Christmas will soon be upon us, so without further ado, here are the things that tick me off.

No, it's not that I'm a Grinch.

I don't mind that the malls have been bombarding us with Christmas music since shortly after Labor Day.

I kind of like the fact that my favorite oldies station is playing Christmas music 24/7. There is a lot less eye-rolling during the drive home from school from my kids when I hum along to "Have a Holly Jolly Christmas" than there is during the rest of the year when I do the drum solo to "Wipeout" on the steering wheel. ("Daaaady! I think the people in the next car can hear you!")

I don't even mind the fact that - because of all the Christmas ads - the newspaper goes to press early on the weekends. I get to go home half an hour early, you get your paper on time and our advertisers stay happy. It's just - and this may be a sign of rapidly advancing geezerdom - I've found a new raft of seasonal issues.

For example, once upon a time, I believed that there was no more annoying commercial than anything including the late, lamented Ernie Boch. ("Come on down.") Then came the "Apply it directly to the forehead" slogan. Finally, I thought we had the all time winner in the commercial for Twin River. Hey, it's a catchy little tune - the first eight or nine times you hear it EVERY NIGHT. Then it starts to get on your nerves. I would like to go to the river and drown the people who wrote it.

But this year, the Rachel Ray spots for Dunkin' Donuts are starting to curdle my eggnog, if you know what I mean.

I like Ms. Ray (any TV chef who includes Ritz crackers in her recipes is OK in my book) and as a loyal New Englander, I like Dunkin' Donuts. But if I hear her say "Dee-lish" one more time, I'm switching to Starbucks. (So, I'll miss a mortgage payment to cover the cost of a couple of "grandes.")

Then there's the issue of gifts. Lately, there's been a spate of letters to advice columnists from people who object to having gifts forced on them. They usually run something like, "I don't celebrate the holidays. How can I politely inform well-meaning friends I don't want anything." The columnists suggest strategies for dissuading unwanted generosity.

Here's my advice: If someone gives you something, your response is, "Thank you, how thoughtful."

And then shut up.

You don't like the gift? Fine. Give it to charity, sell it on eBay or - and this has worked for centuries - "regift" the item. (You don't think that was the first time around for that frankincense, do you?) What you don't do is flaunt your aloofness from the gift-giving fray at the expense of another's feelings.

Now if you'll excuse me, I have gifts to rewrap and my pumpkin spice coffee is getting cold.

TOM REILLY is a Sun Chronicle news editor who wishes everyone a Happy Hanukkah. He can be reached at 508-236-0332 or at treilly@thesunchronicle.com