And The Stockings Were Hung By The Chimney With Care...

What will I do when all the Christmas theme posts are done?

Now that everything is unwrapped and Christmas is officially over until next year lets take a minute to talk Christmas gifts. Remember that feeling when you were five years old, you couldn't sleep. You put out just the right cookies for Santa and maybe a carrot for the reindeer. You carefully crafted a list. You woke up at 3 am and begged your parents to please let you see if Santa came. You tore into presents with glee.

I don't have kids but growing up and having to buy presents for others I know what the parents must be feeling in the equation. Wrapping presents. Buying wrapping paper. Running out of tape. Carefully looking for coupons or standing in lines at 3am for this year's "It" present. Staying up until midnight so you can play Santa and then waking up early because your kids dog pile you begging to open presents. I always use to wonder why my Mom would get so grouchy at the holidays.

"Stop being such a Grinch." I would proclaim as I tried to cram yet another ornament on the tree.

"I'm not being a Grinch." She would shake her head. "You don't understand. Christmas is a lot of work."

I get it now Mom... Christmas is a lot of work. Are there some parts I love? Yes. I could put up a tree with my eyes close. I will bake cookies until I have no where else to put them. I will wander around light tours even though my hands are numb and I'm dying to just go inside and get warm.

What I hate? What I absolutely wish I didn't have to do.... buy and wrap gifts. It’s funny though – on one hand I love it and on the other I hate it. I love that thrill of finding just the right present that someone will like. But often (and maybe I don't know my friends that well or maybe we're old enough that if we really want something under $25 we buy it ourselves), I find myself running here there and everywhere looking for that elusive (and slightly inexpensive) perfect gift.


I hate that it stretches my budget thin. I'm not trying to be cheap or a Grinch about it but my salary has not kept pace with the growing size of my family and friends. And trying to tell people you don't want to exchange is really awkward and I never really have much luck at it.

K was all about me trying to tell people we don't want to do gifts. "Blah blah budget... money doesn't grow on trees... blah blah just tell them." Me... being consumed with guilt that friends and family will hate me put it off or tried a lame attempt a couple of times and decided it was just easier to buy something. Maybe next year.

There are very few people I really enjoy buying for. S is one of them. I can go into any store - find something (or twenty-somethings) I would like and know she'll love it. I also love people like my sister who said "I want x..." this being acceptable as long as x is under agreed upon limit. Don't tell me x and then x turns out to be a $50 video game or a $100 necklace. (On a side note, Sis is not said person - her x this year was a book - which I got her).

I don't love people who spout off wish list that start with items of $50 or $100. If I'm not your mother, wife or super-close relative. I'm not spending that much and you should be ashamed for asking for it.

I don't love battling crowds for good deals. I love good deals. I love shopping. I hate Christmas shopping. Good deals are truly few and far between. I'm not traipsing to Best Buy or Target at 5 am. There is nothing I need that badly (and nothing you should either). I hate wandering around stores trying in vain to find the perfect gift. Maybe I'm a perfectionist but I always feel like I never find the right gift. I agonize over gifts the way some people would agonize over buying a house (I did that too).

I guess buying gifts stresses me out. I'm glad it's over. It's the one part of Christmas I can't wait to be over. (Although I do admit when I find the perfect gift I'm really excited to see them open it). Later this week I'll try to pull together a post of gift ideas for next year.

How do you feel about Christmas shopping? Does it blow the budget or are you a good shopper? Do you agonize like me or are you an in-and-out kind of shopper?

Was It Worth The Wait?

We got up early this morning and went to church - an early New Year's Resolution. The sermon started asking if Christmas was worth the wait and then dove into how after it was prophesied Jesus was coming they waited 400 years.... I'm not going that deep... I'm going to start with the first half - Christmas - was it worth the wait?

I get so excited for the build-up for Christmas. Not quite as excited as I was at four pouring over the Toys R Us catalogue but almost. I throw myself into decorating almost as soon as Thanksgiving is over. I wrap presents, I make cookies, I plan outings to see lights. It's all a lot of build up for one day.

