Christmas

[Quoll]

Carols in the stores.
Happy cheery greetings.
People dressed in Christmas clothes.
Picking the tree.
Decorating the tree.
Choosing just the right gift.
Visiting relatives.
Having relatives visit you.
Preparing meals.
Last minute gifts.
Last minute wrapping.
Endless Christmas parties.
Cute Christmas stories.
Last minute shopping.














What else do you hate about Christmas?

 

[bobsgirl]

Carols in the stores.
Happy cheery greetings.
People dressed in Christmas clothes.
Picking the tree.
Decorating the tree.
Choosing just the right gift.
Visiting relatives.
Having relatives visit you.
Preparing meals.
Last minute gifts.
Last minute wrapping.
Endless Christmas parties.
Cute Christmas stories.
Last minute shopping.














What else do you hate about Christmas?

You're a mean one, Mr. Grinch...

That bit about relatives visiting you? Yeah, that's a pain in the butt.

the carols in the stores, on the radio, while you wait on hold, Christmas ads on TV.

Merry Christmas, pq honey.

 

[Leah57]

What else do you hate about Christmas?

Actually, I don't mind too much of it, only that it starts earlier and earlier each year......

What I don't like about Christmas (this year) is that my EX decided to have a birthday party for our oldest son for his 29th birthday (the one you "keep" ) on the same day as my work's Christmas party. Unfortunately, the 2 parties are 90 miles apart, so I can't go to both...

 

[Mazuri]

The crowds. There aren't that many people in my town so how'd they all end up at WalMart or the Post Office at the same time?! I really wish everything was more automated so I wouldn't have to see any of them. Ever.

I shudder at Christmas Carols, my shopping is done by October, and if my sister didn't decorate, there'd be none at my house. I despise the season and can't wait for it to be over.

 

[bobsgirl]

The crowds. There aren't that many people in my town so how'd they all end up at WalMart or the Post Office at the same time?! I really wish everything was more automated so I wouldn't have to see any of them. Ever.

I shudder at Christmas Carols, my shopping is done by October, and if my sister didn't decorate, there'd be none at my house. I despise the season and can't wait for it to be over.

I don't despise it, but I sure wish it would go away.




Seven

 

[Mazuri]

I truly do hate it. Going places you don't want to go to see people you don't want to see to give them things they don't want and get the same, all in the name of a season that's supposed to be merry but instead....

Instead it brings out the worst in everyone. Driving is more aggressive, people in stores are just plain nasty, folks fighting over the perfect toy that will buy their kid's love and happiness. Decorations that are tacky. Music that's grating on the nerves like a steel brush on glass. It's cold and miserable and simply the most horrid thing I can think of.

Wake me when it's over (not for New Year's as that ranks up there pretty high on the list as well ).

 

[bobsgirl]

I truly do hate it. Going places you don't want to go to see people you don't want to see to give them things they don't want and get the same, all in the name of a season that's supposed to be merry but instead....

Instead it brings out the worst in everyone. Driving is more aggressive, people in stores are just plain nasty, folks fighting over the perfect toy that will buy their kid's love and happiness. Decorations that are tacky. Music that's grating on the nerves like a steel brush on glass. It's cold and miserable and simply the most horrid thing I can think of.

Wake me when it's over (not for New Year's as that ranks up there pretty high on the list as well ).

Well, yes, the false merriment is annoying in the extreme. Maybe those of us who would rather not celebrate Christmas should all gather for a nice quiet get-together.




Five

 

[Mazuri]

Unfortunately, I will be doing the "visiting people..." aspect and driving to Indiana. ho ho ho

Thankfully, it only comes once a year.

 

[Eilan]

What everyone else said.

 

[angelkitty7888]

personally i hate "the 24 hours of a christmas story" on TV it annoys the hell out of me when you play the same movie that many times in a row.... play all the rudolph and frosty movies and every single damn claymation but not just that one damn movie!!!

 

[skizbees]

Stuff I hate:

My birthday comes this Tuesday, 13 days before this "holiday". Those fake DJs in malls and other stores have been abusing cheesy music since the week before Thanksgiving. I found myself whistling along to "Sleigh Ride" at Walgreen's just days ago.

