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I rest my case!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
You can rest your case after shopping, cooking, sending Christmas cards, throwing parties, driving drunks and getting your husband something really cool like Assos winter gear (oops that what I want). :D




The reason that I don't have to participate in the shopping is my side of the family no longer gets gifts for each other. We decided it was too stressful and too expensive as the family expanded. My wife shops because her side of the family still insists on giving each person a gift, which my wife wishes they would do like my side.

My favorite Christmas movie is ELF. It's a silly movie, but I still like it.


I actaully like X-Mas.
Over here we go on holiday for the best part of two weeks.
Plenty of time for getting a spin in.Do you travel or just enjoy your time at home?

I take one week off and have to travel some so I don't get much cycling in that week.

Uh-oh. That just reminded me of something I hate even more than traditional X-mas music: rock bands that do X-mas covers. I guess the temptation is too great. They know the song will get guaranteed radio time (and money) every December for years to come.

It's bad enough when some radio stations switch to an all X-mas music format during December, but when you are listening to your normal radio stations and suddenly you have to deal with a band of sellouts singing about reindeer with red noses, it is almost too much to take.
Especially by Bruce Springsteen...Santa Claus Is Comin' To Town...vomit

Do you travel or just enjoy your time at home?

I take one week off and have to travel some so I don't get much cycling in that week.


We spend Christmas Day at our home.
Then we travel to both sets of inlaws : we go to Dublin for 26th and then I've to go to the wifes clan.

And you?

We spend Christmas Day at our home.
Then we travel to both sets of inlaws : we go to Dublin for 26th and then I've to go to the wifes clan.

And you?
This year we spend Christmas day with my inlaws and the following weekend we travel to Kentucky to spend my family. I know my brother in law will want to ride at least once while I am in Kentucky. Last year was great as he bought and rebuilt a bike off of ebay for one of my nephews and the 3 of us went for a short ride. Now we have one more in the family involved in cycling.

And as for X-Mas, I do enjoy it : the St.Stephens Day (26th Dec) spin with my old clubmates is always good fun.
50 mile spin - then it's off to the pub for a few swift ones and to slag each other off.How could an Irishman not like a drinking holiday? Especially if NNS and her kin are doing all the work.

Which bodes a couple of other questions to members. Anyone here cycled drunk or hungover?? I have done both, and I have to say that it is easier to drive a car innebriated (um.....so I've been told) than to drive a bicycle after seven beers. You know you're in strife when you are doing the paper run on the flat road or your front wheel is looping around like Cadel's does in the Alps.

I once made a mistake of taking a cruise during X-mas. There was X-mas music played in hallways and other public areas of the ship twenty-four hours a day for the whole week. I spent most of the time wishing we would hit an iceberg.OMG. That's enough torture to litigate. Any jury would have sided with you. You must have considered just staying off the boat at the first designated stop.

The worst thing about your story is that there must be people out there who love listening to these christmas songs endlessly. Are they the silent majority? Did they not enter a mall between Thanksgiving and the cruise? Is Bro Deal like 55 years old? Did he get lucky during the week? Did he go to the ship's gym every day? Is he an alcoholic? These questions need to be answered.

And NONE of you people got nothin' on me! You're MEN!!!! Most of you get to do a quickie shopping trip a day or two before Christmas...cry me a river! :rolleyes: Try being both Santa and Mrs. Claus responsible for 90% of gift giving, wrapping, decorating, tradition keeping, cooking, baking, sending Christmas cards, throwing parties, driving drunks home from parties, blah, blah, blah....And who says men have lost their status in this new-age of gender equality. Long live patriarchal rule and male domination!!!

Spoken from a non-prejudiced and sensitive male, who has considered both sides of the argument with deep thought.

Can you do my cards as well?

Uh-oh. That just reminded me of something I hate even more than traditional X-mas music: rock bands that do X-mas covers. I guess the temptation is too great. They know the song will get guaranteed radio time (and money) every December for years to come.

