--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I set a personal record on Christmas. I…" description: "\"I set a personal record on Christmas. I got my shopping done three weeks ahead of time. I had all the presents back at my apartment, I was halfway thro..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/30f/demetri-martin-511_ahead-of-time_i-set-a-personal-record-on-christmas-i-g_2297865.jpg" --- # I set a personal record on Christmas. I got my shopping… ![“I set a personal record on Christmas. I got my shopping done three weeks ahead of time. I had all the presents back at my apartment, I was halfway through wrapping them, and I realized, 'Damn, I used the wrong wrapping paper.' The paper I used said, 'Happy Birthday.' I didn't want to waste it, so…” quote by Demetri Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/30f/demetri-martin-511_ahead-of-time_i-set-a-personal-record-on-christmas-i-g_2297865.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/30f/demetri-martin-511_ahead-of-time_i-set-a-personal-record-on-christmas-i-g_2297865.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/30f/demetri-martin-511_ahead-of-time_i-set-a-personal-record-on-christmas-i-g_2297865.jpg) > “I set a personal record on Christmas. I got my shopping done three weeks ahead of time. I had all the presents back at my apartment, I was halfway through wrapping them, and I realized, 'Damn, I used the wrong wrapping paper.' The paper I used said, 'Happy Birthday.' I didn't want to waste it, so I just wrote 'Jesus' on it.” [Demetri Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/demetri-martin/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A comedic anecdote about a holiday mishap highlights improvisation and absurdity in everyday life. **In simple terms:** A funny story about a wrong wrapping paper. Key Takeaway Embrace mistakes, turn them into jokes. Themes humor improvisation mistakes holiday Mood light hearted absurd Type comedic anecdotal When to use this quote - gift wrapping - holiday planning - creative problem solving Key Concepts absurdity creativity adaptability Questions to Reflect On - What can you learn from the mistake? - How can you prepare better next time? A Different Perspective Improvisation may not fix the underlying issue. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ahead of time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ahead-of-time/) [Apartment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/apartment/) [Birthday Didn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/birthday-didn-2142930/) [Christmas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christmas/) [Damn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/damn/) [Done](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/done/) [Funny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/funny/) [Funny christmas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/funny-christmas/) [Halfway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/halfway/) [Happy birthday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happy-birthday/) [I realized](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/i-realized/) [Jesus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jesus/) [Paper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/paper/) [Presents](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/presents/) [Record Christmas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/record-christmas-5423665/) [Records](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/records/) [Said](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/said/) [Shopping](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shopping/) [Three](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/three/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Used](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/used/) [Want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/want/) [Waste](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/waste/) [Week](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/week/) [Wrapping](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wrapping/) [Wrapping Paper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wrapping-paper-279216/) [Wrong Wrapping](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wrong-wrapping-5423664/) ## Related quotes > [Just rolled a blunt using wrapping paper...Keeping the Christmas spirit alive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/just-rolled-a-blunt-using-wrapping-paper-keeping-the-christmas-spirit/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Thankfulness always sees everything as a gift even though it might be wrapped in some rather unsavory wrapping paper, for the wrapping need not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-d-lounsbrough/thankfulness-always-sees-everything-as-a-gift-even-though-it-might-be/) [Craig D. Lounsbrough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-d-lounsbrough/) > [I'm a total stationery fiend - I have drawers and drawers of lovely printed cards and wrapping paper.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keeley-hawes/i-m-a-total-stationery-fiend-i-have-drawers-and-drawers-of-lovely/) [Keeley Hawes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keeley-hawes/) > [I write thank-you notes the minute I throw the wrapping paper away.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/i-write-thank-you-notes-the-minute-i-throw-the-wrapping-paper-away/) [Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/) > [“Remember - when you came back from the states thirty years ago, and you had caught on to the importance of putting up a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/romain-gary/remember-when-you-came-back-from-the-states-thirty-years-ago-and-you/) [Romain Gary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/romain-gary/) > [My wife, like many women, actually LIKES wrapping things. If she gives you a gift that requires batteries, she wraps the batteries separately, which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-barry/my-wife-like-many-women-actually-likes-wrapping-things-if-she-gives/) [Dave Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-barry/) > [“I met a man named Birthday. I didn’t tell him when I was born, because I thought that that one day in my life,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/i-met-a-man-named-birthday-i-didn-t-tell-him-when-i-was-born-because/) [Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/) > [You'll never guess what I got you for your birthday because I didn't get you anything for your birthday.