Let there be a Festivus for the rest of us. Holiday type thingies.

[Unorthodox]

It's time again for the darkest time of year.  Holiday season. 

Well survived the Turkey days.  (yes plural for us)  Was mostly ignored at my parents, so that's a bonus. 

Wednesday, it was like someone flipped on the switch to full holiday [jerk, sphincter] driving.  EVERYWHERE. 

I did make a half-hearted attempt to hit one store on Thursday to a store that opened at 2PM!  See, one of the cash prizes from work was in the form of gift cards of your choosing, and I figured I could get work clothes for the year.  Anyway, we took one look at the crowds, and just left.  I'll pay the little bit more to shop online. 

We went back out Friday morning to get some more folding tables for the Halloween party and got curious looks from even the employees walking out with every table in the store.  Won't be long and I won't have to borrow any tables anymore. 

Time to start working the chairs. 

Looking ahead, there's several annoying parties upcoming starting next week, and we haven't even really started 'real' shopping yet.  Though none of the kids are asking for anything big ticket or highly sought for this year, so no real worries. 

[Lorizael]

I wish I were poor and lived far from my family so that I had a convenient excuse not to show up to holiday things. As it is, I show up and camouflage myself with cogent phrases about football.

[Geo]

I wish I were poor and lived far from my family so that I had a convenient excuse not to show up to holiday things. As it is, I show up and camouflage myself with cogent phrases about football.

I take it there's no-one there with stars in his/her eyes?

[Spacy]

The grandparents are fighting and pulling no punches as to who we take the grandkid to this year....

[Unorthodox]

The grandparents are fighting and pulling no punches as to who we take the grandkid to this year....

I'm assuming "both" is not an option.  Is Neither? 

hEt's family is facing the dilemma of members moving away for the first time. 

[Spacy]

We are hosting wife's family on Sat, 23rd, and on Monday 25th we are flying to brothers in Minnesota.  Not going to be fun. 

[Unorthodox]

You're flying ON christmas?  Ew. 

[Geo]

I think a couple years back, I flew between Christmas and Old Years Eve.

[Rusty Edge]

Years ago I flew on Christmas day to be with my future wife. The problem was driving the 150 miles in 8" of new snow to the airport. The rest of the trip wasn't stressful by comparison.

[E_T]

Practically at the last minute, My Brother Invited me to his place for T-day dinner this year.  I almost fell down when he issued the invite...

[Unorthodox]

Heading toward my 4 day weekend (fri-monday).

My boss denied me my vacation next week (scheduled since July) because he decided he'd rather take it.  Time away from him was most the reason for it in the first place.  So, even working will be a vacation next week. 

hEt's family party tonight.  It usually is only mildly annoying. 

Did all the holiday kitchen crap over the weekend. 





And the annual cemetery lights.



Grandma on their tree this year...



With Kyle working in West Valley (past Salt Lake), and the boss wanting the family to go to christmas lights together this year, that left the Salt Lake Temple as the most likely outing.



One thing that struck me, at their main nativity this year...SOMEONE made a bunch of prop 'trees' to fill in the space.  I only really mention this as it's now 7 years since the first iteration of my "orchard", and 3 years since I finalized it.  Oh, and several of the folks at the office for the temple down there live in my neighborhood.  I'm sure it's pure coincidence they started making fake trees the exact same way I have been. 



We left Vera behind accidentally...too bad, the wide angle lens would have totally made this shot. 



One of the neater things they had was "Nativities from around the world".  I don't know how authentic, but they were fun. 







Other than that the place was oppressively crowded, and people annoy me. 

[Unorthodox]

One more hour here today, then I just have to make it through work tomorrow without killing someone.  4 day weekend. 

One annoyance to make tonight, then a bunch of cookie deliveries to make.  Friday off, Saturday start the party prep. 

[Geo]

We left Vera behind accidentally...too bad, the wide angle lens would have totally made this shot. 



Is that a typical Mormon temple?

Never seen the 'nativity' in other types then the typical European style. Kinda sweet.

[ColdWizard]

They seem to vary: http://ldschurchtemples.org/photographs/

This is my typical view of the one nearest me.

[Lorizael]

This is my typical view of the one nearest me.

Heh. Knew what that was before I clicked.