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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 14 of 14. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by shar on November 25, 2003, at 20:45:58
Sorry for the cynicism. I guess it's just 'where I'm at' these days.
I do hope all my friends here have good holidays, and, at the very least, will take care of themselves, even if that means not going 'home.'
xoxo
Shar
Posted by Phil on November 26, 2003, at 8:37:17
In reply to Happy Horrordays, Everyone!, posted by shar on November 25, 2003, at 20:45:58
For the last three xmas' and Thanksgiving I've sat at home with my cat. For those who actually enjoy these holidays, have a good time. For the rest of us, enjoy your peanut butter and jelly.
AND shar, please give me a call at home and leave your # so I can call you. Mucho importante'. I'll be checking messages from hell(work).Thanks!!!
Posted by shar on November 26, 2003, at 18:16:17
In reply to Re: Happy Horrordays***shar see message***, posted by Phil on November 26, 2003, at 8:37:17
My number is the same it's always been--OMG YOU HAVEN'T LOST IT HAVE YOU???????!!!!!!!!!!
At any rate it's your friend's prefix who lives in the same area I do, and ends in 1056. Did you call a few days ago and get a weird message by a guy? Well, that's the right number.
If I call you at hell now, you'll be gone for the holidays!
I'm sending you an email.
Shar
Posted by Rach on November 27, 2003, at 20:44:53
In reply to Happy Horrordays, Everyone!, posted by shar on November 25, 2003, at 20:45:58
Hi shar,
I actually love Christmas. It's probably less stressful for me - I don't have to cook, we don't have Thanksgiving, all that. I love the food (my butt does not), I love getting together with the fam (we only do a small Chrissie. Now that my last grandparent died this year, it'll be Mum, Dad, Bro & partner, Sis & partner, me and the dog!), and I love love love love giving people their presents!
I hate Christmas carols, I hate the busy busy shopping centres and roads (I've bought all but 2 presents already), and I find getting presents really stressful sometimes. I hate it that sometimes, no matter how well people know you, sometimes they get you completely wrong presents (I don't mean to sound petty, I just mean when you're given something you'd never in a million years use, like a fluro orange tube top), and I stress about having to act like I love it, that they spent so much money, all that stuff.
But I love giving presents! Fun.
I hope everyone else has the type of holidays they wish for.
Love Rach
Posted by shar on November 28, 2003, at 14:36:08
In reply to Re: Happy Horrordays, Everyone!, posted by Rach on November 27, 2003, at 20:44:53
Rach,
I've always found that an enthusiastic "oh, how interesting" followed by an enthusiastic "you're so creative!" handles most awful gifts.I worked a bit in retail, and I found that people don't tend to think about who they buy for. When I was working and a fella wanted to buy large hoop earrings for his gal, I'd ask..."well, is this what she usually wears?" and it was a great help. People (and the 'why' escapes me) don't tend to think about what people wear or buy for themselves, but people buy what THEY like.
Sometimes with a beau and lingerie that's ok (and will be temporary), but generally I wonder what the heck people are thinking!
Take care, and it's good to see your name here! I do hope you have a lovely time this Christmas.
Shar
P.S. OTOH, there are people (like my mom) who are just impossible to buy for...and in that case, I would always advise a "whatever" attitude--as in whatever you can afford.
Posted by NikkiT2 on November 28, 2003, at 17:22:43
In reply to Re: Happy Horrordays, Everyone! » Rach, posted by shar on November 28, 2003, at 14:36:08
I emailed a list of stuff I wanted (ranging from £3 for £40) to all my family!! *lmao* Cheeky maybe, but this year, theres stuff I *need* aswel as want! I'm skint, so need cristmas to cover all my DVD and CD's for the year!!
But, I just want it over. Too much money needing to be spent (I got a credit card *sighs* I'm gonna get in trouble again).. family not understanding enough for me to scrimp on them (oh, such a materialistic family), and too many people to fit in and visit.
But this one friend keeps sending me presents in the post.. Its very sweet of her, but I can't afford to reciprocate.. So I feel obliged to buy her something.. which mean I have to buy for the third friend in our trio.. (and I don't even class them friends, cos they just suck off me and never give support back)..
And my nearest shopping is Oxford Street.. which is busiest shopping street in whole of UK.. Even think about it starts the panic.. but I have to face it to buy presents.. else no one gets anything.. Too late to do it online now.No one has invited us for Christmas day, so its just me and J, alone. We're going down to mums the weekend before, and J is coming home on Sunday, but I have to stay till Wednesday as its my Uncles 60th Birthday on 23rd..Plus visiting my Gran who will spend 2 hours making me feel guilty for being a useless grand daughter. Then I'm borrowing mums car for the Christmas period so we can visit people (half the trains in country are down for the entire period!! great idea!), and I get to drive 200 miles home on christmas eve!! Great! So, Christmas Day alone, Boxing day drive to J's brothers (3 hour drive - alot when you barely drive all year) and home that night. Then weekend alone, then up to J's mum for 2 days. Then new Years just the two of us. Then drive mums car home!!
I just can't be bothered with it all this year. Plus, J goes away for a week, to the US for a conference next Saturday, and I am trying SO hard not to think about it. All my insecurities are flooding to the surface, but I know I mustn't let them show.
Wake me up when its January!!
God.. hadn't realised I had moaned quite so much!!
Nikki xx
Posted by noa on November 28, 2003, at 17:26:26
In reply to Re: Happy Horrordays, Everyone! » Rach, posted by shar on November 28, 2003, at 14:36:08
Every year, I'm increasingly disappointed to see how out of control the whole shopping thing becomes. Today is "black friday" because stores finally go from being in the red to being in the black financially (consumers just go further into the red!!). So many stores opened this morning at ungodly hours like 5 or 6 am!!! I try to stay away from stores now if I can.
