OT - NO POLITICS A Hazy Shade of Winter

[Ladyfan]

Tom Smothers dead at 86 after cancer battle

His brother Dick Smothers, 84, announced that his brother and co-star passed away at home surrounded by family in Sonoma County, California on Tuesday.

www.dailymail.co.uk

View attachment 790844

I saw this on the news. Loved their show.

 

[smithformeragent]

I'm just going to say it. Christmas sucks as an adult.

You only get one day off, you're stuck with people all weekend long. And at least in my case I spent time and effort getting people nice thoughtful gifts that would be meaningful to them and they gave me a f***ing JCPenney giftcard that was the first thing they saw at Walgreens when they went to shop on the 24th.

I wish I could go back to college and have 3 weeks of Christmas break and have some alone time to just play video games again.

I just don’t have time for drama at this point in my life. I’m an adult, and I don’t feel the need to spend time with people I don’t care to see, just to check a box.

We ended up rescheduling Christmas Eve plans with my parents and sister due to being sick. However, we had to go “check the box” and exchange stockings with my MIL and her deadbeat boyfriend.

I told my wife I didn’t want to bother exchanging gifts (basically trading money) with relatives, but her mom “insists” on gifts. Whatever. Not worth arguing.

I’m enjoying spending time with my son. Got two solid weeks off work. Keeping busy, and reading.

I’m open to Myrtle Beach if it happens. The idea of being away from my family and hers doesn’t bother me. As I told her, they have airplanes. Where there’s a will, there’s a way.

I’m at the point in my life where I don’t do guilt trips or manipulation.

 

[TD Charlie]

I'm just going to say it. Christmas sucks as an adult.

You only get one day off, you're stuck with people all weekend long. Usually they steal my whole saturday dragging me on some day trip I don't want to go on. And at least in my case I spent time and effort getting people nice thoughtful gifts that would be meaningful to them and they gave me a f***ing JCPenney giftcard that was the first thing they saw at Walgreens when they went to shop on the 24th.

I wish I could go back to college and have 3 weeks of Christmas break and have some alone time to just play video games again.

I love spending time with my kids at Christmas, but the running around to 17 different houses to make sure I see everybody is exhausting. I too, am relieved that the chaos is over for now.

Going on 10 years sober, so it doesn’t take much more than a sip or a single Advil PM to knock my ass out.

Megan, baby, and I have been trading sickness back and forth for going on 3 weeks.

I was on my ass for Christmas. Only now starting to feel like myself again. Made it back to the gym and appetite is back.

I picked up the new Mario game for the Switch and am taking it easy, watching Lord of the Rings.

Definitely not well enough for any intense physical activity, but I did shower, have lunch, and do a decent amount of Christmas clutter cleaning. As much as I could handle before I couldn't breathe again.

We bought Mario Wonder (I assume that's what you meant?) for the kids for Christmas, but I will probably end up playing through it as well. I may be a grown ass man but some of these Switch titles are just mesmerizing. Chelsea and I spent HOURS and hours together finishing Luigi's Mansion 3, Paper Mario, Odyssey, Yoshi's Crafted World, and Toad's Treasure Tracker. Whether it's the visuals, the story, the incredibly simple gameplay, or a combo of it all...these Switch games are a wonderful distraction. I think next on our list is It Takes Two

 

[smithformeragent]

I love spending time with my kids at Christmas, but the running around to 17 different houses to make sure I see everybody is exhausting. I too, am relieved that the chaos is over for now.

Definitely not well enough for any intense physical activity, but I did shower, have lunch, and do a decent amount of Christmas clutter cleaning. As much as I could handle before I couldn't breathe again.

We bought Mario Wonder (I assume that's what you meant?) for the kids for Christmas, but I will probably end up playing through it as well. I may be a grown ass man but some of these Switch titles are just mesmerizing. Chelsea and I spent HOURS and hours together finishing Luigi's Mansion 3, Paper Mario, Odyssey, Yoshi's Crafted World, and Toad's Treasure Tracker. Whether it's the visuals, the story, the incredibly simple gameplay, or a combo of it all...these Switch games are a wonderful distraction. I think next on our list is It Takes Two

Yes.

