Welcome to the MacNN Forums.

besson3c · Nov 30, 2009, 03:53 PM

I'm not a big fan of Christmas, but this year I'm determined to find a way to enjoy it.

How are other not-big-fans-of-Christmas folk going about it this year? One thing I'm doing is focusing on the parts of it that I like, including the loving spirit of it. I also like the snowy, wintery, beautiful part of the season, as well as very, very old school carols, and even the lights. The anamatronic ho-ho-ho Santa Claus Walmart things that people put on their front lawns and all of the crazy shopping stuff, not so much. However, now that I work from home my plan is to be blissfully unaware of all of that! Yippee Kayaeee mother ****er!

I'm also hoping that I will find some willing recipients of my love this year in here.

Merry Christmas to all of you, even those of you that hate my guts.

SpaceMonkey · Nov 30, 2009, 04:00 PM

Everything I know about Christmas, I learned from the 1988 Bill Murray comedy masterpiece, "Scrooged." It's a cautionary tale about a successful television executive who is driven to madness by the seductive lure of sentimentalism.

Doofy · Nov 30, 2009, 04:01 PM

Bit early yet Bess?

besson3c · Nov 30, 2009, 04:01 PM

Originally Posted by Doofy

Bit early yet Bess?

You don't live in America. Here, Christmas starts after Halloween.

besson3c · Nov 30, 2009, 04:02 PM

Originally Posted by SpaceMonkey

Everything I know about Christmas, I learned from the 1988 Bill Murray comedy masterpiece, "Scrooged." It's a cautionary tale about a successful television executive who is driven to madness by the seductive lure of sentimentalism.

I haven't seen that movie in a very long time, but you've inspired me!

MrsLarry · Nov 30, 2009, 04:03 PM

As silly as it sounds, I love gift giving. Not the "oh crap, what am I gonna get for [insert person who you don't know so well, but they are bound and determined to exchange gifts]" part of it, but the "This will be perfect for Larry, he's going to be so surprised and love this" part.

I love the look on people's faces when you get them the perfect gift.

besson3c · Nov 30, 2009, 04:05 PM

Originally Posted by MrsLarry

As silly as it sounds, I love gift giving. Not the "oh crap, what am I gonna get for [insert person who you don't know so well, but they are bound and determined to exchange gifts]" part of it, but the "This will be perfect for Larry, he's going to be so surprised and love this" part.

I love the look on people's faces when you get them the perfect gift.

It's great when you can think of something really cool, but all too often it just feels like I'm running errands for people. How can somebody get too excited over a new set of towels or a set of knives or something like that? It's hard to get excited about towels when I myself cannot get excited about towels.

osiris · Nov 30, 2009, 04:05 PM

I started drinking heavily right around Halloween. This gets me through to New Years.

Eug · Nov 30, 2009, 04:16 PM

Originally Posted by besson3c

You don't live in America. Here, Christmas starts after Halloween.

Or sometimes even a bit before Halloween in America and Canada. It drives me nuts.

Anyways, my GF just put out the Xmas lights. And then I helped out by putting them on timers to save energy. I now refuse to have a real tree in the house though. Plastic only (although I'd prefer no tree at all). They shed pine needles everywhere and 2 years water leaked from the stump holder thingy and wrecked a part of my hardwood floor.

osiris · Nov 30, 2009, 04:20 PM

At this rate, next year Christmas season will begin after Labor Day. No kidding.

This year I put my Christmas lights up before Halloween - didn't light them though - not until the Rockefeller tree is lit (tomorrow?). Then it's full-loose bozo with the lights, tree, yadda yadda yadda Christmas. Oh, I have to dig my Festivus pole out of the basement.

besson3c · Nov 30, 2009, 04:47 PM

Have you guys and girls had any Christmas sex yet?

residentEvil · Nov 30, 2009, 07:17 PM

no; but i dropped off a yule log about 10 minutes ago.

Sealobo · Nov 30, 2009, 07:18 PM

Originally Posted by besson3c

Have you guys and girls had any Christmas sex yet?

how do you differentiate it from normal sex?

residentEvil · Nov 30, 2009, 07:19 PM

Originally Posted by Sealobo

how do you differentiate it from normal sex?

he wears jingle bells?

besson3c · Nov 30, 2009, 07:21 PM

Well, for starters at Christmas time it is acceptable to have sex with three hos... ho ho ho!

iMOTOR · Nov 30, 2009, 07:30 PM

No, it not acceptable. Or is that a double entendre?

dzp111 · Nov 30, 2009, 07:57 PM

Christmas screws the hell out of my budget and I'm broke until March!

