But... but... I NEED to do more or I am slowing going to drown in housework. And Christmas will pass me by with no decorations--or gifts--to show for it.

Plus the babysitter just cancelled for this afternoon.

Phooey.

All I've done is take care of the kids, two loads of laundry, and dishes.

t sarcastic mode

Oh, is that all?

t /sarcastic.

I remember how exhausting nannying for one toddler was.

But... but... I NEED to do more

Just because you need to do more, doesn't mean you haven't done a bunch already, and are therefore not a loser. Sorry. That's just the way it is.

Christmas is passing me by this year, but I never got the hang of it without my blood kin around. It's not like it meant anything to me other than having my parents and sister around for a big meal and a token passing around of gifts. Oh, and an excuse to listen to "Feliz Navidad" and "Do They Know It's Christmas." Both very important.

And I'm getting hungry. Which may be the reason for my suddenly becoming so dang whiney.

Oh, and an excuse to listen to "Feliz Navidad" and "Do They Know It's Christmas." Both very important.

Christmas carols! Best part of Christmas and I don't even need to decorate. Turns out "Silent Night" is a perfect lullaby.

Thanks, all.

The TV I'm looking at is HD-ready rather than full-on HD. (Which just means it doesn't have a built-in tuner, which only really matters if you're planning on using standard antenna, AFAIK, but is about $500 cheaper. With cable [and I think Satellite] you need to get an HD converter from your provider anyway, so having the built-in tuner is redundant.)

HD from Comcast, my cable provider, is an extra $5 a month.

I don't currently have a DVR. However, I can get one from Comcast for $10 a month that will do 60 hours of regular TV or 15 hours of HDTV if I want one.

I use my X-Box and PS2 almost as much as I watch TV. From what I've been able to suss out from the net, tube-based TVs still work the best for video games.

My savings have been erratic, so I can't really make a projection. Last year, my two car accidents and the waterbed exploding took a huge chunk out of my savings. I've saved back up 75% of what the accidents and waterbed cost me, 14 months after the first accident. Most of it due to my tax refund and stakeholder's bonus from work. This year, my insurance rates almost tripling due to the accidents, and higher gas and electricity costs have made my savings a lot tougher to build than last year.

The smart thing to do is to probably just wait, but all the being "responsible" is making me impatient and I worry that I'll be passing up a really good deal.

I worry that I'll be passing up a really good deal.

I expect, on average, that the standards will get more resolved, and the technology will get cheaper. If it's between this month and next, perhaps leaping is a good idea. If it's between 2006 and 2007, I doubt waiting will hurt your pocket.

I worry that I'll be passing up a really good deal.

There will probably be other really good deals. Maybe after Christmas. Or maybe after the Super Bowl, as many big screen TVs are sold before the game.

Christmas is passing me by this year, but I never got the hang of it without my blood kin around.

HI CAN I BE YOU?

What you describe, minus that particular music, is what made xmas xmas to me. That's pretty much out the window in favor of all the stuff we sorta took refuge from. Hence, all the ENDLESS WHINING I've been doing this past while.

Timelies all!

I am soooo lame. I have ordered exactly one of the holiday gifts I want to give.(and that was done today) Part of the problem is that G's been so stressed and distracted lately that he's had no time for even on-line shopping. I could do all the shopping myself, but much as I love my friends, I don't want to put all their gifts on my credit card. Meh...