Merry Christmas to all

Halftime break from opening presents up in Tennessee. Just a dusting remains on the ground, but on her 12th try my daughter finally saw her always-hoped-for white Christmas.

 

Merry Christmas Everyone - I seem to mention this every year, = but this site really helped me after leaving journalism - mostly the banter, movie quotes and back and forth - that was missing in my life. Plus, it's nice to have a place to vent, listen, and share and not offend a co-worker, boss, loved one or someone who might hold it against you. I learn a lot on this board, appreciate the various perspectives, particularly those who challenge my understanding, but mostly the spirit of community that exists here.

 

Merry Christmas, everyone.

I, too, always appreciate this site. It is one of the few that I visit regularly, and probably the only one I try to at least check in with daily.

Christmas means a lot to me. It's a day off that I have with my family, a good time for some quiet and a little bit of reflection, with, I feel, God sitting in it with me. And, it's an open chance to be generous, both in spirit, and in actions and gift-giving, that I love. It's a special day, the kind of which we need more of throughout each year.

 

It’s a good thing Santa is great at giving presents because he did a terrible job taking that Stunner.

 

A big thanks to this board. Boycotted my family gathering ... an uncle's partner decided that pulling my hair back was some issue to bring up - having said nothing beyond a courtesy "hello" to me most of the last three years - while my mother, once again, decided on no gifts. Funny how I was never asked what I thought of that decision.

Basic respect and individual choice are not understood. Therefore ...

 

My friend, you are welcome in this house any time.

I send love.

 

Merry Christmas, all, from Arctic Alabama. I guess we're doing pretty well, it's up to 25 degrees.

Our son is in rehab (doing well, knock wood) and the wife and I spent the last few days making dressing and green bean casserole for Christmas dinner at the church where the guys and their families go to services. Making dressing for a couple of hundred people is something of an adventure when you do it in a residential kitchen. I lost count of how many skillets of cornbread I made, lol.

I hope that all of you had a good day in whatever way you chose to celebrate - or if you didn't. I enjoy my time here with you, learn a lot, get exposed to a lot of information and viewpoints. Best wishes for the coming year.

 

It's been a weird year, many highs, a few notable lows, but overall I'm okay - but I must say for whatever reason this holiday season has seemed to be a bit of a downer. Don't know if it is working so much, I feel like I missed most of it, a spate of people I'm connected to dying, or just very little to celebrate. Or the sense that many people in my circle (and beyond) are feeling the same way. Maybe it is just a string of bad news seemingly coming out of nowhere, nothing particularly to look forward to on the immediate horizon or what. But I could use some random goodness coming out of nowhere to help balance me out. If that makes any sense.

 

I find it to be a bit of a testing time of year, and about three weeks ago I had a massive crash thinking about the oncoming season.

It’s actually been fine, but the people I’m closest to (besides my kids) are far away and happily engulfed in big family Christmases. It always feels like a bit of a reckoning that I’m largely on my own.

 

I ended up working today. I’m one of the newer guys and had Thanksgiving off so I can’t complain. It was an ok day. Could have done better, Could have done worse.

I celebrated the holiday last night. That was enjoyable.

 

Back from a loooooooong shift at the store. It's a voluntary day, but only a couple of other checkers volunteered, so .... man, lines like I hadn't seen since the first days of covid. Gave a lift home to someone who was having car trouble. But finally home, and we'll eat and do presents after Griz-Dubs.