I hate it.

I 'cancel' Christmas every single year but nobody listens.

Humbug! It's the one time of year I wish I was Jewish.

turtle777 · Nov 30, 2009, 08:54 PM

Originally Posted by dzp111

Humbug! It's the one time of year I wish I was Jewish.

What ? And then you have to buy gifts for every day of Hanukkah ?
It's not better at all.

-t

Railroader · Nov 30, 2009, 09:16 PM

I have four Liberian kids living in my house right now who have never had a traditional full Christmas. Christmas to them was an extra helping of rice at the meal of the day. They love the lights and the big blow up lawn santas and snowmen. The lights amaze them. Driving by one houses yesterday they asked me to stop and every time I started driving again they asked me to stop. We put the tree up in the house the day after Thanksgiving. The look of joy on their faces was heartwarming.

One child is very materialistic and for her we are focusing on the giving aspect of the holiday. She has never bought anyone a gift before, so it should be interesting.

Personally, we'll be spending about $75-100 on each of the 7 kids currently living with us. We're going to focus on buying gifts that will last a long time and are things they are not expecting. Our organization has supporters who will shower the kids with hundreds of dollars of gifts. We made three lists for each child with about 10 items on each list and those items and a few duplicates will be bought by the supporters.

As for other family members we'll probably just be buying basic food baskets with gourmet foods and things. Probably less than $30 each. We'll be lucky if we can all get together during for a meal. If we can, that's the only gift I want.

We'll be presenting the story of Christ's birth to the kids in multiple ways. Mostly we'll focus on the fulfillment of prophecy and what that meant for people living in the time of his birth.

nonhuman · Nov 30, 2009, 11:22 PM

Originally Posted by dzp111

Christmas screws the hell out of my budget and I'm broke until March!

I hate it.

I 'cancel' Christmas every single year but nobody listens.

Humbug! It's the one time of year I wish I was Jewish.

It doesn't work nearly as well as one might hope.

besson3c · Nov 30, 2009, 11:28 PM

Originally Posted by dzp111

Christmas screws the hell out of my budget and I'm broke until March!

I hate it.

I 'cancel' Christmas every single year but nobody listens.

Humbug! It's the one time of year I wish I was Jewish.

Originally Posted by nonhuman

It doesn't work nearly as well as one might hope.

I know I'm not allowed to say it, and this will get censored, but I must say, this is where strategic kitchen drinking would come in very handy, no?

ghporter · Nov 30, 2009, 11:29 PM

My family tries to keep the "spirit of Christmas" and ignore or at least avoid the commercial aspects as much as possible. This means avoiding much shopping between mid-November and New Year's Day, but that's not such a problem. We give small gifts, and use the holiday to celebrate our being a family, having little to want, and enjoying our liberty. Oh, and we watch a few classics, including "It's a Wonderful Life," "A Charlie Brown Christmas" and "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" (the Chuck Jones/Dr. Seuss animated one, of course).

nonhuman · Nov 30, 2009, 11:31 PM

Originally Posted by besson3c

I know I'm not allowed to say it, and this will get censored, but I must say, this is where strategic kitchen drinking would come in very handy, no?

Fortunately my wife and her family (the ones that won't let me escape Christmas) don't begrudge me drinking anywhere at any time. As long as I don't get too drunk, if you know what I mean...

dzp111 · Nov 30, 2009, 11:36 PM

...and don't get me started on the freakin' jingles.

ghporter · Dec 1, 2009, 08:16 AM

Originally Posted by dzp111

...and don't get me started on the freakin' jingles.

This is one reason I keep a lot of Manheim Steamroller and TSO handy this time of year. Not "popish" at all, and it sure wakes people up when they start hearing it!

besson3c · Dec 1, 2009, 12:51 PM

Originally Posted by ghporter

My family tries to keep the "spirit of Christmas" and ignore or at least avoid the commercial aspects as much as possible. This means avoiding much shopping between mid-November and New Year's Day, but that's not such a problem. We give small gifts, and use the holiday to celebrate our being a family, having little to want, and enjoying our liberty. Oh, and we watch a few classics, including "It's a Wonderful Life," "A Charlie Brown Christmas" and "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" (the Chuck Jones/Dr. Seuss animated one, of course).

One of the best Christmas movies, and I mean this seriously although it might make some eyes roll, Muppet Christmas Carol. It stars Michael Caine and is actually one of the best versions of A Christmas Carol that I know, it's really quite good.

besson3c · Dec 1, 2009, 12:52 PM

Originally Posted by nonhuman

Fortunately my wife and her family (the ones that won't let me escape Christmas) don't begrudge me drinking anywhere at any time. As long as I don't get too drunk, if you know what I mean...

drinking is the word the censors replaced "poop" with.

