Who Didn't Just Pull Up Into My Driveway This Year...

[Chas]

If she did, then you'd have to rush me to the hospital for investigation of either psychosis or an acute heart attack.

The point is this: for those of you without close family or traditional yuletide observances, what are you doing to survive this time of year?

 

[Zip Gun Aria]

I love the fact you're from Vancouver. I'm from there originally, though we moved to the States when I was still a mewling brat.

I'm about to go to White Plains to have dinner with my girlfriend and possibly her twin sis and sis's girlfriend. Most people don't realize how relaxing it is to spend time with twins. I think we'll be spending Christmas together as well.

On past occasions, my best friend, amie de l'année and I used to head for the least Christmas-prone restaurants and bars we could find. A few examples: The Algonquin, the Olde Devil Moon, the Russian Samovar and Bar and Book.

If I were alone (as I found myself a few years back when a girlfriend broke up with me days before Christmas Eve), I might have done any of the following things:

Soaked up overtime in an office, booked myself for some emergency recording session, or arranged to exchange phone calls with members of some group with reasons to need comfort (such as members on a self-injury site). That way, I could feel I spent the holidays either helping other people or myself. I didn't call any of my friends for fear of seeming desperate.

A few other things you could do: Stock up on indulgences and deny them to yourself until the fated day. These might include wine, whiskey, king salmon, new books, and a related series of films, documentaries or crime shows you've never seen in that form (blu-ray, etc.). If you're a gamer, save yourself a few new games for that day.

Films emphasizing Christmas and happiness in general can actually make people feel worse. Crime flicks, gialli and mysteries were better suited to my sojourn in solitary, and Michael Powell at his most opulent worked with my sumptuous meal.

I say enjoy yourself and forget the ritual.

 

[mike]

Olde Devil Moon was my favorite! Sadly, it's no more.

 

[Zip Gun Aria]

No worries -- there will always be other posh spots to discover in our burg.

I'm just waiting for my clothes to dry before stepping into the snow to head for my kitten's comforting nook (and by nook, I mean nook). I've been in holiday solitary position myself, though. Don't feel alone just because some of us aren't this time. Lots of good people like yourself are having to go through this.

 

[Chas]

One Xmas morning some years back I came home from a night shift, and feeling rather peevish, turned on the tv before heading off to bed. I guess someone at the station understood how I felt, because this was on...

[YOUTUBE]<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/TQME8mx4DMo&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/TQME8mx4DMo&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>[/YOUTUBE]

For some years afterward, it was my yuletide tradition to watch "Planet Of The Apes" on Xmas morn. Nothing says xmas for me more than Chuck Heston yelling "It's a madhouse....A MADHOUSE!"

 

[lolly_loisides]

Coming from a completely irreligious family the only Christmas tradition we have is the annual family argument about whether to watch the Queens Christmas speech or not.

 

[C-dot]

My family has a Christmas Eve tradition - We all pile over to an uncle's large house and order a ton of Chinese food, it's great. Of course, someone will be yelled at for something, the tree will topple over, or a few people will retreat into the "burgundy office." It's a good time! lol