The Silly Season (aka the pre-Christmas implosion post)

There is a reason we refer to this time of the year as the silly season. I'm pretty sure that has something to do with Christmas parties and silly-things-we-should-not-have-done-at-said-Christmas-parties, as well as the madness of shopping and getting everything done before the holiday break.

My own silliness: I'm still working on a book which should have been finished. Every year I say to myself: never again. Next year I am not having a December deadline. And then stuff happens and I have a book due and in between I'm trying to get out Christmas cards and do the shopping and think about what we're going to eat. (Insert picture of Bron imploding.)

This week even the most minor of disruptions become a major, serious, burr-in-my-butt irritation. Things like, for example, discovering that an order I placed for books 2 weeks ago has not been processed. I paid for expedited shipping. When the books didn't arrive at their US destination, I checked the status on-line. It says CANCELLED. I contacted customer service; they say it has been processed. I should receive the books in 5-12 days. Expedited, my arse!

On a lesser scale, there was the minor irritation of cancelling a subscription. I had to opt out or I'd be automatically charged a renewal. I hate that but obviously didn't read the small print when I signed up. At least I got the tax invoice saying I would be charged if I didn't opt out. So, I logged on, started to go through the steps to cancel. There's a list of reasons. I choose the most appropriate and honest...and discover I can't cancel for that reason. What the..?!?! It takes me to customer service (and the reason I'm unsubscribing is because customer service couldn't fix my problem months ago!!!!) So, back I go through the list and options, and this time I fib and choose another reason. I'm now unsubbed and unlikely to become a return customer.

I've also noticed a big leap in the amount of spam coming through. Don't these people have anything else to do at this time of year? Do they really think I have cheap generic drugs and penile implants on my shopping list?? This morning I'm getting scads of really rank ones via my website contact link and can I just say, what is WRONG with these people???

My silly season irritations are minor compared with this father. The story made me smile and the earlier irritations dimmed, so thank you Canadian father.

And just so you know, I'm not all bah-humbug about Christmas. I love seeing all my family and my husband's family. I love shopping and choosing gifts, I love Christmas mass and preparing the lovely, full, traditional Christmas dinner with my Mum and sisters. That's the big stuff that matters, and it will all be good once I get past the minor irritations.

How about you -- are you loving the buildup to Christmas, or do you find it all too much?

Labels: Christmas

posted by Bronwyn Jameson @ 8:52 AM

Comments:

Sadly, it's not just the spammers working overtime, but the annoying telemarketers as well. I've fielded at least half a dozen such calls at work today. The biggest problem they present for small businesses is that, every time you're stuck dealing with one of them, it's a potential lost sale when a customer can't get through. Which is why we wish they'd approve a do-not-call list for small businesses.

As for Christmas...in some ways I look forward to it, but also dread it. I've been watching a lot of Christmas movies in an attempt to hold on to holiday cheer, and my youngest niece (3 next week) is at that age where she's really getting into Christmas and Santa Claus, so that's exciting.

But-- then there are the neighbors who ruined our Thanksgiving, and are now working on destroying our Christmas. Plus, we've just learned half the usual group of friends will be AWOL from our annual NYE get-together, which sucks when you really look forward to seeing everyone, you know?

Ah well...at least we're assured a "White Christmas" this year, what with two feet of snow already on the ground and more expected this weekend. Let it snow, Let it snow, Let is snow! *VBG*

posted by

Heather : 9:56 AM

Bron, my dh gets scores of those penile emails every day! Whatever happened to a person's privacy, especially about such private parts ;)

I'm feeling pretty Xmassy this year. And I think it has to do with downsizing. We chucked the hard-to-put-up, hard-to-put-down, huge-falling-apart tree and replaced it with one that shoots up and has stars and lights and balls already in place. Tabby 5yo dd put some more decorations on, but it took ten minutes instead of 3 hours. (I mean, have you ever tried to unravel four sets of Christmas lights? Pure agony!)

This year Xmas is at my sister's house. We're having a barbie. The boys are cooking and four dogs will get the leftovers so minimal cleaning up post-lunch. YAYAY!

One thing you can't escape is parking-space madness. Some people will act shamelessly to get the precious last space. I always remind myself to try to be extra patient, even while I'm gritting my teeth.

So HO-HO-HO! Or Hee-Hee-Hee!

Only one week to go!

