Okay, I know I’m utterly pathetic, but yesterday I sent in my completed manuscript—WHOOHOOOO!!!!--and today I’m listening to Christmas music and whiffing the scent of cinnamon from a nearby flickering candle. I’m ducking here, because I know SOME of you strongly disapprove of people like me who rush the season, but please let me say in defense that I needed a little “happy” in my day. I mean, this past month has been the pits and a looming deadline didn’t help, okay? You do what you gotta do.

You will be happy to know, however, that I’ve managed to hold off on the California Raisins. It’s my tradition to play the California Raisins Christmas CD (hey, I have culture) with the first snowfall. Since it hasn’t snowed yet, I’m refraining, but it’s hard. To me, they’re a party waiting to happen. Nothing puts me in a better mood than the Raisins.

Okay, so I need a life.

Still, I haven’t watched It’s a Wonderful Life, and I don’t have my tree up yet, so that should count for something. Course, the video is worn clear through and there’s no room for a tree. While I feverishly wrote to deadline, deadly diseases formed underneath our furniture. Clutter and rubble moved in like annoying relatives.

And for the record, let me just say that I do love Thanksgiving too. But let’s be honest here, how many good CDs are out there that enhance the Thanksgiving holiday? Exactly.

So while the rest of you go about your normal routine, I’ll be in my little Christmas world, listening to happy music, breathing in the soothing holiday scents, making my list and checking it twice.

Besides, as many of you know, I need to get a head start on that whole naughty and nice thing.

Have a great day and Merry—no, I won’t say it. Not YET.