I say yes, you say no, OR People are Strange

alexandria58

Hi everyone: Happy Boxing Day. 

Suzie: so sorry you have such a difficult mother. 

Blue:  dealing with my Dad's Alzheimers.  I feel for you.

IllinoisLady

A problem is a chance for you to do your best.
-- Duke Ellington

IllinoisLady

Happy December 26th. to all of you.  I too feel quite thankful to have found this thread and to have such a marvelous place to come tto every day.  I am so enriched for it all. 

Susie....I feel rather like WR about your mum.  She has no idea I bet that she is such a negative soul and has even less idea that her oral pronoucements are unwanted and un-appreciated, and do not fit what-so-ever.  I think if she could see through you and your brothers eyes for just a short while....she might actually feel some sorrow for her lack of connection.  She is sadly too old to change.  You know you have done all you can and no more is actually required.

Alzheimers.....so sorry Blue.  Most positive thing I can come up with is that your Dad won't have to face things with the oftentimes direness of what is going on.  He can  be quite free of worry and other distresses.  Still it means loss for us of who these wonderful people really were and that hurts. 

Woke up to a very white world this a.m.  Out here  in the woods it means a lot of picture post-card pretty to enjoy.  Ron started to work but came back 45 mins. after leaving.  He drove the first 7 miles with cars and trucks in the ditches.....then the car spun totally around with him.....took it as a sign that he shouldn't be attemping the 33 miles to work and came home.  I'm glad....the kids have a Toyota Celica, great on gas but not a good winter car for when the snow plows aren't out and working hard.  We have to go 9 miles just to get to the innerstate. 

I'll go to work today as my Blazer has 4-wheel drive.  So far, even in the 14 inch snows I haven't been stopped, but then I'll knock on wood when I say that. 

Hope you all enjoy the rest of this holiday time......we have a brand new yr. on the way soon. 

Jackie

1Athena1

We have SNOW!!!

Mind you, if I were to wait to post this five or six more hours it might be gone, so thought I'd mark the occasion now. :-)

As Sandy says, Happy Boxing Day everyone.

crazy4carrots

Athena -- We are EXPECTING snow....later today and overnight.  Shovelling will be the exercise for tomorrow!

Some interesting, and perhaps not terribly well-known facts, about your Christmas holiday (or holy day):

• There is no mention of December 25th in the Bible.
• Christians didn’t celebrate Christmas until 300 years after the alleged birth of Jesus took place.
• December 25th was chosen because it coincided with Pagan holidays and the winter solstice. It had nothing to do with the birth of Jesus.
• America's Christian founders, the Puritans, banned Christmas celebrations. Oh, and as an aside, the Founding Fathers, for the most part, were not Christians. They were Deists.
• The Christmas tree was born of German tradition and not until the mid 1800s; after the ratification of the Constitution (just in case anyone thought it was a constitutional right).
• The image of Santa in red and white originated in a Coca-Cola ad.
• The crass commercialism of Christmas might have Christian roots, but it’s all about money, which puts the green in retailers’ (and TV networks’) Christmases.

So....I wonder why certain TV personalities are so upset about the supposed "War on Christmas"?   And now, from the British North America long-lasting tradition (and statutory holiday in most parts of Canada)  Happy Boxing Day!!!

Chickadee

Boxing Day sounds like a lot of Christmas days in some homes. Take that, and that. Verbal slings and arrows



I had a pretty good day. I managed a nice turkey without half my kitchen. Paper plates and all.



Then I treated myself to a movie the boys had no interest in, Les Mis. Thoroughly enjoyed even when it dragged a bit. Ann Hathaway was a revelation. Wow, she gave it everything she had.

1Athena1

LOL!!!!

suzieq60

Jackie - I know she will never change - that's the sad thing.  I remember when Dad was dying of liver cancer (21 years ago) and she made me bring his cat up here to my place. She refused to look after it. The poor thing ran away and I spent 2 weeks walking the streets looking for her to no avail. I had to lie to Dad everytime I saw him and say she was OK. That broke my heart.

Blue - it must be so hard for you to see someone you love so much in that situation. I wish there was a cure.

