+ Christmas Time!? +

This has been the most odd Christmas I've ever had (I'm a day late - sue me!). No matter what was going on or what I was doing nothing made it feel like Christmas. We didn't even put up a tree until Christmas Eve and it was just a fake one with no star on top and no ornaments. It just made it feel like any other day.

We went to Midnight Mass. All of us. Which never happens. Usually it's some random variation of us. Mostly we just let the Mom sleep if she feels so inclined. This time we all made it. Which had us being some of those people and we ended up going to an all-night food joint and got us some breakfast so we didn't get home until 2am. This is the only part that made it feel like Christmas even a little bit, the Church part, not the eating part.

We all passed out and what felt like 2 minutes later the Family began to call me to wake up and open presents. It's funny how things flipflop as you get older... Ajax and I used to wake up at 4:30am and would hardly be able to contain ourselves waiting for the Mom to wake up so we could open presents. Now, she's the one trying to force Ajax and I out of bed by 9am (which we roll out of bed an hour later anyway). And instead of rushing down to enjoy in the splendor... I shuffle to the kitchen and pour the biggest cup of coffee ever before I even think about going in the living room. It's hilarious is what it is.

I just feel like such a Grinch this year. There's little holiday spirit in me. Oh, it was a good enough day. But... still didn't feel right. Something was off, but I don't for the life of me know what exactly.

I got the Mom her perfume. The Dad Season 7 of Desperate Housewives. Ajax was given Season 5 of Dexter. That also amuses me. I've bought the entire series of Dexter on dvd and have never seen a single episode - as its been gifted.

the Mom got me some of the usual items - shampoo and conditioner, new toothbrush, dental floss, a new razor, etc. She enjoys buying things like that, I'm not sure why... but since forever Ajax and I have received hygene-tastic gifts for Christmas. She also got me sweatpants, a shirt, pinstripe slacks, nail polish, and some cash.

the Dad got me the entire set of Harry Potter on dvd and some cash.

Ajax got me a 12pack of Mountain Dew and some cash. Which I purchased the pre-order of my book (with cd) that's set to ship on the 30th and it's supposed to be signed... So that's pretty exciting.

So really, I totally scored. But I was still in the Christmas funk.

We ended up watching Alvin and the Chipmunks (the newish... live action one) as it was on and we'd never seen it. I was impressed with the fact it was better than I had assumed it would be. We also watched part of the newish Disney's Christmas Carol... it was okay, but I'm still partial to Mickey's Christmas Carol. It's just the best version... In my opinion.

Maybe that's my problem. I didn't watch Mickey's Christmas Carol, Rudolph the red-nosed Reindeer, or anything this year. Or maybe it's just that the house was undecorated (as it's usually super decked out) and there's no grandparents living anymore... or maybe it's just that I'm getting older... I'm not sure.

Anyone else having some yuletide funk?

Admittedly 7th Heaven Christmas specials (10th and 11th season ones) are pretty Christmas-tastic. It was at least a lovely ending to Christmas day.