This is topic Christmas at the office: harassment? in forum Film-Yak at Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE.


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Posted by Dave Williams (Member # 299) on 12-11-2005, 12:28 PM:
 
In this holiday season so many of us want to be all festive and such, and as such some may get a little carried away. So before I begin on this post, I do not want this post to be degraded into a politically or religiously based argument. I just want to know if you feel it is right or wrong, from a human and respect point of view, or if I am just plain goofy.

In my office my team is comprised of too many people that want to make christmas everything they ever wanted it to be, but what about those that don't want to be involved?

I am not opposed to anyone decorating or celebrating any way they wan't with thier religious holidays, even in the worklplace. However I do have a problem when members of the team have specifically asked to be left out of the involvement, and the team as a whole still involves them whether they like it or not.

To qoute our little ring leader "They don't have to participate if they don't want to, but we are going to decorate thier cubicle anyway and give them gifts, so if they don't like it, tough!" Doesn't that constitute forced participation?

Now before anyone goes off thinking I am trying to stop christmas, or that people need to be less sensitive, think again! As I stated before, I am all for people celebrating thier religious holidays any way that is permitted by employment law. Remember, this is in the workplace. Our employer is a publicly traded company and is a Fortune 50 company, with business interests in 138 different countries.

The problem is that when one person who does not celebrate in this way is forced to do so by thier co workers, this is where it starts to feel offensive. The reason that one chooses to not participate only needs to be important to the person who makes that choice, and does not need any validation from the group. There should be respect for this persons choice, and not be treated like they are misinformed.

So I ask you, my Film-Tech family; should I have the right to choose to not have participation in christmas activities at work by my own reasons, and not need to explain them to my co workers? Should I be able to expect a certain degree of sensitivity at the workplace, as I would expect if I were of another culture or religieon? Is it wrong for these co workers to forcibly involve people who have specifically asked not to be involved?

Remember do not let this get religious or political. It's a fine line as it is!!!

Ciao
 

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Posted by Mark Gulbrandsen (Member # 72) on 12-11-2005, 12:40 PM:
 
I look forword to Christmas festivities every year at work and everywhere else. Are you sure it was ONLY your jaw that you broke....? Because one customer has waited to break ground on his next plex a couple of months later we actually have a little time THIS year at the office. So for once we can actually take the time to have a Christmas Party. Perhaps you should be relegated to having your Christmas dinner at Denny's, then you'd be looking forword to next years festivities a little more than you do now......

Mark
 

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Posted by Greg Mueller (Member # 17) on 12-11-2005, 01:02 PM:
 
I think the world would be a better place if people could not participate if they don't want to. And not be bugged by others. And not bug others.

Like..... "In God We Trust" don't believe in god, fine, but don't try to take it from those who do.
Believe that JC's b'day is the reason for the season, fine, but don't bug people that think it's all about Santa Clause and buying stuff.
Don't like the 3 cross logo for the city of Los Cruces, fine, but don't try to change it, the other people (everyone but you) do like it. Live with it and don't get bugged

What ever it is you want or think, fine, just don't try to make anyone else like it or do it.

To each his own and keep it outta my face
 

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Posted by Steve Scott (Member # 630) on 12-11-2005, 01:30 PM:
 
Depends on how many times I'll have to put up decorations for said holiday. And whether or not said decorations will work i.e. lobby xmas lights...
 

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Posted by Richard Hamilton (Member # 321) on 12-11-2005, 01:52 PM:
 

quote:

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To qoute our little ring leader "They don't have to participate if they don't want to, but we are going to decorate thier cubicle anyway and give them gifts, so if they don't like it, tough!"

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How little is this ring leader? I feel an ass kicking is due. I have refused to participate in shit like this, only because the people planning it are so damn pushy about it. Some people think they need to run everyones lives the way they like it. These people think everything revolves around them and their wants.
 

