Bah humbug!

[jdmetzger]

Am I the only one who dislikes the "holiday season"?

There is nothing more annoying than going to a mall full of idiots trying to buy everything in sight. There are the shoppers who are lost and in a complete daze; they wander about, usually get in your way, and make mall navigation difficult.

Then there are the "power shoppers" who will run over 3 old ladies, knock down a stroller, spit on a puppy, and body check a cripple to get that special holiday gift for uncle Jimmy.

Then there are the overly happy ones who smile and walk around like they just downed a bottle of prozac and a few lithium, with a bottle of jack daniels. For example, there was a guy with his shiny red and green sequin-covered hat. I wanted to tell him his hat was not so much full of holiday whimsy, but something else, entirely.

Before you think I'm a complete grinch, it's not the idea of Christmas I have a problem with. I don't mind giving and receiving gifts, and spending time with my family and friends. That's all good stuff. It's the insane consumerism. It's the stores who you have to fight with because something is $50 online, but marked up to $68 in their stores. Thanks for raising the price for the holidays. When did things get so out of line and turn into this nightmare of a shopping season? I'm not old enough to remember it being anything like "It's a wonderful life".

All this, and I only spent 30 minutes at the mall. It was more than enough. Ugh. :hungover

[Oldhway]

Could I have another piece of coal for the fire please mr Scrooge? :wave


Actually, I wouldn't be caught dead in a mall any time between Thanksgiving and New Years. Now if you need a nice guitar, I know this little independent shop in Connecticut......

[riderR1150GSAdv]

I totally agree! Overzealous consumerism has messed up the Christmas spirit for me too. I love the season, spending time with family and friends but the whole gift thing is out for us. If we need something we'lll buy it regardless of when in the year it is. That said; Merry X-Mas and Happy New Year!! :D

[stewby]

Yes, Christmas today is all about retail sales. I love the essence of Christmas but it seems you can't even say "Merry Christmas;" it has to be Happy Holidays. Heck with that! Christmas just isn't what it used to be when we had all the Mom & Pop stores and downtowns were vibrant. Thank God for memories.

[BradfordBenn]

Consumerism has ruined many a holiday. Is Thanksgiving a day for giving thanks and spending with family or is it just the start of the shopping season?

My wife works in the mall, she hates this time of year. People become mean and greedy. What happened to Good Will to All?

[GregFeeler]

Am I the only one who dislikes the "holiday season"?

There is nothing more annoying than going to a mall full of idiots trying to buy everything in sight. There are the shoppers who are lost and in a complete daze; they wander about, usually get in your way, and make mall navigation difficult.

Then there are the "power shoppers" who will run over 3 old ladies, knock down a stroller, spit on a puppy, and body check a cripple to get that special holiday gift for uncle Jimmy.

Then there are the overly happy ones who smile and walk around like they just downed a bottle of prozac and a few lithium, with a bottle of jack daniels. For example, there was a guy with his shiny red and green sequin-covered hat. I wanted to tell him his hat was not so much full of holiday whimsy, but something else, entirely.

Before you think I'm a complete grinch, it's not the idea of Christmas I have a problem with. I don't mind giving and receiving gifts, and spending time with my family and friends. That's all good stuff. It's the insane consumerism. It's the stores who you have to fight with because something is $50 online, but marked up to $68 in their stores. Thanks for raising the price for the holidays. When did things get so out of line and turn into this nightmare of a shopping season? I'm not old enough to remember it being anything like "It's a wonderful life".

All this, and I only spent 30 minutes at the mall. It was more than enough. Ugh. :hungover

I stay away from the malls, or go at odd times. Most of my shopping this year was done on-line. Example: I bought some friends coffee cups from the Ace Cafe in London (the original Cafe in Cafe Racer). Way cool, and delivered to my door. Then I used the USPS Click 'n Ship and the postman picked up the boxes from house. That's part of my strategy for enjoying the holidays. :drink

[GeneT]

It would suit me if Christmas came once every twenty five years and I was out of town that day. The only good things left are family and the food, the rest gets blown out of portion, overly complicated and overly expensive.

I have noticed Christmas decorations etc. right after Halloween

:dance

[PacWestGS]

I totally agree! Overzealous consumerism has messed up the Christmas spirit for me too. I love the season, spending time with family and friends but the whole gift thing is out for us. If we need something we'lll buy it regardless of when in the year it is. That said; Merry X-Mas and Happy New Year!! :D

+1

(In May I got a Dakar, and in October my wife got a new house - Merry Christmas, Happy New Year and throw in a Birthday too)

Next year we will have Junior though, may be a different time ahead.

Drove past the Tacoma Mall today, wouldn't catch me there - kinda feel sorry for the poor smucks just trying to get home off the off-ramps which were backed up onto the freeway. :sick

[kbasa]

Online shopping rules.

I like the holiday season again. :D

[rangepig]

I agree with the posts about rampant consumerism making this time of year awful, even though I'm not religious.

Personally, I hate this time of year because it seems like really bad things have happened to me during this season. My family is fairly dysfunctional so Thanksgiving and Christmas always end up in some sort of melodramatic fight. I've broken up with a couple women this time of year. And to top it all off, December 12th, 1985 is when 248 of my fellow Screaming Eagles from 3rd battalion, 502nd infantry (101st airborne division) died in a plane crash in Gander Newfoundland returning from Sinai peacekeeping (I came back the week prior on the same plane).

Add in the fact that the weather sucks and I can't ride and I'm usually in a foul mood this time of year.

[bluehole]

I worked at a large national retailer out of college and I never felt the same about the "Holiday Season" since then. Nasty people, large crowds, etc. turned me sour on this time of year. We travel north to spend Christmas with my in-laws every year...which is great...they are wonderful folks. I could not ask for better in-laws, but my wife gets SO stressed out over gift purchases and preparing for the trip that I just can't wait for January 2. I try to get all the shopping done early and the rest is on line...no going to the mall after Thanksgiving...just too hectic and stressful.

[BubbaZanetti]

Online shopping rules.

I like the holiday season again. :D


ditto, i haven't bought a single thing at a store yet, and i've only got 2 more gifts to buy


i have a rule about christmas, i don't let anyone spend more than 50 dollars on me. i, in return, will not spend more than 50 dollars on anyone else (except the gf, i'm pretty sure i'd be in the doghouse otherwise) i like to keep the needless consumerism to a minimum as much as possible.

[manicmechanic]

Supposedly there was some guy born a couple thousand years ago whose whole purpose in life was trying to get everybody to be good to everybody else ALL THE TIME. For some strange reason that has been interpreted to mean just most of December. I've got a neighbor who's upset with me for not seeing things her way. IMHO, if somebody can/won't do something nice for me any other time of the year, don't do it now, as I'm not interested.

As for giving gifts, mostly things aren't that important. I prefer that we share the most valuable possession we have - our time. We don't know how much of it we have.

If all this makes me a grinch, scrooge, etc., then so be it.

[DarrylRi]

I get through the season by singing this little song to myself...

Christmas time is here, by golly,
Disapproval would be folly.
Deck the halls with hunks of holly,
Fill the cup and don't say when.

Kill the turkeys, ducks and chickens,
Mix the punch, drag out the Dickens.
Even though the prospect sickens,
Brother, here we go again.

