Just Dreaming

Valentines Day

I just really really don't like Valentines Day because:

1. It's stupid

2. It's obnoxious

3. It's consumerism at its worst.  You are supposed to buy a card.  Then flowers.  Then if you really love your Spouse, chocolate.  And don't forget you then have to take them out to dinner somewhere special - all to show them that you love them.  It is another holiday full of messages that involve spending money to show someone you care.  The media reports on it - the restaurants run ads - every store you walk into has hearts and flowers everywhere. 

I have been just itching to put this on my blog:

Consumerism! The Musical is a satire and celebration of the culture we live in.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hGaOQKJik-s

I thought it was too funny and so true.  I am an definately an offender of consumerism - I guess we all are to some extent. 

This year Dave and I decided to do something different for Valentines Day.  Instead of feeling bogged down by the expectations, we decided to make each other cards.  I want to be 80 and have a huge stack of cards that my sweet husband made me.  They just mean so much more to me.  I did not buy my kids chocolates but instead we had a fun breakfast with heart pancakes, strawberries and bacon (it was "spectacular" Avery said).  On their pancakes I stuck in a paper heart.  On the hearts I wrote 3 things I love about them.  We also made a delicious dinner and the kids helped me make a Chocolate Pie which was really just amazing.

All in all I guess it wasn't so bad.

Some cute kid made this for me too :)

9 days 'til the holiday

So there I am having a lovely Sunday morning complete with coffee, jammies and the Sunday paper.  I am perusing the ads looking for more gifts when I come to the Fred Meyer ad.  Displayed on the front cover:

9 days til the holiday

I am thinking what holiday?  Hanukkah just ended on Wednesday.  Kwanzaa begins on the 26th - maybe they mean Kwanzaa.  When is the Muslim holiday Eid al-Adha (the feast of sacrifice)?  It is the 20th I believe, so that can't be right.  What holiday exactly are the referring to?  Oh - Christmas.  The holiday when people spend money hand over fist to buy presents for all their loved ones.  Where the stores make all their money and delight in the plentiful customers.  But yet they cannot say the word.........Christmas.  Christmas is a federal holiday.  I never realized how bad it has gotten out there.  Christmas may not represent the birth of Christ to everyone but I am so surprised that we cannot even say the name anymore without fear of offending someone.  I am horribly offended by the ad personally.

I have come up with a new name for Christmas for those who can't say the word:

Seasonal Giving Day - stark and sterile enough for everyone? 

Ugh