Christmas spirit

Normally, I don't get super into Christmas. It lacks the irreverence of Halloween, the relaxed atmosphere of Memorial Day or Labor Day, the food (mmm, the food) of Thanksgiving. Add in my recent grumpiness and anxiety, and the whole holiday makes me more jittery than jovial.

Recently, though, I've decided to turn over a new leaf and be more positive. In that spirit, I decided to watch a Christmas movie a day in November and December (my friend Ashley is joining me). Here is my schedule:

November
14. The Miracle of Morgan's Creek
15. Gremlins
16. A Midwinter's Tale
17. A Christmas Carol/Scrooge (1951)
18. We're No Angels (1955)
19. R Xmas
20. Love Actually
21. Home Alone
22. The Holiday
23. The Muppet Christmas Carol
24. A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving
25. Mickey's Christmas Carol
26. Holiday Inn
27. Bad Santa
28. How the Grinch Stole Christmas (live action)
29. Olive the Other Reindeer
30. Comfort & Joy

December
1. White Christmas
2. Yes, Virginia, There is a Santa Claus
3. Prancer
4. The Christmas Box
5. The Shop Around the Corner
6. Trading Places
7. Frosty the Snowman
8. The Bishop's Wife
9. Santa Claus the Movie
10. Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
11. The Nightmare Before Christmas
12. Babes in Toyland
13. Christmas in Connecticut
14. National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation
15. The Santa Clause
16. The Polar Express
17. Blackadder's Christmas Carol
18. Miracle on 34th Street
19. Scrooged
20. Eight Crazy Nights
21. A Christmas Story
22. Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas
23. It's a Wonderful Life
24. Elf
25. A Charlie Brown Christmas

I tried to mix in some of my favorites with some movies I haven't seen, and in general, tried to go in order of increasing Christmasy-ness. (I had to include a Hanukkah movie and a Thanksgiving special.) I'll update with links sometime when I'm not typing this on a 15-minute break from work.

Is there anything I'm missing? What are your favorite Christmas movies?

It rained a little

It rained a little yesterday, and (paradoxically?) the sun began to shine a little in my cloudy crazy head.

I've been too caught up in my job and personal life. I miss creating things. I want to sew cute bags, and do comedy, and find 101 ways to cook the eggs that are filling up my fridge. (Anyone want a dozen fresh eggs? Anyone? I'm serious.)

Anyway. This video is cool and made with real jelly beans.

It never rains in Austin except on my head

Oh Internets.

Life has not been super bueno around these parts.

• The weekend after Crazy Poop Lady left her mark on our front door, a drunk driver (Crazy Drunk Lady #2) drove into both Abe's and my parked cars. Neither was totaled, but the insurance situation is a mess - it was a hit & run, she's now in jail and not responding to the insurance company's requests for a statement, etc.
• My job (which used to consist of mostly lovely interactions with lovely people) has lately mostly involved getting yelled at on the phone about things that aren't in my control. And two of my good friends and favorite coworkers are probably going to be let go.
• We are about to put my condo on the market, and some unexpected repairs and fees (along with the vehicle repair nonsense) have us feeling a little financially strained.

I know so many people have things way worse - but I'm feeling run down. I wind up in tears from stress and anxiety pretty much every day. When neighbors knock on the door, my heart races and I wonder what horrible thing is about to happen. I'm irritable and grumpy - I'm sure I'm a joy to be around. Abe is so stressed enough about his new job that I'm reluctant to dump my problems on him.

I don't know what to do. Am I depressed or just sad? Anxious or just reacting logically to recent events?

Maybe in a few weeks I'll be back to my glass-is-half-full self, and have everything figured out again. I sure hope so.

Thanks for letting me vent, Internets.