The Holidays

[rosarugosa]

Does anyone else think that the Holidays might be some dark social experiment to see if we can get through the winter months without killing any of our nearest and dearest? Sort of like "The Shining" with gravy and cranberry sauce?

[iris lilies]

I am already sick of hearing about “the holidays “and rosa your thread is adding to that.


Ha ha Ha ha ha! but a little bit true, love ya anyway.

you know we don’t have to buy into all the holiday frenzy. Just take one day at a time. I enjoy this time of year and was just thinking about how much I enjoyed this time of year yesterday and today. I find it enjoyable because my house remains clean, There is a little tracking in of dirt and debris, any stuff it does come in from outside are usually dry leaves, the animals are not shedding as they do in the summer, things are not sticky and hot. It also seems very clean.

I spent today cooking, not because I am honoring the Thanksgiving holiday but because I had a kitchen counter full of butternut squash and Had to do something with it, that, and Crowder peas. I have to start using up our Bean collection from the summer of 2018.

[iris lilies]

P.s. the winter months here in St. Louis can have days of sunshine and happiness. Monday it was downright warm and the sun was out. Today DH worked outside on leaves.

[rosarugosa]

P.s. the winter months here in St. Louis can have days of sunshine and happiness. Monday it was downright warm and the sun was out. Today DH worked outside on leaves.

Actually we have also had lovely warm weather this week. And yesterday our buddy Scott showed me how to use a chainsaw, so that was wicked fun.

[Tammy]

Husband and I will be off work and doing nothing on Christmas! Hurrah!

We will spend a few days during new years week with my siblings and our parents.

[iris lilies]

Actually we have also had lovely warm weather this week. And yesterday our buddy Scott showed me how to use a chainsaw, so that was wicked fun.
Chainsawing trees I hope

[Teacher Terry]

Tammy, enjoy your parents!

[happystuff]

Does anyone else think that the Holidays might be some dark social experiment to see if we can get through the winter months without killing any of our nearest and dearest? Sort of like "The Shining" with gravy and cranberry sauce?

It could be! Some people have wicked, evil minds - ROFLOL!

Personally, I like this time of year. The changing weather (although I reserve the right to grumble about too much snow!) is nice to watch and experience. I do enjoy the holiday season when I see people embracing the spirit of the holidays. Not so much the commercialism and consumerism, but the kindness and smiles and good cheer. I keep hoping it is a reminder that will last all year round - maybe eventually?!?!

Anyway, Happy and Safe Holidays to all.

[NewGig]

Since I closed the store in 2005, I appreciate every single day of the holidays, esp. Black Friday!

I worked retail for 30 years. What do we do for Black Friday? I stay home and gloat!!! No more crazy people. No more huge messes requiring going to work extra early. No more going in at 4 a.m. to restock!

I love the holidays. Of course, we do not have guests or go to relatives. Fancy meal and a cleaner house. That’s it.

On Christmas Eve we bake bread for the neighbors, but we deliver it, no one comes here.

[Tybee]

I like looking at the decorations. Try to keep family expectations super low, which helps.

[Teacher Terry]

Our holidays are low key since the kids left. I only buy gifts for a few friends and my sister. Now things might be different if I had grandchildren:)). Some years we invite a bunch of people for dinner and sometimes it’s only family. Of our 5 kids only one is local and they often work so sometimes it’s movie and a dinner out. I just decide every year what I feel like doing.

[catherine]

I actually think you're right. I LOVE seeing all the lights in the neighborhood in December and even early January. It feels like just what you said.. maybe we can make this dreary time a little brighter. When I was in NJ I kept my lights on outside until the 2nd or 3rd week in January. Here, alone in this summer community, there's no one to appreciate the lights, but my neighbor has a beautiful evergreen tree that would be perfect for Christmas lights and next year I may ask him for permission to light it up.

I don't necessarily think it's a dark social experiment. I think it maybe emerged organically throughout the years when there were no electric lights and people really were dreary with the darkness. Christmas/Pagan lights/celebration might have been the first treatment for SAD as it were.

[Geila]

Haha! :laff: No, it doesn't feel like The Shining, but I also don't spend the holidays with family. I stopped travelling to family for the holidays about 12 years ago. A couple of times I have felt a little lonely, but for the most part it has worked out really well. We do whatever we want.

My favorite part this time of year is the rain. We finally got our first real soaking this week.

[frugal-one]

Actually this time of year always makes me sad. As a child there were drunken fights and I think it spoiled Christmas for me forever. We have no family near which is ok. We are leaving in a few days for Belize and right after Christmas going to Texas for a few months (first time ever gone so long). So, there is something to look forward to. I am already freezing and look forward to warm!!!

