Christmas

Stocking stuffers

Posted on by backuphill

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Honestly, if you do stockings for Christmas, either for a spouse or children/grandchildren, how much do you spend? Do you have a budget for your stocking stuffing?

The things I am seeing advertised as “stocking stuffers” is kind of ridiculous, if you ask me.

Who buys a car for someone and drops the keys in a stocking?

Who buys a refrigerator at a stocking stuffer? (never mind the other implications of buying an appliance as a gift…)

Who spends hundreds of dollars to fill a stocking?

I know companies gotta sell their wares, but seriously do the people that write these commercials or the marketing department even consider that most people are working on a budget and can’t afford the lavish gifts they are pushing as stocking stuffers, let alone as a gift during the holidays.

People in the real world gotta work within a budget and I don’t think my budget has ever been above $50 per person ($60-70 if you include all the stocking stuff). That happened to be a pretty generous year as I ain’t made of money and isn’t typical at all.

Besides, Christmas isn’t about gifts anyway…well, at least it shouldn’t be ya dang heathens…

Shopping sales

Posted on by backuphill

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It seems Black Friday started at the beginning of October this year. I guess we are living, supposedly, in perpetual “Black Friday prices” land for the foreseeable future. Today is Cyber Monday and best I can tell they are just the Black Friday prices recycled. Anyone else feel that’s the way it’s been for the last several years?

Yes, I am paying attention to the sales, though I haven’t yet left the house to go to any…because, why? Why leave home for a sale when you can get the same thing online? “It’s for the experience.” LOL Been there and done that in my younger years. Wasn’t worth it. No one needs that experience. Besides, there isn’t anything that I want that bad.

Oops, did you catch that in the last sentence?

“…anything that I WANT that bad.”

Hence, the problem with shopping the sales this time of year. Anyone else have a hard time not shopping for themselves?

As I look through the various sales, I inevitably find things that I want – either have been looking at in the past and was waiting for a sale or it’s something completely random and I just WANT it.

I typically resist this urge, but at times it is difficult. This time of year sucks because the budget can only handle so much (even with planning) and then all of the sudden I find myself thinking, “It’s on sale? Sweet, just what I have been waiting for!” Half of my browsing is seeing things I want to buy or would buy if I was Christmas shopping.

Anyone else’s shopping dominated by thoughts about just buying stuff for yourself?

It’s a problem and I don’t like it. Not because I don’t have the money, but because my discipline is seriously eroding with each passing moment.

Raisins?

Posted on by backuphill

close up photo of popcorn

Photo by Megha Mangal on Pexels.com

I got a Christmas package from a relative and it had some treats in it. I love (yes, WAY TOO MUCH) Christmas treats…cookies, fudge, anything chocolate, pretzels, blah blah blah! There isn’t much that I don’t find appetizing this time of year.

So, I was looking forward to one particular treat that appeared in my box – a homemade popcorn ball. I love popcorn and I don’t have popcorn balls all that often so I saved it for another day. It was wrapped in wax paper, but I knew what it was.

I opened it up this morning and seriously debated if I should eat it.

It had raisins in it.

Who puts raisins in popcorn balls?

Well, apparently the answer is, my aunt.

I am not a fan of raisins. Not at all. I like grapes, not raisins.

Just so we’re clear on what happened, I ate it. But it was…different. Can’t say I am particularly fond of that combo. I think we can safely say that popcorn and raisins don’t and shouldn’t belong together. I briefly debated whether I would eat the thing, but the popcorn got the better of me. I like popcorn!

What food combo/ingredient combo has surprised you in the past, good or bad?

Bah Humbug!

Posted on by backuphill

I don’t want to get up. I’m a Toys-R-Us kid…and Toys-R-Us really isn’t even a thing any more.

It’s too early and there are no toys under the tree for me.

There is no snow. This isn’t Christmas without snow.

Why is everyone making so much noise? I am trying to sleep in here.

Do we have any real food? I am tired of eating Christmas cookies and fudge for every meal and snack.

Put up the decorations…and tomorrow take them down. What a waste of time!

It’s a good thing Costco already has exercise equipment for sale. I can remind myself of what I should be doing, but won’t be.

Finally, the mall Christmas soundtrack can leave repeat and be given a rest. Three months of Christmas music is enough.

Got a “bah-humbug” phrase or statement to add? Share it in the comments.