I don't celebrate Christmas, so I always feel thankful at Thanksgiving that I don't have to do all that shopping madness, but then I remember that I have a bunch of family birthdays around that time. This year, I bought two of them ahead of time (can you believe I did anything *ahead* of time!?!?!) but the rest I still gotta take care of. I'm thinking of getting some nice yarn and creating something for my sister in law. I'm also still behind on some occasions I wanted to give gifts for, but I guess since I'm already behind, I can wait until after the mad holiday rush.
Posted by noa on November 28, 2003, at 17:41:33
In reply to Happy Horrordays, Everyone!, posted by shar on November 25, 2003, at 20:45:58
I had a good TG. I had an extended family celebration to attend in another state that was held in the morning as an elaborate brunch. I went in the day before, spent time with some relatives that evening, and then attended the party yesterday morning. It was very nice--happy, lively, fun, great food (breakfast food--my favorite!) and although it was moderately formal, it wasn't too formal--it still felt relaxed and fun. And, there was a nice tone to it--people gave little speeches that I found very meaningful and I got a nice glimpse of the spiritual life of the branch of the family that were the hosts--I was quite moved, and really felt their happiness in celebrating, especially since they have overcome some major hardships over the years. And, I really liked meeting their friends.
It was over around 1:30 pm. Most people then went on to celebrate with traditional TG feasts that evening, but I used the rest of the day to travel back home on rather traffic-free roads.
All in all I had a good day. I don't really have any particular sentimental attachment to the traditional way of celebrating TG, so having a nice family party, though of a different sort, was a great way for me to spend the day.
And I guess having an atypical family event changes a lot of the dynamics that usually come up with annual rituals, so it was fun and not stressful and just good to see and spend time with people.
Posted by NikkiT2 on November 28, 2003, at 18:27:58
In reply to Re: Happy Horrordays, Everyone!, posted by noa on November 28, 2003, at 17:41:33
Oooh, I love breakfast food too!!!
The first time Julian and I were alone for christmas, I cooked us such a big breakfast / brunch kind if thing, and we didn't eat till midday (cos it took me ages to get everything done!), that we never got round to cooking the christmas dinner!! *lol*
Might do that again this year actually! Mmmm... pancakes, maple syrup, home fries, eggs.. what else?? (Remember his lordship is vegetarian?? Any ideas would be most welcome!
Nikki xx
Posted by noa on November 28, 2003, at 18:44:34
In reply to Re: Happy Horrordays, Everyone! » noa, posted by NikkiT2 on November 28, 2003, at 18:27:58
>Mmmm... pancakes, maple syrup, home fries, eggs.. what else?? (Remember his lordship is vegetarian?? Any ideas would be most welcome!
>
> Nikki xxI'm veggie, too. All those ideas sound good--making me hungry now!
OK--here is a breakfast fantasy:
Maybe start with juice and a small sweet course (fruit slices with a fruit flavored syrup?), followed by a savory course of warm and cold items (mushroom omelet, home fries, and bagel, cr. cheese and fresh slices of veggies?), and then top it off with the sweet course of pancakes and syrup, or french toast with syrup or whipped sweet cream and berries, along with coffee and tea.
Can you tell I'm hungry right now?
Posted by allisonm on November 28, 2003, at 19:09:36
In reply to Happy Horrordays, Everyone!, posted by shar on November 25, 2003, at 20:45:58
Thanks, Shar.
If Thanksgiving is any hint of what Christmas will be like, I think I will skip it this year.
Boyfriend invited my dad over for T-G (a 2-hour drive). The drive about did him in...it was SO FAR away (this was his first time down)! LOL, I reminded him how many times I've driven up just to see HIM (he's always asking when am I'm coming up, when am I coming up, when am I...).
Away from his home and his beloved work, Dad was like a fish out of water the whole time. It was just uncomfortable for all of us. He didn't know what to do with himself. He left early this morning as we were just getting up, saying he needed to get back to work.
That was a blessing.
Posted by judy1 on November 29, 2003, at 12:10:08
In reply to Re: Happy Horrordays, Everyone!, posted by noa on November 28, 2003, at 17:41:33
I'm so glad you had a positive Thanksgiving, I know it's a difficult holiday for a lot of people. It was just our nuclear little family this year- husband, kids and myself to a really nice hotel brunch, so I didn't have to cook or clean up:-) (but no leftovers, darn). The baby had jello in the shape of turkeys and spaghettios-the foundation of a healthy thanksgiving meal- not too far from your PB&J, Phil.
take care all, judy
Posted by noa on November 29, 2003, at 20:37:44
In reply to Re: Happy Horrordays, Everyone! » noa, posted by judy1 on November 29, 2003, at 12:10:08
I bet the baby loved her jello and spaghettios!
I've been trying to focus on what to be thankful for. I don't think about that enough most of the time.
And of course, you guys and Babble is on the list of things I'm thankful for in my life.
Happy Thanksgiving, Judy. happy Thanksgiving Phil, Shar, Rach, Nikki, Allison, everyone!
Posted by shar on November 29, 2003, at 20:47:57
In reply to Re: Happy Horrordays, Everyone! » noa, posted by judy1 on November 29, 2003, at 12:10:08
The baby had jello in the shape of turkeys and spaghettios-the foundation of a healthy thanksgiving meal-
.........hahahahah, thank you for the smile, Judy! I didn't even know they MADE jello in the shape of turkeys!
Shar
This is the end of the thread.
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