Christmas Present(s)

You know you've reached Christmas maturity when it takes you roughly 3 hours before you open your presents. And when you finally do, you don't rip the wrapper apart like the Tasmanian Devil on heat. Instead, you put all your gifts in two piles: one for envelopes that may contain cash, a check, or a GC/s and another that obviously resemble packages. You start off by reaching out for the package pile, read the card, make mental note of who gave it, and slowly open the package. This goes on till the last package has been unveiled and set aside. Next are the envelopes which you carefully lift the sticker off the paper and take a peek into its monetary value and start thinking what book/clothing item you could probably use it on as soon as the mall opens, which could be later. Or tomorrow, depending where you prefer to exercise your new purchasing power. Then you get the items you wish to use already like, say those desk valet things, fill it up and set it on your bedside. You could also get that lavender pouch and stick it in your drawers (its always sock vs underwear. I went for the latter. TMI?), or with fragrant soap in hand, stash it in the drawer that will not smell like lavender. You return and sit in front of your pile and give a smile of contentment. "Ahh, these are seriously practical presents," you say to yourself. You grab your new piece of retail consultation, crawl into bed, blog about your gift giving experience, then when you're done, reach out for the book you've been telling yourself to finish by the end of the year and actually read it. You glance at the time and notice its *gasp* 3:31 am and realize that you must go to bed or else your skin will revolt at your staying up late. And you do as soon as you hit Publish Post. How did you Christmas go?