A Bit Too Much Christmas Cheer #2

A Bit Too Much Christmas Cheer #2

A Little Too Much Holiday Cheer

A Little Too Much Holiday Cheer

Ahhhh Commercialism (but who doesn't love Elmo?)

Ahhhh Commercialism (but who doesn't love Elmo?)

Please don't propose on Christmas, New Year's Eve or Valentine's Day

Ok, I'm a bad blogger. All of my readers (all three of them) have been after me to post a new blog. What these lovely hearts don't realize is that in my world is in a frenzy right now. Why you may ask? I work for a wedding photography company and this is our "busy season," (of note though - I doubled my sales goal last month and I'm on track to beat it again this month). It seems that most every man on the planet decides to propose to his intended on Christmas, New Year's Eve or Valentine's Day. Personally, I think popping the question on any of the above listed days is a bit of a cop out (same if he gets down on one knee on the girl's birthday). It's my opinion that a day as big as asking for a woman's hand in marriage should stand on its own, but apparently most of the men on the planet don't see it that way. So the last eight weeks have been nuts in my world.

So much so, that I was even checking my Blackberry (and worse yet, responding to messages) while on my surprise trip to London. Yes, you read right. My beloved, Aqua Rat, surprised me with a trip (part of the Christmas gift orgy) and it was a getaway across the pond. I was told what days to take off from work, what to pack and when to be ready for him to pick me up in a cab. Very romantic. His mother thought at one point that she'd spoiled it for me, but if she mentioned where we were going, I missed it (probably because I was doing four other things, while IM'ing her that day). So it wasn't until I was three people away from the TSA agent in the security line at the airport, before Aqua Rat begrudgingly gave me my boarding pass and I had an inkling where we were going. I had thought maybe we were skipping off to Montreal - no way did I think we were heading to Europe.

We had an amazing time! Possibly one of the best vacations I've ever had, if not THE best. If I can figure out how, I'll add some photos to the bottom of the blog. The only crazy antics we really encountered, however, were some hijinks at the theater. We went to see Avenue Q. If you get a chance to go see it (it was on Broadway first and is an American play), do so! It's probably the only time in your life that you'll get to see Muppets have sex. Enough said.

So here's my promise. I'll be better about this blog stuff. I'll never be the daily blogger, but I'll try to keep up my end, now that the mania is starting to subside and blog each Friday. At least until next Christmas rolls around. :)

Christmas Present Orgy 2007

I guess I should have warned him. You know how it is. A new relationship and you're still getting to know his traditions and he, yours. I guess it never crossed my mind to clue my beloved in to the present orgy that is Christmas, in my family's home.

We hadn't been at my parent's house in the thriving metropolis of Johnston, Iowa too long before he noticed the stacks of gifts under the tree. Did I say stacks? Perhaps hordes would suit better. Not having spent Christmas with his family yet (this was our first Christmas together), I wasn't familiar with their traditions when it came to gift giving. Yes, his mother had asked me to pick up their gift to him for her, since I had easier access to it, but it still gave little insight into budget and gift giving properties for their family. I had no idea if they gave each other one gift or 15, so it never entered into my pea sized brain to mention, "By the way, we have this gift giving thing down to a science in my family. A crazy, overdone, heavy on the gifts, kind of science."

I suppose my parents do go a bit overboard, but if for no reason other than they want their kids (and grand kids) to have the things their hearts long for. Keep in mind, my sister and I have never been ones to complain about this, and we have all backed off a bit over the years (my sister and her husband asked Aqua Rat and I to donate our time to a charity this year, in lieu of an actual gift or round of gifts).

Christmas Eve (our version this year was celebrated on December 22nd) may have been a bit overwhelming for Aqua Rat, I fear. Many gifts. Many, many gifts. Lots of festive paper being ripped open. The whole process took a couple of hours (as a reference point, there were six adults and a six month old). And even when it was over, it still wasn't over. The proverbial fat lady had yet to sing. Santa was to come later that night, leaving more gifts for the next morning. I can see where it had the potential to be quite a bit to take in, as a newcomer.

I look at events like this as being the "fun times" in a new relationship. The little surprises that still pop up now and then. The getting used to each other and those around us, both loved ones and others, that make up our day to day lives. It keeps things from getting boring. Aqua Rat survived his trip to small town, Midwest, USA and he even survived his first present orgy. I think he's actually looking forward to next year. But you'll have to ask him. And if you see him, please don't give him a heads up about the family reunion just yet. I'm still trying to figure out how to break that one to him gently. :)

CD