But who decided:

It's truly love if you spend outrageous amounts of money on gifts you didn't even think of giving to others outside of birthdays or anniversaries or some sort of housewarming gift.

To put one CD on in a store and have it on autorepeat for 8 hours a day until a crafty employee swipes and destroys the disc and puts a non holiday music CD into the sound system? It's true that certain styles of music drive away customers on purpose: to make the store seem active, yet not crowded.

Every person is demanding you give more money to charities that are barely known/active when outside of the holiday season. Is it really more noble to freely give during extreme duress while being harrassed before you even enter a place of business?

People suddenly get crazy about one-upping strangers for the latest popular toy. I know that Toys R Us doesn't sell fight cages or real nunchakus. Calm down and be sensible. There should be a time out station for people who throw fits.

Also, one movie on TV for three days or more in a row? Who sponsors repeated content with such a gleam in the eye: "If we don't play this movie for 100 hours minimum, no one will be able to say they truly enjoyed this steaming pile of work! No new shows until late January too!" Or worse yet...a string of movies you KNOW sucked, but were so bad they had to go from production to made for TV.

Merry f'in Christmas!

 

[Quoll]

I knew there was a need for this thread.

 

[bobsgirl]

I knew there was a need for this thread.

You're such a humanitarian!




One Again

Care to join me in the blurt thread?

 

[Quoll]

Some more from today.
More fucking carols.
Ditherers.
Procrastinators.
Aisle blockers.
Mechanical fucking santas.


Ok mechanical fucking santas could be sort of cool, at least it would brighten up some of the christmas displays. However I don't think we need to worry about the mechanical fucking reindeer, that shit's just nasty.

 

[bobsgirl]

Some more from today.
More fucking carols.
Ditherers.
Procrastinators.
Aisle blockers.
Mechanical fucking santas.


Ok mechanical fucking santas could be sort of cool, at least it would brighten up some of the christmas displays. However I don't think we need to worry about the mechanical fucking reindeer, that shit's just nasty.

A fucking Santa? Man, I gotta make a trip to Australia!

 

[Eilan]

A fucking Santa? Man, I gotta make a trip to Australia!

I'd be content with dressing my husband in a Santa suit.

 

[Cathleen]

I don't know... I try to remain peaceful 'cuz denial isn't an option anymore.

I generally make a few things people enjoy but if it's not possible for the 25th, then the 26th or a week later is just fine in my opinion.

The frazzled family and friends ... just ugh.

 

[Cathleen]

I'd be content with dressing my husband in a Santa suit.

I'd be content to undressing even an evil elf.

 

[5pintshefound]

i hate that im not in the states being able to visit people, and see the stores, and the lights, AND SNOW...

when we were in the states, it was a drag.. especially the 30 minute wait in walmart ot buy milk, diapers, {fill in ur single item here} just because 5 people in front of you have 70 items each.

but, being down here, and NOT being able to be home with Family, not being able to see snow {egads, i actually miss the stuff}...lol, heck i even miss Jeans... ooh and leather jackets..... and scarfs... and boots... and the color my kids cheeks get, when theyve been playing in the cold.. yeh, i miss the states...

shoot, when we were back in oct for my kids medical appts, i had the whole "deer in the headlights " thing going on , when i was in walmart last.. lol...

christmas, as cheezy as its become, isnt all bad...

 

[bobsgirl]

i hate that im not in the states being able to visit people, and see the stores, and the lights, AND SNOW...

when we were in the states, it was a drag.. especially the 30 minute wait in walmart ot buy milk, diapers, {fill in ur single item here} just because 5 people in front of you have 70 items each.

but, being down here, and NOT being able to be home with Family, not being able to see snow {egads, i actually miss the stuff}...lol, heck i even miss Jeans... ooh and leather jackets..... and scarfs... and boots... and the color my kids cheeks get, when theyve been playing in the cold.. yeh, i miss the states...

shoot, when we were back in oct for my kids medical appts, i had the whole "deer in the headlights " thing going on , when i was in walmart last.. lol...

christmas, as cheezy as its become, isnt all bad...

Will you get to come back any time soon, 5PHF? I hope you have a good holiday wherever you spend it.

