Thursday, December 14, 2006

Just Wondering, Thinking...


Do you give Christmas cards (with money) to your mailman, newspaper deliveryman (x2 for us), cleaning lady (I’ll cop to having a cleaning lady every two weeks — the old back excuse) and others who “serve” you? I’m not asking how much $$, although I’m never sure what is the correct amount to give. I’m just wondering if this is common practice. Am I nuts or am I correct in doing this?

I also give shortbread (yes, homemade) to my neighbours, my physiotherapist (she’s also a friend) and my doctor. I want to stay on my doctor’s good side and I do not want her to retire. (As if my annual shortbread gift will influence her decision.) I also haul a batch to my fitness class Christmas party, save some for Christmas dinner and on and on… I could be baking this stuff every day — which I refuse to do. Thus, shortbread is actually in short supply around here. The guys all know to grab some while it’s still warm — before it’s gift-wrapped.

(Now veering off to another topic.) I wish charities would hold off with their mail and phone requests at Christmas time. I know they’re doing a year end blitz but I’m being bombarded. I’ve even checked when I last gave $$ to certain organizations, and for some it was as recently as October. At this time of year, I’m giving chunks of money to specific charities that enable children to have toys and people to have food at Christmas. I’ll get back to the others come January. Please leave me alone right now!

Another question. Is your Christmas tree up and decorated? Ours is still in the garage. We went “fake” a few years ago due to allergies. I’m feeling some pressure here — self-imposed, of course. The rest of this family might not notice the absence of a Christmas tree until Christmas Eve.

Ever wonder why the key ho-ho-ho jolly (as opposed to religious) symbolic figure at Christmas time isn’t MRS. Santa Claus? Without women, chances are slim that homes would be decorated, gifts bought, wrapped and distributed, goodies baked and that glorious, calorie laden turkey dinner served. We make it all happen.

While on the topic of female gender and this festive season —

According to the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, while both male and female reindeer grow antlers in the summer each year, male reindeer drop their antlers at the beginning of winter, usually late November to mid-December. Female reindeer retain their antlers till after they give birth in the spring. Therefore, according to EVERY historical rendition depicting Santa's reindeer, EVERY single one of them, from Rudolph to Blitzen, had to be a girl. We should've known... ONLY women would be able to drag a fat-ass man in a red velvet suit all around the world in one night and not get lost!

(Thanks, Barb, for this timely tidbit.)

That’s it for the musings. I cannot sit at this computer any longer. My faithful mutt companion is lying right beside me and has unbelievable gas. Jeez. I need a gas-mask. The entire room needs fumigating.

8 comments:

oreneta said...

Back long long ago, when I had a paper route, I was completely delighted to get those christmas cards with the money...I'm not sure kids are delivering anymore though....The cleaning lady would probably prefer cash to a scarf I figure...

Tree's, well our life is crazy on that one, used to go out and hunt the wild christmas tree, find one, chop it down drag it to the car and drive it home. Then living on the boat? First year, mangrove branches in a naglene. The kids were good sports but not impressed. Second year, tiny tiny tiny live tree, that we then nurtured for months before it DIED. Great angst from the kids. Third year..bought a fake, I'll post about that one...This year, visiting my sister, may not get one at all.. We always put them up after the 21st, which is my sister's birthday, didn't want to crowd it out.

You are soooo right about women and Christmas. Just bought a bunch of stuff for the husband to give out, although I will grant that I volunteered.

Anonymous said...

oreneta - looking forward to your post on the fake tree...
Glad you agree on the women and Christmas thing. My husband did some Christmas shopping on the weekend and came back with a shirt for ME to give HIM. Uh, honey...the point is to shop for OTHER people. (I'll give him some credit - he did pick up a gift for one of our kids - I think he wants one of them for himself.)

megan said...

Yes to cash for newspaperpeople, cleaning ladies (let's ensure those dustbunnies don't grow) and mailman. Yes to charities for kids - yes to wanting to scream at other charities who have recently received.
Re: women and Christmas - sometimes we bring it on ourselves (I know you will jump on me with this one). If ya don't feel like doing it, don't (i.e./waiting to put up the tree - if the hubby/and or grown kids are desparate for it, let them haul it in). Bottom line, try to enjoy some of the spirit of the season.....let's try to remember what it's really all about - and I don't mean Santa...

Anonymous said...

megan - I certainly do remember what it's all about - and that's what makes so much of the "other" stuff difficult to deal with.
I am gettin' down with the spirit...
Fa la la la...

Rebecca said...

Just this morning I was wondering if we should leave something for our letter carrier. (I believe that's the PC term now ; ) I was reminiscing about "the olden days" when my parents would leave something for the mail man and paper boy, and I wondered why no one does that anymore. I guess people do (cockles of the heart, warming...) I'll probably give some extra coins to the man who sings at my subway stop every morning too.

Anonymous said...

rebecca - consider me still back in the olden days - kind of a nice place to be.
And do drop off those extra coins - that puts you in a nice place too!

Anonymous said...

Trish said...yeah, it's the anon thing again....

I know a woman that delivers papers for a living and from what she has told me it is hard time consuming work.

I left my paper carrier a $20 bill in a Christmas card and my hub gave our letter carrier a bottle of whiskey. The two of them like to chat over the mailbox...they chat and chat and chat and I am still waiting for my mail LOL

The tree is happening this Sunday.

Anonymous said...

trish - still can't post comments the OTHER way? You must be fuming.
Glad to hear you do the money thing too but crap, I didn't give that much to our mailman (and he IS a man). Altho I was extremely generous to the cleaning lady. Guess it all evens out and it's the thought that counts.
Hoping to get the fake tree in this weekend too. It looks lonely in the garage in its box...