Ho Ho Ho - The Christmas MMP

Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
1

I’ve always been kind of up and down with Christmas as a holiday. A fairly steady side helping of family drama (thanks, sis) has been a big part of that I guess. You could almost never predict when the day would, at some point, involve some epic scene with her and my dad, or her and I, or her and I THEN my dad and we would end up going at each other like rabid cats.

I think at an early age, I identified with Charlie Brown - Christmas-wise. Until this year, a couple of weeks ago in fact, I considered myself something of a Scrooge. December would roll around, I’d watch the world make their Christmas commercials, have their sales, hang 14,500 lights on their house and whatever else could completely ruin for me by it’s rampant excess – the spirit of Christmas.

It occurred to me though, that, the childhood attachment I had to Charlie Brown is more than just sharing a thing for little red haired girls.

Like Chuck, what I disliked….no, dreaded about the season is the rush, the bustle, the loss of “what it’s really all about”. Being able to come to terms with that has helped immensely. This Christmas finds me calm, relaxed happy and waiting for the Kid to make it down the stairs so we can start destroying paper and ribbons, eat some cinnamon rolls, have coffee and/or hot chocolate. It’s been a longer journey to here than it should be, but I think by next December I’ll be able to stay relaxed and above the mess.

I call it Christmas on my own damn terms – the Wife and the Kid & I have made it a specialty of ours.

It started the first year we had the child. She was 2 weeks old, Christmas day was 4 below, we were almost out of diapers, and did I mention it was Christmas day? So YOU try and go find a store to buy some, ok? Anyway….my folks lived 30 minutes in one direction, my MIL – an hour from them and 45 minutes back to our place. We spent the day packing and unpacking a baby, eating, and driving. We got home and decided we would NEVER do that again. From now on, if people wanted to see us on Christmas Day, THEY could stop in.

Except for one year when my cousin hosted something for a bunch of us, it’s been that way every year since. We’re not inhospitable, we’ve had people over – but we stay put. Usually in the evening, a couple friends come by, lately the Kid’s friends come by for what’s become an annual tradition of me whipping them in a rousing game of Scene It.

Since it’s often just the three of us, clothing is casual. Casual, as in sweatpants and flannel shirts or t-shirts. We feel no particular obligation to ‘traditional’ holiday menus either. We’ve had duck (….”Chinese turkey!!”), pork tenderloins, ribs, tamales….this year by acclimation we’ll be having lasagna, big piles of garlic bread and salad. The Kid and I have cheesecake for dessert, Wife has her trademark vanilla ice cream with Godiva Chocolate liqueur drizzled over.

There is also of course, beer - The Official Beverage of Christmas TM

So, for a change, I’m looking forward to the actual thing, and not just to it being all over and done with. Which is kinda nice, I hope this lasts.
**
Merry Christmas** to all you cool kids celebrating today, and happy whatever else or just plain old seasons greetings (and Happy Monday!!) to anyone whose particular belief system leaves them with nothing particular to call today.*

  • I ought put that on a card, it’s so non-demoninational!
2

Great post, MBG, and I get to be first! Woohoo!

I know what you mean about Christmas, I went off the whole thing a long time ago. My dad was ill over Christmas and died a few days into the new year (but that was over 20 years ago) and since then the whole season has lost its sparkle. We dreaded the first Christmas after his death, he left such a gaping hole in our lives, we were quite sure it would never be the same again. And it wasn’t. But it was ‘different’.

One thing I’ve always hated about it was the rampant commercialism, the way that people who don’t have enough money to pay their bills will get themselves into ridiculous amounts of debt with credit cards and loans, just so that the the children can have the latest designer stuff they’ve been pestering their parents for. We never had much money as a family, but my parents firmly believed that if you couldn’t afford it, you couldn’t have it. It’s a good principle to grow up with, it taught me the value of money and the benefits of a good budget!

