiration has gone completely and I'm thinking "Screw it, they're only going to rip the paper anyway."

I arranged secret santa at work and looked disapprovingly on those who opted not to play along (I should add, none of them opted out for religious reasons.  One hates christmas, one couldn't be bothered, one is new and didn't know anyone well enough to buy for and the fourth is based at another site).  I did the name draw, taking folded names around for everyone to pick theirs.  I've even bought the gift for my person and I'm not excited.

Next week is my work christmas party.  I've had my dress for almost 2 months.  My shoes are picked out.  Last night, the universe painfully highlighted that we should be happy with what we've got, as I tried in vain to tong my poker straight hair into curls.  I now have a 2 inch burn on the side of my neck where I moved my hand the wrong way.  I'm guessing it'll scab and then if I'm really unlucky it'll scar.  The thing is, I'm not even that excited about going.  The person I'll most want to talk to I won't be able to as a result of a very long story that I may post at some point.  The short version is that I'm friends with a flirtatious married man, he gives me lifts home (because he literally drives past my house and I don't drive at all!) and so the general concensus is that we *must* be sleeping together.  Typepad doesn't have an eye-rolling smiley, but if it did I'd put it here.  I'm also particularly concerned that my old supervisor will be there.  I wouldn't have been concerned about it had we not found her A4 sized notebook containing various comments that can only be described as petty and insulting.  There wasn't anything awful about me from the one page I saw, just a "not happy with Beth today".  Unfortunately, one of the new girls in my team didn't get off so lightly.  The comments about her were horrible.  Spiteful in fact and she was quite upset. My boss is a nice enough guy that long term staff who have recently left are usually still invited, but I don't know about her after this.

I think it may be that this will be another christmas where my parents and I are at home, just the three of us.  Its not any different than a normal day for us, other than doing the present thing in the morning.  After that, we all separate.  I go back to my room (and back to bed if I'm honest), dad goes on his computer and god knows what mum does.  On her arse in front of the tv I guess.  I'm not a big fan of the roast turkey dinner so I have to find something different for dinner.  Its been Chicken Fajitas for the last couple of years, but even my lust for all things mexican has gone out the window.

I also usually arrange to have some sort of DVD box set to watch while I'm wallowing in bed that day and I'm pretty unispired by the TV options out there.  Seinfeld series 8 and 9 are options, as is Northern Exposure series 4.  John Cena (yeah, the wrestler, I know its lame) has a biographical sort of DVD out that I've had my eye on.

So, loyal readers who come back even though I'm pretty much the laziest blogger in the history of blogging, I'm after some recommendations for the following:

• What I should have for Christmas dinner
• How I should spend my christmas day - working on the principal that its not a family day
• What dvds I should have on standby to watch
• Not christmas related, but how to get rid of a cough that is a combination of dry,chesty and tickly.  Can I drink all 3 sorts of cough medicine?

Comments

[Steph]

Hi Beth
You aren't a lazy blogger. If you think you are, then I really don't want to know what you think of my blogging--or lack thereof. :)
I am in the same boat as you for Christmas. You are quite ahead of me in that game though...I haven't even started the shopping yet! And am I bothered by this? Not in the least bit!
I'm afraid I don't have many solutions to your questions...what about the "Lost" dvds...season 3 is coming out this week. Other than that, I wish I had more ideas for you! I'll think more of it and get back to you!

[polly pierce]

If you are going to be anti-social and miserable on Christmas Day, why don't you do so with a bunch of mates and head off down the pub for a couple of hours?

I've only done this once and was surprised how much I enjoyed it. There was none of that false niceness that generally accompanies the festive season. Just a great big group of regulars who were having a bit of a laugh over a couple of pints and a platter of roast potatoes!

When you've done there you can go home and sleep it off and when you awaken it will all be over!

[polly pierce]

If you are going to be anti-social and miserable on Christmas Day, why don't you do so with a bunch of mates and head off down the pub for a couple of hours?

I've only done this once and was surprised how much I enjoyed it. There was none of that false niceness that generally accompanies the festive season. Just a great big group of regulars who were having a bit of a laugh over a couple of pints and a platter of roast potatoes!

When you've done there you can go home and sleep it off and when you awaken it will all be over!

[KennethSF]

I don't know of any remedy for a "dry, chesty, and tickly" cough, but if you happen to have a "chesty, and tickly" single woman-friend, I'd gladly take her off your hand :-P

[peach]

sorry to hear you're not a roastie fan, that usually IS Christmas for me, all those bacon rolls and gravy etc - but I can recommend you start Grey's Anatomy, from the beginning, series 1 - 3 are out on DVD. They are ace....

[Deb]

Can't give you advice about the cough as i've been under the weather going on three weeks with a cough that won't go away!
So sorry that this holiday season is leaving you feeling low.

[ruby]

For Christmas you should come here...hop on a plane, no big deal! Otherwise a pub with friends as commented earlier or Sex and the City DVDs, six seasons to choose from!

[kevin]

I'd like to recommend you get the DVD boxset of the entire Studio 60 series (there was only one), but unfortunately it doesn't come out in the UK until January :-(

Mind you, if you fancy another depressing day in bed on Valentines Day, it would fit the bill just perfectly.

[Clare]

Greetings from another lazy blogger. It's been a while.

Sorry to hear you aren't feeling very festive. Perhaps some episodes of Friends might cheer you up over Xmas or some Desperate Housewives or Ugly Betty. Just a thought.

I hope the Christmas party went okay.

[dylan]

I think you should set up an awesome date with yourself for Christmas day. Open presents in the morning with the family, then take a nice long luxurious bath while listening to a new CD, have some wine and chocolate covered strawberries in bed while you enjoy a new boxed set of DVDs, something warm and emotional to keep your attention, then make yourself a great dinner... pretend you're a chef cooking your best meal, and then treat yourself to your favorite dessert. It'll be a day to remember for sure!

[Ing]

Overdose on Lockets and wear a scarf 24/7 regarding the bad throat - seems to have worked for me!

I can sympathise with your un-christmassy Christmas. Mine's certainly going to be different this year.

Never mind how society wishes us to cellibrate - do it your own way.

Wishing you all the best for Christmas & 2008!