It’s the most commercial time of the year

With everyone selling

And everyone telling you “Buy more crap here!”

It’s the most pathetic time of the year

It’s the crap-crappiest season of all

With lots of over-eating, your waste-line is fleeting

Your pants won’t fit at all!

It’s the crap-crappiest season of all

Crappy music is blaring

Uncle Ed won’t stop swearing

And you just want them all to go!

There’ll be fights at the table

And grief from Aunt Mabel

‘Bout something said twenty years ago.

It's the most tortuous time of the year

There'll be much need for valium

And rum by the gallon

When family are near

It's the most tortuous time of the year

Our one family tradition that we will not break is that we watch "National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation", usually on Christmas Eve. It always makes me feel good (and warms my frozen cockles, too, Jackie) to see someone else's family screwing it up and being unhappy. Never forget the great line " I don't know what to say, except it's Christmas and we're all in misery." But even better, and what speaks to some of the sentiments being expressed here, is "And when Santa squeezes his fat white a** down that chimney tonight, he's gonna find the jolliest bunch of a**holes this side of the nuthouse."

Nuthouses and Christmas just go together like wine and cheese.

I told Lee that I wish I had known last year that it was my last Christmas with Bo. I would have done more or relished in every moment...something more. He said, no you wouldn't...you would have been sad knowing it was his last. That is true. And last Christmas was special and memorable because we were in our new house. First fire in the fireplace, lights on the house, Santa on the fire truck riding through the neighborhood...it was beautiful. I'm glad that my last Christmas with Bo was so special and happy.

That being said....Bah Humbug this year!! I can't get in the holiday spirit. We're getting a tree today so hopefully that will help lift my spirits.

I think so, too. He's a keeper. 🙂

We haven't even lost anyone this year and are in a funky, Bah-Humbug kind of mood.  I even found Brian a coffee mug with the Grinch on it.  With an election in 3 months, a new business to start at the beginning of the year, presents to buy and dozens of family members to see in 2 days, we just can't get in the spirit of the holidays. 

Since we have no human children, we are the ones to travel all over the state of Illinois at Christmas.  Ginger can only go to one place because my nephews are either deathly scared of dogs or deathly allergic.  I just want to stay at home, in bed with Ginger and watch Christmas movies.  And the really good ones too, like Die Hard, Lethal Weapon, Scrooged and Bad Santa (when the eggnog kicks it because it is even funnier then!!)

Abby's mom- Brian always tells people that Die Hard and Lethal Weapon are his favorite Christmas movies and gets the same weird looks!!

It makes me feel so much better to know that we are alone.  This site has taught me that about cancer and three legged dogs, glad to see Christmas cheer is now included too!!

Annie, The Grinch's wife

etgayle said:

 we have each other to lean on, and trust me that has made all the difference.

Ge'Lena, from where I sit, Charon is grateful for your friendship and love and support. You didn't spoil anything. If anything, you gave a lot of folks permission to let out what was sitting there, just wanting out. 

Shari

I am in the funk too this year for Christmas – Obviously my beautiful girl isn't here with me either and its the pits.....

I started making christmas stockings last year and then Riley broke her leg - I stopped and they were never finished - I hung them up this year even though they aren't quite done - but there is now one missing this year......