Unles I am mistaken, Actionlynx...didn't they *used to* wait until closer to Thanksgiving to start pushing the Christmas stuff?
Certainly not the day after Halloween..

Since I have been an adult..the day after Thanksgivng has always been Buy Nothing Day.
That's the one day I absolutely would not go to the mall/ stores.

Ever since they had the "Half-Price Fair" there in Nashville back in 1979...
I was interested in a stereo..and found one I liked..
I knew the Half-Price" thing was coming up, and that store would be there...so i figured I'd wait, and get it then..

So.i got there, and the thing I wanted *wasn't* "half-price" of what i saw in the store.
It was actually a few dollars *more*..
So..I passed on that...but asked the guy when i was back at that store a few weeks later.
He said they jack things up to full retail, *then* cut them in half for that sale..
I have seen this same thing elsewhere over the years..

Better deals can be found other times of the year..

P.S... Actionlynx....
This time of year where Calista is they would be celebrating Hari Raya Haji..
And then Christmas...

I can identify with this too.

Especially the way that advertising designers all seem to live such magical lives, that no one they know is ever poor, ever had to cope with betrayal, and especially, never EVER had to live on an income below six figures.

Empty Nest Syndrome

Most of my life I have spent in the company of others.
The holidays were always filled with someone else.
The rest of the year was always filled with someone else.

Then, I got disabled and sick.
People started to become scarce.
I interacted with fewer and fewer people until I was alone constantly.
The holidays were awful alone. Everyday was awful alone. I was used to the hustle and bustle associated with this time of year.

Depression became focused by the loneliness and was greatly increased during the holidays as I pined for the past.
Then as time ticked by, that loneliness subsided and every day was just another day. The holidays didn't bother me so much anymore.

Recently, I have had a woman enter my life that makes me feel less alone everyday. I now look forward to being in her company.
I am looking forward to the holidays much like I did before my nest emptied.

This holiday season is bright and cheerful for me this year because I have someone to share it with. I look forward to the new experiences coming that we will share together. Depression is the last thing I will be feeding this year.

There are many people that get depressed this time of year because they are in empty nest syndrome.
There are many people that will be depressed this time of year because they expect no new experiences with anyone. Just bored with it all.

If you have absolutely nobody to share the holidays with, I can only offer the peace of treating these days as just another day. It will pass, it always does.

But, if you do have somebody to share the holidays with and are only bored with it all, take a moment to change it to something new and experience it all again from a different perspective. Not just for the holidays, but everyday. If you're busy breaking old habits and planning new activities, you don't have time to feed your depression.

Also...if you know someone that has no one, is alone, and sad....do NOT write them an e-mail on Christmas Day and say "Having a great time here with my family....great food, really enjoy seeing them..."

That is cruel, and insensitve as h*ll...

If you can't include someone who is alone, lonely, and sad in your activites..then don't tell them how much fun you are having.

Call them or write them...asking if they are OK..check on them, yes...
But don't rub in their face how alone they are while you humblebrag about what a great time you are having.

That's a great point!

Tom4Uhere...

I am reminded of *this* vintage commercial...LOL


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yulxnzAsWEM