[Aramant]

I was raised Catholic, and I'm not uppity (no offense to anyone- I use that word casually) enough to claim offense to Christmas, so I "celebrate" it nominally. What gets me is the obligations that come along with it. Like I want to spend a grand on presents for people, a number of whom I never see at any other time of the year. The only reason I buy presents is so the people who buy ME presents don't get upset.

My extended family irks me. They all live within fifteen minutes of each other, and I live almost two hours away. As such, they all know what's going on, and are nearly friends... and then my immediate family and I go there for the obligatory familial festive visit, and we just sit amongst ourselves in the corner, not quite knowing what to do with ourselves. It's like going to a party that you've only been invited to out of habit or guilt. You're there, but no one pays attention to you.

Luckily, this year my dad spent a little over $200 on liquor for the holidays. Only my step-mom, my brother's girlfriend, and I drink, and as far as I know we aren't having anyone over to visit. My step-mom only really drinks wine, my brother's girlfriend can't drink too much because she has diabetes and she's on painkillers... so at least this year I'll be "festive", if not merry.

Incidentally, friends of the family that we visit every year include a girl I've had a thing for since I met her years ago. The plan is that I'll spend the night there after the visit, and we're going to get trashed. She said "I hope you don't mind if I want to make out with you. I absolutely adore you."

Go me.