Ho ho .. hum! Too much prep and not enough payoff so far this holiday season. I have become one with my sewing machine, sort of like Brundle Fly (complete with desire to be on the business end of a rifle) and there’s more, yet more!, sewing to do. If I could, I’d get the rest of my presents completed by throwing some cash at Amazon and be done with it.

But I’m in the awkward position of being poor, but wanting to give gifts — hence, it’s all Holly Hobby, all the time.

[PS Have you seen the latest eBay commercial? “Let’s talk about homemade gifts. No one wants them.”  Ugh, not funny. “I know it’s the thought that counts, but think harder!” Okay, that’s a little funny.]

But hey. I don’t want my hamblog word-cloud to become all MONEY and STRESS and I’M OVER-CRAFTED. It’s good thing I’m being productive, and the desire to give gifts points to my continuing de-Grinchification of my attitude toward Christmas. Right? Even though it all makes me feel bonkers at times?

Here are some good things:

• I am now the street legal owner of a 1993 station wagon. I’m going to rock the grandma vibe with this sweet, tan-color-with-roof-rack ride — and appreciate the fact that it is nearly invisible to law enforcement. And I’ll get a workout, rolling my windows up and down! The accident sucked but here I be with no car loan payment and my insurance about half of what it was.
• I’ll be in Boston for Christmas and New York for New Years. Hooray for east coast shenanananananigans!
• I’m going to three parties this weekend and will finally experience some payoff. Sweet, cocktail-shaped payoff!

I forgot to mention in the first draft of my rant/rave: all the wonderful friends and strangers that bought Mock Orange merch throughout this season. Thank you for keeping the wolves a little farther from my door and allowing me my ever-so first world complaining.