 

[eudaemonia]

I used to lurve Christmas, then grew to dread it. About five years ago I unplugged, and I've never looked back. Christmas has been more fun since then than I could have imagined.

My gift list is almost non-existent. As all my closest friends are as broke as I am -- regardless of whether they're in a $25K or $150K household -- I neither expect or give many presents. So far, no one has shut me out of their lives for this.

The gifts I give (and really only ones I'd like for myself) are time and attention. This could be expressed in any number of ways. For example:

• The perfectly chosen card. -- The best Xmas cards I've ever received were from my best friend, about six years ago. I learned that his amazing knack for finding me The Funniest Card for any situation was itself an ultimate gift of himself. I'm not as good at unearthing such cards for others, but I'm on a tear to get better at it.
  
• The delectable and unexpected foodie goodie. -- I'm a pretty talented scratch cook and food gifts are something I really enjoy giving if not actually making. One year it was batch of Chilie-Honey Roasted Oregon Hazelnuts for a friend who was a hot sauce distributor. This year it's homemade lox for my mum, and locally produced Alder smoked salmon for a friend who works in his family's beef processing business in Texas. Whatever produces somersaults for their taste buds, I'll probably attempt it.
  
• A home-cooked meal. -- Two of my housemates are students from Germany and Romania. My grandmother's recipe for stuffed cabbage rolls is similar to what the Romanian's grandmother used to make, so my household and a few of their friends will get a nice homecooked dinner from me this year.

I gave away all but a few precious decorations and (if I'm in town and really feel up for it) buy only a bough or wreath for inside since it's really just the smell of Christmas I want, not the hold bloody shebang of a tree. If I'm not looking forward to dealing with having to take something down, it doesn't go up in the first place.

Right now I've got the latest collection of Xmas PEZ characters displayed by my front door, and tomorrow I'll string up some cheesy icicle lights. At some point in the next week I'll shop for a Laser pen and the makings for a just-so catnip mouse for my beloved feline, Natasha. I may get tipsy on mulled-spice hard cider and take some Polaroids of us in Santa hats to post on the web to embarrass her. <g> A few spins of Phil Spector's Xmas album on the old hi-fi a few times and that's what the holiday is shaping up to be this year.

The rest of it -- the crowds, the stress, the veritable un-cheeriness of it all -- seems more like a cross to bear than the celebration it's supposed to be.

After all, Sir Issac Newton would be bewildered what Santa Claus had anything to do with his birthday if he were still alive these days ...

Lest anyone mistake this for a bah humbug attitude, I'll tell ya it's actually turned me into a much nicer person.

 

[bobsgirl]

I used to lurve Christmas, then grew to dread it. About five years ago I unplugged, and I've never looked back. Christmas has been more fun since then than I could have imagined.

My gift list is almost non-existent. As all my closest friends are as broke as I am -- regardless of whether they're in a $25K or $150K household -- I neither expect or give many presents. So far, no one has shut me out of their lives for this.

The gifts I give (and really only ones I'd like for myself) are time and attention. This could be expressed in any number of ways. For example:

• The perfectly chosen card. -- The best Xmas cards I've ever received were from my best friend, about six years ago. I learned that his amazing knack for finding me The Funniest Card for any situation was itself an ultimate gift of himself. I'm not as good at unearthing such cards for others, but I'm on a tear to get better at it.
  
• The delectable and unexpected foodie goodie. -- I'm a pretty talented scratch cook and food gifts are something I really enjoy giving if not actually making. One year it was batch of Chilie-Honey Roasted Oregon Hazelnuts for a friend who was a hot sauce distributor. This year it's homemade lox for my mum, and locally produced Alder smoked salmon for a friend who works in his family's beef processing business in Texas. Whatever produces somersaults for their taste buds, I'll probably attempt it.
  
• A home-cooked meal. -- Two of my housemates are students from Germany and Romania. My grandmother's recipe for stuffed cabbage rolls is similar to what the Romanian's grandmother used to make, so my household and a few of their friends will get a nice homecooked dinner from me this year.

