Annual OS Christmas Thread 2024

[mike24forever]

Re: Annual OS Christmas Thread 2024

I go to “Motown” Christmas every year. The classics don’t have enough soul for me. Always smile when I hear The Temptations version of “Silent Night” because my Dad and I used to lead that with the men’s group at church before I moved away. I wanted to try to have a little reunion but he passed away in 2022.

I love Motown Christmas and Boys II Men Christmas album are on high rotation. I also have the Motown Christmas compilation, I think it's called 'This Christmas' , just like the Time Life Christmas albums.

[pietasterp]

Re: Annual OS Christmas Thread 2024

Currently deployed overseas right now. It's definitely a different experience being out here and away from family. But it's nice to be able to come back here and make my annual OS Christmas post.

I feel like message boards and forums nowadays are slowly dying away and we are one of the few communities that have maintained ours. I feel like this age belongs to the Discords or even Twitch communities. But I appreciate the ones who still post on here and keep it busy enough to be worth checking in once in a while.

Merry Christmas to everyone on OS and to their families! I appreciate you guys.

I know it might seem like pro forma nothing-ness, but with all sincerity, thanks for your service. I hope you have a nice holiday season and stay safe over there! May whoever you root for in the sporting world win all their games for you (unless they happen to play the Lions in the playoffs!).

[mike24forever]

Re: Annual OS Christmas Thread 2024

7 days. 1 week out.

This time next week it will be full swing Christmas mode in the Stewart household. Crazy how fast Christmas arrives as an adult.

I have to head out today to get stuff for my wife's stocking and then I'll wrap her presents this afternoon.

Enjoy the rush up to Christmas gentlemen.

[pietasterp]

Re: Annual OS Christmas Thread 2024

Hardly seems like there's been a lead-in to Christmas this year. I'll be working pretty much right up to the gun thanks to how the calendar works out this year, but that's alright. I can't believe we're a week out at this point (!)

[EUBlink]

Re: Annual OS Christmas Thread 2024

I feel like the election and the fall-out from it may have taken the wind out of most people this year, and it has led to less joy in the air. No matter what you believe politically, it is undeniable that the time between the election and inauguration has become unnecessarily tense due to the change of dynamic that is coming.


We are having several get-togethers this weekend with family and friends while I am in the midst of renovating most of my home. Fun times of balancing everything while still trying to be everywhere I am needed all at once. I wouldn't trade it for the world, though, and if I had the opportunity to go back and change anything, I wouldn't. This place in life where I am is warm enough for my soul to stay awhile.

Have any of you seen the lightbulbs that change colors every six seconds? They are made by Feit. I bought several to add to the atmosphere of my front and side yards. Turns out, my neighbor's horses and sheep REALLY do not like the changing lights. Sheep yells are hilarious, though. Perhaps my neighbor will better care for them if they yell often, and they will stop escaping and sleeping on my porch.

[slickdtc]

Re: Annual OS Christmas Thread 2024

I am so pumped. Our Christmas gathering will be small (we do a larger gathering on Christmas Eve) so we’re putting together the menu now. Think we’re going with a ham since my dad does a prime rib on Christmas Eve.

Trying to survive these next few work days…

[pietasterp]

Re: Annual OS Christmas Thread 2024

This is presumably the last real workday for a lot of you guys prior to year-end shutdowns. Those of you (us!) that are still on the clock for early next week, hopefully the workload is at least down a bit.

Otherwise, for the rest of you guys...let the weekday day drinking begin!

[Majingir]

Re: Annual OS Christmas Thread 2024

This is presumably the last real workday for a lot of you guys prior to year-end shutdowns. Those of you (us!) that are still on the clock for early next week, hopefully the workload is at least down a bit.

Otherwise, for the rest of you guys...let the weekday day drinking begin!

I'm in a weird situation. I'm in vacation mode while also basically working. Only 1 or so days each of the next 2 weeks, but I'll probably do my best to either stretch out the day if needed (aka doing wfh stuff in person but don't document that work until I claim a wfh day next month and then say i did all that on the wfh day.....) or get stuff I needed done asap so I can call it a half day.

[mike24forever]

Re: Annual OS Christmas Thread 2024

I'm in a weird situation. I'm in vacation mode while also basically working. Only 1 or so days each of the next 2 weeks, but I'll probably do my best to either stretch out the day if needed (aka doing wfh stuff in person but don't document that work until I claim a wfh day next month and then say i did all that on the wfh day.....) or get stuff I needed done asap so I can call it a half day.

I can't complain. I've been retired since I was 39...unfortunately. It gives me a lot of time to be with the family and help my wife as much as my body will let me. Today, I was steam cleaned our living room couch. Having kids and a pup really makes me question buying a light grey couch. Decision that was made when it was just Trina and myself. LOL.

