Today there's news stories of little old ladies being knocked to the floor of retail stores, people getting in fights over parking spaces and merchandise, and price gouging on whatever this year's hottest toy might be...
Today should be re-named *survival of the fittest day*. :(
We still have one child at home so we do a little on Christmas Day. The older two who have moved out know the real deal.
Wait to shop for what you want between Dec 26 and Jan 1st ............ you get at least thrice your monies worth and can purchase some of your needs and wants.
For the past couple of years ....... we don't spend thousands of dollars like we once did for Christmas. The kiddo gets a couple gifts from mom and dad and then there are gift certificates from favorite shopping places to the youngest kiddo and the two elder ones and for hubby and I. We shop after the holiday and have a great time when the stores aren't so busy.
Target was doing wake up calls this morning. We didn't participate in the shop a thon, but I did get a nice garland at Ace Hardware. We are decorating today.
My kids all want electronic stuff, cds or music downloads, jewelry and computer games. I'm thinking of wrapping cash then taking them to the mall after Christmas! SInce they adore the mall, it would probably be fun for them.And I can sip a soda and read abook in the food court while they run around.
I'd rather have a root canal than go shopping on the day after Thanksgiving.
We've all agreed to keep it simple in our family this year. We drew names last night and set a moderate dollar amount. We've tried this before and always slipped back into buying for all nine of us, but I think this year we'll do it. With the money saved from not overspending, we've agreed to make a donation as a family to a local charity.
Usually Christmas morning is a 4-hour gift-opening orgy. We're going to play games and do some family reminiscing instead. It's hard to change lifelong traditions, but I think we'll enjoy this just as much.
They can't even say "Merry Christmas", any more lest someone gets offended....fuggem.
I'm giving some $$$ to the Sandbox Santa program and the Toys for Tots.
Screw mammon and the horse he rode in on. Screw wally world
I got Andrew a .22 semi auto pistol, a couple of mags and a box of shells. I swapped a couple of cases of my own pickled cayenne peppers for it last summer. That and some camping stuff ought to about do him up.
Not to mention that everyone loves everyone one day a year. But try to have a conversation with same person on December 26 or June 11 or Sept 4. Uh huh.
We adopted the "one gift" policy long ago and we love it. Next year when our grandson is old enough we m-a-y change that, or maybe not. That depends on his parents.
Ditto on the commercialism. It's all some strange mix of - I dunno. But the news reported it's going to be one of the Biggest in sales, ever.
Many moons ago, I managed a photo studio that was located in a shopping mall. I won't mention any brand names but you're probably familiar with the kind I'm talking about.
Normally it was - well, let's just say challenging, but it got really weird over the Christmas holidays.
Where we might normally have 50-60 shoots on a Saturday, there would be 100's, literally, 5-6 weeks before Christmas. Everyday there were 100's of people navigating the mall and our studio like a guerilla army of freedom fighters executing intricate tactical maneuvers and we were evil despots about to be attacked and overthrown. Still others perferred brute force and mental torture to assume domination over both their rival customers and store employees.
I have to assume there will be 1,000's of children forever traumatized by these experiences and have recurring nightmares till their 45 where they're surrounded by strangers holding stuffed toys yelling "Ooooooo, 'ou look so CUTE!" While some woman named Mom says "Smile for the nice - no SMILE! I said SMILE DAMMIT!!!! DON'T PUT YOUR HAND ON YOUR FACE!!! SANTA WON'T COME IF YOU PUT YOUR HAND IN YOUR FACE!!!"
The horror....the horror.....
The entire experience was summed up that year by one of the people I hired for the holidaze, a really nice young girl, a student. One afternoon about a week before Christmas, she was standing by the register wearing a Santa's elf hat she'd brought in when she started, and she slowly took it off and looked down at it with a blank stare and softly said "I thought Christmas was supposed to be...fun..." I took her out for some coffee and did my best to remind her that Christmas was coming and it really WOULD be fun. Really.
Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving in the United States, is historically one of the busiest retail shopping days of the year. Many consider it the "official" beginning to the holiday season. The "black" in the name is a spoof of the term "black tuesday" of the 1929 stock market crash. Retail employess nicknamed the day this way because of how frightening and exhausting the day is. Most retailers will open very early. The name also has a double meaning, dating from the years when ledgers were kept by hand, in pen: referring to the black ink used to designate operating profits.