Aside from Zelda, I’m unable to spend hours upon hours playing video games these days.

I like that with the Switch, I can fire it up, play a couple of levels, and then throw it in sleep mode and go do something else.

 

[TD Charlie]

Yes.

Aside from Zelda, I’m unable to spend hours upon hours playing video games these days.

I like that with the Switch, I can fire it up, play a couple of levels, and then throw it in sleep mode and go do something else.

That's exactly why we've loved it.

Just doesn't work with the Resident Evil games that I loved 20-25 years ago, so unfortunately I can't make enough time to play those ones.

 

[eightspokedb]

To all announcers EVERYWHERE....

SHUT​

THE​

F**K​

UP​

​

kthxbye​

 

[Troublesome 85]

Noooooooo!!!

Gaston Glock, the Austrian developer of the Glock handgun, dies at 94

Gaston Glock, the Austrian developer of the handgun that bears his name, has died

abcnews.go.com

 

[DarrenBanks56]

I just don’t have time for drama at this point in my life. I’m an adult, and I don’t feel the need to spend time with people I don’t care to see, just to check a box.

We ended up rescheduling Christmas Eve plans with my parents and sister due to being sick. However, we had to go “check the box” and exchange stockings with my MIL and her deadbeat boyfriend.

I told my wife I didn’t want to bother exchanging gifts (basically trading money) with relatives, but her mom “insists” on gifts. Whatever. Not worth arguing.

I’m enjoying spending time with my son. Got two solid weeks off work. Keeping busy, and reading.

I’m open to Myrtle Beach if it happens. The idea of being away from my family and hers doesn’t bother me. As I told her, they have airplanes. Where there’s a will, there’s a way.

I’m at the point in my life where I don’t do guilt trips or manipulation.

im done with the xmas stuff. outside of getting stuff for my daughter the rest is just a joke. There just isnt time. Since my italian side of the family always insists on millions of gift. i just make sure i get all the gifts from them by dec 23rd or so. Then i just use that money to buy their gifts. which is usually scratchies etc. its such a joke.

 

[McGarnagle]

im done with the xmas stuff. outside of getting stuff for my daughter the rest is just a joke. There just isnt time. Since my italian side of the family always insists on millions of gift. i just make sure i get all the gifts from them by dec 23rd or so. Then i just use that money to buy their gifts. which is usually scratchies etc. its such a joke.

It all just becomes an exchange of e-giftcards. We'd all be better off keeping our own money and getting what we want or saving it.

It's all commercialized and bastardized from the true meaning of Christmas.

 

[smithformeragent]

It all just becomes an exchange of e-giftcards. We'd all be better off keeping our own money and getting what we want or saving it.

It's all commercialized and bastardized from the true meaning of Christmas.

Yep.

“My mother is getting us a Ticketmaster Gift Card to use towards Bruins tickets, so I had to get something for her so I got tickets to dueling pianos.”

Aka TicketMaster gets rich twice.

My cousin and I get each other gag gifts. I’ll send him a customized ornament with purposely awful pictures of his dad. He sends me a potato with my dad’s face on it.

I sent him and his wife Mighty Ducks jerseys from the 1991 movie.

Get the rest of the family in on the act.

A pillow case fearing my dad’s jr high school yearbook photo. Socks featuring my uncle’s face.

I’ll buy my mother a 12 pack of generic soda and a frozen pizza and wrap it up in wrapping paper.

Hilarious.

Hours of entertainment.

We send each other random shit in the mail just to see how the rest of the family react.

My kinds of gifts.

 

[caz16]

The best feeling during the holiday is to give and to open our hearts to others. Be polite to the hard working people who don't get a break, a smile, a thank you goes a long way. Be nice.

We walk at a mall daily and the cleaners are always there, working hard early mornings. One in particular is so genuinely friendly but I felt an underlying sadness. We gave him a gift card today for a grocery store, said thank you for all you do. I thought he was going to cry, he said "you don't know how much this means to me", it felt good. I almost felt guilty that I felt so good doing it. It reminds me of Scrooged, just do something, just do it.

 

[GordonHowe]

Interview for the Myrtle Beach gig went well.

