Christmas wishes that you will not be getting this year
 

Yes, this is a ho-hum pity party. Those who don't want to participate in the bratty whining about what they won't be getting, can get out!

What I won't be getting this year: a dog. My childhood dog died about 2years ago, and although I miss her, I'm ready for a new friend. I could afford a dog, but the people I live with (I rent one of their bedrooms) currently do not approve. Also, I work full time and go to school, I really wouldn't be able to give the dog the time it needs and that would be unfair to it. I really really feel a dog-sized hole in my life though.
For those who are just gonna respond that I just need to get laid, let me preemptively say: "har har, you so funny. I didn't see that joke coming a mile away!"

What are you wishing for, but are almost-certain you won't get?

What I really want is a festive celebration with family and friends. I want food that I don't have to cook - homemade, not restaurant food. I want someone else to take care of me for a change, if only for a little while.

But (sigh) I will content myself with the next best thing - a low-key celebration with my family, pride in providing them with a nice meal and gifts that will make them happy, and thankfulness for what we have and so many others don't.

Legalization of gay marriage.
Comprehensive heath insurance reform.

Oh, right, this isn't the politics forum. :rolleyes:

A few hours of my father's company.

Moar, I totally get it. I spent several years (after leaving the parental home) unable to get a dog, because my unsettled lifestyle/the kinds of place I was living, just weren't suited to dog ownership. About 5 years in all (barring a short period when we took in a stray - just before we got evicted and had to give her up). I never stopped feeling that doggy shaped hole in my life. Towards the end of that period when it was looking like J and I might actually be getting to a stage where we could provide a settled home for a dog, I used to buy Dog magazines and just dream about it. I drove my mates mad when we went out, because I'd just be dog-spotting the whole time :P (actually, in fairness, i still do that quite a lot).

I was like one of these lasses who desperately wants a child and melts at the sight of every pram.

I absolutely cannot be without a dog.

You'll eventually hit a stage in your life when it's a real possibility. This isn't forever.

I'm sorry you won't be getting a dog MTP. :( They really are a good friend to have.
I won't be getting a loader tractor, my arms are tired from forking silage. ;(
Now for some gouda to go with my whine ....;)

At the moment, I just want Christmas to be over with - a wish I will get if I survive the next two days (sigh).

I want a proper family Boxing Day.
I've always given my sister's children their gifts then, because it's the default day for our family to get together (gives my sis and bro a choice to spend it with in-laws or be by themselves).

This year, it is almost definitely cancelled.

I remember when they were babies, and we had to fit everything around them. Now one's a teen and it seems the same applies. They should all come and bloody well pretend Happy Families.

Disclaimer: I am a grumpy old woman with a cat and I'll complain as much as I want to.

validation.

Bri, that's a thread killer if ever there was one :(.
I'm with Juni, I think ...

I want the check for my unpaid wages from when my employer went bankrupt 5 years ago. (In reality, I do expect to get it, maybe even as soon as this Spring--but not by Christmas like I was hoping.)

I want my insurance company to stop dicking around and reimburse me for the prescription they already agreed to reimburse me for.

Also, I want my daughter to have solid poop.

*hugs Bri*

Well, I think you're fucking cool. Not to mention smart, sensitive and stronger than most people I know.

Well my dog is almost down fo the count for Christmas,
I wish to kill the SOB that stole Hobo.

Oh Buster, honey, that's heart breaking.

Validation? You mean, like, for your parking?

Um . . . good grades? An "A" isn't valid enough for you?

OK, here's a Christmas wish: I wish for Bri to be happy. And all of you other dwellars, too.

Maybe Bri's problem is she needs to spend more time with ME. :D

:(

I think we all need to spend more time with you, Juni :P


Hey guys! Quick, party at Juni's house. Bring vittles and booze!

Worlds Peas.

Put your ticket on the counter, lass. I'll stamp it for ya. :D

I desperately want, but will not get, my two favorite old synthesizers back.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cbk980jV7Ao

Like this?

Yup. Exactly like that!

I want all my Marines home with their families Christmas morning.

And I want this bottle of 18 year old McCallan's to last forever.

As you were. Merry Christmas!

Dammit, foot, I came to this thread just to link that video.

Bri, make sure you watch the video in foot's link. It'll make you feel better.

I'm pretty sure we had one like that top one at [high] school ...

How about you link to some other, equally "It's a wonderful life-ish" video and then we can see something we've never seen before?

As long as it isn't about gluten free gay whales nuking spotted owls for Christ, I'd be all about a new video link.:p

It would be a great gift to me and my siblings if my late parents home in Atlanta would sell for close to the asking price but I don't think it will happen as Christmas is slow time for real estate. 3 months on the market and 2 low ball offers but lots of traffic so I keep hoping.

FWIW, this says to me that the house looks good in description/images, but there is a major flaw that is only evident upon visiting the house--did your parents smoke, or have pets? Sometimes you have to go so far as to rip out the old carpet before the smell really goes away.

Market is down?

Great Aunt Alice's house sold for £50k LESS than the original market price due to a falling market. None of the people involved could afford any renovation, or to sit on it and wait for an upswing, all being of a similar age to Alice.

Yeah, but the price is included in the listing--so if lots of people are coming in person to look at the house even after they know the price, one can probably assume the amount is at least close to being on target for that size/age/neighborhood. When the market's really down, people won't even bother to come look at it.

True.
They had very few viewers, and only property developers, no potential home-owners. Hence the negotiated down price (they paid in cash).