Although Black Friday is typically the busiest shopping day of the year in terms of customer traffic, it is not typically the day with the highest sales volume. That is usually either Christmas Eve or the last Saturday before Christmas.
Because of the large amount of conspicuous and excessive consumption that typically occurs on Black Friday, it has also become a festive radical holiday of protest: Buy Nothing Day.
Last year (2004) we were snowed in, and here in Reno, sales were way down. . . . but the roads were clear yesterday and Fred and I went out together for some presents. And I realized we were right in the mainstream.
It seemed like people were in a good mood (not rushing, getting mauled at the mall, etc.).
It was nice.
I was happy for the businesses which seemed to be good. (We had two businesses, just in the small strip malls of Lemmon Valley that went bankrupt just before the bankruptcy laws went into effect.)
Socks, I think I have one of those pics of me at age 2 with my sisters and I look frozen in fear!
J.
For a little perspective, we fly out from the Midwest to see family in Calif. So the boy and I are the presents - - and if they think that's cheap, they can come out and pay MY bills. lol
Have a friend with a teenage daughter who, for her birthday, asked if family members would give her money to donate to the hurricane relief effort. Now that kid's got some perspective on life!
I lost any affection for "The Holidays" many years ago. I don't understand the manic obsession the gift buying, meal preparation, decorating, ad infinitum. Not my bag, and now that the kids are mostly grown, and no grandkids in the foreseeable future, I don't have to play anymore.
I think I'll spend Christmas in Japan this year. A lot more subdued over there and no sappy religious overtones - just crass commercialism, like God intended...
Normally Black Friday was spent at home with Daddy and other male friends watching football. I've ALWAYS avoided getting out at all on that day.
This year, however, I did get up at the crack of dawn and go to Target before the sun was up. The reason? A $30 pre-lit fake Christmas tree.
Every year we've always had a real live tree and I carried that on in my home once I left my parents. My ex never cared, so it was my job to go get the tree, set it up and decorate it. Last year I did nothing because of depression.
The price of live trees has become prohibitive for me. :( This was the most affordable way for me to be able to continue having a tree each year. I bought a few new ornaments to "celebrate" my new life as they were at really good prices, too.
Having acquired my new tree, I came home and went back to bed. :) That's my first and, hopefully, last foray into the wild, dangerous terrain of Black Friday.
Both sides of my family keep things really simple and we just really look forward to seeing each other. Presents are left to the immediate families to take care of mostly. This year my ticket to fly home is the biggest part of my present from my grandparents and parents. I wouldn't have it any other way. :wub:
I love the holidays! Growing up, my father was crazy about Christmas( not the religious part, he wasn't a religious man) probably because he grew up in orphanages and foster homes in the thirties, so didn't have any celebrations as a kid.
I love the things we do--baking and decorating cookies, making fudge, making 'plucket' for Christmas morning(cinnamon roll balls in an angel food cake pan), shopping for presents, putting up the decorations, lights, candles. We always had a big dinner (still do) with the brocade and crystal and wine, nice clothes, played games...it was fun!
In TWI I was always homesick if we couldn't get to my parent's home for the holidays. Hubby's family did only a tree and presents, none of the other stuff, no dressing up, no pretty table. TWI in our area did nothing, so at least we could be with our families. But that always seemed cold and barren compared to what my family shared.
In the nineties I did get reproved for taking my kids up to visit Gram and Gramps(It was a long trip.) Not a spiritual priority, you know! I'm glad I didn't listen, soon after that Christmas both my parent's health failed, but that last Christmas they were feeling good and so enjoyed all the little kids.
We give presents, but we never have gone overboard on the money, so I've never had the experience of paying in January for the fun in December.
I'm not Christian, but most of the things I love about the holidays had nothing to do with Christianity. I do like Christmas carols, though, especially old ones.
I took it slow and easy. Was in Indiana visiting the folks all week. Started out Black Friday by going to my dad's barber shop to get a quick trim, then hung out for an hour or so talking politics, religion, and country music with the regulars. I love it when I find like minded folks. :D
Then spent the rest of the day driving through Brown county soaking in the scenery, trying to get lost on the country roads (almost succeeding!!), and wondering why the heck I ever left. Beautiful scenery down there and (as someone once said):
"From the top of these hills, you can see clear into tomorrow."