On Christmas Day you can't get sore,
Your fellow man you must adore.
There's time to rob him all the more
The other three hundred and sixty-four.

Relations, sparing no expense, 'll
Send some useless old utensil,
Or a matching pen and pencil.
("Just the thing I need, how nice!")

It doesn't matter how sincere it is,
Nor how heart felt the spirit,
Sentiment will not endear it,
What's important is the price.

Hark, the Herald Tribune sings,
Advertising wondrous things.
God rest ye merry merchants,
May ye make the Yuletide pay.
Angels we have heard on high,
Tell us to go out and buy!

So, let the raucous sleigh bells jingle,
Hail our dear old friend Kris Kringle,
Driving his reindeer across the sky.
Don't stand underneath when they fly by.

--Tom Lehrer, "A Christmas Carol"

[riderR1150GSAdv]

IMHO, if somebody can/won't do something nice for me any other time of the year, don't do it now, as I'm not interested.

So right on! It is such a hypocritical time of the year as now we suddenly have to be nice, while the rest of the year we can be nasty???? Gosh it sound like a religious thing, sin during the week and forgiven on Sunday....

As for giving gifts, mostly things aren't that important. I prefer that we share the most valuable possession we have - our time. We don't know how much of it we have.

If all this makes me a grinch, scrooge, etc., then so be it.

Very true, as time is all we have with friends and family.

[Braddog]

Supposedly there was some guy born a couple thousand years ago whose whole purpose in life was trying to get everybody to be good to everybody else ALL THE TIME. For some strange reason that has been interpreted to mean just most of December. I've got a neighbor who's upset with me for not seeing things her way. IMHO, if somebody can/won't do something nice for me any other time of the year, don't do it now, as I'm not interested.

As for giving gifts, mostly things aren't that important. I prefer that we share the most valuable possession we have - our time. We don't know how much of it we have.

If all this makes me a grinch, scrooge, etc., then so be it.

I agree with your summary completely. Why don't people realize how empty food shelves get in the summertime? Why don't they realize that families need clothes in the summer as well as winter, specifically December?

[Oldhway]

As has been frequently mentioned in this and other forums, it's hard to keep a retail business afloat with big chain stores and the internet to compete with. Many BMW dealerships have closed and one reason is the online market. The one's that are still open, and other independent retailers as well, have worked hard to be competitive both price wise and to offer a sense of customer service and unique atmosphere the internet can't provide. They also tend to be less crowded at Christmas and sometimes easier to get in and out of than the malls. If you have a local merchant who is working hard for his customers, give him a chance to compete against the on line. For us retailers, Christmas season can represent up to 40% of our annual sales and we try to offer you both value and something that the internet doesn't, that old fashion dealing with a live, warm, in front of you human.

If the butcher hadn't been around, Scrooge would have never been able to buy the Cratchett family their turkey for Christmas and thus not been able to express his redemption. A forzen, internet turkey just wouldn't have been the same!

my .02 .

Merry Christmas and God bless us, every one.

[ian408]

In my family, Christmas was fast becoming "who can buy the most" until
we started drawing names a few years back (for the adults). Now the day
is more about family and less about exchanging gifts.

[RebeccaV]

Am I the only one who dislikes the "holiday season"?
I agree for lots of reasons.

Fortunately my entire family has decided to put less emphasis on material things. For example my three siblings and I donate to our parents' favorite charity in their name.

I let my nieces and nephews decide whether they'd like a gift for under the tree or an afternoon outing with their Auntie Becca (that's me). Things that we've done in past years are dinner and a movie, ice skating, and skiing. They have always chosen to spend the time together rather than get a new videogame or whatever.

[jdiaz]

My daughter doesn't really know anything about the commerical message of Christmas, since she seems to get presents from people all year. :bluduh As far as she knows, Christmas is just the time we put up the tree and put out the figurines.

We went out yesterday to pick up printer cartridges and look at puppies, and my heart rate took two hours to come down.

[tessler]

I agree for lots of reasons.

Fortunately my entire family has decided to put less emphasis on material things. For example my three siblings and I donate to our parents' favorite charity in their name.

I let my nieces and nephews decide whether they'd like a gift for under the tree or an afternoon outing with their Auntie Becca (that's me). Things that we've done in past years are dinner and a movie, ice skating, and skiing. They have always chosen to spend the time together rather than get a new videogame or whatever.You guys rock RV. :) That's what a lot of my gentile relatives do (vis-a-vis: donation-gifts, etc.).

Have a wonderful, merry Christmas!

[jdmetzger]

It's good to see I'm not the only one with these feelings about Christmas. My attitude about it worried my mom sometimes, though. Like when I told her the mall was OK, but would be better if it would burn to the ground. I don't think she likes my sarcasm. :D

There are a lot of great ideas on here; like giving time as a gift, instead of some material thing. My nieces are a bit young to enjoy that yet (as I have no real child experience), but in the meantime I'll just stop by my brothers occasionally to harass the kids. :) I also liked the charity ideas. Even if people don't want that as a gift, it's something I can always ask for.

Have a good (and non-materialistic) Holidays!

[PAULBACH]

The more things you own, the more things own you.

[cjack]

The more things you own, the more things own you.

I like "You can't have everything, where would you put it?" The same guy said "Black holes are where God divided by zero." That guy cracks me up.

As to Christmas, my family does the traditional Christmas. We don't overdo it.

[snoone]

Just got back from the mall cause I had to go.. People were fighting over parking spaces and cursing each other out.

My wife and I decided this year to donate to www.savedarfur.org and give out t-shirts from there to any adult we previously bought a present for..

Try it.. It'll make you feel good.

Now i'm out for a ride in almost 60 degree weather on Dec.17. Who would have thunk

[rinty]

Christmas bothers me a lot less now than it used to. I get through the season by thinking of it as the celebration of the winter solstice, which has gone on for thousands of years, and I look forward to the break from work and visiting with my in-laws, who are a great bunch. I read somewhere that the birth of Christ was traditionally celebrated in March, and that one of the Roman emperors moved it in with the solstice celebrations. It would have been better to keep it in March, and then you wouldn't get the conflict between the religious and secular aspects of the event, which underlies a lot of peoples' unhappiness.

I find out exactly when the sun turns the corner, (this year it's on the 22nd at 0:22 UT) and if we're at home, my wife and I toast the event with a glass of wine. The knowledge that the sun has started working its way back towards us, bringing another riding season, also makes it easier for me to get through the festivities. And while I'm waiting, there are another 5 good months of skiing to enjoy.

I stay out of the malls, and get my wife and daughter gift cards for their favourite stores. Simple, and everybody's happy.

Rinty

[glwestcott]

Christmas bothers me a lot less now than it used to. I get through the season by thinking of it as the celebration of the winter solstice, which has gone on for thousands of years, and I look forward to the break from work and visiting with my in-laws, who are a great bunch. I read somewhere that the birth of Christ was traditionally celebrated in March, and that one of the Roman emperors moved it in with the solstice celebrations. It would have been better to keep it in March, and then you wouldn't get the conflict between the religious and secular aspects of the event, which underlies a lot of peoples' unhappiness.

