I went to Costco today, which a glance at the post date will reveal is Oct. 1, 2007. I was immediately surprised to hear music while walking in - Costco doesn't usually pipe in music for maximum shopping pleasure. What was even more puzzling was that it was Christmas music. Bewildered, I stopped and looked around to find the source of the offensive melody.

To my horror, I saw two full rows of products, up front by the register, full of all things Christmas. Lights, lawn decorations, and various other nick-nacks - shamelessly being hocked off to the masses.

Okay, the day after Thanksgiving thing was okay. Black Friday - I get it - one month left, better get shopping. In recent years, Thanksgiving itself has had the dark shadow of Christmas drawn over it and had been turned into a practice Christmas - as if Thanksgiving had become Christmas's bastardized little brother - unworthy of having 100% of holiday attention given to it.

But I ask you, which is the better holiday? On one you get to eat a bunch of delicious food and fall asleep, on the other you have to endure weeks of stress, horrible traffic, stupid people, lines at the malls, spending money on worthless crap nobody really wants, and traveling in the worst season for travel ever. Thanksgiving is awesome. Christmas, though? Meh.

The market doesn't care. If businesses could start Christmas preparation in January they would. All other holidays would follow the path of Thanksgiving and merely become stepping stones toward Christmas. "It's already St. Patrick's day! Have you done your Christmas shopping yet?!" Already Halloween has been taken - Oct. 1st begins Christmas season, at least at Costco (and probably elsewhere - who knows, I don't get out much). They'd probably even have us preparing for next year's Christmas before this year's even happens. Give the elves a break!

Labor Day: Watch out, you're next on the chopping block.

In closing, I would like to remind you to vote for me. Not only will I get chocolate milk in the drinking fountains, but I will put a maximum 30 day preparation limit on Christmas. People will get tickets if anything Christmas related is on display or in public view.