Now it's over, the presents unwrapped, the cookies sitting in tins, the lights still twinkling in the windows - there is a bit of a let down. Not because I didn't get that awesome toy but because now I have to wait a whole year until we can do it again and it's sad that it takes holidays to get together with family. That we don't get super excited over it just being a regular plain old Thursday.

I'm going to suggest that my family do a picnic or something in the summer. Why do we have to wait 365 days until next Christmas to see some people? Besides the weather in June is a lot better than December.

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas

Christmas Eve and I'm a happy elf - wrapping presents, baking a ton of stuff that I normally wouldn't eat. I even went grocery shopping (battling the other three thousand people that needed to run to Kroger today). By the way apparently chicken breast and fat free cream of mushroom soup are the big sellers - sold out!! How do you sell out of cream of mushroom soup and chicken breast??? Isn't that kind of a staple like bread and milk?

Anyway, I got all my shopping done. My house smells like a cookie factory. Most of the presents are wrapped. I'm ready!

So today's Santa Claus is all things Christmas - Jesus being born, mangers, going to church, family, sparkling light, Santa (of course), presents, cookies, food... do I need to keep going?

Merry Christmas everyone!

PS no Grinch post tomorrow - hello its Christmas!!!!

Road Raging

You all know this Grinch. Bad drivers. Do I need to say more? At times we've probably all been guilty of making other drivers want to scream. But I'm talking habitual offenders. Those people that probably never should have gotten a license in the first place. Cringe-worthy drivers that make you want to dive for cover or yell obscenities. This post is for you Bad Driver Grinch...

Mr. Traffic Signs Don't Apply to me. What speed limit? Road ends? I think I'll just keep going, those other cars will move. This is the jerk going 75 in a 55 and driving in a lane that clearly ends in 10 feet. This is the guy who you drive past every day. And every day you both pass the "do not cross solid white line" sign and while you wait patiently in the right lane Mr. I Don't Read Traffic Signs flies by in the left, throws his signal on at the last second and tries to cut in front of you. Hey, Grinch, that sign that said no passing - that meant you. That sign that said 55, I don't care if you go 75 but do it in the left lane - not tailgating me and shouting at me like I'm doing something wrong for going 60. And I see you every day so its not like you didn't realize the lane ended - it's been like that since the Model T.

Mrs. Soccer Mom. I know you drive a mini-van with your 2.5 kids in the back and three dogs. Nice sticker family by the way. But I don't need you swerving into my lane because you're trying to check your kids homework, talk on the phone, put on make-up and break up a fight. Pull over.

Ms Hot Shot New Driver. Glad your dad bought you a new compact car and you've now crammed ten of your besties in. I don't even know what to say for this one.... Go to driving school maybe?

Mr. Sunday Driver Only It's 7:00 am on a Tuesday.... I know you think it's appropriate to go 25 in a 55 but it's not. And it's certainly not ok in the left lane.

I'm sure there are more Grinch drivers. I see them every day going to work. It's the habitual offenders that really tick me off. We all have our moments, changing the radio station, chatting on the phone... just try to pay attention. And if you see any of the Grinches mentioned above give them a wave...

Rocking Around The Christmas Tree

My Santa Claus today is Christmas songs. How can you be upset with Christmas songs playing? It's like an instant pick-me up and I'm loving that Sirius has at least three channels (that I know of) rocking the Christmas tunes.

What are you favorite songs? Here are a few of mine (I'll probably think of more once I post):

White Christmas
Silent Night
So This is Christmas
Rudolph The Red Nose Reindeer
The Hanukkah Song
Auld Lang Syne - the Kenny G version he did back in like 2000 or so with the newsclips - I will cry everytime
Bells Will Be Ringing
Christmas Shoes
Grown Up Christmas List
Same Old Lang Syne
Holly Jolly Christmas
Silver and Gold
I'll Be Home For Christmas
Last Christmas
Silver Bells
Santa Baby

Yikes ok so I like a lot of Christmas songs... I know I've totally forgotten some though... let me know your favorites!

Snow - A Santa Or A Grinch?

