Hi. I’m writing this from the comfort of my couch in the afternoon hours of the middle of Festivus. Today was the big present pillage and plunder day and I thoroughly admit that I’m one of those people who likes to totally shower my kids with gifts. It backfires on a lot, but I do it every year, again and again, and only for Festivus.  I should stop, I know I should stop, but there’s this evil spirit that takes over and forces me to be obnoxiously indulgent. Ugh. I’m a mixture of shame and grins.

In this frenzy, just about each year, I do the same thing. I get all excited about a present for at least one of my kids and then its out of stock, or something I have to order from Japan, on eBay, costing me at least 3x what it will cost in two weeks after the stores’ shelves are restocked. This year was no different, only I never got a chance to get excited over the Barbie Glamour Camper because it was sold out everywhere, or over $200 on obscure price-gouging toy sites. I love my daughters, and I want them to be assured of that love with a pink plastic camper, but I have to say that I don’t love Barbie enough to actually spend almost four times the MSRP for something that will inevitably lead to a disturbance in the twin force. Instead, as I saw the holiday approaching, I started plugging “Baby doctor Barbie” and “Cooking Barbie,” because two weeks ago, those gems were everywhere.

I need to mention, also, that every year, I plan to hit the after-Christmas sales to get some deals because I’m indulgently cheap and proud of it. There’s a funny thing about after-Christmas sales… the only toys left are those items that people didn’t beat each other down for the “C” list items… like “Dentist Barbie” and “Babysitter Barbie,” complete with simulated poop and pee in the potty training toilet (because, yes, in Barbie world, one let’s their babysitter potty train their kids). ( I’m totally drawing a Stepford metaphor there, in case you missed it.) So, the Barbie- (feminist mom twitches as she types that) obsessed Twitches got their Festivus wishes, and I had a drink.

There was also this moment on Day 3 where Sunshine opened up her first official make up kit (pressed powder and body glitter gel) and from the depths of her soul, this laugh/giggle of pure glee erupted. Had it been an evil laugh, I would gladly say she was possessed by a demon. No, my eldest daughter is possessed by a fucking Barbie. I have never, ever heard a laugh like this, not even from my girliest of friends. This was an otherworldly laugh of disturbing, pink and ruffled proportions. Help. Me.

Ahem. The Husband and my boys (Lego Rock Band!) are happily sitting in front of their screens, doing what they do. I’ve discovered that while I may want to play Sims 3, my computer is no longer fast enough and that I also remember my high-interest Dell account password so I may want to stay off the computer during moments of angst or too-many-’tinis. I made out pretty well this year, and I was even surprised by The Husband (the first time in a decade) and his ability to, uh, surprise me with what really was my perfect gift.

As a present to myself, I’ve been taking time off from community management/administration, so I can think about where those are heading and spend time catching up on everything I’ve neglected for the last two semesters. Oddly, I’ve had time to clean, watch movies with my kids, defrost buffalo wings cook,  and just breathe… and when that was over, I was freaking bored out of my skull.

I have four months of fairly intense writing ahead of me as I finish up my BA, and then summer isn’t far behind, so this little break has been nice. Maybe a little too nice, as I fantasize about dropping off of Planet Online and devoting myself to sushi-making.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gziC1eST5G4