TheCatWoman said:

Thanks sweety. That is why I love Thanksgiving more.(I don't like any of the historical stuff). I get together with my family and have a great time just watching movies and eating.

M

MIGUELGOMEZ said:

How could someone like YOU say something like THAT?

Your gift to me ranked above the greatest. Your presence was worth gold. Thank you for being what its all about to me.

I mean to say, your literal present was of the highest value as well as was your physical presence!
[Edited 12/19/05 13:51pm]

Muse2NOPharaoh said:

Yeah, but you see my gift didn't cost too much. It just required love and cooperation from so many lovely people. THAT is what Birthday and Christmas giving is about. On my Birthday or Christmas I honestly love just to be around all the people that mean a lot to me. I always tell everybody, NO PRESENTS, JUST PRESENCE. They don't believe I mean it.

I love ya sweety. Thank you for your kind words.

M

dreamfactory313 said:

same here. ever since my dad passed away 4 years ago, christmas has been nothing to me but just another day. I don't wake up excited anymore, and the only thing i look forward to is using the gifts that i already know about that are underneath the tree. I even find putting up the christmas decorations exhausting....now i know how my parents use to feel when i use to bug them as a kid "when are we putting the tree up??".....

Most of the time Christmas makes me want to cry....

missfee said:

You know what? I think you and I should start some kind of new tradition for ourselves. The sillyer the better.

M

I cant stand xmas...
Xmas is about family, friends, love, religion....

These days, its about what you plan to buy and how much money your gonna spend....
I cant wait till its over....

MIGUELGOMEZ said:

yeah, like whenever someone asks for eggnog, throw some eggs at them instead. Or, if someone puts on those sad slow christmas songs, switch the song to an Audioslave song where Chris Cornell is screeching to the top of his lungs, and turn it up really loud, then disappear....

Stymie said:

HELL YES. I really don't know when it all started for me, but December 26th is my favorite day of the year cuz all the shit is over

I knew there was a reason I liked you!

missfee said:

You're my kinda girl!!!!
[Edited 12/19/05 14:47pm]

MIGUELGOMEZ said:

FESTIVUS!

Stymie said:

At least you GET alcohol at your company party. We had to have a POTLUCK. What the fuck is that? You're gonna MAKE me bring my own food to a "party"!?! I loathe forced fraternization with co-workers.

cborgman said:

I'll get the Festivus Pole.....


M

MIGUELGOMEZ said:

that sounds dirty...

oh... oh.

abierman said:

I feel ya. All my family (immediate and cousins) still live within 40 miles of the farm where I grew up. I live in NYC. Most of them never went to college, I have an MA. They work at local bars and nursing homes. My background is in contemporary art history. They like country music, WWF and the NRA; I dig Prince, protested the war in Iraq & and the Republican National Convention. They all have at least one kid and most are married. I have no kids or husband.

Being around them is just mostly uncomfortable. When it comes time for the family get together I just sit quietly on the couch by myself until I can leave... I also have to be careful not to talk too much about life in NYC...what is normal for me can easily be perceived as "bragging" where I grew up.
At least you are lucky you can hang with friends. My parents would be furious if I didn't go back for xmas...

I hate the holidays.

I don't hate it so much, but I will say people in NYC are acting kinda crazy this week. Lots of weird shoving and irritability in the streets. There's a definite frantic edge in the air, and the potential strike isn't helping.

Then again, I should've known better then trying to wrap up my shopping at Virgin in Times Square today

It all gets nicer on the actual day, with friends over, a roast in the oven and wine bottles open!

I usually love the holidays...everything about it.. the shopping..holiday music..decorating the house the tree...hot coco and cookies...everything!
But not this year..since I'm not able to do what I want to for my loved ones

Sounds like you had a bad childhood

I will gladly send you a Christmas present if it will make you happy and pick your spirits up.

Stymie said:

oh god, same here. my office just had our holiday party about a week and a half ago. we went to this super-expensive restaurant nearby our office--i didn't wanna go because of that. plus the majority of the people who i work with don't really care too much about me as it is. i sat at that fuckin party, pissed off as fuck.

This thread is some sad shit.