Snow. For little kids you hear a scream of joy (visions of snowball fights, snow angels, snowmen fill their head). For adults there is this groan (unless you're a school teacher because around here you're guaranteed to get out of work for even the chance of flurries). There's a mad rush to the grocery store (apparently we can't live without milk and bread). The frantic watching of TV in hopes your work or school closed. Then the waiting. I for one did get the obligatory milk but also margarita mix and champagne to help wait it out.

Part of me still likes snow. How can you not like it? It's so beautiful and everything just sparkles, especially with all the Christmas lights. The other part of me that knows it would take a massive blizzard for my work to close dreads it. That part reads up to 12 inches as meaning "great, I might get in an accident on the way to work on Monday".

The funny thing is in NJ my work was super flexible about snow. Come in if you can, if you can't not a big deal. They plow roads in NJ and there isn't as much ice so driving in snow ends up being not as huge of a deal as driving in snow and ice in VA. Still my first snow storm up there we got 18 inches (which was more than I had seen in awhile coming from VA). I was like a little kid playing outside with K's dogs, enjoying a snow day and the best part - roads were clean by mid-day so off to the mall or Starbucks.

I'm not going to bash my job specifically here (even though their policy is they won't close unless its some earth shattering event) but I'm going to bash companies in general that don't think 12 inches is enough to close. My dad called me this morning to tell me the mall was opening at 8am. Is it really worth it for Victoria Secret (or anywhere else) to open and drag some poor high school kid out of bed? I mean they may get five customers all day - fools that drive SUV's and saw the commercials and think they can tackle a snowbank. We'll be lucky to be plowed out on Monday.

I can understand companies that say essential personnel - like fire departments, police, hospitals, security, power companies. But the key here is essential personnel - you don't really need the VP's secretary back in the office to get the hospital running, or the power back on, or the police out on the roads. Essential personnel should be people that you need to keep the city going not randoms. Essential personnel knew when they got hired - get an SUV for the few times you might need it to get to work. They get overtime or extra money or whatnot. I don't get extra money to try to navigate my 2000 Mazda though 12 inch snowbanks. My car couldn't even get in the driveway last night and there was barely an inch on the ground. Now I'm hoping I'm far enough in my yard that a plow or some stupid kid doing donuts in the street won't hit it.

So snow is my Santa and my Grinch. I like seeing it for all of an hour or maybe even half a day on Saturday. But I'm ready for 80 degree weather and to melt all of this away. I'm convinced I was born to live somewhere with a beach and warm weather all year - I just need to win the lottery first.

Santas and Grinches - Oh My

So I try to take my own advice and think of something awesome happening to me but today it's not working and my sister called to say hi and I ended up venting to her for ten minutes until which point she said she had to go. I don't blame her. But sometimes you have to vent and sometimes letting it out helps.

I was reading this Good Housekeeping article that said women cry more than men and it went on and on about why but it wasn't like I was shocked about this statistic. It actually makes me feel better sometime to just let everything out whether venting or just sobbing into my pillow until I'm drained of all the negative energy.

So my Grinch today I don't really want to talk about... but basically I'm a little irritated by something, we'll leave it at that. And my Santa is my sister for actually listening to me and not saying that's nice. She actually agreed with me so I know I'm not a raging lunatic on this one. So love you Sis. :)

Santas = Good Customer Service

So I know I should write a Grinch today but I pretty much Grinch'd out from Friday and Saturday. So here is my missing Santa Claus post for Saturday, instead.

I complained a lot about stores and companies with bad customer service. (Shame on you companies!) That I feel the need to write about companies I've had good experience with... because if nothing else they deserve the recognition for a job well done.

The funny thing is thinking about good customer service is harder - because sometimes good customer service is simply completing the job as promised.

Like take Amazon for instant. I have never had to call them for anything. Everything I've ever ordered has shown up intact and on-time. Is this good customer service or simply doing what was promised when I placed my order? In a way I think it's good customer service since bad customer service seems to run wild. But the part of me that isn't jaded - thinks no this simply what was promised when I gave them my credit card. Good customer service is going the extra mile. It's making sure your customers not only get what was promised when they walk through the door, they walk out feeling good (and in turn loyal to the store).

