Christmas on a 1-10 Scale of Dumbness

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  • Byrnzie
    Byrnzie Posts: 21,037
    adropinthepark wrote:
    I give it a five as an average. The great parts are a 10, the rest are a one.

    I've shared before that I sat out a couple of Christmases with my family, because it got out of control and I was completely overwhelmed. My mom and her then husband were competing with who could give us (very adult) kids the most gifts. And, they were doing it all on credit. It freaked me the fuck out and I couldn't do it.

    I suggested drawing names or adopting a needy family for Christmas, but my ideas were met with protest. So, I quit.

    My mom has since divorced and now checks with me before giving me anything extravagant. I'm typing on the notebook she just gave me - not purchased on credit.

    I love the time off and any day I get to spend with my mom and sister together is special. My mom just moved from WA State to Louisiana for work, but she is flying up for Christmas. Our Christmas won't technically be on Christmas day, since my mom flies back home that day. This is fine with me, 'cause that means I get to keep the tradition I started when I skipped Christmas. That day I'll be enjoying a couple of cocktails at a local hotel lobby with a nice view of a seriously tall Christmas tree.

    I had a similar thing. My Mum kept splurging on me every year. I told her to stop it, as there's nothing I need. This year she just sent me some small boxes of chocolates and a few sweaters.
  • adropinthepark
    adropinthepark Posts: 475
    catefrances wrote:
    shouldnt this be what ones birthday is all about.. the getting kids excited part.. eating nice food and drinking should be an everyday pursuit as far as im concerned. 8-)

    Hell yeah. This is what my sister says - "My birthday should be treated as a national fucking holiday!"

    And, sometimes it literally is, because it falls on Thanksgiving. :lol:
    I carried a watermelon
  • adropinthepark
    adropinthepark Posts: 475
    Byrnzie wrote:

    I had a similar thing. My Mum kept splurging on me every year. I told her to stop it, as there's nothing I need. This year she just sent me some small boxes of chocolates and a few sweaters.

    Aww - see, that's sweet. If everyone could keep it all very simple, I would give Christmas a seven, at least.

    I wish I could get my mom to give me more socks, but I think she thinks I add them to my list as a joke. She won't buy me the print of a unicorn getting beamed up by a spaceship either. :think:
    I carried a watermelon
  • Byrnzie
    Byrnzie Posts: 21,037
    Byrnzie wrote:
    I had a similar thing. My Mum kept splurging on me every year. I told her to stop it, as there's nothing I need. This year she just sent me some small boxes of chocolates and a few sweaters.


    ...not that I've opened my presents yet or anything. :oops:
  • adropinthepark
    adropinthepark Posts: 475
    EdsonNascimento wrote:
    Why is there pressure to buy stuff? Only you do that to yourself. I do participate in the "commercialism," but to me that's not Christmas (and believe me, I'm no defender of religion). But, I don't feel pressure to do so. I like doing that. So, if one feels pressure to buy stuff, that's on them, not the holiday. The holiday is the 10 you put there. The rest is just noise.

    I disagree that people put the pressure to buy stuff on themselves. We are social beings who are expected to behave as prescribed by our culture. Choosing not to do so is choosing to be (at least a little bit of) an outcast.

    I just started a new job this year and, though I won't be buying a bunch of crap for people, I am watching to see what the gift exchange expectations are with this group. I am really hoping that they all don't buy the boss a gift.
    I carried a watermelon
  • hedonist
    hedonist Posts: 24,524
    Cosmo wrote:
    Watch 'A Charlie Brown Christmas'. It says what Christmas is supposed to be... and what Christmas has become so simply and eloquently.
    I actually watched most of this a couple weeks ago. This scene brought back some of the sweetest memories (and for whatever reason, George - our cat - was fixated on Snoopy).
    A-Charlie-Brown-Christmas-finale.jpg
  • hedonist
    hedonist Posts: 24,524
    Oh, and as to the OP - I forgot to mention the music! Not into some of it, but I just listened to Etta James' White Christmas for the first time.

    Like aural alcohol 8-)
  • dimitrispearljam
    dimitrispearljam Posts: 139,725
    well..ill be at my sis...and cos ill have the chance to hug a nd kiss my nephews,while some other people like those parents at CT cant do that to their children anymore,ill put to Christmas 100!
    "...Dimitri...He talks to me...'.."The Ghost of Greece..".
    "..That's One Happy Fuckin Ghost.."
    “..That came up on the Pillow Case...This is for the Greek, With Our Apologies.....”
  • Thirty Bills Unpaid
    Thirty Bills Unpaid Posts: 16,881
    I just got back from my daughter's Christmas concert. What a clarinet player!

    I dig this time of year. It seems as if this is the time of year when a lot of people 'reset' themselves and remember to treat everyone with kindness. I thought Christmas was awesome when I was a kid. It'll always carry significance for me- especially when I see the joy in my children (and the others for that matter).

    I get the consumerism thing... but I think that's something you can't get hung up on. Admittedly, I'm great at finding the worst in something, but this is one time of the year when I think you have to accept the 'less than ideal' things attached to the time.
    "My brain's a good brain!"
  • Byrnzie
    Byrnzie Posts: 21,037
    hedonist wrote:
    Oh, and as to the OP - I forgot to mention the music! Not into some of it, but I just listened to Etta James' White Christmas for the first time.

    Like aural alcohol 8-)

    Phil Spector's 'A Christmas Gift For You' is not bad, if that's your cup of tea.