I made it a point to stay away from town, and the malls. :)
I lost any affection for "The Holidays" many years ago. I don't understand the manic obsession the gift buying, meal preparation, decorating, ad infinitum. Not my bag, and now that the kids are mostly grown, and no grandkids in the foreseeable future, I don't have to play anymore.
I think I'll spend Christmas in Japan this year. A lot more subdued over there and no sappy religious overtones - just crass commercialism, like God intended...
Sorry I'm just now getting back to this thread... it's been a wild month...
SOCKS BEE-BEE!
Yes, those post-turkey day photo studio experiences can be horrendous! We did get some pics of our little angels but I'm not the kind of mom who expects 'perfection' from them... I'm happy they're not bawling and sorta looking in the same direction... if not... well... that's my kids for you! The gal at the camera was more patience with my crew than I was... I was like, "Okay, we got a picture and their eyes are open. No food on their faces? Nope... It's a wrap! Good enough!" The baby was so wild about the experience I couldn't even get his outfit on him properly - he hammed it up, true to form, even though his outfit was slipping off him.
But yes... there were some "stage mothers" there.
This week we had to go to pick up the photos and got to the mall early on a Wednesday morning. We did a little shopping. (What was I thinking?! A 4 year old and a 10 month old CHRISTMAS SHOPPING?! I had lost my mind!) Then it was lunch - you know, the Happy Meal bribe... Well, by the time we finished that the mall was positively loaded with RABID shoppers. One lady jostled my oldest boy so badly that he tattled on her - I loved it!
"Mommeeeee! She's PUSHING! OW! She should have a TIME OUT!" (and he said it LOUDLY!)
"Yes, Honey. I agree. That's not good manners, is it?"
I know the woman heard us. There was no apology - I didn't expect one from someone that rude - but it was funny how my kid had better sence (at least at that moment) than this person who was 40-something!
He's a good kid - certainly likes things to be fair - even when he's shopping in the mall at Christmas! LOL!
Ron G. -- I can PROUDLY say I have NOT set foot in a Wal-Mart or similar store this season! No thanks! (Besides, I'm too poor after paying for those pictures I had taken of the kids!) LOL!
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dmiller
Today should be re-named *survival of the fittest day*. :(
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Digitalis
Chas I am with you on this Christmas thing.
We still have one child at home so we do a little on Christmas Day. The older two who have moved out know the real deal.
Wait to shop for what you want between Dec 26 and Jan 1st ............ you get at least thrice your monies worth and can purchase some of your needs and wants.
For the past couple of years ....... we don't spend thousands of dollars like we once did for Christmas. The kiddo gets a couple gifts from mom and dad and then there are gift certificates from favorite shopping places to the youngest kiddo and the two elder ones and for hubby and I. We shop after the holiday and have a great time when the stores aren't so busy.
Happy After Holiday
Digi
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Bramble
Target was doing wake up calls this morning. We didn't participate in the shop a thon, but I did get a nice garland at Ace Hardware. We are decorating today.
My kids all want electronic stuff, cds or music downloads, jewelry and computer games. I'm thinking of wrapping cash then taking them to the mall after Christmas! SInce they adore the mall, it would probably be fun for them.And I can sip a soda and read abook in the food court while they run around.
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Linda Z
I'd rather have a root canal than go shopping on the day after Thanksgiving.
We've all agreed to keep it simple in our family this year. We drew names last night and set a moderate dollar amount. We've tried this before and always slipped back into buying for all nine of us, but I think this year we'll do it. With the money saved from not overspending, we've agreed to make a donation as a family to a local charity.
Usually Christmas morning is a 4-hour gift-opening orgy. We're going to play games and do some family reminiscing instead. It's hard to change lifelong traditions, but I think we'll enjoy this just as much.
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Ron G.
Bah humbug!
They can't even say "Merry Christmas", any more lest someone gets offended....fuggem.
I'm giving some $$$ to the Sandbox Santa program and the Toys for Tots.
Screw mammon and the horse he rode in on. Screw wally world
I got Andrew a .22 semi auto pistol, a couple of mags and a box of shells. I swapped a couple of cases of my own pickled cayenne peppers for it last summer. That and some camping stuff ought to about do him up.
The whole thing just burns my butt.
Bah humbug!.
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Shellon
Oh gawd amen!
