Seasonal traditions - what do YOU do ?

[ShortyInCanada]

So it is now the week before Christmas. (For those of us that observe the tradition.)
As I am one of the more verbal "Bah. Humbug !" types for the weeks before I thought I might now take the time to put on my cheerful seasonal attitude and welcome the joy of the yule.
I am looking forward to some time off with my son and will be visiting some family if time and my vehicle permit.
I have put up the decorations and find that my son is infecting me with a little of his excitement even though he still isn't clear on the whole "Santa Claus" thing. (He was still a bit too young last year for it to be understood or remembered. I think that will be changed a LOT this year.) Still he is sensing something big coming and his enthusiasm is infectious, bless him.
I have 550 feet of LED lights strung up outside of my townhouse unit and I am very happy to say that the total power consumption of all those "lights" is less than half that of the neighbors single string of 25 C7 style lights.
My tree is a fibre-optic LED driven artificial one that uses almost no power and is completely safe around children & pets. (Both the wife & I are allergic to real trees so it was never an option.)
So I'm being economically responsible, environmentally considerate, and welcoming the spirit of the season while still being a bit hesitant to the commercialism that abounds. The time to be thankful for all that I have, to help out or at least offer to others, and to enjoy the company of family and friends.
So to all of you here that are becoming more and more part of the friends group (I'm pretty sure I don't want you as family anyways..:san Merry Christmas or Happy Holidays for those who so choose.

How are you planning to spend the holiday season ?

 

[InfinitusEquitas]

Happy Holidays to you too Shorty:beer::san:

I actually absolutely hate the month of december, and the holiday season in general. This has more to do with many unpleasant anniversaries than anything else. I'll take the grinch award now please:eg:

Aside from that I'm celebrating the holidays this year, by going to a club on christmas, then a tour of Philly on monday, a tour or nyc on tuesday, maybe a tour washington dc over wednesday and thursday and going skying from the 29th to the 2nd with a bunch of friends.

Never went skying before, so hopefully I don't add an anniversary of breaking my legs to the holiday calendar

 

[Ghostchrome]

I've always been kind of :meh: around the holidays, but having little kids around really changes your outlook on things. It's a lot of fun.

The Internet makes shopping a breeze now. Not at all like the olden days where you had to battle crowds at the mall just to get your mom another nick-knack for the end table. Having a wife that loves shopping and taking care of all of that stuff really makes it's stress-free for me as far as gift giving goes.

This year I've been doing a lot of walking and driving, looking at Christmas lights. The displays seem to keep getting better and better every year, thanks to big stores and better technology. The kids love lights. I like 'em too.

Here's a hot drink recipe I love this time of year:

Hot, Spiced, Carmel Apple Cider

Apple Cider
Cinnamon Sticks
Cloves
Butterscotch Schnapps.


1) In a pot, bring apple cider to a boil.

2) Drop in cinnamon sticks and a couple of cloves to taste. Don't be stingy.

3) Lower the heat a bit and cover. Simmer at least until the cinnamon sticks sink to the bottom. I keep it on a little longer.

4) Pour in a mug and spike with a shot of Butterscotch schnapps.

 

[ShortyInCanada]

I'm a little disappointed that I only managed 2 responses.
:cryyy:
I will bump myself to see if there is a bit more life in the membership.
:bumpit:

 

[Lase]

I'm a 'Bah Humbug' type myself but I do have to force the cheer when in company.

I don't have family to celebrate with and these holidays are a family time so I consider that I have nothing to celebrate.

But when around others I try not to ruin their celebrations.

Lase

 

[lasersbee]

Once you become an adult... you begin to see the reality of
the Holiday season...

If you have a family and children then the spirit of the holidays
can easily live on..
But if there is no family or children in your life then the Holiday
season can become very meaningless and depressing for some
people...

Hoping that all your families are well...
I and mine wish all of you and yours a safe and Happy Holidays...

Be careful out there.....


Jerry

 

[Haloid95]

Even though I dont celebrate Christmas... Merry Christmas guys!! :san:

@ShortyInCanada you should post some pictures of your decorations.

 

[ShortyInCanada]

Due to lack of items and safety concerns my decorations do NOT include any lasers, yet. If I can get to the point of adding some form of ILDA control to my DD-mislabeled projector I could easily add a laser graphics show to my display in the future. (The carports stand away & in front of my place AND there is a nice wide flat wall next to the front door that would make for a good "screen". The projector would be mounted a bit too high for anyone to take easily but a 25' data cable from an inside computer would easily reach it.)
Perhaps a picture or two might be added but there isn't much to see.

Maybe all us "Scrooges" should start planning some sort of event.:yabbmad: We could all get together to talk shop and have some fun that doesn't have to do with Christmas. Then we could start looking forward to the "season" too, even if for other reasons.
And to keep it realistic AND low cost we should plan for it to include or be a VIRTUAL EVENT. We could all get together via webcams or something and show off our stuff in a comfortable home environment. And if you happen to drink a bit you are already home so no driving necessary.:beer:
-Now how do you record all that so you can post incriminating image captures from the online stream...hmmmm....:eg:

 

[qumefox]

Other than a brief stint at my parents, my christmas will most likely be split between housework, playing with lasers, or playing WoT.

