Everyone wants their Christmas , Kwanza or Hanukkah to be perfect. We wants effortless holiday tables full of delicious foods and picture perfect family and friends We want to unwrap packages that have those dream presents and then frolic out in the snow. Unfortunately, this isn’t a movie, this is real life where stuff happens. The bad thing it can happen during your holidays. Be prepared. Be very prepared.

1. The oven/fridge/ any appliance breaks down. What to do? Enlist the aid of your neighbors to help you out on this one. Use their stove or microwave if yours conks out. As for the fridge, well look outside, It’s probably cold enough to freeze fire. Use your garage or side porch to provide cool for your frozen desserts, turkeys , hams, veggies and sodas. As for any appliance, do it the old fashioned way – by hand. Have your family and friends help you chop, mince, puree and grind. You can also do the emergency call route and have people bring their smaller appliances over to save your holiday meal.
2. Sick of the holiday? Mostly everybody acquires some kind of cold or virus around Christmas and New year’s. if this happens to you – two words. Don’t panic. Someone else will cook or wrap presents for you. Assign a sous chef if you’re in charge of making the big holiday meal. You have to concentrate on getting better. Assign yourself this goal. If you have to eat out, then eat light. Have your hostess cook you some rice or broth to eat. Don’t go wild with the alcohol. Stick to hot tea, ginger ale and orange juice, especially if you’re on medication. You can have sparkling non alcoholic cider if you want. Then go home and get to bed. Isolate yourself so no one else gets sick. Catch up on snoozing or spend quiet time in bed reading. This is a good time to look at a l those magazines . Don’t sna ck on any leftovers. Stick to a bland diet for a few days. You can start off with a weak soup or broth and then build up to broiled chicken, mashed potatoes and maybe some carrots. If you have a sore throat, nix the holiday cookies and feast on Popsicles. These are coolly soothing on a ragged throat and won’t cause any phlegm to form.
3. Accidents really can happen. This is the time of year when home decorating could kill you. Literally. Always have help when you’re attaching the holiday lights to the house. Make sure you have someone to help you whether it’s holding the ladder or testing the light. If someone does fall or gets electrocuted, call 911 ASAP. For electrocution victims unplug the lights or use a non conductive object like a wooden board or even a baseball bat to separate the person from the current. Check to see if he or she is breathing and if there were any burns. Do CPR if you have to. Animals also have a hard time during the holidays. If your cat or dog ingests poinsettia leaves act quickly. Experts say eating a small leaf or two is OK but the plant still produces a semi toxic kind of sap. Call the vet ASAP for advice and whether or not to come in for an emergency visit. He or she will tell you to induce vomiting.. Use a teaspoon of hydrochloric acid, a ¼ teaspoon of salt placed at the back of your pet’s throat or a teaspoon of Ipecac syrup. Keep your house safe too. Have a fire extinguisher ready just in case your real tree catches on fire. Always keep it well watered and the branches misted . This last can also apply to a fake tree too.
4. Mommy, it doesn’t work. Uh oh. Looks like those batteries that come with the toy are DOA. Always have extra batteries a round. Also a large 24 pack of AA batteries make a nice accompanying gift. Parents will appreciate them because it saves on a trip to the store the next day. Toys and electronic gifts also may not work because they’re defective. Always save receipts or have the gift receipt packed in with the gift. Be prepared for long lines at the store’s customer service.
5. Call Santa for the sleigh. This is the season for cars not working. Give yourself the gift of Triple A if you’re not already signed up. You should have an emergency kit in the back seat or the trunk as well. Try to have flares as well as a blanket. Also have chains and a bag of salt if you get caught on any icy patches. If you do wind up in a spin out , ride with it, putting your foot on the break and slowly pump it. Try to end up on the shoulder of the road away from any oncoming traffic. If your ca r is acting hinky, then think about renting one. A larger rental is also perfect if you have out of town relatives staying with you .
6. Baby , it’s cold inside. Good luck finding a repairman on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day if your heating system breaks down. If the stores are still open run to your nearest K-mart or target and buy one or two space heaters . (you can also borrow them form friends and family if it’s too late in the day). Try to keep the bath warm, so, one, the water in your toilet doesn’t freeze and, two, cleaning up isn’t a feat for the Polar Bear Club. Keep another space heater in the living or family room so that you can conserve heat. Also keep this away from the tree because the heater might start a fire. Have everyone spend the night in sleeping bags or quilts. Use a heating pad to keep you warm if you have to. If the cold becomes too unbearable, then stay with family, friends or neighbors until your heating system is repaired. If worse comes to worse then check into your local hotel or motel.

This is the season for joy and good will However it can also be the season of disaster. Be prepared to handle the unexpected. After all you don’t have the elves to help you the way Santa does.