OT Happy Thanksgiving and What are your Plans?

You are devious. Deliciously devious.
When I was married to ex #2 those gifts that were given to me on those
*special* occasions didnt feel like much of anything, they were given
because he felt he had to. Mike gives all year round, gifts, or just
bringing home dinner... he gives love and respect so tangible gifts mean
little, or more .. depending on how one looks at it.
Technically, you could be my sister. Id let you. :-)
Diana, now SIL to a beadmaker


--
Weird people need beads, too
"Su/Cutworks" wrote in message
...
Diana wrote:

A lot of people dont handle this holiday season well. I love Christmas,
but
recognize it brings a lot of baggage along with it. Over the years I
have
made mine more the way I really like it and that helps.
Lets see, I have stopped (for the most part) giving gifts that I feel
obligated to give, I give from love.

I just KNEW we were sisters, separated at birth!

I gave Mike the biggest present one year for Christmas, the freedom from
buying me presents for any reason at all. I told him that if he bought me
something it was not to be for birthdays or anniversarys or Christmas, but
just because he wants to.

I also gave myself the present of not feeling hurt if he didn't buy me
something.

It's made the holidays and birthdays so much better. And he does things
for
me because he wants to. And I can confidently predict that this Christmas
I'll get what I want most. A cup of tea in bed. Oooh yeah, I forgot.
Beads. It was a great plan to have him learn to make beads, wasn't it?

:-D

-Su

Sigh. Sorry, my Thanksgiving is looking bad. I'll be spending it with my mom
and dad -- overjoyed to see my dad, horrified to see my mom, but they go
together. My sister and her husband and their twins boys, okay. But her
husband's parents are coming -- stone-cold people, awful, nasty. (And
far-right rich Republicans.) I'm only going because I'm dying to see my daddy.
~shudder~
~~
Sooz
The things that will destroy us a politics without principle; pleasure
without conscience; wealth without work; knowledge without character; business
without morality; science without humanity, and worship without sacrifice. - M.
Ghandi

Diana wrote:

You are devious. Deliciously devious.

*grin* I like that. Deliciously devious. Sounds like a very expensive
truffle.

When I was married to ex #2 those gifts that were given to me on those
*special* occasions didnt feel like much of anything, they were given
because he felt he had to.

Yeah. Ick. Obligation presents. They must feel like sawdust tastes.

Mike gives all year round, gifts, or just
bringing home dinner... he gives love and respect so tangible gifts mean
little, or more .. depending on how one looks at it.

See? We both have a Mike too! How much more identical could we get, yah?

Technically, you could be my sister. Id let you. :-)

Kewl. That doesn't mean you can borrow my circle pin, though. It took me
ages to find it last time you borrowed it!

Diana, now SIL to a beadmaker

Would that be Sister In Laughter?

-Su

--
Tillerman eBay shop: http://stores.ebay.com/thetillermanbeads
Tillerman website: http://www.tillerman.co.uk

You betcha!
Yes, those gifts had all the emotional warmth that one might expect. I grew
to loath seeing that potted plant from the grocery store show up. The very
last one ended up in the snow. I used to like cyclamens.
So, sis, which round pin is this you speak of?
Diana
--
Weird people need beads, too
"Su/Cutworks" wrote in message
...
Diana wrote:

You are devious. Deliciously devious.

*grin* I like that. Deliciously devious. Sounds like a very expensive
truffle.

When I was married to ex #2 those gifts that were given to me on those
*special* occasions didnt feel like much of anything, they were given
because he felt he had to.

Yeah. Ick. Obligation presents. They must feel like sawdust tastes.

Mike gives all year round, gifts, or just
bringing home dinner... he gives love and respect so tangible gifts mean
little, or more .. depending on how one looks at it.

See? We both have a Mike too! How much more identical could we get, yah?

Technically, you could be my sister. Id let you. :-)

Kewl. That doesn't mean you can borrow my circle pin, though. It took me
ages to find it last time you borrowed it!

Diana, now SIL to a beadmaker

Would that be Sister In Laughter?

-Su

--
Tillerman eBay shop: http://stores.ebay.com/thetillermanbeads
Tillerman website: http://www.tillerman.co.uk

We're packing up our dinner, taking some blankets, and going to our new house.
It's only framed and partially sided, but it has a roof and it's HOME.

This sounds so fun, Karen!! Have a wonderful first Thanksgiving in your new
home!



Carol in SLC
Some of my stuff: http://members.aol.com/carolinslc/karen.jpg
http://members.aol.com/carolinslc/oceansprite.jpg

Thanksgiving has never been my favorite holiday - but this year I'm looking
forward to it. I got my entire dinner precooked by a catering place since we
have to drive 5 hours to visit my MIL. Last year I did all the cooking and then
hauled everything there, it was exhausting. I also have to work tonight, so I'm
basically all done. Just have to pack clothes tonight and pack the car
tomorrow.
So, this year should be fun.
Patti

I do a lot better with holidays since I've learned to rachet my expectations
DOWN. I don't expect everyone who doesn't get along all year to magically get
along on that one day. I also don't expect things to look rosy on that day if
they didn't the day before!

Now I just try to give my time and attention to the ones I know will appreciate
it and remember it, namely my dd and dh.

And, I also remember that it's a hard time for lots of folks, and I try to
include those people who might be alone in our family experiences. Why should
THEY be spared???

