This is ****ing depressing

[xoxoxoBruce]

Here you can see him for free, you just have to pay him not to fondle you.

[ZenGum]

Originally Posted by xoxoxoBruce

What? Nooooo, take 'em to see Santa, take 'em to see the lights and nativity scenes, and free public ceremonies. Have 'em write notes on cards to friends and relatives, decorate the house with strung popcorn, make construction paper chains, and a wreath from a coat hanger and greens. A couple of inexpensive gifts will suffice.
Years down the road, they'll remember all the things they did, and you did together, when they can't remember any gifts from any year. Christmas should be about family, not loot.

Originally Posted by xoxoxoBruce

Here you can see him for free, you just have to pay him not to fondle you.

So very right, and so very wrong, all from one guy.

[richlevy]

I've already put cans in the company food drive. I have to get off my a** and get the Toys for Tots gifts for this year. I think the company just set up the toys collection point a few days ago.

[Elspode]

Times are bad. They're as bad as most of us have seen in our lifetimes.

As with all things, YMMV, but even though some of us may have been worse off a few years ago than we are now, it is difficult to say that, overall, things aren't as tough as they've ever been for most.

Comparisons with the Great Depression aren't valid; not in terms of the National Average. But for those who have lost jobs and face the coming holiday season bereft of funds, it *is* as bad as it has ever been.

Let us not make light of the economic crisis. Let us instead take the extra five bucks, if we have it, drop it in a kettle or such, and move on, counting our blessings that we still have any sort of job (if indeed we do), giving thanks to our chosen deities that we have something in freezer (assuming that we we have such), and letting The Universe know that, despite all the suck, we're still in there plugging.

I have exactly $300 to spend on Xmas/Yule for everyone who matters to me. I hope to spend it well, and I'm glad to have even that.

[skysidhe]

Originally Posted by Elspode

Times are bad. They're as bad as most of us have seen in our lifetimes.

As with all things, YMMV, but even though some of us may have been worse off a few years ago than we are now, it is difficult to say that, overall, things aren't as tough as they've ever been for most.

Comparisons with the Great Depression aren't valid; not in terms of the National Average. But for those who have lost jobs and face the coming holiday season bereft of funds, it *is* as bad as it has ever been.

Let us not make light of the economic crisis. Let us instead take the extra five bucks, if we have it, drop it in a kettle or such, and move on, counting our blessings that we still have any sort of job (if indeed we do), giving thanks to our chosen deities that we have something in freezer (assuming that we we have such), and letting The Universe know that, despite all the suck, we're still in there plugging.

I have exactly $300 to spend on Xmas/Yule for everyone who matters to me. I hope to spend it well, and I'm glad to have even that.

nice