Christmas cheer and the mature cyclist
12-13-13, 03:55 PM
#27
Pedals, Paddles and Poles
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Someone hit my Durango and the front of my house with a few RED paintballs. Kinda took the HOHOHOHO outta my Christmas spirit. Then a Jersey and some bibs came in the mail. I am a one man caroling band!
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I think its disgusting and terrible how people treat Lance Armstrong, especially after winning 7 Tour de France Titles while on drugs!
I can't even find my bike when I'm on drugs. -Willie N.
12-13-13, 10:06 PM
#28
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I am Christian and very happy for the blessing that have been provided to me. But..............Christmas is my least favorite holiday. Nowadays its all about the presents. I have no problem giving gifts to people, I do this quite often........but I don't like the idea that it is required during Christmas. If I like someone I will give them a gift for no particular reason, I just don't like to be forced to give a gift.
12-13-13, 10:49 PM
#29
What??? Only 2 wheels?
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I guess if you don't like Christmas you can always celebrate the winter solstice. Halloween is by far my least favorite seasonal event.
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12-14-13, 11:10 AM
#30
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I'm Jewish and I hate the secularization of Christmas. All these TV Christmas specials where they discover the "true meaning of Christmas." Even if you're not Christian the proper response to "Merry Christmas" is "Thank you, Merry Christmas to you, too." It's returning the greeting in the spirit it was intended. Growing up I would wonder what would happen if Jewish holidays were "Christmas-ized". The closest is Chanukah due to its proximity to Christmas. Growing up in Chicago there'd be ads for suits, shoes and food around the jewish holidays. However, about 20 years ago I was visiting family in Jerusalem right before Rosh Hashana, when Jews mark the beginning of the Jewish New Year through solemn prayer and repentance. In that morning's newspaper was a full-color circular for Ace Hardware, which said in hebrew something to the effect of "ring in the new year with savings!" They had basically ported over the traditional american New Year's ad with fall lawn care products. Anyways, "Merry Christmas" to those that celebrate and "God rest you merry, gentlemen (and ladies), let no commercialization you dismay!"
12-15-13, 10:24 AM
#31
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Thread Starter
One of the most loved Christmas songs ever, I'm dreaming of a white Christmas, was written by a Jew, Irving Berlin.
All the major characters of the Christmas story were Jewish, except the three wise men. Research suggests that the three wise men were Lutheran.
All the major characters of the Christmas story were Jewish, except the three wise men. Research suggests that the three wise men were Lutheran.
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Momento mori, amor fati.
Momento mori, amor fati.
12-15-13, 10:41 AM
#32
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Look, Charlie, let's face it. We all know that Christmas is a big commercial racket. It's run by a big Eastern syndicate, you know.
12-15-13, 12:07 PM
#33
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If I were feeling stressed and unable to get in touch with the peacefulness of the season Here's what I'd do......a quiet space with a nice candle, some mellow music, a glass of brandy or tea and 30 minutes alone. That would do it for me. Now that I think of it I'm gonna' do that tonight.
12-15-13, 02:36 PM
#34
Life is good
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I like the area where we retired. Been here for 2 Christmas seasons now and EVERYONE says "Merry Christmas". 
Love it.
Love it.
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The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. - Psalm 103:8
I am a cyclist. I am not the fastest or the fittest. But I will get to where I'm going with a smile on my face.
The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. - Psalm 103:8
I am a cyclist. I am not the fastest or the fittest. But I will get to where I'm going with a smile on my face.
12-15-13, 06:07 PM
#35
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Thread Starter
This is what happens when you're too sick to do anything except lie around messing on your iPad. You find weird YouTube videos.
This is the weirdest of the Christmas videos. I don't feel this way about the holidays very often.
This is the weirdest of the Christmas videos. I don't feel this way about the holidays very often.
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Momento mori, amor fati.
Momento mori, amor fati.
12-15-13, 08:07 PM
#36
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As I've grown more, um, mature the joy of the season has definitely receeded. Too busy at work, commuting out of state, crowds in the store etc. etc. I TRY to get in the spirit. I WANT to get in the spirit. But it just seems elusive.