One of my best examples of this is The Limited at VCC. I used to like The Limited - it had cute work outfits, a little pricey but good sales. Then I started going to the store at VCC and I fell in love with The Limited. Half of what I own or more comes from that store. If I go to VCC I'm going in The Limited whether I need something or not. And what changed my attitude about a store that I liked but didn't have to go to into something I can't live without? Well, their clothes and sales help but the sales people in the store always act like nothing you ask is going out of the way. I'm not talking about kissing your ass nice. I'm talking normal friendly - a hi when you walk in, a quick can I help you. It's starting a dressing room when you're holding multiple garments. It's being helpful but not annoying. And because I go there so often they remember me and well go out of there way to point out new things.

In response to my blog post on NY and Co here is how they should have handled the situation of me wanting to try on the shirt. It was late and K and I had swung by the mall after dinner to pick up one thing. I had begged him into running into The Limited when I saw "the dress". It was the prettiest blue and so simple but elegant. I had to try it on. They had a four and an eight so I scooped them up and ran into the dressing room. Let me tell you right now it's almost 9:00 pm (closing time). I try on the dresses, the eight is too big, the four is a tad too small (you know the type of outfit you're afraid to dry or eat too much because it might not fit). I was bummed. The sales girl offered to call another mall for me but I said no, it was ok.

We started to leave and there in the window was the dress on a mannequin. I rushed back inside and dashed into the display. It was a six. I found the sale associate and asked her if I could try it on. I fully expected since they were five minutes away from closing a no but she dutifully got the dress of the mannequin and let me try it on. She never complained to my face. She said it was no problem and let me know if I needed anything else. I bought the dress.

But it's more than the dress (which I wear all the time), its the fact that she not only did her job, she went out of her way to do her job well. She could have grumbled that I should try on something else or refused to undress the mannequin and I would have probably been okay with it since it was so late but she smiled and said okay.

So kudos The Limited.

The sad thing is this is one of the only stores I can think of off the top of my head where a company went out of their way to do something for me. I'm sure there are others but I'm so discouraged about customer service these days they aren't flowing freely. So share your own good stores about companies and stores and if I can think of others I'll add them.

Christmas Party Santa

Tonight was my work Christmas party. I know some of you may groan and be like augh that stupid event that HR or some committee puts on where everyone stands around listening to crappy music and drinking watered down punch from paper cups (ok that might have happened on The Office - I don't know). But I like Christmas parties - work or otherwise. Work ones are always interesting because people are 1. happy (they are out of work and drinking) and 2. out of their element (so you learn things you might not have known). And Christmas parties with friends are fun because its a nice excuse to just get dressed up and celebrate. So cheers!

Grinches Attack By Phone

Grinches. The thought of one can send chills down your spine. A growing sense of dread beats in your heart. You steel your nerves and confront them.

I was all set to write about traffic Grinches today but alas they will have to wait for another odd day as today will be devoted to another Grinch.

I’m going to divide this Grinch up over two odd days (today: bad telephone customer service Grinch and Friday: bad customer service Grinch). Now you could argue they are one and the same but I’m saying if anything they are twins – equally annoying and aggravating but in the end separate beast. I know stores that have excellent customer service in their store but once you get them on the phone you’re talking to a third world country with a bad phone connection, limited English and no earthly idea about their products.

So The Bad Telephone Customer Service Grinch (TBTCS for short – mainly because I can’t write that out five times without getting a cramp)… what can you say. You know calling any major company you’re probably going to run into this Grinch. Not running into him and running into a Santa Claus instead is pretty rare. You want to leap through the phone and hug the person for the sheer fact that they are nice, helpful, speak English, and are not a computer. Now I want to say up front I’m not here to bash companies that outsource their customer service to other countries – I have dealt with companies that do this and still get excellent service (I’ve never had a problem with Capital One for example) but for the most part it’s the worse. It would be the same if they outsourced to the backwoods of Arkansas and you’re trying to decode an accent and local dialect. So it has nothing to do with where the person is and more to do with one’s ability to understand them and they you. That and my biggest pet peeve - bad customer service. If they had half way decent, trained customer service reps answering the phone they wouldn't even be a Grinch!

