PERKY TURKEY STORY

[Timotheos]

Thanks, Sylvia, for the info!

I should be more charitable to American Thanksgiving.  It has remained mostly a family affair, unlike the images of Halloween and Christmas which are being eaten alive by retail stores.

In the good old days, the day after Thanksgiving marked the start of the Christmas rush, but that has in recent times moved to the day after Halloween. 

In the states, with Thanksgiving, we enter our holiday season, marked by a lot more work holidays and a general sense of anticipation for Christmas and New Years.  I'm lucky that my company gives us the entire week from Christmas to New Years off.  A lot of companies, for Thanksgiving, give a clumsy Thursday (but not Friday) off.  I remember the good (bad) old days at prior jobs having to go on the seniority queue to take vacation at these times.  For my dad, if Christmas Day fell on a Sunday, he got no time off!

The bad weather, at least in the midlands and north, also gives the holiday season a sort of soft skies and long nights mood (probably like English winter).  I guess you have to be a northerner to enjoy rotten weather!

-Tim

[Richard]

Hello Tim ...

The bad weather, at least in the midlands and north, also gives the holiday season a sort of soft skies and long nights mood (probably like English winter).  I guess you have to be a northerner to enjoy rotten weather!

-Tim

You are absolutely correct about the proper weather getting you into the holiday mood.

Thanksgiving in the United States is celebrated in the late Fall. The last of the dark colored leaves are falling off the trees. A cold wind swirls their deep reds and browns around your ankles as you crunch your way up to the safety of your warm house.

Well ... that's the way it's supposed to be according to the poets and artists! However, where I am we're listening to the fronds of the coconut palms rustling in the warm Caribbean breezes ...

Hard to get in the mood ... 

All the best,
Richard




   



 

[Martin Milner]

In the good old days, the day after Thanksgiving marked the start of the Christmas rush, but that has in recent times moved to the day after Halloween. 

Aw man, that's sad.  My wife has always told me how Thanksgiving holds up the start of the Crassmas* Campaign in the US compared to the UK.

In the UK every holiday date or event has to be marketed and sold to us for weeks, or often months in advance, because we're too stupid to lern or remember the dates for ourselves. 

Thus on the first working day in January, I'll see the first billboard posters for Cadbury's Creme Eggs. On the day after the August Bank Holiday, the Crassmas Campaign will start up.

Of course we're also to stupid to remember Mother's Day, Father's Day, Valentine's Day, Red Nose Day, BBC Children in Need Day, St Patrick's Day etc. without several week's lead up to the "event".

St George's Day is mostly ignored by the country. Maybe that's a good thing - if I ever see a "Happy St George's Day" greetings card I'll explode.



* Definition of Crassmas - all the advertising schlock, street decorations going up in late October, Xmas cards from work colleagues who normally won't give the time of day, cheery office Christmas meals which you still have to pay for yourself, and any other unwelcome add-ons that spoil the season and make one think that Ebenezer Scrooge had some good ideas.

[Timotheos]

Aw man, that's sad.  My wife has always told me how Thanksgiving holds up the start of the Crassmas* Campaign in the US compared to the UK.

I think Halloween "saves" us over here, giving Christmas a lower bound of November 1.

* Definition of Crassmas - all the advertising schlock, street decorations going up in late October, Xmas cards from work colleagues who normally won't give the time of day, cheery office Christmas meals which you still have to pay for yourself, and any other unwelcome add-ons that spoil the season and make one think that Ebenezer Scrooge had some good ideas.

Man, do we work for the same company?  In a previous department, a certain pair of employees would ingratiate themselves with management by showing off their "leadership ability" by staging Christmas-oriented office events that seemed strangely contrary to their everyday character.  "Can I count you in?" both would say with the manager standing literally behind them like a mafia boss.

I mooned* them both and got a new job.

*perhaps not literally.

But, seriously, this can be a freaky and dangerous time in the United States corporate culture.  For every cynical corporate climber pulling strings, there are 20 sheep convinced he is their best friend.

"Why don't you want to go to the Christmas party?  Don't you like us?" 

[Edit: And don't get me started on the religious fundamentalism of my area.  To you and me, the Christmas tree is a thing that you hang pretty lights on, but suddenly--wham--you realize the guy sitting next to you thinks it's the symbol of [religious figure] and crucial to the salvation of the world.]

[Sylvia]

Tim, am I correct in thinking that you have no children as yet?

I found that once I had kids it became a bit easier to overlook the commercialism which surrounds Christmas. You get to see how much it means to them and their excitement has a way of rubbing off onto you no matter how jaded you might feel.

I, too, get annoyed by the constant, intrusive advertising and decorations being put up far too early in the year. But I'm planning to make the most of this season by having as much fun as possible and really getting into the spirit of things.

Btw, you won't be able to escape Christmas at PlaymoFriends once December has started, because the forum gets decorated each year too.

We even have seasonal smilies!

[Timotheos]

Tim, am I correct in thinking that you have no children as yet?

I have one child, a three-year-old.

I had to postpone setting up the Christmas tree until the permanent carpet of toys in the living room is policed up. 

The only room in our house that isn't a toy disaster is my Playmobil room in the basement which I keep locked!

-Tim

[Richard]

Btw, you won't be able to escape Christmas at PlaymoFriends once December has started, because the forum gets decorated each year too.

We even have seasonal smilies!

And, don't forget our "Resident Santa" ...


please see attachment

[Martin Milner]

Tim, am I correct in thinking that you have no children as yet?

I found that once I had kids it became a bit easier to overlook the commercialism which surrounds Christmas. You get to see how much it means to them and their excitement has a way of rubbing off onto you no matter how jaded you might feel.

Christmas is definitely more fun if you are a child or have children around.

[Timotheos]

And, don't forget our "Resident Santa" ...


please see attachment

Don't tempt us, Richard!   

I'm not above raising my kid to believe in "Mr. Richard", who lives at his workshop in the Virgin Islands and every year delivers toys to all the good little boys and girls.

-Tim

[Richard]

Don't tempt us, Richard!   

I'm not above raising my kid to believe in "Mr. Richard", who lives at his workshop in the Virgin Islands and every year delivers toys to all the good little boys and girls.

-Tim

HO! HO! HO!