Did you know there is a Jewish holiday on Christmas Eve? It's true.
Nittel Nacht

That's a new one on me, I just emailed that link to a bunch of Jews. I'll be interested in the response.

All 4 of my kids, and my Grand-daughter here for Christmas... Instead I got pictures, and my 14 yr old..... Thats ok... but one day I wish I had them all together.

At risk of tearing everybody up as much as I am ... more time with momwolf.

I think it's probably a pretty common Christmas wish for those with recently passed loved ones.

Even loved ones who annoyed the snot out of us at times.

This morning I woke up for the first time in (I won't say quite how many) years, and didn't smell bacon frying and hear pyrex clanking as the cheese strata was being readied for the oven (okay, I'm lying. The only clank would be the pyrex hitting the oven, you have to make the strata a day ahead and let it rest quietly in the fridge overnight, but I'm trying to build atmosphere here, people!).

I opened my Star Trek Ornament ... purchased just a few days before momwolf's passing ... she got me one every year. Some years I negotiated her up to include the Star Wars one too ... especially that year that Darth Vader was facing Luke off in the final battle in Empire. You pushed a button and James Earl Jones said "Luke, I am your Father." How can you pass that up, even if you were only supposed to buy one ornament?

Oh Wolf! I was avoiding all the family stuff and can't think of anything else that matters to go in this thread.

A sock puppet.

Amen, Pie and Wolf. Although this was by far the best adult Christmas I can remember, it would have been a lot better with mt dad around

gifts.

Besides the gift from my boss, I got one gift from my family. One. and I spend thousands of dollars every year on gifts for my kids and grandkids.

I'm not really sure how to feel about it. Truthfully, I love being generous at Christmastime; love spending time, thought, and yes, money, choosing the right gifts for my loved ones. And yes, I know my daughters are poor--I just keep expecting somehow that someday, the tide will turn, and they will have the money to shower me with gifts, instead of the other way around. I know in my heart that it's unrealistic, but something in me dies a little when I get one gift when everyone else has spent hours opening a multitude. When I hear people ask or talk about "what did you get for Christmas" it just makes me think they're kids, not adults.

Just make them one gift each next year

every year I swear to myself it'll be different; and every year I overgive.

. . . or better yet - get them all ONE group gift and then let them figure it all out.

We (my mom, dad, bros and sister) quit gifting years ago and it greatly improved our gatherings. We enjoy the fellowship a lot more without the pressure and financial burden. Everybody buys gifts for their own spouses and kids and that's it. My baby Bro is ALWAYS having money problems and I've actually seen him make up bullshit excuses and not even show up as a result of gifting embarrassment. Now he shows up happy every year!

We generally go a little mad with each other at Christmas; but there have been times when one or more of us is struggling financially. At those times, the gifts we give are small and cheap. I have, before now, turned up with a bottle of wine for my SiL and a 4-pack of beer for my Bro. One year we set a limit of £5 for gifts (apart from for the girls). Another year we set a make-it-yourself theme and I gave everybody home made flapjacks and fudge. On another occasion I literally had no money and turned up with a promise of gifts in January. It was fine.

@cloud: presumably your BD's are caught up in baby-stuff right now; but I can't help thinking they could each have got you a little something. Even if it was just a silly little stocking filler. or a framed photo of babes.

Although I like Cap'in Howdy's suggestion a couple of years ago I started a gift exchange because we have too many family members and like cap'in said it was a burden to some.

So this is the game.

Everyone brings one gift unmarked. Everyone puts there gifts down then eat visit and then when ready gather in a circle then choose one person to start. They open the gift then the next person in line can choose a gift. They can keep it or swap it with another person. This goes on until everyone has the gift they want.

It's a whole lot of fun and of course separate private gifts can be given to the moms,dads and kids and maybe a duplicate hidden away in case you think on gift two people might want.Everyone ends up with what they want and it is a load of fun.

We did not do it this year opting to have a nice pie social with my mother just us girls. She got a wool coat from me and a memory foam mattress from my sister and something from her grand kids.

I have a large family on my mom's side with 6 uncles and aunts along with all their children and grandchildren so we too stopped giving each person gifts years ago. Now gifts are only given to the children under the age of 12 and are only small gifts. Several years ago we played the 'white elephant' game like sky's family and we had loads of great fun! We used a lot of 're-gifts' and gag gifts and just enjoyed the laughter and competition of the game!

Thanks for listening guys. I think all this is really good advice, but I don't know if I could follow it. Giving presents is my main joy at Christmastime, and I've already experienced a leaching of my Christmas spirit because of my ambivalence about Christianity.

I think the main problem is the way I was raised. I got tons and tons of presents every year growing up, and Christmas is all about abundance to me.

I will have to think on it.

I got 3 tee shirts, a key chain knife, flannel shirt, and a surge protector, from people I spent well over $1000 on. I did what I enjoyed and don't think I made them feel obligated to do more than they wanted to do. It doesn't get any better than that. :thumb:

I love to give too. I am one of those people that buys for herself quite well so it's ok.

I got money from my mother. I bought a tree. The only thing I really wanted.
I got money from my father and I went to a movie.
I moved my mom and got belated birthday cash. I'm still moving her but it is a joy to see her happy in a new place. It's been Christmas for her all month.
I got bakewear from my son. He got stuff from amazon.com. I usually buy his expensive gift on his birthday.




The gift exchange thing is not a substitute for the gifts you want to buy your immediate family really it's just an addition to them if you want cloud. It makes it more fun for those extended family members who feel bad they do not have much to give and not as a reason to give less. That's my take on it anyway.