AND....by the time I get done buying for the people that just plain EXPECT a gift (the one's who can, personally make the next year miserable for me).....I'm too broke to give to the people who really NEED things!!

Seeing family and friends I haven't seen in a year. Giving and getting presents. All the pretty decorations. Yeah, I'm for "Merry Christmas". I'm only "Bah Humbug" on traffic, mall crowds and Christmas displays that go up in September (or earlier).

Hmmm.....is that bright and smiley face on the right yours Tracy? Who is that handsome guy with you? Hmmm.....bah humbug? Sorry Tracy, it's glass-half-full season! :eureka: :eureka: :D :D

Uncle Toys~ If you only knew!!!:rolleyes:

OK Tracy, you have given me new purpose to the season - to put Tracy in the spirt! Try this one.

The Donkey in the Well

One day a farmer's donkey fell down into a well. The animal cried
piteously for hours as the farmer tried to figure out what to do.
Finally he decided the animal was old, and the well needed to be
covered up anyway, it just wasn't worth it to retrieve the donkey.

He invited all his neighbors to come over and help him. They each grabbed a shovel and began to shovel dirt into the well. At first, the donkey realized what was happening and cried horribly.

Then, to everyone's amazement, he quieted down. A few shovel loads later, the farmer looked down the well, and was astonished at what he saw. As every shovel of dirt hit his back, the donkey did something amazing. He would shake it off and take a step up. As the farmer's neighbors continued to shovel dirt on top of the animal, he would shake it off and take a step up. Pretty soon, everyone was amazed, as the donkey stepped up over the edge of the well and trotted off.

The Moral: Life is going to shovel dirt on you, all kinds of dirt.
The trick to getting out of the well is to shake it off and take a
step up. Each of our troubles is a stepping stone. We can get out of the deepest wells just by not stopping, never giving up! Shake it off and take a step up!

Or, the alternative Moral

The donkey later came back, caught the farmer out in the field and kicked the **** out of him. The REAL Moral: When you try to cover your ass, it always comes back to haunt you. :D :D

p.s. special thanks to Dougie Fresh for the email.

Hey UT,

I voted for the Merry Christmas. Tracy's what is making my Christmas merry.....You see that smile in the pic...I get to see that everyday. I do have to agree with her on the gift giving stuff though....frankly, we give each other stuff though out the whole year anyways. Why mess that up with Christmas:D :p

Right on Todd! Tracy, that's the kind of stuff that Christmas is all about :cool:

Now, as far as the gift giving pressure, the commercialism (sp?), the traffic, etc - THEY ARE BEAUTIFUL THINGS! Think I'm nuts? UT has sliped a gear? No, all that stuff reminds me we won the womb lottery! Yeh, we live in a country that rocks!

Have yourself a merry little Christmas, let your heart be light..... ;) :)

Nice perspective Fred!

Now this is one I can relate to :)
Think about anything that may not have gone your way in your life
then toss in the events here.
Makes very good play of my situation at work :)

UT. you may not have uplifted Tracy's day, but it defiantly put a smile on my face. Especially since I just got home from a meeting with my ex-boss

I've always loved the season -- comercialism and all. Now that I have two great children (2 yrs and 8 mos) it's extra special. :D

Peace on Earth, Goodwill toward Man...:)