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Fun Stuff => CHATTER => Topic started by: Patrick on 16 Nov 2013, 00:26

Title: Let's talk about Christmas, Thanksgiving be damned
Post by: Patrick on 16 Nov 2013, 00:26
I mean Turkey Day's cool or whatever but fuck that, tell me what you want for Christmas 'cause I'd like some ideas on things to give/ask for.
Title: Re: Let's talk about Christmas, Thanksgiving be damned
Post by: mtmerrick on 16 Nov 2013, 00:57
Title: Re: Let's talk about Christmas, Thanksgiving be damned
Post by: pwhodges on 16 Nov 2013, 01:41
I mean Turkey Day's cool or whatever

Of course, Christmas is our Turkey Day over here.
Title: Re: Let's talk about Christmas, Thanksgiving be damned
Post by: LookingIn on 16 Nov 2013, 01:43
Having three retailers in my family you start thinking about Christams just before Labor Day. No, really. That's when they start shopping.
One big thing they taught early and often is when in doubt, ask for and give cash. Let the person buy their own gift, that way they can choose what they actually like.
Title: Re: Let's talk about Christmas, Thanksgiving be damned
Post by: Metope on 16 Nov 2013, 04:08
Christmas this year will be great! My family (three siblings, my mom, my aunt and her two kids, my grandma) will be together for Christmas dinner, and I'll see my dad and his side of the family as well, plus all of my friends I haven't seen since summer. I always love Christmas, but it's especially great these days since I'm studying abroad, chances too see my entire family are not that many.

Oh and May will be there, I am excited about seeing May again!

Edit: I am actually really excited about Thanksgiving too though. I'll be with my Murkan boyfriend and his family this year, so I will actually get to celebrate it! I've never had Thanksgiving before so it'll be pretty cool.
Title: Re: Let's talk about Christmas, Thanksgiving be damned
Post by: Barmymoo on 16 Nov 2013, 04:44
I am also excited, but now a little nervous. That is a lot of family!

I uh there's not a lot of point me writing about my Christmas because Metope just did it for me :P
Title: Re: Let's talk about Christmas, Thanksgiving be damned
Post by: Metope on 16 Nov 2013, 04:49
Haha sorry. It's not that much family, just a little bit! There is way more family in my family than that. I'm sure you'll meet all of them :P


Plus if we have a big extended family dinner at some point you'll get to meet a couple babies. My cousins have started having kids, so there are four generations of family now. Now that is a lot of family.
Title: Re: Let's talk about Christmas, Thanksgiving be damned
Post by: Welu on 16 Nov 2013, 05:27
I'm usually good about getting at least a few gifts early but hasn't happened this year. I work in a shop so I'll be working over Christmas but I always fight to get Boxing Day off. Don't have my brothers home at the same time often. Plus last year and this year my partner and his family are coming over that day.
Title: Re: Let's talk about Christmas, Thanksgiving be damned
Post by: Barmymoo on 16 Nov 2013, 05:29
BABIES.
Title: Re: Let's talk about Christmas, Thanksgiving be damned
Post by: Welu on 16 Nov 2013, 05:34
Christ, May, I thought you were saying that to me.  :psyduck:
Title: Re: Let's talk about Christmas, Thanksgiving be damned
Post by: Barmymoo on 16 Nov 2013, 05:44
IT WAS AN ORDER. GET ON IT.  :-P
Title: Re: Let's talk about Christmas, Thanksgiving be damned
Post by: Zebediah on 16 Nov 2013, 06:03
This Christmas I might actually get to meet my niece's kids. They've been living in Colorado while I've been living in Massachusetts, but it's possible we'll all be in North Carolina at the same time.
Title: Let's talk about Christmas, Thanksgiving be damned
Post by: jwhouk on 16 Nov 2013, 06:56
And if you're quick about it, Welu, May might give you a discount on midwifery services... ;)
Title: Re: Let's talk about Christmas, Thanksgiving be damned
Post by: Welu on 16 Nov 2013, 06:59
I will have a reasonable number of babies and in my case that reasonable number is none.  :mrgreen:
Title: Re: Let's talk about Christmas, Thanksgiving be damned
Post by: LeeC on 16 Nov 2013, 07:01
I already put up decorations...
(https://scontent-a-iad.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn2/1395436_10200594500854235_1999377022_n.jpg)
Title: Re: Let's talk about Christmas, Thanksgiving be damned
Post by: Welu on 16 Nov 2013, 07:05
I never took down the lights I put around the front door last year. I'll be taking them down to move and then putting them up in the new house where they'll probably live around that front door.
Title: Re: Let's talk about Christmas, Thanksgiving be damned
Post by: Lines on 16 Nov 2013, 09:36
I don't even think about Christmas until Thanksgiving is over. Two years in a craft store was enough to make me hate thinking about it before then. Damned glitter and fake pine and cinnamon scented everything.

Also I am cooking Thanksgiving dinner mostly by myself for the first time! (My mom is going to help, of course, but I'm going to do the actual cooking.) I am excited! We're actually going to plan out our menu this weekend, so I can start buying up ingredients before they disappear from the store. :P
Title: Re: Let's talk about Christmas, Thanksgiving be damned
Post by: Kugai on 16 Nov 2013, 11:53
Got invited to a BBQ on Christmas Day, so looking forward to that.  Otherwise, I have very few family and they're too far away to be able to get together.
Title: Re: Let's talk about Christmas, Thanksgiving be damned
Post by: BrusselSprouts on 16 Nov 2013, 12:02
We are celebrating Christmas early this year chez moi. My brother is coming to visit from Toronto and he couldn't get Christmas day off so we'll be celebrating on the 5th this year. I plan on purchasing 90% of the presents on Amazon
Title: Re: Let's talk about Christmas, Thanksgiving be damned
Post by: Loki on 16 Nov 2013, 14:10
I AM NOT PREPARED

Seriously, no idea where I will be spending Christmas. After Christmas, I *might* be at the 30C3.

No presents yet either. I should at least make a list of who gets something this year.
Title: Re: Let's talk about Christmas, Thanksgiving be damned
Post by: GarandMarine on 16 Nov 2013, 15:35
I think I'm gonna follow Lee's example. Hawaii 'Xmas
Title: Re: Let's talk about Christmas, Thanksgiving be damned
Post by: Carl-E on 16 Nov 2013, 17:20
I'd invite y'all over , but, y'know, ....

I DON'T KNOW ANY OF YOU PEOPLE!!


Anyway, we usually have a party christmas eve.  It started because out church has two services christmas eve - a family service (with a lot of music) at 5 PM and a fairly somber "midnight mass" (at 11 PM).  We're fairly close to the church, so we opened our house to the choir, the pastor, the deacon, the ushers, and anyone else who wanted to do both services but lived kind of far away.  It's always been a good time with good friends, and was nice in that it was a circumscribed time period and also potluck. 

This year, with the church almost falling apart, they've decided to make it more like an open house at the parish hall, food and fun for all between the services.  So no party at my house this year.  I've been asked to do several things at the open house, including reading "The Night Before Christmas" to the little ones, but I don't need to play host. 

And I'm OK with that.  It will be a bit sad, and who knows what next year will bring.  Things change.  And of course, I'll still be decorating like a madman... for us.  Only for us. 

Edit: what the fuck is a "deacoon"?  :D
Title: Re: Let's talk about Christmas, Thanksgiving be damned
Post by: Blue Kitty on 16 Nov 2013, 18:03
My work place started playing Christmas music the day after Halloween and I died a little inside. Thankfully they stopped the next day
Title: Re: Let's talk about Christmas, Thanksgiving be damned
Post by: Patrick on 17 Nov 2013, 00:36
the last time I gave anyone an Xmas gift aside from my bandmates was a few years ago when the forum had a Secret Santa (back when Yelley regularly posted here; she and her husband helped me shop!) and Kris was my target and my god damn package never made it to her.

it had a t-shirt from In-N-Out Burger and a Darth Vader mask, I am still rather annoyed it never made it to you Kris :C if it's any consolation, I never got mine from Shane either because the goddamn Italian post misplaced my package when the whole goddamn country went on strike and they lost half of the US's diplomatic pouch mail en route to Albania that Xmas season. fuck that year it sucked.
Title: Re: Let's talk about Christmas, Thanksgiving be damned
Post by: Welu on 17 Nov 2013, 12:15
It sucks your stuff didn't make it but a forum secret Santa sounds cool.
Title: Re: Let's talk about Christmas, Thanksgiving be damned
Post by: Is it cold in here? on 17 Nov 2013, 14:59
A donation to a cause the recipient cares about has the advantage that it's always the right size and doesn't take up space.
Title: Re: Let's talk about Christmas, Thanksgiving be damned
Post by: Patrick on 17 Nov 2013, 15:49
It sucks your stuff didn't make it but a forum secret Santa sounds cool.

either we haven't done it or I've ignored it for a few years. but when it worked, it was awesome. I was just cursed that year I guess. -____-
Title: Re: Let's talk about Christmas, Thanksgiving be damned
Post by: Lines on 17 Nov 2013, 15:54
We haven't done it in a long time. Not because stuff kept getting lost, but because a lot of people just wouldn't send anything.
Title: Re: Let's talk about Christmas, Thanksgiving be damned
Post by: GarandMarine on 17 Nov 2013, 15:57
Well that's a big pile of not cool.
Title: Re: Let's talk about Christmas, Thanksgiving be damned
Post by: Lines on 17 Nov 2013, 16:23
Yeah... Especially around Christmas time. It got depressing that people just weren't receiving anything.