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-ll-never-guess-what-i-got-you-for-your-birthday-because-i-didn-t/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“It's his mother's birthday? But he didn't tell me. I don't have a card. I don't have a gift. How could he do this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophie-kinsella/it-s-his-mother-s-birthday-but-he-didn-t-tell-me-i-don-t-have-a-card/) [Sophie Kinsella](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophie-kinsella/) > [“With your Christmas-Day-will-never-arrive-soon enough salivations, you anticipate the moment when, like voracious cub lions, you’ll rip open the wrapping paper and feast off your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carew-papritz/with-your-christmas-day-will-never-arrive-soon-enough-salivations-you/) [Carew Papritz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carew-papritz/) > [That awkward moment when you realize Santa has the same wrapping paper as your mom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon/that-awkward-moment-when-you-realize-santa-has-the-same-wrapping/) [Sharon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon/) > [“A blanket could be used as wrapping paper, to give the gift of a cat. ”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/a-blanket-could-be-used-as-wrapping-paper-to-give-the-gift-of-a-cat/) [Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/) > [Buy more Scotch tape, wrapping paper, and Christmas cards than you think you'll need.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/buy-more-scotch-tape-wrapping-paper-and-christmas-cards-than-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I have a present for you,but I need to borrow your arms for wrapping paper¦¦](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-have-a-present-for-you-but-i-need-to-borrow-your-arms-for-wrapping/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“I brought you something,” I said as I ignored the twitch of embarrassment that I hadn’t thought to buy actual wrapping paper for the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sloane-kennedy/i-brought-you-something-i-said-as-i-ignored-the-twitch-of/) [Sloane Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sloane-kennedy/) ## More by Demetri Martin > [I think hair gel was invented to make it easier to identify assholes from a distance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/demetri-martin/i-think-hair-gel-was-invented-to-make-it-easier-to-identify-assholes/) [Demetri Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/demetri-martin/) > [Tic Tacs are the maracas of breath mints.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/demetri-martin/tic-tacs-are-the-maracas-of-breath-mints/) [Demetri Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/demetri-martin/) > [When someone describes themself as a taxpayer, they're about to be an asshole.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/demetri-martin/when-someone-describes-themself-as-a-taxpayer-they-re-about-to-be-an/) [Demetri Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/demetri-martin/) > [I think they named the orange before the carrot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/demetri-martin/i-think-they-named-the-orange-before-the-carrot/) [Demetri Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/demetri-martin/) > [I like to go to concerts because I love to see my favorite band through the phone of the asshole who's standing in front…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/demetri-martin/i-like-to-go-to-concerts-because-i-love-to-see-my-favorite-band/) [Demetri Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/demetri-martin/) > [How fast does a zebra have to run before it looks gray.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/demetri-martin/how-fast-does-a-zebra-have-to-run-before-it-looks-gray/) [Demetri Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/demetri-martin/) > [Skiing is my favorite sport, because, that's the only sport that is actually better to watch the worst the person is at it. "That…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/demetri-martin/skiing-is-my-favorite-sport-because-that-s-the-only-sport-that-is/) [Demetri Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/demetri-martin/) > [I know about Woodstock probably as much as your average person who is over 30, where I'd know Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, Grateful Dead.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/demetri-martin/i-know-about-woodstock-probably-as-much-as-your-average-person-who-is/) [Demetri Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/demetri-martin/) > [Never be less interesting than your refrigerator magnets.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/demetri-martin/never-be-less-interesting-than-your-refrigerator-magnets/) [Demetri Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/demetri-martin/) > [I bought a cactus. A week later it died. And I got depressed, because I thought, Damn. I am less nurturing than a desert.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/demetri-martin/i-bought-a-cactus-a-week-later-it-died-and-i-got-depressed-because-i/) [Demetri Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/demetri-martin/) > [A Wednesday with no rain is a dry hump day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/demetri-martin/a-wednesday-with-no-rain-is-a-dry-hump-day/) [Demetri Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/demetri-martin/) > [THING TO TRY: If you are asked to describe a suspect to a police sketch artist, describe in precise detail, the features of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/demetri-martin/thing-to-try-if-you-are-asked-to-describe-a-suspect-to-a-police/) [Demetri Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/demetri-martin/) > [If you happen to catch on fire during the show, do not panic or wave your arms around or scream or we wil give…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/demetri-martin/if-you-happen-to-catch-on-fire-during-the-show-do-not-panic-or-wave/) [Demetri Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/demetri-martin/) > [They say that structure is freedom, and in a sense it is. When you're dealing with multiple constraints, you have to figure out what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/demetri-martin/they-say-that-structure-is-freedom-and-in-a-sense-it-is-when-you-re/) [Demetri Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/demetri-martin/) > [I think my favorite sound is the sound of someone not playing the bongos.