The truth, I hate the holidays

[bodybuilder1958]

I do, sorry, the holidays anymore are so far from what they were meant to be that it just puts a nasty taste in my mouth. Political correctness has alot to do with it. Can't see the beautiful truthful decorations from past. How much you spend has more emphasis than the gift it's self. Our family is so split that we don't get together anymore. I would do it in a heartbeat for the grandkids but my daughter has ruined that.

Our schools don't sing the Christmas carols anymore. My oldest sister criticizes me for sending 'religious message' Christmas cards. It gets too cold in Ks to do what I want to outside. Every year it gets harder and harder to get into the Christmas spirit. What is the Christmas spirit anymore?

Okay I'll put up the tree tonight but scream every time the cat goes near it. Last time we had a new kitty we lost 4 ornaments. I go thru the motions but the heart/spirit just isn't into it anymore.

Any suggestions?
P.S. The tree is too big for a baby pen, don't have any dog hair, how to keep 2 kitties out of our Christmas tree.

[jayne]

a nice 357...cats are Gods answer to live target practice! well we all know that will get me in trouble..I hate cats and Christmas cant wait till all the kids are out of the house and never have to put a tree up again...Loved it in Germany a whole different feeling course that was 25 years ago it may be all different now....Sorry BB next year book a trip to Munich for Christmas you will love it

[Bummer Knees]

This is also a difficult year for me getting in the spirit of Christmas. I just lost a friend earlier this week. She was a friend, early childhood teacher, and parent of a disabled child. My friend was strangled by her grandson Monday morninging in her home. The reason, he needed money, my friend wouldn't give it to him.

My husband's side of the family was much like yours BB until my brother-in-law, Todd had his failed kidney transplant earlier this year. In two days we almost lost Todd & his wife Lori (the Donor) My husband's older brothers started communicating after that happened and the family is closer than it has ever been.

Perhaps it will take something similar to break the ice in your family BB. Prayers for you family.

The kittens, I do not have a clue, no inside animals at Bummer's house.

[jayne]

a spray bottle filled with water spray with water saying no when you do also sprinkle cayenne pepper in the skirt around the base of the tree if you have no young babies crawling under your tree...

[bodybuilder1958]

[quote='jayne' pid='140497' dateline='1323647885']
a nice 357...cats are Gods answer to live target practice! well we all know that will get me in trouble..I hate cats and Christmas cant wait till all the kids are out of the house and never have to put a tree up again...Loved it in Germany a whole different feeling course that was 25 years ago it may be all different now....Sorry BB next year book a trip to Munich for Christmas you will love it
[/quote

Jayne I used to not really like cats until we lived in the country, there we had more rats than people so cats were a necessity. The oldest found a maine coon 2 yrs ago that I didn't want to let outside because of his fur so this yr my husband decided that Jasper needed a playmate. Well Oreo is cute but he's an ornary son of a gun. Two outside cats and they still bring home rats for me to throw away and two indoor cats. Can't wait until we retire and there will be NO animals. A dog I would prefer but we don't have a fenced in yard. That's another story, Jayne we've got two spray bottles out all the time, works to a point.

We'll see come tomorrow when I'm gone as to the condition of the tree, tis a mess.

[jayne]

try hanging spices in net bags hidden in your tree sharp spices like cayenne,cloves,allspice,nutmeg ect works in the garden should work in the tree...

[bronco54501]

The whole Christmas thing has become over rated with a lot of my family. Sure we all like nice gifts, but when the younger expect high dollar items it makes it to hard. My parents and my mothers parents have always had a tradition for christmas.. We all gathered together and all had drawn names and a $5 limit. We spent the day with family and had a big christmas dinner.. Of course grandma being the crafter, all of us grandkids got home made gifts, there was not one of us that were unhappy.... Those times have past, once a big family and now split up all over.

[bodybuilder1958]

I sprinkled cayenne around the tree base and on the skirt. My big maine coon hisses at the tree every time he walks past it, too funny, I prally need to get a picture.

[jayne]

glad it worked for you....I use it to keep the darn things out of my sewing room....for some reason the cats know I cant stand them so they like to come and show me they are in charge....we do have a new chinese resteraunt in town maybe they want some fresh meat..............