My Annual Holiday Related Panic Attack...

How did this happen?!?! It is now 2 weeks until Christmas EVE!

I was doing just fine, and then I realized that I only have two weeks. Suddenly, my heart is racing, my head is spinning and I can't feel my ass anymore. Perhaps that last problem has something to do with spending so much time sitting on the couch knitting like a mad-woman.

I went to my LYS yesterday after work. I make stitch markers that the shop owner sells in her store - I think she agreed to do it so that she could support my habit. It's like owning your own video gambling machine in a casino full of them. Anyhoo I had taken some stitch markers down last week (oh, b.t.w. I call the markers "A Little Bit of Happy", hence the blog name) and I needed to pick up my moolah. I had money in my pocket and I was still doing fine. I bought a skein of Brown sheep and the needles I need for my step-sister's Sophie bag. (Shhhhhh... it's a secret. She doesn't know... I'm going to make her think she's getting slippers. heh heh.)

I went home with the yarn. Had my supper. Started to knit. Then my husband's band came over to practice for their show next week. They guys went downstairs to set up their instruments. I put all my yarn for Christmas presents into a box and stepped back to look at it. The guys started playing a song. I started to feel kinda sweaty.

"Oh great, " I thought to myself, "my holiday panic attack has a soundtrack. And I think the keyboard player just hit a foul note."

Why do I do this to myself every year? Don't bother replying, I know the answer: Because it wouldn't be Christmas without the attack. I know I'll get it all done. And whatever I don't get done, well, it didn't really matter in the first place.

For the last 4 years of our marriage, my husband and I have agreed to make our Christmas gifts. One year we made painted ceramic trivets and painted glass ornaments and lots of baked goods to go with them. Another year, we made blankets for all the kids. But my darling husband doesn't knit, so this year I'm doing the big chunk. And it's giving me facial twitches. The exciting thing is that this year he's planning to design some stuffed dolls for the nieces and nephews, based on a cat character he's had in mind for a tv show for quite some time. He's not working right now, so I think I'm going to have to dump some stuff on him. I've already asked him if he could make the cappucino cups that I make for special people every year.

He doesn't know this yet, but in a moment of weakness or complete insanity, I said to my sister-in-law last week - "Why don't we have the b-day party here?" Christmas isn't enough for this family - we have a bunch of birthdays to celebrate too! We have a family celebration for all the kids birthdays and for the adults too. This year we're combining my nephew's celebration with his grandparents' celebration. Thank goodness! Being the "Cake Auntie" I'm glad we're down to one cake for three people. Two more cakes would have pushed me over the edge.

I forgot - we're also in charge of Christmas breakfast. I'm seeing the edge approaching now. Crap, the holiday cards! Crap, crap, crap.

You know, this post may have sounded like complaining but the truth is - I really like doing all of this. And I love giving homemade Christmas presents. I really wouldn't have it any other way.