But this year both my daughters will be home - one with her fiance and the other with her boyfriend. The younger one will be spending some time in Richmond with her boyfriend's family but they'll be around for much of the time. Really looking forward to being with them - its adding something to the season that's been tough to find lately.
Fortunately no carolers in our offices - annoying sound system Christmas music but I've got a volume control and it sits at "0" most of the time.
BTW - I believe that the internet was created solely so I don't have to go into any stores between Thanksgiving and Christmas (except cycling stores of course). The rest of you are welcome to use it too.....
But this year both my daughters will be home - one with her fiance and the other with her boyfriend. The younger one will be spending some time in Richmond with her boyfriend's family but they'll be around for much of the time. Really looking forward to being with them - its adding something to the season that's been tough to find lately.
Fortunately no carolers in our offices - annoying sound system Christmas music but I've got a volume control and it sits at "0" most of the time.
BTW - I believe that the internet was created solely so I don't have to go into any stores between Thanksgiving and Christmas (except cycling stores of course). The rest of you are welcome to use it too.....
And the little red and green lights are nice. I especially like it when they also have some white and blue ones ...
12-15-13, 08:35 PM
#37
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I'm Jewish and I hate the secularization of Christmas. All these TV Christmas specials where they discover the "true meaning of Christmas." Even if you're not Christian the proper response to "Merry Christmas" is "Thank you, Merry Christmas to you, too." It's returning the greeting in the spirit it was intended. Growing up I would wonder what would happen if Jewish holidays were "Christmas-ized". The closest is Chanukah due to its proximity to Christmas. Growing up in Chicago there'd be ads for suits, shoes and food around the jewish holidays. However, about 20 years ago I was visiting family in Jerusalem right before Rosh Hashana, when Jews mark the beginning of the Jewish New Year through solemn prayer and repentance. In that morning's newspaper was a full-color circular for Ace Hardware, which said in hebrew something to the effect of "ring in the new year with savings!" They had basically ported over the traditional american New Year's ad with fall lawn care products. Anyways, "Merry Christmas" to those that celebrate and "God rest you merry, gentlemen (and ladies), let no commercialization you dismay!"
Big snowstorm in Jerusalem this year.
https://www.jpost.com/National-News/R...windles-334992
12-16-13, 09:19 AM
#38
just keep riding
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Last edited by BluesDawg; 12-17-13 at 11:04 AM.
12-16-13, 11:27 AM
#39
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Santa came by Saturday night ... pretty cool wheels, too.
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12-16-13, 11:55 AM
#40
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And the Red and Green M&M's really do taste better.
12-16-13, 12:16 PM
#41
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12-16-13, 02:11 PM
#43
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Io Saturnalia!
My big holiday is in March when I get my bonus. It goes into getting my '83 Trek 970 road bike on the road.
12-16-13, 02:39 PM
#44
Pedaled too far.
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Bodhi Day, celebrating the Enlightenment of the Buddha was on the 8th, and the Holiday parade was on the 14th. So I'm good.
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Last edited by Artkansas; 12-16-13 at 02:46 PM.
12-17-13, 08:45 AM
#45
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Years ago, I was working as an electrician. "The Boss" had a special project for me, he wanted me to add a transformer to one of the 480v parking lot light poles right on the corner of 2 busy highways in his church's parking lot. ALL they were going to need was 2ea. 120 volt circuits to run 1 small space heater and 1 coffee pot. They set up 2 scaffolds as a manger and had live farm animals and 1 lady on top of the manger to play the part of the angel. She was about 10 feet up in the air and had to use a ladder to get up on top. Well, all was going quite well until the deacons, etc , started rolling in with their motorhomes. Even though their RV's all had generators and were only 50-100 feet from the building, they decided to just break out the splitters and plug everything into the outlets I put in. Nice. Needless to say, 6 RV's with the lights and heaters all on and the obligatory Southern Baptist crock pots, they overloaded the transformer! When it fried, it began pouring out this horrible smelling, dense black smoke. Since it was mounted on the light pole base the smoke rose majestically and enveloped the whole manger, the animals were all freaking out, the angle lady was screaming "FIRE" and "HELP" while the rush-hour traffic drove by honking! There was no open flame, the insulation burning was all inside the metal enclosure. They got the Angel down, rounded the animals up, and proceeded to try and find my phone number. lol The rest of the week they just plugged in to the building.tom
12-17-13, 10:34 AM
#46
Senior Member
When I was younger, and a Christian, I used to love Christmas and never worried about the commercialisation. As I've grown older and lost my faith I find, paradoxically, that I get more annoyed by the over-the-top commercialisation.
