Can You Feel The Stress Out There? - Striper Talk Striped Bass Fishing, Surfcasting, Boating

BigFish · 12-11-2005, 10:52 PM

Christmas ain't what it used to be! Man.....do you feel all the stress out there when you are driving around or shopping???? Everyone is out for themselves.....there is no goodwill.....no fellowship....no please, thankyou or you go ahead first.....just push, shove, horn blowing, cutting and a cocophony of finger flipping!!!!! I must admit to loving the holidays, but only the part where I am at home with family and friends, trimming the tree and enjoying being with loved ones....you can keep the shopping to be sure....cause its a friggin' nightmare out there!!!

BigBo · 12-11-2005, 11:24 PM

I'm stressed.

Squid kids Dad · 12-12-2005, 12:52 AM

Havent been shopping yet, so I dont know...I am always stressed this time of year.....Bah humbug.Dont even have a tree yet

winchmaster · 12-12-2005, 01:48 AM

Could it be that money is so tight this year to so many people?
I know plenty of Mom's and Dad's that are feeling the financial pinch.
Perhaps the grinch has really stolen Christmas.
Though today Larry, my kids "helped" me put up my mom's tree and ornaments, we then went on an outdoor Christmas decoration drive-by. Nothing like kids to make you feel the spirit. My little two have been wearing thier Santa hats since Thanksgiving.

BigFish · 12-12-2005, 05:36 AM

Thats what I am talking about Winch....time with the family and making memories!

Backbeach Jake · 12-12-2005, 06:54 AM

To be honest, I could just skip the whole thing this year. I've never felt this humbuggy before. You can keep it all..

afterhours · 12-12-2005, 07:10 AM

i'm with you guys- i enjoy the family and friends aspect. they can keep the rest of it- ultra commercialization. it's His birthday not a retail sales holiday.

Raven · 12-12-2005, 09:44 AM

is always in short supply this time of year....

so i try to think of Christmas Cheer throughout the year

and will buy late christmas gifts for my family as i find them.

as far as all the competion of fighting the crowd to find gifts out there..
it just isnt worth it (i.m.h.o. )

Bigfish you have a christmas hug !

Swimmer · 12-12-2005, 11:52 AM

Hey you guys. Larry I hope people with the funk stay away from you, and Mike "what do ya mean you haven't done my shopping?"

Swimmer · 12-12-2005, 12:01 PM

THIS IS FOR ALL YOU STRESSED OUT DUDES AND DUDETTES.

DID YOUR FEET HIT THE FLOOR THIS MORNING? THEN SMILE.
ARE YOU WARM? THEN SMILE.
DID YOU HAVE TO SELL YOUR FISHING GEAR YET? THEN SMILE.
IS YOUR BROTHER OUT BUYING YOU A CHITLOAD OF TACKLE FOR CHRISTMAS LIKE MINE IS? THEN SMILE.

AS FAR AS SOME PEOPLES ENDLESS ABILTY TO DRIVE ERRACTICALLY AND CUT OTHER PEOPLE OFF AND THEN FLIPPING THE CUTOFFEE THE BIRD. THE HELL WITH THEM. DON'T JOIN IN ON THIER PAIN.

MERRY CHRISTMAS. BUY A KID A GIFT THAT WONT GET ONE THIS CHRISTMAS. IT MAKES YOU FELL AWESOME.

winchmaster · 12-12-2005, 12:19 PM

Yes Larry but I was feeling Non-Christmas before the kids helped with the tree. Today I have the Christmas feeling and will start greating people with Merry Christmas instead of hello.
As for the flipper offers....... Just get a big dopey smile and wave....Like you know them. There is nothing better than watching a guy blow a gasket cause he thinks his magic finger or his horn dosen't work on you.
I have had more fun with idiots like that when given them a big wave acting like they ain't nothing and watching thier reaction.
It's priceless as they think I don't see thier finger and I'm waving a friendly hello. They are totally caught off guard as they don't get the reaction from you they wanted.

