What’s on your mind?

[Chuckeee]

One of my early memories (I must have been 5 or so) was being unhappy and crying since we didn’t have a Christmas tree, since we were Jewish. My father went out and got a small tree someplace and told me we have something better. He somehow pushed it into the fireplace and then he set it on fire. “We have burning bushes”

That was the last time I asked for Christmas decorations as a child

 

[Apple fanboy]

One of my early memories (I must have been 5 or so) was being unhappy and crying since we didn’t have a Christmas tree, since we were Jewish. My father went out and got a small tree someplace and told me we have something better. He somehow pushed it into the fireplace and then he set it on fire. “We have burning bushes”

That was the last time I asked for Christmas decorations as a child

Didn’t the Christmas Armadillo come visit though?

 

[Crowbot]

One of my early memories (I must have been 5 or so) was being unhappy and crying since we didn’t have a Christmas tree, since we were Jewish. My father went out and got a small tree someplace and told me we have something better. He somehow pushed it into the fireplace and then he set it on fire. “We have burning bushes”

That was the last time I asked for Christmas decorations as a child

My family wasn't very religious (Jewish) but we had the Hanukia (Menorah) and got gifts every day for eight days. And the chocolate money. I watched Christmas from outside.

 

[Clix Pix]

In November?

Isn't that a little, ah, premature, a little early, for Christmas decorations?

Now, I'm not much of a fan of Christmas (or, any sort of a fan of the Yuletide Season), but, I can understand why the season is celebrated between 8th December (which was when decorations went up chez nous, and coincided with the traditional commencement of the Christmas Season, the Feast of the Immaculate Conception in the old Catholic annual church calendar) and 6th January (the Feast of the Epiphany), which is also Orthodox Christmas, and is celebrated as the main day of the Christmas holiday, in some western societies, such as Spain.

Thus, between 8th December, and 6th January, I can accept that this is an appropriate time during which to acknowledge, and celebrate, Christmas.

However, outside of those dates, no thank you.

I agree with SS: November, especially when Thanksgiving is earlier than usual, IMHO is just too darned soon to be putting up Christmas decorations and turning on Christmas lights, etc. Some homeowners' associations in the US have specific rules and regulations about this and require that people not turn on their outdoor Christmas lights until a certain date and then after New Year's, fairly soon after that, the lights must be turned off and/or taken down.

As for putting up Christmas trees inside the house presumably those who are doing that so early and keeping them up way past New Yea's are using artificial trees rather than real ones, as real trees wouldn't do well being kept indoors for a month or longer. There'd be dropped needles everywhere, and of course the drier the tree, the greater the fire hazard.....

It seems to me that having decorations up for so long takes away the specialness of them and after a while they just become another element in the everyday view of one's home. I would think people would eventually get really tired of them, too.

 

[rm5]

It seems to me that having decorations up for so long takes away the specialness of them and after a while they just become another element in the everyday view of one's home. I would think people would eventually get really tired of them, too.

We haven't had a Christmas tree in... 10 years? Maybe more? And we've never decorated our house. But I agree, and I really don't understand those people who leave their decorations up for a really long time and/or put them up too early.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

We haven't had a Christmas tree in... 10 years? Maybe more? And we've never decorated our house. But I agree, and I really don't understand those people who leave their decorations up for a really long time and/or put them up too early.

I think that Christmas traditions are brilliant for (small) kids, and work well with the idea of large (and hopefully, congenial) family gatherings.

However, this narrative - clearly - does not fit, or suit, or describe, - everyone.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Bins out, (electric) blanket on, bed beckoning, but book is offering seductive temptation.

 

[Clix Pix]

Every night when I go to bed I spend some time reading before finally turning off the lights and actually settling down to sleep. Been doing this for years. Now that I am retired and don't usually have to get up early most days, if I am really into a book and just can't stop reading it until I finish it, regardless of the hour, I can indulge in that. It's a nice luxury!

 

[Mylodon]

To be honest, when the children grow up, the motivation for Christmas decorations diminishes.

 

[Apple fanboy]

To be honest, when the children grow up, the motivation for Christmas decorations diminishes.

When you lose your child at Christmas you never celebrate it again.

Enjoy the time you have with your children when they are young. It won’t last forever.

 

[rm5]

To be honest, when the children grow up, the motivation for Christmas decorations diminishes.

Just like anything else in my opinion. Kids eventually stop liking being sung lullabies (or you could be like me, who hated lullabies as a small kid). So it seems obvious to me that by the time they grow up, they stop enjoying (or being so excited about) Christmas.

 

[rm5]

Found (well I rediscovered) an archive drive with about 1 TB worth of music and another terabyte of videos, apparently as recently as 2022. I've been going through it inch by inch (really file by file) all night. This is clearly a multi-day project though, I'm going to have to stop for the night pretty soon...