I find out exactly when the sun turns the corner, (this year it's on the 22nd at 0:22 UT) and if we're at home, my wife and I toast the event with a glass of wine. The knowledge that the sun has started working its way back towards us, bringing another riding season, also makes it easier for me to get through the festivities. And while I'm waiting, there are another 5 good months of skiing to enjoy.

I stay out of the malls, and get my wife and daughter gift cards for their favourite stores. Simple, and everybody's happy.

Rinty

Boy was it nice to read your post! Especially the opening paragraph. I was reading this thread and was thinking how to say that, and there it was. Thanks. :nod

[ponchsrtp]

yeah...well i got you all beat. not only do i drive a city bus and have to chauffeur these dimwhitted retards to and fro...but my birthday is on the 30th. so i have looked forward to the christmas season like a towel boy at a turkish bathhouse looks forward to gay naked football games in the mud.

since the arrival of my two kids though i have been forced into a different state of mind reguarding the holidays. over the past 11 years, when my daughter was born, and 2 years ago when my boy popped into the world, i see the joy this time of year brings to them and i catch myself with a small grin of surrender on my face...at least while i'm at home. for the rest of the time i associate driving my bus through the mall parking lot alot like being in a mine field. sooner or later your gonna hit something...i just hope they don't have a fruitcake in their hands when i do...that stuff will take the paint off anything!

viva la onlineshopping.com :doh :banghead

[GregFeeler]

yeah...well i got you all beat. not only do i drive a city bus and have to chauffeur these dimwhitted retards to and fro...but my birthday is on the 30th. so i have looked forward to the christmas season like a towel boy at a turkish bathhouse looks forward to gay naked football games in the mud.


Wow - now there is some imagery it's going to take several shots of some good hooch to get out of my mind. :rofl

[Troutluck]

I'm not old enough to remember it being anything like "It's a wonderful life".
Uncle Billy?

[pmdave]

I'm glad someone else brought up the subject. There are lots of people who--like lurkers on a forum--don't agree with the majority but don't want to be singled out for punishment.

Personally, I can't remember a "happy" Christmas season. It was always a pain in the ash. I can remember the disappointment of not getting a gift I wanted, of panic in the aisles of stores trying to figure out an appropriate gift for people who didn't need anything I could afford.

Eventually, my wife joined a religous movement where Christmas is not celebrated. I didn't join the movement, but I've been more than happy to ignore the whole shebang.

If you are having difficulty with the season, you have my permission to drop out. If you like the trappings, feel free to indulge. But do keep your season to yourself and respect the attitudes, faiths, and customs of others. If you wish me a "merry Christmas", I may nod out of respect for your custom, but I might not smile and give you the expected verbal response.

I suspect that many people do what they do out of a desire to somehow buy their way into favor. Perhaps a large donation to the red kettle will make up for a year of selfishness, or barter favor with the creator, or bring meaning into an otherwise empty life. Maybe the right gift will suddenly make my spoiled children love me. Won't putting up more colored lights bring more joy to the world, and maybe keep terrorists in the mid east where they belong?

Or, if I don't put up a tree and hang the tinsel, what will my family think? Will my children be embarrassed that their dad is a "scrooge"? Do I really want to be the one who explains that Santa Claus is a huge conspiracy and urban myth, the tree is a vintage symbol of some nasty goings-on between underworld spirits, that Jesus wasn't born in the wintertime, or that the ghost of Christmas past was just a character created by Dickens? It's much easier to gloss over details such as Christmas having been an orgy of drunkenness, theiving, and rowdyness back in England--and therefore shunned by the Pilgrims who brought Christianity to America.

By all means, love your neighbor. Go dig out the old guy who is snowbound. Buy some food and get it to the food bank. Sneak some Jonny Walker into the local rest home. You can't buy happiness, love, respect, or good will. It has to be earned. Volunteer to do what needs to be done in January, February, March, April...

pmdave

[jdmetzger]

I'm glad someone else brought up the subject. There are lots of people who--like lurkers on a forum--don't agree with the majority but don't want to be singled out for punishment.

Personally, I can't remember a "happy" Christmas season. It was always a pain in the ash. I can remember the disappointment of not getting a gift I wanted, of panic in the aisles of stores trying to figure out an appropriate gift for people who didn't need anything I could afford.

<cut>

I suspect that many people do what they do out of a desire to somehow buy their way into favor. Perhaps a large donation to the red kettle will make up for a year of selfishness, or barter favor with the creator, or bring meaning into an otherwise empty life. Maybe the right gift will suddenly make my spoiled children love me. Won't putting up more colored lights bring more joy to the world, and maybe keep terrorists in the mid east where they belong?

Or, if I don't put up a tree and hang the tinsel, what will my family think? Will my children be embarrassed that their dad is a "scrooge"? Do I really want to be the one who explains that Santa Claus is a huge conspiracy and urban myth, the tree is a vintage symbol of some nasty goings-on between underworld spirits, that Jesus wasn't born in the wintertime, or that the ghost of Christmas past was just a character created by Dickens? It's much easier to gloss over details such as Christmas having been an orgy of drunkenness, theiving, and rowdyness back in England--and therefore shunned by the Pilgrims who brought Christianity to America.

By all means, love your neighbor. Go dig out the old guy who is snowbound. Buy some food and get it to the food bank. Sneak some Jonny Walker into the local rest home. You can't buy happiness, love, respect, or good will. It has to be earned. Volunteer to do what needs to be done in January, February, March, April...



Nice post! I finished shopping for people today, but by the time I was done, I felt a little "down". I always have a really hard time trying to find gifts that I think people will like. If I don't get a specific "get me this", it's a nightmare. This is probably why I always shower girlfriends with jewelry; you can't go wrong there, right? I also feel bad if I get a gift that I don't really like. I don't return things, and I don't want to hurt any feelings because they usually try to put a lot of thought into something.

My family has set up a small tree in my house, before. I know they're just worried about me, but I'm single and nobody comes by for the holidays (I go to see them). I don't think it's worth it for me or my dog (unless it came with a squirrel in it, in which case my dog would LOVE it).

I also agree you can't buy your way into someones good graces, or into a pleasing afterlife (if that's your thing). Last I checked there was nothing in any holy scriptures that says "In December, go unto the mall and spend yourself into holy debt"

BTW: I made up for my down mood; I stopped on the way back and picked up some "Holiday Spirits". :D :drink

[R80RTJohnny]

Tis the season for the merchants...Instead of goods why do we not give the gift of "validity". Be kind and respectful of others. Take the time, everyday, to appreciate others and let them know about it. If during the year you pay someone a compliment it might just be worth more then the latest DVD or video game or...

Merry Christmas to all. Funny I went shopping today and not once was that said to me. Strange. Even stores have gotten away from the Christmas thing.

[john1691]

Both sides of our family are fairly conservative when it comes to gift giving. We tend to give and get things that we need and will use. It helps that we only give to family that we are pretty close to, not extended aunts and cousins and all that, so we get an idea of what is needed. We always have a dollar cap set up as well, so it makes it more about the person than the gift.

john1691
2000 K1200RS

[GRANT63RT]

I totally agree! Overzealous consumerism has messed up the Christmas spirit for me too. I love the season, spending time with family and friends but the whole gift thing is out for us. If we need something we'lll buy it regardless of when in the year it is. That said; Merry X-Mas and Happy New Year!! :D
+1

I think this quote from Kinky Friedman is appropriate: "The Jews didn't kill Jesus, Santa Clause killed Jesus" :laugh

[BradfordBenn]

PM Dave-

You summed it up pretty well.

