So, yesterday was Thanksgiving.  Terri got the day off on account of her slaving over a hot stove every other day of the year, so I did the cooking.  Everything turned out surprisingly well.  Not that I really thought I’d ruin everything…  I can cook fairly well usually…  But a big ol’ Thanksgiving dinner is a little imposing.

I, of course, ate far too much.  Piles of turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, rolls, pumpkin pie…  It’s amazing that I didn’t rupture something yesterday.

I also spent a good chunk of the day yesterday playing WoW.  My Warlock is now 76, and my Death Knight is 62.  I’m more-or-less done with Dragonblight…  There are still a few group quests for me to do there, but I’ve had enough.  Some of those quests were pretty frustrating and I’m glad to be out of the zone.  I’m currently grinding in Howling Fjord - technically a step backwards, as the zone is lower level, but it’s a lot of fun.

I haven’t played Left 4 Dead again since that first session.  It was certainly fun, but I’ve been tied up in WoW almost nonstop.  That’s the problem with the holiday season in general - excess.  Too much stuff going on, too much to do, not enough time for any of it.  I’ve still got to play through Red Alert 3, and I wanted to try Fallout 3, and I never did finish Dead Space…

The best part though, is that it is only Friday night.  I’ve had two full days off from work, and I’ve got two more to go.  Very nice.

I don’t like Christmas.

I’m not just indifferent, I actively dislike it.

All the stores around here have their Christmas stuff out…  All sorts of snowmen and trees and stuff for sale.  Assorted lights and signs and displays to decorate your house.  All sorts of sales and flyers and stuff trying to convince you to buy more crap.  Christmas music on the radio…  All sorts of talk about Christmas planning, shopping, and celebrating on TV…

It all makes me cringe.

Within the confines of our own house I enjoy the holiday.  I like having some time off.  I like the excuse to spend time with my family.  I like the feasting and the way it tricks people into sitting down around the dinner table and talking to eachother.  I like to see my wife and son smile to see what they’ve got under the tree.  That’s all fun.

But outside of the confines of my own house…  Out in the world at large…  Christmas has become downright distasteful to me.

We’re told to give, give, give…  They tell us how much better it is to give than to receive.  The Salvation Army is outside stores, ringing their bells.  There’s specials about how people are going hungry and need your donations.  There’s tales of random acts of charity.  But it all seems like a very thin veneer over rampant greed.

We’re told how great it is to give gifts…and then we’re handed a sales flyer pointing out all the wonderful things we could give, if we bought them.  We’re told how disappointed the children will be if we don’t get them everything they want.  There are “news” stories about how to explain to your children that times are tight and Santa won’t be bringing as many presents this year…  Followed up shortly by an advertisement for American Express, or MasterCard, or some other way to dig yourself deeper into debt.

And then…  In a time when we’re all supposed to be coming together to celebrate this wonderful, holy occasion…  We’ve got the fundamentalists who want to exclude people, rather than include them.  Folks who are upset when you try to include people of every creed by wishing everyone a Happy Holiday, instead of wishing happiness on only the Christians.  We’re told that people who want to include everyone in the joy of the season are, in fact, waging a War on Christmas.

A holiday that is, at least theoretically, supposed to bring people together in celebration…  Is instead used to drive another wedge between people.

And if you don’t like all of this crap…  If all the rampant commercialism and thinly-veiled greed and nicely-dressed hate doesn’t make you bright and cheerful…  Then there’s something wrong with you.

You know…  I’m really getting pretty sick of the commercial extravaganza that Christmas has become.  It’s absolutely rediculous.

Last week, when I was shopping for an anniversary card for Terri, Hallmark already had all their Christmas stuff out.  Christmas cards, ornaments, decorations, candy…  All sorts of festive stuff.  In October.  Halloween hadn’t even happened yet…  Nor had Thanksgiving…  But they were already trying to sell you stuff for Christmas.

Target had their Halloween decorations in one aisle, and their Christmas stuff in another.  Again, ready and willing to sell you festive junk for a holiday that is months away.

I’ve heard radio stations playing Christmas music already…  Seen commercials suggesting that you should start shopping immediately…

What ever happened to spending any time with the family?  Just kicking back and enjoying each-other’s company?  All I see any more is buy, buy, buy!