Stymie, here's a real one

This is for the rest of you sad people.

The holidays suck when your single and I can relate to everything here but it becomes about perspective when things seem to be aligned against you.

My perspective is no, I don't have anything in common with family and work holiday parties but I'm going and making it my own by laughing and talking about topics that don't matter. No deep political crap or members of the family gossip, just tv, movies, stuff that don't matter. Get some games going (cards, usually) and just try to make the most of the situation. Calling people I haven't talked to in forever, playing with little kids (relatives), eating too much and cooking fattening things, see where I'm going with this? It's what YOU make it and if you make it a drag it definitely will be but chose the other, you won't see most of these people until next year

seems like a lot of bad things happen around this time, etc. find out somebody has cancer or any other terminal illness, something unexpected happens, car accident, homicide, suicide.... just a scary time of the year for me.

rachel3 said:

Rock on gurl - you're my hero!

missfee said:

Baby doll

No what i remember about Christmas day?...being taken by ambulance to hospital and having a tube shoved down my throat as i had a bowel obstruction. While i sat in bed watching other patients eating christmas day food and patient's families giving prezzies.

Handclapsfingasnapz said:

Baby cakes

jone70 said:

keep your head up!!!

Big hugs to all the Scrooges here.

Sorry, just kidding. I know where you're coming from. For years, I hated Christmas. I don't speak to my family and - whilst everyone I know was bonding with their folks - I was stuck in my parents' house, in my room, waiting for my Christmas dinner like someone on parole. So it wasn't as if I was spending quality time with them. And where I grew up is a small town, with small-town attitudes, and bugger all to do at any time, let alone when everything shuts down at Christmas. Yippee.

So I made the decision not to go anymore. It was becoming ludicrous. In the end, I was just going home because (a) I thought it was expected and (b) I love Christmas dinner. Just less hassle all round if I didn't go.

So, for the last couple of years, I've spent it with housemates and they've been the best two Christmasses I've had in years. Being around people you actually care about, sharing it with those you love - that's what it's all about. It was nice to have the reminder.

As Miguel says perfectly - it's about presence, not presents.

This year, I'm likely to be spending Christmas Day by myself. A mate will be staying over from the night before - we'll have breakfast, open some presents - then she'll go to her parents. I'll cook myself a lovely roast dinner, I'll have some wine in the fridge, loads of chocolate to hand and I'll be glued to the television. People may pop in, people may not. I may end up going out in the night, I may not. But it's just one day in an entire year - nothing to get worked up about. And, for me, the big one will be on Boxing Day when, traditionally, we all go out for a friend's birthday. Plus, he's 30 this year so that should be a blast.

So to those who are alone this Christmas, or face it with dread, you're not alone. Someone will be thinking of you on Christmas Day.

And to those who celebrate or are looking forward to Christmas - I wish you and yours a very happy holiday.

Much love and a Happy Christmas to everyone. xxxx

onenitealone said:

I don't want you to spend Christmas alone

I don't hate Christmas,but I'll be glad when it's all over.I get sick of hearing Christmas songs everywhere I go...I am sick of crowded shopping malls and long lines at the Post Office...I can't wait until January!

Actually,this Christmas will be special for me.I'll be in Atlanta,which will be a nice change of scenery for me.
[Edited 12/20/05 2:37am]

Natisse said:

Awwwww! Thank you, hun. But, seriously, I'll be okay. People are very kind and offer invites every year but I'd rather not impose. I'm a tough cookie, anyway.

And, besides - if you're free to speak on the day - you'll definitely get a Christmas kiss from me. So I won't be 'alone', will I?

I owe you a phone call, by the way! (Sorry, been meaning to call). Got lots to tell you! I'll try and call this evening.

Thank you sweetheart.

Stymie said:

Then don't raise any expectations about Xmas yourself. DOn't ask for anything.

Don't play the radio, play your OWN music.

Don't watch television, rent dvd's

So many easy ways to get around the so-called Xmas spirit.

I just enjoy the lights, try to ignore Xmas music in stores and avoid them on obvious shopping days, when the hordes ride out to shop.

That aint what the feast of light is all about.