So let’s talk about what bad customer service looks like… even better I can give you examples. Against my better judgment I will leave out company names to protect them when really I want to shout from the rooftops that their staff needs better training.

Round One: Large Entertainment Provider vs. Poor Consumer
Calling re. product no longer getting reception.

Grinch: Thank you for calling xyz, my name is Bob, how can I assist you today?
Me: Hi Bob, my radio is no longer working and I was wondering what I can do to correct the problem.
Grinch: I can offer you a great deal on a new radio. 50% off. Today only.
Me (grumbling as Bob has now turned into a used car salesman): Thanks Bob. My old radio is ok but every now and then it gets full of static and asked to update channels.
Grinch: 50% is a great offer.
Me: I think it’s the antenna – can I buy a new antenna anywhere?
Grinch: Oh I’m sorry, we no longer make your radio. Would you like to buy a new one?
Me: No.
Grinch (actually turning into a Santa for a minute lowers his voice): Well, I could get in trouble for telling you this but you should try abc electronics.

Round Two: Large Department Store vs. Poor Consumer
Calling re. Department Store computer phone service calling me repeatedly about a delivery. I finally connect with a human after navigating a computer, being told I got connected to the wrong department and need to hang up and call again, getting disconnected and waiting for 30 minutes (not kidding) on hold.

Grinch: Thank you for calling Department Store. Please verify your phone number starting with the area code.
Me (thinking already did this twice with computer, once with Grinch who got disconnected. Smile.): Give phone number.
Grinch: Great and your full name.
Grinch: And your address.
Grinch: And what did you order?
Me (does she not have a computer that she can look all this up on? Seriously their security is better than my bank).
Grinch: And it shows here that you are set to get your appliances on Friday.
Me: Yes, I'm calling because your computer system keeps calling me. Yesterday it said Friday. Today it called and said it was delayed and wasn't shipping to the store until Friday.
Grinch: It says here Friday.
Me: Okay, well I just wanted to check...
Grinch rambles about having an 18 year old present and me getting a third call from the computer announcing the time on Thursday.
Me: I just want to make sure... I took a day off from work.
Grinch repeats the part about being 18 and the third phone call.
Me (frustrated): Okay, well see you Friday.
Grinch: Would you like a complimentary quote for a kitchen redesign?
Me (already having told another Grinch no): We're not interested.

Well I could go on and on but I'll probably only be amusing myself. Everyone knows dealing with a company over the phone is nothing short of pure hell. I push zero frantically hoping against hope an operator will pick up instead of reciting my name and phone number to a computer. I'm not sure how to rid yourself of this Grinch its a necessary evil and since most companies are about saving money over customer service I doubt it will go away anytime soon.

It's The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year...

Ahhh Christmas. Thinking about it gives me chills. I turn into an anxious six-year-old girl dutifully arranging homemade sugar cookies onto a plate, pouring a glass of milk and writing my note to Santa and my elf Shorty. The elf thing is a long story but started back when it was okay to say Christmas in school and the teacher had us write to Santa. Instead of Santa writing back an elf did, saying how busy Santa was but he was so glad to hear from us... anyway...

As I was saying Christmas just makes me happy. And the thing that makes me the happiest is all the traditions. So I'm not waiting for the Toy's R Us Toy Book anymore but I might still sneak a peak and wish I was still young enough to play with Barbies. And I'm not too grown up to admit that I still look forward to Christmas specials. How can you not love Rudolph?

And one of the best things ever is that where I live Santa comes along on the fire truck every year. They publish the route and days in the local paper. I actually have it written in my calendar so I don't forget. It's this Sunday!!! I'll try to post photos but my camera is notoriously bad at taking photos at night.