[Daver90s]

Well, I don't celebrate Christmas - since its a Christian (at least that's the story that everyone sticks to) holiday and I ain't no Christian - Besides, I refuse to be guilt-ed into buying something for every last person I know because the calendar says I should. I'd rather get someone a "happy Wednesday" gift just for the hell of it. I'll make a bigger deal out of my wife's birthday - that's the one that important to me.

Remember: on Dec. 21 the days will start getting longer! :D

[jdmetzger]

Well, I don't celebrate Christmas - since its a Christian (at least that's the story that everyone sticks to) holiday and I ain't no Christian - Besides, I refuse to be guilt-ed into buying something for every last person I know because the calendar says I should. I'd rather get someone a "happy Wednesday" gift just for the hell of it. I'll make a bigger deal out of my wife's birthday - that's the one that important to me.

Remember: on Dec. 21 the days will start getting longer! :D

So you don't have a gift waiting for me, then? Possibly a nice '89 GS? :cry

;)

[Belquar]

We exchange gifts in our family. My wife and I start looking for gifts in September. We don't join the masses out a few weeks before the 25th. We give gifts to United Way Children as well. One thing that is important to us....if you don't need it....you won't get it from us. We can't stand to give or receive "stuff". Stuff has to be stored, takes up space etc. If you can't get some mileage out of it we prefer not to give it. Under our tree will almost always be underwear, toilet paper, soap, deoderant. Essentials. Things that will definitely get used.

As for the what folks believe in.....whatever works for ya. The important part is to be happy and reflect on the blessings each of you have. My neighbor is 71 years old. When I come home from work in the mornings, if he is outside, I will say...Good Morning Phil. He almost always responds, it is a great morning. Every morning I get up for another day is a great morning.

[Stuff2C]

Average age 53...Go figure.

Turn your TV off, don't read the paper and try to remember the REAL reason behind CHRISTmas. Forget about "what it's going to cost me" and enjoy the time that family and friends get extra incentive to spend time together. Make a positive impact in someones life you don't even know.

Make the season work for you in a way you never have before. Then you may look forward to it next year.

Personally, I :heart CHRISTmas and the season. :D

[BeemoKat]

So you don't have a gift waiting for me, then? Possibly a nice '89 GS? :cry

;)

You know where to find that '89 GS! That said, I'll put in wth the Scrooges, I really don't like this time of year either. There are usually a couple of nice parties, and I enjoy seeing people that I don't otherwise see very much, but I find the whole "shopping for gifts" thing to be very stressful.

My sister and I share a birthday, 4 years apart, and we have streamlined the whole gift exchange down to a single phone call:

Me: What do you want for your birthday Jude?
Jude: A Porsche!
Me: Well, I think you ought to have one!
Jude: Thanks Dave, what do you want this year?
Me: Some camping gear and a GPS!
Jude: Well, you deserve it, I think you ought to go out and get it.

It makes the whole exchange very easy, we both get exactly what we want, and neither of us has to shop for things that we know nothing about or stand in line at the Post Office.
I'm working on this with everybody else!

[1flyer]

This is strange. I'm listening to Mannheim Steamroller's Christmas CD's while I'm reading all this stuff about how bad the Holidays are and all the personal issues people on this board are having with it. Talk about two extremes to deal with at the same time. :dunno

[jmerlino]

Then there are the overly happy ones who smile and walk around like they just downed a bottle of prozac and a few lithium, with a bottle of jack daniels.
Ah yes - the ol' Jack 'n' 'Zac. Good stuff.

[BeemoKat]

This is strange. I'm listening to Mannheim Steamroller's Christmas CD's while I'm reading all this stuff about how bad the Holidays are and all the personal issues people on this board are having with it. Talk about two extremes to deal with at the same time. :dunno

just that some of us aren't all that crazy about 'em. Do whatever floats your boat, even listen to Mannheim Steamroller :stick !

[1flyer]

Yah, I know. And mostly I do. The Holidays have always been a little hard on me and I have to work at it to get out of the funk. Maybe a nice long ride for a couple of days between Christmas and New Years would work. I’ve the week off. If I go from here to New Orleans can I expect to make it to San Diego without too much worry about the weather this time of year? How's I-10/I-8 for travel at the end of December? I'm a rounder so the cold isn't bad but Ice and Snow are.

[pmdave]

Normally, getting on and going will help clear the blahs, but around the winter solstace it doesn't work will.

First, there's the weather in the N hemi. I seriously suggest flitting off to some S hemi environment for serious wintertime riding. New Zealand, Brazil, South Africa come to mind.

Second, there's the trappings of "Christmas" to contend with. Everywhere you go, stop, eat, stay, the local Christmasians will be rolling around in the trappings like kids at a hamburger joint playroom, and they won't understand why you might not wish to participate in the their Christmasian religion. They just can't believe that everyone in the world doesn't embrace Christmasia.

However, it's possible to get around in a Christmasian world if you understand what's happening. It's like riding your BMW through Sturgis or Laughlin when some "cruiserbiker" thing is happening. You can stop, look, listen, and leave without feeling the need to throw away your helmet, smoke your tire down to the rim, get stinking drunk, or rip the sleeves off your shirt and get a tatoo. Think going to the zoo.

pmdave

[dancogan]

However, it's possible to get around in a Christmasian world if you understand what's happening. It's like riding your BMW through Sturgis or Laughlin when some "cruiserbiker" thing is happening. You can stop, look, listen, and leave without feeling the need to throw away your helmet, smoke your tire down to the rim, get stinking drunk, or rip the sleeves off your shirt and get a tatoo. Think going to the zoo.

pmdave

Oh yeah. This part, especially, is getting printed off and put on my desk. Thanks, Dave. (Not that I was thinking of smoking my tires anyway, but you never know.)

[Stuff2C]

Normally, getting on and going will help clear the blahs, but around the winter solstace it doesn't work will.

First, there's the weather in the N hemi. I seriously suggest flitting off to some S hemi environment for serious wintertime riding. New Zealand, Brazil, South Africa come to mind.

Second, there's the trappings of "Christmas" to contend with. Everywhere you go, stop, eat, stay, the local Christmasians will be rolling around in the trappings like kids at a hamburger joint playroom, and they won't understand why you might not wish to participate in the their Christmasian religion. They just can't believe that everyone in the world doesn't embrace Christmasia.

However, it's possible to get around in a Christmasian world if you understand what's happening. It's like riding your BMW through Sturgis or Laughlin when some "cruiserbiker" thing is happening. You can stop, look, listen, and leave without feeling the need to throw away your helmet, smoke your tire down to the rim, get stinking drunk, or rip the sleeves off your shirt and get a tatoo. Think going to the zoo.

pmdave


bad karma?...this was your 666th post...Merry Christmas :D

[GregFeeler]

bad karma?...this was your 666th post...Merry Christmas :D


:rofl

[rinty]

"this was your 666th post.... Stuff2c

Dave's actually a closet Kabalarian.... :D

Rinty

[RatSnake]

We went out yesterday to pick up printer cartridges and look at puppies, and my heart rate took two hours to come down.

