I’m actually looking forward to Christmas this year, I’m just having a hard time letting that mentality prevail over my daily dealings at the moment.

I wanted to write about how I was finally allowing the excitement of the season to permeate the cold, hard exterior I build up around myself from early November through mid-December — because, honestly, it did happen briefly — but apparently it was fleeting because I can’t seem to get back into that mindset as I write this.

I know I have a lot to be thankful for, and a lot of fun things planned over the next couple of weekends, but sometimes you just wake up on the wrong side of the bed and it takes a little time to get back to where you want to be mentally. Sorry if I’m coming off as Scrooge-like. It’s not my intention to be a downer, especially considering I’ve been easing up on my aversion to Christmas over the past few years.

Truthfully, I’m looking forward to these coming holiday weekends more than any in recent memory. It’s just that I wish they could be here and now. I feel these days that I’m most at home when I’m in the company of my Cold Lazarus family, my biological family and dear friends. And therefore, the instances in between those meetings can sometimes feel dreary and isolating.

As I write this I eagerly anticipate what should be an excellent Cold Lazarus Christmas show at Shawbucks this Saturday, followed by a New Year’s Eve spent in Buffalo taking in an amazing hometown show by the ever-ascendant Aqueous.

Perhaps it’s because of that anticipation that I’m finding the present to be a bit lackluster. But be that as it may, appreciating the moment is a lesson worth learning, even if I’m still learning it as we speak.

In any case, and regardless of which side of the bed you woke up on, I wish all reading this the happiest and most blessed of holidays. These are times to remind us of life, love and even loss, but more than anything they can teach us gratitude and humility.

I try to maintain these qualities 365 days out of the year, but it never hurts to remember just how much is out there happening around, to and through us that make life worth living. So let us all live it to the fullest, with clear eyes and full hearts, as we approach another year together.

I know I wouldn’t have it any other way.

And now, here’s some of what you can expect to find in the area this week.

HIGHLIGHTS

Annual ‘Over 100 Under 100’ Art Show Now On Display At Reg Lenna: The annual “Over 100 Under 100” local art exhibit is now open at Reg Lenna Center for The Arts. The show, which is usually displayed in 3rd on 3rd Gallery, is located on the mezzanine at The Reg. Participating artists include: Gallery Curator Debra Eck, Jennifer Randall, Lisa Schmidtfrerick, Karen Glosser, Katherine Stuart, Barbara Del Monte, Catherine Walsh, D’arsie Manzella, Connie Bahan, Yu Kanazawa, Cam Glosser, Heather Kanazawa, Lisa Conklin, and more. The show is scheduled to run through Dec. 29.

Each piece of artwork is priced at $100 or lower in order to encourage holiday gift-givers and art lovers to shop locally. More art shows are being planned for the mezzanine in the coming months as the 3rd on 3rd Gallery is in the process of being relocated to street level into the former Reg Studio Theater space at 108 E. 3rd St.

Over 100 Under 100 is sponsored by New York State Council on the Arts. It is open to the public Monday through Friday 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. and one hour before upcoming events at Reg Lenna Center for The Arts.

Annual Christmas Reunion Show At The Wine Cellar Is Monday: The Wine Cellar’s 40th annual Christmas reunion show, hosted by Bill Ward, will be held Monday at 9 p.m. Performances will be given by Ward and a number of special guests. Ward has hosted the show in each of its 40 installments, Christmas is not complete without this tradition of traditions at the venerable Jamestown night spot. The show will run to midnight.

For more information, call 483-0599 or find “40th Annual Bill Ward Christmas Reunion” on Facebook.

HAPPENINGS

To include an upcoming show or event in this column, email gpaterniti@post-journal.com or call 487-1111, ext. 243 by Monday.

Tonight

The Karl-Marks Duo: 7 p.m., Good Time Saloon, 590 Fairmount Ave. in Jamestown

Comedy open mic: 8 p.m., The Q, 104 W. Second St. in Jamestown

Karaoke with DJ Xcite: 9 p.m., Bullfrog Hotel, 1414 E. Second St. in Jamestown

Karaoke with Felony Entertainment: 10 p.m., Forte, 114 E. Third St. in Jamestown

Friday

Brian Hanna: 6 p.m., The Wine Cellar, 309 N. Main St. in Jamestown

Jules-R-Us Karaoke: 7:30 p.m., Lakewood Legion, 174 Chautauqua Ave. in Lakewood

Holiday Dance Party with DJ’s Unlimited: 8:30 p.m., Lakewood Rod and Gun, 433 E. Terrace Ave. in Lakewood

Total Chaos: 9 p.m., Good Time Saloon, 590 Fairmount Ave. in Jamestown

Karaoke with Felony Entertainment: 10 p.m., Shawbucks, 212 W. Second St. in Jamestown

Steelhorse: 9 p.m., Big Shots, 674 Route 394 in Kennedy

Splitfoot: 10 p.m., Bullfrog Hotel, 1414 E. Second St. in Jamestown

Saturday

Steve Strickland and Barbara Jean: 11 a.m., Wegmans, 945 Fairmount Ave. in Jamestown

Stray Kat Karaoke: 4:30 p.m., The Vegas Pad, 1064 Route 394 in Kennedy

The Probables: 7 p.m., Lakewood Legion, 174 Chautauqua Ave. in Lakewood

Charity Nuse: 8 p.m., Busti’s Tap House, Busti-Sugar Grove in Busti

Chillbillies: 8 p.m., Big Shots, 674 Route 394 in Kennedy

DJ Karaoke with Eternalnyght DJ: 8:30 p.m., Celoron Legion, 26 Jackson Ave. in Jamestown

The Short Bus: 9 p.m., The Wine Cellar, 309 N. Main St. in Jamestown

Jules-R-Us Karaoke featuring Tami T: 9 p.m., Good Time Saloon, 590 Fairmount Ave. in Jamestown

Menage a Twang: 9 p.m., Hartfield Bay Bar and Grill, 6040 E. Lake Road in Mayville

Ken Hardley: 9 p.m., Steener’s Pub, 3022 Route 430 in Greenhurst

Cold Lazarus: 10 p.m., Shawbucks, 212 W. Second St. in Jamestown

Razor: 10 p.m., Bullfrog Hotel, 1414 E. Second St. in Jamestown

Steve Davis Group: 11 p.m., Forte, 114 E. Third St. in Jamestown

Monday

Trip the Deuce with Hot Stenographer: 10 p.m., Mojo’s Music Bar, 104 E. Second St. in Jamestown

Tuesday

Karaoke: 10 p.m., The Q, 104 W. Second St. in Jamestown

Wednesday

Bluegrass Jam: 7 p.m., Celoron Legion, 26 Jackson Ave. in Jamestown