SpaceMonkey · Dec 1, 2009, 01:07 PM

If you drink wassail you get the side benefit of potentially scoring a few debit cards.

ghporter · Dec 1, 2009, 03:30 PM

Originally Posted by besson3c

One of the best Christmas movies, and I mean this seriously although it might make some eyes roll, Muppet Christmas Carol. It stars Michael Caine and is actually one of the best versions of A Christmas Carol that I know, it's really quite good.

I absolutely agree. Caine is always brilliant, and somehow they managed to make an already chintz-worthy story come across as genuine and affecting. It honestly does make me teary eyed every time I watch it.

andi*pandi · Dec 1, 2009, 03:39 PM

Yep, good movie! The Muppets have another christmas DVD that's more of a variety show... but not as good. "Light the lamp, not the rat!"

I like holiday music, when I CHOOSE to listen to it, which is usually while wrapping presents. It's one of the reasons I like to got to Christmas Eve Mass, everyone singing is beautiful.

This year I'm buying less and trying to buy less crap that will turn into clutter. I also love seeing someone's face when they're surprised.

besson3c · Dec 1, 2009, 04:40 PM

Originally Posted by andi*pandi

Yep, good movie! The Muppets have another christmas DVD that's more of a variety show... but not as good. "Light the lamp, not the rat!"

That's my wife's favorite line too! She's crazy about that line

Shaddim · Dec 1, 2009, 04:56 PM

Usually I give books, lots of books. Amazon is my friend and I'll usually drop-ship >100 books during a Christmas season. This year I'm giving out Kindles to family and friends, I feel the product has matured enough to make a nice gift.

downinflames68 · Dec 1, 2009, 06:37 PM

You must have a lot of money.

residentEvil · Dec 1, 2009, 07:05 PM

or "access" to a box of them

Laminar · Dec 1, 2009, 07:18 PM

Originally Posted by downinflames68

You must have a lot of money.

You must be new here.
<3 you

downinflames68 · Dec 1, 2009, 07:42 PM

Do you quote everything I write? It's touching.

besson3c · Dec 1, 2009, 08:06 PM

I think Cash's Christmas strategy is to get into a fight with Laminar!

wolfen · Dec 1, 2009, 08:06 PM

I've had nothing to do with Christmas since 1986. Just another day to me.

However, this year I have a crisis shift the day after, and that is often the worst day of the year, barring Superbowl Sunday.

My favorite Xmas movie is The Long Kiss Goodnight.

turtle777 · Dec 1, 2009, 09:42 PM

Originally Posted by downinflames68

Do you quote everything I write? It's touching.

Just put him on ignore. I've done that with Dakar, it really served me well.

I guarantee you: you'll never miss anything of substance.

-t

turtle777 · Dec 1, 2009, 09:43 PM

Originally Posted by wolfen

is often the worst day of the year, barring Superbowl Sunday.

I was gonna ask if you're a Lions fan, but that doesn't make sense, since they never go to the Superbowl

-t

besson3c · Dec 1, 2009, 11:59 PM

Originally Posted by turtle777

Just put him on ignore. I've done that with Dakar, it really served me well.

I guarantee you: you'll never miss anything of substance.

-t

Do you have me on ignore?

besson3c · Dec 2, 2009, 01:19 AM

Hello?

Sealobo · Dec 2, 2009, 02:01 AM

two clinically insane people ignoring each other. ha!

CharlesS · Dec 2, 2009, 02:39 AM

Originally Posted by besson3c

II also like the snowy, wintery, beautiful part of the season

Unfortunately, we don’t seem to be getting much of that. Heck, it’s December, and the temperature was 50 degrees today. Something’s wrong.

besson3c · Dec 2, 2009, 03:18 AM

Originally Posted by CharlesS

Unfortunately, we don’t seem to be getting much of that. Heck, it’s December, and the temperature was 50 degrees today. Something’s wrong.

I blame global cooling.

Laminar · Dec 2, 2009, 10:39 AM

Originally Posted by besson3c

Do you have me on ignore?

I do.

besson3c · Dec 2, 2009, 01:15 PM

That's okay, I have you on ignore too.

andi*pandi · Dec 2, 2009, 02:50 PM

The ignore list: part of the holiday spirit.

osiris · Dec 2, 2009, 02:59 PM

I have myself on the ignore list.

besson3c · Dec 2, 2009, 03:19 PM

I have everybody but myself on ignore.