Its Boxing Day Thursday MKF 12/26/02

[Rosenberg]

Happy Boxing Day to all Canadian and British kittens!

Its just a somewhat normal, back-to-work day for me, but I hope everyone who is fortunate to have time off during the holidays is enjoying it. Did anyone receive any horrible, why did you ever think I would want this kind of thing gifts yesterday? I was pretty lucky and didnt receive anything that I need to take back. Im grateful for that, because returning stuff is not one of my favorite things to do, especially if it involves fighting mall traffic and bargain-crazy shoppers. Do you think Willow and Tara ever gave each other something that would have to be taken back? I think even if it were something off the wall, neither one would attempt to return it because of the sentimental value involved.

Happy birthday to my sister and (a day early) to Deb!

[urnofosiris]

Considering their oftentimes horrible taste in clothes I don't think there would be much they'd want to return, especially not if it is something they have given each other. Though Willow might be tempted to change generic salamander eyes for the exclusive ones.

I don't celebrate Christmas anymore, but we used to when I was young. I loved looking at the presents under a tree almost as much as unwrapping them, but those days are gone. This year I have been my own santa and bought a new TV, shouldnt have droppped the old one I guess, heh, and one of those new flat computer monitors. Hum, very decadent of me, but I worked hard for it and I felt like spoiling myself.

Anyway, merry rest of the holidays to everyone or have a good day at work in case of the less fortunate.

[drlloyd11]

Returns?Ha!
Willow goes shopping the week after xmas. The returned items are so much cheaper then!
As Lord Bowler once said
"This shirt matches nothing I own. I love it!"

[justastraightdog]

So this was (and for some hours still is) this year's Christmas...
...some great things had been planned, and then it started to rain.

Well, rain as such isn't a bad thing, unless the ground and air temperature is way below zero. Now we have ice, a lot of ice. Again, that's nothing bad - I like ice. In my drinks or when it comes flavored, creamy, yummy... you get the idea. But on the streets?

No busses, no trams. I can't remember that this happened before - which means it didn't happen in the last 35 years. Driving by car is like Russian Roulette with 6 bullets - basically not a good idea. And the odds while walking are even worse. It came fast and took man and beast by surprise. I saw a small bird which couldn't fly anmore because there was too much ice on its wings. This kind of rain.

Braunschweig (not (New) Brunswick, it's the original, I won't accept any substitutes ... ... ... - yeah, that's where I live; that I usually say Hannover is due to a typical inferiority complex towards the bigger and better known town nearby ) isn't a big city, but with a population of about 250,000 it's also not really small. Unfortunately the rain started on Christmas' Eve - one of the best shopping days of the year, and the city was almost unreachable. Great, something like that had to happen when the economy already is down.

So, I couldn't get to those I wanted to visit and those who had been invited couldn't come by. Yeah, great. I'm feeling a little bit like the characters in Katharyn and Forristers Holliday Fic 2002 - unfortunately those in the larger cabin (read it - it's another reason why the fan in fanfic is just an abbreviation for fantastic when it comes to the Pens).

But before this is moved to the crappy feelings thread - hey, there was still enough food and family around to make some quite decent holidays, it wasn't that bad. Hope you Kittens had some good days, too - without the rain and with better working plans.

[FlereImsaho]

Well Rosenberg, on the 1 to 10 horribleness scale how do you rank a fruitcake? This one is full of sugar and All-Things-Artificial. I really don't want to eat it, but I also don't want to cause hurt feelings... I'm in a quandary. Any suggestions? I suppose it could be opened and someone could accidentally leave it unwrapped, but with all those artificial ingredients it would still out live me

All other presents were good

I could not see Willow or Tara returning a gift from the other and neither of them would go the fruitcake route!

[WiccansIllusion]

Out of curiosity, what exactlly is Boxing Day? aside from my dads bday...

as for Willow and Tara. I think Tara secretly likes fruitcake.


Fruitcake and Twinkies will one day rule the world.

[Rosenberg]

"Well Rosenberg, on the 1 to 10 horribleness scale how do you rank a fruitcake?

You know, my Mother is the only person in the world I knew who actually LIKED fruitcake. She used to look forward to getting one for Christmas and Thanksgiving too. Go figure. Personally, I think fruitcakes are horrid and I would rank it a -1 on the scale, but thats just my opinion


Edited to add:

Boxing Day originated in England in the middle of the nineteenth century under Queen Victoria. December 26th became a holiday as boxes were filled with gifts and money for servants and tradespeople.

Also, poor people carried empty boxes from door to door, and the boxes were soon filled with food, Christmas sweets, and money. Parents gave their children small gifts such as, oranges, handkerchiefs, and socks. People also placed old clothing that they didn't need anymore in boxes, and they were given to those in need.

Today, Boxing Day is a holiday in the United Kingdom, Canada, and many other Commonwealth nations. It is spent with family and friends at open gatherings with lots of food, fun, and the sharing of friendship and love.

While government buildings and small businesses are closed, the malls are filled with people either exchanging gifts or buying reduced priced Christmas gifts, cards, and decorations.