If you guys want to do a swap, I'm totally game! We could do something small, like a $10 spending limit (not including shipping). It's easier on wallets, people can make/find send random little silly things that cost nothing, and it'd be fun to laugh about. OR even a white elephant gift exchange where you send something you don't want that's lying around your house because then you just pay shipping and it can be something small and utterly strange.
Title: Re: Let's talk about Christmas, Thanksgiving be damned
Post by: GarandMarine on 17 Nov 2013, 16:53
I'd be in.
Title: Re: Let's talk about Christmas, Thanksgiving be damned
Post by: de_la_Nae on 18 Nov 2013, 05:48
I dunno, I'm not good at holidays. The family started falling apart years ago, and now most of the immediate ones I give a damn about are dead or something resembling it.

That's a little unfair and negative to the ones that are still around, but they have their own families to take care of and be with.

I guess I should start trying to develop better holiday habits and stuff. Find friends who are also stranded/alone and do stuff with them. I just haven't been looking that far ahead I think.
Title: Re: Let's talk about Christmas, Thanksgiving be damned
Post by: GarandMarine on 18 Nov 2013, 06:25
Well Nae you can come to my place for Thanksgiving if you want. Actual. Make that an open invitation to Mid-West/East Coast QCers. Turkey at GM's place bitches. Someone better bring cranberry sauce.
Title: Re: Let's talk about Christmas, Thanksgiving be damned
Post by: mtmerrick on 18 Nov 2013, 09:31
i love everything about cranberries except cranberry sauce/relish. either of those makes me gag.

stuffing is the most important part.

i'd love to come GM. it'd be a logistical impossibility, but i'd love to come.

thanksgiving is going to be Family Drama: The Movie, featuring nonstop fighting and epic fights that promises to have crazy women punch old ladies in the face! (all while screaming at you ._.)

christmas looks like it'll be shaping up to be thanksgiving lite...
Title: Re: Let's talk about Christmas, Thanksgiving be damned
Post by: Thrillho on 18 Nov 2013, 11:08
I start Christmas from 24th November to give me a month of Christmas music as a lead-in.
Title: Re: Let's talk about Christmas, Thanksgiving be damned
Post by: Barmymoo on 18 Nov 2013, 11:10
I'm hoping to get my mum to bring my tiny Christmas tree across at some point soon or alternatively I'll go over to hers and get it - and put it up on December 1st. If I stuck to not decorating until Christmas Eve and taking everything down on Twelfth Night I'd only have any decorations up at all for two days, since I'm away Dec 20th - Jan 5th! My friend pointed out that I could consolidate the rubbish on two shelves of my bookcase and put my nativity scene there, the Christmas tree will have to go on top of the bookshelf or possibly on the table, and that's all I have space for.
Title: Re: Let's talk about Christmas, Thanksgiving be damned
Post by: Welu on 18 Nov 2013, 11:28
Partner's parents gave us a tiny fibreoptic light tree, only about a foot tall, last year. I put it on a desk near the window so from the outside it looks like a full sized tree.
Title: Re: Let's talk about Christmas, Thanksgiving be damned
Post by: Grognard on 18 Nov 2013, 11:56
My wife started the Christmas music on 1 Nov.
urgh.
I like holiday music for the week prior and until 2 Jan.
much more of it brings out my !HUMBUG!
and this year's Christmas is necessarily CHEAP, what with the MRS taking a 40% paycut.

as for a forum Secret Santa: I could do that.
Title: Re: Let's talk about Christmas, Thanksgiving be damned
Post by: Patrick on 18 Nov 2013, 13:10
I went up to Oakland for my drummer's fiancee's birthday party this week, and my singer's car radio shat out and turned itself off, so he and I just started singing demented versions of Xmas carols. it was awesome.

TIS THE SEASON TO BE NAUGHTY, FALALALALAAAAAAAA LA LA LA LA
SET YOUR BROTHER'S PANTS ON FIRE, FALALALALAAAAAA LA LA LA LA
THROW YOUR SISTER IN THE DRYER, FALALA, LALALA, LA LA LA
BREAK SHIT TO YOUR HEART'S DESIRE, FALALALALAAAAA LA LA LA LA
Title: Re: Let's talk about Christmas, Thanksgiving be damned
Post by: pwhodges on 18 Nov 2013, 13:43
If I stuck to not decorating until Christmas Eve and taking everything down on Twelfth Night

How delightfully traditional (as in: correct).  A lost cause though; a few years ago, even, I saw a full-size Christmas tree put out for rubbish on Christmas Eve.
Title: Re: Let's talk about Christmas, Thanksgiving be damned
Post by: Barmymoo on 18 Nov 2013, 13:54
It's how we always did things when I was a child, and I prefer that approach, but it's not practical when you almost never spend Christmas at home!
Title: Re: Let's talk about Christmas, Thanksgiving be damned
Post by: jwhouk on 18 Nov 2013, 16:43
Get one of these:
(https://scontent-b-ord.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn2/167193_1728781589590_4291720_n.jpg)
Title: Re: Let's talk about Christmas, Thanksgiving be damned
Post by: Welu on 18 Nov 2013, 16:48
We always put up the decorations on December 17th because that's my brother's birthday. The decoration come down whenever, usually around January 7th.
Title: Re: Let's talk about Christmas, Thanksgiving be damned
Post by: GarandMarine on 18 Nov 2013, 16:49
A fun way to do christmas trees: Purchase a young live fir or pine tree. (and a shovel, possibly a trenching spade) enjoy the tree in your home for the holidays, water it, give it good fertilizer the usual, then go inna woods and plant that tree for New Year's.
Title: Re: Let's talk about Christmas, Thanksgiving be damned
Post by: LookingIn on 18 Nov 2013, 16:57
We always put up the decorations on December 17th because that's my brother's birthday. The decoration come down whenever, usually around January 7th.

I used to demand that my family do that on that same day(coincidentally, it's my birthday :D), the last few years they prefer to shut the kids up by putting the tree up the Wednesday before Thanksgiving...
Title: Re: Let's talk about Christmas, Thanksgiving be damned
Post by: Zebediah on 18 Nov 2013, 17:03
It used to be family tradition to go out Christmas Eve morning to buy the tree - my dad liked to hit the tree vendors as they were packing up to leave town;  he got a better price that way. This came back to bite him in the ass one year when I was about 12, when all of the tree lots were already sold out and closed by Christmas Eve. We wound up cutting down an old pine tree in our back yard for our tree that year. After that he always got the tree by the 22nd, but left it outside sitting in a bucket of water until the 24th. Then we'd bring it in the house, my dad and I would do the lights (he didn't trust my sisters with electrical stuff, sexist pig that he was) and then we all put the ornaments on. Meanwhile my mom would be in the kitchen baking cookies the whole time.
Title: Re: Let's talk about Christmas, Thanksgiving be damned
Post by: Welu on 18 Nov 2013, 17:20
We always put up the decorations on December 17th because that's my brother's birthday. The decoration come down whenever, usually around January 7th.

I used to demand that my family do that on that same day(coincidentally, it's my birthday :D), the last few years they prefer to shut the kids up by putting the tree up the Wednesday before Thanksgiving...

Matching birthdays! Neat! Fortunately there are no younglings any more in our house so Christmas is to the whims of happy drunky adults.

We have two fake trees. Mammy bought a second better one a couple years ago to replace the living room tree to be a pretty elegant tree with blue and silver decorations. Then there's a second tree that goes in the dining area using the old sentimental red, gold and green tacky old-fashioned decorations and I refused to let them and the tree be thrown out. So Mammy agreed to keep both as long as I decorated the tacky tree. That's never happened. She always does the tacky tree, I do the elegant tree.
Title: Re: Let's talk about Christmas, Thanksgiving be damned
Post by: Lines on 18 Nov 2013, 17:27
I love putting ornaments on the tree SO much. It lets my OCD about balance run free and I also get to show off our quirky ornaments. Although we really should find a shorter tree, as ours grazes the top of our ceiling, so we can't use a star or whatever on top. :( We don't really do elegant, we do quirky colorful stuff.

Here's last year's tree! (With the cat proof ornaments on the bottom!)

(http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b198/andthentherewaslindsey/DSC_0011_zps73b7f65f.jpg)
Title: Re: Let's talk about Christmas, Thanksgiving be damned
Post by: valley_parade on 18 Nov 2013, 18:41
From the pictures I saw last year, my girlfriend's aunt's place in Syracuse seems like an xmas wonderland.