Karl F · 12-12-2005, 12:45 PM

We still have a few intersections with no lights from Fridays Blow, actually no school due to lack of power and roads still blocked from the fallen trees.. this AM I had to go get some hardware. intersection been working on the one stop, one go, rule, most folks have it figgered out.. one guy, trys to zoom, has to stop short, and flips off the guy who was gonna go, it was his turn.. guy was cool, he puts his flashers on, gets out and Directs Traffic, so Flipper can get his way.. I'm LMAO... and so are others, we get it, he just wanted to point out what a Ahole Flipper was, Flipper goes thru, but you could tell he wanted to hide some fierce.. think he learnt a lesson tho

But, yeah... the Holiday has become waaaay too much about $$$ and gimme gimme.... wish it was more like Turkey Day in a way, ---->Good Meal, and Good Visit... and, actually remember Whom the Day is about.

justplugit · 12-12-2005, 12:50 PM

Seems Chritmas these days is just all about money and material things.

I remember when Christmas was simple, the Christmas Spirit would hit everybody around the week before Christmas and last thru New Years.

Don't know if we will ever see that again.

chris L · 12-12-2005, 01:28 PM

its all about the commercialism . Until it turns back to the way it was when I was a kid (60s) and before . I wont enjoy it ! bah Sam .
its all anyone talks about " what do you want for Christmas ". Its all about the real meaning of christmas ! which will never happen again until we all stay out of the stores .

Did I mention that its all Larry Mann and Sam The Snowmans fault . If he didnt sing the song silver and gold we wouldnt have become gift mongers . Also have to give some fault to bul ives for singing that blasted expensive song .

Mr. Sandman · 12-12-2005, 01:52 PM

98% of what I buy is online now. Part of the reason is that where I live there are not many stores but the main reason is I hate malls, esp. in the Christmas period. I agree, the driving, parking, loud people, and general rudeness in largre shopping complexes detract so much from season I just don't do it anymore. There is no hoopla buying gifts on line. I turn on the Christmas music, and start clicking. While I was on a recent trip I made the mistake to walk into a large electronics store looking for an ipod for my son. Well the staff was very nice explaining all the differences between mp3 players but didn't have anything in stock and the people in the store were so annoying I left with nothing. The check out lines were enormous and not worth the wait. They can't keep enough popular products on hand to satisfy demand so it is a first come first serve thing and it becomes a mad house. They told me people were in line at 3:00am for the 50 new Xbox’s and they were gone in 30 seconds and most of them found their way to an Ebay auction selling at some absurd price. What has this holiday turned into? IMO Christmas has been morphed into a competitive buying frenzy. Why do we get so stressed out about not getting "the perfect gift" for that kid or person? It simply is not that important and not part of the season.

I actually feel sad around the holidays. Sad that my kids can't experience the Christmas I knew when I was their age. It was a different Christmas, one that filled all your senses. The music, smells, tastes and sights with family were overwhelming. It is just not the same anymore. Sure we have a pleasant holiday nowadays and my kids get excited like most but it is not the same. I don't think it is possible to deliver a Christmas like I knew in todays world.
What happened to the Christmas I knew? Heck its impolite to even calls it "Christmas" any more? WT%!!?! No offense to anyone but I never heard of KWANZA when I was a kid. What the hell is KWANZA? You just can't create a new holiday season?!! I thought Kwanza was a cracker company of some kind that made those oyster crackers you put in chowda! IMO there simply is no such thing it was made up to differentiate and further separate ethnic groups which is downright sad this time of year. I have been told that KWANZA it is not a substitute for Christmas...then why is it celebrated at the same time? Stop taking away from my holiday!!!! I wish people Merry Christmas and let them deal with the P.C. of it. Christmas is just not the same in many aspects anymore.

However, I'll tell ya, after seeing there responses to the "helping a friend" thread, I am glad to see the spirit isn't all lost here at SB.com!! This is quite a group.

May you and your family have a Merry Christmas this season!

BrianS · 12-12-2005, 01:53 PM

I love shopping

LOVE IT

I am a very large man
When I go walking thru the malls, its like the red sea parting... People who walk in my lane either move, or walk into the wall that is me.