Not to mention that everyone loves everyone one day a year. But try to have a conversation with same person on December 26 or June 11 or Sept 4. Uh huh.
Barf bag
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krys
We adopted the "one gift" policy long ago and we love it. Next year when our grandson is old enough we m-a-y change that, or maybe not. That depends on his parents.
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markomalley
The tragey of all this is that it is so un-Christian...
What ever happened to Advent?
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WhiteDove
[quote
What ever happened to Advent?
It's still here Mark I saw a guy today partaking
He had his Ad they were out of the item and boy was he venting
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WhiteDove
Oh yeah here is a little tune to get you in the shopping spirit........
Click on the lyrics and it will bring them up.
Click the link below to listen to this Audio Clip
http://www.bobrivers.com/pickup/index.asp?ID=183577
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socks
I read the news today, oh boy...
Ditto on the commercialism. It's all some strange mix of - I dunno. But the news reported it's going to be one of the Biggest in sales, ever.
Many moons ago, I managed a photo studio that was located in a shopping mall. I won't mention any brand names but you're probably familiar with the kind I'm talking about.
Normally it was - well, let's just say challenging, but it got really weird over the Christmas holidays.
Where we might normally have 50-60 shoots on a Saturday, there would be 100's, literally, 5-6 weeks before Christmas. Everyday there were 100's of people navigating the mall and our studio like a guerilla army of freedom fighters executing intricate tactical maneuvers and we were evil despots about to be attacked and overthrown. Still others perferred brute force and mental torture to assume domination over both their rival customers and store employees.
I have to assume there will be 1,000's of children forever traumatized by these experiences and have recurring nightmares till their 45 where they're surrounded by strangers holding stuffed toys yelling "Ooooooo, 'ou look so CUTE!" While some woman named Mom says "Smile for the nice - no SMILE! I said SMILE DAMMIT!!!! DON'T PUT YOUR HAND ON YOUR FACE!!! SANTA WON'T COME IF YOU PUT YOUR HAND IN YOUR FACE!!!"
The horror....the horror.....
The entire experience was summed up that year by one of the people I hired for the holidaze, a really nice young girl, a student. One afternoon about a week before Christmas, she was standing by the register wearing a Santa's elf hat she'd brought in when she started, and she slowly took it off and looked down at it with a blank stare and softly said "I thought Christmas was supposed to be...fun..." I took her out for some coffee and did my best to remind her that Christmas was coming and it really WOULD be fun. Really.
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Kit Sober
It seemed like people were in a good mood (not rushing, getting mauled at the mall, etc.).
It was nice.
I was happy for the businesses which seemed to be good. (We had two businesses, just in the small strip malls of Lemmon Valley that went bankrupt just before the bankruptcy laws went into effect.)
How did you do "Black Friday"?
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notinKansasanymore
Stayed home and cleaned my house. Tried to do a little online shopping, but the deals were not good enough.
Had a nice, peaceful day with the niKakids!
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jardinero
LOLOL
Thanks for the laugh, DoveMan!
Socks, I think I have one of those pics of me at age 2 with my sisters and I look frozen in fear!
J.
For a little perspective, we fly out from the Midwest to see family in Calif. So the boy and I are the presents - - and if they think that's cheap, they can come out and pay MY bills. lol
Have a friend with a teenage daughter who, for her birthday, asked if family members would give her money to donate to the hurricane relief effort. Now that kid's got some perspective on life!
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Kit Sober
Sorry about that. I meant to merge this into the other one.
Kit
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George Aar
Well, it's a pagan holiday anyway, whudja expect?
I lost any affection for "The Holidays" many years ago. I don't understand the manic obsession the gift buying, meal preparation, decorating, ad infinitum. Not my bag, and now that the kids are mostly grown, and no grandkids in the foreseeable future, I don't have to play anymore.
I think I'll spend Christmas in Japan this year. A lot more subdued over there and no sappy religious overtones - just crass commercialism, like God intended...
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Belle
Normally Black Friday was spent at home with Daddy and other male friends watching football. I've ALWAYS avoided getting out at all on that day.
This year, however, I did get up at the crack of dawn and go to Target before the sun was up. The reason? A $30 pre-lit fake Christmas tree.
Every year we've always had a real live tree and I carried that on in my home once I left my parents. My ex never cared, so it was my job to go get the tree, set it up and decorate it. Last year I did nothing because of depression.
