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ORIGINAL: SusanofO

I started mine today. I am so proud of myself. I also decided to have a Holiday Cookie Exchange party this year (gals only) in early December - and I am all geared up to get what I consider the un-fun (if I am rushed) parts of the Holidays preparation out of the way soon, so that I can truly enjoy the Holidays this year.

For me, "Getting ready" for the Holidays consists of four major parts:

1) Decorating - I can't do this until I move, so I am not worrying about any of this until I do - until probably way after Thanksgiving, anyway. I have plenty of decorations already, though, so no problem there. I have a good-looking artificial Christams tree that isn't difficult to set up, because it unfolds like an umbrella  - and lots of ornaments, and about four or five Holiday wreaths, and a Nativity set, and other stuff, too. I have just a few out-dooor decorations - two Christmas Topiary trees with lights, that are in Urns, that I will put on my porch. Decorating will usually take me the better part of a day or evening, and I usually save it for a week-end.

2) Making out my Christmas cards - last year, I sent 85 cards. I start writing them around Hallowe'en, so I have time to write a little bit to people I rarely see otherwise (like some relatives who live other states). But this year, I am thinking of just doing a Christmas letter, and incluidng that for everyone instead - because I am busier than usual this year, and it would be easier.

I ordered the cards today, on the Internet. They will be mailed to me by early next week. Now I just need stamps (but Holiday stamps don't come out at the post office until at least around Hollowe'en. Oh well, I guess I can wait.) I usually mail my cards around the 10th-15th of December. 

3) Baking, and delivering the goodies I bake. I love (LOVE) making Christmas cookies. Every year, I make about 45 dozen cookies (4 or 5 different kinds) and divide them up in little bags for friends, relatives and neighbors. Everybody gets 2-3 dozen. This takes at least a week, about 3-4 hours a day. I also make chocolate fudge (really good, if I do say so myself), and Banana Nut bread - people each get a pound or two of fudge, and a loaf of the bread. Plus I throw in some hard candy I buy at the store, too. 

I can start to make some of this stuff in late October, and just freeze it. All of it goes into "care packages", wrapped up tight and then in a nice pretty Holiday bag, and people really seem to like these. I usually make 15-20 of these Holiday Goody gift bags. I get asked, starting in early December, by some people, if I am doing this again this year. I think if I quit doing it, my own father and some of my neighbors would actually go through withdrawl...I am not trying to brag, but I really do enjoy this part of the Holidays. I've been doing this for over 15 years.

4)  Christmas Shopping - I started my shopping already, and have most of the females I need to shop for done already. The men are always harder for me to shop for, particularly when they give me No Clue what they want. Or worse, when I ask some of them, they say: " I don't know", OR "You don't have to get me anything" (yeah sure - like that's ever gonna happen). So - I am leaving shopping for the men until after Hallowe'en, probably.

**Note to men: Decide what it is you want for Christmas. Just take a stab at it - just try this year. Name something - Anything. Please.

I've already got wrapping paper and Holiday gift bags. Now I just need ribbon and bows, and a few gift tags. I also need some of theose Holiday money envelopes for people like the Mailman, and the Handyman guy who mows my lawn and runs the snow-blower, and otherwise shovels the snow (I have an extremely looong driveway).

I know some people will think I am truly crazy for starting to think about the Holidays this early, but I really, really just hate rushing around at the last minute, trying to get all of the above done.

Anybody else out there start Christmas shopping yet? Or doing anything else to get ready for the Holidays yet?

- Susan  

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ORIGINAL: SusanofO

No, I am not kidding. KMSAngel, he will just never understand.

- Susan