So now it’s Christmas again, I’m sitting here in my jammies knowing that nobody’s going to call in and I don’t have to go anywhere else. I’ve swapped texts with a load of friends, we’ve got a couple of bottles of champagne in the fridge for later, a pile of trashy films, and a selection of very unfestive food to wade through.

Tomorrow I’m driving us up to Scotland to visit ‘im indoors’ parents and a couple of his friends. That’ll be fun! The trip should take about seven hours if the motorways are clear and there aren’t any bumps and scrapes.

Have a happy one, Cool Kids!

3

Merry Christmas everyone, now I’m off to go pickup da’ nana.

4

Don’t have time yet to read the OP – we’ve been “surprised” by being informed that we’re being picked up about two hours before we said we’d be ready. Grr. But, I wanted to post anyway:


****** MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY HOLIDAYS! ******

I’ll be back this evening to catch up.

5

And another Merry Christmas. Been a long couple of days. My Wife and I are now going over to groom my Dads dog and clip her tonails and such. So that will be Charus X-mas present.

6

14,500 lights? We’re up to 14,500 lights now??? Damn. I keep getting further and further behind every year … :smack:

Kinda new to this MMP thingy (I’m usually on the road and 120 miles from this 'puter at this time on mondays), so I hope I don’t violate any unwritten rules.

The wife and I gave up on trying to please everyone else some 18 years ago. We ‘homebody’ the whole season, (with the exception of the Annual Family Drama Play ™ on the second Saturday of December. Even that has become less of a chore over the years. This season has, instead become more about sharing time with our daughters and the grandkids.

Right now, my wife is still asleep, my eldest daughter and her, aaahhhh, (significant other?) and their dog (and our dogs) are asleep on our livingroom floor. Our other daughter and her, aaahhhh (significant other?) and 2 of the grandkids will be here in about 2 hours for the annual paper flinging thingy. The horses, dogs, cats and other critters have all been fed and I have a few quiet minutes to log in here and express a couple of thoughts.

First, to all ye who must labor today (even if this is not your particular religious holiday) I offer my sincere thanks. A few minutes ago I was out feeding the animals and enjoying a smoke and, being a Professional Driver myself, I could not help but notice all the big rigs rolling down I-80 this morning making sure that the goods they are transporting will be where they need to be when we need them. MBG, I’m certain that you understand what I’m saying here. So many of us get to enjoy this time off with our families and friends, I thought it might be nice to remember all those who labor today that our lives might be a little simpler tomorrow.

And:

To all you who have chosen to make our little on-line community such a warm and comfortable place to be: Thanks. The time I get to spend here is precious to me.

May this day and all those that follow find you and those you love safe and happy and healthy …

I hope that all the joy of this season finds its way into your homes, and tags along with you throughout your life.

Lucy

7

MERRYCHRISTMAS!!!

Great OP MBG. Thanks for hosting this week’s MMP. With so many of us scattered hither, tither and yon, there might not be a whole lotta posts. We’ll make up for it the rest of the week though. :smiley: If I had had a family of my own and such I’d be doin’ just what you do. Chillin’ at home with your wife and kid makes all the sense in the world.

Welcome LucyInDisguise. You can’t violate any rules of etiquette here cause we have no rules. Well, except to hijack the OP to heck and back. I’m with ya on thanking all those who are working today to keep the essential stuff goin’ on.

Ok, gotta get outta here. I’m sneakin’ this post in from my sis’s puter.

Later Cool Kids!

8

Merry Christmas! I have my Cornish Hen defrosting for dinner tonight. I’ll give the folks a call later. I went to Midnight Mass, which has become the be all and end all of Christmas for me. At least sitting in a a quiet church at 11p.m. is more fun than a 15 hour day of being cursed and trampled at work. Have a good day, drive safe, and remember, if the bird is still moving, it ain’t done yet. :slight_smile:

Lucy, welcome! I had a roommate put 1000 mini lights on a 4 foot tree. You could warm a room with the heat from that sucker. :eek:

9

Merry Christmas everyone! And welcome, Lucy!

