What’s on your mind?

[Clix Pix]

Yea I can see mid Jan or later being crazy, but I never understand the fact that people will sometimes start Christmas stuff around Halloween, but forbid t's the 26th and it's suddenly over. It goes for 12 days so ends Jan 4.

Fine, January 4th is sort of reasonable, although in my mind the 2nd is really when the holiday thing is truly all over.... but going beyond that???!!! Totally unreasonable, especially when it is February and some idiots still have outdoor and probably indoor Christmas decorations up. That's just beyond absurd.

If I were running things, decorations for Christmas wouldn't be put up until about two weeks before that holiday, and would be promptly taken down on January 2nd..... But I'm not running things, am I?!

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Yea I can see mid Jan or later being crazy, but I never understand the fact that people will sometimes start Christmas stuff around Halloween, but forbid t's the 26th and it's suddenly over. It goes for 12 days so ends Jan 4.

Fine, January 4th is sort of reasonable, although in my mind the 2nd is really when the holiday thing is truly all over.... but going beyond that???!!! Totally unreasonable, especially when it is February and some idiots still have outdoor and probably indoor Christmas decorations up. That's just beyond absurd.

If I were running things, decorations for Christmas wouldn't be put up until about two weeks before that holiday, and would be promptly taken down on January 2nd..... But I'm not running things, am I?!

Traditionally, (and historically) in the old Church calendar, the twelve days of Christmas ended on January 6th, the feast of the Epiphany.

And traditionally, in an agricultural society where nothing was growing, - where nothing could grow for it was in the depths of winter, travel wasn't really possible, (hence little by way of trade), roads impassable due to weather conditions, - and cold and wet and darkness outside, it made total sense to have a period in the year where people switched off, feasted and talked and were less encumbered with the burden of the weekly, monthly or yearly work cycle.

Remember, too, that historically, Christmas was preceded by one of the two great fasting seasons for the year - Advent, which lasted for 40 days.

Anyway, while I agree completely with @Clix Pixand @compwiz1202 that Christmas decorations in November - on, or before, Thanksgiving or Hallowe'en - are utterly absurd and surreal and insane (personally, I'd prefer to see nothing by way of Christmas decorations up or permitted until around December 8th - which was another old religious feast day, and that was how my father had interpreted matters).

If Christmas doesn't start until December 8, celebrating it until early January is appropriate; in fact, I've always thought this absurd rush for sales - more commerical imperatives - immediately after Christmas to be perfectly ludicrous, as well.

Take the time to think and take stock

 

[Clix Pix]

Yes, SS, December 8th has always seemed to be about the right time to start with any Christmas decorations and all the rest of the hoopla..... That's how it used to be, anyway......

Seriously, it does seem as though the Christmas season (at least the way some of us older folks recall it) has been rather accelerated and then ruined by the sheer commercialism of it all -- and that is truly sad.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Yes, SS, December 8th has always seemed to be about the right time to start with any Christmas decorations and all the rest of the hoopla..... That's how it used to be, anyway......

Seriously, it does seem as though the Christmas season (at least the way some of us older folks recall it) has been rather accelerated and then ruined by the sheer commercialism of it all -- and that is truly sad.

Agreed.

And - while I'm not remotely religious - I do take offence at those ads - which start appearing around December 22-23 - for the post Christmas sales.

When I was a child, everything shut down completely for three or four days; corner shops were open, but the main stores didn't open their doors until around December 28, which I always thought reasonable; staff need a break as well.

Indeed, - again, when I was a child - my mother (doubtless fed up by then with Christmas and the familial and hospitality stuff - always an enormous burden on - and responsibility on - women, because creating "happiness" is exhausting, and she always detested winter anyway, and probably keen to escape husband and children and household stuff for a few days) always took a few days away by herself, she was usually back just before the New Year - starting around December 28-29 - in the capital, for shopping, seeing her (adult) friends for coffee and perhaps a drink, seeing a play or two, basically decompressing well away from the responsibility for house and home; meanwhile, my father, (to the unspoken astonishment of his relatives) always calmly took (full) responsibility for our care during that time; her breaks kept her sane and sunny, and his view was that if something helped to make her happy, that was totally fine (and fully supported) by him.

 

[yaxomoxay]

Traditionally, (and historically) in the old Church calendar, the twelve days of Christmas ended on January 6th, the feast of the Epiphany.

Not sure about anglicans, but it’s still the same for Catholics. 4 weeks of Advent (6 if you’re Ambrosian rite), then Christmas until the Sunday of the Epiphany (Jan 8, 2023). That’s where the new calendar diverges. In the old calendar you have Epiphanytide until Septuagesima, while in the modern calendar you have Ordinary Time. Personally I much prefer the older calendar as it truly makes you think about the Seasons and what you’re waiting for.

