I am fed up with what Chri$tma$ has turned into. The kids were putting the crap on the stinking tree and having a big blow out fight over who gets to put what on it. I told them to enjoy it this year cause when we take this shit down this year it is all going in the trash. I told them all they care about is what they get and they will not have to wory about it any more cause they get so muce crap during the year it isnt special for them to get anything now. It will sure make life easier not having the comercial Chri$tma$

Contact some of the local charities and ask them how to get involved. Have the kids help someone else by serving christmas dinner or donating time collecting food for the food shelf. It shouldn't be a punishment but a lesson on how life really is. Not everyone has the opportunities presented to them.

Merry Christmas Larry. Try to remember their kids. This is the toughest time of year for many families.

Sorry, can't join you in this. I was Christmas deprived as a kid (Rabbi didn't get it) so I've been overdoing ever since. Send the kids here for a few days with any toys that need assembling. We'll spoil 'em rotten and give 'em back.

No Bah Humbug here!

PS. Batteries not included.

Let them battle ..... hide all the presents that you had planned on giving them and substitute sticks or coal. When they open the box and scream Whiskey, Tango, Foxtrot just tell them that if they couldn't hold the Spirit of Christmas in their hearts and heads, this was their reward for having a black heart.

It'll get them thinking.

You can give them the normal gifts after a suitable length of time after they apologize.....

While not politically correct (as if I give a rats ass),

Merry Christmas to All and peace on Earth (if only for one day)

I love Giftmas!

So you didn't spend the night with the boys at Best Buys? That is the true meaning of X-mas. X-mas puts the X in Xbox.

that part has always rubbed me the wrong way. even as a kid when i was on the receiving end. i mean, who doesn't like to get gifts, but this whole thing has gotten out of hand, IMHO ...

Andy

I think the worst part is the media induced guilt. According to the media we are

supposed to get everyone one of these or one of those. If you are in hard times

and you get invited to Christmas dinner this is where the guilt begins. You

know that the kids are expecting a gift from everybody...and not just the kids.

You almost want to hide until after Jan. 1st. Takes all the Joy out of what is

supposed to be a special time of year...for everyone. My .02

What burns my ass is the masive and deliberate removal of Christ from Christmas. Towns actually outlawing Nativity Scenes from public display. I
appreciate all religions,but after all 70% of this country is Christen.
My 2 cents Dave

My complaint is the christmas decorations up after halloweeen.... After Thanksgiving i can live w/ (prefer wait till december at least).

And the people that insist on listening to nothing but christmas music all day long....

BJH

Geesh! What a bunch of crabs. A Christmas wish from our house to all the Humbugs. Turn up the volume, but NSFW, kids, etc.

HoHoHo!

Do what I do. Head to the tropics. This is my wife and my 7th year of going to Mexico, Latin America or Hawaii for the holidays. This year Costa Rica!

Tell your kids it's a good time to switch to Buddhism. Instead of Christmas celebrations just break out the floor mats and enjoy a long day of contemplation and meditation.



I'm just kiddin. Normally I buy gifts for those who celebrate but don't do anything for myself. Not really my beliefs. I agree with the statement above -- have them participate in charitable activities. For many years my family and I would go to poor peoples' homes and bring a ton of food, help cook and serve their christmas dinner, and bring plenty of toys. I didn't appreciate it then, but I now understand what it is to make someone's holidays really happy. Those who are without truly do appreciate one day where they can enjoy a celebration.

I do kind of agree, the "spirit of christmas" is now a commercial holiday. Buy buy buy.








^

Christmas is what YOU make it.

I'm in!!! I have a coffe mug thats says Bahhumshit!!! Family gifts someone always pissed off at someone for not enough time spent with someone,,,,blah;blah blah.....When I get an old time christmas with just my family at my house without traveling 2000 miles I might sign up..

Always support or adopt another family in need, but for me,,,,,,count me out..

with grant...

i have a real problem with delivering food/gifts for "needy" families. I used to do it with my parents and I would say about 50% of the houses we went to have big screen tv's, video game consoles, other luxuries, etc. I'm not saying that families in need dont deserve the nicer things in life once in a while, but when the house you're delivering to has more un-needed crap than my own, either the red cross needs to screen who they deliver to better or people really need to get their priority's in better line.

the only saving grace is when we did go to the one house who really needed help and showed appreciation...made it worth it. unfortunelty other families made you feel like you owed it to them to be there.

I'm getting new shocks. revalved Koni's , New engine parts, and a wing for the racer. I have to make my own air dan splitter. So's I can buy my wife a new house.

