The Christmas Thread

lifehacker.com/this-method-wraps-gifts-with-fewer-folds-and-two-pieces-1669227854

Here's some fancy wrapping. 

ah life hacks. So easy. When you've had the practice.

You should've bought this one instead:

Everyone and their mother does an ugly xmas sweater party. Does anyone else feel like they are over kill as shit or is that just me being semi grinchy?

I prefer my buddies classy xmas party, he hired a violinist this year.

That's right. No one puts Ian in a corner.

Just got back from my first company Christmas party ever. It was fun. Didn't win anything in the raffle. Damn, there were some mega prizes being given away.

Me either
I got invited to a few but I had panic attacks at the time

I need a break. The monotony of this job and the constant roadblocks and struggles are starting to get to me. Luckily, I have significant time off coming up. I'm off this weekend through the following, then I'm back in the office Monday and Tuesday and off again for New Year's through that next weekend... so I'll essentially work two days out of a 14 day stretch, that will be nice.

I've got a stack of Blu-rays/digital copies I want to pound through (Days of Future Past, Apes, Star Trek Into Darkness, the new TMNT movie, etc., seen them all but I'm looking forward to rewatching them), it'll be good to give my brain a break. Going to my girlfriend's folk's house Christmas Eve to spend time with her and her extended family, then back the next morning/day with just her and her parents. My parents house that Saturday, December 27th.

Went to the Potawotami Casino in Milwaukee this past weekend (left up about $100, not too shabby), we got pretty drunk and played a 1966-era Batman slot machine for a while. Girlfriend kept alluding to wanting to watch the show and how "she doesn't want to spoil one of my presents," so I'm pretty sure she bought me the giftset for Christmas. That would be pretty awesome, I'd love to revisit that series.

No company party for me unfortunately, apparently this place doesn't do that. But, given the excessive amount of time off they're giving us I think I will cope (I work in sales for a hydraulic/mechanical tool manufacturer). And I got a raise to the tune of about 5.5%, so that's nice too. I was hoping for more, but it doesn't come with any additional responsibilities so I can't complain too much.

All done with the shopping for her and her folks, just waiting for the stuff for my parents to arrive.

What is everybody else up to on the 25th?

Ditto.

This will be the first year since I was born that my mum won't be cooking Christmas dinner. My brother and sister-in-law have taken on the burden. I'm a bit sad about that as my mum makes the best roast dinners on the planet (proven fact), so I've taken it upon myself to oversee my bro and sis's cooking to ensure things are running smoothly and that all my mother's rules are abided by.

And by oversee I mean reclining on their sofa in my pyjamas drinking red wine and shouting, "Check the turkey's not burning."