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I hate Christmas.

dexterq20

Turbo Monkey
Mar 6, 2003
3,442
1
NorCal
No, I'm not Jewish or Muslim or Buddhist. No, I'm not poor or underprivileged. No, my family is not a bunch of trailer-trash alcoholics. But I still hate Christmas. Bah humbug.
 

manimal

Ociffer Tackleberry
Feb 27, 2002
7,212
17
Blindly running into cactus
i'm pretty happy, minus the ginormous mess in the living room from 3 kids tearing into presents today and the 5 million twist ties that hold everything together in packages. :twitch:

it's all good here...i got call of duty 4!!
 

dexterq20

Turbo Monkey
Mar 6, 2003
3,442
1
NorCal
I think working retail really helps you become bitter about it all
How right you are. Even working in a bike shop, the whole holiday rush puts things in an entirely different (read: crappy) perspective.

I think it's also frustrating because every year I tell my family that I don't want anything for Christmas (and I really mean it), and instead of just listening to me and maybe giving me something generic and small like a Best Buy gift card or whatever, they go out and buy me all kinds of ridiculous books and CDs and clothes that I will never use, and it just shows me that they don't have a clue about who I am, what I do, or what I would possibly want/need. It really makes Christmas a pretty miserable time of year for me.
 
The thing i hate is people coming in 10 minutes before you close on Christmas eve and thinking hey its the holidays they will stay open late for me. I made sure those doors were locked at close everyday last week except once and i paid dearly for it. I basically told people when the door was locked and they were banging on the door, "hey, just because you didnt plan better for the holidays doesnt mean that I have to pay for it." the funny thing is both my bosses agreed.
 
Mar 23, 2006
141
0
NoVA/ Richmond
The thing i hate is people coming in 10 minutes before you close on Christmas eve and thinking hey its the holidays they will stay open late for me. I made sure those doors were locked at close everyday last week except once and i paid dearly for it. I basically told people when the door was locked and they were banging on the door, "hey, just because you didnt plan better for the holidays doesnt mean that I have to pay for it." the funny thing is both my bosses agreed.
Amen. I worked at a bike shop during the Holidays last year, and vowed never to do it again. So far I've lived up to it!
 

Lady Gravity

Chimp
Jul 1, 2004
88
0
Mtnbike Mecca
I think it's also frustrating because every year I tell my family that I don't want anything for Christmas (and I really mean it), and instead of just listening to me and maybe giving me something generic and small like a Best Buy gift card or whatever, they go out and buy me all kinds of ridiculous books and CDs and clothes that I will never use, and it just shows me that they don't have a clue about who I am, what I do, or what I would possibly want/need. It really makes Christmas a pretty miserable time of year for me.
i totally agree with you, but my issue isn't my family (there's only my mom and she gives me $$ now) it's my co-workers. geez what's wrong with a bottle of wine (if anything). one of my co-workers gave me a 4cup coffee maker - i already drink coffee AND the one i have is double the capacity. good thing there's a gift receipt. oh and i specifically told her NO GIFT. ugh. i just gave her a gift card to a store she likes.
 

blue

boob hater
Jan 24, 2004
10,160
2
california
I'm with you, Ben. I like getting together with family and eating and drinking, but the stress and the rush and the spending just...it really gets on my nerves and kills the whole "spirit" of the thing.
 

Spunger

Git yer dumb questions here
Feb 19, 2003
2,257
0
805
You think you have it scrooge, I'm born on Christmas Eve..........so Christmas has never been a great day as it's 2 days of presents. When I was younger it was no big deal...........now that I am older it's like what's so Marry about Christmas?

The music gets on my nerves, the idiots out shopping is no better, plus I'm always trying for find meaningful gifts for people. If it has no meaning then why buy it? It's just wasting your money and time, and the other person knows that you didn't put thought into it.

This years non-thoughtful gift........a starbucks ornament for our tree. I don't even drink coffee........so how in the world would someone think to get a ornament? Things like that drive me NUTS.

Hang in there, it's already over with so you have another year to go..........but I agree with you, it is most of the time over-rated in a big way.
 

geargrrl

Turbo Monkey
May 2, 2002
2,379
1
pnw -dry side
I'm with you, Ben. I like getting together with family and eating and drinking, but the stress and the rush and the spending just...it really gets on my nerves and kills the whole "spirit" of the thing.
So don't do it. Seriously - if the money craziness gets to you, don't get sucked into it. It makes the holidays so much nicer not to worry about potential debt, did I spend enough on so-and-so, well they bought me something so I have to buy them something, keeping up with other's spending and so on.

