christmas/holidays

[Blu]

Heading to France in 7 days! It's our first Christmas as a married couple, so I'm totally pumped. We didn't have to mess with the politics of whose household we spend the Holiday with, etc, and I'm particularly pleased with this, at least for our first Christmas together.

We're not fairly religious, and I consider myself agnostic but with a respect for people's faith and spirituality. We'll be going to La Sainte-Chapelle for some French Carols and a concert on Christmas Eve. It'll probably be an amazing experience, and one to revel in some French culture and spirit.

Other than that, yeah, I think we're having a hard time getting in the spirit mainly because we'll be abroad. Really looking forward to the break though away from work, and just spending quality time with my wife.

[aaron]

i get to work the day after christmas but it'll likely be an easy work day since NO ONE in my division works the day after christmas (except the janitors and the police department). office parties are kinda fun on days like that, and i imagine i'll just be here playing video games alone.

[Stark]

At my new job I get the week off between Christmas and New Year's, without having to take PTO! Quite a perk in my book and I'm looking forward to it, a lot.

[KalessinDB]

Not working retail anymore has immensely increased my enjoyment of the holiday season.

Or, more precisely, it has greatly reduced my loathing of the holiday season. Because by the time I quit GNC, I truly hated the holiday season. I prettymuch hated the retail-buying public in general, but especially in the holiday season.

Now though? I'm kinda jaded towards most of humanity (occupational hazard I find) but I find I can enjoy the holiday season again.

However Christmas is going to be strange this year. One aunt passed away recently, and my mother's too sick to leave the house, so neither her nor my dad will be there since dad doesn't leave her side... so it's going to be my brother's family, one uncle, proooobably the other aunt/uncle (he's always been a little withdrawn from the family), and myself, although to be fair my heart's not going to be in it and I would rather be with my parents. Half of the party at best.

Trying to move forward though, start working on the new normal. I told my brother tonight that I'm going to be baking a crostata (italian dessert), which my mother taught me to make before she got really bad, and was always something that either her or my aunt would bring. So that should help. But there's not going to be any cookies, nor any sfingi since I never learned to make those from my mom (they're another italian dessert -- fried, and mom's been real sensitive to smells for a long time now so she couldn't handle making them), those were always their hallmarks.

Time marches ever forward I suppose.

[J T]

Merry Christmas from Seattle!

[darsparx]

Basically working straight up into eve and then going in at 4am the day after to help get the store ready to open by 8 am(usual great grandparents eve dinner, then presents at moms the next day, then presents at grandmother's and then my aunt's for my dad's side of the family...which will see me fill up on clothes I'll most likely never wear as long as I'm working thrid shift and unable to get myself to go out on my days off). Kinda contemplating(no matter what my mom says) going up to a retro store because they're open tommorrow and doing a 20% off sale...

[SNESdrunk]

This is my first Christmas away from where I grew up (Minnesota), so it's been weird so far. Obviously in MN, I'm used to absurdly cold temps and lots of snow, but here in Albuquerque, it's like the weather has been stuck on October for 3 months. High of 50 every day, low of 30. Can't argue with that, but it's just... weird.

Definitely does not feel like Christmas, although I did watch Christmas Vacation last night for like the 20th year in a row.

[vatermuzik]

Definitely does not feel like Christmas, although I did watch Christmas Vacation last night for like the 20th year in a row.

The gags in that movie never get old. Classic!

[SNESdrunk]

Definitely does not feel like Christmas, although I did watch Christmas Vacation last night for like the 20th year in a row.

The gags in that movie never get old. Classic!

"Aunt Bethany, does your cat eat jello?"
" I don't know about the cat, but I sure am enjoyin' it!"

[Frag Mortuus]

I worked retail at a mall for years and never really grew to hate it. I liked being busy and helping people find the gifts they wanted. Meh, I don't get jaded easily.

Now, that I have kids Christmas takes on a whole new meaning and feeling. We always end up getting the kids way more toys that we have room and then we get to take the old toys to the Salvation Army which hopefully helps folks get their kids stuff for a more affordable price. I enjoy getting presents, but enjoy getting my wife and kids stuff just to see their excitement and enjoyment. My wife never asks for anything, ever. So, I always go all out for her birthday, our anniversary, and Christmas. Same for the kids.

I am the kind of guy that will usually buy something I want as long as I can find a way to pay for it without spending my regular paycheck. I will pick up odd jobs as an IT consultant or do a quick PC repair / virus removal, etc in order to make money for my new toy. So, when a gift occasion comes around I don't get as excited, and my wife has a hard time buying me something that I don't have or that I actually want. I also find that as I get older, I have more fun just visiting with family than I do with receiving gifts.

With that said, I hope everyone here has a great holiday and stays safe and warm. I really enjoy being part of this community.