A projected high of around 70 today makes it feel fairly unlike any December I can remember in New Jersey or Pittsburgh. In fact, if not for the swanky holiday decorations that April put up in the main house, I'm not sure I'd even know that the holidays were right on top of me. This year I think I'm going to push back xmas until early next year. I haven't even told my mom about it yet (and I'm sure you can keep a secret, right Internet?), but I'm just ill-prepared for the holidays right now. No presents are bought, and I don't have enough vacation time to visit all the people I would want to visit properly. I've got 3 families, as well as friends in Pgh and NJ, and my trip home was only going to be like 3 days. So I cancelled my flight yesterday, and I'm going to reschedule for sometime in January, when I'll have time to do some proper shopping for people. Getting smacked around with some "unexpected bills":http://feralboy.com/log/archives/001289/ has hurt me in the wallet, including my "Pgh back taxes":http://feralboy.com/log/archives/001139/ (wahoo!) enough that my meager "poker":http://feralboy.com/log/archives/poker/ winnings can't compensate for.

A nice long weekend in January will be lovely. I'll get to spend time with everyone that I want to (maybe even drop in on the old weekly poker game and show the kids what I've been learning), and be able to do it all on my schedule. Mom will be sad, but xmas is just another day on the calendar, especially when it's 70 out. ;-)