I'm in. The rampant commercialization makes me

It would be much more fulfilling to write a big check to the United Way and then go help serve dinner at a shelter than shop shop shop till I drop only to have to deal with all the ingratitude of "you didn't spend as much on me this year as last!" bullsh** or "you spent more on me than I did for you and now you have indirectly set off a guilt bomb so shame on you"

I tell all my family and friends that I don't _need_ anything that I don't already have, and the stuff I want is not within reason to ask (a Raby 2270, for example), so if they really want to spend $$, spend it on someone who needs it. Donate it to charity, or use it to instead pay for a dinner party so everyone can gather at one place and enjoy spending time together and just have fun without all the stress and politics of "gift giving"...

Thats me but Florida as in the Keys or the Everglades is my Xmess thingy being exotically perfect enough for now for a Canuck. To me, it's all about hunting down all the game fish I can. I Remeber getting some groceries at a Food Mart of such in Long Key one year and was wondering where everyone was at. Comes to find out that I plum forgot about "THAT" day

This year, I'm just going to Sebring Fla. flying there for Xmess week and not planing on doing any fishing. I'll get moms and pops juiced up if I can

They force this day on us all so make the best of it and have a good one yall!!

Im in! I have hated marketing since I relized its existance. I'll keep it to X-mas, but it fucks up everything if you dont counter it with thought.

I have experienced the missapropriation of welfare monies such as what Biosurfer spoke of and it makes me soo damn mad as to cause me to stutter. those that work the system get no love from me. BUT, I am with Rick on the charity thing. You just need to find a charity that you trust, or one that is so grassroots that you know where the stuff is going to.

So far this year Noel and I have already donated toiletries and new socks to the shelter here in Harrisburg. If we can get a night off together we will be staying the night at the shelter and tending the flock of homeless. Being poor resonates with me as I have lived in a car, a homeless shelter, been hungry and stolen from orange groves for sustinance, lived in several ghettos, etc, all before I was even 18. I know that many of the homeless (3/4) have mental problems that promote them to living the way that they do. I have lived among these people.

Some day I hope to have a child or children of my own. I will have them volunteer to give them perspective and to help them battle against the slings and arrows of marketing. And, so help me, if they show the slightest bit of ungratitude I will in no short order donate their gifts to a needy family.

This season I am with Geoff as well. I need nothing, and the stuff I want is either not tangible or too expensive; free tuition, my damn car running, my motorcycle and 4runner sold, world peace, etc.

I would say that the only thing I realy want in the world is to get married to my fiance Noel and I am working on paying for that with my little side biz.

Sorry if I seem to rant, this season always gets my panties in a bunch

Love your selves and each other and forget the materialistic bullshit.

Merry Haunakwansmas!

It was a pagan holiday before the christians cooped it...I still enjoy it...love to get together with folks and eat and drink too much...what is the point of the holiday???

"Oh yeah, my christmas wish would be, supreme power over the universe, vengence against my enemies, all the money in the world, oh yeah and the crap about the kids".....damn I like Steve Martin....

Happy Birthday dear Jesus,,,,, and presents for everyone!!!!


All I want for Christmas is my two rear hubs........












Don't ever forget, Santa knows where all the Bad Girls live.

Larry, I agree with how commercialized Christmas has become. I have really become so sick of going to the mall and deaing with rude people, that don't have the time to hold the door for someone else.
My kids are very much the same way as you describe yours. I also got really upset the other day with them, but I needed to remind myself that they are only children, and they are excited about the big day. I have no doubt in many ways I was very much the same. I hope the holiday's brings back a little of the child in all of us, for the right reasons.

I'm having a good time this year honestly. Think I will toot my own horn here a bit because I feel pretty good about it.

I helped out a girl I barely know who got left by her ex and she is on welfare with a kid. I gave her a few hundred $$$ because she needed it and I am trying to help her find a job.

My brother isn't doing to well financialy and he broke his car and got a bit upset. I asked him how much it was and gave him the money.

Very close friend of mine who is a photographer I bought a picture from. She asked for $100 but I am gonna surprise her and give her $1000 because I know she has wanted to buy a digital camera and this will get her closer to buying it. Shooting on film all the time is sorta expensive.

I just have had so many people help me in my life I am more then happy to pass on the favor for a change.

Enough christmas spirit though I'm gonna go broke.

I'm with Howard on this one. I love the Christman season

Christmas is what you make it and make out of the it. We make an effort to find a family, charity, or cause to get involved with each year.

Last year we decoraded a house for the West Valley Child Crisis Center: fed the kids the traditional Christmas Pizza and Root Beer Floats with cookies meal. Then a bunch of our friends and co-workers helped out with gifts of toys and clothes. Doing similar stuff again this year.

I also have a blast doing our area 914 Toys for Tots breakfast run.
Click to view attachment

So you don't like Christmas, fine. Don't let the media and retailers dictate how you approach it. Decide how it will be most meaningful to you and celebrate it that way.

So here are some suggestions:

1. Go to a church Christmas program. Generally they are free and the people putting them on go to a lot of effort and time to make it happen. Often have tasty goody to munch on after the program--free too.