When I today told my boss I was planning on going up there for a few days, fresh off of "I'm trying to schedule everyone for Thanksgiving, what are your plans? *schedules Shane so he can't be at either family dinner*", he pretty much told me to go fuck myself if I thought I was getting any time off to go away.

As usual, xmas gets me the most down because I feel like I have to keep up with the Lexus buying Joneses in every fucking TV commercial and I can't even afford the big ribbon on the goddamned car. I just, meh. I've never had great xmas memories, and this year seemed like I might get a nice one for once, but no. If I have to work on xmas, I might end up lighting the entire gas station on fire.

However, the Ventures' xmas album is fucking ace and still the best vinyl purchase I've ever made.

The Lady has told me she bought me the worlds' craziest, most awesome gift, but won't hint at what it is. She's also shown my roommate, whose said I better like it, or else he's taking it. On the flipside, since dating me begat her becoming a Red Sox fan, part of my gift for her is a Baseball Fan Starter kit with a bunch of DVDs and other fun stuff. Also a t-shirt of her favorite player (Mike Napoli), if he signs a new contract before xmas.
Title: Re: Let's talk about Christmas, Thanksgiving be damned
Post by: Grognard on 18 Nov 2013, 21:07
I hate the commercialized Christmas, too.

give me an old country Christmas with handmade presents with plenty of good food.
Title: Re: Let's talk about Christmas, Thanksgiving be damned
Post by: LeeC on 18 Nov 2013, 21:41
well its settled.  Going to thanksgiving at my uncles.  X-mas by myself again.


Title: Re: Let's talk about Christmas, Thanksgiving be damned
Post by: calenlass on 18 Nov 2013, 23:53
This year for Thanksgiving I am finally (after two years finally) taking my boyfriend home to meet my family. And then I am throwing a St Andy's Day scotch tasting and making a haggis.

Also I have not made any of my christmas presents yet, so

(http://weknowmemes.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/december-fat-boy-this-month-is-for-my-holiday.jpg)
Title: Re: Let's talk about Christmas, Thanksgiving be damned
Post by: Grognard on 19 Nov 2013, 05:53
LOL.  love that one ^^
Title: Re: Let's talk about Christmas, Thanksgiving be damned
Post by: dr. nervioso on 19 Nov 2013, 14:48
For thanksgiving, I'll be staying in Indiana by myself. I'm not really sure what all I'll be doing, primarily studying, maybe some shopping.

Christmas, I'll be back at home for the first time in a few months, but it's hard to say what I'll be doing besides enjoying good food.
Title: Re: Let's talk about Christmas, Thanksgiving be damned
Post by: Carl-E on 19 Nov 2013, 17:17
House rule is no christmas music until after thankgiving dinner's over. 

Then my wife puts on the Chipmunks christmas album. 


Then I put on the South Park christmas album. 


Then we can have real christmas music. 

I might actually get the lights up before ... no, never mind, that's not going to happen.   :roll: :-P
Title: Re: Let's talk about Christmas, Thanksgiving be damned
Post by: lepetitfromage on 20 Nov 2013, 11:17
Even though I love giving presents and nomming all the delicious food, I've generally always gotten glum around the holidays (seasonal affective is great for that). However,  I decided that I was just going to throw myself into the holidays in the past few years to try and force myself out of it. And it's been working! As soon as the temperatures drop, I'm constantly in the kitchen. Last year, I made 8 or 9 desserts to take to parties. 4 or 5 different kinds of cookies, plus "Reindeer Food" (rice chex with white chocolate and crushed peppermint), lemon fudge, Snickers Muddy Buddies and Mini cheesecakes with cherry pie filling on top. Let's venture out of the kitchen and into the rest of the house, shall we?

I started making ornaments last year to give as gifts. It was like Christmas Crack. I think I started right after Halloween- those things are time consuming!! I think I have some photos lying around, if I find them I'll post some. :-) My apartment looked like someone deconstructed Santa's workshop, ransacked Michael's and then detonated a glitter bomb.


I stopped trying to keep up with those Jones assholes a long time ago. When I shop for Christmas presents, I generally like to get a few odd gifts and then something useful for each person. 2 years ago, I started my shopping in February and then by the time the holidays rolled around I had forgotten that I bought stuff for certain people already and ended up with extra gifts. Since then, I wait til June. :-P

I like starting early because I like to let gifts "speak" to me. Especially during huge sales. I exchange with a lot of people (roughly 20, between friends, family, coworkers and cats. Yes. Cats. Don't judge me.), so I like to get the biggest bang for my buck- and stretch out my spending so that I'm not completely overwhelmed financially at the end of the year. Nick and I generally set a $100-$150 limit for each other and then I try to get everyone else done for around $400-$500. Spread out over six months, it's a lot less painful!

(In our house, Christmas music generally doesn't start until after Thanksgiving either.)

Linds- We totally have that little blue nerdy owl ornament too! Target?
Title: Re: Let's talk about Christmas, Thanksgiving be damned
Post by: Lines on 20 Nov 2013, 12:39
It was a gift, actually! My mother-in-law sent it to me last year.

Also, I'm the same. I used to get really down during the holidays and then I just started making people goodies and handmade things and it made me a lot happier. One year I made my friends a milk liqueur, I've baked, and last year I made mostly knit items for everyone. This year I think I'm just going to bake because knitting gifts for everyone took forever.
Title: Re: Let's talk about Christmas, Thanksgiving be damned
Post by: Patrick on 20 Nov 2013, 12:45
This year for Thanksgiving I am finally (after two years finally) taking my boyfriend home to meet my family. And then I am throwing a St Andy's Day scotch tasting and making a haggis.

this is all well and good but HOLY FUCK DUDE WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN <3

I just met my girlfriend's parents 2 days ago, they're super nice and we're gonna do an early Turkey Day dinner today before I have to go to work. I'm nervous, we've already met and they seem to like me well enough, but this dinner is kinda like putting me on a stage for a captive audience. Which I've literally done before, and it was totally fine. But this isn't a stage, and these aren't strangers I'll never meet 1-on-1. This is my girlfriend's parents and I plan on meeting them many, many times. I know I have nothing to be afraid of, but I'm still shit terrified. -_________-
Title: Re: Let's talk about Christmas, Thanksgiving be damned
Post by: LookingIn on 20 Nov 2013, 12:59
House rule is no christmas music until after thankgiving dinner's over. 

Then my wife puts on the Chipmunks christmas album. 


Then I put on the South Park christmas album. 


Then we can have real christmas music. 

I might actually get the lights up before ... no, never mind, that's not going to happen.   :roll: :-P

OK please tell me there's a story behind the dueling novelty Christmas albums  :-o :-D
Title: Re: Let's talk about Christmas, Thanksgiving be damned
Post by: Blue Kitty on 20 Nov 2013, 13:38
You've all purchased your 60in Animated Lighted Christmas Stegosaurus right?

(http://cdn-s3-2.wanelo.com/product/image/323216/original.jpg)
Title: Re: Let's talk about Christmas, Thanksgiving be damned
Post by: Zebediah on 20 Nov 2013, 13:48
I exchange with a lot of people (roughly 20, between friends, family, coworkers and cats. Yes. Cats. Don't judge me.)

Do you truly exchange gifts with the cats, or do they simply accept gifts from you as their due tribute? And are you sure you'd want them to give you anything in return?

Because, frankly, I've gotten gifts from cats before, and they're usually dead animals. Usually. The mouse wasn't quite dead yet.
Title: Re: Let's talk about Christmas, Thanksgiving be damned
Post by: GarandMarine on 20 Nov 2013, 13:56
I've gotten a live mouse from a kitty before. Poor little field mouse was /terrified/ to new dimensions of "oh fuck me I'm scared". I was quite surprised when it came to life in my hands though. I thought it was dead.
Title: Re: Let's talk about Christmas, Thanksgiving be damned
Post by: Lines on 20 Nov 2013, 13:57
Better than getting a dead baby rabbit. Worst patheticute gift from an animal ever.
Title: Re: Let's talk about Christmas, Thanksgiving be damned
Post by: lepetitfromage on 20 Nov 2013, 19:54
I exchange with a lot of people (roughly 20, between friends, family, coworkers and cats. Yes. Cats. Don't judge me.)

Do you truly exchange gifts with the cats, or do they simply accept gifts from you as their due tribute? And are you sure you'd want them to give you anything in return?

Because, frankly, I've gotten gifts from cats before, and they're usually dead animals. Usually. The mouse wasn't quite dead yet.