Dont get me wrong, I am not in the least bit rude, but stop walking 4 people across an aisle and look up from your cellphone a minute.

I dont let it bother me. Its hella fun to be out in this, just to see everyone more stressed than me...

Is finding enjoyment in others self inflicted pain such a bad thing?
Its Christmas damn it!

fishsmith · 12-12-2005, 02:55 PM

Shut the TV off, put on a Bing Crosby Christmas and look at the tree, the old feeling will come back.

Is this a palindrome --> a cracker thinks Kwanza was a cracker

afterhours · 12-12-2005, 06:29 PM

[QUOTE=Mr. Sandman]gift" for that kid or person? It simply is not that important and not part of the season.

I actually feel sad No offense to anyone but I never heard of KWANZA when I was a kid. What the hell is KWANZA? You just can't create a new holiday season?!! I thought Kwanza was a cracker company of some kind that made those oyster crackers you put in chowda! IMO there simply is no such thing it was made up to differentiate and further separate ethnic groups which is downright sad this time of year. I have been told that KWANZA it is not a substitute for Christmas...then why is it celebrated at the same time?

Karl F · 12-12-2005, 06:36 PM

Don,
Check out:
http://www.officialkwanzaawebsite.org/origins1.html

founded in 1966....

so, I guess you can make up your own holiday...

therefore, we have "Plugfest"

Striperknight · 12-12-2005, 08:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Karl F

Don,
Check out:
http://www.officialkwanzaawebsite.org/origins1.html

founded in 1966....

so, I guess you can make up your own holiday...

therefore, we have "Plugfest"

Thats why there is festivus for the rest of us.

justplugit · 12-12-2005, 10:50 PM

What is this.

Thanksgiving weekend my favorite radio station starts playin Christmas music 24/7 as most of the other staions, as i am sure thats what the retail sponsors wanted.

Today, i go down to pick out my tree and they're playin rap and acid rock over the tree lots loud speaker.

Ya know what, i'm with Karl F and Mr.Sandman, remember whom the day is about, and P.C. or not, MERRY CHRISTMAS.

MoroneSaxatilis · 12-13-2005, 12:33 AM

I don't know if I'm old enough (49) to qualify as a GOP, but I was a young kid in the early sixties and even back then I can remember that all I could think about was what Santa was going to bring me. Even back then, there were the "must have" toys (My Mom still has the photos to prove it). Does anyone remember the aluminum tree with the rotating colored wheel (red, blue, orange, green)? I would lay on the carpet and watch that thing for Hours. That was probably the beginning of the end of "traditional Christmas"; a tree made out of aluminum.
It's true that there seemed to be a lot more family involved. On Christmas Eve we would go and visit all sorts of family starting in late afternoon/early evening, then later on we would head home to receive more family. Some family members would not show up until after Midnight Mass.
But there were Always many gifts involved. There was always too much money spent. There was too much debt incured by people would probably could not afford it. Those were the days before BankAmericard (Visa) was a common thing, but "Buy Now, Pay Later" was an option offered by many merchants.
It's also true that as corporate greed grows, retailers push the "buying season" at an accelerated rate. Halloween stuff shows up at Labor Day, Thanksgiving stuff shows up on Halloween, and so forth.
I'm just not sure that, all this PC stuff aside, the way we celebrate Christmas has changed all that much. My guess is that since we were more on the receiving end as kids, we didn't see all the behind the scenes stuff that we experience as adults. We didn't have to worry about whether or not we had forgotten to buy a gift for this one or that one. We didn't have to head downtown (there were no malls around here back then) and battle the crowds at stores packed with other holiday shoppers. All we knew was that we were going to so-and-so's house, that Aunt so-and-so would be there, that cousin so-and-so would be there, and that there would be cookies, egg nog and other treats, and that a good time would seemingly be had by all.
I can remember that my Dad used to say, "Christmas is for the kids, and New Years is for the adults.
My brother and my sisters all made an agreement several years back. We simply don't buy any gifts for each other. We just get together, eat, tell stories, and laugh a lot.
I want to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.