Also, I'm a bit nervous for my appointment with a certain healthcare specialist tomorrow. Likely nothing bad, they just wanted a closer look at this part of my body. Deep breaths and some form of distraction should (hopefully) work. At least I have a gig to look forward to tomorrow night.

 

[The-Real-Deal82]

I agree with SS: November, especially when Thanksgiving is earlier than usual, IMHO is just too darned soon to be putting up Christmas decorations and turning on Christmas lights, etc. Some homeowners' associations in the US have specific rules and regulations about this and require that people not turn on their outdoor Christmas lights until a certain date and then after New Year's, fairly soon after that, the lights must be turned off and/or taken down.

As for putting up Christmas trees inside the house presumably those who are doing that so early and keeping them up way past New Yea's are using artificial trees rather than real ones, as real trees wouldn't do well being kept indoors for a month or longer. There'd be dropped needles everywhere, and of course the drier the tree, the greater the fire hazard.....

It seems to me that having decorations up for so long takes away the specialness of them and after a while they just become another element in the everyday view of one's home. I would think people would eventually get really tired of them, too.

Definitely artificial trees for us. I don't like the mess of a real tree and not willing to bring such an immense fire risk into my home in regards to a real tree. A lot of people don't realise just how flammable a real tree is, especially as it dries out in your home and is wrapped in lights. Our trees haven't been turned on yet, just put up for reasons already explained. I certainly get tired of the decorations and so does my wife. Some years they are taken down a few days after Christmas, preferably before New Year.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Found (well I rediscovered) an archive drive with about 1 TB worth of music and another terabyte of videos, apparently as recently as 2022. I've been going through it inch by inch (really file by file) all night. This is clearly a multi-day project though, I'm going to have to stop for the night pretty soon...

That sounds fascinating.

Also, I'm a bit nervous for my appointment with a certain healthcare specialist tomorrow. Likely nothing bad, they just wanted a closer look at this part of my body. Deep breaths and some form of distraction should (hopefully) work.

Best of luck with your medical appointment.

At least I have a gig to look forward to tomorrow night.

Enjoy.

 

[Kung]

To be honest, when the children grow up, the motivation for Christmas decorations diminishes.

My wife says your argument is invalid. LOL

 

[Scepticalscribe]

To be honest, when the children grow up, the motivation for Christmas decorations diminishes.

That has been my experience, as well.

 

[rm5]

That sounds fascinating.

Yep. Videos aren't necessarily "home movies," because I hated doing those as a kid--more stuff I did for other people - client projects. And some of my own published videos, back when I had a YouTube channel. Music on that drive is a variety of stuff, including digitizations of vinyls, and some of my own stuff. Also some spoken stuff, including a recording I did in 2021 of me reading an entire contract negotiation document (weird, I know).

All the OLD stuff is actually still on CD. Transferring all that will be a project for some other time. I have six spindles (four full-height and two half-height) of CDs I need to rip, but that'll happen later.

Best of luck with your medical appointment.

Thanks. Ended up being nothing to worry about, so there we go.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

All the OLD stuff is actually still on CD. Transferring all that will be a project for some other time. I have six spindles (four full-height and two half-height) of CDs I need to rip, but that'll happen later.

I'm Old School, thus, still a very enthusiastic fan of CDs.

Thanks. Ended up being nothing to worry about, so there we go.

Delighted to learn that things went well for you.

 

[Apple fanboy]

The last remaining 6% of gas and whether the stars will align tomorrow and we get our new gas tanks as well as having them filled.
Just in time for a cold snap coming in.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

The last remaining 6% of gas and whether the stars will align tomorrow and we get our new gas tanks as well as having them filled.
Just in time for a cold snap coming in.

Ouch.

The very best of luck with it.

 

[Apple fanboy]

Ouch.

The very best of luck with it.

We have some electric heaters if push comes to shove, but no way to heat water other than a kettle if we run out. Hopefully it all comes together tomorrow.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

We have some electric heaters if push comes to shove, but no way to heat water other than a kettle if we run out. Hopefully it all comes together tomorrow.

Fingers crossed and wood tapped, for you.

This is a week-end when you will want hot water.

 

[DaveFromCampbelltown]

I know this probably belongs under Films, but I would like to congratulate Godzilla.

Godzilla has now been making films for the past 70 years, is up to #38, and must be one of the more productive actors out there. Zatoichi, for example, is only up to #25.

 

[Chuckeee]

I know this probably belongs under Films, but I would like to congratulate Godzilla.

Godzilla has now been making films for the past 70 years, is up to #38, and must be one of the more productive actors out there. Zatoichi, for example, is only up to #25.

And has he been nominated for a single Oscar yet? How about a lifetime achievement award?

 

[yaxomoxay]

Mr. Henry Kissinger has died. As many here might know, I’ve studied him for many years.

Love him, hate him, he has been a very interesting person to study throughout the years, and I am sure that I will keep reading about him.