Breaking, Procrastinating, and....

First, I am sorry I missed posting last week. I was sick. My dog was sick. And if you've ever been ill and had to take a dog out every two hours because he is ill--while you are ill-- you can understand why I didn't hike down to the school and try to squeeze in the writing before he'd need to head back out. (My dog and I are eerily in synch. For instance, we are both allergic to milk.)

At any rate, I am back--at least, for this one last post before the big, needed, welcomed, and long awaited holiday break. Huzzah!


Normally, I'm the girl out shopping on Christmas Eve because I still have five or twenty people still on my list with nary a gift. I stay up 'till two a.m. wrapping presents and usually find that one or two escaped beneath the bed and must be presented, with a sheepish smile, around New Year's to the person who the runaway gift was slated for.


But not this year.


Not this year because I have no shopping to do! I can't go home until after Christmas, so I'm going to wait and take advantage of all the after Christmas sales. This is, perhaps, my worst case of procrastination to date. (Not to mention Olympian level cheapness.) I'm fairly certain I've never actually left a task until significantly after its deadline had passed--at least, not on purpose. I feel like I deserve an award. A Christmas Procrastinator's Award.


It should be a shiny badge. It should be a shiny badge because I like things that are shiny and badges always seem so official.


I may actually make gifts. The ideas are swimming in the back of my head: picture albums made out of old album covers, scarves, a blanket made out of my baby clothes for my mom, a rag rug for some as yet undecided person.....But, I have time off and so why rush? I can't afford to ship anything, so I can wait; wait until I'm comfortably "breaking" through December and early January.

Hey, I have to focus on the positive. This is my first Christmas away from home. My nephew is using full sentences and I think he called me Tabitha rather than his usual 'Bitha the last time we spoke on the phone. These are bad things all.

Now, for those of you late finishers, here are a few tips from the expert:

Wal-Mart is great at about 3:00a.m..

Usually, there is a Rite-Aid or CVS open on Christmas Eve and Day in case anything slipped past or you have an unexpected guest to buy for.

Buy extra--especially if you have any cash after Christmas. Some easy generic gifts make for great filler if you've failed in your listed endeavors. (Yes, yes I have done this. No one knows you bought it with no one in mind. Sheesh.)

And, of course, watch out for zombies! Don't slip on banana peels. And, finally, large jars of peanut butter make acceptable gifts to college students or those working for AmeriCorps.

Three Things I Found This Week: The Book Thing--where all books are free--is amazing. Yes, amazing. (Although, technically that was last week.) I don't like to collage because that means things must touch. And, my brain has finished with creativity--which is too bad since I still have a portfolio to finish, a book to make, and the MFA open mic poetry reading! (By the way, don't let the idea that I might read stop you from coming: Thursday, Dec. 17th, 5th Floor of the Student Center, 7:30p.m.)

Three Things I Still Need to Find: A little left over creativity--I still have poems to revise. The courage to order, without assistance, at Star Bucks. And, a short list of books to read over the holiday.