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General discussion

What are you least looking forward to this holiday season?

Nov 29, 2005 5:24AM PST

What are you least looking forward to this holiday season?

Shopping (tell us why)
Seeing family (tell us why)
Holiday parties (tell us why)
Traveling (tell us why)
Eating (tell us why)
Days off from work (tell us why)
Seeing the in-laws (tell us why)
Opening presents (tell us why)
Other (what is it?)

Discussion is locked

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Other-Holiday Season
Nov 29, 2005 10:03AM PST

The big mass of people in most case are not buying anthing getting in the way of people who are shopping for the every day things,

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other from poll
Nov 29, 2005 10:51AM PST

im a scrooge...and it isnt my fav. time of the year

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Other from Poll
Nov 30, 2005 6:41AM PST

I agree... I hate the pressure the media puts on us to buy, buy, buy. I hate the cold, damp weather. I hate the crowded stores.

What do all these people do all day when it isn't Christmas? You never see this many people at the mall all year, but they come crawling out of the woodwork for Christmas.
Why all the decorations and lights? Does everyone have unlimited funds for prezzies and Hydro bills?

It's ridiculous.

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Masses of people
Nov 29, 2005 11:05AM PST

I agree: what gets on my nerves are the masses of people (no matter if shopping or not), including those that are driving. I really, really, really hate Holiday traffic!

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no masses here..
Nov 29, 2005 3:10PM PST

I'd like to add that i live in Alabama, and here....

There are no masses of people


*Big, Open, Quiet Nothing*
<As far as the eye can see>

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ssshhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
Nov 30, 2005 6:54AM PST

If you let everybody know, you will be crowded soon. lol

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Other
Nov 29, 2005 11:12AM PST

Every year we drive 8 hours on icy roads and more often then not blizzard conditions, last year 90 accidents were reported on our route home.
This year, we are staying home and having a quite and safe Christmas, no worry, no stress, we will visit family when the weather is good. Ann

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in laws
Nov 29, 2005 10:07AM PST

are pigs

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seeing inlaws least liked thing about the season
Nov 30, 2005 12:19PM PST

do i really need to say why?

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Traveling
Nov 29, 2005 10:24AM PST

Being handicapped traveling is always a chore for me. Traveling with a load of presents is a nightmare. I have to depend on public transit, which is good for me alone, but is horrible if I am trying to carry a load of presents. Oh, if I could only afford a taxi.

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Midwest Travel
Nov 29, 2005 12:19PM PST

You never know, whether driving ot flying if you'll get there...Apparently I need to move somewhere SOUTH!!! Happy Holidays!

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Travelling give me a headache!
Dec 1, 2005 10:43AM PST

I love the holidays. I'm like a little kid, though I prefer the giving now rather than the receiving. I'm one of those who'd gladly go shopping on Black Friday (I know, a real nutter, eh?). I love the crowds, love the music, love the festive cheer... so what REALLY sticks under my craw? TRAVEL!

I live overseas, so going home for Christmas is always a nightmare. First there's the tedious journey to Heathrow, followed by the inevitable, virtual strip-search and delays because of weather. Once you get through all that, you think you're home free... until, of course, you get on the plane. Then you get stuck in the departure queue, because all air traffic is backed up. The passengers are stressed because they've possibly been travelling for several hours (or even a day); kids are sleepy and often cranky. Then you land and it's the immigration samba! What an unbelievably stressful situation.

So it's wonderful that mum's cooking and dad's decorating always make that journey worthwhile...

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Other - Wrapping presents
Nov 29, 2005 10:27AM PST

Cleaning, decorating, cooking and generally getting the house ready for the big family celebration runs a close second. However, actually wrapping all the gifts for seven grand kids, kids and their spouses, friends, aunts, mothers-in-law etc. Is what gets put off about as long as it can. It takes up most of the last 24 hours before Christmas.

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Ditto on wrapping presents
Nov 29, 2005 11:01PM PST

Don't know why, because I really used to like it. Now it's just another chore. Last year I was wrapping up the final gifts while the spouse was outside warming up the car to go to my parents house on Christmas day.
This year I think I'm going to go the gift card route - Target has very nice looking "packages" for gift cards that look like velveteen envelopes - also had masculine ones in their gift wrap section. Have a lot of teens & tweens nieces and nephews - think they prefer this gift (or cash) to anything I might think is clever for them. Yep, don't like the wrapping part at all!

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I love Christmas!!!!
Nov 29, 2005 10:37AM PST

The thing I hate most about the holidays are the horrible people you run into while shopping. It's human nature at its worst in every Wal-mart in the country,where pushing and shoving is the thing to do or little Jimmy won't get another Xbox. Last year I was in Walmart looking for a gift for my Goddaughter when these two women got into a fistfight over the last scantaly clad Bratz doll.It was horrible and to make matters worse before the cops arrived these Women(if you can call them that)tried to bribe me to lie to the officers for them.I was amazed at the nerve of those two so needless to say the best gift you can get a loved one is a gift certificate they can get what they want and it eliminates the dreaded return lines.Does anyone else have a similar story?