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Posted by Randy Stankey (Member # 64) on 12-11-2005, 02:35 PM:
 
Is this an issue where:

A) The "non-participant" is of a religious Faith that doesn't belive in Christmas? (e.g.: Jewish, Muslim, Buddhist?)

B) The "non-participant" is of a religions Faith that celebrates Christmas but not in the way that most American Christians celebrate? (e.g.: Jehova's Witness?)

C) The "non-participant" celebrates Christmas in the tradional way but only with family members and close friends?

D) The "non-participant" simply doesn't like the crass, commercialism most people practice when it comes to celebrating Christmas?

E) The "non-participant" just doesn't like the people well enough to celebrate Christmas at the office.

If we're talking about situation "A" or "B" then I agree. The people at the office should simply BUG OFF... No questions asked.
Do these people know that the "non-participant" is of a religious Faith which doesn't allow them to celebrate? Would revealing this information create a hostile work environment toward the "non-participant"?

<facetious humor>
If all the above are true then I suggest that you look through the phone book and find the sleaziest, low-down, dirty lawyer you can dredge up from the bottom of a cesspool, somewhere, and sue the living shit out of the company and everybody in it from the C.E.O. on down to the janitor!
</facetious humor>

Seriously... If you have one of those issues those people should leave you alone.

If it's situation "C" then the people at the office should have enough class to simply say, "Merry Christmas.", and leave well enough alone.

If we're talking about situation "D" or "E" then I think you're being a little bit thin-skinned. The truth is that most people are too freakin' STOOPIT to realize that some people just don't want to "play" their games.

If we ARE talking about situation "A" or "B" then you have the right to carefully remove the decorations from your cubicle, put them into a bag or box and place them on your boss's desk with the statement, "I'm [Jewish, Muslim, Buddhist, Jehovah's Witness]. These decorations are against my religion."

If they give you any flack about it you can give them a choice:

1) They can cease and desist.

2) You will sue for religious parity and demand that a giant Menorah be errected in the front lobby of the building and that a Rabbi be called in to say prayers on Hanukkah... All at the company's expense, of course!

[ 12-11-2005, 10:18 PM: Message edited by: Randy Stankey ]
 

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Posted by Floyd Justin Newton (Member # 1316) on 12-11-2005, 04:46 PM:
 
Randy--

That takes care of THAT!!

Happy birthday to me...
 

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Posted by Jennifer Pan (Member # 2035) on 12-11-2005, 05:21 PM:
 
I was hoping this thread was about Santa Claus strippers at the office Christmas parties... darn....
 

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Posted by Leo Enticknap (Member # 534) on 12-11-2005, 05:23 PM:
 
I'd also add agnostic (does not hold a religious faith but doesn't rule out the possibility of doing so in the future) and atheist (fundamentally opposes the idea of religious faith) to the examples in A.

Surely common sense is the key here. In my workplace there is a Christmas party, but it is organised unofficially among ourselves and everyone is free to go or not as the case may be. Some of us send each other Christmas cards but not all. In practice the event is more of an 'end of the working calendar year' celebration, to which lots of non-Christians come. Because the workplace is on a university campus, the whole place shuts down from 23 December until 3 January: you could argue that this is not respecting the views of non-Christians who regard the last week in December as just another normal working week, but given that 3 days in that period are public holidays in the UK and no teaching takes place during it, there's a pretty strong logistical argument for closing the whole place down for the duration, IMHO.

If groups of staff wanted to organise celebrations for Hanukkah, Diwali and Eid-al-Fitr, I'm sure no-one would have any problem with that.
 

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Posted by Ian Price (Member # 14) on 12-11-2005, 05:53 PM:
 
Say "Thank you."

It's called being gracious.
 

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Posted by Bobby Henderson (Member # 840) on 12-11-2005, 05:58 PM:
 
This is just a simple matter of one asshole trying to force his views, beliefs, traditions or mere habits on someone else. If someone doesn't want to participate they should not be forced to do so.

