Yuletide is a comin'

[sonjajade]

First off, retail at Christmas usually sucks donkey balls.  It goes with the territory- any big gift giving holiday brings out the worst in people, with Christmas being the ultimate hell.  Surprisingly, it hasn't been that bad at my store, not crazy busy, not particularly hellish, though I have had some customers that I wanted to send on a one way trip to Mars without oxygen.  That being said, my own shopping has not been easy this year.  I put my layaway in too late and the payments were too much to handle, so I ended up putting back everything Joey and the rest of the guys could live without and am hoping the Salvation Army Angel Tree comes through with some clothes for Joey.  I find out Thursday how that went, I'm not getting my hopes up too high though.  I got Joey 2 video games (Sonic Generations and Little Big Planet 3) and the Minecraft Papercraft sets.  I think he'll get the biggest kick out of that, honestly.

Shipped some stuff out to my best friend in Washington state, she's the one who took my pro cosplay shots.  Also sent some stuff to the NEWLY MARRIED missyquill and goddamn the postal service needs to chill out on their overseas shipping.  Next time I'm gonig to take screenshots or pictures of the things I want to send and then attach an amazon gift card to it and let her get what she wants.

Speaking of screenshots, my photoshop is busted and I dunno what happened.  I can't open or save anything, which blows chunks. I've never liked the CS5 anyway, so Walt is getting me CS3 again (which had better brushes and gradient packs).

I humbled myself and went downtown to apply for welfare since I can't seem to get a fucking job that pays decent and has steady predictable hours.  I was denied, but today I got a letter saying they increased my food stamps.  That helps out big time.  Now instead of trying to feed the 3 of us (and Walt might as well count as 2 people) on $240 a month (that's $60 a week for those keeping track), I get $388, $97 a week.  I might actually be able to buy beef sometimes again!

My fma big bang has temporarily come to a halt because of HOLIDAY COMMS!!!!!  I wrote a fic for every stocking up at the fmagiftexchange (would've liked to have done some arts too but the photoshop thing didn't work out...) and now I'm trying to figure out what to do for 12_daysofficmas.  This is the time I usually write my Ruouni Kenshin fics because I donp't belong to any writing comms for that fandom and I enjoy doing the haiku format with them.  But this year I can add Attack on Titan to the ficmas-ing, I have an obsession with Levi and Erwin that's not going anywhere soon lol.

While ficcing, I rewrote the words to O Holy Night to have a distinctly Pagan flare to them.  Tell me what you think:

Oh winter’s night, that seems to last forever.
The stars shine bright and the moon is round and full.
Frost coats the holly with patterns crisp and sparkling,
And the earth hibernates beneath the snow.

The deer chase through the moonlit glen so gaily,
As if they know the morn will dawn again.

Yuletide so bright,
In silver and in gold!
By moonlight we wait for the victory of old
At dawn, the morning star will chase away the cold.

Not much on Christmas?  Have a creepy Halloween-ish version of God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen.  This is from a tape that's been in my family since before I was born I think.

I'm going to be kepign my nephews next weekend for Yule.  they had such a great time last year that they talked about it for MONTHS afterward. This year, we're going to make cookies and ornaments and do the lights at the park again.  I really can't wait, it's my favorite new tradition ♥

Comments

[cornerofmadness.livejournal.com]

I remember working retail hell. Glad it was only once. Good luck.

Hope everything else works out for you

[sonjajade.livejournal.com]

I don't wish retail on anyone. Dealing with the public is worth $15 an hour ALONE.

[cornerofmadness.livejournal.com]

No argument. I try to be nice. I really do (though I'm pretty sure I forgot to tell the wal-mart cashier have a nice day yesterday)

[missyquill.livejournal.com]

Thank you my darling, and your big bang will be right back on track now that the rl onsanity of wedding stuff and family stuff is calming down. <3

[sonjajade.livejournal.com]

<3 It's an important time in your life, big bangs can wait!

[seta-suzume.livejournal.com]

Ugh, I feel you on the international postage! I was just out at the post office with my mom and I'm sure glad she was the one mailing to Japan and not me...! The only thing I sent overseas was a few postcards.

Wow, a fic for every stocking! fmagiftexchange is really shaping up this year then already, ha ha ha. And I look forward to new haiku Rurouni Kenshin fic!!

I like the alternate O Holy Night (it's a good tune- get more mileage out of it!). I hope you have a great Yule with your nephews. That's so sweet that they were talking about it for so long after last year. :)

[sonjajade.livejournal.com]

the lady at my post office said shipping rates and stuff have changed and that everything goes first class now instead of there being a cheaper priority class. even US shipping was a little crazy. in either case my pocketbook screamed WTF!!!? lol

Yep! every stocking except mine got one from me! I'm really happy with all of them too. Did a remix for the first time, hope it goes over well.

Yule and Christmas is so freaking stressful, but it's always worth the effort, and that makes it awesome every year :) I REALLY liked how my pagan songwriting adventure went, might have to rewrite some other songs!

[seta-suzume.livejournal.com]

Huh, well I guess that explains it. I'm going to try and remember all this so I don't get shocked in the future. ^^;

Awesome! You know I'm going to read everything you wrote for everyone!!

As long as it's worth it in the end! I think some more rewrites are a good idea if you have the time and inspiration.

[anotherfmafan.livejournal.com]

Yay for ficcage!!
Hope you are enjoying yourself with it and the season in general! <3