Christmas is a religious festival and without that religious approach to it it just becomes a means of stimulating the economy each year.
My family call me a grumpy old git at this time of the year, but if Santa were to leave me a new steel Colnago I might be tempted to change my mind.
Christmas is a religious festival and without that religious approach to it it just becomes a means of stimulating the economy each year.
My family call me a grumpy old git at this time of the year, but if Santa were to leave me a new steel Colnago I might be tempted to change my mind.
I'm kind of like you having been cured of the religion thing at a very young age. I don't pay much attention to the commercialization or the stupid war on Christmas crap. My family is very limited on holiday gifts to each other but we adopt two families every year thru the Salvation Army and try to give them a memorable Christmas by filling their wish list.
12-17-13, 11:05 AM
#47
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12-17-13, 11:34 AM
#48
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Years ago, I was working as an electrician. "The Boss" had a special project for me, he wanted me to add a transformer to one of the 480v parking lot light poles right on the corner of 2 busy highways in his church's parking lot. ALL they were going to need was 2ea. 120 volt circuits to run 1 small space heater and 1 coffee pot. They set up 2 scaffolds as a manger and had live farm animals and 1 lady on top of the manger to play the part of the angel. She was about 10 feet up in the air and had to use a ladder to get up on top. Well, all was going quite well until the deacons, etc , started rolling in with their motorhomes. Even though their RV's all had generators and were only 50-100 feet from the building, they decided to just break out the splitters and plug everything into the outlets I put in. Nice. Needless to say, 6 RV's with the lights and heaters all on and the obligatory Southern Baptist crock pots, they overloaded the transformer! When it fried, it began pouring out this horrible smelling, dense black smoke. Since it was mounted on the light pole base the smoke rose majestically and enveloped the whole manger, the animals were all freaking out, the angle lady was screaming "FIRE" and "HELP" while the rush-hour traffic drove by honking! There was no open flame, the insulation burning was all inside the metal enclosure. They got the Angel down, rounded the animals up, and proceeded to try and find my phone number. lol The rest of the week they just plugged in to the building.tom
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Proud parent of a happy inner child ...
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12-18-13, 08:49 AM
#49
Senior Member
We've always enjoyed Christmas and probably always will although the celebratory elements have changed over the years. For many years, our family was involved in church communities and the attendant activities. Now, living in northern NM, the season starts with a trip into the mountains to cut a tree. This year, the trip included almost getting the Jeep stuck in the snow near the top of a too windy mountain, snowshoeing up a lovely trail, crossing an icy stream on a snow covered fallen tree, and eventually finding the perfect tree. Then, meeting friends in town for drinks and going to the Lighting of Ledoux (the art gallery area) in Taos. The following weekend, I was out of town, but my wife and several friends went to Bonfires on Bent St., another wonderful community gathering. Many other fun things to do with friends and family throughout the month, culminating with the entire community pouring into the Taos Pueblo on Christmas Eve to participate in the observation of the holiday with the Pueblo community. The religious beliefs, or lack thereof, in Taos are highly diverse but the Christmas season seems to be the one time of the year that brings everyone together.
12-18-13, 08:59 AM
#50
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I'm all in favor of Christmas and Christmas spirit and Christmas cheer but that doesn't mean it has to start in November, and I have zero desire to hear Christmas carols for the entire month of December, which is what my local oldies station opted to play . (They actually started several days prior to Thanksgiving!)
