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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 13 of 13. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by tabitha on December 10, 2003, at 2:56:28
Put up a strand of lights and my green lighted tree ornament thingy on the porch. Bought cards and got 6 or so ready to mail. Walked through the stores listening to the Christmas music without cringing.
Then the card list brings up questions of distant relatives, including my whole real father's side of the family, I kind of want to send one to my aunt but not to him, then I question that, should I send to both? Or neither to avoid the issue?
No decorations inside the house yet. Will I buy myself gifts? Wrap them and get up (alone) on Christmas morning and unwrap them? I've actually done this and I kind of enjoy it.
I agreed to go to a dinner with people on Christmas day but I want to get out of it. Haven't yet admitted to my family that I'm not flying home (like most years). I wanted to ask them not to send gifts but I didn't.
For someone who hardly does Christmas, it's a lot of stuff to think about.
Posted by tabitha on December 10, 2003, at 3:09:48
In reply to I did Christmas stuff, posted by tabitha on December 10, 2003, at 2:56:28
I spent like an hour picking out cards. As if they're supposed to make a statement about my life or something. There was one with a mouse making a tree out of swiss cheese and it said Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas and I thought Oh that's me alright, making my own strange yet personally satisfying solitary little Christmas. But it seemed too revealing. Instead I got some with three penguins frolicing that says something about Fun inside it and also has glitter on the design.
Got home and found my old leftover cards. I've bought a lot of cards with goofy snowmen on them, or whimsical santa/reindeer scenarios.
Posted by fallsfall on December 10, 2003, at 7:01:29
In reply to I did Christmas stuff, posted by tabitha on December 10, 2003, at 2:56:28
You are doing well. I would love for Christmas to just disappear this year. I haven't thought about presents for anyone at all. I bought a tree (because I like to get it from the Boy Scouts, and they do run out after a while) - it is in my back porch.
My daughter is in this passive agressive thing where she just makes the house dirtier but never picks up anything or cleans, even though she said that she would. I don't know that the house will have enough floorspace that isn't covered with dog hair and trash to set up the tree. My older two don't get home for more than a week, so nothing will happen until then at least.
I say send cards to people you want to send cards to, and not to those you don't. But I'm pretty crabby about this whole thing.
Bah Humbug,
The Ex-Mrs. Claus
Posted by deirdrehbrt on December 10, 2003, at 9:02:13
In reply to Re: I did Christmas stuff » tabitha, posted by fallsfall on December 10, 2003, at 7:01:29
I love Christmas..... It gives me the opportunity to appear healthy as all of the supposed healthy people are running around the stores acting like nuts! (Mrs. Jones to Miss Keepup.. "If you don't give me that Sponge-Bob I'm going to beat you with a radio-controlled Elmo" ) These and other things are the floor shows at most Walmart stores.
It's tiring, exhausting, daunting work that only the most intrepid will endure, unless of course, you don't have the pressure to be done at any particular time, or unless you can see the humor in these people who have never seen the inside of a mental hospital acting like those who would have been restrained. If you have free time, and a finely tuned funny-bone, it can be amusing.
Buy Hamburg!
Just an ex.
Posted by tabitha on December 10, 2003, at 14:26:47
In reply to Re: I did Christmas stuff, posted by deirdrehbrt on December 10, 2003, at 9:02:13
Giggle. Glad you're able to see the humor. I just don't do the obligatory gift buying. That's the unbearable part for me so I opt out.
Posted by tabitha on December 10, 2003, at 14:31:24
In reply to Re: I did Christmas stuff » tabitha, posted by fallsfall on December 10, 2003, at 7:01:29
I finally learned my lesson on trees. I've tried live, cut, and artificial but they all invariably end up still taking space months after it's over. I still had pine needles in my last car from a tree 5 years earlier when I finally sold it. Last year I got a totally fake metal tree with lights (actually it was a lawn ornament) for inside the house, but come summertime it was still in the living room, and the neighbor kids came to the door, peeked in and asked innocently 'how come you still have your Christmas tree up?'. I was very embarrassed. So this year no tree. I was thinking of stringing a piece of tinsel across the room and hanging a few favorite ornaments on that.