Ah, yeahh.....I've gotten my fair share of those. In terms of Christmas though- technically I give a gift to my friend's cat and she gives one to my cat. So....there is kind of an exchange happening?  :-P
Title: Re: Let's talk about Christmas, Thanksgiving be damned
Post by: Blue Kitty on 04 Dec 2013, 05:38
Still my favorite sweater
(http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_mbukopKsBu1qjghfvo1_500.jpg)
Title: Re: Let's talk about Christmas, Thanksgiving be damned
Post by: Grognard on 04 Dec 2013, 08:20
:slow clap:
truly awesome
Title: Re: Let's talk about Christmas, Thanksgiving be damned
Post by: GarandMarine on 04 Dec 2013, 09:18
Title: Re: Let's talk about Christmas, Thanksgiving be damned
Post by: Patrick on 04 Dec 2013, 09:19
Tom Lehrer is a god damn genius.
Title: Re: Let's talk about Christmas, Thanksgiving be damned
Post by: GarandMarine on 04 Dec 2013, 09:30
True facts.
Title: Re: Let's talk about Christmas, Thanksgiving be damned
Post by: BeoPuppy on 05 Dec 2013, 02:24
First, let me get through Sinterklaas alive.
Title: Re: Let's talk about Christmas, Thanksgiving be damned
Post by: GarandMarine on 05 Dec 2013, 05:59
Sigh. I love arguing with Christians, and Christians who can't see why an argument along the lines of "Well Jesus came to save all mankind so that's why I say Merry Christmas to everyone" has the potential to be offensive to literally any one non-Christian. (like say... the majority of the global population)
Title: Re: Let's talk about Christmas, Thanksgiving be damned
Post by: Grognard on 05 Dec 2013, 07:01
 :wink:
Merry
Fucking
Christmas
Ya
Filthy
Heathen
 :wink:
Title: Re: Let's talk about Christmas, Thanksgiving be damned
Post by: BeoPuppy on 05 Dec 2013, 07:44
Is there a war on christmas?
Title: Re: Let's talk about Christmas, Thanksgiving be damned
Post by: GarandMarine on 05 Dec 2013, 07:45
If there is I'm getting my horse, a horned helmet and going a burnin
Title: Re: Let's talk about Christmas, Thanksgiving be damned
Post by: Barmymoo on 05 Dec 2013, 07:59
Garand, can you clarify what you mean? I'm a little confused. Do you mean that it has the potential to offend people who don't believe in Jesus, or is it the justification itself that is offensive, and not the greeting on its own?
Title: Re: Let's talk about Christmas, Thanksgiving be damned
Post by: LeeC on 05 Dec 2013, 08:30
Muppet Christmas Carol is still my all time favorite version of the Christmas Carol.  Scrooged is a close second.
Title: Re: Let's talk about Christmas, Thanksgiving be damned
Post by: GarandMarine on 05 Dec 2013, 09:59
Garand, can you clarify what you mean? I'm a little confused. Do you mean that it has the potential to offend people who don't believe in Jesus, or is it the justification itself that is offensive, and not the greeting on its own?

I don't really care if someone says Merry Christmas to me. They can celebrate capitalism their own way. The justification was what really grinded my gears. I didn't post the full thing this guy said to me but it boiled down to "Your holidays and way of life are invalid cause Jesus, so that's why I say merry Christmas, you don't get a choice"
Title: Re: Let's talk about Christmas, Thanksgiving be damned
Post by: Barmymoo on 05 Dec 2013, 10:14
Yeah, I see what you mean now. I was worried that you meant that saying Merry Christmas was offensive to non-Christians, which I had never even thought about as a possibility (and I don't want to offend people!). I would also be offended by that argument and I do believe the religious side of things.
Title: Re: Let's talk about Christmas, Thanksgiving be damned
Post by: Grognard on 05 Dec 2013, 11:04
I start saying Happy Holidays (occasionally 'Season's Greetings) a few days before Thanksgiving.
It's basically a greeting and a wish of Goodwill/Good fortune for the recipient.
And it covers Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, Christmas and New Years.

About 2 weeks before Christmas, its purely 'Merry Christmas'.
I'm still wishing you Goodwill and good fortune, but I'm also celebrating my religious beliefs.

After Christmas, it's Happy New Year.

Some people get ugly and militant about things.  I fully undrstand not celebrating the commercialization of Christmas.
I don't like it myself.  The mass commercialization and capitalization of Christmas is a terrible affront to the real spirit and meaning of the season.  The Spirit is a celebration of The Gift and the Giver; not 'gimme' time.
Title: Re: Let's talk about Christmas, Thanksgiving be damned
Post by: calenlass on 05 Dec 2013, 11:23
I can't really see how it would be offensive, May, unless those non-Christians are determined to take your faith as a personal insult, or unless you deliver it in such a way as to be judgy and patronizing to the non-Christian. If someone were to say "Shanah Tovah" or "Saal Mubarak" to you, you also have the choice to take it personally, I suppose, or to accept it graciously. You could either be angry that they believe differently than you, or you can just accept their wishes for the good things they believe they are bestowing on you for the new year.
Title: Re: Let's talk about Christmas, Thanksgiving be damned
Post by: GarandMarine on 05 Dec 2013, 12:38
That's basically how I feel about it, every culture in the world and many of the religions has a holiday right around now, celebrating your own shouldn't be offensive. IMPOSING your own on others should be.
Title: Re: Let's talk about Christmas, Thanksgiving be damned
Post by: LeeC on 05 Dec 2013, 12:48
Guy at work is vehemently against Christmas and claims to celebrate Saturnalia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saturnalia)
Title: Re: Let's talk about Christmas, Thanksgiving be damned
Post by: Grognard on 05 Dec 2013, 12:56
some people have the attitude of porcupines with ingrown quills.

there aint never any making them happy.
Title: Re: Let's talk about Christmas, Thanksgiving be damned
Post by: LookingIn on 05 Dec 2013, 13:46
Muppet Christmas Carol is still my all time favorite version of the Christmas Carol.  Scrooged is a close second.

I wasn't a fan of Scrooged and could give or take The Muppets version...have you seen the 1951 version? It's been regarded as the best ever version of the book.
Title: Re: Let's talk about Christmas, Thanksgiving be damned
Post by: pwhodges on 05 Dec 2013, 16:00
God Jul!
Title: Re: Let's talk about Christmas, Thanksgiving be damned
Post by: jwhouk on 05 Dec 2013, 17:08
Happy St. Nicholas Day!
Title: Re: Let's talk about Christmas, Thanksgiving be damned
Post by: celticgeek on 05 Dec 2013, 18:11
Hapus Alban Arthuan! 
Title: Re: Let's talk about Christmas, Thanksgiving be damned
Post by: mustang6172 on 05 Dec 2013, 21:05
This may be controversial, but I’m not convinced Santa isn’t real.

If the missing children on milk cartons are real, why can’t the old man on the soda cans be real?
Title: Re: Let's talk about Christmas, Thanksgiving be damned
Post by: GarandMarine on 05 Dec 2013, 21:10
Because the old man on soda cans is an invention of Coca Cola based on a Christianized Odin... who is in fact real. So Santa no, Odin yes, which is WAY more metal.
Title: Re: Let's talk about Christmas, Thanksgiving be damned
Post by: GarandMarine on 05 Dec 2013, 21:48
http://infolocata.com/mirovia/irrefutable-proof-that-santa-is-odin/
Title: Re: Let's talk about Christmas, Thanksgiving be damned
Post by: mustang6172 on 05 Dec 2013, 23:10
That doesn't make any sense!  How could Coca Cola be credited with inventing Santa in the 1930's, when Clement Clarke Moore's "'Twas the Night Before Christmas" had first been published in 1823?
Title: Re: Let's talk about Christmas, Thanksgiving be damned
Post by: jwhouk on 05 Dec 2013, 23:39
You mean, "A Visit from St. Nicholas", do you not?
Title: Re: Let's talk about Christmas, Thanksgiving be damned
Post by: pwhodges on 06 Dec 2013, 01:44
Christmas dinner ("tinner") for gamers. (http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/interest/2013-12-05/too-busy-gaming-to-eat-pop-a-can-of-christmas-tinner)

(http://cdn02.animenewsnetwork.com/images/cms/interest/69234/tin.jpg)
Title: Re: Let's talk about Christmas, Thanksgiving be damned
Post by: LookingIn on 06 Dec 2013, 02:13
...Tinner reminds me a lot of this: http://theinfosphere.org/Bachelor_Chow

(http://halcanary.org/images/bachelor_chow.jpg)
Title: Re: Let's talk about Christmas, Thanksgiving be damned
Post by: Akima on 06 Dec 2013, 02:43
http://infolocata.com/mirovia/irrefutable-proof-that-santa-is-odin/
Dublin is in Great Britain? I think the cartoonist Eired.

The whole Happy Holidays/Christmas argument mercifully does not seem to have take root in Australia. To me, it is just a public holiday, but I'll quite happily give and receive Christmas greetings, while I wait for the important festival - Chinese New Year! The important thing is: don't be a jerk.
Title: Re: Let's talk about Christmas, Thanksgiving be damned
Post by: GarandMarine on 06 Dec 2013, 03:54
That pun was incredible Akima.
Title: Re: Let's talk about Christmas, Thanksgiving be damned
Post by: Welu on 06 Dec 2013, 15:19
Finally bought my first Christmas gifts and I'm really proud of them because the person just mentioned them in passing, to someone else, so it's something I know they want but it will still be a surprise. At least I'm fairly sure they weren't just heavy-hinting because they already told me some stuff they wanted but I know they've also told those ideas to other people and I don't want to end up getting them something someone else wants to get them.
Title: Re: Let's talk about Christmas, Thanksgiving be damned
Post by: The Seldom Killer on 07 Dec 2013, 01:59
I used to rail against the commercialisation of Christmas but I've come to the acceptance of it as part of  our culture. After all we commercialise everything else to breaking point, Christmas isn't so special that it doesn't deserve the same treatment.

