I have a Christmas notebook. I am a pathetic Christmas-crazy list-maker, and it all goes in my notebook. I’ve had it for 8 years, and there are still some blank pages because I only use it during the holidays. I unearthed it this morning and was happy-sad to find that some people have been crossed off my gifts and cards list. At least 4.
Also I was touched by the simplicity of past Christmas dinners. I know, because I read the shopping lists of eight years back. Blue cheese souffle with potatoes? Broccoli salad with asparagus? Come on! It spells N-O-V-I-C-E.
I must be on my way to Scroogedom because I was equally amazed at the sums of money I was willing to spend on some people’s presents (Yves Saint Laurent body lotion AND a book for a friend who always gave me CDs). I was also ashamed to see the lists of clothes, accessories and cosmetics I had made in order to travel. We were about to go to a village up on a mountain with a couple of friends. It turned out that their house was the only inhabited one and we had to drive for 15 minutes to buy bread. It was so isolated that when one morning I opened the door and saw a stray cat begging for food, I jumped for joy. The mere presence of another being made me happy.
So, in retrospect, it was really funny that the following products were included in my list:
-Mascara
-Compact powder
-Eye liner
But my Christmas notebook is not full of Christmas cheer only. I found a letter I had written to the person who had stolen my purse one Christmas eve, while I was shopping. Okay I was younger, but to wish his death? Granted, I didn’t have money not even to make a phone call that day, because of that awful person, but today, I wouldn’t write "I wish you are going to die on Christmas day". We all know that people who die on Christmas day go straight to Heaven, and I wouldn’t want that for him.
On the last page, there is a "don’t forget note" I had left to M, one busy day I was probably out shopping:
-Make the beds
-Load the washing machine (DARK COLOURS ONLY)
-Buy champagne
It really puts you in the mood for champagne, doesn’t it?
December 14th, 2006 at 6:54 am
Your “novice” shopping list is more than I can probably manage
I need a book of lists, because I forget…everything…
Can you believe just 11 more days ’til Christmas?
December 14th, 2006 at 6:56 am
I love the idea of a Christmas list book. You are like Santa!
I am going to be on the look-out for one.
On my list today: Make Christmas lists! (but actually, I don’t think I will, because it will depress me that it is so long, with only 11 days left; thanks, Steph!)
Cathy
xo
December 14th, 2006 at 10:15 am
You’ve found something that shows how you’ve changed and grown. In some ways it can be like looking at a picture of yourself as a child or a teenager, and knowing what you look like in the present. Typically most people only see this change in a journal, a photo or in a home movie, but I think it shows how well your personality is a part of everything you do, including The Christmas Notebook.
December 14th, 2006 at 5:17 pm
Anything with a French word in it is not novice! Broccoli salad I’ll give you, though. ^_-
December 14th, 2006 at 5:43 pm
LOL. It would take a lot more than a list to put me in the Christmas mood, but a lot less for the champagne bit
December 14th, 2006 at 5:59 pm
lol you are something else, Chloe!
I like the idea of journals and I have plenty but when I read them I get depressed. But I love to hear about yours
It’s true that our idea of Christmas changes and our priorities….etc.
December 14th, 2006 at 8:24 pm
I haven’t drank in over ten years!!
I had asparagus tonight for dinner. I’m so daring… this was my first time cooking it and it was great!
OH and I got my Christmas present!!
Come read it.
December 14th, 2006 at 10:33 pm
i love your spirit! and ps, love the x-mas look on the blog.
December 14th, 2006 at 10:49 pm
I want that notebook:)
December 14th, 2006 at 10:49 pm
I like your list of products -
i personally think a hair dryer
is a “must” when climbing
in Nepal with Sherpas.
December 15th, 2006 at 1:28 am
stephanie
i can believe it, what i can’t believe is the amount of translations and articles i have to do till then!
Cathy
yep, Santa and I we are like that.
xxxx
Walter
and you always have something good to say, even if it is for my silly notebook.
erikku
yep and for Christmas too! no wonder not many people wanted to have Christmas dinner at my place.
fuff
just tell me your brand of preference!
devil mood
happy birthday!
no christmas depression please. save it for january so we can all be depressed together after we come down from ou chocolate highs.
