It's beginning to look a lot like ... Election Day

I know there are four seasons -- Summer, Back to School, Halloween and Christmas. I know this by working in retail too long. Way too long. Since Halloween is now officially five days past, it's beginning to look (and sound) a lot like Christmas.

In the front of the store, it's still Wal-Mart commercials ad nauseum. "I'm Manny, chairman of Mannyphone" says the surly guy from his scooter, hawking pay-as-you-go cell phone service. But hang around the edges, the back of the store and the Christmas village that used to be the garden center, and you'll hear Christmas music. Hey, that's the last thing I want to hear when I've cast my ballot and want to know who's won.

I'm OK with putting up the Christmas displays. Some people want to start shopping early. Besides, what do you put in the empty Halloween display shelves? Some people are just far more ready for Christmas than me. Like the couple who have already bought $600+ in Christmas toys, electronics and decor, and told me that's just the start. Most of us aren't going to have the finances this year, and having that shoved in our faces for months will be nothing but annoying. It will make me want to avoid that area like men avoid lingerie.

There's a tall, skinny tree in the entry with huge ornaments -- the kind that every passing toddler thinks are toys. There are signs pointing to the Christmas section (as if it moved to frozen foods this year?). Lots of Hannah Montana Christmas clothing (big surprise, after Hannah Montana back-to-school and Halloween stuff). And now, each checkout light is topped by a large, green cardboard Christmas package. Hmm...all green. Not red and green? Not silver, gold, blue, green and red?

Deck the checkouts with big, green boxes...Tra, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la...
50 days to Christmas, clock says...Tra, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la...
Seven weeks of Christmas madness...Tra, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la...
Tire center's still and ad-less...Tra, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la