OK.
I'll apologize up front to those who send Christmas letters because I'm sure you mean well but as the recipient of several each year permit me to say DON'T SEND CHRISTMAS LETTERS!!!!!
OK.
I'll apologize up front to those who send Christmas letters because I'm sure you mean well but as the recipient of several each year permit me to say DON'T SEND CHRISTMAS LETTERS!!!!!
Center Grove Trojans
2008 5A Football State Champs
2011 Track State Champs
Typing mine up as we speak. Nothing too long or detailed. Just basic names, ages an interests. If you can't handle it, don't read it.
"If TF members were given solid gold cars, some would complain about the color." - stnkypete
You know, TD, I used to feel the same way... and then, two years ago, my right hand got so arthritic from writing individual messages in Christmas cards, the following year I sent nearly none at all.
Which bothered a lot of people, so this year, I came up with a nice letter that covered the basics without sounding smarmy, and added a cute picture of our Christmas tree with the cat sleeping under it.
I think your real gripe is most people have no idea how to write the things, other than to come off sounding better than they are. True?
The wife and I had this discussion on Saturday after receiving one in the mail. We came to the same conclusion as TD.
Question: If you don't want the letter, do you want the card?
Or is it OK to say Hi, but we just can't tell you how we're doing?
Originally Posted by rev-ed
Question: If you don't want the letter, do you want the card?
Or is it OK to say Hi, but we just can't tell you how we're doing?
In our case, we sometimes get letters that tell us much more then we really want to know. Some of the things in those letters really are none of our business, but some folks insist on saying them regardless.
It's really no big deal to us, but we find some things in them rather odd.
This is a tough one...I used to really dislike them, they often seemed to be an opportunity to brag about how well everything was going for the sender. In part, as you are younger, your friends are all close at hand. You know what they are doing and how... But as I've gotten older, and I seen how hard it is to stay in touch with friends and family, sometimes this may be the only way to "catch up" on life and happenings. As Jeff mentioned, some people want to share WAY too much detail on sad, depressing, and odd goings on...but sometimes these letters are cathartic for the sender too. The Christmas after my Dad died (in early Dec.) my Mom sent a holiday letter that included way too much detail on Dad's illness and eventual passing, but it was good for her to be able to write these things and there were friends and family who wanted/needed to hear the whole story.
IMO, send 'em if you want to. The reader doesn't have to read it if they don't want to.
That's my gut too, akh. At worst, they're brag sheets ("Our little Cynthia was so thrilled to have an audience with the Pope last summer...") or guilt trips ("I'm well, despite my arthritis and gout making it difficult to clean the house and fix the leaky roof and plumbing, but I get by").
At best, they let you know if loved ones are alive and reasonably well, and what everyone's doing, ideally in less than half an 8 1/2 x 11 sheet of paper.
As kids, we always used to make fun of a distant cousin who always included her bowling average in her Christmas letter.
I enjoy them all. The brag sheets, the guilt sheets, the comedy. One of my favorites each year was a guilt/comedy sheet that right out of the "Gloom, despair, and agony on me" files. It was a hoot.
Don't let your circumstances define you, let your vision define you.
Chuck Pagano
Tis the season to be easily annoyed
Short letter with picture of the family - ok - THANK YOU!
Card - THANK YOU!
Long detailed letter - please don't - THANK YOU!
They say the blood is on my hands
‘Cause I put down the money and I made up the plan
www.tracksideonline.com
Lighten up, everyone. If someone wants to take the time to send you an update on their family once a year, read it and move on. Be thankful that they care enough to include you.
I like hearing what people are up to, even if sometimes it comes across as over the top. It's a letter, people. And we all know how difficult it can be to really convey things (especially feelings) via the written word. Give each other the benefit of a doubt in the spirit of the season (i.e. that God loved us so much that He sent His Son for us as a sacrifice for our sins.)
Merry Christmas!
BRAWNDO - THE THIRST MUTILATOR...IT'S GOT WHAT PLANTS CRAVE!
I enjoy receiving Christmas letters. I like to hear what's going on in the lives of my friends and family, even if they are bragging or things aren't so well.
Don't you find it interesting that some will spend hours daily posting and reading posts on the internet yet can't be bothered with a Christmas update from friends and family, no matter how poorly-written, bragadocious or corny the letters may be?
It really IS all good!
Is it bad that I send out X-Mas letters full of outlandish lies?
Last year I won a Nobel Prize, threw a chair at Austin Croshere and captured Saddam Hussein. One year I made the 'Blair Witch Project', another year I stood in front of a tank while visiting China. I was thinking that this year I could leave Atlanta after my bride ran away and work all summer as a dam inspector in New Orleans...
I enjoy receiving Christmas letters. I like to hear what's going on in the lives of my friends and family, even if they are bragging or things aren't so well.
Don't you find it interesting that some will spend hours daily posting and reading posts on the internet yet can't be bothered with a Christmas update from friends and family, no matter how poorly-written, bragadocious or corny the letters may be?
