Members gearmike Posted December 21, 2007 Members Share Posted December 21, 2007 I don't know about the rest of you, but for some reason this year, I just can't seem to get into a festive mood. I don't if it's because it hasn't rained here in Southern California until this week so it really seems like we're stuck in the Southern California mono-season which I hate. Give me weather dammit...snow, thunderstorms...hell, I'd settle for raindrops bigger than cat tears which is all we got during this last storm... But It hink that's only part of it...I should be happy and festive, my life is at a great point right now. New job, making more money and working on some really challenging projects. My health is good, I could stand to lose a few pounds, but my heart is in great condition. Family is doing great, wife is expecting baby #2. But I just feel Ho-Hum for some reason. I haven't even had the desire to go shopping, which I know is not the point of Christmas, but I just feel like there's nothing special about the next couple of weeks... I just feel blah...not bah as in bah-humbug...its more apathetic than that... -Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Rabid Posted December 21, 2007 Members Share Posted December 21, 2007 What got me was leaving for vacation Thanksgiving night and being gone almost two weeks. By the time I finally cleared a space for a tree I decided that it was too late and never put it up. I have outside lights, but nothing inside. But, I did get my shopping done early. 90% of it online in one session and I saved a little for going out. Every year I take a vacation day and to to the city to shop. This time it was a stress free trip because most of it was already done. Today is turning into a bah humbug day. Almost everyone here left work at 2:30. The CEO had to be off so I volunteered to stay until 4:30 and take his calls, along with a few clinical staff and the operator. Then I had to come in early, then I ended up working through lunch while a tech delivered a new firewall. A 5 hour day turned into a 9 hour day in a flash. Bah. ... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members gearmike Posted December 21, 2007 Author Members Share Posted December 21, 2007 I've got the tree up, and lights in the windows of the apartment...I mixed the obligatory Christmas concert in early December...and that went great, 200 voice choir and 40 piece orchestra made up of Hollywood score musicians...and the music sounded great but never really moved me... ...maybe because my thanksgiving was a bust this year, and Thanksgiving is what usually starts up my Holiday mood...it never got going... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Ernest Buckley Posted December 21, 2007 Members Share Posted December 21, 2007 Forgive me for getting "spiritual" but this time of year is no different than any other time. Everyday is a blessing, everyday is Christmas. Sometimes when I`m feeling down, I write in my journal all the things I am grateful for. That usually lifts my spirits to the point of getting off my ass and getting back to living. Life is good my friend whether its Christmas season or not. Breath... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Fendercaster Posted December 21, 2007 Members Share Posted December 21, 2007 It's hard for me to get in the Christmas spirit with everything being so secular and money oriented. I'm not particularly religious, but I feel Christmas should be a special day. When I was a kid, nothing was open on Christmas day, not even a gas station. Now, gas stations, grocery stores and a host of other businesses are open, just another day. I understand that not everyone is Christian, but I really wish we could go back to the times of my youth, when Christmas was a day for family, not just another day to go grocery shopping! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members UstadKhanAli Posted December 21, 2007 Members Share Posted December 21, 2007 Mike, do you think it's a "holiday" thing or something more pervasive? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members gearmike Posted December 21, 2007 Author Members Share Posted December 21, 2007 Mike, do you think it's a "holiday" thing or something more pervasive? I don't know...my wife says I've really moody lately...i snap at things a lot easier than I used to. Maybe it's the way I'm adjusting to living in LA instead of being more laid back in the OC. My wife noted that there's less "knock around time" at my new job. It's pretty much work-work-work, less hanging out with the guys and chatting about stuff...I spend less time poking around here than I used to...things are slow today so that's why i started posting about this... But I wrapped my first gift a minute ago...got to get ready for the company party that starts in half an hour. Maybe a few egg-nogs and half a bottle of bourbon will get me in the spirit! -Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members UstadKhanAli Posted December 21, 2007 Members Share Posted December 21, 2007 I'm kinda wondering whether it's a more pervasive thing only because it's a new job, new place, that kind of thing. Maybe it's affecting you in some way that you are only realizing now because you feel that you are "supposed to" feel a certain way now