I'm having a miserable time gettin into the spirit

[Megbert]

No job. probably lose the house. can't tell if gf of going on 3 years. If she really wants to be a part of 'us' anymore. I am back in school for pharmacy tech since i've been unemployed since july 17. I am doing a bit of side work - laying out newspaper publications once a month. Guess I am just feeling miserable right now. Hopefully it'll pass if not well then I just don't know what I'm gonna do. - MERRY CHRISTMAS

[stevieray]

Originally Posted by Jilly

I decided to post this because none of you are alone. Christmas, Advent, this time of waiting pushes a lot of people into a time of abandonment, loneliness, and despair. It's normal to feel sad at Christmas. And not to be a Debbie Downer, but there's not much to be happy about. Even as a Christian, I find that the birth of Christ is riddled with sadness. Beyond the manger is a cross...an ominous cross....and while we decorate the manger with shepherds and sheep and gifts from Kings...that cross looms in the distance. The idea that God had to send a Savior to the world because we were so horrible and that that child had to grow up to die is not exactly one of the happiest thoughts in the world.

So you're not alone and that's ok. And your sadness is ok. And maybe somewhere beyond the cross, you'll find a hope that supersedes it all. And in the meantime, we're all here to give you a hand and help you along.

Sorry to get all religious, but it's that time of year for me.

Your post appears to be more appropriate for Easter, rather than Christmas.
'Decorating' the manger( a food trough) with shepards and sheep? shepards were considered the lowest and the least...but not in God's eyes.

God didn't send his son because we are horrible, he sent us the gift of His Son because he loves us.

Someday, when your daughter acts horrible, you aren't going to show her grace or mercy because she's bad, it's because you love her.

Hope comes from the cross, not beyond it.

I think people get bummed because they feel nobody cares during a time that repreasents joy.....

[Fish]

Somebody needs a Christian side hug........

[Dayze]

Here’s my awesome (sarcasm) holiday schedule for ‘celebrating’

4th – work Christmas party
5th – wife’s work Christmas party

23rd – going to a Christmas / family obligation after work
24th – going to a Christmas / family obligation after work
25th – celebrating Christmas with the wife
25 – going to a Christmas celebration

….I despise this time of year. Seriously…4 MF Christmas get togethers? reeruned.
Bring on the new year already.

[Iowanian]

No matter how bad it seems, someone else has it worse.

Find something positive to focus on, and even if you don't have money, there are things you can do for other people that I guarantee will make you feel better about yourself. Help an elderly neighbor hang their Christmas lights, scoop someone's snow before they wake up.

Find an adult group home for the handicapped or a recreation program in which they participate and volunteer. I guarantee you'll never leave a flag football game with 20 people with Downs in a bad mood.

[Fat Elvis]

Originally Posted by KC Fish

Somebody needs a Christian side hug........

Touch elbows...it is the flu season....

[Bearcat]

Originally Posted by Dayze

Here’s my awesome (sarcasm) holiday schedule for ‘celebrating’

4th – work Christmas party
5th – wife’s work Christmas party

23rd – going to a Christmas / family obligation after work
24th – going to a Christmas / family obligation after work
25th – celebrating Christmas with the wife
25 – going to a Christmas celebration

….I despise this time of year. Seriously…4 MF Christmas get togethers? reeruned.
Bring on the new year already.

You might meet cool people and drink from an open bar and eat free food!

[Dayze]

Originally Posted by Bearcat

You might meet cool people and drink from an open bar and eat free food!

the first two parties; nope. in fact, the first one no alcohol.
plus, both are work related and 8 hours of them is enough for me. no desire to socialize with them after work.

the 23rd and 24th engagements irritate me because the people attending/throwing them etc all have the week off of work. I'll be the only MF there who has to work the day of, and next day etc.

I really hate this time of year. I wish I could spend it in cancun on the beach away from all the Chrstmas sh*t, family drama etc.

[Demonpenz]

if there is a function where I don't want to go too, I ususally don't, I always end up saying something I am not supposed to, or I end up being a jerk for being tired and annoyed. Skip it life is too short.

[stevieray]

Originally Posted by Demonpenz

if there is a function where I don't want to go too, I ususally don't, I always end up saying something I am not supposed to, or I end up being a jerk for being tired and annoyed. Skip it life is too short.

....tooche'

[Dayze]

Originally Posted by Demonpenz

if there is a function where I don't want to go too, I ususally don't, I always end up saying something I am not supposed to, or I end up being a jerk for being tired and annoyed. Skip it life is too short.

i'm constantly balancing this; saying 'no' to these thigns, or dealing with the family fallout for the next 6 months.

family drama - it's what Christmas is made of!

[Demonpenz]

although I do have to say this. We had our thanksgiving at Ryans buffet, which was you know not for the wealthy. So I get there and it is a mad house of children and wal mart class people (myself included) i was really pissed and annoyed had to wait in line forever then wait in the buffet line forever everyone was crammed grossly, I was almost ready to leave and say **** it, but i'll be damned if I didn't try some of their fried chicken and gravy and and it wasn't pretty damn good

[Demonpenz]

Originally Posted by Dayze

i'm constantly balancing this; saying 'no' to these thigns, or dealing with the family fallout for the next 6 months.

family drama - it's what Christmas is made of!

I would talk to them about what makes you happy and try to balance it. If your family gives a shit if you are happy they wouldn't want you stressed out.

[Dayze]

I call Ryan's "The Trough" (i think that's how you spell it); we went there a few months back for the first time in nearly a decade and WOW....there were some seriously obese people there.

...food was good though.

[Dayze]

Originally Posted by Demonpenz

I would talk to them about what makes you happy and try to balance it. If your family gives a shit if you are happy they wouldn't want you stressed out.

it's not on my side of the family *nudge nudge wink wink*.
...that's the problem. It's an unwinable battle. Like the battle of the Chiefs finding a franchise QB

[Bearcat]

Originally Posted by Dayze

the first two parties; nope. in fact, the first one no alcohol.
plus, both are work related and 8 hours of them is enough for me. no desire to socialize with them after work.

the 23rd and 24th engagements irritate me because the people attending/throwing them etc all have the week off of work. I'll be the only MF there who has to work the day of, and next day etc.

I really hate this time of year. I wish I could spend it in cancun on the beach away from all the Chrstmas sh*t, family drama etc.

Eh, wasn't trying to be a dick, it was just the first thing that came to mind after reading some of the other posts on this thread. Like others said, it would be much easier to deal with if other people just calmed the f*** down and would do what they want, and enjoy the parties and get-togethers, instead of using guilt to bring people together and worry about who's getting what for whom, etc.

Fortunately, my family is pretty laid back, and even if I do get a guilt trip, I just don't care. As for work, I travel so much and telecommute, so it's actually nice to go and catch up... but it's in Omaha, so it's 50/50 at the moment.