The good news:

I got three hours of poetry in for the first time in a month.
Last night John and I finished our lists for Hanukkah and Christmas, and today I completed several of the tasks on the lists.
After school David asked if he could go to a bookstore and get a present for Rose, and I said yes. Then I suggested we go to Math N Stuff, which got him really excited.
We got more practice with the life skill of walking into a store and not getting a present for yourself.

The bad news:

I really had planned my day to do the Hanukkah wrapping after school, but then I forgot until we were driving home from the store in the miserable rain and dark which left me 15 minutes to buy dinner and get all the presents wrapped.
David lost it at the store. He wanted everything for himself, could find nothing to get for Rose, and decided he actually didn’t want to put any money into it. (I had told him I would split it with him.)
We had 30 minutes to eat dinner, light candles, and open presents.

The good news:

Before the total breakdown at Math N Stuff, David decided he would like to have a Lego birthday party there. So, we just passed a major hurdle in the birthday planning process.
John took over David. Julia took over dinner buying, and I got all the presents found, boxed, and wrapped.
Despite the rush, we had a joyous celebration of light, and everyone loved their presents.