Wednesday, December 19, 2007

Thursday Thirteen # 4 - 13 Things I Hate About Christmas



I said I wasn’t going to do a post about Christmas because everyone else seems to be covering all bases quite nicely. Everybody is pointing out their favorite and might I add, positive things about Christmas. I will play “Devil’s Advocate” and point out some of the things that are not so nice and that I don’t care for in no particular order.

1. Over priced and underappreciated toys. Get little Johnny the 150 dollar Elmo that falls to the floor, laughing hysterically and by the end of the day Johnny will be more intrigued with the box that Elmo came in.

2. Black Friday: Any name starting with the word black usually pisses me off from the outset; however this time black is good…for retailers that is. Can you imagine adults standing on line at 4:00 AM outside Best Buy to save 20 dollars on a flat screen television? Well I can’t, but it happens.

3. People running around like escaped lunatics on Christmas Eve looking for that last minute gift that they somehow forgot or just decided to shop for today.

4. Cheesy Christmas gifts that have probably been re-gifted to you by someone who recognized how tacky the gift was in the first place. I am not talking about inexpensive gifts, but at least act like you know me. A 12.99 CD would be fine. Please do not give me the hot dog warmer.

5. Fruit cake. Oh how I hate fruit cake. I wonder who thought it would be a good idea to stick old processed fruit in burnt bread and call it a holiday tradition. Oops, this is something I would re-gift immediately!

6. Bell ringers and other charities that stand outside grocery stores, department stores, etc. begging (that’s what it’s called folks) for donations. I am all for charity and looking out for those less fortunate, but most of the people collecting the money either look like they need a drink or just had a drink. I’ll mail my donations, thank you.

7. Christmas lights, decorations, tree, etc. that go up before Thanksgiving and don’t come down until well into January (if then). I have seen Christmas light lit up on homes as late as January 27th no kidding folks.

8. The same goes for Christmas music. Don’t get me wrong, I love Christmas music, but I don’t want to hear it the day after Halloween. I swear I turned on my car radio on November 1st and was greeted with “Jingle Bell”.

9. Back to Christmas decorations. Know how much is too much. There is a house around the corner from my home in which the walkway to the house is lit up and lined with 3 feet candy canes. In the yard is a blow up Santa, Rudolph and the rest of the reindeer, a Nativity scene, with Joseph, Mary, the Three Wise Men, the Innkeeper, sheep…Excessive huh?

10. The fakeness of the season. I mean why should Christmas be set aside as a time when we show compassion, fellowship, and kindness for fellow human beings? Shouldn’t we carry these feelings all year long?

11. Getting together with relatives you spend the better part of the year avoiding. If I don’t want to hang out with you at any other time what makes you think I want you to spend my day off breaking bread with you on December 25th .

12. Office secret Santa. I don’t even like most the people I work with!

13. And finally the commercialization of the season in general. Madison Avenue is overjoyed with the ‘buy, buy, buy mentality that occurs during this time of year. I find it obscene for people to spend money they don’t have for things they don’t need.

What are some of the things you could do without during this time of year?

Please vote in the "What Do You Hate About Christmas Poll" in the right column of the blog.


Links to other Thursday Thirteens!

1. (leave your link in comments)


Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!


The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!


38 comments:

Bernie said...

Totally agree with you on No. 10!!

Tis ok to play the 'Devils Advocate' once in a while...

Anonymous said...

Hehehe. Here's an example of an overpriced toy: Chicken Dance Elmo! Oh yes, we actually bought this. Cameron despises it, as does our dog. Great list...I can also say that I'm not looking forward to seeing certain relatives...LOL
www.mamapj.com

Holly said...

Oh, I can't help it - I still LOVE Christmas!!!

Happy TT-13, Merry Christmas, AND Happy Holidays!

Smiles,
Holly
http://theabundanceplace.com

Lori said...

Hey, look at Pjazzy going all "Grinch" on us (LOL). I'm a sucker for the bell-ringers. I give every time and feel bad when I don't. And when it comes to Christmas lights, Jan 27 is nothing. My Grandad kept his up for years(LOL). But I'm with you all the way on the "buy, buy, buy" mentality.

Sandee said...

