I'm beginning to hate the Christmas season...

Christmas-time is supposed to be a celebration of holiday cheer. A time of love and laughter, goodness and giving. Of showing those in your life how much you care about them, and show your appreciation for their presence in your life.

Ba humbug. HUMBUG I say.

All I've been seeing of late is petty selfishness and greed around here. People cutting each other off in traffic, in a rush to get to the stores and get presents. People flipping each other off, yelling and screaming and honking their horns. People going the WRONG WAY in the parking lot, just to grab that one spot near the front - never mind the little old lady who had been waiting for that spot to open up! And everyone's so grumpy, grumpy, grumpy.

Damn. If you don't want to buy presents, just don't. Don't go and make people miserable just because you don't want to deal with the hassle. Yeesh. If you don't sincerely want to get something nice for people, WHY DO IT? It's meaningless, unless you mean it from the heart. I understand being a tad annoyed by it all, but don't take it out on everyone else. It's not their faults you waited until the last minute to shop. Try being a little more giving, a more patient, and a lot less cranky! Those retail folks aren't having a whole lot of fun either, ya know. How about trying to say "please" and "thank you" to them a little - it's not a lot, but it can't hurt!

The worst is here at work. Presents delivered from people outside NOT being delivered to their addressee, but instead to the top HR person, to be distributed at their discretion - i.e. the steaks sent for department A instead go to upper management, the Godiva chocolates for department B instead go to upper management, the cheapy 3-way popcorn can for management instead goes to departments A and B. (Gee, thanks...just what we always wanted, stale popcorn from last year...) We're not even getting a "real" Christmas party this year - we'll be holding it inside the office. BUT we'll still have to "dress up" as if it were a fancy party, even though we're only going to be here at work... (so we get to lose our traditional casual Friday, too? Wow, I feel so special.)

We'll probably get a nice plate this year too from the company, just like last year. (A plate? what the heck am I supposed to do with a frigging plate? I guess use it for the finger sammiches and greasy chips we'll be getting to eat this year? Ooh, can I get a big-sized paper cup for my apple juice too?)

Sad thing is, I think they're trying to be "nice." As in, really really trying. (If this is being "nice" I think I prefer the normal abuse we're subjected too...)

Oh wait, I did get a little bonus from them. (OOhh, money... I can buy 1.5 hardback books with THIS massive amount of spending cash... lookout Borders, I'm gonna buy your entire stock of books now!)

Really, why even try to be nice to people only once or twice a year? This trying to "buy" our affections only at Christmas and birthdays is not only insulting, it's degrading. Especially when you're trying to "show your appreciation" with a plate, some sammiches, and a draconian dress code (people, high school is over, this ain't prom - get over it) on what is supposed to be a simple company party AT WORK.

Now, please excuse me - it seems that with the paper Christmas tree someone gave me, I've exceeded my "only 3 personal items at your desk" rule, so I'm going ot have to sacrifice something to the spirit of the Great Trashcan of Demoralization to appease the wrath of the HR gods... >_<;