And traditionally, in an agricultural society where nothing was growing, - where nothing could grow for it was in the depths of winter, travel wasn't really possible, (hence little by way of trade), roads impassable due to weather conditions, - and cold and wet and darkness outside, it made total sense to have a period in the year where people switched off, feasted and talked and were less encumbered with the burden of the weekly, monthly or yearly work cycle.

Totally!!

Remember, too, that historically, Christmas was preceded by one of the two great fasting seasons for the year - Advent, which lasted for 40 days.

Very very true. Fasting and abstinence were quite important. Regardless of the religious nature, this society of constant instantaneous gratification should use some sort of equivalent, a “ time for waiting” so to speak. Also don’t forget Ember days, which I think are pretty important for anglicans.

Anyway, while I agree completely with @Clix Pixand @compwiz1202 that Christmas decorations in November - on, or before, Thanksgiving or Hallowe'en - are utterly absurd and surreal and insane (personally,

We put them on the Sunday after thanksgiving, but the reason is purely practical as my wife is way too tired to do manual labor when she’s working due to her already demanding job as a special ed teacher with kids that are quite violent.

 

[yaxomoxay]

The bad thing of liking fitness stuff on Instagram is that now my reels are full of those stupid videos with ladies doing the “trick” of pulling their shirt a few times to just show their bikinis. Far from being a puritan, but after a while it gets disturbing if not truly sad.

 

[Lioness~]

The bad thing of liking fitness stuff on Instagram is that now my reels are full of those stupid videos with ladies doing the “trick” of pulling their shirt a few times to just show their bikinis. Far from being a puritan, but after a while it gets disturbing if not truly sad.

You wont get any compassion for that. You've been digging your own pit if you hanging on social media.
Ripe your karma, at least that is what I do for have using it in a way I no longer see valuable.

I think social media can have a purpose to advertise for a business. Beyond that I think it’s both useless and mindless today.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

The bad thing of liking fitness stuff on Instagram is that now my reels are full of those stupid videos with ladies doing the “trick” of pulling their shirt a few times to just show their bikinis. Far from being a puritan, but after a while it gets disturbing if not truly sad.

@yaxomoxay: Among other things, this sad soul watches cooking videos - and I find them educational and instructive.

In fact, these days, rather than consult a (hard copy) trusted cookery book, I will frequently seek recourse to the online world, and will invariably consult at least three different versions (and videos) of the dish I wish to cook (that is, if I haven't cooked it before).

However, if I have prepared it before, I will simply refresh my memory by reading at least three separate recipes, either online or, in my own stash of well-thumbed books.

 

[decafjava]

The bad thing of liking fitness stuff on Instagram is that now my reels are full of those stupid videos with ladies doing the “trick” of pulling their shirt a few times to just show their bikinis. Far from being a puritan, but after a while it gets disturbing if not truly sad.

Truly sad I prefer normal feline ***** doing silly things.

 

[rm5]

I'm doing my Berklee audition online—and I've been in the waiting room for an hour and a half. Maybe I've done something wrong??

And they're saying stuff like "Thank you for your patience, we'll be with you soon." Well I think I've already lost my patience.

I get it, they have lots of people to get through, but this seems kind of over the top.

At this point it kind of feels like it's never going to happen, it's been so long...

 

[rm5]

UPDATE - did the audition, all went well—just the waiting, oh my goodness!

 

[Lioness~]

Broke my fast today, 20 days. It’s getting too cold, I freeze too much. I've never done a fast during winter before. So ok, now I have tested that too. Not again.
Except from freezing, it’s been good, and I got out what I wanted from it, I will do more to the spring.

 

[Apple fanboy]

Broke my fast today, 20 days. It’s getting too cold, I freeze too much. I've never done a fast during winter before. So ok, now I have tested that too. Not again.
Except from freezing, it’s been good, and I got out what I wanted from it, I will do more to the spring.

20 day fast? I think I did a day once about 20 years ago.

Winter is on my mind. Been out for a walk but had to force myself. It’s not even as cold as it’s going to get yet. Talking about -4 on Wednesday.
When will it be spring.

 

[VulchR]

Broke my fast today, 20 days. It’s getting too cold, I freeze too much. I've never done a fast during winter before. So ok, now I have tested that too. Not again.
Except from freezing, it’s been good, and I got out what I wanted from it, I will do more to the spring.