We decided years ago to not play that game. It's such a relief once you decide that you really don't give a sh*t if your in laws poopoo your gift because it doesn't meet their idea of what's appropriate. It's a refreshing feeling to not have to worry about January credit card bills if they don't exist.

Co-worker buying someone a coffee maker? Man, if my office was like that I'd just beg out and say" sorry we are on a budget this year" and get everyone a Toblerone bar. I've never gotten the co-worker thing.

Starbucks Xmas ornament. That is so lame....
 

laura

DH_Laura
Jul 16, 2002
6,259
15
Glitter Gulch
So don't do it.
This is how we are. We don't do gifts, especially not for people we barely know, like co-workers. I opted out of secret santa every year at work. People thought I was a stick in the mud but I just didn't think it was fun. No one did, that was the issue. Everybody always got someone they didn't know or didn't like and no one ever had fun doing it.

This year TN and I didn't do gifts for each other. Christmas eve was spent visiting neighbors and friends and christmas day was spent baking cookies and being lazy and it was relaxing. There was no pressure to go shopping and we saved a ton of money. It's been the best christmas so far.
 

daisycutter

Turbo Monkey
Apr 8, 2006
1,651
124
New York City
I love xmas. I have a 2 year old who makes christmas fun. But I love visiting family and just chilling. I shop around august and have most things done in advance. That way I stay out of the shopping hysteria. I work in New York City in the foster care system and see the results of parents beating and mistreating their children all the time. Almost every day we place 25 children into fostercare. To me a little commercial fakery looks good next to that. Last year my friend got he sons presents stolen on xmas eve. A couple buds and I got together and were able to buy new ones for the kid before the stores closed. The kid never new about the theft and he is so happy, Thats real and the magic of xmas. Xmas is what you make it.
 

Westy

the teste
Nov 22, 2002
54,225
20,003
Sleazattle
Not doing it is easier said then done. I've and begged my father not to exchange gifts and he still does. Last year I didn't buy gifts and felt like a real dick when they still ended up getting me something.

Every year I end up getting gifts from friends I would never even think would do so. And it is usually cash or a gift certificate, it makes no sense. Once again I end up feeling like an asshole because I have nothing in return. I might as well just hand them back a $20 bill and say We just exchanged equivalent values of cash, Merry Christmas. It is ridiculous.

This is why Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday. The whole point is to just get together with friends and family and hang out. No pressure to do anything else except be nice to each other.
 

MountainDrew

Monkey
Aug 15, 2007
471
0
I got to spend the day with my in-laws, who like to go way overboard for Christmas. Durning the gif exchange, one the the aunts went in her purse, pulled out a wad of 20's and passed them out saying Merry Christmas. It was a long day of who could one up each other with the best present for the brat kids in the family. Then everyone gets drunk and argues. Makes for a wonderful day.

My wife and I dont really do the gift exchange thing but I did get her a couple little things. A fancy new toothbrush, a new razor (and I am not trying to drop any hints you evil monkeys), a DVD and a cd. That was more then enough.

On a positive note, while walking the dogs with the father-in-law, its seems he has the same attitude as me. Next year he just want to have us and my brother in law and his wife. Just the 6 of us and have a nice relaxing day. Sounds like a plan to me!
 

geargrrl

Turbo Monkey
May 2, 2002
2,379
1
pnw -dry side
Not doing it is easier said then done. I've and begged my father not to exchange gifts and he still does. Last year I didn't buy gifts and felt like a real dick when they still ended up getting me something.

Every year I end up getting gifts from friends I would never even think would do so. And it is usually cash or a gift certificate, it makes no sense. Once again I end up feeling like an asshole because I have nothing in return. I might as well just hand them back a $20 bill and say We just exchanged equivalent values of cash, Merry Christmas. It is ridiculous.

This is why Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday. The whole point is to just get together with friends and family and hang out. No pressure to do anything else except be nice to each other.
I'm going to edit what I posted a bit ago. We do get gifts for family, but not big ones. We don't bag out of gift giving completely, but we do focus only on family and not on getting sucked into the games that go along with it. And we do try to put a little thought into it - but not to the point of exceeded our budget for the holidays which we keep very small. Especially when you know you can't win (snarky, rich inlaws who never say thank you come to mind)

you gotta do what works for you - but not if it makes you feel crappy when it's all over.
 

LordOpie

MOTHER HEN
Oct 17, 2002
21,022
3
Denver
Thanksgiving Rocks!