They said they’d be in touch regarding next steps and that they’d fly the two finalists out to tour the school.

Guess we’ll see what happens.

Break a leg. Whatever you decide, I hope things work out.

 

[GordonHowe]

I'm just going to say it. Christmas sucks as an adult.

You only get one day off, you're stuck with people all weekend long. Usually they steal my whole saturday dragging me on some day trip I don't want to go on. And at least in my case I spent time and effort getting people nice thoughtful gifts that would be meaningful to them and they gave me a f***ing JCPenney giftcard that was the first thing they saw at Walgreens when they went to shop on the 24th.

I wish I could go back to college and have 3 weeks of Christmas break and have some alone time to just play video games again.

Wow. Full Grinch, hmm?

I get it, though. We do "Kris Kringle" in my family (each of us gives a gift to another sib) and agree on a modest spending limit of $25 or so. That's it. Being the cheap bastard that I am, fine by me.

Captain Obvious says Christmas for adults is not about exchanging gifts. It's about letting those we love know we do, and in my case, explicitly so. If not now, when?

 

[GordonHowe]

The best feeling during the holiday is to give and to open our hearts to others. Be polite to the hard working people who don't get a break, a smile, a thank you goes a long way. Be nice.

We walk at a mall daily and the cleaners are always there, working hard early mornings. One in particular is so genuinely friendly but I felt an underlying sadness. We gave him a gift card today for a grocery store, said thank you for all you do. I thought he was going to cry, he said "you don't know how much this means to me", it felt good. I almost felt guilty that I felt so good doing it. It reminds me of Scrooged, just do something, just do it.

1000%. You made a difference in someone's life. He felt valued and "seen."

Kindness, respect and consideration toward others, often strangers, and seemingly minor -- opening the door for someone, or saying excuse me when called for, etc. -- is vitally important.

As my mother used to say, you never know what someone is carrying around. Everyone has a story.

As noted previously in another context, working in retail, hospitality, "the food industry," etc. for at least three months should be mandatory in the United States. Perhaps then people would treat others as they themselves wish to be treated.

Karen might realize how self-centered, oblivious and rude she is. She might grow up a little.

Simple acknowledgement of their presence and respect toward others, especially strangers, can make all the difference.

All the difference in the world.

 

[Gee Wally]

Wow. Full Grinch, hmm?

I get it, though. We do "Kris Kringle" in my family (each of us gives a gift to another sib) and agree on a modest spending limit of $25 or so. That's it. Being the cheap bastard that I am, fine by me.

Captain Obvious says Christmas for adults is not about exchanging gifts. It's about letting those we love know we do, and in my case, explicitly so. If not now, when?

I agree with you Mark. Never leave it unsaid since we never know who may be gone come next year.

Me? Ive reached that magical age and lifestyle where I dont really need anything. But I am fortunate to have planned pretty good over the decades. So I give my kids and their partners big stuff. Id rather see them enjoy something from me while Im still on this side of the grass. Same with my sisters. They are all I have left. I bought them Coach handbags this year. They almost cried. Something theyd never get for themselves. It made Christmas Eve for me.
Christmas Eve was always big for my family. From my grandmother to my mother. When Mom passed we sold the house to my disabled sister. 50% of market value. Only condition was she still host Christmas Eve. We all chip in food,desserts, drinks etc. Then a Yankee Swap. 22 of us this year. That night for me is what Christmas is all about.

Me & my sister Doreen.

 

[GordonHowe]

I agree with you Mark. Never leave it unsaid since we never know who may be gone come next year.

Me? Ive reached that magical age and lifestyle where I dont really need anything. But I am fortunate to have planned pretty good over the decades. So I give my kids and their partners big stuff. Id rather see them enjoy something from me while Im still on this side of the grass. Same with my sisters. They are all I have left. I bought them Coach handbags this year. They almost cried. Something theyd never get for themselves. It made Christmas Eve for me.
Christmas Eve was always big for my family. From my grandmother to my mother. When Mom passed we sold the house to my disabled sister. 50% of market value. Only condition was she still host Christmas Eve. We all chip in food,desserts, drinks etc. Then a Yankee Swap. 22 of us this year. That night for me is what Christmas is all about.