It's not just the bells and whistles of putting up a tree and singing carols. It's going to church at 11 and walking out in silence holding a candle. It's laying under the tree and just watching the lights twinkle. It's relaxing. I'll even say you could mediate doing it. It's the extra time with friends and family.

7 Grinches Grinching...

So the title doesn't make sense but my blog my rules. Today the biggest Grinch to all workers - Monday Morning. Is there anything worse that waking up to the sound of an alarm clock knowing you have five full days before the weekend? I love my job (well most of the time) but I dread Mondays. I think there would be nothing better than four day work weeks and three day weekends - or four day weekends would be nice too. So I'm counting down the days until our office is closed for Christmas and I have a few blissful days to do nothing but watch bad TV, hang out with family and friends, eat lots of food and open presents.

Baby It's Cold Outside... 1 Grinch and 1 Claus for C

So I skipped a day and I had to force myself to come up with something for today. I could come up with a witty excuse but really I just wanted to finish up some projects around the house. And even now I'm procrastinating reading entertainment blogs...

But to the topic at a hand - a Grinch for yesterday and a Claus for today.

Yesterday we took C to her make-up puppy class and to get her photo with Santa. You paid $10 for the photo but half the money went to the Humane Society to help homeless pets. I hate thinking about homeless pets - they make me want to cry. Those animal abuse commercials come on and I have to change the channel. I can't bare to look at those poor little faces. So my Grinch today is all those people that hurt animals. Really? You're such a man (or woman) you have to hit an animal for no reason? Grow up psychos. And if you can't afford your animal anymore you can't do him or her the common courtesy of finding them a new home? There is no way in hell I would just leave C on the side of a road somewhere - the thought actually makes me want to cry. And even those she's decided to chew on three pairs of my favorite shoes I'm not going to hit her for it. I might yell about it but in the end it was my fault for not watching her.

Maybe having C makes me more aware but even before her I loved animals (I had three bunnies and a dog growing up). I will study faces of lost pets hoping I can find them (not that I actually go out and look but if the animal happens to stumble into my yard). I called the non-emergency police number before because I saw this lady leaving cages outside of a dumpster. The police sent out the Animal Rescue people who actually called me back to thank me because it's a crime to just abandon your animal. It turns out the lady I called the police on actually was catching wild cats to rehabilitate but she actually told the police she wished more people would call because then the cats wouldn't be abandoned so I still feel good about that.

So in answer to the Animal Hating Grinch my Claus is all those people that actually do something to help the animals. The people at Pet Smart that volunteered to dress like Santa, hold C and take her picture all to get a $5 donation. I think that's pretty awesome. We talked to the guy who was Santa while we waited and he was really nice - he'd been dressing up and doing this for years. He said he really enjoyed it. He actually just came over and hugged C and played with her. She was a little scared at first (which never happens). He said the weirdest pets he had to hold were two pythons. He's braver than me because there is no way in hell I would hold those things. So props to the volunteers at Pet Smart, and the lady rehabilitating cats, and even those celebrities showing me sad photos of cats and dogs... take down those Grinches one by one! :)

Book Review: Wishin' and Hopin': A Christmas Story by Wally Lamb

This was December's book club pick and although book club didn't go as planned (only two of us showed up) it's worth reviewing this book.

First, let me start by saying it probably isn't the best book to read for book club. It's good but there isn't anything really that meaty to discuss. No what the heck is going on here plot like The Turn of the Screw (last month's book).

The story is told from the point of view of 10-year old Felix Funicello in the few months leading up to Christmas. Most of the story revolves around Felix's school life and classmates. The story reminds me a lot of A Christmas Story and The Wonder Years. Felix is still delightfully naive - he tells a dirty joke on a live TV show after not really understanding the meaning. And his point of view on life in the 60's is funny looking back on it all now. He makes a statement about how subscription TV (cable) is being tested in New York but who would pay for TV when it's free it's like paying for water.

If you're looking for a dramatic action book this isn't for you. This is simply a sweet story of a few months out of a little boy's life. It's a good short read to put you in the holiday spirit and so for that reason I would have to recommend it.