    1. White Christmas - Darlene Love
    2. Frosty The Snowman - Ronettes
    3. The Bells Of St. Mary - Bob B. Soxx And The Blue Jeans
    4. Santa Claus Is Coming To Town - Crystals
    5. Sleigh Ride - Ronettes
    6. Marshmallow World - Darlene Love
    7. I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus - Ronettes
    8. Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer - Crystals
    9. Winter Wonderland - Darlene Love
    10. Parade Of The Wooden Soldiers - Crystals
    11. Christmas (Baby Please Come Home) - Darlene Love
    12. Here Comes Santa Claus - Bob B. Soxx And The Blue Jeans
    13. Silent Night - Phil Spector And Artists
  • Byrnzie
    Byrnzie Posts: 21,037
    O.k, so I'll give it 3/10.
  • hostis
    hostis Posts: 441
    previously I would have given it a 2 or 3. Its great because I get to see my sister that one time a year but that was it. But this year we adopted a 3 year old and now it all makes sense so in terms of awesome family excited-ness its easily an 8 (not a 10 yet as he is only starting to understand santa a little bit)....
  • cincybearcat
    cincybearcat Posts: 16,895
    hostis wrote:
    previously I would have given it a 2 or 3. Its great because I get to see my sister that one time a year but that was it. But this year we adopted a 3 year old and now it all makes sense so in terms of awesome family excited-ness its easily an 8 (not a 10 yet as he is only starting to understand santa a little bit)....


    Congrats!!! Best age for a kid, imo. Enjoy the wonder they bring back to your life, especially during christmas.
    hippiemom = goodness
  • hedonist
    hedonist Posts: 24,524
    Byrnzie wrote:
    hedonist wrote:
    Oh, and as to the OP - I forgot to mention the music! Not into some of it, but I just listened to Etta James' White Christmas for the first time.

    Like aural alcohol 8-)

    Phil Spector's 'A Christmas Gift For You' is not bad, if that's your cup of tea.

    1. White Christmas - Darlene Love
    2. Frosty The Snowman - Ronettes
    3. The Bells Of St. Mary - Bob B. Soxx And The Blue Jeans
    4. Santa Claus Is Coming To Town - Crystals
    5. Sleigh Ride - Ronettes
    6. Marshmallow World - Darlene Love
    7. I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus - Ronettes
    8. Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer - Crystals
    9. Winter Wonderland - Darlene Love
    10. Parade Of The Wooden Soldiers - Crystals
    11. Christmas (Baby Please Come Home) - Darlene Love
    12. Here Comes Santa Claus - Bob B. Soxx And The Blue Jeans
    13. Silent Night - Phil Spector And Artists
    I'll check it out, thanks! Love the old-school stuff.

    (and hostis, congratulations from here too - to both you and the new addition to your family)
  • JonnyPistachio
    JonnyPistachio Florida Posts: 10,219
    Rating Xmas? Hmm, seems weird, but I'll give it a shot.

    Every year I start thinking about getting shopping done around october. What a great idea! then I can relax in december. It never happens. Then I try to catch my family around thanksgiving and tell them to save their money and that Im not getting them gifts this year. Then lo-and-behold, I hear peeps that they are getting me this or that...then I forget about my cousin and uncle who send me stuff in the mail...then I have to scurry out and buy stuff for them...and although I DESPISE shopping and malls and whatnot, I try to get it all on amazon or online...never on time... then my wife...uhh, I got her a ton of awesome stuff for her birthday in Septmeber...Im all out of ideas! Fuck! Maybe she'll enjoy a facial my mom tells me...dont google that! So we finally have the conversation that we shouldnt buy gifts for each other and that we should save money for a trip

    And i'm not religious, but I LOVE to eat and I LOVE my family and friends, so its a fucking 10. Forget the stress and enjoy it, I say.

    Oh, Im getting my wife a hammock...you know, something I can use too :P
    Pick up my debut novel here on amazon: Jonny Bails Floatin (in paperback) (also available on Kindle for $2.99)
  • polaris_x
    polaris_x Posts: 13,559
    JonnyPistachio wrote:
    Oh, Im getting my wife a hammock...you know, something I can use too :P

    doublenest ...
  • JonnyPistachio
    JonnyPistachio Florida Posts: 10,219
    polaris_x wrote:
    JonnyPistachio wrote:
    Oh, Im getting my wife a hammock...you know, something I can use too :P

    doublenest ...

    :D and what a good idea after a big day of engorging ourselves. Gotta remember to check the weight limit, ha!
    Pick up my debut novel here on amazon: Jonny Bails Floatin (in paperback) (also available on Kindle for $2.99)
  • Jason P
    Jason P Posts: 19,327
    JonnyPistachio wrote:
    Oh, Im getting my wife a hammock...you know, something I can use too :P
    Have you considered a bowling ball instead?

    lifeonthefastlane.jpg
    Be Excellent To Each Other
    Party On, Dudes!
  • polaris_x
    polaris_x Posts: 13,559
    JonnyPistachio wrote:
    :D and what a good idea after a big day of engorging ourselves. Gotta remember to check the weight limit, ha!

    400 lbs when using the pro straps ... btw - it's great for more than resting and relaxing ... ;)
  • hedonist
    hedonist Posts: 24,524
    polaris_x wrote:
    JonnyPistachio wrote:
    :D and what a good idea after a big day of engorging ourselves. Gotta remember to check the weight limit, ha!

    400 lbs when using the pro straps ... btw - it's great for more than resting and relaxing ... ;)
    Sha-wing!

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