that it's the holidays, like you're supposed to be happy and jolly just because it's the holidays. Living in L.A. - well, it's difficult to say because I've only lived here or in Illinois - but it's really hectic and fast-paced. I don't know where this "laid back L.A." thing comes from. Maybe decades ago, it was laid back, I don't know. But it sure doesn't seem that way to me. Driving here is a joke, and people always seem to be rushing around and super busy and not having any time to do anything. I've also noticed to, more and more, that adults just don't seem to like the holidays at all. Whatever reason it is - stress, rushing around, family obligations, crass commercialism, hearing the same {censored}ing songs over and over, pressure to be "happy and jolly" or whatever, adults just don't seem to like the holidays. You'd think with shopping online, there'd be less rushing around, but that doesn't seem to be the case. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gus Lozada Posted December 21, 2007 Share Posted December 21, 2007 You need some more beer, dude. And turkey Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members UstadKhanAli Posted December 22, 2007 Members Share Posted December 22, 2007 You need some more beer, dude. And turkey The surefire cure for anything? Well, the beer, anyway.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Mr. Botch Posted December 22, 2007 Members Share Posted December 22, 2007 You need some more beer, dude. And turkey Smoothie recipe!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Super 8 Posted December 22, 2007 Members Share Posted December 22, 2007 I'm kinda wondering whether it's a more pervasive thing only because it's a new job, new place, that kind of thing. Maybe it's affecting you in some way that you are only realizing now because you feel that you are "supposed to" feel a certain way now that it's the holidays, like you're supposed to be happy and jolly just because it's the holidays. Same thought had occurred to me.I've been through this myself.I've been feeling kinda christmas-y lately. I think it's just being with my kids, and trying to con them into sitting on Santa's lap, and just imagining the warm feelings they must be developing about being together with family, and anticipating opening presents. They reawaken those emotions in me. "A Christmas Carol" with George C. Scott. Man, I just love that one! Also, my plasma TV arrived today, which was sort of a gift to the whole family, and there was no sense ( or room) to wrap it so I set it up and we watched some christmas DVD's. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members sventvkg Posted December 22, 2007 Members Share Posted December 22, 2007 The holiday's suck. I don't participate but man if I were you MIKE I would just be Happy all year to be alive!!! Given what you you've been through..God Bless ya buddy, from a fellow holiday scrooge!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members alfonso Posted December 22, 2007 Members Share Posted December 22, 2007 A festive mood is basically a dreaming moment, the necessary mental status to change perspective and rest. But sometimes normal life is very interesting and rewarding so your mind refuses to loose the contact. I think this is the true happiness. An excessive festive mood has got something desperate, i.m.o. Well, just an hypothesis... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members philbo Posted December 22, 2007 Members Share Posted December 22, 2007 I wasn't feeling too Christmassy either - - I had a rough year: ended a 26 year marriage, my dog died, my cat died, my youngest son left home to enter the Marine Corps, I ended up paying off a defaulted student loan for another son... lots more stuff, those are just the highlights. And, surely, one can look at these things as improvements and that I should consider myself lucky (because actually I am!!). But I wasn't in the mood for Christmas. Then, my oldest son (also a Marine) surprised me with a 3 week visit with his wife and daughter (my granddaughter, 9 months old), the first time in 6 years he's been here for Christmas. Then my youngest (the new Marine) called and asked me to pick him up at the airport. Then the middle son, who we called 'Caine' because his employment history is like that of David Carradine's character in 'Kung Fu' - - he wandered the earth avoiding employment -- he came home also. And all of the them started hanging lights and setting up my crappy little plastic tree and laughing and wrestling and playing video games together. And suddenly I was cheering up & laughing with them! It's turned into the best Christmas holiday in memory!! Frickin' Aye!! :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members GY Posted December 22, 2007 Members Share Posted December 22, 2007 Get out of LA Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members seclusion Posted December 22, 2007 Members Share Posted December 22, 2007 Probably cause you never got that hot wheels track you always wanted when you were a wee tad. It's just coming back to haunt you!I too get a wee bit moody, I now have a mood light at work and in my studio at home to try and get some sunlight! Up here in Orillia the days are very short and grey. In one way it's great as