Last night on TV in the space of a couple of minutes I watched about how a buying a certain car would ensure I sleep with a beautiful woman and have wonderful children, how women really need to wash their vaginas to avoid some unspecified social faux pas, how a celebrity has gotten too fat and how shopping at a particular supermarket should be my only concern because I could save money and sleep with the checkout person.

Year on year I see more and more people literally crumbling under the strain of it all. People haemorrhaging money because they feel like they'd feel bad if they don't do what the commercialisation tells them too. Families becoming further embittered because they feel forced together rather than seeking each others company out of choice. There's small respite in organisations offering some relief to those who can't afford even the smallest things and small companies cornering that niche of people who don't want every little thing for two months straight to be dressed up as Christmassy. But what really gets me is that in the face of all of the stress, damage and misery that the current practice of Christmas brings is the abject failure of the greatest potential agency for change to do anything about it. The collective will of the Christian churches is limited to some paltry sermonising to existing congregations about how the real meaning of Christmas shouldn't get lost in the October to December spendfest. Yet the heads of each branch of the faith could easily command the ear of the media and the people to openly condemn and divorce themselves from this. It's a shame that they don't have the spine to do so.
Title: Re: Let's talk about Christmas, Thanksgiving be damned
Post by: Thrillho on 07 Dec 2013, 03:08
Well my Christmas plans are now sorted but I am now doing nothing for New Year.  :psyduck:
Title: Re: Let's talk about Christmas, Thanksgiving be damned
Post by: Barmymoo on 07 Dec 2013, 03:13
It amazes me that we seem to have a culture where it honestly isn't seen as weird that people pay for things with money they don't have.
Title: Re: Let's talk about Christmas, Thanksgiving be damned
Post by: pwhodges on 07 Dec 2013, 03:44
It amazes me that we seem to have a culture where it honestly isn't seen as weird that people pay for things they don't want or need with money they don't have.

Fixed that for you.
Title: Re: Let's talk about Christmas, Thanksgiving be damned
Post by: Lines on 07 Dec 2013, 07:59
Found out what we're doing for Christmas! My bff/nextdoor neighbor invited us and my mom over for Christmas dinner. I'm so excited. Thanksgiving was a little sad because it was just three of us and now we'll get to have a if fun dinner.  :-) And apparently my bff's  husband's family shares the tradition of seeing a movie on Christmas day, so we'll probably do that with them, too! Huzzah! This pretty much made my day yesterday, as I've been in such a slump lately.
Title: Re: Let's talk about Christmas, Thanksgiving be damned
Post by: Patrick on 07 Dec 2013, 08:45
I used to rail against the commercialisation of Christmas but I've come to the acceptance of it as part of  our culture. After all we commercialise everything else to breaking point, Christmas isn't so special that it doesn't deserve the same treatment.

[snip; signed, Pat]

Yet the heads of each branch of the faith could easily command the ear of the media and the people to openly condemn and divorce themselves from this. It's a shame that they don't have the spine to do so.

Dude, the corporate machine is already well aware of the fact we hate Black Friday. They just don't fucking care because they know you're not going to do anything about it. I saw a matching pair of car commercials the other day that beautifully highlighted this. First one I saw was two men, neighbors, talking to each other. First guy says to the second guy, who has a black eye, "Jeez, what happened to you?" and he responds "Black Friday. Got up early. Saved hundreds. How'd you make out?" or something. First guy says back, "Oh, you know. Slept in. Saved thousands." And he turns to look at his brand new Cadillac or whatever the fuck. And the women's one (because men and women aren't allowed to talk to each other on TV, duh) is the same idea, except substitute "black eye" for "messy hair, no makeup" and all that good lot (because women are never violent ever and all that matters is their looks, duh).

On a related note, every time I hear a sleigh bell, it's like the full moon to a werewolf. I fucking hate sleigh bells in commercials, in music, on a goat, in a boat, I DO NOT FUCKING LIKE THEM SAM I AM STOP WITH THE UEFHEOIJRGF SLEIGH BELLS FUCK YOU
Title: Re: Let's talk about Christmas, Thanksgiving be damned
Post by: Barmymoo on 07 Dec 2013, 09:35
It amazes me that we seem to have a culture where it honestly isn't seen as weird that people pay for things they don't want or need with money they don't have.

Fixed that for you.

Well, that too, but I'm really talking about the fact that it is seen as completely normal that we buy houses for thousands and thousands of pounds/dollars and then spend our entire lives paying that money back, or get an education which we will be paying for throughout or working lives, and also that people get a new sofa because they want one but they can't afford to pay for it yet so they will pay for it next year, for more money.

I'm not saying I don't do this too - I have a scary amount of student debt (I got my first "you're due to start repaying!" letter the other day... fortunately since I have an income of -£2500 I won't have to actually make any payments) and I will probably take out a mortgage. It just seems so odd.
Title: Re: Let's talk about Christmas, Thanksgiving be damned
Post by: Blue Kitty on 07 Dec 2013, 10:29
(http://25.media.tumblr.com/5bcf9c09fbbb8072629e2f470cdfcc99/tumblr_mf60919Yx01qfr6udo1_400.gif)
Title: Re: Let's talk about Christmas, Thanksgiving be damned
Post by: BeoPuppy on 07 Dec 2013, 11:29
Getting a mortgage is a weird experience. It's a meeting at a bank or some-such and they give you thousands upon thousands of your local currency and right after that ... a house and responsibility for the house and the money ... whilst all the time you just want to go back to playing snake on your telephone. (It's been a while.)

But you're right. Credit cards are from the devil.
Title: Re: Let's talk about Christmas, Thanksgiving be damned
Post by: mustang6172 on 07 Dec 2013, 18:46
I used to rail against the commercialisation of Christmas but I've come to the acceptance of it as part of  our culture. After all we commercialise everything else to breaking point, Christmas isn't so special that it doesn't deserve the same treatment.

Lately I've taken the position of opposing new holidays just for fear they may become commercialized.  Anna Jarvis should be an example to us all.
Title: Re: Let's talk about Christmas, Thanksgiving be damned
Post by: Akima on 09 Dec 2013, 01:15
Credit cards are from the devil.
A credit card is a tool, like a knife. You can injure yourself with a knife too. Just always bear in mind that any money you don't pay off each month is about the most expensive money you will ever borrow, unless you go to a payday-loan outfit, loan-shark etc. Don't do that. But you all know all this stuff already.
Title: Re: Let's talk about Christmas, Thanksgiving be damned
Post by: Thrillho on 09 Dec 2013, 02:06
My credit card may have cost me a shitload of money, but it's also saved my ass a couple of times. Once I've got it paid off I'm going to keep it so I can use it as a kind of savings account, and occasionally use to buy something that I then immediately pay off to bump my credit rating up.
Title: Re: Let's talk about Christmas, Thanksgiving be damned
Post by: bainidhe_dub on 09 Dec 2013, 06:27
CHRISTMAS LIGHTS!! We went for a drive in the snow last night and found some good ones.
This little cul-de-sac at the bottom of a hill had some serious lights going on.
(https://31.media.tumblr.com/ed68b8e90a6b334ac14a3d260189cbeb/tumblr_mxiietiHFN1qhqupto1_500.jpg)
These two had, between them, pretty much every decoration available in town.
(https://24.media.tumblr.com/325831d02db4a54b860601985afe7582/tumblr_mxij2ehBaU1qhqupto1_500.jpg) (https://24.media.tumblr.com/1c493c798fdd0f195a6ed38cf978a769/tumblr_mxijqoKwOi1qhqupto1_500.jpg)
And this is my house, which is boring by comparison but one of the more lit up ones on the street.
(https://24.media.tumblr.com/43d1f424cc48ff249f452f140fee9969/tumblr_mxijuuaMZV1qhqupto1_500.jpg)
Title: Re: Let's talk about Christmas, Thanksgiving be damned
Post by: GarandMarine on 09 Dec 2013, 20:29
"A Viking Christmas Poem"

'Twas the night before Christmas and all through the Hall

Not a creature was stirring, not warrior nor thrall.

And I in my armor, my shield and my helm

Was drunker than anyone else in the Realm.

I staggered upstairs and fell into bed

While four quarts of mead were ablaze in my head.

Then up from below came the sounds of a brawl

So I grabbed up my axe and ran down to the Hall.

I missed the last step and crashed down in a heap

Thinking, “Why can’t those low-lifes downstairs go to sleep!”

When what to my wondering eyes should appear

But two brawny strangers, wielding mallet and spear.

I said to myself, “We’ll soon have them beat!”

Then I noticed ten warriors laid out at their feet.