It's bad enough when some radio stations switch to an all X-mas music format during December, but when you are listening to your normal radio stations and suddenly you have to deal with a band of sellouts singing about reindeer with red noses, it is almost too much to take.
How can you not love this Bro??::D

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MbOh-dFE3N0

And NONE of you people got nothin' on me! You're MEN!!!! Most of you get to do a quickie shopping trip a day or two before Christmas...cry me a river! :rolleyes: Try being both Santa and Mrs. Claus responsible for 90% of gift giving, wrapping, decorating, tradition keeping, cooking, baking, sending Christmas cards, throwing parties, driving drunks home from parties, blah, blah, blah....So you're saying that women are the cause of the commercialism, crappy music, and gluttony that has become Christmas. Better tell Bro so he can quit blaming the 'churgoers', or maybe it's just women 'churchgoers' that are the problem.

How can you not love this Bro??::D

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MbOh-dFE3N0
Good God, how did you find that?! ROFL... that was like some kind of bizarre dream you have after drinking too much...

So you're saying that women are the cause of the commercialism, crappy music, and gluttony that has become Christmas. Better tell Bro so he can quit blaming the 'churgoers', or maybe it's just women 'churchgoers' that are the problem.
Riiiight...every time I say, you know, I'm not doing XYZ this year, a certain man that lives in my house says, whatdyamean we're not doing that? And I say, who's WE, sucka? :p

Aww, come on, guys, we do it all for the kids, the little ones and the big ones (as in husbands). Kids love commercialism, crappy music, and gluttony.

And as a friend of mine often says...if it weren't for Christmas...winter wouldn't be worth a shit...:D

And who says men have lost their status in this new-age of gender equality. Long live patriarchal rule and male domination!!!

Spoken from a non-prejudiced and sensitive male, who has considered both sides of the argument with deep thought.

Can you do my cards as well?
nah, I think I'm going on a Christmas card strike...people where I live think it's reasonable to send cards to people they see on a regular basis...leaving me with a list of over 80 people.

Maybe I should switch to the Christmas letter where I brag in the most sickening manner possible about my kids and trips I went on over the year (which may require some embellishment on my part), and then everyone will take me off their list! Yeah! I'm liking this plan.

AND I could bake some really awful cookies to give away, thereby relieving myself of that for the rest of my life....hmmmm, what else could I sabotage this year....

I am really on to something I think :cool: .

You can rest your case after shopping, cooking, sending Christmas cards, throwing parties, driving drunks and getting your husband something really cool like Assos winter gear (oops that what I want). :D

.
Yeah, well, I will be resting my case after I find the gift certificate to the spa in my stocking, if I have to be the one that puts it there!! And let this be a little holiday reminder to you guys...start thinking about giving your wife something awesome to pamper her this Christmas....you'll probably find it was well worth it ;) .

nah, I think I'm going on a Christmas card strike...people where I live think it's reasonable to send cards to people they see on a regular basis...leaving me with a list of over 80 people.

Maybe I should switch to the Christmas letter where I brag in the most sickening manner possible about my kids and trips I went on over the year (which may require some embellishment on my part), and then everyone will take me off their list! Yeah! I'm liking this plan.

AND I could bake some really awful cookies to give away, thereby relieving myself of that for the rest of my life....hmmmm, what else could I sabotage this year....

I am really on to something I think :cool: .Why don't you switch to email cards and letters. Its easy to send the same one to multiple recipients. And it actually allows you to reap the rewards of spending time on the computer.

I realize I have just done the usual male problem-solving routine, without considering that it isn't about the problem. So I understand that you are burdened with doing all the work and everyone else gives you no thanks and just enjoys themselves. I understand. It sucks.

OH and BTW.... nice thread tangent:)

Why don't you switch to email cards and letters. Its easy to send the same one to multiple recipients. And it actually allows you to reap the rewards of spending time on the computer.