I haven't really done any 'christmas' stuff in the house for the better part of a decade. After all, the cats and dog don't really care if I put up a tree or anything or not.

 

[Guyfromhe]

I take my clothes off and run around the neighborhood naked till someone calls the cops

 

[ShortyInCanada]

What ? Are you kidding me ?
Your dog wouldn't care if a tree was suddenly available in your house !?!
I find that hard to believe. I would think that it would be an unrealistic fantasy for a dog to have a housebound tree for "watering" to his heart's content.
And cats should thoroughly enjoy just sitting there and watching the shiny decorations move almost imperceptibly in the smallest of breezes thinking that maybe a small critter caused it and then they would plan on how to catch it. Sure they will probably choose to strike in the middle of the night just after you get to sleep, but that's the joy of being a pet owner isn't it ? :eg:

As much of a "Bah. Humbug !" kind of person I am, I still like to participate a little to try to keep in touch with the true meaning of the season. I (and the wife) went through a few years without any sort of participation and I found that I felt that something was missing. Even overlooking all the commercialism and phoney overdone economic (money-based) crap that has pervaded the season, to simply take it as just another day, or week, or month left me wanting. Time goes better, or even nicer and more enjoyably, when you have something to do or some sort of "marker" to gauge things by.
So I found that putting up a few things gives just a bit of enjoyment to mark the time. And this allowed me to decide just what the "season" means to me. An introspective journey that denies the consumerism that is paraded in front of everybody for months. I have become comfortable in taking simple pleasures with close friends and family. I have freed myself to apply thought to personalize what I do and how I do it without worrying that someone else will do bigger/better/more expensively.
Goes all the way back to the old saying, "It's not the gift but the thought that counts."
So put a string of cheap lights on a rhododendron. Add 3 pieces of tinsel you find on the ground and there you go ! It is worth it ! Watch the faces of people who come to visit and who see it. Make up some wild story on how the "traditional" tree was actually a tropical plant and throw in "facts" like the climate in the Mediterranean not supporting evergreens and such. It makes for great conversation starters and fun discussions with friends. and THAT IS what the season is all about. Good times with good company.
A blinking LED under a bow, a computer generated freehand Christmas tree, fridge magnets arranged into the shape of an angel, or whatever.
Just take a few minutes to make some seasonal referenced object in your place and tout it like it's the best thing there is ! Everyone else is crazy with their 4 hour long tree decorating. Who needs all those lights that waste power. You're being responsible. After all, it's not like you aren't doing anything now is it ?
So let's hear what you are doing, or what you plan to do TONIGHT.

Have some fun and make us all smile with your own personal touches.
:san:

EDIT: Run around naked ? You would suffer hypothermia in my neighborhood before someone would call the cops. Might just find some more people joining you too !

 

[Guyfromhe]

EDIT: Run around naked ? You would suffer hypothermia in my neighborhood before someone would call the cops. Might just find some more people joining you too !

Pfft you British Coloumbian's wouldn't know hypothermia if it bit you in the ass

 

[ShortyInCanada]

Well, most British Columbians wouldn't know. You hear them all the time complaining that it's cold when the temperature goes below 10 degrees C.
But I have experiences in the mountains and when 4 wheeling. There was even a camping event in Manning Park (which itself never actually gets overly warm in the summertime) in the dead of winter that was always fun to attend. Digging down 6 feet into the snowpack to pitch a tent...you learn about COLD through those things.
I have enough experience with hypothermia to be able to self diagnose when coming down with it. (after enough times you start to learn what is happening...) Still dumb enough to subject myself to mild versions more often than I should like to admit.
But around here, like I said, you would more likely be surrounded by others before you got too cold. Then you all could show off the Christmas colors you wear. (Rosy red cheeks & pale white skin...)

 

[qumefox]

Firstly, I have a female dog. She doesn't 'water the shrubbery'. Secondly, she's a big wuss. She's scared of anything 'new' in the house object wise. She doesn't like things changing. She's even terrified of power outages. But this is limited to inanimate objects. When strange people show up, She gets more than a little intimidating, but it's still mostly show.

If I put up a tree, the cats would have more fun with it than anything else. The dog would avoid that room for a week.

 

[ShortyInCanada]

Mwaaaa haaaaa haaaaaa.
You are a funny guy !
I'm going to giggle over your dog for the next hour...thanks.

 

[qumefox]

She was dumped as a puppy in the park next to where our office was at the time and wandered in the front door one day. I figured somebody would show up looking for her but after a week I ended up carrying her to the vet for all the vaccinations and i've had a dog ever since heh. She was probably abused too which is likely the reason for most of her.. personality quirks.. she has quite a few.