What I want to know is, did one of those puppies follow you home?

[Belquar]

bad karma?...this was your 666th post...Merry Christmas :D

:doh :rofl

That was funny. But actually that was post #663. Sorry to be a killjoy.

[pmdave]

Lessee, kabala or kabbala or kabbalah is a variation of "cabala".

"Cabala: 1: a medieval and modern system of Jewish theosophy, mysticism, and thaumaturgy* marked by belief in creation through emanation and a cipher method of interpreting Scripture." *thaumaturgy: the performance of miracles.

uhhh. nope. that wouldn't be it exactly, although sometimes trying to educate people is to expect miracles.

"cabalist: 1: a student, interpreter, or devotee of the Jewish cabala 2: one skilled in esoteric doctrine or mysterious art"

mmm, closer, except for the Jewish part. I practice Christianity, but my personal theology is more a cross between Hindi and Navajo.

"caballero: 1: Knight, cavalier 2: horseman"

Thassit. THASSIT! Flattery will get you everywhere.

pmdave

[bubbagazoo]

Oh yeah. This part, especially, is getting printed off and put on my desk. Thanks, Dave. (Not that I was thinking of smoking my tires anyway, but you never know.)


Smoking is bad for your health. And I think if you tried to smoke your tires, the health effects would be worse - especially if you could get them lit. :brad

[pmdave]

I discovered some suggestions in a "Holiday Survival Guide". One that I really like is "Relinquish your need for approval"

"...Although it's natural and normal to want to be loved and admired, allowing that desire to dictate your holidays, and ultimately your life, is your greatest self-sabotage...you must let go and choose to exert energy in the only area that you have control over--yourself...This season, why not challenge your assumptions about what you think everyone else thinks? Make the decision not to worry and not to be offended..."

pmdave

[wezul]

Point and click Santa, that's me.

I like giving gifts, yeah ok, so I'm in the minority here. But let's not make it a contest or spend beyond our budget. You do what you can or want to do.
It does bother me to see folks in such a rush that they forget common courtesy.

Regardless of your stance, it's about family, I think. Here's wishing you and your's the best of the season.

Wez

[rinty]

Don't forget, the solstice is at 5:22 MST Thursday.

Holiday Survival Guide PmDave

I like reading these too Dave, because they give you techniques that allow you to better deal with people who may be trying to control you to a greater or lesser extent (such as at Christmastime), and how better to manage their expectations of you.

Rinty

[pmdave]

OK, it's the first day of winter, the earth is tilting down again to expose the sun more, and perhaps we could gain some warmth from that.

Another suggestion about this time of year is to figure out where your beliefs and customs came from. Do you really have some instinctive desire to give gifts, or is that just something you feel you need to do because your parents did it? Is a belief in the concept of Santa or candy canes or colored lights something that really touches your soul, or do you continue the tradition because you don't want to have to think about it? Do the common winter traditions fit your sense of history, theology, and self worth, or do you simply accept them as being the "real world" without contemplating what you would really like to be doing?

It's not easy to come to grips with such concepts, because the season is so intensely full of activities that there is scarcely time to breathe.

Perhaps these are not idle thoughts. Consider the contribution to the landfills from the packaging and wrapping of gifts. Do you really want to participate in customs and trappings of Christmastime even if they lead to home fires, increased energy consumption, drunk driving, personal debt, and obesity?

On the other hand, if you really really need the uplift of holiday cheer, and you have no one to share it with, here's my advice: On or around Christmas day, go to a homeless shelter and invite two or three people to accompany you to a nice dinner--at some restaurant with all the trappings and sounds you expect.

Or, just have a nice lunch with friends, and gain some warmth from the thought that the days are now getting longer and the riding season will soon be upon us--which is how all this "Christmas" stuff got started.

pmdave

[jdmetzger]

I'm bringing this one back. What I posted last year holds true today more than ever.

On credit debt! On depression! On family fights! On wastefulness! On excess! On wasteful advertising! On guilt! Happy Consumer Spending Madness to all, and to all a stiff drink! :hungover

I was going to rant about my shopping experiences, but I'm sure it's not a lot different from what other people get to experience. I'm pretty much finished with it, anyhow. Instead, happy days to everyone, every day. Why do we only wish happy times to each other during the holidays? :dunno We should do it more often.

[snoone]

On Intolerance

[BeemoKat]

I still don't like Mannheim Steamroller!

[tessler]

Good Bump!

:lurk

[jdmetzger]

I still don't like Mannheim Steamroller!

:laugh :laugh :laugh :laugh

Nice, Dave. I had forgotten all about that. I'm laughing out loud, over here. :D

[Rapid_Roy]

I love this time of year, I am the guy walking around the mall, with a big smile and holding doors for people and if I would grab the same item as someone else at the same time, I would let them have it and say Merry Christmas. Sorry Josh, I am not even on Jack Daniels or Prozac. I also tell cashiers no hurry and wish them a Merry Christmas, and I have not done any shopping for any presents yet this year.
Maybe this weekend.

I try to be like this all year, but it sometimes gets lost in the confusion. If you see me at the National, I will be the guy with the big smile on his face. One of them anyway.
:wave

[rocketman]

I love this time of year, I am the guy walking around the mall, with a big smile and holding doors for people and if I would grab the same item as someone else at the same time, I would let them have it and say Merry Christmas. Sorry Josh, I am not even on Jack Daniels or Prozac. I also tell cashiers no hurry and wish them a Merry Christmas, and I have not done any shopping for any presents yet this year.
Maybe this weekend.

I try to be like this all year, but it sometimes gets lost in the confusion. If you see me at the National, I will be the guy with the big smile on his face. One of them anyway.
:wave


Oh! dude you're gonna pay for that bit of positive thinking Ha Ha!

though, personally I totally agree. For me its a great time of year, full of wonderful memories of friends and family gatherings at our house to see our tree and my Dad to do his bit with the candles and sparklers. then we would sit around and play games as the tree turned, the firelight warmed the room and there was always laughter in the house. but then it was always full of laughter and friends. Ours was never about things and gifts, sure we gave and got, and as a Kid I was always the first one up, but that is least of my memories.

If you can get the spirit going at xmas, no reason for it not to last the whole year.
Yes it is sad the way its been commercialized, but nothing says YOU have participate in it in that fashion.
Make it what YOU want it to be.
Seems so insanely simple, least it does to me.
If you need to read a book about how to do that, that is all the sadder...

Guess my family did it all wrong, eh? (NOT!)


Guess I'll be the Other guy with the **** eatting grin, eh?:laugh (can I say **** without getting banned for life??)
RM

[Rapid_Roy]

Yeah Rm, you rock!

I will say this though, I also do not much care for Mannheim Steamroller.

[tessler]

Oh! dude you're gonna pay for that bit of positive thinking Ha Ha!

though, personally I totally agree. For me its a great time of year, full of wonderful memories of friends and family gatherings at our house to see our tree and my Dad to do his bit with the candles and sparklers. then we would sit around and play games as the tree turned, the firelight warmed the room and there was always laughter in the house. but then it was always full of laughter and friends. Ours was never about things and gifts, sure we gave and got, and as a Kid I was always the first one up, but that is least of my memories.