I hope you don't mind my asking, but why? I've gone without food for as long as a week due to illness, and I've lost 10-15 pounds in a few days on the occasional backpacking trip when things have gone horribly wrong, but never anything like fasting for 20 days.

 

[Lioness~]

I hope you don't mind my asking, but why? I've gone without food for as long as a week due to illness, and I've lost 10-15 pounds in a few days on the occasional backpacking trip when things have gone horribly wrong, but never anything like fasting for 20 days.

I have fasted since my early 20's.
I studied a lot of alternative medicine, meditation, yoga etc as I was interested in health and everything that keeps the vessel of my soul and spirit free and evolving.

So I have been fasting regularly all life and tried a lot of different variation
Regularly fasting have shown extremely beneficial to me.
Done a few 30 days fasting, nothing extraordinary to me, even longer times.

 

[decafjava]

I have fasted since my early 20's.
I studied a lot of alternative medicine, meditation, yoga etc as I was interested in health and everything that keeps the vessel of my soul and spirit free and evolving.

So I have been fasting regularly all life and tried a lot of different variation
Regularly fasting have shown extremely beneficial to me.
Done a few 30 days fasting, nothing extraordinary to me, even longer times.

Very admirable, I have tried intermittent fasting but need to make it a more regular habit. Fasting has noted benefits - and I imagine with your experience you have some advice.

 

[Lioness~]

Very admirable, I have tried intermittent fasting but need to make it a more regular habit. Fasting has noted benefits - and I imagine with your experience you have some advice.

It's too complex to give any easy advises. Begin meditating to find your conscious awareness. Only you really know you beyond whatever issues there is that affects your mind and body.

 

[rm5]

I just got up from a nap (which was really nice), but there are 30 Messages notifications, 5 Google Chat notifications, 3 voicemail messages, and 3 email messages! That's going to take a long time to get through!!

 

[The-Real-Deal82]

I’m glad I put the outdoor Christmas lights up last weekend when the temperatures were strangely warm for this time of year. This weekend is absolutely bitter and wouldn’t have fancied being up a ladder today. Haven’t turn any lights on yet as we are saving as much electricity as possible with the sky high costs. Our lights will be on very little this year.

 

[The Clark]

Just got back from a second date with an amazing girl. I'll move heaven and earth to ensure there's a third.

Crazy looking back on this post from July 2020, I'm still with her and we are talking about marriage.
Hope everyone on MR is doing well

 

[Apple fanboy]

I just got up from a nap (which was really nice), but there are 30 Messages notifications, 5 Google Chat notifications, 3 voicemail messages, and 3 email messages! That's going to take a long time to get through!!

Sounds about standard for me. Excluding work it would be significantly less.

 

[Apple fanboy]

I’m glad I put the outdoor Christmas lights up last weekend when the temperatures were strangely warm for this time of year. This weekend is absolutely bitter and wouldn’t have fancied being up a ladder today. Haven’t turn any lights on yet as we are saving as much electricity as possible with the sky high costs. Our lights will be on very little this year.

With you on saving power. Mrs AFB has bought solar lights to use in the evenings rather than our LED ceiling lights. I’m sure it will take years to get the pay back!
We don’t have to worry about Christmas lights though as we don’t celebrate it.

 

[VulchR]

I’m glad I put the outdoor Christmas lights up last weekend when the temperatures were strangely warm for this time of year. This weekend is absolutely bitter and wouldn’t have fancied being up a ladder today. Haven’t turn any lights on yet as we are saving as much electricity as possible with the sky high costs. Our lights will be on very little this year.

My heat is on at home a maximum of 4 hours a day (Scotland). Very few lights. 4 layers of clothing. It's a bit like camping.

 

[Apple fanboy]

My heat is on at home a maximum of 4 hours a day (Scotland). Very few lights. 4 layers of clothing. It's a bit like camping.

My commiserations. When our heating comes on it’s only set to 15 degrees. Currently sat here in fingerless gloves.

 

[VulchR]

My commiserations. When our heating comes on it’s only set to 15 degrees. Currently sat here in fingerless gloves.

15 °C? Ouch. 🥶

In the evening I push things up to 17-19 °C and then turn the heat off and let it go back down. Well I suppose shivering will help keep my weight down. I'm kinda getting used to the multiple layers as well - it's like wearing a space suit, and I am in better financial shape than many folk who will really struggle this winter. What a mess. 😕

EDIT: The irony of course is that everybody will cut back on energy usage, which will hurt the energy companies' profits, so the companies will raise prices. I think this has happened once already in the UK a few years back (cutting consumption triggering higher prices).