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Post by Dave's Not Here Man on Dec 9, 2023 11:17:12 GMT -5
mo·not·o·ny /məˈnätənē,məˈnädənē/ noun -lack of variety and interest; tedious repetition and routine. "you can become resigned to the monotony of captivity" -sameness of pitch or tone in a sound or utterance. "depression flattens the voice almost to monotony"
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Post by minx on Dec 11, 2023 10:48:22 GMT -5
That's late January for me. Right now, I'm busy getting end of year shit done at work, and once again trying to get my house in shape.
My house will never be in shape of course, but work will slow down and it will be too effing cold out soon.
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Post by Dave's Not Here Man on Dec 11, 2023 11:56:07 GMT -5
I used to get my house mentioned in the FLS's list of homes to ride around and see decorated for the holidays. The kids were young, we had several neighbor friends with kids, the tree was always fresh cut and loaded with presents for them on Christmas morning. And a lot of other things that helped keep the "spirit" healthy. Now, not so much. If I had a normal life and routine, and was able to work, things might look and feel differently to me. As it is I'm just going through the motions for no apparent reason, certainly no gratification for me personally. Most of these holidays, like all of them really, have become (for me) dry, absurd, banal traditions (think Groundhog Day) that whatever joy I once got from them is now lost in the depression of feeling compelled to participate in ways I'd rather not. I'm old, I'm tired, and I hurt, but I'll drag my feet at least until she threatens to pay a guy. The kid brushed her off like a piece of lint on a suit jacket when she asked him to come help yesterday.
I expect that as Nugget gets a little older, I might, hopefully, swing back the other way a little bit. The magic in a child's eyes are what it's all about anyway.
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Post by k9krap on Dec 11, 2023 16:29:19 GMT -5
Kids definitely make Christmas! Having none, I spoiled my nephew and niece. My dad also got mentioned yearly in the FLS for his Christmas decorations.
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Post by minx on Dec 11, 2023 16:36:56 GMT -5
Well, my idea of outdoor decorating was limited to throwing light nets over the bushes - DONE!
When the kids were little, we did the whole she-bang. We started going up to NJ to celebrate at my mom's when the youngest was around 12 - after that we didn't bother with a tree. We did put it up for the last three years, but this year I'm tired, so it's up in the attic. But I do have a delightful little display on my kitchen table - a little glass tree, a little tree candle, and a set of ornaments with Santa and his reindeer that are missing three deer. My work for the season is finished.
And I agree that for the most part, holidays and birthdays are pretty much just another day. Good - don't have to go all out and make a huge deal of it and it's a lot less stressful in many ways. Bad - I do get wistful for days of yore, and as you noted John, it makes weeks and months blur into each other.
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Post by Dave's Not Here Man on Dec 11, 2023 17:05:33 GMT -5
Probably told this story but whatever- Back when we lived across the road in Hollybrooke I was an anal retentive perfectionist when it came to almost everything I did. One night around this time of year there was a knock at the front door. It was my friend and neighbor from just up around the corner. He said in this really adamant tone, "John, someone vandalized your decorations!". I was like WHAT?!? WHERE?!? So I go outside with him and he points out one light bulb on a string of lights that was slightly askew from the others, like at a 45 degree angle while the other 2000 lights were perfectly spaced and at 90 degrees along the siding corners, gutters, outlines of the window frames, doors, etc.
Still gives me a wry little grin.
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Post by k9krap on Dec 11, 2023 17:52:37 GMT -5
Someone actually stole a handmade decoration from my Dad’s one year.
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Post by minx on Dec 12, 2023 11:48:33 GMT -5
Old friend bought a house. Neighbors across the street were HUGE decorators, and kept asking her husband when he was going to put lights out. So he got one of those plastic light up Santas and put it in the front yard. Neighbor is happy and exclaims "That's a start!"
Well, that did it and it was on like Donkey Kong! Neighbor was a super nice person, but he somehow triggered the inner decorator in her husband and he schemed each year on how to get his yard better than the neighbors. Totally cracked me up.
And for the record, he never succeeded. His job was transferred and they had to move before the Ultimate Decorations were revealed. But as soon as they moved, he lost all interest in it - was all about the neighbor (who they totally loved - it was definitely a friendly competition)
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