If you can get the spirit going at xmas, no reason for it not to last the whole year.
Yes it is sad the way its been commercialized, but nothing says YOU have participate in it in that fashion.
Make it what YOU want it to be.
Seems so insanely simple, least it does to me.
If you need to read a book about how to do that, that is all the sadder...

Guess my family did it all wrong, eh? (NOT!)


Guess I'll be the Other guy with the **** eatting grin, eh?:laugh (can I say **** without getting banned for life??)
RMI seem to recall having heard this exact dialog somewhere...
http://www.dennyburk.com/wp-content/uploads/2006/11/cbrown112304.jpg

[Rapid_Roy]

:laugh
Merry Christmas!
or Merry non denominational Holiday Season!:P

[jdmetzger]

I seem to recall having heard this exact dialog somewhere...
http://www.dennyburk.com/wp-content/uploads/2006/11/cbrown112304.jpg

:laugh

[Rapid_Roy]

Charlie Brown is not smarter than me. He is just drawn that way.
:p

[The_Veg]

I can't believe that I somehow missed posting a rant in this last year.


Anyway, I'm not in the ranting mood this morning so here's the laid-back version.

Sometime shortly after I got our of the army or got into college, I was too broke to buy anything for anybody, and I said so. My brother was almost as broke, and the parents took that as a cue and we all just sort of mutually decided to lay off with all the shopping. Give something simple if you're inclined, but let it go at that.
The next few years saw me spend three years working my way through college in a department-store. That is a SURE way to kill a person's Christmas spirit, no matter how much they were into it. When you hear EVERY goddam recorded version of Jingle Bell Rock EVERY goddam day at work for over a month, it changes you. So do the crowds, the endless and growing pile of work to be done (sorting, folding, straightening, carry-outs, restocking the wrap-paper and boxes...), as well as the extended hours to do it. Then there's seing those CREEPY elf-dolls hung all over the store, and hearing all those recordings overhead of the store's WAY-too-perky marketing-lady announcing all the holiday cheer you can find at great prices in our store! I have been a Christmas-hater ever since- and I left that job over ten years ago.
Around the same time, it also set in that my immediate family were stretched out along 200 miles of I-20, and the extended family were all very far away and had few survivors.
Now I'm 600 miles from my nearest kin. My parents are all in their 70s and retired, and my brother tends to work holidays (TV news producer) and isn't always the best at keeping in touch anyway. So my family doesn't really have holidays anymore. We send cards, my folks give me small tax-free advances on my inheritance, and if someone can work it in to pay a visit, even better. But even when visiting, we don't do much special other than maybe eating a little more extravagantly than usual. And the best part is that we are all so much happier this time of year these days.
Tomorrow I'm hitting the road to go visit the Mom in Alabama and the Dad and his wife in Georgia. If I'm lucky, I'll get to catch my brother too. Maybe I should drop by the TV station and surprise him.

But just because I generally hate Christmas doesn't mean that I'm lost on the subtler significance of the season.
I do wish EVERYONE a great time and the best of moments shared with those you love. This season is supposed to be about love and togetherness and family, so enjoy all of those things to the fullest.

[tessler]

:laugh
Merry Christmas!
or Merry non denominational Holiday Season!:P

"Merry Christmas" is still cool in my book.

I don't have to believe in god to wish someone (who may or may not have beliefs) a sentiment of good will and good cheer for what is irrefutably an actual holiday that in and of itself promotes sentiments of good will and good cheer (in addition to the sacred traditions and perceptions associated with it). I have Christian friends and relatives. I'm certainly not going to wish them "Have an Ambiguous Sumptin or Other".

It's not Arbor Day. It's not Flag Day... It's Christmas :)

Merry Christmas ya'll and Happy Holidays (including the solstice and whatever) to any and everyone!

[Rapid_Roy]

Ok, I wasn't sure. It doesn't matter to me what you believe, you will always be a great guy in my book. :thumb
Merry Christmas to you and yours.:wave

Ya know, in thinking about it Charlie Brown's complaint sound exactly like Josh's

Even back then, people were complaining about the commercialization of Christmas.
Some things are timeless.

[lamble]

It's much easier to gloss over details such as Christmas having been an orgy of drunkenness, theiving, and rowdyness back in England--and therefore shunned by the Pilgrims who brought Christianity to America.
pmdave


There's a small Brit enclave, just an Edmond's ferry away, where we never bought into that sanctimonious Pilgrim piety. Please feel free to pop across, as we will be indulging in an orgy of drunkenness, theiving and rowdiness, followed by a cup of tea. Starts 2pm on 25th Dec.

Bring on the pagan hedonism, wrapped up in a little light religious fervour, dust with a sprinkle of consumerism, then a dollop of self indulgence, leave to simmer for 2,000 years, et voila!
Christmas ready to serve up.

[The_Veg]

More seasonal humour:

http://vegomatic.smugmug.com/photos/234439779-M.jpg

Seriously though, I hope everybody's Christmukwanzikkah totally rocks!

[rocketman]

I seem to recall having heard this exact dialog somewhere...
http://www.dennyburk.com/wp-content/uploads/2006/11/cbrown112304.jpg
Well, as one Urban Spaceman to another .....

What can I say? Life is good, I'm past 50 so if the old saying is true about it all being downhill from here, well then, guess I'll just sit back and enjoy the ride!:laugh

Life IS what you make it, and yeah others have said it before me, and you know what?

They were right, it is all just a matter of attitude. I'll take mine positive. Life is too short to be bummed by what you can't control, so take control of what you can and say screw it to the rest.:laugh

RM

[OHScot]

And, in the words of Bart Simpson, remember what Christmas is all about...the birth of Santa.

[eosnut]

[QUOTE=BradfordBenn;170390]...Is Thanksgiving a day for giving thanks and spending with family or is it just the start of the shopping season?
QUOTE]

It's no longer the start of the shopping season. I saw Christmas commercials the day after Halloween on TV. It's not the "most wonderful time of the year" anymore. I have a hard time being "festive" for a week or two. Two months just ruins the specialness of it all.

[henzilla]

When they start playing Christmas music a week after Halloween at WallyWorld, kind of takes the season out of it.

I usually avoid all commercial overtones...BUT, since I am ending my current career next week and was cleaning my office out yesterday, I decorated my retirement present to myself... Got lot's of thumb up's and honks on commute home yesterday...needed to hotglue the ornaments however...they did not fair well at 65 MPH:laugh :laugh :laugh doing my part to Keep Austin Weird

[jdmetzger]

When they start playing Christmas music a week after Halloween at WallyWorld, kind of takes the season out of it.

I usually avoid all commercial overtones...BUT, since I am ending my current career next week and was cleaning my office out yesterday, I decorated my retirement present to myself... Got lot's of thumb up's and honks on commute home yesterday...needed to hotglue the ornaments however...they did not fair well at 65 MPH:laugh :laugh :laugh doing my part to Keep Austin Weird

Were they honking because the ornaments were falling off? :laugh

Well, I'm all finished with my shopping, stocked up on groceries, have the truck fueled up, and I'll be wrapping presents, shortly. It shouldn't take that long. After that I'm heading out to clean my truck so it's all nice for the drive to the Big Gig.

