Tacky Is IN: And it keeps getting worse. The bagillion lights with things flying around your house, the tree is covered with everything from Star Wars to the Nightmare Before Christmas and children's home-made ornaments that must have started with some kind of concept, eating a blue/green/yellow/red gingerbread man is cute and tasty (not odd and inedible).

There is Food EVERYWHERE: It is not uncommon to be fed 10 pounds of food on a plate that seems to get bigger every year, yet you come back for more! There are 40,000 cookies to be eaten (some really good, some... interesting).

Chocolate Season Is in Full Swing: Yes there is a season for it. Did you know that? EVERYTHING is made of chocolate. Hot chocolate. chocolate cookies with chocolate chips, dipped in more chocolate. Chocolate fondue. Chocolate Santa's (even though it is a tad odd to be eating the guy who brings you stuff). If it can stand still, it can be made of chocolate and someone is bound to try it.

Even the meanest of mean people are obligated to be nice (well, nicer). No one actually wants to be called Scrooge and tries their best to be nice and cheerful. OK... the lady in line yelling at the poor retail worker may not be trying at that moment... but I am sure she tries in other ways.

Mail that isn't bills: I am not quite the card person that Ricki is, but I love getting mail that isn't someone telling me I have to pay them or the latest way to save 50% on crap I didn't want before, and don't want at 1/2 price either. I get actual cards in the mail, some letters and generally get to keep up with the people I don't talk to frequently.

Friends & Family: I am far away from family and some life long friends. The holiday season is a good excuse to get back home all at the same time and catch up with them, take new pictures of the kiddos and family.

Out of Work: Even work has to be nice (referencing the everyone has to be nicer). They let us out early, don't have much going on (because no one is in the office to do the work to do anything).

Santa! A guy who can get in an out of all the little boys and girls houses in under 31 hours, delivering joy and gifts has my vote for almost anything... Hey, how about President!! Even the government all but shuts down for the holidays, so I think he can make time. I think we can make an exception to the whole "natural citizen" thing for a guy who is hundreds of years old and is known as the greatest guy ever!

Presents: I like getting them, don't get me wrong, but I LOVE giving them. Picking out the right little something for everyone on the list and having a good excuse to buy it for them.

Fancy New Years: When is the last time you actually dressed up? Really dressed up... not just put on the nicest pair of jeans you have. We started having an actual formal new year's party a few years ago and I LOVE IT!