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So why did you squeal?
Nov 30, 2005 6:56AM PST

If two women got into brawl in the store and then bribed or begged you not to tell the cops, why didn't you just go about your business so they could go home embarrassed but without a police record or legal fees? I think you're mean.

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Eating - Holiday Poll
Nov 29, 2005 10:45AM PST

I don't like eating during the holidays since I have a heart condition and was diagnosed this year with diabetes. Have to watch cholesterol and sugar intake. Sort of ruins the feasting.

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shopping
Nov 29, 2005 10:58AM PST

I just hate trying to find a gift for my loved ones. I just wish that we didn't exchange gifts.

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Don't like shopping
Nov 29, 2005 9:34PM PST

I hate shopping ANY time of year, but especially at Christmas. I realize gift giving is traditional and most people love to give and receive at this time of the year; however, the real meaning of Christmas gets lost among the stress of picking out the "perfect" gift, worrying about using too much plastic, crowds of people, parking at the malls, etc. I would rather not exchange gifts either, just have an enjoyable day with family and/or friends. And my dog.

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being alone this year...again
Nov 29, 2005 11:23AM PST

am living in Korea now and won't be going anywhere special so far...and there is nothing to look forward to.
Happy holiday season all....

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i know...
Nov 29, 2005 11:49AM PST

even being where theres people i still aint got anyone so i know how you feel...
being alone for christmas s**ks...

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Other
Nov 29, 2005 11:36AM PST

The holiday itself. We are now a small family of three people, and the enforced Walton-style Christmas myth just annoys, rather than inspires, these days. My main objective is just to get past it, and get on with December 26th while the dust settles back on the dining room table and we slowly work our way through what is left of the turkey. *g*

I'm not a scrooge, I love the idea of Christmas, just not for me.

That said, Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, and Happy Kwanzaa. Go, St. Lucia's Day.

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Shopping!
Nov 29, 2005 11:37AM PST

I really cannot afford to buy gifts for everyone who expects a gift....so before I even begin, I am bumbed out on shopping!

I mostly enjoy time with family, because we are so far away from one another.


paulpcb

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I love Christmas! But my family members...
Nov 29, 2005 11:38AM PST

all have issues this year!!!!!!!!!!

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Shopping
Nov 29, 2005 11:39AM PST

The commericalism that has been placed on this christian holiday. It is no longer a religious celebration, it is the celebration of how much can I spend and how broke can I go doing it. I just received a e-mail to sign a petition because the stores are banning the use of ''Christmas'' in their ads. Perhaps we should ban the use of the stores in our celebrations. It would be so nice to return to the simpler times. Ahhhhhh An orange or a lump of coal in the stocking, a simple toy for the tots. We have not even made it to December and yet we have been bombarded with TV commericals and newspaper ads. Black Friday nonsense
There I had my say.....

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and then...
Nov 29, 2005 1:05PM PST

We can renounce the evils of electricity and the wheel. And indoor plumbing. In fact, let's just go back to sun worship and do away with all these arbitrary holidays once and for all. We can celebrate the winter solstice in our wooden huts while we gather firewood and scavenge for food! Good times for all!

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YES....Ban the use of stores!
Nov 30, 2005 11:19AM PST

Right on! You hit it head on! More and more commercial companies are attempting to ban the use of religious appearance in whatever they do. Well....Here's what I've got to say to that....pucker up, I aint gonna give you any money! I work with wood, wood is free so long as you know how to get it. I'll make things for family and freinds instead of going out to some store that puts a ban on the words used in this Holy-day season. On top of this, I wouldn't be able to afford good gifts for my family and freinds as well, lest I go broke! As you said, it would be nice to return to the more simple times where family and freinds gathered together. But, instead, we've got a whole 'nother generation that just want to be in touch with themselves. Isn't that a crock of ''you-know-what!'' You reminded me of a time when my parents warned me of getting some coal in my stocking if I didn't behave. Yet, these days, more and more kids don't know how to behave, much less do what their parents tell them to do; out in general public!!

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other
Nov 29, 2005 11:55AM PST

I least look forward to seeing the secularization of the Christmas season. Every year it gets?s worse, why is it that the majority of this country is Christian and we have to do what the minority want. I am pretty tired of it myself, winter break, winter festivals, seasons greetings, happy holidays ECT, ECT. I say Merry Christmas, and I remember the reason for the season. It?s not the birth of Santa now is it? So Merry Christmas, and happy birthday Jesus!

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HOLIDAY SEASON
Nov 29, 2005 12:01PM PST

I was mobilizes Aug 1,2005, I am A SSG in the army and have 16yrs in. I have not left for over seas as of this date. So I am looking forward to seeing my family before leaving. Some of my fellow soldiers are and will not be as lucky. So My thoughts go out to there family's. So what ever I get and Who I get to see I will remember and not take advatage of what I have.

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Vemail Phone
Nov 29, 2005 12:08PM PST

I bought a Vemail phone from Verizon (LGX-8100) for my wife. Basically, this thing called Vemail makes a very nice Verizon phone a ton better than the typical crackberry or treo... and it's only $5/month... Finally, my wife has a phone that is an excellent phone and she can use it for email.... no more putting up with a bulky pda-phone that only works as an average phone 50% of the time.