Christmas Hangover

Christmas has come and gone again for the year. I found myself remarkably less festive this year for some reason and had a hard time getting jazzed up for the holiday. I saw the requisite Christmas specials (Rudolph, Charlie Brow, The Grinch), made cookies with the kids, decorated the tree (though I seem to be missing a box of ornaments and stockings), but somehow didn't really feel the Christmas Spirit. Maybe it was because the economy is in the crapper and every other news story was about how people are losing their jobs, losing their homes, charities are hurting, etc. I'll be happy to get the tree down (this weekend hopefully) and put it all away until next year. I'm hoping for a better turnaround next year, complete with jingle bell earrings and a Santa hat. We'll see.

The kids made out like bandits, as usual. They received laptops from the g-parents so they've been latched onto those like leeches. I did not grow up with computers. Our family got one when I was in junior high (I think, it might have been high school) and it was a family computer, thus not to be monopolized by one person. We also didn't have the internet or the technology the kids do nowadays. We had an Atari system with Pong and Breakout being the games of choice and we thought that was pretty fabulous. My kids each have a Nintendo DS. They also have an Xbox (courtesy of my husband who wanted to upgrade his), a Nintendo Wii and a Playstation 2. There's no end to the video game joy for them. So when my youngest said she was bored and there was nothing to do a few days before Christmas, I had to gawk at her a bit. I'm sure my parents thought the same thing when I was a kid since we had tv, cable, Atari and other items of personal entertainment. Guess it's a generational thing.

New Year's is just around the corner and I'm amazed at how fast the time flies. Before we know it, Christmas will be back around again. Thus being the time of resolutions, I've decided to state mine early. Of course, I will try to lose weight. I will exercise more (won't take much, don't exercise much at all now) and I will have my family eat healthier. We are way too familiar with McDonalds, Wendy's, Burger King and Chik-Fil-A. I will also try my best to curb our spending. We have way too much debt and need to get that fixed as soon as possible.

I'm hoping 2010 will be a much better year on the job front. I can't complain because I'm gainfully employed unlike many others. I'm hoping the jobs will be back and everyone, or at least the vast majority, will find jobs. I'm hoping that less people lose their houses. I'm hoping the banks start lending more and the credit card companies stop behaving like douchebags. Well, I can hope right? I'm hoping the conflicts (wars? Are they both considered wars?) in Iraq and Afghanistan come to an end so all the men and women over there can come home safely to their families. I'm hoping the VA gets their heads out of their rear ends and treats the vets with the dignity they deserve and deliver on all the promises. I'm hoping for peach on earth and goodwill towards man. Maybe it's a little late as that seems to be a Christmas-style wish, but we can hope and dream right? Let's all start by being a little nicer to each other. I'm hoping that's a trend that will catch on quickly and spread like wildfire. Be nice to each other, obey the Golden Rule and maybe we can make this a better place to be.

3 days, 9 hours and some change until New Year at life.sa.laugh@hotmail.com.