On top of all the other Christmas stuff, I’m in (virtual) court most of this week. No “popping out for an ‘errand’ " in the afternoon to do last minute shopping. Finally done on the 22nd.
We’ve pretty much shut down all Christmas stuff except sitting by the fireplace, looking at our Christmas decorations, planning menus for next Christmas, and experimenting with coffee and alcohol combinations. Had planned dinner for 12, but cancelled given Covid, new regulations, and a lack of following protocols by some family members, a serious issue given my compromised immune system. No shopping, nothing, and frankly, part of us is sad and part is deeply, deeply relieved.
It’s an odd feeling (here in England), just waiting for plans to collapse all around us. Nothing is cancelled yet; I expect everything will be.
We were expecting Trep Jr here for Xmas - actually, that may still happen. I can imagine a “two households” rule being in place then.
We were supposed to be going out on Boxing Day (well, it might still be permitted by then, but even if it is, I imagine it will be canned).
We were supposed to be hosting New Years’s Eve (not a chance; but I’m still holding off cancelling it - for now).
Looking like last year already.
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Dreary. Brought the tree in the house, but never bothered to put it up. Weather is gonna be sketchy mid-week. No parties, no company, no nuthin. Just don’t care anymore.
Basically my Christmas plan, sans buying a real tree. I did buy a 12 inch fake one and plopped it down on my dining room table. Didn’t even manage to hang my wreath on my front door.
Oh! Hell No!
I value trees too much to ever kill one for a stoopid fake holiday. I’ve got one in a box. Been using it for about 20 years now, but can’t get excited about actually assembling it.
I had to use up two vacation days last week or lose them. Ditto for the rest of 2021. Coincided very nicely with ski season opening in the Seattle area last tuesday. I’ve been up 3 times already and looking to go snowboarding a fourth time tomorrow morning before hanging out with eldest kidlet visiting from University.
Eldest kidlet kindly spent the first night at home before disappearing today over at a friends place.
No tree this year, but the house is decorated and most of the cookies made. My lovey wife and I are exchanging gifts tomorrow.
Everything’s done - tree/decorations/gifts/wrapping. I’m just hanging around with little to do but watch Netflix and go for walks with the dogs. In other words, heavenly.
Not looking forward to the actual day(s), as it is a competing series of needs and obligations. Lots of my relatives are celebrating alone, do to all the deaths in the last 18 months. I need to be everywhere at once, and had to prioritize based on need/closeness. So celebrating Christmas eve with immediate family, then on the road to try and lift the misery of some in other states (at their request). Christmas and the days following will be spent driving and in the company of grief. While I care deeply about the people, this will be the most miserable holiday on record.
Wha! But Santa hasn’t been!
Lovely real tree has been up for two weeks now. I’ve got 2.5 days work left and it’s really starting to drag. Christmas with my aged parents has been cancelled due to my father having an op and needing to isolate, so it’s just me, my wife and a huge turkey for Christmas Day.
We’ve cancelled new year in Rome due to the uncertain travel situation, so instead we’re due to stay in a cottage on the Isle of Skye with two other couples. Suspect that may get cancelled too.
We had an early Christmas treat booked in a lovely restaurant for this Thursday. They’ve just called to cancel due to an Omnicon outbreak amongst staff. Hey Ho.
We’re doing Christmas Eve breakfast at my daughter’s, so all the gifts for the grands are at her house now. Then Christmas Day with my side of the family in Baltimore - we’ll be driving up there on Saturday morning.
As for the house - no decorations. No baking. No muss, no fuss. We’ve lived here 17 years, and last year was the first time we set up a small tree - I did it for my granddaughter, but she didn’t care. And neither spousal unit nor I need any more sweets, so no cookies or pies. There will be plenty of that at my bro’s place.
Pretty low key overall.
I just ordered the last couple of gifts and they’ll be here on Thursday. I put up a small light string for the first time in about 5 years, so that’s something. I’ll bake on Thursday and then prepare lasagna at my daughters on Friday.
