You'll have to excuse me for not being in the holiday spirit.

[Terra Alta]

I tried. I really did. I just can't get myself into the holiday spirit this year.

This is my tenth holiday season with the same big-box retail company, and it seems to be getting worse and worse each year. To them we are just a number and easily disposable. My fellow co-workers and I are being pushed and pushed and it is stressing me to the max.

Then there's the fact that I have to spend Christmas Eve and Christmas Day with a bunch of RW, racist, homophobic, Obama-hating relatives, I'd almost rather be working.

Add this to all the bad things going on in our country and the world. Cops killing unarmed black men and getting away with it. Repukes will soon have control of both houses of Congress. ISIL beheading anyone who doesn't agree to their twisted, fanatical beliefs. A pastor calling for all gays to be executed by Christmas, and lots of fundie nut jobs cheering him on.

So please excuse me for not being in the holiday spirit. Bah fucking humbug.

[SheilaT]

1. I'll suggest you think about changing jobs, although that

may not be at all possible.

But you don't have to spend Christmas Eve and Christmas Day with people you don't want to be with. Make alternative plans. Volunteer to serve dinner at the local homeless shelter. Get together instead with people more like you. Do something else. Consider moving 800 miles away by this time next year. Something, anything besides spending the day with the relatives.

At least check in with DU as often as possible.

[Terra Alta]

3. None of that is really feasible.

I've been at my current job for nearly ten years, gotten a raise every year during my annual evaluation, and make pretty decent money for my position. It would be very hard for me to find another full-time job making what I make now.

As for spending the holidays elsewhere, as much as I hate my relatives' bigoted, racist views, they are still family and I don't want to disappoint them. Especially my grandmother, who lives over an hour away, I only get to see her a few times a year and she is one of the few in my family who isn't bigoted or racist. As for the rest of my family, I guess I will just have to grin and bear it.

Thanks for your support, though. I have to get back to work now but will check back on this thread later. Just needed to vent.

I will definitely keep checking in with DU. It is what keeps me sane among all the madness.

[seabeyond]

2. my son is coming home from university in a couple days. we are all excited.

it has been easy for us to get into spirit... in anticipation.

i hear what you are saying though. i was looking to shoot it down, cause i am in a totally different place than you. yet. everything you say is correct. i do hear you. and i am sorry that is where you are at right now.

[Terra Alta]

4. Thanks for your support.

Glad your son is coming home for the holidays. Hope you all have a great time together.

[alefalko]

5. from Italy

Dear Mrs. seabeyond ,
I'm Alessandro Falconi : http://www.calcata.info/ISDT/ale.html#en ,
from Italy and this is my first message on this forum .
I'm writing to you publicly otherwise before to send a private message I shall had send ten other messages .
I 'm writing to you for this reason : in 2007 i wrote some "lines" in english which i almost forgot .
In the previous days i decided to publish them ; after i googled some words from the lines and i found this from you : http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x3693836 .

I was amazed by your description of MY kid years , from 1969 - seven - to 1976 - fourteen , the end of our middle school -, a part some national details .

My lines are about subsequent years , until the end of the eighties , may say the '89 .
It could be very kind from you if you could tell me if there are relevant language misuses and if their sense is comprehensible to you .
The lines are here : http://www.calcata.info/QUESTION.html ,
just as follows .

QUESTION

To all of us
who survived in innocence
to the delicate 70’s and the roaring 80’s
road-racing , dawn-bathing , night-clubbing ,
high-being, cops-clashing , sex-jamming . . . .

all of us fighting
against our parents
to affirm our right not to happiness
but to peace-time madness
in face of theirs parents’ war insanity :

“which are the madnesses
we hope and wish and fear
for our children to meet
which they would proudly show us ?”

2007, august

Thank you all for your patience in hosting and reading me here .
best of all
Alessandro

[seabeyond]

6. that was a decade ago, of a lot happening. lol. lordy. a decade of parenting and children growing

a decade of change, ect.... hm

you are interesting.

not sure what this blast from the way past, is all about.

[alefalko]

8. I'm sorry for causing insecurity

Dear Mrs. seabeyond ,
thank you very much for your kind answer .
i'm very sorry if i've been too presumptuous in my use of your language and this has generated in you some unpleasant feeling , but this was not my intention , which was just the one i wrote before .

all the best
Alessandro Falconi

[Terra Alta]

7. Less than 2 hours left in today's shift.

Think I'm going to make it. Some days aren't so easy, especially this time of the year. If I can just get through the holidays I think I will be fine.

[LeftInTX]

9. I've been really bummed about our political situation

I just don't have alot of optimism

My mom died earlier this year, so Christmas is going to be hard.
I just can't get in the spirit.

I hear you 100%

[Terra Alta]

10. sorry about your mom

Losing a loved one does make the holidays a lot harder. My grandfather has dementia and is getting worse every year. Every year I wonder if it will be our last Christmas with him.

Thank your for your support and understanding.

[shireen]

11. sorry to hear that ...

On the other hand you could have a bit of fun at their expense ... do you have any black gay liberal friends you could invite to spend Christmas with the family?

Or maybe just have fun thinking about it in your head -- they'll wonder why you are smiling and laughing so much.

Hang in there.

[Terra Alta]

12. ha ha, one of my supervisors at work is a black, gay liberal

And a hoot to work with. I can just see him and my racist, homophobic uncle going at it right now.

Thank for your support. I am trying to stay positive but I have my moments where I just can't wait for it all to be over with.