The tree is up. Balsalm fir. Not first choice but honestly, under the decorations and the mind-blowing amount of tinsel they've tossed on it, the fact that it is a tree at all isn't obvious. It looks more like what you'd expect a miniature pyramid of Giza to be had it been built in Atlantic city - shiny, twinkling and silver.

The gifts are not only bought (we were finished last Tuesday, a record we're beyond proud of. Most years we don't even start shopping until the 20th), they're wrapped and under said tree.

The turkey is in the fridge, defrosting. 22lbs of the world's dumbest barnyard fowl.

Mistletoe is up. Stockings are hung. Lights, garland, candles. Father Time keeping watch from his place of honour at the apex of O! Tannenbaum.

Everything is just about ready.

*sigh* I haven't baked a damn thing yet. No shortbread, no sugar cookies, no marzipan, no nothing. I've no idea why. On the plus side, the kids haven't seemed to notice. Maybe I can get by without having to do it?

We'll see. It will come down to the guilt factor, methinks. Just how much of a lousy mom will I feel like without homemade sweets all about the house?

I'll let you know.




soundtrack: television - "Kim Possible" I believe.