As long as the creek don’t rise. Weather report shows rain for the next 10 days.
We need it so I won’t complain.
It’s the eve of the solstice.
My wife insisted on getting the decorations up over Thanksgiving weekend which I didn’t especially enjoy but now it’s been all done for weeks so that’s nice. Shopping is essentially done unless I have a last minute flash of inspiration. Need to buy a chunk o’ meat for her to cook for Christmas Eve dinner and having a small family brunch at my sister’s on Christmas Day.
It doesn’t feel especially Christmas-y with the weather but, at this point, I can’t remember the last White Christmas in Chicago. Seems like the snow doesn’t fall until January these days.
We put up wreaths on the gate, to keep the neighbors under the impression that we’re nice people. I also put up the tree (fake, prelit) but haven’t hung anything on it.
We’ll cook for everyone on Saturday. Husband gets all “edgy” trying to cook up some haute cuisine, although my family is suitably impressed by eating anything that doesn’t start off by following the instructions on the box. And when I say “edgy”, I mean “acts like a dick”.
I still have one gift to buy, and I know the reason I’m dragging my feet is that I don’t want to do it at all.
It’ll be okay though. I’m never in the mood for Christmas anymore, but it still goes fine.
Whoo boy, let me tell you! Just starting to recover from …not covid…I came down with last weds. Saturday, had to drag myself from the sickbed to deal with a death in the family, and to top it all off, the exthis is where I’d hide all my true opinions about her, but this is a public record accessible to the kid and we’re still fighting in court and her lawyer at least isn’t dumb violated (blatantly imho) the divorce decree and has irreparably wrecked my relationship with my son.
I’m going to do something I haven’t done in years, give a gift. I have a couple of coffee cups, one from each set of Gparents that my neice would just love to have. Gonna box them up and drop them off with her this week I think, and thats my lead in to xmas this year.
I really have come to hate this time of year
Little fake tree up, most presents wrapped (still waiting on a couple last minute things). One batch of cookie dough in the fridge, another to be made shortly. Not actually baking them until Wednesday. Have to make a couple of tray bakes, too.
I’m scheduled for a covid test tomorrow just to feel safe before this weekend.
As of right now, plans are the kids coming Xmas Eve early afternoon. We’ll go to my mom’s house for takeaway dinner and exchange presents with her. Xmas Day morning to my sister’s house for brunch and gifts. We wanted to get them in before they (Sis, her husband and mom) go to my oldest nephew’s house. We declined due to most of that household being of the “It’s fake! Just the flu!” mindset.
We’re going to see Spider-Man in the afternoon, then I’m making curry for dinner. Then we may go see the new Kingsmen movie, or we may just laze around.
They leave Sunday afternoon, I clean the house, then I decompress from being around people.
Nobody told me I got presents on the solstice. I should nip down the road from here to Stonehenge and see if they’re handing them out.
In theory, a good idea. In practice, it’s my understanding that at these limitations points, you may encounter folk who will promise you gifts, take you to a party, then dump you in a field 100 years from now.
I put in to use my remaining four days of use-or-lose vacation next week. But the company is changing vacations. Instead of getting all of your time January 1st, the new scheme is to start accruing vacation hours per pay period. That means that if you’ve used your vacation time before the end of the year, you’re not going to have enough time to take a vacation for months. But we’ll be allowed to carry unused vacation in to 2022, so I’ll carry my four days over so that I’ll have them if I need them.
I sent Christmas cards to a couple of friends near Seattle, and to my sister and her family. I still have to sign Wifey’s card, and sign her ‘To Mom’ card for the cats since they are not good with writing. The Secret Santa gift arrived Sunday, so I need to wrap it. The other part of the gift is in my desk drawer at the office so I’ll need to wrap those mañana. I have a couple of DVDs I need to wrap for The Missus, but the other things are wrapped. One more gift coming for her on Wednesday or Thursday.
The prime (Choice) rib roast for Christmas dinner has been procured. I need to get mushrooms for the escargots, plus other things we’re going to eat.
Snow has been scheduled for Christmas Day.