Fifth Annual Christmas Countdown Thread!

[DisneyBoy]

Dear Cafe-ers,

T'is that time of year. And this year, I begin the Annual Christmas Countdown Thread on the fifth day of the twelfth month. Why? Because past years have taught me that I'm not too good at the "every day posting" thing.

That, and, well...I'm feeling a little unusually glum. This Christmas is indeed the most challenging of any I've previously experienced. Someone close to me isn't going to be in my life anymore, so saying goodbye to them, and being happy for our time together is in the forefront of my thoughts. On top of that, my family has been going through some adjustments lately. Adjusting to distances between us mainly, and the emotional distance that goes along with that. Finally, we're all needing to not go overboard on the gift-giving. So, I guess in many ways, this is a very adult Christmas. About being together, being happy with what you have and have had, and letting all the rest of it, the glitter and the goodies, the personal differences and those who won't be able to stay...letting all that go.

But that doesn't mean I'm going to skip out of this thread, or the cheer-starting that goes along with it.

So, thanks to the glory of youtube, I'm going to recommend the following for a moment of holiday-related distractions:


Something naughty...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Qrpt_PvQj8

and something nice...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zKI6ibNaTu0&mode=related&search=



Enjoy :) Let's help lift each other's spirits, k? Cause there's so much to be grateful for. Most importantly...each other.

HAPPY DECEMBER 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th!

[purplehairedwonder]

My dorm hallways is especially festive. Everyone has lights around their doors and the hall lights are off so it looks really cool. I also did a little decorating of our room, so yay for Christmas spirit.

I'm heading back home on the 15th so all my Christmas preparations at home will begin after that. My brother and possibly my uncle are coming for Christmas, but my sister can't. She also is pretty much broke after having to fix her brakes on her car, so she's been telling us not to get her anything for Christmas because she can't afford anything for anyone. We told her we didn't care and bought her stuff anyway.

19 days until Christmas Eve (which is when my family does the most celebrating).

[DisneyBoy]

Sweet of you guys to buy her stuff anyways, but as someone who also can't afford to get my close friends gifts, I understand where she's coming from. Hopefully, she won't feel too embarassed.

Love seeing lights everywhere :)

[Michael24]

Our tree (fake, but a great-looking one) and half our decorations were up the weekend after Thanksgiving. This past Saturday we got the rest up, including the lights on the exterior of the house. A lot of the presents are already wrapped and underneath the tree, but there's still remaining items to be picked up in the coming weeks. At some point my grandparents will come over for the day to drop off/pick up their gifts. The Christmas music has been playing on the XM downstairs in the front room, where the tree is, and on CDs in the car. I've even done up my MySpace with Christmas colors and put up a bunch of holiday pictures from over the years for my family and friends to enjoy.

I've gotten a couple presents for some of my closest friends, even though they likely won't get anything for me, mostly because they don't know they're getting something from me in the first place. :) I like to surprise them and don't require anything from them in return.

Only thing I'm not particular excited about is my birthday on the 23rd, since I'll be turning 28. :( I refuse to accept the fact that I'm almost 30!!

Otherwise, it's looking like a fairly typical Christmas. Plenty of egg nog and Christmas movies to keep me occupied until the big day. :)


So, thanks to the glory of youtube, I'm going to recommend the following for a moment of holiday-related distractions:

Something naughty...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Qrpt_PvQj8


Woah! Thank you. :D

[Elven Moon]

Christmas is going to be painful for me this year.

This is the last Christmas I will be able to spend with my sister before she moves to Chicago and becomes tied down with marriage. No more staying up until the early hours of the morning when we were kids, excited about what Santa might bring. Everybody is moving away or unable to do things. I know that from now on, more people will leave me. In 5 years, maybe I'll spend my Christmas COMPLETELY alone :crying:

Money is tight, so we all will be getting very few gifts, most of which I will know about, so the mystery of not knowing and shaking boxes will be gone :(

I'm trying very hard to be happy, listening to Christmas music, begging my mom to make cookies and actively looking for fun gifts for people. But who knows what will happen this year?

[DisneyBoy]

Elven, I totally feel where you're coming from. But Christmas, like everything else, will and does change. If those changes are small or big depends on the year.

But you know what? Happiness is worth fighting for! And yes, especially at this time of year, it's a fight. Growing older, dealing with change...it can jossel you about. But try and find things that ground you and get you back into that smily-humming place. Wrapping gifts to music playing helps me. Or spend some time with friends. The holidays are about partaking in mutual celebrations, or just spending time with those whom you love. That doesn't have to change.

Silly as it will sound, giving some time to an organization (like wrapping gifts at a mall to raise money for kids, or having a bake sale) can really boost your spirits. I find it's most like Christmas for me now when I'm giving the best of myself, rather than getting the best presents or having the best moments.