This is great and I agree with you 100%, well except I like my family. You had me laughing out loud. Have a great TT. :)

Nicholas said...

I agree with you on a lot of that. I wouldn't be at all upset if Christmas was cancelled, though I used to love the 2 weeks off work. And I have always loved fruit cake!

Greatfullivin said...

I hate the buy buy buy mentality as well but love most of what the holiday once was.

pjazzypar said...

Hi Bernie,

Thanks for stopping by and reassuring me that it was alright to gripe from time to time (smile).

thrivingat30,

I told you Cameron had good taste. That thing is probably scary to both the baby and the dog. Some relatives just rub you the wrong way. They look better going than coming LOL!

holly,

I love Christmas too! The old traditions of Christmas past, not what merchandisers have turned it into. Happy Holidays to you too!

lori,

Maybe you have upstanding bell ringers, but I wouldn't trust the ones I've seen lately as far as I could throw them. I am scared of Grandad OKAY! LOL! Happy TT.

Hi sandee,

Thanks for stopping by and Happy TT to you. I like some of my family members also, but just because we are related does not give them a free pass to get on my nerves. I enjoyed your Christmas quotes.

nicholas,

Seriously, you are the second person I met that liked fruitcake. I like this time of year, I just don't care for what media has created. Happy TT.

greatfullivin,

I agree with you wholeheartedly! Thanks for stopping by.

Lori said...

Great list and I totally agree. I have had enough of Christmas to last all year already!! Happy TT.

Malcolm said...

I can't think of anything to add... you pretty much covered everything. The Christmas music can get ridiculous. I was at the dentist's office for nearly 4 hours the other day and I had to listen to traditional holiday music (Jack Jones, the Ray Conniff Singers, etc.) the whole time!

SandyCarlson said...

Anything insincere is usually part of some over-organized nightmare! Better missed than pissed, I guess.

SandyCarlson said...

Anything insincere is usually part of some over-organized nightmare! Better missed than pissed, I guess.

Crimson Wife said...

I agree with you except for the Salvation Army one. Though it really did tick me off last week when not 1 but 2 panhandlers accosted me after seeing me put my spare change into the Salvation Army bucket. Yes, I believe in helping out the less fortunate but ain't no friggin' way I'm going to give you cash to feed whatever your addiction of choice is!

Happy TT!

Rian Fike said...

Hilarious stuff, I read it out loud to my wife and she laughed out loud!

Anonymous said...

I agree with this on many points, for sure!

My TT

Amy Ruttan said...

Last minute christmas shoppers drive me crazy ... that's why I get my stuff done way before ... like August.

Love that cartoon. But I have to say I love Christmas, its my favorite time of the year. :)

Shesawriter said...

1, 3, 4, 7, 8, 10 and 11!!! I couldn't agree more. LOL!

Happy TT!

My Thursday Thirteen #5

Susan Helene Gottfried said...

You have good points. Try looking at it through my eyes, since I don't celebrate the holiday. Every year, as I listen to my friends complain about what to buy Aunt What's-her-name-who-doesn't-know-mine, I'm more and more grateful I'm Jewish.

Have a Merry Christmas, though.

Joyismygoal said...

--have a safe uncommercial and Merry Christmas

Open Grove Claudia said...

I was like "Black Friday what the hell is that?" I am with you on every one here. (I also love the Boondocks - so funny!)

Happy TT!

My TT: 13 ways my life sucks is up!

SJ Reidhead said...

It is so refreshing to find someone as much of as Scrooge as am I. I agree about the music - but would leave lights up all year!

Bah Humbug!
The Pink Flamingo
http://thepinkflamingo.blogharbor.com/blog

Gattina said...

I fully agree with you especially on n° 10 and 11 ! We don't have these outside decorations in Belgium on private houses, only a few candlestands in the windowss or sometimes a little garland on a tree or hedge. As we don't have any Thanksgiving, Christmas trees are not put up before Dec 1st mostly later. But the commercial side of Christmas is the same here too !

Anonymous said...

Merry Christmas, Uncle Scrooge!

*Rae* said...

I agree with alot of things on your list I like Chrstmaas but as the yrs go on it seems to be like ugh not again oh & I hate fruit cake lol but I do like my family even though I don't see them for the holidays

Robin said...

