You know it's almost Christmas when...

Top Ten Signs of How To Tell When It's Almost Christmas:

10. When the cashier at Walmart actually manages a smile when she says "Happy Holidays!" during a busy period.

9. When you rush out to get some Christmas cards to mail out to all the people who suddenly sent you one at the last minute.

8. When there are more pine needles in your carpet than on your tree.

7. When light displays on everyone's houses in the neighborhood convey the true meaning of competition.

6. When you bake up a couple dozen cookies to mix in and give away with all the other cookies everyone else gave you.

5. When you want to give fruitcake to all the people you don't like but you still have the fruitcake you got from them last year.

4. When thousands of soloists without enough musical talent to tune a kazoo are somehow invited to sing "O Holy Night" in public.

3. When the plastic light-up manger goes up on the roof of the local pub.

2. When TV specials get crazy ridiculous: "Charlie Brown and Frosty the Snowman Track the Grinch Who Stole Rudolph's Red Nose and Started All the Animals Talking when he Surgically Transplanted it on the Littlest Donkey."

And the #1 Sign of How To Tell When It's Almost Christmas:

When stores start advertising "Only 375 shopping days until next Christmas."