[Teacher Terry]

Frugal, that’s sad. My parents always made holidays special and I did the same for my kids especially Xmas. Enjoy your vacations.

[SteveinMN]

I appreciate that, starting toward the end of December -- just another four weeks from now -- the days will start getting longer. The environment here goes from Technicolor in late September or early October to an unappealing brown-grey monochrome by January. All of it -- the sky, the visible parts of the earth, even some of the snow if we don't get a couple of inches to cover the old stuff after a while. It helps to have all the lights and the special foods and all of The Holidays to keep me distracted until the days get longer.

I think that's just human nature and why collective-we were so eager to adopt ceremonies and practices that broke the drudgery. Now, how messed up it's become that every business seems to need a Black Friday special deal and how much of the human activity of this season ends up in a landfill every year; that I can do without. But I think The Holidays are what we make of it, with our own traditions and beliefs. Us simple folk should be especially good at adopting what works for us and ignoring what doesn't.

[Teacher Terry]

I hate that stores are open on holidays. It used to be you planned ahead because not even a grocery store was open. People need to spend time with their families. Living in Nevada means 24 hour everything because the economy depends on the money. Many Asian people that don’t celebrate the holidays come here for a visit. It’s a very busy time. People that work in casinos understand that. But stores don’t need to be open and people can wait until Friday. We don’t partake in any of that nonsense. Today we are going to a friend’s for leftovers. It’s become a tradition.

[ApatheticNoMore]

The only holiday I really do much is thanksgiving, and still it's been too hard.

[rosarugosa]

I didn't even really do much of the work, and I still think it's too hard, lol, painful to watch. Don't get me wrong, I'm certainly thankful for the opportunity to eat cold mashed potatoes with the people I love, but all the time and effort that goes into a turkey dinner - turkey - of all the mediocre protein sources - I think there is something wrong with this picture. I am going to start plotting for T day at a nice restaurant in 2020 and I will cheerfully pay for it out of my allowance.

[happystuff]

I am grateful and fortunate that I have such a wonderful family and extended family that makes any possible negative aspects of holidays seem trivial. We get together and have fun and talk and share. The time and effort is definitely worth it for us and I, personally, treasure these times.

[JaneV2.0]

I worked Christmas and Thanksgiving for years, and breathed a hearty sigh of relief when I finally had enough seniority to avoid doing so. I don't have much of a problem with people having to work, as long as they're getting fairly compensated.

[Teacher Terry]

So had leftovers at my friends and we played cards for hours. We had so much fun! Between my son’s and them I won’t be cooking for awhile. Turkey is my favorite meat.

[ApatheticNoMore]

So thanksgiving itself I did with bf's family and did not host, and it ended up in humiliations I didn't even expect coming from nowhere. And I'm 5 years old again.

Day after thanksgiving I tried to do with my family as I planned it. But they flaked, claimed to be sick (might be, it is sick season afterall, might be faking it). This upsets me very little, as all the years I've been dealing with my family, nothing really surprises me. Expect disappointment and you won't be disappointed. Besides they disappoint but they don't humiliate so much.

So me and bf are left eating a 13 lb organic turkey we made ourselves (well turkey needs to be cooked sometime, it's not gonna keep forever, nor was it that cheap, can't waste it at this point ...). Oh there are leftovers. And all this despite all the lobbying I did. Lobbied for maybe making lasagna instead, no the people who want turkey want turkey. Tradition! Asked if a turkey breast will do. No a whole turkey is preferred, ok maybe someone likes dark meat. Went to 4 stores and drove 10 miles or so just looking for turkey and other ingredients a few days ago. Ok, I don't really love turkey but then I don't hate turkey.... I've got a lot of turkey. I don't really like going to restaurants either, much of the time I hate it, there are only a very few restaurants I don't dislike, going to restaurants is mostly something I do to please others sometimes. Nor with my family could we *ever* agree on the restaurant choice without acrimony either, so it hardly solves anything. But what's wrong with a nice homemade a veggie lasagna anyway? Noone invited dislikes or doesn't eat lasagna ..

[Teacher Terry]

ApN, I think that’s the last time I would try to please either family. Sounds like a movie and dinner out to a place you do like would be better or inviting friends over.

[catherine]

ANM, that sucks. I'm so sorry. Come to VT next year with your bf.. We would love an organic turkey.

[Rogar]

I've always enjoyed this Christmas story from Northern Exposure, Chris in the Morning radio show.

"It's an old legend, that on Christmas Eve at midnight, all the animals fall on their knees and speak -- praising the new born Jesus.

Back in the winter of '68, my Dad was doing a short term for D and D. Mom was -- I'm not sure where Mom was. Anyway, I was home alone on Christmas Eve and I stayed up late to see if my dog, Buddy, would talk. He did -- at least I think he did. I don't remember Buddy's exact words, but that's not important. What matters is that a seven-year-old boy experienced his own personal epiphany.