My main complaint IS regarding the commercialization. And I know "it's what you make of it" and all of that, but it's so overwhelming that it's pretty darn hard to escape from it. Commercials starting WAY before Thanksgiving just suck the life out of me. That funny Garmin commercial has just become annoying after all this time (though I love their products). When I just want to go out to pick something up at the store, I have to deal with all of these morons trying to speed around town and cut everyone off so they can get to the store 5 seconds faster. Even this morning when I went to the store to get a prescription filled, there was some overdressed, cell-phone glued to her head, "I think I'm better than everyone else" girl speeding through the parking lot and weaving through parked cars (dangerous) so she could get to her next destination a few seconds faster. It was all worthless because she got stuck waiting to turn left onto the busiest roads in Toledo, near one of the busiest intersections.

My family thinks I have problems because I don't put up a tree (so they came by and put one up for me a few days ago - I haven't plugged it in), I don't like Christmas (though I DO like seeing everyone), I just don't buy into the hysteria, and I hate people. If you feel like me, you know what I mean by "I hate people" - if not, I sound like I should be living in a shack in the middle of nowhere. I've considered buying a shack along the James Bay Road. :)

As for family gatherings, we get along OK. I can't recall any big drama, and even the small stuff is resolved quickly. We drink, we laugh, we pick on each other, we help each other out - I really have a great family. I'm a bit annoyed that we're not starting until 10:00am at my brothers (they have the kids and want a bunch of time to do their own thing first), but whatever. I'll manage. It just means less down time between his place and going to my aunt's house late in the afternoon. I'll walk the dog, first.

I still say "bah humbug". Happy days and good health to all!

[jdmetzger]

Ping!

Another holiday season, more mad shoppers, insane traffic, and store employees getting trampled. Ah, how great it is that the holiday season is here. Time to head to the bunker with some necessary fuel for the next month... :drink :drink :drink

[henzilla]

Wow Josh...
seems like only yesterday:scratch :laugh
Saw my pic from last year and cannot agree more...Now that I am "retired" and away from the city and the madness this time of year,I will venture out only for the necessities and go out of the way to miss the craziness.
Very sad to see the story in the other thread,I am sure it is one of many we will hear about. People just go crazy at prospect of getting the first latest craze for their kids and never think twice about the repurcussions of their greediness. We bought the grandchildren a few things weeks ago and I am done.

I kept the bike in the garage today for just that reason...had to take a dog to the vet and the local highway was in full holiday buzz with NO one paying attention....especially that Suburban driving up my backside...guessed it...ON THE PHONE!

Happy Holidays...but watch out folks!

[hobbywhore]

I am almost afraid to post this, but, Thanksgiving is THE holiday. All the meaning Christams once had can now be found in the Thanksgiving holiday.

[bradleypurple]

The one thing that everyone forgot to mention was the real reason for Christmas. All I am reading are rants about horrible shopping adventures, which by the way means that we all associate this time of year with shopping. This sounds like a George Carlin bit. Everyone around you is either an idiot or a maniac but not ourselves, oh no we're perfect.

Try and celebrate this: Jesus Christ's Birth

[rvbeemer]

And just today somewhere in the Norhteast. A Walmart employee was trampled to death by... not reindeer, but shoppers breaking the doors to get a bargain.
Beem me up Scotty, this planet SUCKS!

[Motor31]

I don't get the holiday spirit any more unless I'm around the grand kids. I am very tired with the ads and incessant Christmas music from holloween on. I just try to go on with life as normal in spite of the crowds and traffic.

Bah Humbug indeed.

[sudani]

When my children were 12 and 16, I decided to eliminate the Wish Lists that would start in September each year. I wanted to take the materialism out of Xmas. I told the boys that from that Xmas forward we would take a family camping vacation Xmas week. We piled the boys into the camper and headed to Disney World for Xmas week. We camped in the park. They were old enough to head out on their own and stay in the confines of the park. Each morning they were given money and the camper key so that they could head off for the day and do whatever they wanted to do. We would meet up for dinner at the campsite. That was a much easier time back then, I guess, as most parents wouldn't think of letting their 12 and 16 yr olds take off like that now.

On our return home the following week, I would take the boys shopping for one gift.

Sometimes you just have to shake things up and redefine what the holiday means to you.

Thanks, Voni. My holidays are now defined by spending time with loved ones. Being with the people/person you love. My 4 boys are now scattered across the US with one in the military, which makes it impossible to be with them all. This Xmas, I'll just have to concentrate on previous happy times.

[Voni]

Sometimes you just have to shake things up and redefine what the holiday means to you.

Such wisdom! That should be posted as a sticky this time of year!

Bravo!

Voni
sMiling

[jdmetzger]

When my children were 12 and 16, I decided to eliminate the Wish Lists that would start in September each year. I wanted to take the materialism out of Xmas. I told the boys that from that Xmas forward we would take a family camping vacation Xmas week. We piled the boys into the camper and headed to Disney World for Xmas week. We camped in the park. They were old enough to head out on their own and stay in the confines of the park. Each morning they were given money and the camper key so that they could head off for the day and do whatever they wanted to do. We would meet up for dinner at the campsite. That was a much easier time back then, I guess, as most parents wouldn't think of letting their 12 and 16 yr olds take off like that now.

On our return home the following week, I would take the boys shopping for one gift.

Sometimes you just have to shake things up and redefine what the holiday means to you.

Thanks, Voni. My holidays are now defined by spending time with loved ones. Being with the people/person you love. My 4 boys are now scattered across the US with one in the military, which makes it impossible to be with them all. This Xmas, I'll just have to concentrate on previous happy times.

:clap

Good on you for taking the materialism out of Christmas! I wish more people thought like you! My family (cousins, aunts, uncles, bothers family, parents) has a "secret Santa" gift exchange with a roughly $35 limit, which I don't think is too bad. We probably spend more on refreshments for the party and everyone has a good time. :drink

My parents still buy a ton of stuff for their grandchildren, but I guess that's just how it goes.

Aside from the recent trampling/shooting stories on the news, I'm annoyed with reading the local paper and people talking about needing to "hide" things in their shopping cart because people will steal stuff right out of the cart if you don't keep an eagle on on it. I'm not such a negative guy, but the holidays have gotten ridiculous.

[r11rs94]

I am almost afraid to post this, but, Thanksgiving is THE holiday. All the meaning Christams once had can now be found in the Thanksgiving holiday.

:clap :clap I take this week every year, for the past 20+ as my first vacation pick. Time with family, friend, and giving thanks for all we have. My favorite vacation of the year. Though I once again:eat ate too much. Well I guess that's what New Years resolutions are for.

[rinty]

Good bump, Josh. Is the family taking pity on you and setting up a tree at your place, again? :D

I'm going to be spared the chore, as we're flying out to the frozen wastes of Saskatchewan. And the out-laws are a great group.

I got my Christmas present early: two Flames wins over the Canucks.

[BubbaZanetti]

NYC loves christsmas more than me, i like that it gets people out of their shells a bit and changes the routine some.

but yeah, as far as the gift giving goes, i tell everyone not to get me anything, unfortunately, it never works the other way around.:laugh

[Mongo]

I like Christmas. I have my girls this year for Christmas eve/morning and that always makes it extra special.

With that said, be careful out there Rounders! I find this the most dangerous time of year to ride. Too many distracted drivers racing around with cell phones and a million things on their minds other than driving.

Be aware!