Robbie

posted by

Robyn Grady : 1:51 PM

I do love the buildup towards Christmas. Things can get a little hectic though. I'm still scrambling to get presents. Holiday shopping can get a little crazy.

posted by

Jane : 8:38 PM

All a bit too much, really. All the shopping is done and I've wrapped all the presents except for my kids ones, which I really must get onto. But all in all, after all the crazy rushing around, I always end up feeling flat. Maybe some of it comes from worrying about whether people will like the gifts we've chosen for them, or whether we'll like the ones we get (and if not, if we can act convincingly enough to persuade everyone that 'yes, we love it!') This is the first year we haven't even put up a tree or any decorations. Feels strange but I am looking forward to not having to clean up all the tinsel etc. off the floor in a couple of weeks time. Maybe I'm really a Grinch.

posted by

Yvonne Lindsay : 12:23 PM

You're not a Grinch, Yvonne! (though that is one of my fav movies...) No one needs to spend hours putting up then pulling down a tree. God knows, I did it for years too.

These days, there's so much to choose from, so much to do. At my age, my fav motto is, less is more =)

Robbie

posted by

Robyn Grady : 5:44 PM

I hate all the spam too and spywear. It seems all one does is report spam. I do love the build up to Christmas usually but had a harder time this year with an ankle fusion surgery. I have not been able to put up decorations but finally getting a few goodies baked. I just got divinity made and shipped to my 79 year old Mother today. It is all she ever wants for Christmas.
This year doesn't really matter as my oldest moved away and won't be here and youngest is close by but started own traditions. So I face surgery, empty nest and holidays all at same time. No fun.

posted by

squiresj : 6:52 PM

Heather, argghhhh on the telemarketers and the lack of a do-not-call list for small business. Since ours came in earlier this year, it's been wonderful. Only cold calls we get are charities and I don't mind them at all. They're doing good work.

Bron

posted by

Bronwyn Jameson : 8:16 PM

Hey Robbie. Your shooting tree sounds wonderful. Mind you, decorating the tree is one of my favourite pre-Christmas tasks. That are wrapping the gifts. Both get me in the spirit and I kinda like the hours spent because I tend to think about Christmases past and it's one of those womanfuzzy times.

Meant to respond to Heather about a 3yo's joy -- you must experience the same through your Tabbie's eyes. I love seeing the excitement of my nieces/nephews. It's just gorgeous.

posted by

Bronwyn Jameson : 8:22 PM

Oh, and yay (I think) on the white Christmas, Heather. We always keep our fingers crossed that it's not TOO hot.

posted by

Bronwyn Jameson : 8:23 PM

And Robbie, no HO HO Ho'ing allowed you know. That being derogatory and all. ;-)

posted by

Bronwyn Jameson : 8:23 PM

Jane, hope you've got all your shopping finished. I had my last day out picking up a few little things today. They're now all wrapped, my cards all sent, and all I have to organise is the food. I leave that shop to Christmas Eve, and this year I don't have too much to get as my sisters are bringing loads with them (the benefit of being the hostess!)

posted by

Bronwyn Jameson : 8:25 PM

Yvonne, I sympathise over your worry with gifts. I used to be the same -- not with my immediate family, but with all the other rellies. Then we made the best decision ever -- no more gifts for anyone over primary school age! We get together, we share drinks and food and stories and laughter (and backyard cricket.) And the littlies who appreciate gifts in the spirit they're given unwrap their presents. The teens and adults who were more difficult to buy for, don't. I tell you, it's a liberating experience and I wish we'd done it years ago.

posted by

Bronwyn Jameson : 8:31 PM

"Squiresj", so sorry to hear about your ankle and the em pty-nest Christmas. I'm not looking forward to that as my sons get older. I'm glad you were able to get some baking and making done, especially for your Mum. And I hope that your family, although not present, remember you with a call to brighten your Christmas. Hugs, Bron.

posted by

Bronwyn Jameson : 8:35 PM

I love Chrissie, Bron. It's extra tiring, that's for sure, but it's soooooo worth it seeing the smile on my little boy's face and hearing is soft 'wow' when he first lays eyes on his presents under the tree :)
Bub is too small to realise what's going on this year but I bet he'll be joining in the grinning next year too!
Hope you have a lovely Christmas :)

posted by

Nicola Marsh : 9:52 PM

You, too. Nic. I know it'll be extra special sharing your little ones' excitement.

posted by

Bronwyn Jameson : 2:40 PM