Go to hurry - work today and we got home quite late from the party. I hate being the designated driver.

crazy4carrots

Chick _  Actually, Boxing Day is an old British tradition.  Some say it's when the aristocracy distributed gifts to their household staffs, and put money in "boxes" for the various tradesmen who did work on the estates.  It could also have meant boxing up leftovers from the Christmas feasts to distribute to those in the workhouses.

At any rate, here in the GWN* it means Boxing Day sales!  So glad you enjoyed Les Mis.  I'm a great admirer of Anne Hathaway -- she has loads of talent and a superb voice.

*Great White North

RetiredLibby

Lindasa, I always thought it was from boxing up leftovers from the Christmas feast to give to the poor.  When my younger brother was little, he thought it meant that there were boxing matches, and he kept wondering where they were if they weren't on TV!  (We explained it to him once we figured out what he thought!)

Happy Boxing Day, all!

L 

208sandy

Ah yes, Boxing Day - I love Boxing Day - it is the day I eat turkey for breakfast followed by chocolate with my coffee and just generally eat "bad for you food" all day - also the day I read my Christmas present book - today will be extra special because like Lindasa says we are EXPECTING snow - here in my part of southern Ontario we are always EXPECTING snow and for the last three years not much snow and lots of EXPECTING so tonight into tomorrow should be a real treat for those of us who love the white stuff - my dog is one of those - she goes crazy even though she is quite elderly (14 and some).

Belinda44

Haven't seen a post from Sunflowers or 3monstmama lately....hoping they are ok and hoping all who are on vacation are have wonderful times (including Yorkiemom in India).  Blue, love the new doggie!  Glenna, hope chemo went ok today and hope you don't have too many side effects. 

Getting some of that white stuff here in the Northeast!  Very pretty to look at.  I enjoyed a wonderful Christmas with the family.  Great to relax today.  Happy Boxing Day to all!

pip57

A happy boxing day to everyone.  We had a lovely, quiet Christmas with close family.  Sandy, I too have vowed to eat nothing but crap today.  Chocolate, cookies and candies.  

It is good to hear good reviews about Les Mis.  It is still my all time favourite stage show.  My dh hope to see it soon.

CherrylH

Linda, I have used some of your examples on my "Christ is the reason for the Season" friends to no avail. They refuse to believe it is n ot biblically established. In the New Testament the only required observance is the Last Supper of the Eucharist.

crazy4carrots

Cheryl -- Maybe they should crack open their Bible and actually read some of it!

We are no longer "expecting" snow -- it has arrived, rather fiercely.  Lots of shovelling tomorrow, with fingers also crossed that the snow blower works!

I'm planning to watch the Kennedy Centre (oops, I mean Center) Honours (oops, I mean Honors) tonight.  Reviews said it's a wonderful, funny show.  CBS at 9 p.m. EST.

Belinda44

Edit

1Athena1

...and I am off to Watch Anna Karenina.

Athena, Whose Snow Has Sadly Departed!

alexandria58

We were talking about the historical Jesus today, noting that the Roman census took place in July, and that the early bishops decided to turn what was an extremely popular Roman holiday into a Christian holiday, regardless of the actual historical date of Jesus' birth.  

Chickadee

Watching Kennedy Center Honors.........dang I gotta download some Led Zep. Sometimes you just forget how good it was. What a privilege to grow up with so much wonderful music.

YramAL

Led Zep was the best. Now that I know more about music and harmony and beats, I appreciate them even more. I can't believe they could play it, never mind compose it. 12/16 time, or something like that, with a few 5 beat measures thrown in...amazing.

Mary

Chickadee

What was fortunate back then too is that the money men and suits hadn't yet wrangled control and musicians could get radio play for all manner of creative work. Such wonderful diversity in the music.



Now so much is unremarkable and repetitive.

CherrylH

Ladies, I had the honor of working at the Kennedy Center in Public Relations from 1878 -  83. I worked on the first 5 Honors. It was an incredible time. Met to many giants in the art world. Experience of a life time.

Belinda44

CherrylH.....so cool!  I'm very jealous ; ).  What a wonderful experience.

YramAL

Heart-another one of my favorites-especially since they are homegrown here in the Seattle area. My husband and I went to see them when we were in high school, and we went to see them a couple of years ago. Ann Wilson has one of the best voices of all time.

Mary

Alyson

Hi all from a sticky humid South Pacific country. Yuck I hate it.

