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Exactly how long did I sleep? For years now, one of my favourite TV sitcoms has been Frasier. Although the series is now long-gone, there is always an opportunity to watch yet another episode on some specialty channel on my satellite TV provider. I've laughed at all the characters-- Frasier, Niles, Martin, Roz and Daphne-- as they go through their misadventures, usually as a result of Frasier or Niles' arrogance and selfabsorbed pompous attitude. Just this week, as I walked through the mall, and the Halloween decorations were being replaced by Christmas decorations, I was reminded of an episode I saw not long ago. It was the episode where an exhausted Frasier comes home from work one October afternoon and decides to stretch out for a nap on his bed before dinner. While dozing, Daphne and Martin decide that it's high time they take the annual Christmas card photo, so they decorate the Christmas tree and put up some decorations as props around the apartment, so they can pose for the photo, to have it ready to drop in the mail in early December. As the groggy Frasier stumbles into the living room of his apartment, surveying the glowing fireplace and Christmas tree all decorated for the festive season, he rubs his eyes, and then asks one very simple question. "Daphne, exactly how long did I sleep?" I must admit, there have been times I've felt that exact same way. Most recently it happened this week when the calendar flipped from October to November, marking the transformation from ghosts and goblins to holly wreaths and candy canes in the mall. It felt like Tuesday was Halloween-- and Wednesday became Christmas-- with the flip of a calendar page. Now the local department stores have all their Christmas stock out, the numerous seasonal greeting cards and wrapping papers are on the shelves and the Christmas sales are Ted Brown starting. And you can bet your bottom dollar, with all those decorations going up, it won't be long before Santa's booth magically appears too. I've often thought we should at least wait until Remembrance Day has passed, to have a short transition period before being inundated with high-pressure holiday sales deals, beginning now and lasting until December 24. I like Christmas to be special, to be magical, something we all look forward to, not a dragged-out time of sales, sales and more sales. And maybe, just maybe, I'm not entirely alone on this one. This year the powers that be decided to move the Georgetown Santa Claus Parade to November 12, allowing our local veterans to have their time of Remembrance without waves of commercialism clouding the ceremony. Not only was it a great gesture, but also a step in the right direction. Holding off for a few days on the Christmas sales campaign won't make a penny of difference to local retailers. And don't get me wrong here-- I really enjoy the buildup to Christmas, and recognize that the Christmas sales season is very important to the retail sector. I just don't want to be smothered in Christmas so early, making the holiday season a drudgery-- long before it even arrives. (Ted Brown can be reached at tbrown@independentfreepress.com) Peden named board's associate director but will continue to oversee Acton schools Despite her appointment to the position of Halton District School Board's Acting Associate Director, Ruth Peden will continue to serve as the Halton District School Board's supervisory officer for Acton schools. Assignments and reassignments for the boards' senior administrative team were approved at a special board meeting Wednesday. Peden will also head the board's Student Success initiatives, provide supervision for the family of schools superintendents and support and guidance to Yaw Obeng, who takes over the remainder of the north Halton family of schools.