Merry Stressballs.

Friends, I am beyond busy.

Every summer, there is a part of me that can't wait for October because September is a month of birthdays (people's parents looooved to hump in January, apparently), social engagements, and music festivals. September signals the end of the summer social season, and by then I am ready for some serious hibernation and I won't have to see another mojito or patio for quite some time.

I love an excuse to sit by the fire, watch movies, read books, drink red wine and veg with my husband. I'm also great at solo hangsies and enjoy my alone time so very much. Fall is great for that...people always wonder where I disappear to. Unless you're one of a very few select people, chances are you will barely see me. No offence, it's just what I do. I hermit. Especially this year, for some reason.

In the past, we were the ones to host lots of parties, several times a year. Now? Just don't really feel like it. Someone else can have parties. We'll go to them and then not have to clean up afterwards. I think this is a sure sign we're fully entrenched in our 30's. When did this happen?

Now that it's December 21st (how did THAT happen?), I am having a mild bout of anxiety about the number of social engagements we have in the next two weeks. It all started last weekend with the epic slew of concerts - Prince and JayZ/Kanye...INSANITY. Great concerts and if you ever EVER have a chance to see Jay Z and Kanye live, please do it -  I have seen them each three times now and together it was just mind blowing. We got in some seriously quality friend/fun time and also some family time. I am still exhausted for a variety of reasons and it's only just begun.

I like being social, don't get me wrong. I just need downtime because I get so tired. Did you know when you have Crohn's disease, it often can be likened to having chronic fatigue syndrome? Yep. It can. So my friends..if I am already fatigued NOW, what will I feel like by Jan 2?

I'm gonna lay out my social tableau for you here:

Dec 21: Dinner with friends. This has been a date we have been trying to secure for MONTHS, and I haven't seen them in ages. Can't wait to see them and their ever growing daughter. I'm making salmon! This will be relaxed and I am totally looking forward to it.

Dec 22: Dinner at another friend's place out in Langford. Yep, I have to drive to Langford on in rush hour traffic. FML. But, it will be fun to see these people and how nice is it to get a dinner invite? I believe it's going to be a full on Christmas dinner shebang. Nomnomnom.

Dec 23: SPARE TIME. Don't you dare invite me to anything. I plan on being at home in sweatpants, other than having to bottle 32 bottles of 'champagne' that afternoon (that I was supposed to bottle in July).

Dec 24: Christmas Eve means dinner with the family, church pageant, and then a Christmas eve party at our friend's house who lives nearby. Always a good time.

Dec 25: Christmas Day. 'Nuff said.

Dec 26: Boxing Day. Usually a day I like to rest and eat anything BUT turkey, but my in laws always think it's great to host a MASSIVE sit down dinner with every one's leftovers for all their family friends. The idea of it makes me want to kill myself every year. Not because I don't want to see everyone (everyone is great!), but because it's honestly too much by this point. I just want sushi and my pj's and solitude. Not a sit down dinner with small talk (#ungratefulbitchmuch?). By this point, I won't want to see turkey until next October.

But wait, that's not all!

Dec 27: My friend's engagement party. This will be great because I haven't met his fiance and we're going to the wedding in March, so a pre-meet is necessary and I am very much looking forward to connecting.

Dec 28: One of my besties' birthday party. I can't wait for this. Won't be too wild as some of us have to work the next day :(

Dec 29: Open house at a family friends...prooooobs won't go. That smells suspiciously like a lot of small talk. I'm GREAT at small talk but I hate it. LOATHE it. I like BIG talk.

Dec 30: SPARE TIME. Don't you dare invite me to anything. I foresee a bubble bath scheduled in my future.

Dec 31: NYE. 'Nuff said. Could get crazy.

Jan 1: Brunch at the Marina for my dad's birthday and then a Victivus party later that night, which I NEVER attend but James does (usually because I am way too tired and a wee bit hungover from NYE).  Even the idea of attending this makes me feel like putting on my grumpy pants. By this point, alone time will be 100% necessary, so I imagine I will have a date with my dog while my husband goes for round 2. Oh, to be syndrome free.

Jan 2: SLEEP ALL DAY.

Aside from the night time activities, both James and I have to work on non-stat days because we don't have any more holiday time. At this point, I really wish we hadn't put a cap on travel in 2012. I am thinking by Jan 3rd, I could use a week away on a sandy beach for some R&R.

I adore Christmas and all it brings, but this year I am daunted by the jam packed schedule this year. Next year? Hawaii. Am I right?