By Nick Andreasen

Any time I have the misfortune of visiting a department store, I can’t help but be irritated.
Since about mid-July, plastic Christmas trees have been sprouting up everywhere, clogging the aisles. The plastic Christmas tree truly is a handy invention; it allows one to purchase a tree, remove it from the two-sizes-too-small box, and assemble it inside your house. After Christmas (or a week before Easter), when one takes down the faux tree, they get the excitement of attempting to wrestle it back into the box it came in. Everyone knows that this is next to impossible, so one must figure out alternate ways of storage until next year. I was once told that the fake tree is an excellent idea because it leaves no mess; the individual that told me that must have never had a fake tree, because those little green “needles” have a nasty habit of finding a way into the carpet.
The smell of pine cones and cinnamon is a wonderful smell, but only when enjoyed in strict moderation. I walked into a large discount store the other day and developed a headache due to the stench. Digital sleigh bells “jing-jing-jingling” through the loudspeakers didn’t help the headache either. That brings me to my next favorite part of the holidays: the music.
Don’t get me wrong; I realize Christmas music has a time and place, caroling is a great way to spread some holiday cheer! I just believe that I shouldn’t have to endure the cacophony while deciding what variety of candle I can sniff to get my mind off of the pine cone aroma. It is my firm belief that there isn’t a single good Christmas song out there that I haven’t heard one too many times. And quite frankly, it drives me nuts.
The last topic I am going to cover is on behalf of anyone with young children or siblings. It is this: why must we wake up extra early on Christmas morning to open presents? I realize it’s a tradition, but it’s as if we don’t hurry up and open them, Santa is going to slide back down the chimney and whisk them away! Sure, I’m excited too, but they’re not going anywhere!
Although by now you may not think so, but I do love the holidays. They really are wonderful. They all possess a deep and powerful meaning. They get all of us students out of school, allow us to spend time with relatives, and hey, presents are awful fun, too. But man oh man, will I ever be excited when the Christmas decorations leave stores!
Since about mid-July, plastic Christmas trees have been sprouting up everywhere, clogging the aisles. The plastic Christmas tree truly is a handy invention; it allows one to purchase a tree, remove it from the two-sizes-too-small box, and assemble it inside your house. After Christmas (or a week before Easter), when one takes down the faux tree, they get the excitement of attempting to wrestle it back into the box it came in. Everyone knows that this is next to impossible, so one must figure out alternate ways of storage until next year. I was once told that the fake tree is an excellent idea because it leaves no mess; the individual that told me that must have never had a fake tree, because those little green “needles” have a nasty habit of finding a way into the carpet.
The smell of pine cones and cinnamon is a wonderful smell, but only when enjoyed in strict moderation. I walked into a large discount store the other day and developed a headache due to the stench. Digital sleigh bells “jing-jing-jingling” through the loudspeakers didn’t help the headache either. That brings me to my next favorite part of the holidays: the music.
Don’t get me wrong; I realize Christmas music has a time and place, caroling is a great way to spread some holiday cheer! I just believe that I shouldn’t have to endure the cacophony while deciding what variety of candle I can sniff to get my mind off of the pine cone aroma. It is my firm belief that there isn’t a single good Christmas song out there that I haven’t heard one too many times. And quite frankly, it drives me nuts.
The last topic I am going to cover is on behalf of anyone with young children or siblings. It is this: why must we wake up extra early on Christmas morning to open presents? I realize it’s a tradition, but it’s as if we don’t hurry up and open them, Santa is going to slide back down the chimney and whisk them away! Sure, I’m excited too, but they’re not going anywhere!
Although by now you may not think so, but I do love the holidays. They really are wonderful. They all possess a deep and powerful meaning. They get all of us students out of school, allow us to spend time with relatives, and hey, presents are awful fun, too. But man oh man, will I ever be excited when the Christmas decorations leave stores!