Well, once again, I have no preselected topic. It's commando style all the time here. Doesn't that just make you all warm and fuzzy?
About the only thing annoying me enough to write about is Christmas.
Let me get this straight right now. I work for an interiorscaping company. If I see another poinsettia, hear the word poinsettia, or even suspect that I am within 50 feet of a poinsettia, I will destroy the nearest poinsettia lovingly, carefully, and with great vengeance. Because remember, kiddies, Sentimentality Is Bad For You and makes one Undignified.
I used to enjoy Christmas, back when it was simple and I didn't have to work in a holiday environment. If I had a real job, I would like Christmas once again. I love the beauty of what some people achieve, the overwhelming tackiness that most achieve, and just generally the wonder of the season. It even makes me want to go to church (Catholic, of course. Gotta worship those idols, cause they ain't gonna worship themselves.), a feat that is normally only accomplished by interesting architecture, anti-war protests, or flat out bribery.
However, I No Longer Feel That Way about Christmas. I want it to be over. I want it to be July. I loathe it. And it is all because I work in a holiday-oriented job.
Yes, the Christmas spirit, the one that makes it ok to scream, cry, and behave in a fashion not suited to 3 year olds is alive and well here. I have witnessed more fits over something as stupid as a NON-GUARANTEED delivery date than I could shake an ornament at. I have seen the employees of this oversized daycare actually throw things - including the very expensive phone system that we do not own - around like cotton balls. I do not like seeing what people will do for money. I do not like people who are temperamentally unsuited to high-stress jobs doing exactly that. For 3 years.
Now, I have little against money grubbing generally, but I have a lot against it when it impacts my life in such a negative way. People who should know better (Okay, people that I think should know better but who actually have the intellectual comprehension of worms) are killing themselves, spending absolute shitloads of money, time, effort, peace, sanity, and etc. into achieving a perfect holiday, which is something that Will Never Happen.
Why?
What is the point of going absolutely spare over a holiday like this? Is there a point? When did Christmas become such a freaking commercial extravaganza?
I'm all for most of Christmas - when I'm not staring straight at a poinsettia - but I'm not for all this stupid stress and this goal to achieve perfection. I'd like to see someone mandate that, in everyone's best interests, the week between Christmas and New Year's will be considered holiday time, and everyone will have the week off, paid, just to give everyone a chance to survive this marathon intact.
I'd also like an H&K P7. If anyone wants to buy me one, I'd be delighted. Contact me for shipping info.
I'm serious about all of this. However, I think I'm more likely to get the gun than the peace of mind, which is unfortunate. We're supposed to have fun with this, people, not absolutely homicidal levels of screaming, hairpulling stress. It doesn't make sense. It's poisoning of our emotional water supply is what it is.
Spreading the Christmas Fear,
Channon