But that doesn't mean you have to be self-sacrificing all the holiday season! Go out! Dance, sing, chat, catch-up! Don't sit on the couch and watch all those specials and feel like the good times are over! They AIN'T, trust me ;)

And if you get snow in your area, ENJOY IT! Skate, make a snow angel, whatever...just treasure the stuff :) Lord knows how much longer we'll even have it here on earth!

BAKE YOUR OWN CHRISTMAS COOKIES :) :) :) Tell you what - I always say I'm going to, and I never do...but this year, I will if you will :) How about we both bake up a batch before the 20th, and then report back to one another here about what kind(s) we made. Just one batch of roughly 24 cookies. That's not impossible!

Congrats to your sis, and don't feel like marriage means you're losing her. Do you both talk relatively regularily? Does she say "I love you/miss you?" Do you get together? Can you still laugh? If you've said yes to these, she's still there with you and will continue to be. Just try and put your best foot forward, be strong and keep doing the things that really make you feel like you're making the world (even your own personal one) a better place, and you'll NEVER be alone. Trust that. Happiness draws us together. Sorrow breaks us apart. And regardless of what all those sappy holiday songs moan about, this time of year isn't about who or what you've got. It's about taking the time to give.

Sermon over! LOL!

Happy December 6th and 7th my little elves!

[Terminatah]

I got me some xmas lights for my room. So it's really festive around here.

-Terminatah

[Terminatah]

Thought of another good Christmas thing. The festive decorations on the Cokes and the Pepsis. I believe it was two years ago (2004) that Pepsi came out with that special Holiday Spice Pepsi. I was annoyed when they didn't bring it back last year (2005) and slightly more annoyed when they didn't bring it back this year (2006). Not because it's an especially great beverage, but because it's a festive thing to have for the season. Someone talk some sense into Pepsi. If they brought back Holiday Spice Pepsi for the holidays and Crystal Pepsi for other times, I think people would drink them. But hey, what do I know? I'm just one man.

-Terminatah

[TheMecca]

For every Holiday Spice pepsi there are 7 Holiday Mountain Dew flavors.

[purplehairedwonder]

We had a little holiday party on our floor this morning... though it didn't really end up being very holiday themed. We were going to have breakfast and watch a Christmas movie but the DVD player wouldn't work and no one had any Christmas movies on VHS... so we watched Fever Pitch while eating muffins. It's the spirit that counts though :p

[Terminatah]

Update on the whole soda thing. My brother informs me that while the Pepsi can carton is decorated for the holidays, the cans themselves are unchanged. This is just another reason why Coca-Cola is better.

-Terminatah

[DisneyBoy]

Changing the flavor of the soda drinks at the holidays would kinda mess up bartenders and hosts, wouldn't you think? I'd hate to get a rum and coke with a "spiced" flavor added in unexpectedly...

Updates! I'm presently working on a mixed cd for that special person I'm having to say goodbye to. I don't even know if they'll get it, but in the end, this is cathartic for me. Its putting the entirety of our relationship into perspective, and making me appreciate our time together. And boy oy boy is it sappy! But that's only appropriate.

My parents and I are getting together tomorrow to choose and dress the tree. A strange day to do so, for sure, but hey...it was only today when I opened up and ate half the chocolates in my holiday callendar, so clearly, I'm running late on this whole Christmas thing.

Except in the gift department. In fact, I just took someone to the movies today. They hated the surprise, but loved the film. Doing things with people you love is worth so much more than any packaged gift, I'd say.

Hey Elven, are you and me still on for the cookie thing? I hope so, cause I'm going to need you to help me keep my word ;)

Happy December 8th, 9th, 10th, 11th, and 12th people!

[Terminatah]

Changing the flavor of the soda drinks at the holidays would kinda mess up bartenders and hosts, wouldn't you think? I'd hate to get a rum and coke with a "spiced" flavor added in unexpectedly...Holiday Spice Pepsi never replaced regular Pepsi. It was sold in separate cans, so people could choose. Bartenders would still get their regular Pepsi.

-Terminatah

[Spider-Man]

Updates! I'm presently working on a mixed cd for that special person I'm having to say goodbye to. I don't even know if they'll get it, but in the end, this is cathartic for me. Its putting the entirety of our relationship into perspective, and making me appreciate our time together. And boy oy boy is it sappy! But that's only appropriate.I'm sure he'll like it very much if so much thought is put into it.

I have wrapped up my Christmas shopping with just a few minor things to get (gift tags, etc) and it feels good! It was hell to get it done but I'm very happy with the presents I got for my friends and family and I can't wait to see them open it on Christmas morning. It's really starting to feel like the holidays around here.