Me & my sister Doreen.

View attachment 790995

Lovely.

And, said again: This is it. Now is all the time you'll ever have. Make it count.

(You know, I just realized something. Not a Michael Jackson fan, but the first sentence is the title of his posthumous movie; the second sentence is from Silence of the Lambs; the last is from Titanic.

(Oh dear.}

 

[Alicat]

Getting ready to take off on flight #1 of the day. After 7 weeks away, I am ready to be home and relax before the moving countdown and packing commences.

I found a place not far from my family that is at the beginning of the shopping center(target, grocery store ect) and on the other side of where all the doctors offices are

92 days and counting.

 

[smithformeragent]

Baby coming up on 1 year old and the last two nights have been absolutely brutal.

Very very fussy. Inconsolable.

Wife is getting basically no sleep.

She accused me of “yelling” this morning, which I most certainly did not.

Old me would have stomped away and sulked, but I fell on my sword and put myself in her shoes and apologized.

Hanging with this kid, watching Teletubbies while mom sleeps.

Blessed are the peace makers.

 

[GordonHowe]

I just don’t have time for drama at this point in my life. I’m an adult, and I don’t feel the need to spend time with people I don’t care to see, just to check a box.

We ended up rescheduling Christmas Eve plans with my parents and sister due to being sick. However, we had to go “check the box” and exchange stockings with my MIL and her deadbeat boyfriend.

I told my wife I didn’t want to bother exchanging gifts (basically trading money) with relatives, but her mom “insists” on gifts. Whatever. Not worth arguing.

I’m enjoying spending time with my son. Got two solid weeks off work. Keeping busy, and reading.

I’m open to Myrtle Beach if it happens. The idea of being away from my family and hers doesn’t bother me. As I told her, they have airplanes. Where there’s a will, there’s a way.

I’m at the point in my life where I don’t do guilt trips or manipulation.

Good for you.

IF someone is a true friend, you know it. IF someone isn't, you know that, too. I keep the former and dispensed with the latter long ago.

I have my brothers and sisters and a few very close friends. That's enough for me.

Sincere good luck whatever you decide per your career.

 

[smithformeragent]

Good for you.

IF someone is a true friend, you know it. IF someone isn't, you know that, too. I keep the former and dispensed with the latter long ago.

I have my brothers and sisters and a few very close friends. That's enough for me.

Sincere good luck whatever you decide per your career.

Thanks,

I know that wherever I end up, that’s where I’m meant to be.

I’m much closer with my cousin that lives in SLC that I am in my sister who lives an hour and a half north of us.

It just is what it is.

And hey, we always have this place!

 

[Ladyfan]

Blessed are the peace makers.

Amen to that. It will serve you well in the long run!

Some folks never learn.

 

[NeelyDan]

peace means sometimes walking away, too - not (or at least far more rarely) in the case of a parent/child/spouse, but nonetheless sometimes this is necessary

 

[smithformeragent]

peace means sometimes walking away, too - not (or at least far more rarely) in the case of a parent/child/spouse, but nonetheless sometimes this is necessary

Yep.

Been there too.

Grew up in a very manipulative, abusive situation.
My dad was enabled and it took me setting boundaries to break the cycle.

Things are mostly good now, but I went years without talking with the guy. He spent time in and out of jail and homeless.

We are each just one person and people have to want to help themselves.

 

[Gee Wally]

Baby coming up on 1 year old and the last two nights have been absolutely brutal.

Very very fussy. Inconsolable.

Wife is getting basically no sleep.

She accused me of “yelling” this morning, which I most certainly did not.

Old me would have stomped away and sulked, but I fell on my sword and put myself in her shoes and apologized.

Hanging with this kid, watching Teletubbies while mom sleeps.

Blessed are the peace makers.

could be teething?
and yes, sleep deprivation is no joke. I feel for you. Its all part of being a dad. But this too shall pass.

 

[smithformeragent]

could be teething?
and yes, sleep deprivation is no joke. I feel for you. Its all part of being a dad. But this too shall pass.

Yep.

He’s got #7 poking through on the bottom.