Posted by DaisyM on December 10, 2003, at 19:09:04
In reply to Re: I did Christmas stuff » tabitha, posted by fallsfall on December 10, 2003, at 7:01:29
I just have to post on this one...
I have been dreading Christmas too. BUT, I have a 12 year old who needs me (us) to make Christmas for him. So I am forcing myself. You know what? It is actually Ok. He does most of it and the joy is contagious.
And Church is beautiful this time of year. I'm trying to just absorb small parts with out IT absorbing me! We colored in Christmas coloring books last night and watched Rudolph. Very Theraputic.
Posted by slinky on December 10, 2003, at 20:57:12
In reply to I did Christmas stuff, posted by tabitha on December 10, 2003, at 2:56:28
You're a sweetypod.
I love xmas lights - I got them permanently on in my hallway all year round instead of putting on bright light at nighttime. Radiates a warm glow.
Anyway..I'm not cringing much at xmas tunes..maybe I've overmedicated: )
If i could I'd send you a present wrapped up in effervesent elf dust .
Posted by octopusprime on December 10, 2003, at 21:44:01
In reply to Re: P.S., posted by tabitha on December 10, 2003, at 3:09:48
tabitha - i'm glad to know that i'm not the only one agonizing over xmas cards!
"peace on earth"? too hippy, not bloody likely. next. jesus-themed? too religious. next. "wishing you and your family joy and prosperity"? guilts the single. next. christmas themed scatalogical humour? not family safe. next.
the one i wound up getting had a little daschund in a red sweater walking in the snow. inside, it said "walking in a weiner wonderland". awful! terrible! but i know my grandpa likes the stupid puns, so i sent it cause he'd like it, and all my other card recipients had to suffer for it.
anyway - xmas seems like a lot of work, i don't blame you for wanting to skip out, i'm personally looking forward to xmas for the joy of having 4 days off work in a row! then i can snooze and paint. i want to back out of xmas dinner too (esp. since i promised to cook, what was i thinking?) all this togetherness and happy crap is just too contrived, why can't people just play nice year round?
/rant
Posted by tabitha on December 10, 2003, at 23:23:22
In reply to Re: P.S., posted by octopusprime on December 10, 2003, at 21:44:01
>christmas themed scatalogical humour? not family safe. next.
No, that one can't possibly exist, can it? I'm going to put fluffy earmuffs on my ears so I don't have to hear the answer. Now weiner wonderland, that's cute!
Good luck with your dinner preparations. I'm supposed to cook something too. I'll have to do a test run since I don't exactly have any tried-n-true company dishes.
Posted by octopusprime on December 11, 2003, at 0:12:26
In reply to Re: P.S. » octopusprime, posted by tabitha on December 10, 2003, at 23:23:22
the scatalogical humour in the card my sister gave me was cute:
(apologies for the horrible long url)
http://www.hallmark.com/hmk/Website/Shopping/sh_productdetail.jsp?BV_SessionID=@@@@0046684192.1071121943@@@@&BV_EngineID=eadcjddeegdlbedcfchcie.0&CONTENT_KEY=1SBX9274&CONTENT_TYPE=PRODUCT&fromPage=however there are worse ones, with dogs using the xmas tree and referring to it as "indoor plumbing", etc etc
gross and not suitable for family.
i think i will skip the turkey this year and make a roast beast. preheat oven, insert beast into oven, consult internet to find out when to insert thermometer to test for doneness, what could be easier?
the complex part is contemplating the yorkshire puddings. maybe i will skip that and mash some potatoes instead. that i can handle :)
Posted by sb417 on December 12, 2003, at 22:37:14
In reply to I did Christmas stuff, posted by tabitha on December 10, 2003, at 2:56:28
Oh, Tabitha. I'm one of those ne'er-do-wells who hasn't even started my Christmas shopping, and I haven't written one card yet. Please send me some of your motivation and resourcefulness, or at least send me the formula!
Posted by tabitha on December 13, 2003, at 1:40:24
In reply to Re: I did Christmas stuff » tabitha, posted by sb417 on December 12, 2003, at 22:37:14
I wrote six cards and lost steam. Probably ought to just mail those and forget the rest.
This is the end of the thread.
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