Less than 100

[tw1980]

Sounds like a good Christmas at the Ivan house to me.All the best to you and your family!

Terry

[Ivan]

We just finished up the gifting, and everyone seems to be happy. We picked up soem $40 mp3 players, which were the big hits for everyone. Even the younger one have some $20 ones and I guess I hadn't realized how much they all wanted their tunes. Now I hear 6 mp3 players in the distance.

The school gave more presents that were directed toward mom and pop. Clothes, shoes etc, so that is nice.

Now we are working on Christmas dinner, and some one gave us a 20 lb ham that looks like just under 8 hours of cooking time, so we'll eat about 2 am. HEHE! But the casseroles are coming along nicely. That's ok by me, since the stress of the year has about ruined my digestive tract and I am nothing more than a vegetarian lately, so all that ham being cooked would just drive me crazy, since I know it would taste sooo good and make me sooo sick.

Anyhow, you all take care and enjoy the holidays. Everyone here has a standing invite if they feel like stopping by, I got the whole week between Christmas and new years off, so come on over, we'll do pot luck or jungle juice, whatever get's ya.

[jmnjrpa]

I understand. Sounds like you got some good folks up your way Ivan. Looks like Christmas to me.

[fredintoon]

- - - when someone asks me what the true meaning of Christmas is, I usually respond, "To make you feel completely inadequate as a parent." - - -

Hi Ivan,
an inadequate parent dumps his kids at a winter camp, swans off to the Caribbean and mails them a cheque for Christmas. You are there for yours.

[XJOK2PLAY]

Hey, Ivan.
I know I can get carried away sometimes poking fun 'in the spirit of the moment'... but don't think I've forgotten your situation. I also can relate...
Being a dad of 3, and grandfather of 4 (soon to be 5)... with my current situation going on as you know... I understand.
I managed to get everybody a little something, in spite of my lack this year... just not like I normally would be able. Divorce can do that to a guy. Couple that w/ how bad construction has been lately thanks to the economy...

The way I see it, you have a good opportunity to take this bad situation and demonstrate an important life lesson to your kids here! Christmas is really not about money, gifts, toys, debt, food... it's not about focusing on what you DON'T have, it's being thankful for what you DO have... each other... family... good friends... life's true blessings... LIFE...the joy that comes from hearing and recieving the Good News & The Promise...

Far too many make the mistake of getting wrapped up in all the commercialism hype... and some actually turn depressed when they find themselves unable to go with the status quo... they feel like failures as parents when they want so badly to give their kids what they never had... and let's face it, that's really what most parents want... for their kids to have a better life than they did, right? I know I do. I feel sometimes I let them down because I can't afford to give them everything they had on their list as well.
Such is life. It's reality. We're all there...

But... if you & I do the best we can to hang on to the TRUE meaning of Christmas, and do our best to demonstrate that to our families at Christmas time... then perhaps we pass on a better gift than any we could ever buy for them... a legacy. One that can be passed on to our future generations...

I know you hate for people to brag on you, or to say nice things about you... because your humble... and I have great respect for that. But Ivan, just know, I wish you & your family a VERY Merry Christmas... ESPECIALLY this year, and that you have been a real inspiration AND blessing to me this past year. I'm very honored to be your friend. I'm glad I've gotten to know you.

Keep looking on the bright side, my friend. I'm sure your family understands the situation better than you realize. Just love 'em. That's what counts.
You got a family here @ CH. 11 that loves ya... and that includes me.
Happy Holidays!
Bob

[XSokieSPECIAL]

Yup,

I hear y'all. December is the month of the birthday of EVERYONE in my house, including me.

My youngest girls' birthday IS Christmas day.

The last few years my favorite Christmas present has been 12/26. That is the date I can just BEGIN to climb out of the hole.

Bah Humbug!

[DGXSER]

You know Ivan, I grew up one of five kids the son of a non-union carpernter who made about $20 an hour when he died at age 64 in the late 90s. And that was the most he ever made by far. So figure it out how our Christmas went each year. Typically we only got garage sale suff for Christmas. And I had a neighbor "friend" who took great joy in pointing out the things I got that he saw at garage sales before.

