Christmas Is Cancelled This Year

Increasing numbers of ppl seem to be going away on holidays at Christmas, which could be seen as opting out of Christmas, esp if the detination is, for example, India.

How about this: nobody gives each other presents, and we spend the money on our own Christmas lists instead! CUT OUT THE MIDDLEMAN.

I can't wait to have kids, then Christmas will be fun again.

Plus, Santarchy happens on saturday(& next week in Detroit), so i must be prepared.

Julio, just get him a copy of Eponymous instead.

so I'll prob be hearing 'everybody hurts' on xmas day.

you'll have to pay a tramp on the street to go in and buy it for you Julio.

B-but i have to spend the day with my family! At least strangers make an effort to feign courtesey.

That attitude, though, that no matter how much you don't want to, you need to "participate in Christmas for the sake of your loved ones," is exactly what turns the holiday into emotional gridlock. If nearly everyone complains, then for whose sake are they doing it?

This is probably easiest in the States, where family tends to be spread out so much, but for all the hand-wringing every year from people who want to try opting out of the family obligation, I don't know many people whose families actually guilt-tripped them to hell and back if they did opt out -- and none for whom that guilt trip was worse than whatever stresses caused them to opt out in the first place. Mostly it just means you get fewer presents.

ILX Orphans' Christmas. My place. 25 december. bring lots of alcohol and presents for yourself.

I didn't go last year because I had the "flu". I've already planted it in my family's ears that I won't be there this year. Tonight I volunteered myself to work Xmas and Xmas Eve at Sh1ps so it looks like I'll have a good reason.

I never do Thanksgiving either and am also working new year's eve.

Later on I'll visit each relative separately, on my own time, and give gifts. In the meantime, fuck this "required" get together.

i'll be at home for christmas, i like it, but i am lucky in that it isnt really a stressful occasion for me

For me it's not so much that I don't get along with individual family members, it's just that when they all get together they become completely fucking insane. My grandmother's stressed out, my mom's pandering to my selfish stepdad, somebody's falling over drunk, other people are having a door slamming argument, there are kids everywhere doing what kids do (cry, spill, shit, puke). It always drives me to a bar. And since I'm teetotalling I might as well be behind the bar making money instead of dealing with all that nonsense.

Ugh.

now that i live in another country, i am going back for 10 days. i can't even imagine what it'll be like! last year, i managed to go back for just 5, because of flight details. hopefully i'll do loads of trips to chicago/ann arbor/detroit and so won't spend enough time with them to get into a huge fight.

at least my mom has given up her zany idea that the four of us should go to vegas for the holiday. i can't even imagine the torture!

(Heh heh, lame joke that probably no one else will understand unless they've temped at the NHS or something... DNA's are the bane of my life...)

Moms new husband sits and watches tv all day in the bedroom. I fall asleep, wake up, eat and then pack it up and drive to my fathers. Its like walking into the set of the Soprano's at his house. His big haired wife and their silver christmas tree. Usually get a cheap present from both. Last year I got a silk shirt. Fuckin hot! I haven't ever worn a silk shirt in my life.

Also my nephew is going to be here for a week, so that should be funny. I am staying in Dublin this Christmas for the first time in a few years, I like this cos it means I can drink with my friends and stuff.

Again I must be getting old cos one of the other big attractions is the fact that one of my best friends will be home for the week, I really can't wait to go for a drink with him, when we're both around we always are up for going out earlier and staying out later, so it'll be good to have a few nights out then.

I don't really understand people who opt out, fair enough they have their reasons but I can't imagine ever doing it except out of misery.

24th --->bradford
25th bradford
26th portmerion/leeds?
27th manchester maybe?
28th bradford/leeds

then back in london

31st poss sheffield?

sorry ILX, domestic chat over........

Last Friday when we got snow I was humming "Sleigh Ride" on the way to work. I actually went hunting for Xmas music on the radio when we were driving to IKEA on Saturday! WTF

Anyway yeah I normally don't enjoy the holiday season at ALL but I think things are going to be a bit different from now on.

Rather an unusual FAP it would be (given that I have never FAPPED) but yeah, as it goes, dunno where -- nr Glastonbury/Castle Cary.

My family is HORRIBLE at receiving gifts. They always make lists and email them as to what they want exactly. This is somewhat helpful, but also a little annoying, especially when the items include such things as furniture and laptops. Then they are very frank about what presents they don't like on Christmas day.

Last year was particularly bad. My mom was offended because my youngest sister gave her a bunch of office supplies. "They're to help you get organized, mom." So, my mom is like, "Well, thanks a lot! Is that a hint??" and THEN my mom found out she got them at a yard sale.

Then my youngest sister got several presents which she responded to with, "Do you have the receipt for this? No offense. But the money could be better spent." Then she gave away one of the presents my mom gave her to me. She was like, "Ugh. Does anyone want this??"

GRRR! Smile and nod or something. Jesus. (ha ha)

1) Have sprogs of your own

or

2) Learn up to stand up to your respective families!

I don't think I've actually spent a Christmas with my family since 1987. OK, maybe one or two, but those were ghastly mistakes and I haven't done it again in 5 years.

(There should be a big smiley face up there at the top of tihs post, come to think of it)

I love my relatives, but so many years of stress just from being around them has made it a bit unpleasant. I mean, there was that Christmas they told my sister that she would never understand the Bible because her parents got divorced. And that other time that my younger cousins cried because their parents told them my sisters & I will be going to hell. And that time my aunt said that my college had the highest level of satanic activity in the US. And that time my cousin blasted me in front of everyone when I said vampyres didn't exist. "Sarah! Yes they do! And you must understand your enemy if you are to be a true Christian!" And how my dad's mom used to always say she wished she were dead. Yeah, I could do without those memories.

This Christmas probably won't be as bad, though I'm sure there will be talk of me running off with my live-in lover far from the family, and my dad and his brothers will have the usual political argument (my dad is a Democrat and the rest of the relatives are extremely conservative christian righters).

Ahhh....

I'm not so pushed on the hassle about who's going where for Christmas or nagging guilt about people for whom it is a reminder of how crap their lives are.

H-Mann, clearly it was a conspiracy.

Mutton curry = also fantastic

The Italian meal sounds great.

The italian meal is ok, im just sick of it. But the desserts are great.

Anyway Christmas this year is gonna be great except I can't afford to get anyone jack shit!

b-b-ut she was sipping on that huge-ass margartia?

the only good part of xmas is my grandma's tamales.

but i can get some tamales here in el barrio if i really want them.

I wish Christmas were opt-out, my work hours balloon horribly at this time of year. argh.

God, yes...

31st poss sheffield?

this didnt happen as planned. there was no sheffield, and there was no portmerion. perhaps this year portmerion can become a reality