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/demetri-martin/i-think-my-favorite-sound-is-the-sound-of-someone-not-playing-the/) [Demetri Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/demetri-martin/) [Explore all 508 Demetri Martin quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/demetri-martin/) ## More Ahead of time quotes > [“To prepare any activity for the child, it is necessary for the parent to think through every detail ahead of time. For example, is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-polk-lillard/to-prepare-any-activity-for-the-child-it-is-necessary-for-the-parent/) [Paula Polk Lillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-polk-lillard/) > [The reason I quit being a sales manager over twenty years now is because I hate elevator pitches. I want to write stories and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-busiek/the-reason-i-quit-being-a-sales-manager-over-twenty-years-now-is/) [Kurt Busiek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-busiek/) > [I've never understood the value of putting someone on television to lie, knowing that they're going to lie ahead of time, knowing that that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-o-donnell/i-ve-never-understood-the-value-of-putting-someone-on-television-to/) [Lawrence O'Donnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-o-donnell/) > [“Without constant clairvoyance on the part of every man and woman, existence on your plane would involve such inner, psychological insecurity that it would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-roberts/without-constant-clairvoyance-on-the-part-of-every-man-and-woman/) [Jane Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-roberts/) > [Faith isn't about having everything figured out ahead of time; faith is about following the quiet voice of God without having everything figured out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-held-evans/faith-isn-t-about-having-everything-figured-out-ahead-of-time-faith/) [Rachel Held Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-held-evans/) > [Dont worry about your future, because the angels are working on your path and your prayers ahead of time,with the touch of GOD approval...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/dont-worry-about-your-future-because-the-angels-are-working-on-your/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Mind your mind. Think of distinctive footprints. Insofar as all things move forward and not backward, avoid retrogressive thinking, imprison negative thoughts, build a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-agyemang-yeboah/mind-your-mind-think-of-distinctive-footprints-insofar-as-all-things/) [Ernest Agyemang Yeboah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-agyemang-yeboah/) > [A montage is incredibly challenging. When I can, I'd like to know what the music is going to be ahead of time because that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-maclaren/a-montage-is-incredibly-challenging-when-i-can-i-d-like-to-know-what/) [Michelle MacLaren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-maclaren/) > [“Part of our problem is that we confuse God’s reliability with God’s predictability. God is perfectly reliable. His character never changes. He is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-erre/part-of-our-problem-is-that-we-confuse-god-s-reliability-with-god-s/) [Mike Erre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-erre/) > [Because I never plan anything out ahead of time, I'm always in the process of learning about my characters. Without a biographical sketch to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tess-gerritsen/because-i-never-plan-anything-out-ahead-of-time-i-m-always-in-the/) [Tess Gerritsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tess-gerritsen/) > [“The greatest testament of a life lived is to be missed when you are gone. It is not something you can plan for or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-maclearn/the-greatest-testament-of-a-life-lived-is-to-be-missed-when-you-are/) [Brian MacLearn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-maclearn/) > [I've never been willing to commit to more than one at a time, because I just don't know - I don't plan the books…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-gabaldon/i-ve-never-been-willing-to-commit-to-more-than-one-at-a-time-because/) [Diana Gabaldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-gabaldon/) > [We can't cross that bridge until we come to it, but I always like to lay down a pontoon ahead of time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-baruch/we-can-t-cross-that-bridge-until-we-come-to-it-but-i-always-like-to/) [Bernard Baruch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-baruch/) > [Skepticism is not a position that you stake out ahead of time and stick to no matter what.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-shermer/skepticism-is-not-a-position-that-you-stake-out-ahead-of-time-and/) [Michael Shermer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-shermer/) > [I really believe that all CEO pay should be voted on by shareholders ahead of time. Mine was.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carly-fiorina/i-really-believe-that-all-ceo-pay-should-be-voted-on-by-shareholders/) [Carly Fiorina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carly-fiorina/) [Browse all 222 Ahead of time quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ahead-of-time/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I set a personal record on Christmas. I got my shopping done three weeks ahead of time. I had all the presents back at my apartment, I was halfway through wrapping them, and I realized, 'Damn, I used the wrong wrapping paper.' The paper I used said, 'Happy Birthday.' 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