Loved all the comments about Christmas and Boxing Day which we have here as well. We were told it was when you gave Christmas boxes(gifts) to those outside your family. I can remember my mother having 'something' for the grocer (who inthose days delivered the groceries), the butcher etc., even some beer was left out for the rubbish collecters.

YramAL I still love Led Zeplin. Will have to see if they replay it here.

Had a wonderful Christmas with all my family. It will be the last time for a while that we will all be together because DD2 and family head to Canada in June. DSiL is from Toronto so they want to spend some time there. Will miss the granchildren terribly but we intend to visit in September/October.

Suzie you need a great big hug. We had my MiL who was actually very good for once. I think the fact she had her grandchildren and great grands around and they spent considerable time looking at old photos made things easier. She is 89 and has become very self centred. DH and her really clash because when she wants something its then, no matter what you are doing.

On Christmas Day I lost it in church because we sang 'Still the night' - a much closer translation of Silent Night and I could hear my father singing it in German as he always did. Tears just poured down my face, and its is 26 years ago that he died of cancer.

I enjoy telling folk that Jesus was not born in December and probably somewhere between 7 and 3 BC and that Easter is the only date we can be sure about. I taught history and some students got very upset when I gave them various calendars showing how Christian festivals had been super imposed over earlier pagan ones. Often it wasn't actually imposed they just evolved into Christian ones.

Must start thinking about dinner and no doubt the cats will be telling me its food time very soon. Oh great DH has fed them.

1Athena1

Hello, Alyson - you poor thing with sticky weather!

Did anybody find that there were far fewer Christmas decorations in the streets this year? My neighborhood was so desolate and depressing. You saw the odd house that sort of nodded in the direction of Christmas lights but that is all. The shopping streets had very subdued decor. I wonder if it is because of ths shooting in CT? Or are we all also sad generally about things? Maybe people are depressed because congress got nothing done (which would definitely affect moods around here)? I wonder if anyone else noticed a more subdued country this year? It's quite stunning, in a sad way.

GatorGal

Belinda and all, chemo went well. Thanks cor asking. Had to drive up in sleet and snow but when i left it was just rain. St. Agnes, where I go, has a large, open chemo room and it is usually quite crowded. Today by chance I got what they call the penthouse. A nice chair in the corner that is very private. Good thing because the Benadryl put me out and I snored up a storm!! Now tonight the decadron is keeping me awake. Glad to hear the comments about Boxing Day. I was just asking DH about it today. And yes, it did seem like there were fewer decorations this year ... Both in neighborhoods and cities. Perhaps everyone is more cognizant of electric costs and watching their budgets more. We put ours up. I love driving up to the house and seeing it look so festive. I imagine it won't get done when I'm not around to orchestrate! LOL! What would Christmas be if it weren't for women??

suzieq60

I was a 70's heavy metal child - love Led Zepplin!!! and Cream and and...

Aly - thanks - unfortunately it's not my mother's age that has affected her behaviour - it's a long term thing. Hey your humidity can't be as bad as here - luckily we've had a couple of reasonable days since rain on Boxing Day morning.

Enjoyful

Only 363 days 'til next Christmas!



27 days on Medicare and I'm still alive and none of my 30-odd doctors have dropped me.



Conversation with my MO:



You know I'm on Medicare now.



Are you? Well that's good.



When will you drop-kick me out the door?



What? Why would I...?



Because of MEDICARE. Doctors hate MEDICARE. I've heard that doctors are dropping Medicare patients like lead-filled balloons.



About 50% of most doctors' patients are on Medicare. They'd be shooting themselves in the foot if they dropped them. Also, Medicare pays more to doctors than some private insurers. So no, that doesn't make sense.



Yeah, but when are you going to drop me?

************************************



In other news, my RO put me on decadron (aka "the homicidal drug") yesterday to help relieve nerve inflammation from rads. So far, so good. However, I will not patronize wal-mart anytime soon. Those checkout-line gun displays are just too tempting.



Had a holly jolly Christmas AND a surprise birthday party with gifts and everything! Life is good. Except for the coming darkness that is Medicare.

alexandria58

Suzie: yeah for Zepplin and Cream!!

E: ROTFL!

Watched Bowling for Columbine last night.  Sad how little has changed.