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I had another anti-government rant all set for publication today. But then I had second thoughts. My anti-government rants, if they get posted at all, should be posted earlier in the week. People can handle a rant on Monday. Their weekly slog has just begun and they’re full of piss and vinegar. One more little irritant isn’t going to materially affect their sangfroid. But come Friday, the slog is over and they just want to escape life’s madness for a couple of days. My rants are about as welcomed as a fungal infection.
Okay, since I’ve decided to institute no-rant Fridays, I had to come up with a more cheerful topic for today’s post. And since we’re in the throes of the Christmas season, I decided to do a post on Christmas. Here we go.
Our First Aussie Christmas
No, we’re not actually going to be in Australia for Christmas. But yesterday, a little care package arrived from Down Under, courtesy of our dear friend, Frog Dancer Jones. Check it out.
Call me nuts, but I don’t know what captures the spirit of Christmas more than TimTams, vegemite, and a dingo-graced greeting card!
Mrs. Groovy and I met FDJ face to face back in April and within fifteen minutes she felt like a life-long friend. Yep, FDJ is that freakin’ groovy. And don’t think for a minute that Mrs. Groovy and I aren’t going to return the holiday cheer. We can’t send snow, of course, but we can certainly send some of the things that make North Carolina so special. Get ready FDJ. You’re having a Redneck Christmas this year.
Our First Home-Made Grab-Bag Christmas
About fifteen or so years ago, Groovy Mom and Groovy Sister decided to take a step back from the Christmas madness. Rather than everybody buying gifts for everybody—a war of kindness by all against all, if you will—they suggested that the adults engage in a grab-bag gift exchange instead. Each adult would contribute a modest gift to the grab-bag pool (less than $25) and that would be the extent of each adult’s Christmas shopping for the other adults in the family.
Well, needless to say, the Groovy Family jumped all over the grab-bag idea, and it’s been a Groovy Family tradition ever since.
But this year, Groovy Mom and Groovy Sister decided to introduce a sly little wrinkle into our traditional grab-bag festivities. Rather than buy a gift for the grab bag, each adult would have to MAKE a gift for the grab bag.
And with that sly little wrinkle adopted by the Grab-Bag Rules Committee, the competitive juices of the Groovy Family were unleashed. Brother Groovy claims that his home-made gift will easily be the star of the show. I think Brother Groovy is grievously mistaken. My home-made gift is going to be the real show stopper. But only time will tell, of course. I’ll take a picture of everyone’s home-made gift and let you decide.
Final Thoughts
Okay, groovy freedomist, that’s all I got. What say you? Is my decision to institute a no-rant Friday a wise decision? Or do you look forward to my rants, regardless of what day they assault you? And what about Christmas? Do you do a grab bag? Or do you engage in the traditional war of kindness by all against all? Let me know what you think when you get a chance. Peace.
Kind of like the No-Rant Friday. Trying to keep it light heading into the weekend!
Cool idea to make the grab bag gifts. Our family just started the Yankee Swap (as it’s called here in New England for some reason…) last year. It was a blast and certainly cut down on the anxiety of shopping for the right item for everyone.
What’s a Tim Tam? Looks like something I would scoff down!
TimTams are awesome. Think of a Kit Kat bar on steroids.
TimTams, vegemite, and a dingo-graced greeting card….certainly beats a fungal infection. Haha. So cool that you were able to meet Frog Dancer Jones, I’m hoping I’m as fortunate at some point. Looking forward to seeing those pics of the handmade grab bag items, what a cool idea!
We got to get FDJ state side. You’ll love her. She really is a super-groovy chick.
A redneck Christmas???
I’m a little bit nervous. I’m not quite sure what to expect…
Ryan24 and Evan23 are here with me. They reckon it’ll be Barbeque sauce and a gun!
I’m so glad you liked the care package. Vegemite doesn’t normally come in tubes, but it’s the best way to send it overseas. 🙂
Us Southerners love our guns too much to ship them off the Oz. Haha. 🙂
Haha!
Evan23 mimed opening up a package and saying, “Hang on! How did this get through customs??!!??
Fritz is right. Our guns will only be taken from our cold dead hands.
Agreed. What is about southerners and their obsession with dogs, pickup trucks, and guns?
Yep, we were so close to sending you a jar of Sweet Baby Rays and a nice used 38 special. But we decided to be a little more practical for this care package. Hope all is well Down Under. Mrs. G and I just settled into couch mode. We’re drinking tea, munching on TimTams, and watching The Block. Life is good.
This made me laugh.
The only time I’ve ever touched a gun was in North Korea.
Turns out I’m an awful shot.