[purplehairedwonder]

Today was my first full day home for break and I did some decorating of the house and the tree. It looks a lot more festive and I still have plenty to do tomorrow. I love Christmas time :)

[PeppeRaskell1]

Money is always tight for me at Christmas time (have to pay for food, rent, cable/phone/Roadrunner etc. etc.), so every year I draw cartoons for friends and family, then have them put on transparency and paint them up like animation cels. I should have all my painting done before Christmas day. (I'm also going to put up my "Grinch Tree".)

This year, in addition to the cel-paintings (or whatever animation collectors are calling them nowadays), I'm putting some of the pictures into a little newsreel parody I call "News of the Geek," which I'm making on Windows Movie Maker. I don't really expect too many gifts (I asked for a new Rapidograph pen, a new pair of sneakers and a new Crock-Pot, but I'm also hoping I get a gift card or two--somewhere in my local Wal-Mart there's a $79 SV2000 DVD recorder/VCR with my name on it (too bad I can't put it on Layaway any more...they did away with it last month!:( :crying:

[DisneyBoy]

I LOVE the cel animation idea! Very clever, and certainly unique :)

I'm sorry I've been absent as of late. My thoughts have been very much with the dear friend I told y'all about. In fact, I spent the last two days working on that mixed cd I mentionned, and even made some art to go inside it. You really, really have to let people know you love them. We're not all here forever, and seriously folks, nothing feels better than knowing you've touched people, and earned their love. So tell them, and treasure when it's said to you. Those are precious words, and while they can't make all the pain of the world go away, they do a great deal to ease it.

I was looking around for something interesting to link y'all to, as this may be my last post prior to Christmas, and here's something nifty I found:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jgrQdxzFAtM&mode=related&search=

It's fun to see how different people get into the spirit. And this one certainly got me thinking about how much fun the holidays can be when you surrender to them. Sadly, Elven I lost our bargain (although I'm not sure whether you ever agreed to one, but anyhoo). No cookies as of yet. But I did think up a fun idea - I'm going to make some shaped like pants and shirts and give them to my friends at a local department store! I can't believe how quickly the time is flying...but that's Christmas for you! I hope you have a good one Elven!

Okay...just found another lovely little vid, with a high nostalgia factor:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=564_bU7iH4g&mode=related&search=

May Mariah Carey have a crazy, crazy Christmas :p

And speaking of craziness...a moment that has to be seen to be believed:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_v6SjJ75-lk


And I should take my leave of you all now. Enjoy the gifts and the music, but please, please...get crazy. Say those things that matter. Have yourselves a Merry Little Christmas now.

Happy December 13th, 14th, 15th, 16th, 17th, 18th, 19th, 20th and MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

[purplehairedwonder]

I finished shopping for my family today, though tomorrow I'm planning to shop for my friends. I'm not sure what to get them... my best friend told me today she's making all her gifts and just finished mine. I did something kinda craftsy for her birthday, so I think I'll go a different route for Christmas, but I'm just not sure. We'll see.

My brother and I also put lights up on the house today, though we also have some colored icicle lights but we don't have enough, so I may try and pick some more up tomorrow. Our side of town really gets into the whole Christmas thing, so houses with few or no lights really look out of place. It's cool.

[Spider-Man]

My Holidays begin today! I can't wait to come back here and post in the "Christmas Booty" thread that is always up! I like seeing what everyone else got! Have a great holiday everyone! Mine starts today!

[Temple Fugate]

Our Christmas tree is up. Most of the family will be celebrating on the 23rd since most of us are going to other relatives' houses on the 25th. (Big family)

I drew my younger brother's name this year. (Everybody in the family draws names and only shops for that person.) I feel terrible because the only thing he asked for was the Superman Ultimate DVD set, which not only sold out everywhere the day after he asked for it, but the sets that were available had misprinted discs anyway, and the reprints won't come on sale until after Christmas. I'm just going to get him a Best Buy gift card for the price of the set and I know he'll be fine with it but I wish there was something else I could find to give him. (He already owns practically every movie and tv show on DVD that he's ever liked.)

Since some of my friends and I won't be seeing each other until after the holiday we got together last night and exchanged gifts. One of them was the Star Trek manga...which the gifter should have known I was all over this thing the day it came out. I didn't have the heart to tell him I already had it because he acted like I hadn't even heard of it before yesterday and was really eager to surprise me. It was one of those damned-if-you-do/don't type deals. I feel bad for deceiving him and making him think I'm happy, but I'd feel even worse if I had just said to him "Uh, yeah, I've been following this comic's progress since Tokyopop announced it back in 2004 and I went to three bookstores looking for it the day it came out and I've read the entire thing already."