2. Most cities have some sort of seasonal event which is free. In Glendale AZ where I live, they decorate the downtown square with over a million lights and on weekend evenings have vendors for food, drink, and activities.Click to view attachment

3. Drive somewhere there is snow. Throw it, slide in it, get cold and top it off with hot choclate to make it all better.

4. Call a friend you have not talked to in a long time.

5. Work on your 914: make some of the repairs/changes you have been gathering the parts for over the months.

6. If you don't have anything to do Christmas day, I am smoking a turkey, watching football, and re-assemblying the Bumble Bee. Come on over.
Click to view attachment

Yup, can't stand it. I HATE the marketing with a passion! I saw the marketing at an early age. Funny, because my family liked Christmas and since we were poor it wasn't an extravagent event but full of family and spirit. I guess I was the Scrooge of our family In the Navy, spending three Christmases away from home -- including the two that were at sea (I was on a Destroyer) -- I finally learned what it means by "it's the thought that counts". Since then I've been 100% satisfied with just getting a card and nothing more. After the Navy I spend Christmas by myself or at a friend's house and was happy to not have to deal with the crap. Now that I have a girlfriend who loves Christmas and two kids I'll need to change my pessimisstic view of the holiday season. At least 'adjust' it a little and remember that theres kids involved now and they won't understand things until older...like I did.

What gets me (aside from the extreme commercialisim) is the "good will towards men" bullcrap. Why only THIS time of year? Why not all the time?

And the God-damned bell ringers.

I'm in, as far as shopping for Christmas. The merchandising machine tries to make everybody feel that you have to buy everyone you know a gift and the closer they are to you the more you should spend. The sad part is that many people fall into this trap because they have no time or energy because of all of life's other commitments. Many people feel the only way they can show their love or affection is by how much they can spend on a person for Christmas (love = $).

I hate the commercialization of Christmas. I used to be a store manager for Zellers (the Canadian equivalent and competitor of Walmart) and it used to make me sick how my whole life revolved around 'selling' special occassions (Easter, Valentine's Day, Hallowe'en, Back to School, etc.), and Christmas was the worst. As a retailer, Christmas either made or broke your year and the pressure from head office to generate sales was immense. The Christmas carols started the day after Hallowe'en, the store was decorated by the end of that week, and all of the cheesy, over-priced, over-packaged, over-hyped Christmas crap went on the shelves. The store started staying open until midnight and re-opening at 7am (why not just leave it open 24/7?).

My life became the store. I never saw my family and I began despising all of the shoppers trying to "buy" the perfect present. I knew I wouldn't get a holiday because I had to work Boxing Day and then gear-up for New Years. Tempers grew short, intolerance increased, and somewhere the whole meaning of the season was lost on me. When I finally quit about 12 years ago, I did it at the beginning of December. I never felt better in my life. I got to spend some time with my family, volunteer, and re-aquaint myself with the true meaning of Christmas.

I still can't stand going into the malls in December - I actually get claustrophobia. I do buy presents, especially for the kids because I love seeing the look on their faces (but it has be something they need or really want). If I can get something that I think my adult family or friends would really enjoy I'll buy them a token gift, but I would much rather have them over and cook a really nice meal, open some good wine and have a real conversation.

Christmas means different things to different people, but mine does not involve spending a lot of money on useless presents anymore.

Well you got me there. I dislike those too.


Just do it for the children........

On line shopping has helped allot with Xmas.

Oh how I hated malls, traffic and everyone
all stressed, fighting over parking, etc......

bob

You ever notice how people act even worse around the holidays when they are out and about?

Kiss the spouse and kids good bye, jump into the suburban and put on the game face. Get ready for some shoppin! THAT'S MY PARKING SPACE YOU A$$HOLE!!!

Inversly in my neck of the woods, this time of year seems to bring out all the local hot mommas out to play/spend. A good season to bump into the right sweety.

A little off topic, but...
I went to the mall today, so much better during the week. As I'm looking at my list I find I am behind a VERY attractive women. Long black coat, blond hair shoulder length. I continue walking. As I turn in to Victoria Secrets, so does she. She's goin to get something sexy I say to myself. Well as I find some things for the wife, she's looking at various outfits, WOW!!!!! Red Boustia.. Meery Christmas, the mental pictures I had were well
I got in the Holiday Spirit right then and there.. Ho,Ho,Ho.....

Man bro, thats what I'm talking about oops I mean

Hope ya didn't call her that to her face

Brian doesn't talk .... he just drools, stares and soils himself.










Who was that unmasked boy in the room stealing our tequila?

huh what??

That was me... I try to blend..... When you are around two of the funniest old farts around, you shut up, listen and laugh.. Next RRC Tequila is on me, as long as the two of you provide the jokes...

Howard I don't think I could have put a coherent sentence together.. This was a very pretty lady. (I only hope I don't mumble in my sleep tonight)