I gave out a yell and leapt into the fray..

I’ll always regret my poor choice of that day.

For the one laid his hammer to the side of my nose

And up, up, up to the rafters I rose.

Then came a lone frightened voice from the floor,

"Those are no mortal warriors — that’s Odin and Thor!"

Then they looked at each other and they said,"Battle’s done.

Now they know who we are, it no longer is fun.”

Then Thor raised his hammer, and his elbow he bent,

And with a loud crash, through the ceiling they went.

I crawled through the Hall and flung open the door,

Not really sure that I’d seen them before.

The snow bathed in starlight, the moon like a glede,

I saw them ride off on an eight-legged steed

.And I heard them exclaim, ‘ere they flew out of sight,

"TO HELA WITH CHRISTMAS, WE JUST LOVE A GOOD FIGHT!"
Title: Re: Let's talk about Christmas, Thanksgiving be damned
Post by: GarandMarine on 10 Dec 2013, 06:46
http://www.breitbart.com/InstaBlog/2013/12/09/Man-Leaps-to-His-Death-in-Shopping-Mall-After-Girlfriend-Insists-on-More-Shopping

Quote
Man Leaps to His Death in Shopping Mall After Girlfriend Insists on More Shopping
by Jon David Kahn 9 Dec 2013, 12:20 PM PDT CHINA - a 38-year-old man leaped to his death after an argument with his girlfriend who insisted they continue shopping. CCTV captured Tao Hsiao and his girlfriend in a mall in Xuzhou, Jiangsu province, east China where they had reportedly been shopping for five hours or so before he hit his limit.
Eyewitnesses said Hsiao could be heard telling his girlfriend that they already had more bags than they could carry, but she insisted on hitting one more store where there was a sale on shoes.

An eyewitness said: "He told her she already had enough shoes, more shoes that she could wear in a lifetime, and it was pointless buying any more. She started shouting at him, accusing him of being a skinflint, and of spoiling Christmas. It was a really heated argument."

The argument continued until Hsiao threw the bags on the floor and himself over the balcony, dropping seven stories to his death and smashing Christmas decorations on the way down. He was killed on impact.

A spokesman for the mall said: "His body was removed fairly quickly. He actually landed on one of the stalls below and then fell to the floor so although the store was damaged it meant he didn't hit anybody.

"This is a tragic incident, but this time of year can be very stressful for many people."

It's Breitbart with no sources that I really saw, but I can totally emphasize with this guy.
Title: Re: Let's talk about Christmas, Thanksgiving be damned
Post by: The Seldom Killer on 10 Dec 2013, 08:11
It got picked up by the Daily Mail. Doesn't improve the credibility though.
Title: Re: Let's talk about Christmas, Thanksgiving be damned
Post by: Welu on 10 Dec 2013, 09:19
Even if it was true, there must have been something else going on with his mental state and a lot of details missing. That video pissed me off. It reduced his death to a joke (Seriously, he got "the last laugh"?) and the girlfriend probably feels guilty and horrible enough without people making fun.
Title: Re: Let's talk about Christmas, Thanksgiving be damned
Post by: LookingIn on 10 Dec 2013, 17:22
It's Breitbart with no sources that I really saw, but I can totally emphasize with this guy.

It's a legit story, other sources are reporting it:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/12/09/boyfriend-suicide-shopping_n_4414873.html
http://nypost.com/2013/12/09/fed-up-man-upset-at-girlfriends-shopping-jumps-to-death-at-mall/
Title: Re: Let's talk about Christmas, Thanksgiving be damned
Post by: Thrillho on 11 Dec 2013, 04:59
Work had Christmas dinner in the canteen today. It was pretty great, and was like a nice little appetiser for my actual Christmas dinner.
Title: Re: Let's talk about Christmas, Thanksgiving be damned
Post by: Welu on 11 Dec 2013, 07:07
Handed in my Secret Santa present for work. We do it a strange way where we're not assigned a person, we just bring a gift and then people who brought gifts are given one back randomly. We open them just after the staff do meal.
It is strange but I think it takes a lot of pressure off of us because since people get steady rota shifts, you might get someone you have barely worked with and know nothing about them. Since it's just random, people bring in silly things, mostly alcohol based, like shot belts (http://i.imgur.com/nqsI4c3.jpg) or dirty Christmas gimmick stuff like penis ornaments.
Title: Re: Let's talk about Christmas, Thanksgiving be damned
Post by: bainidhe_dub on 13 Dec 2013, 05:37
One of my husband's friends said he wanted to see him in a Christmas sweater on our Christmas card, which is never ever ever going to happen, but I ended up making a little drawing on his card which turned out kind of cute. Now I kind of want to use it for next year's cards or something.
(https://fbcdn-sphotos-e-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn2/1463998_10102329327989888_853782780_n.jpg)
Merry Christmas from the Westbrooks!
Title: Re: Let's talk about Christmas, Thanksgiving be damned
Post by: lepetitfromage on 13 Dec 2013, 06:11
I saw that on FB and can't even begin to tell you how much I love it. PLEASE use it on next year's cards. It's flippin' adorable!
Title: Re: Let's talk about Christmas, Thanksgiving be damned
Post by: LeeC on 13 Dec 2013, 08:16
(https://scontent-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-frc3/q71/s720x720/1486593_785551864804302_2034999087_n.jpg)
Title: Re: Let's talk about Christmas, Thanksgiving be damned
Post by: LeeC on 14 Dec 2013, 12:02
for all you star craft fans!
Title: Re: Let's talk about Christmas, Thanksgiving be damned
Post by: GarandMarine on 14 Dec 2013, 15:10
Just made mom's traditional christmas candy. Albeit I swapped the almonds for pecans and walnuts.
Title: Re: Let's talk about Christmas, Thanksgiving be damned
Post by: LeeC on 15 Dec 2013, 13:47
Title: Re: Let's talk about Christmas, Thanksgiving be damned
Post by: GarandMarine on 15 Dec 2013, 13:59
(https://fbcdn-sphotos-h-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn2/1506308_10152151577935815_1443367209_o.jpg)
Title: Re: Let's talk about Christmas, Thanksgiving be damned
Post by: Pilchard123 on 16 Dec 2013, 01:46
Lumps of clay, painted purple?
Title: Re: Let's talk about Christmas, Thanksgiving be damned
Post by: pwhodges on 16 Dec 2013, 01:47
This, I presume:

Just made mom's traditional christmas candy. Albeit I swapped the almonds for pecans and walnuts.

My guess is some kind of hard toffee made in a tray and shattered when cold.
Title: Re: Let's talk about Christmas, Thanksgiving be damned
Post by: GarandMarine on 16 Dec 2013, 04:29
Yes. My kitchen light turns all browns purple for some odd reason.
Title: Re: Let's talk about Christmas, Thanksgiving be damned
Post by: Patrick on 16 Dec 2013, 10:42
dat uranium
Title: Re: Let's talk about Christmas, Thanksgiving be damned
Post by: LookingIn on 16 Dec 2013, 13:20
Yes. My kitchen light turns all browns purple for some odd reason.

Are they chocolate covered?

If I was any good with sugar deserts I'd try to recreate them, it looks too good to pass up  8-)
Title: Re: Let's talk about Christmas, Thanksgiving be damned
Post by: GarandMarine on 16 Dec 2013, 13:39
Oh yes. It's three kinds of chocolate, walnuts and pecans. Easy to make!
Title: Re: Let's talk about Christmas, Thanksgiving be damned
Post by: LeeC on 17 Dec 2013, 17:20
found this interesting.  A 6 minute video on lying to kids about Santa.
http://thatguywiththeglasses.com/videolinks/thatguywiththeglasses/nostalgia-critic/41704-why-lie-to-kids-about-santa (http://thatguywiththeglasses.com/videolinks/thatguywiththeglasses/nostalgia-critic/41704-why-lie-to-kids-about-santa)
Title: Re: Let's talk about Christmas, Thanksgiving be damned
Post by: pwhodges on 18 Dec 2013, 07:30
Save time decorating your tree (http://www.srf.ch/player/tv/giacobbo--mueller/video/stefan-heuss-christbaum-schmuecken?id=d2dc01fc-c8a5-4238-a2fd-8c43c5cdab26)

(In German, but that doesn't matter)
Title: Re: Let's talk about Christmas, Thanksgiving be damned
Post by: Blue Kitty on 18 Dec 2013, 17:30
(http://25.media.tumblr.com/78d6b4c30c9d3e2b2d7030791f20ab6c/tumblr_mxzb3yZ2jE1rvw601o1_400.png)
Title: Re: Let's talk about Christmas, Thanksgiving be damned
Post by: GarandMarine on 18 Dec 2013, 18:00
....that is fucking majestic. I NEED that sweater to wear to holiday parties with people I hate.
Title: Re: Let's talk about Christmas, Thanksgiving be damned
Post by: LookingIn on 19 Dec 2013, 06:13
I was told to expect to eat arroz con gandules y paleta de cerdo asado for Boxing Day dinner, my uncle makes that meal every year in the same portions and demands that I stop by to eat with him on the 26th so he has someone to eat it besides him...damn good eating, even if he always makes the pork shoulder a little salty.
Title: Re: Let's talk about Christmas, Thanksgiving be damned
Post by: Blue Kitty on 19 Dec 2013, 19:29
(http://25.media.tumblr.com/e10fd369e0a3ee298686624705f4f476/tumblr_my30h8T3HZ1qdlh1io1_400.gif)
Title: Re: Let's talk about Christmas, Thanksgiving be damned
Post by: The Seldom Killer on 19 Dec 2013, 23:38
Wow, that's a bit harsh, why would anyone do that.