Eh, whatayagonnado? :shrug: We hung out and had a good time regardless.

3 days to go!

[Terminatah]

I drew my younger brother's name this year. (Everybody in the family draws names and only shops for that person.) I feel terrible because the only thing he asked for was the Superman Ultimate DVD set, which not only sold out everywhere the day after he asked for it, but the sets that were available had misprinted discs anyway, and the reprints won't come on sale until after Christmas. I'm just going to get him a Best Buy gift card for the price of the set and I know he'll be fine with it but I wish there was something else I could find to give him. (He already owns practically every movie and tv show on DVD that he's ever liked.)Perhaps you can combine the card with something small that fits the theme, like some type of Superman action figure he can display.

Since some of my friends and I won't be seeing each other until after the holiday we got together last night and exchanged gifts. One of them was the Star Trek manga...which the gifter should have known I was all over this thing the day it came out. I didn't have the heart to tell him I already had it because he acted like I hadn't even heard of it before yesterday and was really eager to surprise me. It was one of those damned-if-you-do/don't type deals. I feel bad for deceiving him and making him think I'm happy, but I'd feel even worse if I had just said to him "Uh, yeah, I've been following this comic's progress since Tokyopop announced it back in 2004 and I went to three bookstores looking for it the day it came out and I've read the entire thing already."

Eh, whatayagonnado? :shrug: We hung out and had a good time regardless.

3 days to go!Return the present and buy something else. The friend will be none the wiser.

-Terminatah

[Temple Fugate]

Perhaps you can combine the card with something small that fits the theme, like some type of Superman action figure he can display.He's not really the figure type, but I'll try to find something Supes-related that'll appeal to him. Thanks for the suggestion. As for the manga, unfortunately there was no receipt and he peeled the store barcode sticker off of it, so I can't return it. I had the idea of gifting it to my brother along with whatever else I'll get him. It obviously won't be the most important portion of his gift, just a gag thing.

On the subject of running out of time, I was in a store last week and ran into a line full of impatient mothers who wanted to get their sons PS3s. One was speaking to the guy behind the counter in a very harsh tone, as if the poor guy was purposefully preventing her from buying a PS3 which the store obviously didn't have. Furthermore, two of my friends work retail and I've heard an earful about their experiences with irate shoppers who have unreasonable and unmeetable demands.

The point? Please, everybody, remember that the holidays are supposed to be about joy and selflessness and forgiveness. So what if you want to buy a gift for someone else? That doesn't give you the right to act as if THAT person is the most deserving being on Earth. Don't be selfish, and don't be selfish by proxy. Just accept that you can't get the gift you want to give and find something else. As long as it's coming from you, that's all that matters.

[purplehairedwonder]

Yesterday I finished up my Christmas shopping after getting stuff for my friends, so hopefully we'll have a little party with a gift exchange. We also finished putting up lights on our house yesterday, so all that's left is the luminarias our neighborhood does on Christmas Eve. Yay.

[Wolfie~Giri]

I woke up this morning with a horrible cough and had to put my "Last minute Christmas Shopping" off for a while.

It really does suck when you get sick during the Christmas season but on the bright side I did get some shopping done...whilst loosing my voice with every passing second.

Here's hoping it clears up fast.:)

[Terminatah]

As for the manga, unfortunately there was no receipt and he peeled the store barcode sticker off of it, so I can't return it.Some places might give you store credit or something even then.

-Terminatah

[PeppeRaskell1]

I woke up this morning with a horrible cough and had to put my "Last minute Christmas Shopping" off for a while.

It really does suck when you get sick during the Christmas season but on the bright side I did get some shopping done...whilst loosing my voice with every passing second.

Here's hoping it clears up fast.:)

Stinks od dice. I godda Christmas code id by doze, too
(Translation: "Yeah, it stinks. I've got a cold, too.")
Hoping mine (and yours) clear up before Christmas.

PeppeRaskell1
"Sobbuddy gave be a code for Christmas..."
(Somebody gave me a cold for Christmas...Great idea for a novelty Christmas song, huh?)

[Gatomon41]

The hope of man, and the light of the world is coming.
Happy Birthday Jesus!
Merry Chirstmas everyone!

[purplehairedwonder]

We're about to put out our luminarias that our everyone in our neighborhood lights at sundown. It's a really pretty sight with all the lights and such. Tonight is present night in my house, so yay. My favorite night of the year is tonight!

Happy Holidays everyone! Whatever you're celebrating, hope it's fab for ya!

[KCJ506]

Merry Christmas ya filthy animals.

[sarita]

Merry Christmas and everything else :)

[J'onn J'onzz]

Merry Christmas and everything else :)

Your name looked like Santa at first. :anime: