What are you doing today?

Alli said:
Bloody cold here this morning. I might have to put on a jacket when I go out. Out will entail a visit to the cardiologist for a PETscan and an echocardiogram. Let’s hope I do better on those than I did on the calcium score which led to the order of today’s tests.
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Best of luck with it, and I hope that all goes well for you.
 
yaxomoxay said:
Being a father or a mother doesn’t make someone a better person by default. It requires lots of effort, and many mistakes are being made on the parenthood journey.

However, one strong evidence of having done a decent job is the length and strength of the first hug of a returning son. The whole weekend has been a strong moving experience.

May you all have a blessed, wonderful, loving, and happy Christmas and here’s to a better 2022. The world and its viruses might present challenges, but ultimately what matters is within us. Beauty and love still surround us, we just need to keep our eyes open.

A big hug to all of you.
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Only if your child ever returns. You can keep Christmas. It doesn’t exist in the AFB household anymore.
 
Alli said:
Bloody cold here this morning. I might have to put on a jacket when I go out. Out will entail a visit to the cardiologist for a PETscan and an echocardiogram. Let’s hope I do better on those than I did on the calcium score which led to the order of today’s tests.
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Fingers crossed for you.
 
Scepticalscribe said:
And now it appears that I will not receive my delivery of coffee until tomorrow.

That doesn't bother me, but I would prefer if companies set out realistic timetables from the outset, - and met those deadlines - rather than setting delusional, fantastic, and - frankly - unrealistic and over-optimistic timetables which they haven't a hope of meeting.
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As long as you have enough coffee for the morning. Deliveries are a nightmare this time of year.
 
Apple fanboy said:
As long as you have enough coffee for the morning. Deliveries are a nightmare this time of year.
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Oh, in truth, I have more than enough coffee for - at least - the next week or so, possibly a bit longer.

However, I have learned from experience that "normal" deliveries don't usually fully resume until the second week of January, and running out between Christmas and the New Year, or early in the New Year, would be unfortunate.

And - candidly - I now that deliveries are a nightmare at this time of year.

What I don't get (or understand) is why this cannot be admitted and acknowledged when orders are placed initially.

When - for example - I initially placed my order for coffee -I would have no problem if they said thta delivery wouldn't be until Tuesday or Wednesday; it is a busy time of year - I know that, get that, understand that, and smpathise with that.

Set a realistic and credible deadline from the outset, instead of seeking refuge in a sort of insane and delusional optimism, promising the earth, and (inevitably) falling far short.
 
Scepticalscribe said:
Oh, in truth, I have more than enough coffee for - at least - the next week or so, possibly a bit longer.

However, I have learned from experience that "normal" deliveries don't usually fully resume until the second week of January, and running out between Christmas and the New Year, or early in the New Year, would be unfortunate.

And - candidly - I now that deliveries are a nightmare at this time of year.

What I don't get (or understand) is why this cannot be admitted and acknowledged when orders are placed initially.

When - for example - I initially placed my order for coffee -I would have no problem if they said thta delivery wouldn't be until Tuesday or Wednesday; it is a busy time of year - I know that, get that, understand that, and smpathise with that.

Set a realistic and credible deadline from the outset, instead of seeking refuge in a sort of insane and delusional optimism, promising the earth, and (inevitably) falling far short.
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I think it’s very hard to work out when things will or won’t be delivered right now. For example we have a daily collection from UPS. 50-200 parcels a day Monday to Friday. 4-5 this year they haven’t turned up. It’s shocking.
 
Apple fanboy said:
Only if your child ever returns. You can keep Christmas. It doesn’t exist in the AFB household anymore.
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I still keep you in my thoughts.

For what it’s worth - certainly not much - you sharing the tragedy you had to endure made me - and still makes me - to focus on appreciating the people and things I have in my life. Your story is a stark reminder that not only things might suddenly change, but they will inevitably do so one way or another.

There is absolutely nothing that I can say or do to make things better for you and your wife, just know that even if we are two anonymous people on a forum, the fact that you shared your story - which hit me very much for some reason I can’t truly explain - has been important in my own formation and even happiness (in the sense of eudaimonia), which reflects in the rest of the family.

Please forgive me if I step into something too personal and inappropriate with this statement - and if you believe so, let me know and I will immediately delete it as no offense is meant - but I hope that by being a better father myself after reading about your daughter, I will somehow indirectly and imperfectly honor her, you, and your wife.

I still wish you have the best time you can have given the circumstances.
 
Apple fanboy said:
Only if your child ever returns. You can keep Christmas. It doesn’t exist in the AFB household anymore.
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If you could figure out how to sell that to the masses, you would be richer than Musk and Bezos combined. :)

It's not that I hate Christmas, it is that I hate my wife's family's version of it. For them it is all about the number of presents. :(

Growing up as an only child, I usually got one big gift and then a few smaller gifts. But the big one was what I looked forward to. Then I got married and the sheer number of gifts the wife bought for her family was staggering. Not even about the cost, but the number. She explained that everyone likes opening gifts so the more the better. She has come around to my way. :)

What really pissed me off was I wasn't allowed to buy my daughter what I wanted to give her because it might upset others in the family. So those gifts had to be given after Christmas. :( And it was ever apparent 2 years ago when she asked for an iPad Pro for Christmas for college. So I bought her one and the comments from my M-I-L were childish to say the least. She is going to absolutely 💩 this year when my daughter opens that new M1 iMac.

One year, my nephew who was mid-teens at the time asked for one thing. A certain pair of boots that were popular. Didn't ask for anything else. Was his wish granted? Nope. His mom bought him knock=-offs and a bunch of other stuff he didn't want. The look on his face was pure sadness when he opened them up and realized they were knock-offs. My B-I-L (not his dad) and I chipped in and bought him the ones he wanted. I know it sounds like a little thing, but he was kind of awkward and fitting in was hard for him and he just wanted that one thing and his mom just had to do "more", which turned out to be less.

Then a couple of years ago, I convinced my wife to go on a cruise over Christmas. I had done this about every other year growing up and it was great. The M-I-L wasn't happy, but I didn't care after 26 years of doing what she wanted. So to mess up our plans, she fell and fractured a vertebra the Sunday after Thanksgiving forcing us to cancel our trip. Then COVID cancelled last year.

So yeah, if I could skip Christmas, I would.
 
yaxomoxay said:
I still keep you in my thoughts.

For what it’s worth - certainly not much - you sharing the tragedy you had to endure made me - and still makes me - to focus on appreciating the people and things I have in my life. Your story is a stark reminder that not only things might suddenly change, but they will inevitably do so one way or another.

There is absolutely nothing that I can say or do to make things better for you and your wife, just know that even if we are two anonymous people on a forum, the fact that you shared your story - which hit me very much for some reason I can’t truly explain - has been important in my own formation and even happiness (in the sense of eudaimonia), which reflects in the rest of the family.

Please forgive me if I step into something too personal and inappropriate with this statement - and if you believe so, let me know and I will immediately delete it as no offense is meant - but I hope that by being a better father myself after reading about your daughter, I will somehow indirectly and imperfectly honor her, you, and your wife.

I still wish you have the best time you can have given the circumstances.
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No offence taken. Enjoy your family when you can. You never know when that opportunity will be gone.
 
Herdfan said:
If you could figure out how to sell that to the masses, you would be richer than Musk and Bezos combined. :)

It's not that I hate Christmas, it is that I hate my wife's family's version of it. For them it is all about the number of presents. :(

Growing up as an only child, I usually got one big gift and then a few smaller gifts. But the big one was what I looked forward to. Then I got married and the sheer number of gifts the wife bought for her family was staggering. Not even about the cost, but the number. She explained that everyone likes opening gifts so the more the better. She has come around to my way. :)

What really pissed me off was I wasn't allowed to buy my daughter what I wanted to give her because it might upset others in the family. So those gifts had to be given after Christmas. :( And it was ever apparent 2 years ago when she asked for an iPad Pro for Christmas for college. So I bought her one and the comments from my M-I-L were childish to say the least. She is going to absolutely 💩 this year when my daughter opens that new M1 iMac.

One year, my nephew who was mid-teens at the time asked for one thing. A certain pair of boots that were popular. Didn't ask for anything else. Was his wish granted? Nope. His mom bought him knock=-offs and a bunch of other stuff he didn't want. The look on his face was pure sadness when he opened them up and realized they were knock-offs. My B-I-L (not his dad) and I chipped in and bought him the ones he wanted. I know it sounds like a little thing, but he was kind of awkward and fitting in was hard for him and he just wanted that one thing and his mom just had to do "more", which turned out to be less.

Then a couple of years ago, I convinced my wife to go on a cruise over Christmas. I had done this about every other year growing up and it was great. The M-I-L wasn't happy, but I didn't care after 26 years of doing what she wanted. So to mess up our plans, she fell and fractured a vertebra the Sunday after Thanksgiving forcing us to cancel our trip. Then COVID cancelled last year.

So yeah, if I could skip Christmas, I would.
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I actually hate Christmas more and more each year. The freedom to not participate in all the politics and crap is great. But for the most part I just can't wait until January. Get the anniversary out of the way and we are all good until Mothers Day.
 
Herdfan said:
If you could figure out how to sell that to the masses, you would be richer than Musk and Bezos combined. :)

It's not that I hate Christmas, it is that I hate my wife's family's version of it. For them it is all about the number of presents. :(

Growing up as an only child, I usually got one big gift and then a few smaller gifts. But the big one was what I looked forward to. Then I got married and the sheer number of gifts the wife bought for her family was staggering. Not even about the cost, but the number. She explained that everyone likes opening gifts so the more the better. She has come around to my way. :)

What really pissed me off was I wasn't allowed to buy my daughter what I wanted to give her because it might upset others in the family. So those gifts had to be given after Christmas. :( And it was ever apparent 2 years ago when she asked for an iPad Pro for Christmas for college. So I bought her one and the comments from my M-I-L were childish to say the least. She is going to absolutely 💩 this year when my daughter opens that new M1 iMac.

One year, my nephew who was mid-teens at the time asked for one thing. A certain pair of boots that were popular. Didn't ask for anything else. Was his wish granted? Nope. His mom bought him knock=-offs and a bunch of other stuff he didn't want. The look on his face was pure sadness when he opened them up and realized they were knock-offs. My B-I-L (not his dad) and I chipped in and bought him the ones he wanted. I know it sounds like a little thing, but he was kind of awkward and fitting in was hard for him and he just wanted that one thing and his mom just had to do "more", which turned out to be less.

Then a couple of years ago, I convinced my wife to go on a cruise over Christmas. I had done this about every other year growing up and it was great. The M-I-L wasn't happy, but I didn't care after 26 years of doing what she wanted. So to mess up our plans, she fell and fractured a vertebra the Sunday after Thanksgiving forcing us to cancel our trip. Then COVID cancelled last year.

So yeah, if I could skip Christmas, I would.
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Ah, now that’s an interesting testimony!

As for me, I tend to be Bah Humbug, but in the last few years I’ve decided to be more in the so-called Christmas spirit (minus the presents craze which makes lots of people everything but Christmas-like). At the end of the day, I gotta appreciate what I have, what people want or do doesn’t truly concerns me, and I also try to focus on the religious aspect of the festivities. Advent season has been a wonderful introspective experience this year, for example. I guess that Covid also helped putting things in perspective; next year normalcy could be completely gone by the invasion of the killer grasshoppers or something, so I better do what I can to see the good things I do have without bitching too much.

Said that, I stay as far away as possible from malls.
 
yaxomoxay said:
Being a father or a mother doesn’t make someone a better person by default. It requires lots of effort, and many mistakes are being made on the parenthood journey.

However, one strong evidence of having done a decent job is the length and strength of the first hug of a returning son. The whole weekend has been a strong moving experience.

May you all have a blessed, wonderful, loving, and happy Christmas and here’s to a better 2022. The world and its viruses might present challenges, but ultimately what matters is within us. Beauty and love still surround us, we just need to keep our eyes open.

A big hug to all of you.
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That sounds as though you had a wonderful week-end, and relationships with your children (or parents) when you yourself are an adult can be wonderfully rewarding.

I will say that while childhood was one thing (and yes, as Decent Brother said, looking back on it, our childhoood was close to idyllic in many ways), as adults, we enjoyed a really quite lovely relationship with our parents.

For, by then, they were friends as well as family, and I know that they also hugely enjoyed - savoured, relished - this feature of our relationship, and, now that they are no longer with us, this is one of the things that I miss most (even if I do remember it very warmly).
Apple fanboy said:
Only if your child ever returns. You can keep Christmas. It doesn’t exist in the AFB household anymore.
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My sympathies; that must be the sort of pain that never fully goes away.

Apple fanboy said:
No offence taken. Enjoy your family when you can. You never know when that opportunity will be gone.
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Absolutely.

I could not agree more; enjoy family while you can.
 
Apple fanboy said:
I actually hate Christmas more and more each year. The freedom to not participate in all the politics and crap is great. But for the most part I just can't wait until January. Get the anniversary out of the way and we are all good until Mothers Day.
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Well, I was never much of a fan of Christmas myself, and I loathe winter.

But, now that my parents are no longer with us, and Covid has kept my brother away (for the second year running), I realise that I miss them, and would love to have them with me.
 
With Christmas coming closer I miss my mother, brother, uncle and aunt living abroad more and more.

Other than that I’m off work after tomorrow for the rest of the week which is good, and only two days to work next week as well. A hopefully good ending to this rather “meh” year.

At least I can watch some sci-fi and enjoy my coffee these days, what else would I need? [emoji3]
 
I don't really dislike or hate Christmas; at this time in my life I'm just sort of indifferent to it. Definitely the whole pandemic thing has played a role in adding to this, but even before that in later years I was not someone who plunged whole-heartedly into the Christmas hoopla anyway, especially after significant deaths which changed everything for me. I agree that Christmas really is magical and special for children, those who are part of families who celebrate this holiday, or it should be (realistically, though, that just isn't always the case, and can't be for various reasons, and that is sad). Time goes on, circumstances change, society itself changes, and so as adults many people develop a different perspective. The over-commercialization now of Christmas is just truly OTT.....
 
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