Now what I want to point out is that I take great pride in the fact my parents gave us kids what they could when they had nothing to give. So, do not feel inadequate, quite the opposite, I think it shows more love and caring that you dig past the point of hurting to give to your family. That is how I view it and alwasy have, and I bet your kids do to.

I make sure my kids know every year how lucky we are, and that this is a celebration of the Lords birth and not a present fest.

[Ivan]

Well, Ivan...
Perhaps 'ole St. Nick will come through for ya & leave ya a nice lump of coal, (A Harley trike, in other words...) in your stocking this year?? Will that make you feel better?

Boy... for such a great guy, you sure can be a Grinch! LOL

Merry Christmas, Grinchy...

Well, the grinch ain't got nothing on me. Honestly, I always dread Christmas. Most of the time I was growing up, we never had enough scratch left over from the spray season to get much stuff, so mom and dad really got into it over money during those times. Now days with the TV commercials Christmas is basicaly an "I WANT!" fest, with lots of kids pissy at the end cause their friends got cooler toys than they did. Not only that but this year, with the wrecks, Shaunna's surgery, Lee's passing, and the negative balance in the checking account for most of the year, car tags due in November, and 5 out of 8 birthdays in the last couple months, its even more of a downer. Luckily, the school came through for us unexpectedly this year by selecting us as their "Charity Family of the Year" and lots of people bought gifts for the "Charity Family". So the kids will have something. We were able to get them each something, but I think my birthday in January is going to be giving out gifts to the kids, since usually January is when things loosen up.

So, when someone asks me what the true meaning of Christmas is, I usually respond, "To make you feel completely inadequate as a parent." Oh the looks I get.

[XJOK2PLAY]

Well, Ivan...
Perhaps 'ole St. Nick will come through for ya & leave ya a nice lump of coal, (A Harley trike, in other words...) in your stocking this year?? Will that make you feel better?

Boy... for such a great guy, you sure can be a Grinch! LOL

Merry Christmas, Grinchy...

[Ivan]

Ok we all know Kat is the nice one,we all expect that from her.But if we all start being nice I doubt he(Ivan) could handle that,the pressure and shock would be to much he might leave us and buy a VTWIN.Then where would we be? Merry Chistmass everyone!! Terry

Yeah, I have been eyeballing a pink Harley trike, just so it can sit in my garage and look cool to all the other "nice" guys here. Its gonna have straight pipes so I can ride around town and hit the rev limiter at stop lights, cause everyone absolutely loves things that can produce 157dB at 1500 yards.

All its going to take is one more post being nice to me and I am there.

Now, I gotta run to my counseling appointment.

[XJOK2PLAY]

Yeah... your absolutely right, Terry!

Re: my second post...

[tw1980]

Congrats Ivan!

And for what it's worth... I second Kat's post 100%... and I DO feel I know ya pretty well by now...

Modesty is admirable... but the truth is the truth... I've sat reading many of your posts amazed at the depth of your knowledge on certain subjects...

(Now, they may not all have been about an 11... LOL


Guess we'll have to start calling you MR. Gurilla...

Ok we all know Kat is the nice one,we all expect that from her.But if we all start being nice I doubt he(Ivan) could handle that,the pressure and shock would be to much he might leave us and buy a VTWIN.Then where would we be? Merry Chistmass everyone!! Terry

[XJOK2PLAY]

Ok...
Your wish is my command... cause ya know how much I wanna fit in around here...


HEY, AZZHAT!!!

[Ivan]

Well, you'll never fit in unless you address me as everyone else does. Just say "Hey! Azzhat!" Everyone will know who you are talking to.

[XJOK2PLAY]

Congrats Ivan!

And for what it's worth... I second Kat's post 100%... and I DO feel I know ya pretty well by now...

Modesty is admirable... but the truth is the truth... I've sat reading many of your posts amazed at the depth of your knowledge on certain subjects...

(Now, they may not all have been about an 11... LOL


Guess we'll have to start calling you MR. Gurilla...