Am I going to become one of those bitter people? This is the second Christmas without my Mom. My Dad is gone, and my Sister Angie is gone. I heard a song (Silver Bells) from my childhood the other day that brought me down - I burst into tears with longing of that time - the last Christmas we had as an intact family...... Oh it was so sad and I had such regret!!! I'm not into Christmas and just want it to be over/Me, It's Just Me. More here.

• Carrying on the pumpkin bread tradition/Bent's Beer Garden
• Mudder Nature in Denmark/Community Comment
• Why have a Senate when a 'piggy bank' will do?/Dogwalk Musings
• Checking Christmas card list twice/From A Simple Mind
• Home for the holidays/Gathering Around the Table
• 9 Questions: Mark Rakes/Get Out! North Idaho
• Remembering David Diedrich/Kellogg Bloggin'
• Lily and Bob, your days are numbered/Kootenai MPO
• 7th Day: My turn/Rants, Raves, & Random Thoughts
• Tuesday twitterdeedum/Slight Detour
• W is for ABC Wednesday/Tumbleword
• HBO Numbers (for Monday, Dec. 21): 8347/4658; year-to-date: 2,031,829/1,136,059

Question: Does the Christmas holiday make you sad?