Thank God For The DVR...

Is anyone else ready for the election to be over? Does anyone else feel like it is particularly ugly this time? Maybe it is always ugly and we just have four years to forget about it. Between the debates, television and radio news shows, web sites, verbal sniping between the two sides and yard sign wars (personal pet peeve of mine-really does a sign saying vote for ____ really sway someone?) I just can't wait till November 10th (gotta give it the extra days to clear up all the whining and recounts by the losing side and all the high-fives, in-your-face talk from the winning side). But one thing I've noticed this year, I haven't had to sit through a single commercial saying McCain eats babies or Obama is the Anti-Christ. How did I manage this? After all I have a list of must see shows. Well for the past year we've owned a dvr, and I have to say I didn't think I could love it more. I mean really, I thought it was wonderful that I could watch a show like Lost after the kids went to bed so I wasn't interrupted five thousand times. Anyone who watches Lost knows you must not be disturbed or you'll miss something important. But this past month I've noticed something great. I get to fast forward through the commercials, all of them, even the irritating political ones.

HO! HO! HO! BOO! Huh?

I am so confused. When exactly did Halloween become one of the Happy Holidays? I've seen stores putting out their Christmas trees and decorations since September. The earliest violator being a craft store but I sort of get that, sort of. Now you walk into any of your WalMarts or Targets and what do you see? Aisles of spooky decorations and scary masks everywhere but what's that sound? Why it's Jingle Bells coming from the next aisle over where the multicolored lights are blinking to the beat. Never did I expect to see the inflatable Grim Reaper grinning eerily at the inflatable Santa. You can almost sense the tension between the big puffy bodies. It's like a sign of the apocalypse. In one aisle we have the witches, vampires, ghosties and gore. And in the next aisle we have Frosty, Santa, Rudolf and baby Jesus in a manger. What happened to Christmas starting after Thanksgiving? And who exactly is buying candy canes and Christmas trees in October? I think if I saw someone pushing a cart of Christmas supplies right now I'd have to fight the urge to take their roll of wrapping paper and whack them in the head with it. How's that for Christmas Spirit? But really, what's the rush? I'd like to get through the fall season of changing leaves, light jackets, bonfires, hay rides, and Trick or Treating before I start thinking of snowflakes, heavy coats, mittens, carols, and egg nog (yes they have that in stock too now). And what started this tirade? Why the fact that my favorite radio station is now playing all Christmas songs all the time starting from last week till the new year.