Reading books should never be interrupted without good reason.
Title: Re: Let's talk about Christmas, Thanksgiving be damned
Post by: pwhodges on 20 Dec 2013, 03:05
The University of Oxford has an official video Christmas card this year, made in the Ashmolean Museum.  Enjoy!

Title: Re: Let's talk about Christmas, Thanksgiving be damned
Post by: LeeC on 20 Dec 2013, 07:24
as far as ugly christmas sweaters go....
I WANT IT!
(http://i.imgur.com/4t9g9Ek.jpg)
mind you, I am not a sweater ever kind of guy.
Title: Re: Let's talk about Christmas, Thanksgiving be damned
Post by: Blue Kitty on 20 Dec 2013, 08:37
Title: Re: Let's talk about Christmas, Thanksgiving be damned
Post by: jwhouk on 20 Dec 2013, 09:06
The ugliest sweater I ever got was a knit red vest. Other than that, I never got anything that had goofy prints on them.
Title: Re: Let's talk about Christmas, Thanksgiving be damned
Post by: The Seldom Killer on 21 Dec 2013, 12:46
The worst thing about Christmas is that it is so obviously Easter in disguise.

(http://25.media.tumblr.com/b52faccf7f21311ce1781bf6898b0afb/tumblr_mxrredrCZ71qzcv7no1_1280.jpg)
Title: Re: Let's talk about Christmas, Thanksgiving be damned
Post by: GarandMarine on 21 Dec 2013, 20:54
Holy fucking Satan bunny.
Title: Re: Let's talk about Christmas, Thanksgiving be damned
Post by: pwhodges on 22 Dec 2013, 02:40
Fucking, you say?

(click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Let's talk about Christmas, Thanksgiving be damned
Post by: Masterpiece on 22 Dec 2013, 05:41
It even says anal on the wrapping.
Title: Re: Let's talk about Christmas, Thanksgiving be damned
Post by: lepetitfromage on 22 Dec 2013, 09:17
Bwahahahaha I want to gift one of those to everyone I know and be a fly on the wall when they open it.  :-P
Title: Re: Let's talk about Christmas, Thanksgiving be damned
Post by: Valdís on 22 Dec 2013, 09:32
"Surprise toys"

So a chocolate coating, rather than hollow?
Title: Re: Let's talk about Christmas, Thanksgiving be damned
Post by: Lines on 22 Dec 2013, 13:43
So our tree is pretty tall and there's not enough room for a star, so this year instead of shoving an ornament up top, this year our tree topper is Deep Space 9.

(https://scontent-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn2/1533876_10101469742795665_756847289_n.jpg)
Title: Re: Let's talk about Christmas, Thanksgiving be damned
Post by: The Seldom Killer on 22 Dec 2013, 13:48
(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/BcHmjPLIEAAg1UT.jpg)
Title: Re: Let's talk about Christmas, Thanksgiving be damned
Post by: Lines on 22 Dec 2013, 13:57
My cat totally had this look on her face as we decorated our tree:

(https://i.chzbgr.com/maxW500/1509820160/hA478B534/)
Title: Re: Let's talk about Christmas, Thanksgiving be damned
Post by: Blue Kitty on 22 Dec 2013, 17:30
(http://25.media.tumblr.com/8434c481b6490d8aa4e7e6e16ce06807/tumblr_my45nzs55t1srbo51o1_1280.jpg)
Title: Re: Let's talk about Christmas, Thanksgiving be damned
Post by: GarandMarine on 22 Dec 2013, 18:27
I find it implausible that the shaken condition would only last a day.
Title: Re: Let's talk about Christmas, Thanksgiving be damned
Post by: Blue Kitty on 22 Dec 2013, 18:35
It doesn't say it only lasted a day, only that he checked in the next day
Title: Re: Let's talk about Christmas, Thanksgiving be damned
Post by: Masterpiece on 23 Dec 2013, 03:15
He must be a zombie.
Title: Re: Let's talk about Christmas, Thanksgiving be damned
Post by: bainidhe_dub on 23 Dec 2013, 07:22
That song always makes me wonder about the mechanics of giving someone's heart away to a third party. Like, who did she give it to? Is he obligated to love that person now? How and when did he get it back?
Title: Re: Let's talk about Christmas, Thanksgiving be damned
Post by: Kugai on 23 Dec 2013, 15:07
He sent 'The Boys' round for it.
Title: Re: Let's talk about Christmas, Thanksgiving be damned
Post by: bainidhe_dub on 23 Dec 2013, 17:28
Your reference has been lost in inter-temporal shipping.
Title: Re: Let's talk about Christmas, Thanksgiving be damned
Post by: Blue Kitty on 23 Dec 2013, 20:12
(http://24.media.tumblr.com/d7c9016dc3904b7922de8212f98c3985/tumblr_my5o77ETR71qb4emvo1_500.jpg)
Title: Re: Let's talk about Christmas, Thanksgiving be damned
Post by: celticgeek on 24 Dec 2013, 07:55
My daughter and son-in-law are here for the holidays.  We are eating well, drinking well, and enjoying pictures and stories from their recent trip to Key West. 

For those of you who missed it, Happy Solstice! 

Title: Re: Let's talk about Christmas, Thanksgiving be damned
Post by: GarandMarine on 24 Dec 2013, 08:57
Have a nice Christmas you Merry Bastards
Title: Re: Let's talk about Christmas, Thanksgiving be damned
Post by: cesium133 on 24 Dec 2013, 09:03
Ah, local TV news...

"It was a fun, enjoyable day for the kids until Santa was shot."  :psyduck:
Title: Re: Let's talk about Christmas, Thanksgiving be damned
Post by: Skewbrow on 24 Dec 2013, 10:15
Merry Christmas from rainy Turku, Finland.

(http://users.utu.fi/lahtonen/Joulu2013.jpg)

This is the official city Xmas tree standing in front of the cathedral. Going a bit further away from the equator does not guarantee a White Christmas  (about 40 degrees Fahrenheit now).
Title: Re: Let's talk about Christmas, Thanksgiving be damned
Post by: Kugai on 24 Dec 2013, 10:33
(http://www.sherv.net/cm/emo/christmas/holiday-in-the-sun-smiley-emoticon.gif)
Title: Re: Let's talk about Christmas, Thanksgiving be damned
Post by: The Seldom Killer on 24 Dec 2013, 11:09
Woo hoo, ill for Christmas. I'll be curled up in the corner until its all over.
Title: Re: Let's talk about Christmas, Thanksgiving be damned
Post by: Akima on 24 Dec 2013, 14:08
(http://img0113.popscreencdn.com/161932627_santa-buddha-with-merry-christmas-in-chinese-greeting-.jpg)
    圣诞快乐!
    Merry Christmas!

Title: Re: Let's talk about Christmas, Thanksgiving be damned
Post by: RedWolf4 on 24 Dec 2013, 14:11
Merry Christmas and a happy new year folks!!
Title: Re: Let's talk about Christmas, Thanksgiving be damned
Post by: Schmee on 24 Dec 2013, 15:11
BAH, HUMBUG  :mrgreen:
Title: Re: Let's talk about Christmas, Thanksgiving be damned
Post by: pwhodges on 24 Dec 2013, 16:02
Merry Christmas from rainy Turku, Finland.

(http://users.utu.fi/lahtonen/Joulu2013.jpg)

This is the official city Xmas tree standing in front of the cathedral. Going a bit further away from the equator does not guarantee a White Christmas  (about 40 degrees Fahrenheit now).

Hang on, what looks like a river in front of the tree is not:

(http://cassland.org/images/QC/Turku1.jpg)

My oldest friend had his third wedding there a few years ago (they haven't stayed together, though):
(click to show/hide)



Seasonal Comment And now the clock has struck, so Merry Christmas to you all!
Title: Re: Let's talk about Christmas, Thanksgiving be damned
Post by: LeeC on 24 Dec 2013, 22:39
gifts I got from my sister
(https://scontent-a-iad.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-frc3/1476709_10200862903124124_620419221_n.jpg)
Title: Re: Let's talk about Christmas, Thanksgiving be damned
Post by: GarandMarine on 24 Dec 2013, 23:49
http://survivingtheworld.net/Lesson821.html
Title: Re: Let's talk about Christmas, Thanksgiving be damned
Post by: Skewbrow on 25 Dec 2013, 05:23
That was a bit of a coincidence, Paul. Not too much of one in the sense that if your friend was to marry a woman from these parts, then it is relatively likely that they would pick the cathedral for their wedding.