We don't get much Christmas over here in Israel, but for years we did get fruitcake. Each year a colleague would send one over from the UK, god was it awful...

pjazzypar said...

Lori,

Thanks for stopping by. I loved your come on list. Happy TT.

Malcolm,

There ain't nothing worse than that Dentist office muzak, except when it's Christmas muzak. As if being at the Dentist wasn't bad enough.

sandy carlson,

You are right about that. Christmas has lost a lot of its charm because of over-organized insincerity. Thanks for stopping by. Happy TT.

crimson wife,

I am just talking about my experiences. Those with good experiences need to keep on keeping on. Thanks for stopping by and Happy TT.

rian fike,

I am glad your wife enjoyed, but I was serious about most of it. Loved your TT and I have my Whoville name. Happy TT.

amy ruttan,

Christmas is my favorite time of year too. That's why I hate what it has become. The last minute shopper will run right over you. Happy TT.

shesawriter,

I am glad you saw the method to my madness. Happy TT.

susan helen gottfried,

I never thought about people with other religious affiliations who don't celebrate the holidays. Thanks for opening my eyes. Happy TT.

joyismygoal,

Thanks, I plan to do just that. I am having company and we are going to the casino for Christmas. Happy TT.

open grove claudia,

I know when I first heard the term "Black Friday" I had the same reaction. I should have specified it was the day after Thanksgiving (supposedly the biggest shopping day of the year). Happy TT.

sj reidhead,

I am not really a scrooge, but I suppose that I do long for the "Ghost of Christmas Past". Happy TT.

gattina,

No lights on private houses? If the lights are tastefully done I have no problem, but I need you to stick to one theme. If you are doing Santa then do that. If it's the Nativity scene then do that, but don't mix and match. Happy TT.

infinitygoods,

Happy TT.

*rae*,

I knew I wasn't the only one hating on fruitcake. Happy TT.

robin,

For some reason people hate to admit that they hate fruitcake. It is awful. Happy TT.

Anonymous said...

as a mall worker I'm already compltely burnt out on christmas so - hear hear!! I agree with most of your list.

geek-betty

kellyo75 said...

Great list! I almost got my husband a hot dog warmer, but was NOT about to pay 34.99 for it!

I have NEIGHBORS that keep their lights up WELL into March. I HATE that!

Patti said...

Finally ... a Christmas TT I can relate to! :) hehe

I love #11! So true!!

And #9 ... We have a neighbor who has at least 10 different blow up decorations on their tiny little front lawn. It's crazy! Hmm ... I might have to take a picture of that for my blog!

Have a great day!

Unknown said...

PLay the Devil's Advocate anytime, this was an outstanding list and ever so true on all points...alas I am a sap who posted a Christmas list this week myself, but should you care to drop by it is always welcomed....I do carry the meaning of joy, love, and all that year round...when I ain't being a sassy broad!

Ms Eva said...

I love Christmas yet your list is right on! I, for one, have tried to avoid the commercialization by hand making as many gifts as I can (I choose gifts to match the recipient, ones I know he/she will appreciate). TFS

Lazy Daisy said...

Good list...I hate Christmas cards that just has a person's name...what's with that?

Unknown said...

Even though Im back from vacation and feeling blah, I took some time to post for my friends on my wordpress blog! http://palofmine.wordpress.com

! Come take a look, and visit my cruise pictures! myspace/maydakmom

Alice (in BC Canada) said...

ROFLMAO.... Playing the Devils Advocate can be fun at times... I hope though that you don't get stuck in the negative. Focus on the positive and have a wonderful "season". Happy T13.

Alice - I Was Born2Cree8
http://iwasborn2cree8.blogspot.com

Harris Channing said...

You know, you're right...and hey, you know what? I saw Christmas lights still up in July! Rudolph must have been celebrating his Independence day!

Happy Holidays...got any spare change? I need a vodka tonic!

~Harris.

PJ said...

Great TT - I hate the pressure of the whole event. It's supposed to be a day to appreciate our loved ones, but instead it's become all about the presents.

X. Dell said...

Am I the only one who likes fruitcake?

Otherwise, I'm dead in agreement with you.

pjazzypar said...

X. dell,

Nicholas also likes fruitcake...Maybe it's a Man thing?