Strategy for dealing with lack of Christmas Cheer: I plan to fake it til I make it. And if I don't make it, oh well. Maybe I'll cheer somebody else up.

With that thought in mind, I put on my bright red sweater, red socks, a pair of shoes and jeans, stuffed my santa hat on my head, stuck my grandmother's Christmas wreath pin on ( without stabbing myself. I decided that was a good start) and headed outside.

And it was FREEZING out there! It was 2 degrees this morning!! (that's -30C for you readers outside the states) New England cold! I went back in and put on my long underwear.....

yes, I managed to put it on UNDER my clothes !

Meanwhile, back on the Animal Planet that is my home, Vio-kitty came in from the cold. She'd spent the night outside. Thank God, I didn't know she was out there, or I'd have never gotten any sleep.

"Oh, look, she's shivering" said The Hub, sweeping her up in his arms, wrapping her in a towel and taking her over by the oven to warm up. Hmph. I wish he'd be half so concerned when I'm shivering. I was dying to ask him later if he told his client he was late showing up for the job because he was warming up his CAT!!!

Winston seems like he has a touch of artheritis in his right front paw. Whatever is troubling him - and it's not so bad that he doesn't do his normal activities, including his fairly energenic "play doggie" routine - it seems to improve when I give him 2 asprin in a hot dog. 'Course the hot dogs are probably not good for anybody.

The festive dress drew a pretty warm response everywhere I went. "Hey, Mrs. Claus!" "Merry Christmas!" etc. A little girl gave me a very shocked look in the supermarket....and then I realized that with my slightly redish hair flowing out beneath my hat, extensive list written out on a clip-board, and aura of just-kinda-observing the scene ( I was scanning for something good but easy for Mr. C.B. to eat before I sent his Christmas package) that I must have looked very much like "Mrs. Kringle" in that animated Christmas special for children. I bet she was "good" for the rest of the day - or at least the rest of the shopping trip!

I got the C.B.'s Christmas package off - their mail, photos of the present they had The Hub make for their daughter-in-law, cards for everybody, and gifts for Mr. and Mrs. C.B.

Mr. C.B. is losing his appetite, so Mrs. C.B. was very willing to have me send him some candy or something which might have appeal "But you'd better not send me anything. I know you can't afford it. You mind me now. You know I'm just about your mother" she said to me very sternly.

"Now, Mrs. C.B. I can't control what Santa Claus does! He's a very mysterious force. I can't be held responsible for whatever's in that box!" I protested. I got her an inexpensive music box. It's a snow globe, with an angel inside, and it plays "Joy to the World". I wrapped it in so much bubble wrap it'll probably take her days to get it open. It says "To Mrs. C.B. From Santa".

What I really wanted to do was to send her roses to arrive on Christmas Eve. She really loves flowers and looks for occassions to have them in her house. But my good intention went with the music box from Target, and she does like angels and they're part of the decor in all of her rooms.

That and about 10 boxes of stuff going out through ebay. That's the big holiday rush through my kinda sorta "warehouse" ( that would be the closet converted with shelves and the ironing board doubing as a packing station) I've sold a great number of my classic books, some china, and an advent wreath I bought 3 years ago for $10 which someone paid $30 bucks for!!

By the time I made the Shipping Station I was actually in a pretty decent mood. It was fun to think of Mr. C.B. getting a box of candy to open. I know Mrs. C.B. won't really be cross that I bought her a gift and if I get my butt into gear tomorrow there might still be time to follow up with some Christmas cookies.

So come on Christmas! I'm ready for ya!