Lately, I've been getting a lot of email advertisements and fliers in the mail promoting "Christmas In July".  Little do these marketers know, they could not have found a better potential customer, than me.  If you read yesterday's blog, you know that the dog days of summer are not my favorite.  What better time for a little distraction...like Christmas!  When I expressed these thoughts to my colleague, Brian Allen, he pretty much told me I was nuts.  That's okay.  I'm used to it. 

When July rolls around, once Independence Day is over, I often turn my attention to the buying gifts for the holidays.  I can't  believe I am a person who now does that.  But it started a couple of years ago, and I stuck with it.  When I'm out shopping, I just keep in mind the people I have to buy for come Christmastime.  That way, if I see something neat, I can buy it and keep it tucked away until the holidays.  I used to kid myself and say that by shopping this way, I avoid buying all of my gifts in November and December, which is easier on the checkbook.  I've recently come to terms with the fact that the real reason I do it, is to make the holidays last even longer.

Shopping for Christmas in July might be a little excessive.  But if those people would just stop sending me those ads and fliers, it would be a lot easier to quit!