Randomness

[honeybee]

Because I was thinking a lot about David Sedaris today, I shall share his first, big holiday story - for those who have never heard it. It's a great cure for holiday stress.

The Santaland Diaries

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/stor ... d=17570326

[Distracted]

Maybe his work goes over better when you can hear it rather than read it. I'm just not finding him very funny. He's sort of sad, actually.

[honeybee]

Oh, it's not funny ha ha - it's definitely funny sad.

It is better to hear him read it, though there's a touch of melancholy to his voice. But either way - it is both funny and sad at the same time.

[Alelou]

Although I really liked the Santa Land Diaries, the other stories in the anthology of his work that came in didn't entertain me much. There's also one of his pieces in our anthology for Comp 101 and even though I'd love to use more comedy in class, I just don't think it's funny at all. In fact, I remember having the same thought you did as I read it -- I wondered if this was possibly funny read out loud. Because as written it mostly struck me as alarming and sad and bordering on sociopathic.

[honeybee]

I saw the play of it last year, and they reworked the order of events - to give it a much happier ending than the one in the original story. In the play, Crumpet catches the Christmas spirit by watching the one really good Santa - and the show ends on that happy note. I actually like that better - and Sedaris has said that if he were writing it now - he would have ended it that way.

I find him his persona entertaining - but his work is hit or miss for me - sometimes, I find him just hilarious. Other times, he does cross the sad line for me.

I teach Santaland Diaries to my students - and they always have a very interesting reaction - they are just so relieved at the idea that other people are under more stress than they are - they they let out this collective sigh of relief then start discussing their own Christmas horror stories. It's like a weight off their shoulders and then they can actually start enjoying the holidays.

[justTripn]

I am in such deep trouble. I haven't started my Christmas shopping. Good thing my boys just want money.

[enterprikayak]

I feel you sis.


*sigh* I am making my list here and checking it twice....and....I guess I have to go to WalMart today.

I don't remember that from the old song.....

[WarpGirl]

This is one of those times I'm extra glad the hollidays are not apart of my life. No stress, no going broke, and no risks of relatives and friends hating their gifts. I think I have it good. On the other hand, annoying family still gets time off and invades your home. BUT at least I don't have to spend any money or deal with cleaning up a tree. Yeah I still have it good. That said I hope everyone else's plans work out.

[Kevin Thomas Riley]

Well, as of this evening my Christmas/New Year vacation begins. Won't be back at work until January 4th. Yay!

Tomorrow I go down to my parents so I'll probably not be online much until I get back home on the 29th.

So I'll take this opportunity to wish you all a very Swedish

GOD JUL!

[honeybee]

Happy Holidays - whatever your holiday - (or non Holiday good wishes to WarpGirl) Christmas, Hanukkah, Festivus. . .Winter Solstice. . .just chill and enjoy the company of your loved ones!

[Alelou]

Happy Christmas!

[WarpGirl]

That's sweet Honeybee I'll take any encouragement that helps me deal with my uncle's wife! And unfortunately the kids are less than well behaved too.

[enterprikayak]

I feel you sis.


*sigh* I am making my list here and checking it twice....and....I guess I have to go to WalMart today.

I don't remember that from the old song.....

....made it back alive....barely....

this year we're only giving handmade gifts and world vision catalogue items (goats for albanians etc) so it isn't that crazy, but I still had to get the fixings for my vegetarian meatloaf and the stuffing and the yams and potatoes and brussel sprouts and gingerbread and so forth.

And where else can you get potatoes, pipe fittings, cheese, Lite Brite, pipe cleaners, fabric, and shoes? It's more than kinda scary. I stay away from there except in emergency times...like armageddon, y'know, or the holidays.....

[WarpGirl]

They still make Light Brites!!!!!!!!!!!!!! OMG those were the most AWESOMEST things in the world. OK OK OK I know I totally outted myself as a pretty pathetic person. Veggie loaf sounds good. My pescartarianism had to go on holliday last weekend. Because my parents took me to their hous I had to eat what they cooked. I hated it, the meat made me feel sick.

[enterprikayak]

Lite Bright sucks now. It's so fall aparty-y that I was returning it. I checked to make sure it worked b4 wrapping it for Aureilia, and the on/off button wouldn't work. It was a piece.

So today I navigated Wal-Mart with 2 kids in a cart *AND* managed to RETURN the Lite Brite at the "Customer Service" desk without either of the 2 kids noticing what I had in the bag. Sorry to toot my own horn here, but that was a skilled mission with many tricky manoeuvres and yet I stand before you, triumphant, typing the tale. I am quite pleased with myself.

I want my old lite brite back.