I get some music done but I'm on my ass , probably needing to get out of the house and hang with some buddy's and forget the sh@t! That and watching my 4 year old opening his Bob the Builder back-hoe is going to be fun to see...Later Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Bob Keelan Posted December 22, 2007 Members Share Posted December 22, 2007 Gather the family, turn off the phones and slap on "It's a Wonderful Life". That'll do it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members alphajerk Posted December 22, 2007 Members Share Posted December 22, 2007 i havent been feeling the holidaze either this year... im loathing the crass commercialism of it, although i dont give a {censored} about the religious part of the holidaze either and never have. i guess maybe more than anything it seems its getting in the way being only a day or two to have off from work and would rather just skip it all together and get on with life. OR if we all could have from xmas to new year to have off for a "mandatory" vacation type thing. its felt more like a nuisance this year than in the past. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members UstadKhanAli Posted December 22, 2007 Members Share Posted December 22, 2007 My birthday is around this time of year, and I have two weeks off. I'm enjoying this year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members alphajerk Posted December 22, 2007 Members Share Posted December 22, 2007 my one son is tomorrow [23rd] and my other is 1/4... we have a load this time of year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Raymar Posted December 22, 2007 Members Share Posted December 22, 2007 I really like this time of year here in So. Californy. The weather is cold(well at night and in the early morning anyway), the air is pretty clean after the rains, walked up to Hillcrest Park this morning and I could see Catalina, its like a mini-forest up there, smells great too. This is the first Christmas that I've lost weight! Staying away from sugar, excess salt, and cholesteral laiden foods, I'm on a spiritual high! Doesn't take much for me. I can even overlook the misgivings that the Bush administration has brought on. I'm even going to go total vegan for a couple weeks just to purge the system to get ready for the new year. Haven't even had as much as a beer for over a year, and since this is my 50th year I'm going to staying dry until summer. Steve Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members blue2blue Posted December 22, 2007 Members Share Posted December 22, 2007 It seems like everywhere around me, friends and family are having health problems. I don't even want to get into it but it really pains me to see younger friends going through some nasty stuff and facing even scarier possibilities. And it makes me sad to see some of my older friends and relatives facing very serious health issues, as well. Meanwhile I'm sitting here listening to "Christmastime" ("...is my favorite time of year...") by (fellow HC member) 333Maxwell trying to get in the mood... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members deanmass Posted December 24, 2007 Members Share Posted December 24, 2007 Not much help here...I have 2 weeks off, but I honestly wonder why I ever take it..My kids are going to be with my ex, and I don't have the cash to go anywhere. Bah....Been sick for like 7 weeks with some mutated flu-bronchitis crap that has survived 2 rounds of antibiotics, vitamins, otc cold meds, green tea, and now have a cold as of last night. 15 degrees out and 40-50 mph winds... I do, however, have the urge to write a country song.. Where is my hat and boots? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Anderton Posted December 24, 2007 Members Share Posted December 24, 2007 I hear ya. I'm not having a great Christmas this year but y'know, screw it. There's no law that says you have to be happy during the Winter Solstice. You can feel like crap now if life it treating you similarly, and feel great in June and enjoy it for all it's worth. My daughter's at the age (12) where she's past the whole Big Deal Christmas Thing, she sees the commercialism and hypocrisy and accepts it for what it is. I don't need Christmas to make me happy that she's alive, and to want to give her whatever I can. The one thing that bothers me the most about Christmas these days is that the idea of "peace on earth" seems to have been replaced with "are the malls going to make their nut this year?" And even then...saying "peace on earth" doesn't mean much. Creating "peace on earth" does, but if that's your goal only around the holidays, you have a problem that Christmas alone can't solve. If you really want to feel Christmas-y...give to those who are less fortunate that you. Maybe it won't put you in the holiday mood, but even if it doesn't, you've done a good thing and helped out another human being You don't have to be religious to realize that we're all in this together, and we need to help each other out. If the Christmas season reminds some people of this who don't think about it normally, that's a good thing. The next step is to think about it all the time. Peace and love... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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