I’ve always loved Christmas, although after we moved to Korea it was never quite the same. Christmas is always a bit underwhelming in Korea. This Christmas is my first away from my family and it could be any other day of the year, for all the Christmas spirit I’m feeling.

But it’s not too bad. I’ve been spending the past few days watching my cousins play Texas Hold 'Em and trying to learn the game (I’ve never played poker in my life). On Saturday we played drinking games and got pretty thoroughly trashed. Much fun.

Hope everyone is having a more exciting Christmas than I am!

10

We had planned since August (which was when we bought the tickets) to go to my wife’s mother’s place for Christmas, almost clear across the country. But when we got to the check-in counter on Friday, after walking almost a mile (no shuttles, another thread), and swiped our E-Ticket, we learned that delays into Chicago meant we would miss our connection.

This meant that, if we boarded, we would join four million other people on stand-by status at one of the world’s busiest airports during one of the busiest fly-times of the year. No airline would have had two seats on the same plane, even if we doubled down our money and flew direct or something.

We came home. When Edlyn called her mom from the car, it was one of three times in my whole like that I’ve seen her cry.

11

Merry Christmas and Seasons Greetings to ALL of you!

Great OP, MBG. I’m kind of with you on the whole “not feeling it” Christmas vibe. As a kid, Christmas lost its luster when my parents divorced. My mom tried; even with the very, very little she had, she always gave us a Christmas. It just never felt the same, though. Although, I must say we always celebrated on Christmas Eve. Christmas Eve dinner was bratwurst from the German deli, sauerkraut, some good German rye bread, and German mock dark beer for us kids. It was very tasty. That really was my favorite part of the Christmas.
As an adult, the very best part of Christmas, and the only part I look forward to, is seeing my kids’ faces when they unwrap their presents. They are truly great kids and are as equally pleased and thrilled with the little gifts as they are with the “big” gifts.

The husband and I did the whole back and forth thing a couple of times between his parents and my mother. That well and truly sucked. We put our foot down after a few years of that.

Eventually, Christmas evolved into doing Christmas Eve at his parents’ place, with my mom invited. The crowds at MIL’s place (sadly, we lost FIL 10 years ago) have swollen and waned as the years have past. At one time, there were so many people at her house, I dreaded going there because I always left with a headache. Screeching kids, etc. The crowds shrunk back some and now are starting to grow again with great-grandkids showing up.

Christmas Day is always done at my house. Now, with my Dad and step-mother living near us, they come over too. My half-sister also comes. So, now the crowds are growing at my home. When my husband was an OTR driver-trainer, he sometimes brought his students home with him. Various people have sat at my Christmas dinner throughout the years. This year, there were going to be sixteen of us, but now it’s shrunk down to 12 or 13.

I envy you the nice quiet holiday without all the trappings. I’ve never had that as an adult. I am well and truly looking forward to a nice quiet, stay in my Christmas jammies, just hubby, kids and I, holiday. I’m not sure that will happen while the kids are still at home, but I can hope.

Soon, I’ll start my last minute washing floor stuff, clean myself up, and put my prime rib roast in the oven. I’ll set out stuff for appetizers, and make some appetizers. This will be my only quiet time today, and I’m very appreciative of that.

I hope you all enjoy a peaceful, warm, and joyous holiday.

I’m not sure I’ll be back today. So holiday hugs and smooches to all of you!

12

I’m sorry, Liberal, that really stinks.

Merry Christmas! The bird is in the oven (my life lesson on de-stressing is a pre-stuffed heretical turkey). I couldn’t get back to sleep after putting said bird in the oven, so I just lay in bed, safe and warm and cosy, with a little dog to scritch behind the ears and the reassuring heft of a husband beside us. The dog sniggled and snuggled and gave lots of ‘kisses’. Then I got up as sleep wasn’t going to return.

