merry christmas

i remember when i was growing up, i couldn't wait until christmas. it was always the best time of year. this year, though, it has managed to sneak up on me. though the holiday cards were made around halloween, i didn't manage to send them until last weekend and in some cases, early to mid week last week (i much prefer making the cards to sending them). the same thing happened in our company - but on a larger scale. things happened that took our minds off sending the cards, nobody wanted to sign them, or do anything with them, really, so it was up to me and a few others in the office. they got out on thursday, i think.

i had a few gifts bought, but was still trolling the store aisles as late as yesterday. one of the gifts i'd bought for one friend in particular i found less than inspiring, so i scrapped the whole idea and got her something entirely different (yesterday). and we finished the actual wrapping of the presents yesterday, too (and i know my mom was still wrapping this morning). for whatever reason, the holiday does not mean as much this year as it used to. what's with the holiday apathy??? oh, i really don't know.

holiday shopping isn't even fun any more - for once in my life, i think i am shopped out. there are just people everywhere, and everyone is RUDE, even the store workers themselves. yesterday, i saw this gorgeous shirt in a store window, and went to find it in the shop. i couldn't find it anywhere, so i asked a sales associate if they had it, or if she could get it out of the window for me. she gave me a total hard time about it, and pretty much refused to get it out of the window (something to do with how it was hanging, i guess). so i left. but here's the thing that gets me - she would rather have me leave and lose a sale completely than try and actually like be helpful and I don't know, do her job?? she didn't offer any other kind of help - like offer to check the back, or say something like, that one is sold out, but we've got it in blue (because they did). Nope. Hello? What happened to 'the customer is always right' and 'give the lady what she wants'??? I guess not. So they lost a sale, and now I am going to think things like, well, gosh, there's a bitchy sales chick in the New York & Company in Golf Mill Shopping Center in Niles, so I don't think I want to shop there any more. i've worked in retail in the holidays, i know what people are like, so i try and be nice when i am a customer and cut them some slack. but i always tried to actually be helpful to people when they were looking for things, or offer alternatives or something, so that they bought something (because i would have bought something).... but i went somewhere else and bought things instead, and nobody really cares any more, anyway. apathy everywhere.

but anyway. there are nicer things to think about, for instance: i finished knitting my first scarf! it is beautiful and i wore it out today. hooray! i have also discovered several cute little knitting stores, and even though i am totally intimidated, and can only do scarves at the moment, i always go in and buy some gorgeous yarn. i've got so much yarn, and so many needles, it's crazy.

AND - tonight i am off with the family to a christmas eve party given by some friends of my parents. that should be fun..... tomorrow it is over the river and thru the woods to grandmother's house for christmas day... tuesday it's after christmas shopping (because i will be DONE with the family togetherness thing) and wednesday it's back to work.

merry christmas, everyone!