I am completely against taking Christ out of Christmas. I think the folks who get their panties in a wad over the term, "Merry Christmas" being displayed need to get the stick out of their butt. At the same time, I am completely against the holier than thou types trying to force their idea of Christmas on other people.

We're supposed to have religious freedom in this country. That means practicing whatever faith you want or having the freedom to be agnostic. However, that does not entitle any particular group to practice a zero sum game against the beliefs other groups.
 

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Posted by Joe Redifer (Member # 3) on 12-11-2005, 05:59 PM:
 
They shouldn't mess with your cubicle even if you are the biggest Bible-bangin' Jesus freak in the world. The point is that it's YOUR cubicle and it is your responsibility to decorate it or not. As for office decorations in the hallways and break rooms and other office nonsense, you'll just have to deal. If you get a gift, thank them and either use it or sell it on eBay for MILLIONS. You should never deny free stuff. That's just wrong.
 

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Posted by Richard Hamilton (Member # 321) on 12-11-2005, 06:06 PM:
 
Maybe some people don't want to celebrate for various reasons. Maybe a loved one lost their life on Xmas, or a spouse was caught cheating on you this day. If you are really trying to forget this date, religious or not, would you want to be constantly reminded of it by some co workers who are obviously not friends? If it were me, I would politely say no thank you. If they insisted, I would tell them were to go, and not explain why. No matter what the reason is. But thats just me.
 

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Posted by Rick Raskin (Member # 1561) on 12-11-2005, 06:40 PM:
 

quote:

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To qoute our little ring leader "They don't have to participate if they don't want to, but we are going to decorate their cubicle anyway and give them gifts, so if they don't like it, tough!"

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This ringleader needs to study up on workplace harassment. One call to the EEOC and the shit'll hit the fan.

The person objecting has made his/her wishes known and no further explanation is necessary. Cease and desist!
 

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Posted by Joshua Waaland (Member # 287) on 12-11-2005, 08:34 PM:
 
Dave,

I would have to agree with you that you shouldn't be forced to partake in anything that you want to do. I think this is part of the reason "religious" people get such a bad rap. They try to force it upon people or just come off that way, and many times I think they only have the best intentions. It should be about free will.

Someone forcing you to participate in a religious (religious to you maybe but many people celebrate Christmas that aren't religious at all) holiday is just as bad as someone who isn't religious, and in the minority, getting laws enacted that take away rights of the majority who are religious. Either way it sucks.

[ 12-12-2005, 06:37 AM: Message edited by: Joshua Waaland ]
 

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Posted by Randy Stankey (Member # 64) on 12-11-2005, 10:48 PM:
 
I agree with Leo that LACK of religious Faith would qualify as situation "A".

I agree with Richard that a traumatic event on the holiday would qualfy as situation "F". (Remeber the movie, Gremlins?! )

I agree with Joe that one's private work area should remain off-limits to others decorating it with unwanted stuff. (Oh, No! I just agreed with Joe on something! )

The thing is that the only two situations out of the six we have identified that require the "harrassee" to spell out their feelings on the matter. (Religious proscription.) The other four require nothing more than a simple, "No, thank you." from the person who doesn't want to be bothered.

There's a guy who works with me who just doesn't care to celebrate Christmas with the people he works with. Christmas is a family holiday for him. Now, since I work at a Catholic college, ALL business throughout the ENTIRE institution comes to a grinding halt on the day of the Christmas party. Instead of people asking, "Are you going to the Christmas party?" they say things like, "When you come to the Christmas party..."

The boss came up to me and this guy one day and said something like, "See you at the party!" When he replied that he wasn't going, the boss got this look like somebody just shot his puppy. Some excuse was made like, "I have to go home to my family" then later on, he confided in me that he was celebrating Christmas with family and, besides, he just didn't LIKE most of the people at work to celebrate Christmas with them.

But the moral of the story is that, even at a strictly religious institution like Mercyhurst, when one guy simply said, "No, thank you.", everybody else had the common courtessey to leave him the hell alone when he didn't want to be bothered.

