JCC guys it's almost christmas

yeah that was kinda nice of them

i usually just buy for close family myself. so parents and brothers. but my grandmothers been helping me out a lot this year with dog sitting and stuff so i should get her something nice too. hmm

 

I usually only buy for my son and dad. Everybody else gets a card and a phone call.

 

My family is easy: we all need $. I usually pay bill(s) for mom and take her out and send $ to the sisters.

I did mention taking sis, her husband, mom and I to see the Force Awakens and then go out to eat. It's not so much about things any more, but family time is a commodity. It's always great to have a good time. I never did pay sis back for taking me to see Raiders of the Lost in theaters way back when, so it's about time I did something about that.

 

We do that too. I also buy stuff for people under the age of 18, because Christmas.

 

i've only recently discovered the importance of nice decorations. i've always been a very practical person and thought that less stuff is easier and i never really noticed all the candles and pictures and stuff that people have around their houses anyway. but then, after having lived in this rather big and empty apartment for a while i got all sad and **** and didn't like coming home. didn't know why. i've lived by myself for years, just haven't had all this space before. so then i started decorating and i actually can stand my own place now. i actually bought my first plant ever today. a cactus, cus i mean.. let's be realistic. even then i was a bit sceptical, but the lady behind the counter assured me that there's only one possible way to kill this plant, and that is by giving it too much water, so i think we're good.

aaaanyways. now i've decided that i'm all about christmas. cus i've always loved christmas. but since i won't be meeting family till laate (possible on the afternoon of the 24th) i should get it a bit christmasy here too so i won't be so sad about having to be alone for the most of december. and yeah, money and student budgets and **** means i'm starting now.

so i'm trying to put together a list of stuff that gives me christmas spirit like candles, cookie recipes, music, decorations, etc. i can't wait to get it all christmasy and stuff here.

 

I used to decorate but now I have cats and they eat everything and then vomit on the carpet. I'm turning into a Grinch. Sorry about that zapdos.

 

Oh Christmas.... When 100 people show up at the house and stay for 5 hours talking about the same stuff over and over again. Currently I can't get anyone anything for Xmas haha so I usually sit down and write out cards and tell them not to get me anything but they do and I end up feeling guilty. Pie's good though.

 

Is it almost LloydChristmas though?

 

I have this purple-glitter Christmas tree I put up every year. Looking at it makes me very happy.

 

Gtfo

 

U 1st.

 

Vince Guaraldi and I are going to pretend you didn't say that.

No, I love Christmas in a more traditional way, as the birth of Jesus. I don't get caught up in a lot of the gift-buying hype. I buy something for my mom and that's about it. And my dog, not that he gives a flying **** about either Jesus or the gift. He ends up eating the box or something. I like the weather; it really doesn't feel like Christmas when it's hot and sunny to me. But even as a Christian, I don't really like read the Christmas story or go to a Christmas Eve service or anything. It's kind of just a time for me to meditate on the spiritual things that are important to me. But then I try to do that anyway. I guess I'm saying I don't celebrate at all really. There are certain kinds of Christmas music I like and will listen to; haven't done that for a couple of years though.

Charlie Brown Christmas is like one of the only things I try to do every year. That melancholy nihilism giving way to a gentle reminder about faith while kids and dogs do hilarious jazz dances in the background: it's right in my (very weird) wheelhouse.

 

I don't do anything festive. No parties, lights, decorations, or any of that beyond getting people stuff. I would also rather not travel but when I do, it is usually just a few hours drive. While browsing Amazon throughout the year, I add stuff to a Wish List designated a Gift List, but then I still find myself trying to decide what to buy the few people in my life while still browsing around. I do not go to stores to shop during that season. I have yet to accomplish doing all this in a timely stress-free manner. Last year I had a Christmassy cake (several cupcakes together in the shape of a Christmas tree) made at a bakery. I think it was about $30 and that was my present to the relatives I was visiting, whomever stopped by. So with that plus whatever I bought my parents while Amazon shopping on my phone as the battery died, I think I spent less than $100. I just have a problem visiting other relatives and sending cards on time.

 

Christmas shopping is nearly done!

The Bigger Fish pitched a major fit when I asked him what he wanted for Christmas (right after his birthday), so I may have to wait a while to buy his gift...

 

For me, the two biggest components of Christmas are the decorations and the music. I hate most contemporary Christmas music, but the classic songs sung well in the classic style -- not reinterpreted by one of Will Smith's children or whatever -- are always a delight. A quick search of Youtube turns up some of my favorites -- Bing Crosby, Nat King Cole, Frank Sinatra, and Dean Martin. Some Christmasy movies are always a good way of getting in the spirit, too -- our particular family tradition is It's a Wonderful Life.

Also, a tip on decorations if you want to get the most out of your money: if you get less overtly Christmas-themed stuff -- Santas and reindeer -- and more seasonal stuff -- snowmen and snowflakes -- you can keep the wintery stuff up all winter.

 

What if I told you that the date of Dec. 25 is actually a compromise made by the Vatican with Paganists already celebrating the date as the Winter Solstice, and that some of the most cherished Christmas traditions such as wreaths, holly, Christmas Trees (and the decoration of them), and mistletoe came from paganism.

 

Zapdos this is among the most glorious things you have ever done on these message boards.

 

Dude, it's 2015. He knows.

 

I never assume somebody knows something. I've gotten in enough arguments to learn that lesson thd hard way. Just because I went through college doesn't mean I know algebra by heart. In fact, I know just enough math to get me though my day to day life.

 

Started working OT to help out with X-mass.