Last night we went for the family Christmas light drive. We go around the different neighbourhoods and see all of the beautiful lights and decorations. My parents use to do it with my sisters and myself when we were kids, so I am continuing the tradition.

Today my wife was baking Baklava. It's one of her family favourites from her childhood. I like to have 1 at Christmas, but man is it sweet.

I still need to wrap her presents. All of my work today prevented me from doing it, but I'll try to get it done tomorrow.

Only 4 days to go gentlemen, try to enjoy the time with family and make some great memories.

[KSUowls]

Re: Annual OS Christmas Thread 2024

I've been avoiding this year's thread since 2024 isn't one that has been my favorite for a lot of reasons. My dad passed earlier this year and basically all of my holiday traditions are linked to him. I've also been stuck on a liquid diet for 3 months due to surgery which hasn't been particularly fun and I was scared I might see some delicious recipes . I ventured down the rabbit hole though because it is good to see all of the holiday cheer.

In terms of music. I enjoy the classics, but not the classic versions anymore. I usually enjoy covers from various Youtube personalities. I'm also a big fan of them being covered in a rock/metal style. One of my favorite Christmas songs though is Christmas Truce by Sabaton. A much more somber theme than most songs of the season, but I just think the story behind the events related to it are very powerful. I also enjoy Christmas parody songs.

For movies it was always A Christmas Story. It was always my dad's favorite movie, and he would leave it on repeat on Christmas morning while we all had a big breakfast together and talked. Not sure that I really have any Christmas movies anymore, but I do have a bit of a solo tradition. I usually try to take off the last week or so of work the year which is a great time to binge watch the Lord of the Rings trilogy (so basically the whole break lol)

Unfortunately this year's work schedule has made things even more weird. I work on a small team where everyone wanted to take off the entire week of Christmas (me included). So right now we don't have any coverage on my team and as one of the managers I had to agree to kind of be on call if anything important comes up. So, it is not as stress free as I would have liked.

[Herky]

Re: Annual OS Christmas Thread 2024

Merry Christmas to all the OS Crew!

[mike24forever]

Re: Annual OS Christmas Thread 2024

I've been avoiding this year's thread since 2024 isn't one that has been my favorite for a lot of reasons. My dad passed earlier this year and basically all of my holiday traditions are linked to him. I've also been stuck on a liquid diet for 3 months due to surgery which hasn't been particularly fun and I was scared I might see some delicious recipes . I ventured down the rabbit hole though because it is good to see all of the holiday cheer.

In terms of music. I enjoy the classics, but not the classic versions anymore. I usually enjoy covers from various Youtube personalities. I'm also a big fan of them being covered in a rock/metal style. One of my favorite Christmas songs though is Christmas Truce by Sabaton. A much more somber theme than most songs of the season, but I just think the story behind the events related to it are very powerful. I also enjoy Christmas parody songs.

For movies it was always A Christmas Story. It was always my dad's favorite movie, and he would leave it on repeat on Christmas morning while we all had a big breakfast together and talked. Not sure that I really have any Christmas movies anymore, but I do have a bit of a solo tradition. I usually try to take off the last week or so of work the year which is a great time to binge watch the Lord of the Rings trilogy (so basically the whole break lol)

Unfortunately this year's work schedule has made things even more weird. I work on a small team where everyone wanted to take off the entire week of Christmas (me included). So right now we don't have any coverage on my team and as one of the managers I had to agree to kind of be on call if anything important comes up. So, it is not as stress free as I would have liked.

I am so sorry for the loss of your father. I cannot imagine how difficult this Christmas will be on you. Try to do all of your Dad's traditions, so it feels like he's still here. I believe our parents teach us these traditions for that exact reason. If it's too difficult, take a break from them and start to reintroduce them in the years to come, when it gets a bit easier.

Merry Christmas brother.

[studbucket]

Re: Annual OS Christmas Thread 2024

Following up on my previous post about Christmas music, here's another newish Christmas song from the same band. I really like this one too.

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/l8Czvwlm_eE?si=zUixQF7CRogEGUdD" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>

2 more days friends! We've got HS bball games to go to today then "Christmas Eve Eve" service at church. Then tomorrow the real family fun starts with our annual family "Christmas Eve Slumber Party" The kids are older this year, so we're going to watch the Matrix, then palate cleanse with My Neighbor Totoro and probably Chicken Run.

[slickdtc]

Re: Annual OS Christmas Thread 2024

Almost there my friends

[TNorfolkMM]

Re: Annual OS Christmas Thread 2024

This year the holidays just don't feel the same. I lost my father in July and I am having an incredibly rough time getting into the Christmas spirit. I find myself just wanting Christmas to be over. I'm hoping next year will be better. Luckily I coach high school basketball and we've been playing games so that has helped me keep my brain off of things.