I have tea and toast, but CBC radio is curiously silent! I guess no one’s around at the station to turn the music on? So there’s NPR playing something festive and classical. A nice start to what is going to be a nice day. And the rain even stopped while I was abed and it’s going to be a bright day.

My husband’s cousin and family will be coming to our place for dinner and bringing delicious vegetables. Suzanne has a much nicer touch with vegetables than I do. We will probably eat too many cookies, nuts and chocolates on the run-up to dinner, but that’s okay. There’s a bottle of red and a bottle of white, if anyone’s inclined. If the kids, their two little girls, get a little hyper, I’ll suggest we walk the dog, and we’ll get some fresh air and exercise that way, and my husband can turkey-sit.

I am looking forward to having the kids here, because darn it, Christmas is for kids, and no matter how you dress the dog, it’s not the same. :slight_smile: (The dog got a lovely winter coat for Christmas to wear when it’s chilly. She’s a heat-lover, so I don’t feel horrible about making her wear a silly coat.)

The dog got to open her presents early (my husband comes from a family that did the midnight dinner and opening thing) but we will open ours this morning, when he wakes up.

Christmas isn’t the same without our mothers, though. This is the time of year that I miss my mother most, more than Mother’s Day, more than her birthday. I have her recipe cards, and seeing familiar and much-appreciated dishes written out in her handwriting is a bittersweet memento. The stuff I make with my mother’s recipes tastes almost the same, but it isn’t the same, you know?

My mother went overboard at Christmas, and I miss that, too, greedy little thing I am. She loved to shop, and Christmas was a great excuse to spend too much money on everyone. We had stockings alone that would suffice most people for their entire loot haul. I will always remember opening up our stockings on Christmas morning, and finding enough wonderful things in there to keep us occupied and content until the folks rose. We usually got lots of fun little things, along with toothbrushes, deodorant, fancy sticky notes, batteries, nifty pens, candy, a paperback book and a ‘year-end’ magazine like a People or something. And always, always, tucked into the toe would be a mandarin orange.

I miss you mum and dad. Time to make some new traditions and continue the old and remember that love and kindness are the most important things of the day.

And turkey. Mm… I can smell the turkey now… Only seven more hours to go!

13

Hello, all. I, too, am somewhat melancholy today. It’s not that Xmas wasn’t nice-it was. I am off to work soon, and work again in the morning.

All I want to do is sleep. I am bone tired-I don’t do a huge feast or major decorating etc-so I guess it’s emotional stress for me. Sure, it’s nice that I offered to go in (and I’m ok with that)-thing is, if I hadn’t, I still wouldn’t get that nap–I just saw my family off to my MILs. In a way, it was selfish of me to offer to come in for my coworker-because my MILs is like the third circle of hell for me. Why do we do this to ourselves?

I so envy those who have Just Said No to the insanity. But, it’s not like I could just relax this afternoon anyway…

Dunno why this has me reflective and weepy and melancholy, but it does.

Christmas service was nice last night. The kids were pleasantly surprised by their gifts. I had a nice time. I got thoughtful gifts as well.

what the hell is wrong with me?
Well, to all who have struggled in the past with Xmas cheer and to all who have wonderful Christmases…Merry Christmas and God Bless You, one and all. (channelling Tiny Tim-or something)

14

I’m another one who really misses Mom at Christmas. (Well, all the time but more at Christmas.) I was an only child and Mom spoiled me rotten. Mr. SCL, bless 'is heart, is kinda hit or miss in the gift giving department. This year was a very strange looking necklace that I’m sure he paid entirely too much for.

He’s at work until 7 tonight, so I’m sitting here with the cats. I’ll go putter off to work on some beads in a bit.

Hope everyone has a Merry Christmas!

15

I’d like to be with my Mom on Christmas, but that would also mean enduring my 4 siblings, 4 inlaws and 8 niece- and nephlets. Not fun for me. FetchSpouse’s family is even huger. Luckily, both sets are at least 3 states away, and understand us not being there.

