August 15...
The yearly tradition arrives. The once a year nightmare in which it is Christmas Eve and I have done absolutely no preparation. This year's edition: We're staying with the in-laws, all the guests have arrived, and I must try to sneak away in the middle of the night to do my shopping. We still have a baby in diapers, who I must take with me. As soon as I can change his diaper. We're in Illinois, but I'm headed to the Marshall Field's at Mayfair, outside of Milwaukee. I tell Rick that he'll have to wrap the presents when we get home, so I can decorate our own tree (in the playroom, where we always had a tree when we lived with Rick's folks) and then bake some cookies. All during the night of December 24.

I have a permutation of this scenario every year. Always variations on the theme of unpreparedness. Usually in August or September. I don't think it ever happens more than once a year - so I'm safe until 2006. No wonder I felt tired today. I not only examined all of my Christmas ornaments in my sleep - I was also making new ones!