[jdmetzger]

Good bump, Josh. Is the family taking pity on you and setting up a tree at your place, again? :D


:ha

I was talking to my brother about that, today. They made the mistake of leaving the tree with me last year (they had picked it up, previously), so unless they want to dig it out of the basement (and I mean DIG) there is no tree for them to set up. I'm still wary of them showing up with a real tree, though. I am staying vigilant. :nra


With that said, be careful out there Rounders! I find this the most dangerous time of year to ride. Too many distracted drivers racing around with cell phones and a million things on their minds other than driving.

Be aware!

I took a short (hour and 20 minute) ride yesterday to take advantage of the warm (40F) weather and to celebrate finishing up the winter yard work (raking leaves, cleaning gutters, winterizing). Traffic was indeed crazy in town, but not bad out of town. Scarier was riding down a two lane country road all alone at 55mph and zooming past a deer drinking from a shallow ditch. :uhoh Fortunately it didn't move. That particular road has a near 100% chance of deer for me, so I don't think I'll ride it anymore. It's boring, anyhow.

[Kutcher]

Ya' ever hear Drew Carey's skit he did at the Whitehouse, on the holidays?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f_Thq4Xhr7Q

[kpinvt]

Online shopping rules.

I like the holiday season again. :D

Amazon Prime is the only way to go.

[rinty]

Online shopping...Kbasa

I buy gift cards for my ladies; they love them. My cards will usually cover the sales tax on their Boxing Day purchases. :D

But I ordered my wife's Christmas present to me, online today: a HID kit from Xenon Depot, for my summer car.

[The_Veg]

Back in college I worked in a department store for three years. To this day I am totally sick of just about everything remotely Christmassy. I mean, when you hear EVERY RECORDED VERSION of Jingle Bell Rock EVERY DAMN DAY...

I rest my case.

[DarrylRi]

Back in college I worked in a department store for three years. To this day I am totally sick of just about everything remotely Christmassy. I mean, when you hear EVERY RECORDED VERSION of Jingle Bell Rock EVERY DAMN DAY...

I rest my case.

I can empathize with that!

One of my first jobs, while I was going to college, was working in downtown LA on the weekends at Transamerica Corp. They had a large data center that ran 24/7, and I worked removing the carbons from between multipart print jobs and/or running a machine that split the individual pages at the perfs (known as bursting and decollating), tying them up and delivering them to departments all over their dual skyscraper. No car at the time, I took the bus 30 miles each way.

Some genius apparently decided that we worker bees would be more productive with Musak (r) running in the background, and when November showed up, it went to nonstop Xmas music, of the most sugary kind. By the time I got out of there that last Sunday before Xmas, I really hated the stuff. Then, when I got a seat on my bus trip home, I finally got to relax. Two stops later, some guy sits down in front of me and begins whistling Jingle Bells. I wanted to throttle him.

Christmas spirit, indeed. Bah, humbug.

[ARValkguy]

One of the first things that comes into my mind each Christmas are were is the ACLU and similar groups clamoring for the right to be able to work on Dec. 25? Why do atheiests and such continue to take off for the Christian holiday? I am 100% in favor of not allowing govenment sponsored religion. I am really curious about this. As a retail manager I was always in trouble for asking my non-christians to work on Sundays is that a bad thing? I am in favor for not closing government offices on Dec. 25. Why do we continue have Christian days off work but can't acknowledge any other form of Christianity? CHRISTmas the word itself should not be used in any government office.

Kelly (5 days)

[DarrylRi]

Please, as the forum admin, I beg you not to trod into the politics/religion area! Please!

[ARValkguy]

This entire thread is religious. It is about Christmas right?

[rinty]

I prefer thinking of it as the mid winter solstice, which is what it was, millenia ago.

[BubbaZanetti]

This entire thread is religious. It is about Christmas right?

it's about the Holiday Season

that works better for EVERYONE

[jdmetzger]

This entire thread is religious. It is about Christmas right?

No. Not even remotely. Read the first post. It specifically says "it's not the idea of Christmas I have a problem with". Further into the first post it states the rant is about consumerism. So, to re-state what started this thread: it's about insane consumerism and not Christmas or religion.

it's about the Holiday Season

that works better for EVERYONE

:thumb

[sjbmw]

Unfortunately, circumstances prevent me from attending my local BMW club's toy run.

But, as in the past 5 years, I will go shopping, with my sister, and we will put together a Christmas holiday for a family that is having a terrible run of hard luck, and can use Christmas cheer.

We shop for foodstuffs, get the kids clothes, toys, etc, and get the best bang for the buck. We thought of this as we watched all the kids in our extended tribe open gift after gift, and in 6 months wonder where all the stuff went.

Your local school administrator, or local clergy, can help you locate a family in need. They usually have enough information to get the job done, and keep your plans a secret too. Secrecy is key....

Right now, there are whole families with children that need a Christmas, and you can deliver it. Since I come from a large family, we have been able to get this done well for about $50 a person, and that includes groceries that last well into January.

Also, I have a 15 year old son, that is finally breaking his TV trained consumer habits, and is taking this event seriously. We will hit the stores, (ugh) but our mission will help alleviate our torture.

It's a family project that delivers benefits you cannot believe.

I end up choking back tears of pure joy when we deliver Christmas, like a bunch of surprise Santas... We show up, introduce ourselves, tell them we are friends of so and so, deliver the goods, hug everyone, and vanish.... with hearts exploding...and parents who are so saddened by the holidays erupting in tears going "who are you?" as the kids are screaming and smiling from ear to ear.

It's the coolest I'm telling ya. There is no drug on the planet than can replicate that moment.

This Friday we start our project, (family of 6 on tap this time...target family identified, and mapped, sargent) ....and it's the one of the few times I get "pumped about Christmas".

If every family in the nation did it, everyone would have a great Christmas.

I encourage everyone to try it. You will NOT regret one moment.

[ARValkguy]

I love to stir the pot. JC I can honestly say you have never posted a thing I did not enjoy reading. I am just trying to breed hate and discontent. Gives me an excuse to buy more beer in July. So what do you call all that consumerism while it sits under your holiday tree? At my house we still call the Christmas gifts.

I love you all and no I am not drunk. My tour here is almost at an end and you all have helped me get through another deployment. I am ready for Johnson City. I just hope they are ready for all of us.

Kelly

[jdmetzger]

I love to stir the pot. JC I can honestly say you have never posted a thing I did not enjoy reading. I am just trying to breed hate and discontent. Gives me an excuse to buy more beer in July. So what do you call all that consumerism while it sits under your holiday tree? At my house we still call the Christmas gifts.

I love you all and no I am not drunk. My tour here is almost at an end and you all have helped me get through another deployment. I am ready for Johnson City. I just hope they are ready for all of us.

Kelly

I don't have a tree in my house, so I don't have anything to stack gifts under. Now, there has been an incident or two of "guerrilla decorating" at my house, but I think I've finally beaten them back. The main reason for no tree is that I live alone and I don't get a lot of holiday visitors. Everyone else in the family does the tree thing, so that's enough for me. :)

Have a safe trip home, enjoy spending the holidays home with your family, and find me in Johnson City I'll buy you a beer. :drink

:thumb

[rinty]

Bump.

Post your winter solstice sentiments here.