Maybe we should all take turns going out to Utah with Dave and bitch-slapping some sense into that "Little Miss Jingle Bells"!
 

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Posted by Will Kutler (Member # 770) on 12-12-2005, 12:09 AM:
 
Oy Vey...what a topic!

Let me give y'all a little Jewish perspective.

Even when I was in elementary school (public school), the classrooms would be full of Christmas activity. And even at that early age, it would be a struggle for me to not participate. And of course, the public school would have "Holiday Assemblies" with Christmas being the theme. And if lucky, maybe one Hanukah song would be played during the assembly...and some obscure one at that. But throughout my elementary education, my Mom would come to school and do a Hanukah presentation.

Now, in the Jewish religion, Hanukah is actually a very minor holiday. It is basically the celebration of a military victory. And in Israel, gift giving is rare. The gift giving thing is an American thing....influenced by Christmas.

And even when I was in the USAF, it was customary for the Squadron to be broken into two groups...one having 5 days off for Christmas, and the other having 5 days off for New Year. Now, not being Christian, every year I would make the offer to my superiors that I work through these two Holidays, granted that I be given time off for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, as the "High Holidays", as they are known, are the most important of the Jewish holidays. And my request was always denied. Consequently, I would always have to take personal leave so that I could have the High Holidays off. Now, when I was stationed at Norton AFB, I was usually able to do this. But when I transferred to Travis AFB, this became impossible. Why? Because every year at the High Holidays, Travis AFB would have a major exercise, and many a time I was lucky to be able to attend services for a few hours!

So, out of respect to strangers I always say "Happy Holiday".

But there are many aspects of the Christmas Holiday that totally perplex me...maybe some of you can explain?

Why do you celebrate your holiest day by cutting down a tree instead of planting one? Celebrating the holiest Cristian day by destroying life?

And just this past week, there was a major news story stating that many parishes would be closed on Christmas and would hold no service due to low attendance? How sad???

And for as long as I could remember, I never saw kids having an understanding of what Christmas is about? It was always about how many gifts one recieved. And the comments about Hanukah were always "Boy your lucky, getting one gift a day for each day of Hanukah!" How sad is it when a religions holiest day is soooo comericalized that people don't even know about its meaning?

K.
 

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Posted by Gerard S. Cohen (Member # 994) on 12-12-2005, 04:28 PM:
 
**********************************************************************
FROM: Patty Lewis, Human Resources Director

TO: All Employees

DATE: October 01, 2005

RE: Christmas Party

I'm happy to inform you that the company Christmas Party will take place on December 23, starting at noon in the private function room at the Grill House. There will be a cash bar and plenty of drinks! We'll have a small band playing traditional carols...feel free to sing along. And don't be surprised if our CEO shows up dressed as Santa Claus! A Christmas tree will be lit at 1:00pm. Exchange of gifts among employees can be done at that time; however, no gift should be over $10.00 to make the giving of gifts easy for everyone's pockets. This gathering is only for employees! Our CEO will make a special announcement at that time!

Merry Christmas to you and your family.

Patty

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FROM: Patty Lewis, Human Resources Director

TO: All Employees

DATE: October 02, 2005

RE: Holiday Party

In no way was yesterday's memo intended to exclude our Jewish employees. We recognize that Chanukah is an important holiday, which often coincides with Christmas, though unfortunately not this year. However, from now on we're calling it our "Holiday Party." The same policy applies to any other employees who are not Christians or those still celebrating Reconciliation Day. There will be no Christmas tree present. No Christmas carols sung. We will have other types of music for your enjoyment.

Happy now?

Happy Holidays to you and your family.

Patty

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FROM: Patty Lewis, Human Resources Director

TO: All Employees

DATE: October 03, 2005

RE: Holiday Party

Regarding the note I received from a member of Alcoholics Anonymous requesting a non-drinking table ... you didn't sign your name. I'm happy to accommodate this request, but if I put a sign on a table that reads, "AA Only"; you wouldn't be anonymous anymore. How am I supposed to handle this?