I gave away all but a few precious decorations and (if I'm in town and really feel up for it) buy only a bough or wreath for inside since it's really just the smell of Christmas I want, not the hold bloody shebang of a tree. If I'm not looking forward to dealing with having to take something down, it doesn't go up in the first place.

Right now I've got the latest collection of Xmas PEZ characters displayed by my front door, and tomorrow I'll string up some cheesy icicle lights. At some point in the next week I'll shop for a Laser pen and the makings for a just-so catnip mouse for my beloved feline, Natasha. I may get tipsy on mulled-spice hard cider and take some Polaroids of us in Santa hats to post on the web to embarrass her. <g> A few spins of Phil Spector's Xmas album on the old hi-fi a few times and that's what the holiday is shaping up to be this year.

The rest of it -- the crowds, the stress, the veritable un-cheeriness of it all -- seems more like a cross to bear than the celebration it's supposed to be.

After all, Sir Issac Newton would be bewildered what Santa Claus had anything to do with his birthday if he were still alive these days ...




Lest anyone mistake this for a bah humbug attitude, I'll tell ya it's actually turned me into a much nicer person.

FWIW, E, I think you do it the right way. I would scale it back to almost zero if I could. I really would be happier if I could make it a season of giving of myself, instead of giving expensive meaningless gifts. I have mentioned this many times over the years to my husband, and I always get "the look." the one of extreme disapproval. It's a shame really, because I think it would make the holidays much more pleasant and meaningful.

BtW, I'm happy to see you posting!

 

[eudaemonia]

I really would be happier if I could make it a season of giving of myself, instead of giving expensive meaningless gifts. I have mentioned this many times over the years to my husband, and I always get "the look." the one of extreme disapproval.

I think it can be done, bg. It may take some time though. Unplugging from Christmas machine I liken to something of an attempt to remove a Borg's implants. (Think 38-of-D ... erm, Seven-of-Nine from Star Trek: Voyager.)

IIRC, even by the last installment of STV, Seven still had some visible remnants of her Borgdom left intact. Removal of those implants required much time and careful excision lest it kill her.

The suggestion to check out of the fast lane of the December holiday season is incomprehensible to lots of folks I suspect, as if you've just declared Christmas as canceled altogether. Too much cognitive dissonance at once!

~~~~~

Thanks for the welcome back, BTW. It's been a long and nasty term in school. I look forward to spending lots of time hanging out among my favorite Litizens for the next few weeks and letting my thoughts muse upon more lustful notions.

 

[bobsgirl]

I think it can be done, bg. It may take some time though. Unplugging from Christmas machine I liken to something of an attempt to remove a Borg's implants. (Think 38-of-D ... erm, Seven-of-Nine from Star Trek: Voyager.)

IIRC, even by the last installment of STV, Seven still had some visible remnants of her Borgdom left intact. Removal of those implants required much time and careful excision lest it kill her.

The suggestion to check out of the fast lane of the December holiday season is incomprehensible to lots of folks I suspect, as if you've just declared Christmas as canceled altogether. Too much cognitive dissonance at once!

~~~~~

Thanks for the welcome back, BTW. It's been a long and nasty term in school. I look forward to spending lots of time hanging out among my favorite Litizens for the next few weeks and letting my thoughts muse upon more lustful notions.

Lust is always good.

 

[angelkitty7888]

12 things at christmas that are such a pain to me...

(Sung to the Twelve Days Of Christmas)

The first thing at Christmas that's such a pain to me, is finding a Christmas tree

The second thing at Christmas that's such a pain to me...rigging up the lights

The third thing at Christmas that's such a pain to me...hangovers

The fourth thing at Christmas that's such a pain to me...sending christmas cards

The fifth thing at Christmas that's such a pain to me...5 months of bills!

The sixth thing at Christmas that's such a pain to me...facing my in-laws

The seventh thing at Christmas that's such a pain to me...Charities

The eighth thing at Christmas that's such a pain to me..."I want transformer for Christmas!"

The ninth thing at Christmas that's such a pain to me...Finding parking spaces

The tenth thing at Christmas that's such a pain to me..."Batteries not included"

The eleventh thing at Christmas that's such a pain to me...Stale TV specials

The twelfth thing at Christmas that's such a pain to me...singing Christmas carols.


Best song that acctually still plays