The Blessed Fiddy, Patroness Saint of the Disorganized
LC in Sunny So Cal
Personality Development Specialist (Full-Time Mom!)

On 24 Nov 2004 20:49:31 GMT, ospam (LC aka Fiddy)
wrote:

And, I also remember that it's a hard time for lots of folks, and I try to
include those people who might be alone in our family experiences. Why should
THEY be spared???

ROFL! This caught me completely off guard. LOL! Good one!

Tink
Check here for available work:
http://blackswampglassworks.com/latest.htm

Diana, that is the way to go. Create what works for you, and don't give in to
the obligatory going-through-the-motions stuff that will deaden your soul.

Kevin tries to take a lot of the burden off of me, and does a great job. We
create each year as we need to -- several years we didn't have a tree. I
missed it, but I just couldn't do it. The attendants are called into service
to do more things than they used to. We're playing it by ear again this year.

One thing we really love to do is go to a couple of terrific art/craft fairs.
The 2 we attend are very cozy, with high quality art/craft, and good music (and
food!). We went to the first one last weekend -- it's fabulous to buy gifts
from the artist, and to buy from a person (not a corporation). This makes it
more Christmassy for us. (I use the word "Christmas" loosely, as we're pagan
and we mostly celebrate the Solstice.) I'd love to go to the Open Studios here
in Berkeley this year, too -- I've always wanted to, but haven't been able to
swing it yet. Maybe this year will be the first time, yay!

A lot of people dont handle this holiday season well. I love Christmas, but
recognize it brings a lot of baggage along with it. Over the years I have
made mine more the way I really like it and that helps.
Lets see, I have stopped (for the most part) giving gifts that I feel
obligated to give, I give from love. I decorate simply and the holiday meal
is simple and easy. Sure dont need another heavy meal at this time of year.
I refuse to fret over who gets the grown up kids for which part of the
holiday. I dont spend more than we can afford to spend. I give the gifts
when it feels right instead of on Chrismas Eve or morning. I do my best to
avoid shopping in stores after Thanksgiving. Overdosing on musac Christma
carols will make me NUTS.
Figuring out why the season bugs us helps us define what we need to change
to make it palatable.
At least that is what helped me.
Diana


~~
Sooz
The things that will destroy us a politics without principle; pleasure
without conscience; wealth without work; knowledge without character; business
without morality; science without humanity, and worship without sacrifice. - M.
Ghandi

There comes a time when we *the collective we* need to see what we have
bought into as far as the Christmas myths go. Im not speaking of anything
more than how our culture has reflected our own desires for that perfect
Christmas of our youth, and what we are willing to do to achieve that
impossible and elusive goal.
Christmas lasts longer and longer every year. Its time we said..*again
with the collective we* I'M MAD AS HECK AND I"M NOT GOING TO TAKE IT
ANYMORE!
Im excluding those of you who really need to give your buyers a little nudge
to get their beads now while they still have time to make things with them.
Thats legit.
I still long for the Christmas of my dreams. Im just not willing to sell
my serenity off that as cheaply as I used to.
Ok... what is *your* (the collective your) dream Christmas/holiday? Mine is
snowy, there is a slow ride on a sleigh thru moonlit paths... ending with a
cup of hot cocoa before a roaring wood fire. Family around, all getting
along... mellow.. :-) A tree full of memorys in the form of special hand
made ornaments being discussed by the family. Carols, sung softly...
sounds nice, eh?
Diana

--
Weird people need beads, too
"Dr. Sooz" wrote in message
...
Diana, that is the way to go. Create what works for you, and don't give
in to
the obligatory going-through-the-motions stuff that will deaden your soul.

Kevin tries to take a lot of the burden off of me, and does a great job.
We
create each year as we need to -- several years we didn't have a tree. I
missed it, but I just couldn't do it. The attendants are called into
service
to do more things than they used to. We're playing it by ear again this
year.

One thing we really love to do is go to a couple of terrific art/craft
fairs.
The 2 we attend are very cozy, with high quality art/craft, and good music
(and
food!). We went to the first one last weekend -- it's fabulous to buy
gifts
from the artist, and to buy from a person (not a corporation). This makes
it
more Christmassy for us. (I use the word "Christmas" loosely, as we're
pagan
and we mostly celebrate the Solstice.) I'd love to go to the Open Studios
here
in Berkeley this year, too -- I've always wanted to, but haven't been able
to
swing it yet. Maybe this year will be the first time, yay!

A lot of people dont handle this holiday season well. I love Christmas,
but
recognize it brings a lot of baggage along with it. Over the years I have
made mine more the way I really like it and that helps.
Lets see, I have stopped (for the most part) giving gifts that I feel
obligated to give, I give from love. I decorate simply and the holiday
meal
is simple and easy. Sure dont need another heavy meal at this time of
year.
I refuse to fret over who gets the grown up kids for which part of the
holiday. I dont spend more than we can afford to spend. I give the gifts
when it feels right instead of on Chrismas Eve or morning. I do my best
to
avoid shopping in stores after Thanksgiving. Overdosing on musac Christma
carols will make me NUTS.
Figuring out why the season bugs us helps us define what we need to
change
to make it palatable.
At least that is what helped me.
Diana


~~
Sooz
The things that will destroy us a politics without principle; pleasure
without conscience; wealth without work; knowledge without character;
business
without morality; science without humanity, and worship without
sacrifice. - M.
Ghandi