(no subject)

[sanpaku_backup]

It is good to see so many of my LJ friends in the true seasonal spirit... miserable, depressed, and cranky.

It is still unclear as to whether or not Christmas will take place in the house. This was supposed to the year of no Christmas, as my sister in law is flying to Mexico on Thursday morning and we declared ourselves non-ambulatory with the baby so small. But my in-laws decided to do something up here, which entails Mrs. Sanpaku running around like crazy to cook things. It is like Thanksgiving only much more stressful.

Father-in-law was sensitive about it for some reason, probably the same reason for his unconcealed animosity about all things Jewish. "You sure there won't be a problem having Christmas at your house?" Well, yes, actually. I don't want a tree or a wreath or any of that god damn music in my house. One could say that the small measure of peace in my house is compensation for the general agitation outside at this time of year. I can at least have someplace to do what I want to do, which is pretend that this is Not Happening. But the Mrs. is attached to the whole fandango and I want to be a Good Host. So right now, right as I am writing these words, I am listening to my mother in law blasting "Hark the Herald Angels Sing" downstairs.

I am also reasonably sure that my father-in-law will do what he usually does when tricky unarticulated issues are out there, which is try to pick a fight with whoever is around.

Meanwhile, my mother-in-law brought a bunch of macrobiotics books, including the original You Are All Sanpaku, to educate us on the general subject of Baby Nutrition.

On the positive side, I did find a big farmstand on the way to Kingston with a huge sign saying "Freshly Baked Pies." I got out of the car and was suffused with the smell of pie crust. I bought a pecan pie that was still warm. It's the best pecan pie I've ever had.

Also, it is supposed to be winter-ish tomorrow, perhaps complete with snowstorm, so that would make up for there being nothing on TV other than boring college football games.

The Mrs. will not approve of this post, so I hope y'all appreciate it.

Comments

[librarygrrl.livejournal.com]

Oh man, wreaths and candles and twinkly lights are one thing. But you gots to draw the line at christmas music...

Re:

[sanpaku.livejournal.com]

I fucking despise the music. I think I could handle the rest of it, to tell you the truth. But if I have to hear The Little Drummer Boy once more this winter... I don't want that filth poured into my baby daughter's ears!

You in Peters Twp. yet? Hope you're doing OK.

[wouldprefernot2.livejournal.com]

My sympathies. I worked four Christmases at Syms, and "The Little Drummer Boy" was on the muzak every 45 minutes, if I recall correctly. I quit before I snapped . . .

Conflict

[flw.livejournal.com]

Ahh, it wouldn't be X-mas without silent hostility and vitriol. That's what X-mas is all about. The whole idea is to get someone else to crack first, erupt and then you have the person who ruined Christmas. Once everyone else has their martyrdom firmly established, everyone can leave and go smoke or see a movie or whatever it is that people want to do other than sit around for 12 hours with their family watching TV.

So, did you say that you had a problem with X-mas in the house. No? Oh, man that is so Christmas! The lines are drawn. I can hear it in your head now, M.I.L. saying, "It's our first Christmas with our grandchild, you don't mind if we get you a tree ... just for pictures. We want pictures to send to everyone. Then, as soon as we're gone you can get rid of the tree." Oh man, I know all the arguments. I can hear them.

Oh God, X-mas must be sheer torture for Jews. I guess that is a cheap comment, when you consider that they used to literally torture Jews on X-mas in Eastern Europe.

So, it's you versus everyone. I suggest you put on a sweater with reindeers and santas and go down and sing along.

Re: Conflict

[sanpaku.livejournal.com]

I didn't want to say anything to them. I figured that was the Mrs.'s job. So I bellyached to her endlessly over the last week, and her father eventually asked about it. I don't like being the heavy, but it's my god damn house. Believe me, all those sentiments you describe have already been voiced. Given the time of year the baby was born that was practically the first thing they said -- "Baby under the Christmas tree!" So I got painted into a corner before there was any way to stop it. But I have also decided on some level that they're stuck with me by now and if they think I'm an asshole about Christmas, that's their problem.

Of course I knew this was going to happen, it's not exactly a surprise. Yes, I have been able get a taste of the fun you must have had all these years.

Do you watch Curb Your Enthusiasm. Holy shit, that is such an incredible show. He's gets sick of watching his wife and in-laws singing Christmas carols, so he goes in and eats some cookies... then they all get mad at him for eating the Baby Jesus. Coz he doesn't know about the cookies. It's not exactly torture, you can handle it when it is external to your life and you can be remote from it, but having to participate is something else again.

But I can't really complain too much. They watched their Scrooge last night while I played Stronghold on my iBook for 3 hours and no one gave a crap. Like most of life, it is not hard to get through once you're in a semi-catatonic state.

Re: Semi-catatonic state

[librarygrrl.livejournal.com]

This is where drugs come in so handy!

Re: Conflict

[flw.livejournal.com]

Oh man, this isn't good. You should meet them halfway. You should say, "I'll learn a Christmas carol, if you come here for Rosh Hashana." Cause they're not stupid, if you met them half-way, I am betting they'd be more tolerant.

I am very pissed that I missed that particular Curb Your Enthusiasm episode. I absolutely love that guy. Wouldn't it be nice to know someone to whom you could say anything at all? And know that he'd have no reservations about saying anything at all? Though the show is getting a little formulaic, and I hear it is a positive nightmare to work on. They have the place for two hours and all of a sudden Ted Danson remembers a time when someones kid knocked over a crystal unicorn at a party and the PAs have to run all over LA looking for a crystal unicorn and a red-headed kid and get them back to the set in 30 minutes.

Re: Conflict

[sanpaku.livejournal.com]

Yeah, but you know, I don't necessarily want them around for Rosh Hashanah. And I don't necessarily want to BE around for Christmas. But being around for Christmas is halfway, for me, since I would rather not be there at all. But I am not in general much for halfways anymore -- you saw how the wedding went, which was pretty much, "we're going to do what we want to do, and you can join in, or not." I guess philosophically I am not a believer in watering down what I am doing, or what others are doing, which is why they should have their holiday there and we have ours here. Dig.

I don't really mind anymore, but it is more about Mini-Me and how I don't want her to think of Christmas as big-potlatch-present time. But there is no gracious way of avoiding it so long as we live on the east coast. Plus the Mrs. loves it. So what are you going to do.

I can't imagine how the show could avoid being formulaic, but it's so bizarre and anti-intuitive to begin with, they get a pass. They just totally dispense with the need to make him likable. Why didn't anyone come up with that idea before?

Disapproval

[(Anonymous)]

Hey - it's your journal. Feel free to say whatever you please. I am not the Thought Police. Please note, though - there was never any question of them bringing a tree - or lights, or any other decorations - into our house. As for the music, well - you know the torture I endured this year at the hooves of Dominic the Donkey. So I guess we can call it even. "Mrs. S."