Anyway, I didn't think that wet cobblestone could be mistaken for the surface of the river, but yeah, I can now see the possibility (the river was 150 ft or thereabouts behind my back when I took the photo). The city is built to an uncomfortable degree on clay, so if the cathedral were that close to the river, it would have come stumbling down ages ago.
Title: Re: Let's talk about Christmas, Thanksgiving be damned
Post by: Lines on 25 Dec 2013, 07:10
Merry Christmas everyone!
Title: Re: Let's talk about Christmas, Thanksgiving be damned
Post by: Blue Kitty on 25 Dec 2013, 09:07
(http://24.media.tumblr.com/869f094c0debbab564a3e515e33bcb25/tumblr_my4fpzDwWq1s6fchho1_400.gif)
Title: Re: Let's talk about Christmas, Thanksgiving be damned
Post by: Valdís on 25 Dec 2013, 19:10
GarandMarine got me a gift! Europa Universalis IV on Steam (more convenient than dealing with meatspace hassles). It's been on my wishlist, as I was way too poor to spend money on it when new, and I'm a big ol' dork for Paradoxian-type Grand Strategy stuff, so yay! :-D

(click to show/hide)

Thank you, handsome! <3
Title: Re: Let's talk about Christmas, Thanksgiving be damned
Post by: LeeC on 25 Dec 2013, 20:11
huh, Ive heard of that game but I've never played it.  I generally like paradox games.  Is this the one where you kind of make your own civ and they randomly put you anywhere on the map?
Title: Re: Let's talk about Christmas, Thanksgiving be damned
Post by: Kugai on 25 Dec 2013, 20:42
And always remember

A paradox can always be paradoctored.  :-D
Title: Re: Let's talk about Christmas, Thanksgiving be damned
Post by: GarandMarine on 25 Dec 2013, 21:13
EU is taking control of an existing world power (or power of the day) and guiding it to dominance.

I was always a Hearts of Iron III kinda guy (to absolutely no one's surprise) but I like to get my bunny presents she'll enjoy ^_^
Title: Re: Let's talk about Christmas, Thanksgiving be damned
Post by: LeeC on 25 Dec 2013, 21:20
I always liked the original, 3 was too...different.  Victoria 2 is a ton of fun.
Title: Re: Let's talk about Christmas, Thanksgiving be damned
Post by: The Seldom Killer on 26 Dec 2013, 01:02
Well enough to crawl out of bed for more than an hour but no one wants to have a full fledged do over. Miserable basards.

Fuck it, I'm having Christmas dinner for breakfast.
Title: Re: Let's talk about Christmas, Thanksgiving be damned
Post by: 94ssd on 26 Dec 2013, 02:24
All I asked for this Christmas was Grand Theft Auto V and cash to help me go on a trip to NYC over the summer. I got the game, but unfortunately my family went into "it is Christmas must give gift cards and useless kitsch" mode.

I wasn't asking for cash just to be difficult (which admittedly my grandfather does every year, but I explained why I wasn't asking for anything else) so I'm just slightly less grateful for the other gifts I got.
Title: Re: Let's talk about Christmas, Thanksgiving be damned
Post by: jwhouk on 26 Dec 2013, 06:49
I got the gift of the stomach flu. Lost a lot of fluids and ended up in the emergency room, where they pumped me full of two whole bags of IV and anti-nausea meds. Now I've exchanged constant puking with the runs, and I'm at like 1 HP (or at least that's what I feel like).

Merry Christmas. :P
Title: Re: Let's talk about Christmas, Thanksgiving be damned
Post by: Lines on 26 Dec 2013, 06:57
Eek, I hope you feel better soon. The stomach flu is NOT fun.
Title: Re: Let's talk about Christmas, Thanksgiving be damned
Post by: valley_parade on 26 Dec 2013, 09:03
I spent a very solid 4 days with stomach flu once. Honestly thought I was going to die at a few points.
Title: Re: Let's talk about Christmas, Thanksgiving be damned
Post by: Thrillho on 26 Dec 2013, 09:29
(https://scontent-a-lhr.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn2/1505477_10201737415930189_1803138531_n.jpg)

My Christmas haul. Probably the best I've ever got!
Title: Re: Let's talk about Christmas, Thanksgiving be damned
Post by: 94ssd on 26 Dec 2013, 19:33
I spent a very solid 4 days with stomach flu once. Honestly thought I was going to die at a few points.

I had swine flu back when that was a big deal in 2009 and was bedridden for almost a week. I wished I would die at a few points. The worst part was that in ten minute spans I would go from feeling like I'm about to freeze to death to feeling unbearably hot.
Title: Re: Let's talk about Christmas, Thanksgiving be damned
Post by: jwhouk on 27 Dec 2013, 01:53
What's been horrible is those brief moments when I am asleep, I've had weird and disturbing dreams.
Title: Re: Let's talk about Christmas, Thanksgiving be damned
Post by: Masterpiece on 27 Dec 2013, 04:44
Gareth, you didn't have the Abbey Road album before?
Title: Re: Let's talk about Christmas, Thanksgiving be damned
Post by: Thrillho on 27 Dec 2013, 04:45
Not legally, no. And I deleted all my illegal stuff a few years back. Been slowly buying up the remastered Beatles stuff ever since.
Title: Re: Let's talk about Christmas, Thanksgiving be damned
Post by: bainidhe_dub on 27 Dec 2013, 06:24
Someone gave my dad a set of slang flashcards (http://www.pleated-jeans.com/2013/12/21/these-slang-flashcards-are-pretty-great-18-pics/) in his stocking and we got a video of him trying to guess what the words were before (trying) to read the definitions. Unfortunately the video is posted on my sister's facebook so I have no idea how to share it here...
In other, shocking, news, my father does not know how to say the word "spizzot".
Title: Re: Let's talk about Christmas, Thanksgiving be damned
Post by: BeoPuppy on 27 Dec 2013, 07:33
More Miles!
Title: Re: Let's talk about Christmas, Thanksgiving be damned
Post by: lepetitfromage on 27 Dec 2013, 09:57
Gareth, I'm doing something similar with all the RHCP albums. Nick got me their self titled and Uplift Mofo Party Plan this year for Christmas. :-)

I want to post a photo of my loot too! Boo to being at work.
Title: Re: Let's talk about Christmas, Thanksgiving be damned
Post by: Thrillho on 27 Dec 2013, 12:42
RHCP have one hell of a patchy catalogue.

Post away when you get home!
Title: Re: Let's talk about Christmas, Thanksgiving be damned
Post by: 94ssd on 27 Dec 2013, 13:46
So the ancient GPS in my car was completely fucked when I tried to use it this morning. I used my Best Buy gift card (which I was initially unhappy about because I thought I'd never use it) to partially cover the cost of a new one because I like road tripping but suck at remembering directions.
Title: Re: Let's talk about Christmas, Thanksgiving be damned
Post by: calenlass on 28 Dec 2013, 02:57
Woo Christmas! I am excited for parties now that my stupid parents' christmas day thing is over and they can stop shouting about everything and stressing about absolutely nothing. Dinner and gifts at my sister's tomorrow, hangin' out with friends party sunday, whisky party monday, NYE party tuesday, brunchy fry-up and movie-fest wednesday, dinner party at my granddad's friday, and then Twelfth Night party + gift swap on sunday. Shit yeah Christmas!

I have so many gifts left to wrap auaauauauaughaughaldjhgldfkjhglnb
Title: Re: Let's talk about Christmas, Thanksgiving be damned
Post by: Aimless on 04 Jan 2014, 16:45
I am, as always, late to the party, but I just had to share a Christmas-related insight: it can be pretty awesome to work on Christmas. In Sweden, most of the fun takes place on Christmas eve. This Christmas, for the first time ever, I worked that day. The hospital was at peace, everyone was in a good mood, there were Christmassy decorations and food and treats everywhere, there was a reasonable patient load (on the wards, in the ER and coming in from nearby hospitals) leaving plenty of time to make good decisions, do the right things and then to relax and hang out with wonderful people. And, best of all, I then got to go off and eat just the best Christmas dinner ever--without having to help make it--and have a really nice time with the ginger's family. The next day I started working at 6 PM, so I could have a nice long lie-in for once and start my shift very well-rested. I think I'm hooked and will always try to get these shifts from now on :o

Oh yeah, another first: we decided to have some sort of secret santa thing where everyone would buy a gift for just one person, with a reasonable cap on how much it could cost. I got my mother-in-law a Clever coffee-dripper and my father-in-law got me a couple of paintbrushes and a roller (because I've been going on about wanting to renovate the kitchen). I think this may become a new family tradition, because it really cuts down on the pressure and the expense while also being pretty fun and personal. All in all a very good Christmas for this infidel
Title: Re: Let's talk about Christmas, Thanksgiving be damned
Post by: Masterpiece on 04 Jan 2014, 17:57
You call your wife the ginger? Cute.