xmas shopping

Ran into a woman in the elevator last night who said that she had already finished her Christmas shopping. Ack. Where do people like this COME FROM? I know several like this, the kind who actually do their xmas shopping throughout the year so that when December rolls around, they have very little to worry about. Pah, I say. Pah, and hum-bug! Where's your Christmas spirit? Don't you people realize that an essential part of the holiday season is the panicked headless-chicken madly rushing around at the last minute? Wrestling with other shoppers over the last pair of electrically-heated mittens or giggling Elmo (or whatever that Sesame Street creature was called). What fun would Christmas be if we didn't go through this annual ritual of panic and over-indulgence? I am pleased to say that I haven't done any Christmas shopping yet. I haven't even begun to THINK about Christmas shopping. For heaven's sake, Hallowe'en was just last weekend. Or a few weekends ago. Hm. (Debbie checks her PalmPilot calendar) Well, maybe I'm a bit late. Dear lord. It's ONLY A MONTH UNTIL CHRISTMAS. Eek.
To David: I have now read so many bad reviews of Starship Troopers that I am compelled to see this movie.