This time of year, everyone has far too many things on their plate. It is the Holiday season, so there are parties to go to, shopping to do, cooking, cleaning, entertaining, decorating, and then some. It is the end of the fiscal year for most companies so that leads to a larger work load, accounts to close, inventories that need counting and so on. In the service industry the workload increases also. People want their cars detailed before they pick up visitors, their pets cleaned and cut before their visitors arrive, while they are running around like headless chickens with the shopping and what not they eat out and consume far too much caffeine, (Myself not excluded from the previous statement.) The college students prepare for final exams, which can be super stressful, and are forced to plan the next semester before they run home for their short break. Those of us who act as event staff have an extremely busy schedule, especially in a big city, because big companies and people throwing home holiday parties alike request your services. It is all around a busy busy busy time of year. I have quite a list of things myself.
- Final exams. . . All three in the next week and a half. I am very nervous! It is no easy feat to take on a full plus course-load while you are chasing around two children under five and maintaining a home, a part time job, and a social life. I am not patting myself on the back here, I know there are people out there who have a lot crazier lives than I do and are getting it done. I am grateful that I have it so “easy.”
- Planning the next semester. This ordinarily wouldn’t be an issue for me. In most cases I would have already done this and be ordering my books about now so that I could just enjoy the break. This time is a wee bit different. I can’t sign up for my next required classes until I have completed the ones I am currently enrolled in with a D or better. (I have As, I think I will be aright, it is the waiting that gets to me.)
- Holding my social status. I have been invited to be Aly’s date to a wedding this coming Saturday, to be Danielle’s date to her office holiday party on the 6th of December, another couple of awesome people have invited me to their annual holiday party on the 8th, I plan to attend all of the above but I’m not entirely sure how all that will will work. I don’t even have the proper attire for the wedding or the Office party. For the other I could show up in my underwear and no one would care. lol
- I have several Croupier events coming up. I believe that between now and the 15th of December I have four events, possibly five depending on how my finals are scheduled. It is a really good thing that I love this job! I only wish that I could sign up for more events. It just hasn’t worked out that way lately.
- Decorating. Here lays a struggle. For years we have done this one way, a simple way that has always seemed appropriate for apartment living and doesn’t overstep into uncomfortable territory as far as my husbands views on the holidays, yet takes everything magical away from what the holiday was when I was a child. Our four year old is trying to wiggle his opinions in this year and I want it to work without upsetting his father. I would love to put a little magic back into it. (I’m always sad about Christmas. No one does Christmas like my Mommy and I just want to share that magic with my family but my husband doesn’t feel the magic at all.)
- The Lists. I make a list of all of the people I need to think about this time of year. I list the potential gift ideas, potential stores to find teach of those gifts, the people who I need addresses from, the food items i need to prepare, the everyday tasks that become lost in the hustle and bustle. I make lists upon lists upon lists. In fact, if you haven’t already noticed, this list has several smaller lists embedded in it. I am a mess. Currently working on my stocking stuffers list. I know I will end up filling my own so careful thought and consideration has gone into that one. =]
- Obtaining said gifts and getting the things that need to be mailed in the mail on time. This is the busiest time of year for the postal service! I myself have a list of a ton of gift that must be sent out on time to far off places. I’ll get there. = ]]]]]
- The stress. The Holiday season is supposed to be a magical time filled with cheer and joy, yet it is also very easily the most stressful time of year for so many people. It is easier to say that you won’t let the stress affect you than it is to really not let it. It can affect you in so many ways. I guess you can say that this site is a way that I destress from time to time, I make lists that map things out for me, and I write my thoughts down if I am nowhere near my computer. I carry paper and something to write with at all times. . .also a deck of cards. I’m a mess. (I also have a 100 lb heavy bag that kept me great company during the holidays for the first four years I lived away from my family in Florida. I asked for a stand for that thing this year because I NEED to beat it up badly!)
Okay, I think we all understand the busy busy busy. I have talked about it quite enough I think. I now need to go get started on one of my many lists. Oh boy. Happy Holiday Preparation to all!
