UnO's Winter Holiday rant 2014 edition.

[Rusty Edge]

Ironically, as we went in, there was still some of the big TV's and other 'hot' items from the morning sales.  News this morning confirms it wasn't such a great year for the retailers.  Guess more people don't bother with this whole Thursday afternoon bullcrap.

If my wife is any indication...  She is mad that we can't have the family together on Thanksgiving dinner ( as in evening ) anymore because her god daughter works in retail. So she boycotted the stores that were open on Thanksgiving, and canceled her annual black friday expedition, which means that without her paying for gas, lunch, etc, fewer of the family went shopping. 

What's next? Christmas Day sales?

[Buster's Uncle]

Greed being someone's undoing?  The mind boggles.

[Geo]

Please don't take over the good ol' European retail standards! They're already on the run from us!

[Unorthodox]

Ironically, as we went in, there was still some of the big TV's and other 'hot' items from the morning sales.  News this morning confirms it wasn't such a great year for the retailers.  Guess more people don't bother with this whole Thursday afternoon bullcrap.

If my wife is any indication...  She is mad that we can't have the family together on Thanksgiving dinner ( as in evening ) anymore because her god daughter works in retail. So she boycotted the stores that were open on Thanksgiving, and canceled her annual black friday expedition, which means that without her paying for gas, lunch, etc, fewer of the family went shopping. 

What's next? Christmas Day sales?

We boycotted all the Thursday openings as well.  While we DID go out on Black Friday morning, it was to a couple local mom and pops one opening at 7AM and another opening at 9AM.  We ate breakfast in between at a local bakery.  Awesome morning. 

The 9AM opening had quite a crowd out front for it's opening, even.  But there was no pushing, shoving, or people trying to race from the parking lot to the doors as soon as they opened like I've witnessed at the big box stores. 

Haven't decided if it is just due to the fact that the population that shops at this extremely rural sporting good/military surplus/farm supply store is just naturally more polite, or if the fact the crowd was mostly comprised of dudes in camo and beards likely there shopping for guns and/or ammo just naturally makes people rethink their manners. 

[Rusty Edge]

Probably both.

[Unorthodox]

probably best describes my feelings of the season.


Mind, I'm at least sensitive enough NOT to leave Fred in the traditional outstretched arm scarecrow pose for the holiday...

That would probably get me on the news.

Though, a figure of a dead guy on a cross bound and gagged by christmas lights and a garland could be taken as a down with commercialization message too.

[Buster's Uncle]

That wouldn't be a bad message at all -that Christmas is choking Baby Jesus- pity it would rile people so.

[Rusty Edge]

That wouldn't be a bad message at all -that Christmas is choking Baby Jesus- pity it would rile people so.

Exactly!

Could we get away with a dead turkey hanging by it's neck from a string of lights on a Christmas tree? And another almost buried beneath a pile of presents? Or trampled in front of a Big Box store?

Somehow I'd like to see the images go viral.... with a unifying slogan.

"Enough Already"?
"Save Thanksgiving"?

I don't know.

[Buster's Uncle]

Get the X out of Christmas?

[Buster's Uncle]

Remember when we weren't a nation of retards?

[Unorthodox]

[Unorthodox]

Yay, tree's up.  Words fail to express how much I hate doing the tree. 

Got a great shot of the girls being silly. 



Neighborhood party last night, try to steal our Halloween mojo and turn it to a crappy holiday, the neighbors around the street do a gathering and fundraiser in lieux of neighbor gifts ever since I started the pumpkin carve.  Might have to help them next year...they clearly need some. 

[Geo]

Got a great shot of the girls being silly. 

I thought you only had one daughter?

[Rusty Edge]

This works!

[Unorthodox]

Heading into a week of C activities. 

Office party on Thursday being the high/lowlight...

I have NEVER been to an after hours office party.  "It's good to socialize" hEt says, I don't buy it.  Hoping to just make it through.

Shopping has been so low key this year, it's both nice and a little sad.  Kids growing up sad. 

The big Kitchen Konfection Kalamaty is coming this week as well.  Heading out for ingredient shopping this evening, most likely.  Still working out what all I really want to make.  I'm pretty much done with the sugar cookies, myself, but we might do a small batch just for those that really want it. 

Toffee, maybe some brittle, and my mix are likely candidates to focus on.  Don't know that I have the traditional experiment in me this year, though.  Skipped the mix last year as it's on the pricier side of things.  Heard all about how awful I was for skipping it for half the year as well. 

FREAKISHLY warm and dry so far this fall, heading into winter.  Not boding well for the drought situation.