1 Claus a Giving...

Running into a real life Claus can make your whole day. A Claus (thing or person) brings forth happiness. So for my first even day Claus let's talk about people that give something for nothing.

I could say people who volunteer, or donate money to charities, but I want to include people that will help random strangers or friends on the street and expect nothing in return. In a way I think most of us could fit into this category. Ever held the door for a woman with a stroller? Ever offered to pay for a friend's lunch just because?

These Clauses don't expect anything in return and just like Santa are content in just giving. They are the people who offer to help you and then follow through. The people that donate hours and hours to rebuilding houses or feeding the homeless.

I think we should all strive to be more like that. I'm not saying be a pushover who is always covering your friend's tab or forever recommending your deadbeat neighbor for a job but someone who takes a few minutes out of their day to do something nice for someone else. I challenge you to do one nice thing today and expect nothing in return. Maybe call someone and offer to help them with their resume, open the door for someone on the way to work, volunteer for an hour, write a check to your charity, or just say hi to that person you pass everyday in the hall. Giving something for nothing can be as big or as small as you like. And like the Grinch you might find your heart has suddenly grown two sizes too big.

30 Days Take Two - Grinches and Clauses

Ok so I had so much fun doing the 30 days of thankful I have a new monthly post and I hope you will follow along, commenting and doing you own daily blogging. So since its Christmas we could so something about the greatest gifts or something that brings you joy but really after five days I don’t know if I could do the gifts thing without getting bored and joy is pretty much the same thing as thankful.

So after some thinking I thought we could do the opposite. To get in the Christmas spirit let’s vent a little and dish on our not so favorite personal Grinches. So what is a Grinch exactly? Now I’m not following the Dr. Seuss version of a grumbly old green monster who wants to steal Christmas cheer exactly. My definition is anyone or thing that tries to steal your Christmas mojo or overall just annoys you and like the Who’s of Whoville who all gathered around to sing the Grinch into the Christmas spirit maybe our good hearted venting will make all our personal Grinches lighten up to. So hats off to Dr. Seuss for an awesome inspiration and let’s start dishing!

But in the honor of the Christmas spirit and since the Who’s did all sing their Christmas cheer. I’ve also decided we should do our Clauses (as in Santa Claus) too. Now my new made up definition for a Claus is anyone or anything who helps bring you Christmas mojo or good cheer. A Claus is the exact opposite of a Grinch. So lets melt our Grinch's hearts with all this good Christmas cheer!

So odd days are Grinches and even days are Clauses – not too complicated right?

So let’s get started and since it’s an odd day it’s time for my first Grinch…

My first Grinch is Mean Girls. You know who I’m talking about and if you don’t there is a pretty good Lindsay Lohan movie of the same title that will tell you all you need to know. Unfortunately you don’t leave the Mean Girls in high school. They and their male counterpart - is there a name for that? I don’t know and so for the purpose of this blog guys and girls are Mean Girls. Anyway, Mean Girls will follow you and torment you or some other poor unsuspecting soul the rest of your/their life.

I’m not sure why Mean Girls are what they are. They are a bunch of theories – Google it if you have time. My personal theory is they are sad little people who are jealous for whatever reason of you or said victim. And to be a clique by definition it seems you have to shun someone else.

Now we’ve all been guilty of the occasional eye roll or mean comment behind someone’s back but Mean Girls take it a step further. They are unrepentant bitches. They aren’t afraid to talk about you in front of your face, they’ll challenge your authority, they’ll make fun of people for no reason and generally just act like complete and utter snots. They are sixteen year old girls trapped in a grown man/woman’s body. They delight in making other people feel bad and try to delude everyone into thinking their clique is the best.

So Mean Girls repent and be happy with who you are. First off, we can all see you trying to hide behind your hands while you gossip about us behind (or in front of) our backs. We get it that you have better hair, clothes, house, friends, etc than us and frankly we don’t care. Not to mention seeing a middle-aged woman or man behave like a sixteen year old Mean Girl just comes across as desperate and sad. And chances are half your friends are probably sick of your Mean Girl attitude too but are too scared to say it to your face. So lighten up and grow up.