Throughout the Christmas season, many organizations follow the original tradition of Boxing Day by donating their time, energy, and money to fill the Food Bank, provide gifts for children who live in poverty, or to help an individual family who is in great need at the time.

[tommo]

" It is spent with family and friends at open gatherings with lots of food, fun, and the sharing of friendship and love."

Oh yeah...there was plenty of sharing friendship and love at my family gathering today. Heh. Oh wait...that wasn't love, that was alcohol. I'm always amazed at how much my sister can drink and still not fall over. Bless. I do love that bint.

[FlereImsaho]

In the interests of politically correct obfuscation, let me clarify. After a less than tactful comment by someone, most of my presents are now in the categories of Great, Really Great, or Extraordinarily Great. The fruitcake has its own category Just Great.

I ask for forgiveness from the Fruitcake Lovers Liberation Front. I offer this fruitcake as a token of reconciliation.

[Garner]

Why do they call it fruitcake when there are no real fruit in it and that certainly doesn't look like a cake to me!? Personally I think they are alien life forms that need to gestate in a human before reproducing and taking them over. But I could be wrong.

My Christmas was actually not bad and everything that I got I basically wanted. And no assembly was required, now that's a holiday treat!

I could see W/T returning something that Anya gave them, or maybe even Xander. Something from each other, never. But they'd never have a reason to.

Peace and love to all kittens,
Garner

[mscheckmate]

I have to come out of the closet here: I like fruitcake. So does my gf. My mom has a really good recipe for it. But, I don't like most of the store-bought fruitcakes. They're usually only edible if you drench them with bourbon.

[FlereImsaho]

This is how things become confusing, one word being used for two very different things. Fruitcake made by mscheckmate's Mom = Real Food = warm memories of hearth and home. Fruitcake bought at the store = non-Fruitcake = life-form altering chemicals = gestating aliens (thank-you Garner for frightening me).

Now I must admit that I ate some in the interest of familial harmony. If you do not hear from me again, please take up a collection for my children - who did not give me the fruitcake.

[jixer]

Hello Kittens-

I can celebrate Boxing Day by marriage. My wife's Canadian (ever notice how all the barbarians come from the North ) who taught me about curling, flannel sheets and Boxing Day. Since I worked the last two nights at the hospital so far all of my prezzies have been snacky bits. There was no fruitcake but every variation of chocolate, especially fudge, was accounted for along with cookies and fatty meats. Our staff did bring in veggies, and then put out the really rich dressing to dip them in. And that's in a hospital filled with people who are supposed to know all about health!

Good luck with the happy holiday indulgence of what ever kind you enjoy, Kittens!


Jixer

[Triscuit7]

Hey

I love fruitcake too! My mother sent me a home-baked one for my present this year. Regretably it did not survive to see Christmas. I ate it. It was yummy.

Ciao, Melissa

[skittles]

**skittles slowly raises her right hand in the air**

I also like fruitcake... in fact, I love fruitcake...

Like some other kittens, my mother used to make a fantastic fruitcake. Now she's retired... but I will get the recipe from her and make it myself someday.... in my copious spare time!!

I also like most of the store bought fruitcakes I have eaten. But I'm careful in my choosing.

[BoredNow99]

Rosenberg, thanks for the explanation on Boxing Day. I'm ashamed to say I had no idea about the origin of my country's holiday.

In actual fact, I was discussing it with my dad a couple of days ago, and he couldn't remember either.

What he did remember though was a conversation we had when I was about six. I was sat at the table having Christmas dinner when I asked why Boxing Day was called that.

Not wanting to not give me an answer - even though he had no idea - he said it was because boxing matches were always fought that day.

The next day, after lunch, I got up from the table and asked when the boxing started. My siblings looked at me like I was mad and said: "Don't be stupid. It's always football on Boxing Day."

That's when I got really confused

Boxing Day has always been one of my favourite parts of Christmas, but this year's was a little more special.

I came out to my parents and my brother. I kind of knew they would be fine, but I guess you're never 100 per cent sure.

They wondered what all the fuss was about, said it was no big deal, didn't change anything - basically all the things I hoped they'd say.

My brother went that little bit further, as brothers tend to do, and aked: "So, you're friends...any of them into magic? Y'know, do you do spells with any of them?"

Gotta love that boy

[mollyig]

Thanks for the explanation of why it's called Boxing Day in some places, I had always wondered about that.

We call it St Stephen's Day here, although I prefer to call it "thank god that's all over day". Can you tell I'm not a christmassy person? [img:6c1a698c0d]http://homepage.eircom.net/~mollyig/winkgreen.gif[/img:6c1a698c0d]

[Zippy]

Em, I'm gald the whole coming out went ok

My boxing day was spent watching my brother getting my mum completely and utterly shit faced. It was quite disturbing it involve tequila slammers.

Well I'm stuck at work today, well right now actually but as there is no one about I am being all naughty and surfing the net.

My best christmas present came in the form of Middlesboro football club, 3-1, thankyou very much.

[relativegirl]

Congratulations Emma! That's wonderful news about your family, and good for you for braving a family holiday to come out to them.

[tarawillow66]

i got a pink frilly shirt! wht is a butch going to do with a pink frilly shirt??? my family dosen't know me all to well.
love ya
megan