Somebody?

Forget about the gifts exchange, no gifts exchange are allowed since the union members feel that $10.00 is too much money and executives believe $10.00 is a little chintzy.

NO GIFTS EXCHANGE WILL BE ALLOWED.

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FROM: Patty Lewis, Human Resources Director

To: All Employees

DATE: October 04, 2005

RE: Holiday Party

What a diverse group we are! I had no idea that December 20 begins the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, which forbids eating and drinking during daylight hours. There goes the party! Seriously, we can appreciate how a luncheon at this time of year does not accommodate our Muslim employees' beliefs. Perhaps the Grill House can hold off on serving your meal until the end of the party- or else package everything for you to take it home in little foil doggy baggy. Will that work? Meanwhile, I've arranged for members of Weight Watchers to sit farthest from the dessert buffet and pregnant women will get the table closest to the restrooms. Gays are allowed to sit with each other. Lesbians do not have to sit with Gay men, each will have their own table. Yes, there will be flower arrangement for the Gay men's table. To the person asking permission to cross dress, no cross-dressing allowed though. We will have booster seats for short people. Low-fat food will be available for those on a diet. We cannot control the salt used in the food we suggest for those people with high blood pressure to taste first. There will be fresh fruits as dessert for Diabetics, the restaurant cannot supply "No Sugar" desserts. Sorry!

Did I miss anything?!?!?

Patty

**********************************************************************
FROM: Patty Lewis, Human Resources Director

TO: All Fucking Employees

DATE: October 05, 2005

RE: The Fucking Holiday Party

Vegetarian pricks I've had it with you people!!! We're going to keep this party at the Grill House whether you like it or not, so you can sit quietly at the table furthest from the "grill of death," as you so quaintly put it, and you'll get your fucking salad bar, including organic tomatoes. But you know, tomatoes have feelings, too. They scream when you slice them. I've heard them scream. I'm hearing them scream right NOW! I hope you all have a rotten holiday! Drive drunk and die,

The Bitch from HELL!!!!!!!!

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FROM: Joan Bishop, Acting Human Resources Director

DATE: October 06, 2005

RE: Patty Lewis and Holiday Party

I'm sure I speak for all of us in wishing Patty Lewis a speedy recovery and I'll continue to forward your cards to her. In the meantime, management has decided to cancel our Holiday Party and give everyone the afternoon of the 23rd off with full pay.

Happy Holidays!
 

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Posted by Phil Hill (Member # 371) on 12-12-2005, 06:31 PM:
 
Thanks Gerard for putting all the posts in this thread in their proper perspective...
 

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Posted by Greg Mueller (Member # 17) on 12-12-2005, 07:38 PM:
 
I have a beautiful aluminum Christmas tree, with color wheel.
 

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Posted by Bobby Henderson (Member # 840) on 12-12-2005, 07:43 PM:
 
Is that the Texas Instruments DLP Digital Tree?
 

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Posted by Jeremy Jorgenson (Member # 2989) on 12-12-2005, 08:33 PM:
 

quote: Will Kutler

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Celebrating the holiest Cristian day by destroying life?

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Nah, Christians celebrate the holiest Christian day by dying eggs, hiding them & / or hunting for them.


 

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Posted by Dave Williams (Member # 299) on 12-13-2005, 02:44 AM:
 
I went hunting for easter eggs last year with the family, but everyone at the easter egg hung got thier panties in a ruffle when I ripped out a .50 caliber semi-automatic and started letting those damned easter eggs have it!

On to Christmas at the office, and the rest of my take, or perhaps my take on everyone elses take so far...

Gerard my man!!! Excellent posting!! It helps to put some humor into these kinds of situations.

When you work for an international giant that has 80 thousand employees in 27 different countries, it is hard to accomodate the various different activities that may arise during the holiday season. Because our company is very diverse, things can get very complicated, so we are asked to have sensitivity to others when showing our enthusiasm for the season.