My point? It's that Christmas reveals itself to each of us in a personal way -- be it secular or sacred. Whatever Christmas is -- and it's many things to many people -- we all own a piece of it. Kinda like Santa's bag, inside there's a gift for everyone.

My Christmas wish for you tonight -- may your dog talk."

[happystuff]

I've always enjoyed this Christmas story from Northern Exposure, Chris in the Morning radio show.

"It's an old legend, that on Christmas Eve at midnight, all the animals fall on their knees and speak -- praising the new born Jesus.

Back in the winter of '68, my Dad was doing a short term for D and D. Mom was -- I'm not sure where Mom was. Anyway, I was home alone on Christmas Eve and I stayed up late to see if my dog, Buddy, would talk. He did -- at least I think he did. I don't remember Buddy's exact words, but that's not important. What matters is that a seven-year-old boy experienced his own personal epiphany.

My point? It's that Christmas reveals itself to each of us in a personal way -- be it secular or sacred. Whatever Christmas is -- and it's many things to many people -- we all own a piece of it. Kinda like Santa's bag, inside there's a gift for everyone.

My Christmas wish for you tonight -- may your dog talk."

That's so nice! And whatever your Christmas wish is - may it come true.

[JaneV2.0]

Does anyone else think that the Holidays might be some dark social experiment to see if we can get through the winter months without killing any of our nearest and dearest? Sort of like "The Shining" with gravy and cranberry sauce?

So timely. I just got a panicked call from a relative--calling on a phone that cut out so much I had to guess at what was being said. Now I'm swilling WishGarden's Deep Stress herbal decoction (not that it will help...). Bah Humbug doesn't begin to describe it. For once, I'm glad to have miles and miles between here and there.

[iris lilies]

I am enjoying these cool, dry days. Days when my house stay fairly clean, no excessive animal shedding, no mud and dirt.

[iris lilies]

I've always enjoyed this Christmas story from Northern Exposure, Chris in the Morning radio show.

"It's an old legend, that on Christmas Eve at midnight, all the animals fall on their knees and speak -- praising the new born Jesus.

Back in the winter of '68, my Dad was doing a short term for D and D. Mom was -- I'm not sure where Mom was. Anyway, I was home alone on Christmas Eve and I stayed up late to see if my dog, Buddy, would talk. He did -- at least I think he did. I don't remember Buddy's exact words, but that's not important. What matters is that a seven-year-old boy experienced his own personal epiphany.

My point? It's that Christmas reveals itself to each of us in a personal way -- be it secular or sacred. Whatever Christmas is -- and it's many things to many people -- we all own a piece of it. Kinda like Santa's bag, inside there's a gift for everyone.

My Christmas wish for you tonight -- may your dog talk."
That actor was great in that role. Every time he is on screen,
i still see him as Chris.

[Tybee]

I thought this was cute and apropos for this thread:

https://i0.wp.com/introvertdoodles.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/IMG_7885.jpg?fit=940%2C940&ssl=1

[iris lilies]

I thought this was cute and apropos for this thread:

https://i0.wp.com/introvertdoodles.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/IMG_7885.jpg?fit=940%2C940&ssl=1

I love this!”put a hat on an animal” yep.

[Rogar]

I thought this was cute and apropos for this thread:



I've got a bingo!

Enjoyed it, thanks.

[pinkytoe]

Apparently it is a holiday we have all agreed to but thankfully it has gotten very simple for us. I do get a sort of free-floating anxiety every year though which is probably left over from my early days of feeling like I had to rush around, procure presents for everyone and decorate beautifully for the season. I see so many still in that stressful, operative mode. We aren't religious but I love going to Christmas Eve services with pipe organs, candles and choirs. I also love that for the first time in my adult life I am experiencing getting all bundled up to walk in freezing weather and seeing the beautiful mountains covered in snow.

[JaneV2.0]

Love that Bingo card!

My holidays are pretty stressless now. I don't travel, so Christmas for me consists of a couple of presents, some fruitcake and eggnog, a few phone calls, and one frazzling trip to the post office. I shop on line. This is a big, big change from hectic holidays of old, and a welcome one.

[happystuff]

If "curled up by the fire" includes a yule log on TV, then I have a bingo!!!

[Tybee]

If "curled up by the fire" includes a yule log on TV, then I have a bingo!!!
Heck, yes, it counts.

[SteveinMN]

Heck, yes, it counts.
One disappointment with the advance of TV technology is that LCD/LED TVs give off nowhere near the warmth of the old cathode-ray-tube sets. :(

[happystuff]

Heck, yes, it counts.

Yay!! LOL