The most stressful time of the year

You'll need two hands to count the number of celebrity and otherwise high-profile break-ups since Thanksgiving or thereabouts. It started with Nick and Jessica. Then Nicole Richie and D.J. AM. Spederline is on the outs. The first couple civilly united in Vermont has split.

The list goes on, and we can only hope that TomKat is soon to follow.

Why? Is it the stress of the holidays? The weight of the media glare? Just a silly coincidence?

No, no and no.

I suggest that celebrities (and approximations thereof) think they can slip their breakups by us in the holiday buying season, when we're focused on greeting cards, Vermont teddy bears, and the like.

Think again, famous people. My ferocious gossip appetite only grows in the holiday season, not unlike my actual appetite. Celebrities, you'd be better off breaking up during the baseball playoffs, or March Madness. Then you could really slip it by me.