I realize I have just done the usual male problem-solving routine, without considering that it isn't about the problem. So I understand that you are burdened with doing all the work and everyone else gives you no thanks and just enjoys themselves. I understand. It sucks.

OH and BTW.... nice thread tangent:)
Well, somehow you just did both...problem-solving (that was a very good idea) and understanding. :)

I am actually planning on a lower stress holiday season. My new resolution (why wait for New Year's?) is to attempt a lower stress life. At least for today, and hopefully the next day, and the next day, and the day after that. Which means only doing what I can reasonably do without going nuts, and asking for help with the rest. And if I don't get any help, I guess it won't get done. And the world will not actually crumble if it doesn't...(I think...so if the world does start to crumble, y'all, then you know it was all my fault :p )

And the world will not actually crumble if it doesn't...I have a sudden craving for apple crumble and ice-cream after reading this sentence.:rolleyes:

Yeah, well, I will be resting my case after I find the gift certificate to the spa in my stocking, if I have to be the one that puts it there!! And let this be a little holiday reminder to you guys...start thinking about giving your wife something awesome to pamper her this Christmas....you'll probably find it was well worth it ;) .
Believe me my non-creative brain has already started to churn, but I just don't know. Why? Her rules :)

When we first married these were the rules:
"Don't bother trying to buy me clothes since I am petite and hard to fit and please."
"Don't bother trying to buy me jewels because I am very picky."
....and there are other quotes.

This is a woman that spent a span of two years with me driving her to two other states and hundreds of furniture stores just to find the right dining room table. She has talked about getting another diamond ring for the last 5 years and hasn't found the right one yet.

For the last years it has been easier to just give her a thousand or two in cash to put into her "furniture" account. But I will still try to think of something new and creative anyway.

I make it easy on her for my gift. I usually order some bike gear online and when arrives she wraps it up. :)

I have a sudden craving for apple crumble and ice-cream after reading this sentence.:rolleyes:
Okay, now I want a cobbler...thanks a lot :p And tomorrow I am making THE most incredible tasting pecan pie bars in the known universe....way better than pecan pie. (And I wonder why people expect me to bake stuff :rolleyes: )

Believe me my non-creative brain has already started to churn, but I just don't know. Why? Her rules :)

When we first married these were the rules:
"Don't bother trying to buy me clothes since I am petite and hard to fit and please."
"Don't bother trying to buy me jewels because I am very picky."
....and there are other quotes.

This is a woman that spent a span of two years with me driving her to two other states and hundreds of furniture stores just to find the right dining room table. She has talked about getting another diamond ring for the last 5 years and hasn't found the right one yet.

For the last years it has been easier to just give her a thousand or two in cash to put into her "furniture" account. But I will still try to think of something new and creative anyway.

I make it easy on her for my gift. I usually order some bike gear online and when arrives she wraps it up. :)Agreed, women can make it frustrating. I understand. But I somehow don't think there is a woman alive who wouldn't like a massage...get her a gift certificate for something like that. It doesn't have to be her whole gift - if she's happy about the furniture account (and the right dining room table is quite important) then great. But something extra that would be a nice treat is always good - and how picky can someone be about receiving a service.

Believe me my non-creative brain has already started to churn, but I just don't know. Why? Her rules :)

When we first married these were the rules:
"Don't bother trying to buy me clothes since I am petite and hard to fit and please."
"Don't bother trying to buy me jewels because I am very picky."
....and there are other quotes.

This is a woman that spent a span of two years with me driving her to two other states and hundreds of furniture stores just to find the right dining room table. She has talked about getting another diamond ring for the last 5 years and hasn't found the right one yet.

For the last years it has been easier to just give her a thousand or two in cash to put into her "furniture" account. But I will still try to think of something new and creative anyway.

I make it easy on her for my gift. I usually order some bike gear online and when arrives she wraps it up. :)OK Felt...so your wife's a perfectionist. Why not follow NNS's suggestion and get her a gift voucher to a Day Spa? You can't go wrong I don't think. Its totally consumed in a day so it doesn't have to be perfect.