We are asked to remember not to discuss politics, religieon, medical histories of a very personal nature, anything that could offend someone else, becuase this is our work, and as we are involved with very highly sensitive information, we should not create any type of work environment for anyone that could be considered uncomfortable or hostile.

While our office has the normal trappings of the holidays; christmas trees, minhoras, stars of david, whatever the thing is that kwanza has, and the rest, you know to be diverse, what is missing is decorations on all the cubicles...

...except for

my team. Miss know it all decided to take it upon herself to decorate for the team. One person has since taken down the decorations on her cubicle... turns out she is jewish... the response was "sorry, I didn't know. If you didn't want them you should have spoken up".

I on the other hand am not jewish, just a mean old man who chooses not to associate with any of these people in this way, and has many deep feelings about christmas time, none of which are any of thier business anyway.

My wife suggested decorating my stocking that they provided me with slogans and logos of things that have nothing to do with christmas, and sewing the opening of the stocking shut, and cutting open the bottom.

She also suggested I should decorate the hell out of my cubicle with everything non christmas... like easter, halloween, thanksgiving, valentines day, whatever works.

Christmas for me has very deep meaning, and with it brings great joy, and pain. Same for birthdays. I share these times with my family, and my family alone. They share the pain with me in private for what has been lost, and together we find joy in what we still have together. For my family, christmas is something more than a cheap commercialization of a coopted pagan holiday. It is a time to remember why we are here on this earth and why we have family.

I have decided to live with the beast from beneath the bowels of hell, for the moment. It is only a matter of time before she prices herself out of a job, or I be elevated to a position of authority where I can help price her out of a job.

Revenge may be a dish that is best served cold, but Karma's a bitch!

Ciao
 

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Posted by Joshua Waaland (Member # 287) on 12-13-2005, 05:38 AM:
 
Gerard, that post was friggin hilarious! It is so true though in today's culture.
 

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Posted by Erica Peterson (Member # 1784) on 12-13-2005, 11:30 AM:
 
I think you should put up a Festivus pole.
 

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Posted by Will Kutler (Member # 770) on 12-13-2005, 11:36 AM:
 
Gerard:



K
 

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Posted by William T. Parr (Member # 677) on 12-13-2005, 01:57 PM:
 
Dave,

I am in the same boat with ya. I can not stand most of the folks I work with at my state job. At least not on he state side as I work for a Contractor that has the current contract for Network support. I do like most of the people that work with my company, but since we get rolled into the States Christmas parties and such I have chosen not to participate. I too have been forced to try and participate. I finally just told them I was not going to and to leave me alone about the subjet as it had already borderlined and crossed over to harassment and my freedom of Religion. As a christian I do celebrate Christmas, but will have to admit that over the past 15 years or so it has become so damned commercialized that it is sickening to say the least. All we do at Christmas in my family now is get together, excahnge a few small gifts and enjoy our time together. I like the memo's too Gerard they do put things into perspective.

Happy Holidays all
 

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Posted by Gerard S. Cohen (Member # 994) on 12-13-2005, 07:06 PM:
 
While the memos provide amusement, I find the last memo contains a solution:

quote: Gerard S. Cohen

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In the meantime, management has decided to cancel our Holiday Party and give everyone the afternoon of the 23rd off with full pay.

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quote: hhot Joe Boi

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Just because I work with people doesn't mean I want to spend time with those same people pretending to have fun.

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While Joe and I have not worked together; I've enjoyed ALL the personal time he and I spent together...
 

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Posted by Kurt Zupin (Member # 2751) on 12-13-2005, 08:02 PM:
 
I don't know about you all but me and my family celebrate Festivus every year. The airing of grievances this year is going to be extra long, with all the freaking family drama!!! AHHHHHHHHHHHHH DAMN CHRISTMAS! Should be fun!

