Well, I am happy to announce I did knock off some of those items on the “to do list.” Let’s see how I’m doing compared to you!

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Check my finances … yeap, I’m broke!

String the lights outside … it includes two reindeer, one snowman, one gopher turtle, and a gator (it almost sounds like another version of the twelve days of Christmas) and yes, I blew the circuit. I need to use one of my life lines: call a friend. “Hello Mike, can you fix my lights? And while you are at it the hose on my sink faucet is hanging real low right now!”

Mail the Christmas cards … no such luck! It looks like they won’t make it out until Valentine’s Day so don’t take me off your Christmas card mailing list just yet. I promise they will get in the mail I just don’t know when!

Start my Christmas shopping … yes, I knocked off all the little kid items. Here is a tip: K-B Toys is going out of business and they are having one heck of a half price sale! Now, remember half price doesn’t mean you keep buying until you hit your allotted price quota per child. It means you stop shopping. Little kids aren’t looking at the dollar value, they are looking at all the fun they are going to have playing with the toy or destroying it (whatever comes first).

Where is my Visa? ... Actually, it is a MasterCard and it has yet to self-destruct. I’m trying to use cash as much as possible. So I’m eating rice and hot dogs to save some money, but that’s okay! I happen to like rice and hot dogs.

Attend a holiday party ... the first of many was last night. It was the YMCA staff outing and I will rate the evening as “enjoyed by all.” Thank you Konrad’s for a delicious prime rib meal and thank you YMCA or thinking of us!

Decorate the tree … this project was finished on Dec. 9. For those of you who do not know me, I have a tree problem. My problem is no one can decorate the tree except ME! Yes, it’s twisted, however I consider a Christmas tree a piece of art work. To me having someone else decorate the tree or help me is like having someone else finish my painting (yes, I oil paint or at least I think I can).

I started decorating at 4:30 p.m. and wrapped up at 9:30 p.m. I’m that bad with decoration and placement. Everything has to be hung in its visual place. Yes, it is a sickness or obsession, however it’s mine to enjoy and by the way, Monica don’t you ever switch my decorations to be funny! That almost cost you my friendship!

Begin wrapping presents … geez! I haven’t even bought the paper yet!

Shop for gifts I missed … soon enough. I’m thinking we should start an island gift bank. We all donate every other year to it. When we need the gift we missed, we head over to the gift bank and make our withdrawal. I need to work out a few bugs such as swipe cards so we keep control of the last minute gift withdrawals but how cool would that be? Anyone want to donate the space or get it started for 2009?

Clean the house for company ... I know a lovely lady by the name of Olga who can take care of the problem and she is reasonably priced. Let me know if you are looking for a good cleaner. I highly recommend her!

Have my Christmas meltdown … I will reserve that for the actual day I mentioned (Dec. 23). I’ll let you know.

Fight the crowds at Publix … well, that will depend on who is having the better Christmas Eve sale Winn Dixie or Publix. I’m thinking it will be a last minute item like the meat, vegetables, and dessert.

That’s my update! Check your own list maybe twice. When Christmas comes around will you be in a naughty mood or nice? As Tim Gunn says on the hit TV series “Project Runway”, “It’s make it work time.”

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Gina Sisbarro-Blassneck resides on Marco Island and is the Senior Program Director at the Marco Island YMCA. Her passion is anything to do with kids; especially the teens. She enjoys directing theater and writing. She looks forward to publishing her first adult novel hopefully in print by the holidays. She has two teenagers Wesley and Brianna “Booey” which gives her the greatest joy in life!