When it gets corrupted with consumerism, capitalism, any kind of gism... I'm going on a shooting rampage.
 

firemandivi

They drank my Tooters
Sep 7, 2006
784
-1
a state called denial
I had a 4-day weekend thanks to the pagan holiday people call X-Mas.
I got a lot of work done on the house, so I'm happy. I get another 4-day weekend for new years. even more time to work on the house. Just leaves me more time to ride when it warms up.
 

drkenan

anti-dentite
Oct 1, 2006
3,441
1
west asheville
Every Christmas is exactly the same for me:

Drive to parents house - realize that my friends that I grew up with are still living with their parents, delivering pizzas and doing heroin (or insert any other drug here), exchange gifts with parents (usually a good time at least), get pissed off at druggie friends and go home a day early.
 

X3pilot

Texans fan - LOL
Aug 13, 2007
5,860
1
SoMD
My wife and I dont really do the gift exchange thing but I did get her a couple little things. A fancy new toothbrush, a new razor (and I am not trying to drop any hints you evil monkeys), a DVD and a cd. That was more then enough.
Fixed. To stop the giggling. Happy Boxing Day, Buddy.
 

Ciaran

Fear my banana
Apr 5, 2004
9,839
15
So Cal
Meh. I used to let the holidays control my moods. Not anymore.

I learned a few years back that I am in control of my moods, my happiness and how I let these external influences affect me. If christmas pisses you off and makes things unbearable then YOU need to look at what is causing this and take action. It's not the holidays, it's you.

If your family just doesn't understand you, and never buys you good gifts then you either need to talk to them and explain to them what you want, spend more time with them and let them get to know you, or realize and accept that it's not what they get you, but that they thought enough of you to get you something in the first place.

Honestly I think you all who get all scroogy at the holidays do it because you enjoy it. You don't HAVE to do this stuff you know.
 

Total Heckler

Beer and Bike Enthusiast
Apr 28, 2005
8,171
189
Santa Cruz, CA
I used to only enjoy the gifts when I was younger. Me not being religious also really takes away from the original purpose of the holiday.

For me its just about being with family I don't get to see often and getting my drink on. Good times in my book.

But I see where some of you guys are coming from.
 

gonefirefightin

free wieners
here is the deal,

I aint no funking religion hater or anything like that, its just plain and simple.

those with any substance of family have great holidays, time and reasons to look forward to. a handfull of people dont have that so you tend to occupy your time by doing other things. plain and simple
 

Rover Nick

Monkey
Oct 17, 2006
280
0
The thing that drives me bannans is how early the whole thing starts. Around here, Christmas stuff went up in stores in September and one radio station started playing xmas music full time in late october. By the time December rolls around, everyone is sick of it and just wants it to be done.
 

dexterq20

Turbo Monkey
Mar 6, 2003
3,442
1
NorCal
Well, it's 366 days later (leap year, remember?). Who's up for round two of this thread?

This year I'll be trying very hard to bite my tongue and keep my mother happy.
 

sanjuro

Tube Smuggler
Sep 13, 2004
17,373
0
SF
I love Christmas. This is my annual daytime trail poaching event. This year, if any hikers give me crap, I am going to say, "What, don't you love the baby jesus?"
 

DHPeteinSC

Monkey
Nov 17, 2006
484
0
In the KY (jelly) E-town
Just lost my girl of 7 years, no house, no vehicle, and I'm 800 miles from home visiting family on 28 acres of prime DH relastate with no bike! Merry friggin Christmas to me!! I'm not a hater, just with all the negative stuff thats happened in the last couple weeks I dont think I'll ever look at Christmas the same again.
 

Nick

My name is Nick
Sep 21, 2001
23,926
14,438
where the trails are
Well, it's 366 days later (leap year, remember?). Who's up for round two of this thread?

This year I'll be trying very hard to bite my tongue and keep my mother happy.
Dude. Try to be grateful.
My mother is 1,100 miles away this morning, and my father passed away years ago.
Your Mom might be doing things to try and create memories for you when you are her age. If you want to "give" her something, smile, say thanks a lot, and make sure she knows that you appreciate her effort.

Be a scrooge on your time. If the holiday is important to her, then let her have it.

Merry Christmas!
 

JohnE

filthy rascist
May 13, 2005
13,430
1,949
Front Range, dude...
I love it...3 kids into it, and it is still my favorite holiday, next to Halloween! Just dig it for what it is...and make it into what you want it to be.
 

Damo

Short One Marshmallow
Sep 7, 2006
4,603
27
French Alps
I had a great lunch today with a small (20ish) group of mates up in a tiny hut/restaurant we had to hike to. Out in the middle of nowhere with nothing but great food, drink, company & views.

Then I got to come back to reality to play Santa to 5 kids and 20 adults. In a 30 euro Santa suit.

For the last 3 days all I've played on the chalet sound system is various 'Christmas Essential Hits' albums.

I like Christmas day, but will happy to wake up tomorrow knowing I get 363 days free of Christmas music.