Is that different than somebody who challenges and argues on the internet but welcomes any and all letters?
OK, if you're going to write a letter please don't make it be written by the baby or the dog.
The letters I get read something like this:
We moved this year into a house that cost more than yours.
Our kids are smarter than yours and better in sports.
We vacation in better places than you do.
Our pets can do more tricks than you.
blah blah blah...
Real updates written by an adult? It would be welcome but it would also be a first.
Oh - I see you got my letter
I agree. So in the spirit of The Holiday, considering that the 12 day count-down starts tomorrow, I offer everyone at Track Forum a happy 12.
Oh - and I vote NO on the letter referendum.
"The face of a child can say it all. Especially the mouth part of the face" - Jack Handey
Y'know, I thought I was going to have to sic my diocese's archbishop on you, because as he reminded us at our church in a homily last weekend, the 12 Days of Christmas include the days AFTER Christmas Day, not before.
But your link goes to somethin' a little diff'rent.
I received this one, but I don't know what to make of it...
This chain letter was started in hopes of bringing relief to other tired and discouraged men.
Unlike most chain letters, this one does not cost anything. Just send a copy of this letter to five
of your friends who are equally tired and discontented.
Then bundle up your wife and/or girlfriend and send her to the man whose name appears at the top of the following list, and add your name to the bottom of the list.
When your turn comes, you will receive 15,625 women.
One of them is bound to be better than the one you already have.
At the writing of this letter, a friend of mine had already received 184 women, of whom 4 were worth keeping.
REMEMBER this chain brings luck.
One man's pit bull died, and the next day he received a Playboy swimsuit model.
An unmarried Jewish man living with his widowed mother was able to choose between a
Hooters waitress and a Hollywood super model.
You can be lucky too, but DO NOT BREAK THE CHAIN!
One man broke the chain, and got his own wife back again.
Let's keep it going, men! Just add your name to the list below!
Bill Clinton
780 3rd Ave
New York, NY 10017
William Jefferson Clinton
780 3rd Ave
New York, NY 10017
W. J. Clinton
780 3rd Ave
New York, NY 10017
William Clinton
780 3rd Ave
New York, NY 10017
W Jefferson Clinton
780 3rd Ave
New York, NY 10017
William J Clinton
780 3rd Ave
New York, NY 10017
Slick Willie Clinton
780 3rd Ave
New York, NY 10017
Mr. Hillary Clinton
780 3rd Ave
New York, NY 10017
Bah humbug...
ditto...............
SENÓR MODERATOR......
"Better To Be Judged By Twelve Than Carried By Six"
" Only Those Who Will Risk Going Too Far....Can Possibly Find Out How Far One Can Go "...T.S. Elliot....
"I received this one, but I don't know what to make of it..."
It's older than dirt.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/677463/posts
"New Chain Letter Uncovered!
email | 5/3/2002 | Unknown
Posted on 05/03/2002 9:21:06 AM PDT by COBOL2Java"
"Foyt's mere presence is a punch in the face, an inoculation against milquestoast corporatism. There wasn't a car anywhere anyhow anytime that Foyt wouldn't put the boot to, and there hasn't been a race devised he couldn't win."
- Jeff MacGregor, Sunday Money
Hey, I'm all for the Narnia bookends. That White Witch...mmmmmmmmmmMMMM!
TrackForum Pick 5 2013 Point Standings
"Dogs flew spaceships! The Aztecs invented the vacation! Men and women are the same sex! Our forefathers took drugs! Your brain is not the boss! Yes! That's right! Everything you know is wrong!"
Brian's Wish * Jason Foundation
If there ever was a time to lighten up, it's Christmas...
Trying to spell hors d'oeuvres
Gets upon my hors n'oeuvres
"If there ever was a time to lighten up, it's Christmas..."
Someone has been listening to Sam & Bob on KVET.
War Geezinslaws! War Hill's Cafe!
Oops.
Got another one today. Two full pages. Here's a taste:
{snipped}daughter married a cardiologist
The last paragraph tells of what stock they invested in and how great its done this year.
TMI.
Last edited by Truth Detector; 12-15-2005 at 02:56 AM.
I have only gotten one christmas letter and it was from our very own Glenn Harm.
Well, I'd like to get one from Glenn.
Maybe my problem with them is that I only get them from the smarmiest of people.
Could be. Then again, I didn't think there was anything wrong with the letter you printed (pre-edit). Too much information, but so what? Ignore what you don't like. All they did was include what they thought was important. Sure fishing for business is a bit much, but that's the personality of some people. I went to high school with a guy who is an insurance salesman. People at the high school reunions avoid him like the plague (remember Ned in Groundhog Day?!Well, I'd like to get one from Glenn.
Maybe my problem with them is that I only get them from the smarmiest of people.
How 'bout you writing one up for your family and emailing it to me. I'll let you know how it sounds.
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