Missing it

Posted on by backuphill

person s playing chess

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Today I am missing it.

Today is the first day of Christmas break for students (at least for most schools) in my area. They are enjoying the day, I am sure, by not doing anything. I even have a teen who hasn’t seen the light of day yet because the bedroom door hasn’t cracked an inch and likely won’t for a couple more hours.

Today I am missing the fact that as I teacher I would not be working today. Usually the first couple days of Christmas break was an ACTUAL break for me. I usually finished up shopping and generally relaxed and spent time with the kids.

Instead, I am at work today…and there really isn’t much going on since my job is to support school personnel with their software…and they are all (or nearly all) on break…not working…and I am trying to find things to stay busy…but really all I want to do is not be at work…

Today I am missing it.

Same

Posted on by backuphill

man using laptop computer

Photo by Djordje Petrovic on Pexels.com

Well, it seems Cyber Monday is more of the same when it comes to sales.

So far, I haven’t seen anything that would lead me to believe that the sales today (Cyber Monday) are any better than they were for Black Friday, just three days ago.

To me, it looks like companies have just recycled and re-branded their websites with “Cyber Monday” sales banners. As such, many of the items that I was browsing around on Friday are the same exact price today.

I guess Cyber Monday got me underwhelmed just like Friday.

Ho-hum.

Bah-humbug.

Unwrapping the aftermath

Posted on by backuphill

assorted color gift boxes

Photo by George Dolgikh on Pexels.com

Well, folks, the stockings are down and the presents opened. It was chaos from the start and there is a ton to do now that all are gone.

Not sure about your family, but mine appears to just swoop in to open presents and consume food before jetting off to other places and people to visit, which leaves a tornado of debris scattered about the house and hours of cleaning after the fact. That isn’t to say that there weren’t also hours of prep before everyone even showed up…so when taken all into account there were probably four times as many hours preparing for and cleaning after than there was actual time spent with family.

Don’t get me wrong, time spent with family was great and the joy did finally come as the smiles and laughter filled the room. It did finally come. BUT, it was soon lost in the time spend cleaning floors, dishes, the fridge, taking out the extra 100 pounds of garbage, and putting the furniture back where it belongs.

Does anyone else have that feeling after Christmas where the “What did we just do?” dread of having to put life back to normal appears that it will take an inordinate amount of time? Like maybe you’re the only one that will be working into the wee hours of the night just so there will be some resemblance of normalcy the day after?

The Grinch

Posted on by backuphill

I’ll just sit over here and try not to ruin anyone else’s Christmas…

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From the greatest joy thief of all, Merry Christmas.

Oh, and maybe his heart did grow two sizes after all.

Bah humbug

Posted on by backuphill

crime scene do not cross signage

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The eve of Christmas has come and I am not sure how I feel about it this year. I seem to have gotten a case of the “Bah Humbug”s and the joy of the season (though I know the Reason) just hasn’t come through yet for me.

I am beginning to wonder if it even will.

This year, more than any in the past, just seems lost. There is no joy in receiving, we all know that. But this year there also seems to be no joy in giving either. I feel as though the just isn’t joy in anything.

Perhaps I have been to busy to notice. Perhaps I have been just going through the motions. Perhaps I just don’t care enough. Or maybe I care too much, because the stresses of life are all getting in the way.

So today I will go through the motions, in the hopes that it generates something inside, of wishing you a Merry Christmas Eve.

Consider yourself wished.

Fill ‘er up!

Posted on by backuphill

notebook

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You know how you have a day coming up that you’re gonna have off work?

How you look forward to that day because you get to sleep in, relax, enjoy your coffee, leisurely read the news or a book, watch a movie or tv show, or just take things slow and enjoy a different pace than a normal day?

Yeah, well, that day off can completely go in the other direction too, right?

How about the day of you look forward to gets all filled up with things that have to be done before the holiday comes and people come over and etc., etc., etc.? That it fills up so fast it hardly feels like a day off? Dashing from here to there, frantically trying to fit more things in on your list because you forgot this and that, and it all needs to be done!

Isn’t it amazing how life just kind of takes over even when you think you’re gonna get a break?

Well, today is that day for me. My to do list seems to be a mile long and all I wanna do is just it. Relax. Enjoy some quiet. Savor the change in routine….but not today!

What’s on your list that just HAS to be done today?