I wore the same outfit to two different holiday parties on two successive Saturdays: black button down shirt, black jeans, red converse shoes and my Grinch tie. Since I can really only wear a Grinch tie during December, I try to get maximum mileage out of it, and people never fail to comment on it. Also, I drank too much at both parties and have had messy hangovers the next morning, which just so happens to be the day I write this column.

Why do I do this? I don't know, especially in the throes of a painful head, nausea and shakes. But then again, why do we do this Christmas thing every year? Unlike other holidays like Easter, St. Patrick's Day or Labor Day, you can't ignore Christmas. You can't sidestep it. It comes right at you every year, seemingly from the first of November until that Christmas morn when everyone wonders if they got it right this year.

Right or wrong, busy or quiet, Christmas does come. There are the decorations, the tree, the travel, the presents, the holiday gift exchange, the parties, the carols, the weather, the cute baby Jesus, the jolly red Santa. And yet, it's just one day. Really, it's Christmas Eve night through Christmas Day afternoon, but it's still just 24 hours.

With Thanksgiving, you have to eat a meal. With Halloween, you dress in a costume. Independence Day, look at fireworks. Christmas seems to require as many tasks as you can possibly handle and then some.

Contrary to my tie, I'm not really a Grinch. I don't hate Christmas. I actually like the actual holiday day as much as the next guy, although I have worked on Christmas at least five times in my life. But is it worth all the trouble?

Christmas is on Friday, and I have yet to get in the spirit. I don't blame the economy or a lack of family and friends to share it with. I guess I could blame my hangovers, but that's really not Christmas' fault. It's my own. I don't feel the need to sell a watch to buy my fiancee a comb. I haven't gone around singing carols. I've celebrated more years with Christmas than Jesus was alive. I bet even Jesus didn't get worked up for his birthday this much.

So why do we do this? The Peace on Earth, goodwill towards men approach feels pretty hollow. How many more years until Victory? It's been eight years and counting, with no victory in sight. Merry Christmas, Muslims and such.

...

Just after I wrote that, I had to regurgitate everything I had managed to keep down so far today, and I took about a half hour nap. Tis the season, I suppose.

So anyway, I like the story of Jesus and the story of Santa. I don't think they are anything we need to act out or celebrate with great fervor. Some Christmas carols are nice to hear, and others I could do without for the rest of my life. Not sure why we hang Christmas lights, but many houses go without while others try to bathe the neighborhood in little colored lights. Why do we count down the shopping days? We do this. Every year.

Is this being a Grinch? Am I just full of humbug? I don't get tired of other holidays as much, but I also don't have to do quite so much. Couldn't we just take it easy with the Christmas from now on? A less is more kind of thing? Because really, it's started to affect my health. If I have one more holiday party where I overdo it, this Christmas season will be the death of me.

Chris Jungle has four more shopping days to get in the mood.