Day
i am glad your daddy is okay! so have another piece of that chocolate.
vani
thanks!
x
sophie
you can use it to scare off goats
i don’t have an empty one but i am positive i can make you one. who do you want on the cover?
December 15th, 2006 at 2:30 am
i think it’s awesome to find these snapshots of your previous life, especially when you don’t remember some of the circumstances surrounding them. then it’s like meeting yourself again for the first time. at least, that’s how i feel….
and i’m actually getting the christmas spirit this year for the first time in years. i think my company will close for the week which means i have *just* enough time to go back home and be with my family
December 15th, 2006 at 9:15 am
I love Broccoli ! It’s my favourite vegetable. You seem pretty organised Chloe, but then I wouldn’t have expected anything less.
It’s funny looking through old diaries and note books. Especially mine, because it shows 1,853,654 things I planned to do and never got round to doing them.
December 15th, 2006 at 10:57 am
You choose:)
scare off goats - hmmmm -
good one!
December 15th, 2006 at 3:49 pm
Great list of things one needs to meet a cat.
And champagne is the right thing for Christmas. It’s fabulous.
Great post. You must be a bestseller author!
December 15th, 2006 at 6:11 pm
I think I will have another… thx
December 15th, 2006 at 6:51 pm
Novice or not… it doesn’t sound TOO BAD to me! ~ jb///
December 15th, 2006 at 9:52 pm
That was a really nice post.
Happy Christmas!
December 16th, 2006 at 1:37 am
Christmas time is the best time to make lists for sure. Great idea about making a book. I would love to have a book to jot things down in after a shopping spree…Sometimes I shake because people are so rude. This is a much better way to vent.lol
Hope you are doing well.
Hugs,
Connie
December 16th, 2006 at 4:30 am
I’m a huge list writer, but I don’t have a Christmas note book. What a lovely idea. I’ll be on the lookout for one, I think.
Hope you have a great weekend.
Take care, hugs, Meow
December 16th, 2006 at 12:13 pm
What a lovely notebook and also a great idea. I’ve only just gotten organised the past couple of years on keeping a list of people to send cards too. Give me a few more years and I may do one for presents :).
December 17th, 2006 at 7:30 am
wow what a neat idea.. so you just pack it up every year with the decorations and revisit it ?? i love love love it!!!!
December 18th, 2006 at 3:47 am
Hey, Chloe, just wanted to say thanks for the Christmas Card. You’re a sweetie.
Take care, hugs, Meow xx
December 18th, 2006 at 10:50 am
I never even thought of having a seasonal notebook–you are oozing with creativity!
December 18th, 2006 at 3:25 pm
I like your book! I can tell you must do the most Christmassy things even if you DO spend less money now than you did. Is this just a sign of your wisdom growing with age?
I want that letter to the pursesnatcher. Speaking of people dying on Christmas eve, my great grandfather and his father both died on Christmas eve. In the former case they found him in the church with all the kindling gathered, just about to start the fire…but his fire had gone out. So my grandfather was always scared at Christmas time that something was about to happen…but he made it well into his eighties.
Happy holidays! I am looking forward to cutting and pasting lots of paper for cards.
December 18th, 2006 at 6:31 pm
Champagne…the perfect beverage for any day or time of day…
Although for Christmas I preffer egg nogg and dark rum.
December 19th, 2006 at 6:09 am
Oh I love it! I am a huge fan of list making… it just makes everything so much better when you have a list, even if as soon as I start writing things down I forget what I was going to write.
December 19th, 2006 at 8:59 am
I need to be more serious about Christmas and a notebook would help.
I’m 50/50 on Christmas.
December 19th, 2006 at 2:10 pm
Chloe! Thanks for the card! It was a nice surpise to have waiting in the mailbox, and the kids spent a solid ten minutes looking at the Greek postage stamp. That’s a record.
Merry Christmas, pal. And a Happy New Year. Hope you and your family are safe, happy and enjoying the season.