Not sure why I am writing this - after all it's the day before "the day before" the day of... it's not quite noon. I'm still in my pj's and I've just eaten breakfast.
Yesterday we did a much needed culling of dated ornaments, saying goodbye to snowmen with broken noses (no amount of glue stick technology has managed to repair them) angels who have lost their wings and lustre, and tossing the gold flecked tassels which I'm sure once belonged to something... I just can't quite picture what. We have finally chucked the old outdoor lights which suck energy like Rudolph on an Eggnog bender.
Having said that - there are still a few things I can't quite part with. Things from Christmas past...
Like Bloodshot Santa ...
... not to be outdone by Rudolph the chocolate ceramic reindeer. He is the last remaining of his herd. Youngman ll was cranking out Christmas pottery by the boxcar that year.

There are a few other little nick knacks (like the little red apples -from our very first tree together) that remain. They're now in a vase with gold beads, looking very eau du Martha if I do say so myself.
Today I should be wrapping presents and making pitas for Christmas Eve Greek dinner (in which we will chow down in front of the TV and watch holiday classics such as "National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation" or "The Christmas Story".
But...
I've spent the morning making Christmas cards instead. I'm pretty lousy at it - so what should be a relatively easy process can be stretch into an all day and night affair.
I also decided to make the boys Christmas stockings this year. I've been threatening to replace the plush Teddybear stockings I bought the Youngmen when they were Babyboys (21 and 23 years ago) - but I just haven't gotten around to it. I suppose tacky plush teddy's hanging by their necks on the pseudo yuletide hearth is a vision I'd like to erase from their memory now while I still have the chance - that way when we all end up in therapy it won't be something that comes up...

And lastly - thank heavens for the annual Christmas Cookie Exchange ... we had one at work and though I belly ached the whole time I was mixing up my sheepless family favourite (The Chocoholic's Chewie Delight) I am very grateful to have so many other lovely cookies to sample and share.
And just so you don't think I'm not keeping up with world events...
There was an article in the paper yesterday about the malls being filled with men the week before Christmas. Apparently, women have already made their purchases and are smugly sitting at home wrapped up in their snuggie blankets with hot cocoa and a good book. Not sure what planet that writer is from - but I'll be out there with the best and the rest of them - standing in the gift card line ... afterall what's Christmas without a little self induced stress... ho! ho! ho!