The price of live trees has become prohibitive for me. :( This was the most affordable way for me to be able to continue having a tree each year. I bought a few new ornaments to "celebrate" my new life as they were at really good prices, too.
Having acquired my new tree, I came home and went back to bed. :) That's my first and, hopefully, last foray into the wild, dangerous terrain of Black Friday.
Both sides of my family keep things really simple and we just really look forward to seeing each other. Presents are left to the immediate families to take care of mostly. This year my ticket to fly home is the biggest part of my present from my grandparents and parents. I wouldn't have it any other way. :wub:
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Bramble
I love the holidays! Growing up, my father was crazy about Christmas( not the religious part, he wasn't a religious man) probably because he grew up in orphanages and foster homes in the thirties, so didn't have any celebrations as a kid.
I love the things we do--baking and decorating cookies, making fudge, making 'plucket' for Christmas morning(cinnamon roll balls in an angel food cake pan), shopping for presents, putting up the decorations, lights, candles. We always had a big dinner (still do) with the brocade and crystal and wine, nice clothes, played games...it was fun!
In TWI I was always homesick if we couldn't get to my parent's home for the holidays. Hubby's family did only a tree and presents, none of the other stuff, no dressing up, no pretty table. TWI in our area did nothing, so at least we could be with our families. But that always seemed cold and barren compared to what my family shared.
In the nineties I did get reproved for taking my kids up to visit Gram and Gramps(It was a long trip.) Not a spiritual priority, you know! I'm glad I didn't listen, soon after that Christmas both my parent's health failed, but that last Christmas they were feeling good and so enjoyed all the little kids.
We give presents, but we never have gone overboard on the money, so I've never had the experience of paying in January for the fun in December.
I'm not Christian, but most of the things I love about the holidays had nothing to do with Christianity. I do like Christmas carols, though, especially old ones.
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dmiller
I took it slow and easy. Was in Indiana visiting the folks all week. Started out Black Friday by going to my dad's barber shop to get a quick trim, then hung out for an hour or so talking politics, religion, and country music with the regulars. I love it when I find like minded folks. :D
Then spent the rest of the day driving through Brown county soaking in the scenery, trying to get lost on the country roads (almost succeeding!!), and wondering why the heck I ever left. Beautiful scenery down there and (as someone once said):
"From the top of these hills, you can see clear into tomorrow."
I made it a point to stay away from town, and the malls. :)
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satori001
It's a wonderful life, Geogre!
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coolchef1248 @adelphia.net
pre paid calling cards are always welcomed :D
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Ron G.
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GarthP2000
Looks like Santa has joined the outsourcing parade.
:(
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ChasUFarley
Sorry I'm just now getting back to this thread... it's been a wild month...
SOCKS BEE-BEE!
Yes, those post-turkey day photo studio experiences can be horrendous! We did get some pics of our little angels but I'm not the kind of mom who expects 'perfection' from them... I'm happy they're not bawling and sorta looking in the same direction... if not... well... that's my kids for you! The gal at the camera was more patience with my crew than I was... I was like, "Okay, we got a picture and their eyes are open. No food on their faces? Nope... It's a wrap! Good enough!" The baby was so wild about the experience I couldn't even get his outfit on him properly - he hammed it up, true to form, even though his outfit was slipping off him.
But yes... there were some "stage mothers" there.
This week we had to go to pick up the photos and got to the mall early on a Wednesday morning. We did a little shopping. (What was I thinking?! A 4 year old and a 10 month old CHRISTMAS SHOPPING?! I had lost my mind!) Then it was lunch - you know, the Happy Meal bribe... Well, by the time we finished that the mall was positively loaded with RABID shoppers. One lady jostled my oldest boy so badly that he tattled on her - I loved it!
"Mommeeeee! She's PUSHING! OW! She should have a TIME OUT!" (and he said it LOUDLY!)
"Yes, Honey. I agree. That's not good manners, is it?"
I know the woman heard us. There was no apology - I didn't expect one from someone that rude - but it was funny how my kid had better sence (at least at that moment) than this person who was 40-something!
He's a good kid - certainly likes things to be fair - even when he's shopping in the mall at Christmas! LOL!
Ron G. -- I can PROUDLY say I have NOT set foot in a Wal-Mart or similar store this season! No thanks! (Besides, I'm too poor after paying for those pictures I had taken of the kids!) LOL!
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