On a serious note though...I love the holiday time, love Xmas and love Xmas songs...but if you don't want to participate then you shouldn't be forced to. Its just wrong and someones views should never be forced on someone. I'm one of the strange ones that can listen to X-mas music in June on my birthday and love it.
 

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Posted by Will Kutler (Member # 770) on 12-13-2005, 08:05 PM:
 
Hey, I too love X-Mas songs:

"Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer", "All I Got For X-Mas Was My Two Front Teeth", "Jingle Bells, Batman Smells...."
 

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Posted by Phil Hill (Member # 371) on 12-13-2005, 08:38 PM:
 
Well Will, IF(!) I hear that POS "Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer" tune one more time, I'm gonna put a gun to my head and jump off a tall building...hoping that I pull the trigger before I meet that sudden stop at the bottom...
 

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Posted by Randy Stankey (Member # 64) on 12-13-2005, 10:15 PM:
 

quote: Erica Peterson

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I think you should put up a Festivus pole.

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You should put up a Festivus pole in "Little Miss Know-it-all's" cubicle!
 

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Posted by Paul Mayer (Member # 355) on 12-14-2005, 12:05 AM:
 
Quick! Someone cue up Santa Got Run Over By a Reindeer!

For me at this time of year it's got to be any of the tracks off of my favorite Christmas CD Bummed Out Christmas!:

1. Somebody Stole My Santa Claus Suit - Christmas Jug Band
2. Christmas Eve Can Kill You - The Everly Brothers
3. Santa Came Home Drunk - Cadillac Baby Specials, Clyde Lasley
4. Don't Believe in Christmas - The Sonics
5. Lonely Christmas Call - George Jones
6. Christmas in Vietnam - Johnny & Jon
7. Santa Got a DWI - Sherwin Linton
8. Who Took the Merry Out of Christmas? - The Staple Singers
9. Who Say There Ain't No Santa Claus - Ron Holden, The Thunderbirds
10. Christmas in Jail - The Youngsters
11. Christmas Spirit - The Wailers
12. Christmas in Prison - Ry Cooder, Doug Legacy, Legends of the West

Really sets the proper mood.
 

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Posted by Joshua Waaland (Member # 287) on 12-14-2005, 12:30 AM:
 
We just got back from my company's Christmas party. There were only 11 of us including spouses so we just went to a nice restaurant. We managed to run up a $1,700 tab! I tell them every year that they should just split that money between us and I would be much happier

I got so fed up with homework and school, that near the beginning of October I started listening to Christmas music and have been since. Christmas is the ONLY time I have every year to just veg. I take classes all year round so the thought of Christmas makes me feel like relaxing with no homework. I have to listen to Christmas music when I can't take it anymore.

School and work keep me so busy that I never even got to rake and mow the lawn one last time. I didn't have a 3-4 hour time block to do it for over a month. I planned to mow and rake on Thanksgiving weekend, but then it snowed and has been snowing since. Our yard is going to look like hell come spring.

[ 12-14-2005, 05:49 AM: Message edited by: Joshua Waaland ]
 

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Posted by Daryl C. W. O'Shea (Member # 1303) on 12-14-2005, 12:56 AM:
 

quote: Joshua Waaland

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I planned to mow and rake on Thanksgiving weekend, but then it snowed and has been snowing since.

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quote:

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You should put up a Festivus pole in "Little Miss Know-it-all's" cubicle!

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Problem is... she is a seinfeld junkie. If I give this to her, we will never hear the end of the Festivus pole.

Today I decorated my cubile. I put two of my daughters Bratz dolls and Mr Incredible in the stocking. He is feeling up one of their breasts and staring at the rack of the other.

I then proceeded to hang various types of fuses to the garland they strung up, replacing the bulbs, because fuses are better than bulbs.

I need more not so noticeably offensive ideas.

However, I am starting to have fun with it. I just need to turn the screw a litte more....

