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Tonight, the band I love is playing a Christmas concert in Troy, Ohio. Back in September, they played a regular show in Warren, which is about 90 minutes away from me; despite having that evening off from work, I didn't go. I told myself I'd go to the show in Troy and make it an overnight outing, but I also didn't jump to get tickets. I decided a few weeks ago it would be a last minute decision; I'd informed work that I could do the morning shift today and the afternoon shift tomorrow, which would give me time to make the drive to Troy tonight and the drive home early tomorrow.

And then I decided not to bother.

Part of it was the distance. I knew Troy was near Dayton but I was thinking it was closer to Columbus (mid-state) when it's really closer to Cincinnati (on the border of Ohio and Kentucky). A three and a half hour drive wasn't really appealing to me. Part of it was no real desire to see/do anything else in Troy. Had there been another attraction in the city, then maybe...but no, nothing else I was interested in. Part of it was finances. I *could've* dipped into my almost depleted vacation fund and paid for the gas and hotel room but I'd rather save that for next year, especially since I've already been on one vacation this year (to NC to see my nephew graduate from law school and to see the sights in the Outer Banks) so I don't feel I *need* another trip this year. Because yes, if I don't spend at least one night a year in a hotel some distance from my house, I feel deprived somehow. But all this wouldn't have mattered if I still was in mad, crazy love with the band like I used to be. Now it's more a strong like...the guys put out another Christmas CD this year and I bought it, but it took me a week to listen to it and only a few of the songs really stood out to me (their rendition of Hark the Herald Angels Sing is amazing, plus I like a couple of the originals, including a collaboration with Straight No Chaser, and I was super excited to hear my favorite band member play an amazing trumpet solo on The Christmas Song).

So instead today I'll be playing mad catch up for the holidays. I need to get a package out for my Sis...and I need to figure out what to put in it. We'd agreed last Christmas that we were done with exchanging gifts but then of course Sis sent me a $50 gift card for Trader Joe's last year, and she's already told me there'd be some "humble offerings" in this year's box, so now I have to figure out a way to reciprocate <grumble, grumble>. Plus I'm working on a couple holiday crafts I need to complete for Christmas gifts, and I need some groceries and I *really* need to clean my bedroom (took care of the other rooms earlier this week and then just ran out of steam). And of course it's snowing again, though it's a soft, gentle snow that doesn't look too bad.

One thing that kind of irks me: I've read not one but two articles on my phone that had suggestions for cheap but fun "stocking stuffer" gifts. I really liked a lot of what was on both lists...and of course every single one of them is only available on Amazon. A few would've been perfect to send to Sis' family but I'm hoping to send her package out tomorrow morning so it'll arrive in time for Christmas. Why couldn't I have seen the lists a few weeks ago?