So. It's time to begin this Christmas shopping stuff, huh? Shit. Didn't we just do this last year?

It wouldn't be so bad, but I hate, hate, HATE crowds. I used to work retail, and I remember feeling totally helpless, like I could never, ever make all of those people happy. (I guess that's how Christina Aguliera feels when a Naval ship docks, eh?)

Last weekend, I went to the mall, and they were crazy-busy. I really did have a couple of full-scale freak-outs. I don't like crowds, and it makes me crazy. I find myself surrounded by tons of stupid, slow-moving people, I freak out and pretty much have to find my way out. Loud noises seem to make it worse, such as Christmas carols and those freaky people ringing the bell for the Salvation Army in order to get their community service hours out of the way so they can get off probation.

So I'm not really in the spirit, yet. I suspect that I will be soon, but right now, I'm simply waiting for it to happen.

I'm sure as the weather cools a bit, and people start putting their Christmas lights up, I'll be all set to have a Holly Jolly Christmas and Deck the Halls, but I'm still waiting.

We'll see.