Ciao
 

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Posted by Joe Redifer (Member # 3) on 12-14-2005, 02:32 AM:
 
Paul, you forgot "It's Christmas at Ground Zero" by Weird Al Yankovic.
 

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Posted by Randy Stankey (Member # 64) on 12-14-2005, 10:47 AM:
 
What do you say to going completely in a different direction?

My wife has a copy of the original manuscript of Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol. The original is in the Pierpont Morgan Library. Every so often, they publish new editions of it. The one she has shows Dickens' original handwritten text on the right page and a transcription on the left.

What do you think about studying up on a few authentic Victorian / Dickensian Christmas traditions then laying it on thick?!

Let me assure you that the original version of A Christmas Carol is shockingly different than the popularized versions that we are familiar with today! For instance, the first sentence of the story starts out, "Marley is dead."

By the time you're done with her, "Little Miss Know-It-All" will be shaking in her boots until well after Twelfth-Night!
 

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Posted by Dave Williams (Member # 299) on 12-14-2005, 11:08 PM:
 
I really like that idea Randy. As a stage hand for many years for a local theater that does A Christmas Carol every year, I think it would do wonders!

Although today I had some sweet justice! Today our VP of card operations for North America was touring the facility wishing everyone a wonderful holiday season. When he came by our team he continued until he came to me. He stopped and asked how my jaw was doing, how was I healing after my fall, how is my wife Jacoy and my daughter Adelle doing, and we talked about his teenager in catholic school that won't cut his hair, and so on. He then went on his round.

The beast of burdon then came to me in an apparent mixture of confusion and huffiness and asked me "how the hell do you rate like that?". I responded "we do lunch together". OOOOH YEAH!!! She didn't talk to ANYONE for the rest of the damned day!! YEAH!!!

She was steamed about the fact that someone that wasn't her had more inside track than she did. She has already tried stabbing me in the back on several occasions, which only garnered several jokes about the issue between the leadership and myself. I wonder what she will try to get up her sleeve this time.

I inquired about a festivus pole with security, and they told me that I would not be allowed to bring one in to the building, and they told me to forget about claiming it to be a religeous right, because someone already pulled that.

I am going to pull out my Dickens and go with it. Maybe I can deck out her cubicle with a few things eh?

Ciao
 

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Posted by Pravin Ratnam (Member # 1417) on 12-16-2005, 01:31 AM:
 
I celebrated Christmas as a kid in Pittsburgh despite being from a Hindu family. I don't celebrate Christmas now but will greet friends with that term because I come from a secular family that welcomes athiests, hindus, muslim and christian friends. My parents treated it as an American holiday instead of a Christian holiday. For me , it was all about Frosty the Snowman and Santa Claus(even if I never really believed in him or even the tooth fairy for that matter). Even when I went to India my middle years, public celebrations of all religions was no big deal. Christmas is a holiday over there despite christianity being a tiny religion over there.

I am indifferent to Merry Christmas vs Happy Holidays. I dont know why either side will be offended by either term.

As far as Dave's office scenario, I agree the lil Miss Office bitch needs to lay off employees who have no wish to participate and the employees should not be whining about any decorations in the hallway.
 

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Posted by Paul Mayer (Member # 355) on 12-19-2005, 10:08 PM:
 

 

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Posted by Floyd Justin Newton (Member # 1316) on 12-20-2005, 11:40 AM:
 
Paul--

Now there's an attitude I like...

 

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Posted by Robert E. Allen (Member # 1351) on 12-21-2005, 01:23 AM:
 
People celebrate Christmas (or choose not to celebrate Christmas) for different reasons. Those who choose not to celebrate should not be forced into participating. But those who choose to celebrate should not have to forego the celebration for the minority.
 

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Posted by Dave Williams (Member # 299) on 12-21-2005, 01:46 AM:
 
Very much agreed. I am all for everyone doing their celebration thing. I have no problem with them putting it out there and inviting those that wish to join along to go ahead and do so.

I do christmas in my own way. At home. With the fam. And a festivus pole.

Ciao
 

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