Years ago, FetchSpouse and I decided to be the “Holiday Refuge” house - everybody we know well (and all attached dogs) has a standing invite to do any and all holidays here at The Pines. That way, no matter how early anyone’s family tries to drag them into the Holiday Fiasco, they can always say they already have an obligation.

So, we will have 4 extra humans, 2 Standard Poodles and a Corgi joining us for dinner. It is a group that makes me laugh, so I’m sure we will have fun. I’m cooking a Roast Leg of Lamb. MMMMMM!

Happy Holidays to All, from Fetch, FetchSpouse, Gavia, Corbi, Wren and Phoebe.

16

Merry Christmas everyone!

I’m so glad NPR is doing some regular programming. I love Christmas music, but I want my Neal Conan!

After putting the bird in the oven this a.m. (in a bag, it was kinda dry last year), I listened to a very nice recording of A Christmas Carol.

Waited for hubby to wake up – he worked last night – so I could open the last-minute gifts he picked up for me. I think he shopped at a truck stop. :slight_smile: There were two little crystal thingies, one saying “I Love You”, and a little black stuffed dog wearing a holiday cap. He’s having my car detailed for me, but he decided at the last minute that I needed “something to open”.

A friend/neighbor popped in with gifts at about noon. They have a houseful with kids and grandkids and extra dogs, but we’ll stop over and see them later anyway, just to see how we all look standing sideways in the kitchen.

Two of hubby’s sons are coming over later for dinner – granddaughters later this week, because they’re with their mom. We’ll see hubby’s daughter and family later tonight. They just bought a house and have spent their Christmas break moving.

Daughter and BF came over last night. We ate lasagna and opened gifts and watched the first episode of SNL on the DVD. Daughter went nuts over the Springsteen book she got – watching her being happy made me happy, because she’s had trouble with Christmas ever since her grandma and uncle died. Her brothers are in Seattle so we haven’t had a whole family Christmas for about 20 years.

It’s been a good day. Glad to hear that it’s been the same for most of us.

eleanorigby, there’s nothing wrong with you – it was nice of you to work for someone, even if you did have an ulterior motive. You did a good thing for a co-worker. Can’t beat that!

17

To the MMPers–

For my very own Christmas present to myself this year, I signed up! I’ve been lurking for over a year, and I feel that I know all of you–I’ve been following all the good and bad times, all of the comedy and tragedy, to the point of having to check in to see the outcome of what has been left hanging.

I just wanted to wish all a Happy Whatever-You-Celebrate, and to say a very big THANK YOU for making a really icky year a heck of a lot happier.

(Does anyone else feel so much pressure about making your first post really sing?)

18

Welcome! I am glad you stopped in. I don’t even remember my first post, but it didn’t sing. I think it just mumbled.
P.S. I hope you sent the required offerings. If you’ve been lurking, you know you don’t want to be on The List.

19

The prime rib roast beast is in the oven, and the house smells goooooooood.

All the last minute cleaning is done and I’ve taken my shower. All that’s left now is to fix my hair and face, fix up the rest of the munchie plates, and get the potatoes ready to boil.

The roast should be done around 3:00 or 3:30. The guests arrive at 2:00.

The looks on my kids’ faces this morning were priceless and they were well and truly pleased with what we had given them for Christmas. That alone is worth all the stress.

For those of you feeling melancholy, please accept an extra big hug from me.

20

I don’t recall my first post either, I’m sure it was mundane and pointless though…

Who knew there was a Friends Scene It?

At least the child got to win a game against the folks. You really have to know your Friends to win this game. I made a comeback and won the TCM version. Now we’re snacking on, lessee…salmon pate, taco dip, olives, and pepperoni & provolone. Any moment now, I’ll get the inertia to start preparing lasagna.

Uh, yeah - three of us.

Urp.