From Sopranos And Strings

to shopping for things.

I just got back from seeing the Phoenix Symphony perform the complete oratorio of Handel's Messiah at the Orpheum in downtown phx. Wow. They are good. I absolutely love a well-played orchestra. Throw in a fantastic tenor, uplifting music, and a member of the chorus who could pass for Billy Ray Cyrus' twin (ass. length. mullet. I am not kidding.) and you have one heckuva show. And French horns. I do love me some French horns.

I am having a hard time getting into my usual Christmas "mood" this year. I'm sure it's a combination of a lot of things, but it's annoying me a lot. I mean, I go see Handel's Messiah, walk around a city decorated for Christmas, drink peppermint mochas, listen to non-stop Christmas music, read and re-read and compare the Christmas stories as told in Matthew and Luke--and I got nothin'.

I don't know if it's the fact that it averages about 75 degrees these days. I don't know if it's because I don't really have any close friends or family nearby. I don't know if it's because I'm too focused on all the other crap that I let take over my thoughts and my life. I don't know if it's because I haven't yet completed the annual post-Thanksgiving family tradition of watching (and reciting word-for-word) National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation. I don't know. All I know is that I need to get me some holiday cheer - stat.

I am going to attempt to do my Christmas shopping tomorrow. I am looking forward to the search for gifts - I love finding "that perfect thing" for someone. I am not looking forward to the crowds and the cheerless cashiers.

I want to tell those surly salespeople that I understand. I've been there. I too once worked retail. From fall of my Junior year of high school to spring of my Freshman year of college, I worked in the shoe department at J.C. Penney. That means that I worked three holiday seasons during my tenure as the Shoe Girl. They made me wear reindeer antlers one year. An elf hat with attached elf ears another. I watched grown men and women bicker and squabble over the last Tigger free-holiday-giveaway Christmas Tree ornament. I sold people shoes with a cheery smile and a "merry Christmas" and was given looks in return that clearly said "I can't decide what I want more for Christmas this year: for you to finish ringing up my purchase already or for you to die a slow and painful death choking on your Christmas cheer and reindeer antlers." ~sigh~ I think I need some sleep.