Christmas Do's and Don'ts.

*image credits to https://static.dzone.com/dz1/dz-files/dalek.gif

How to avoid a Christmas Disaster. (*insert disclaimer here)

Face it. Christmas has the potential to be a disaster waiting to happen. How do we avoid going mad or pissing someone else off? Are there some ideas out there to help us enjoy Christmas better? I'm sure there's plenty of ideas out there that are waaay better than mine. I was thinking these through the last few days. Lets see how they fit in.

Dont

Dont forget where you put everything. OK. Want me to go on? Keys. Bag. Wallet. Phone. Shopping lists. Contact numbers or addresses. The remote. Keycards. Where did I park the car again...?

Don't leave everything to the last minute. Yes. Nice Try. I avoided this, yet I still ended up shopping on my work break christmas eve... then left the gifts in the work car at work... then I had to sneak in to work on Christmas day and go get them... you get the idea... I also remember having a good laugh at the supermarket about how busy and stressed everyone looked (fools!) until I suddenly recalled that I too had also put off shopping (oh damn).

Don't text your crush on christmas day. Especially if you very specifically said you weren't going to be in his face about it. Here's a vid below about what I pretty much said to the guy (or words to that effect). I was not accpeted or rejected. Which is really a rejection. Texting on Christmas without encouragement is probably getting in someone's face..... hmmmm now that sounds like something that I am....not...going to do..... It is Christmas.

Dont call up people who have stolen from you or owe you lots of money. This one is more for everyone else. I guess it would ruin someone else's Christmas and oh geeez I really wouldn't want to do that eve if they owed me thousands of dollars and were hiding from me the other 364 days of the year.... However, never requesting reimbursement or return of goods is legally considered permission and consent for the other party to not respond or take action. If Christmas is the only day of the year a person answers the phone and makes promises then you too may be tempted to take this action.

Dont forget about good food hygeine. I'm not just talking about washing hands I'm talking about how a Christmas feast has the potential to be specific to food being left out for long periods of time.

Do

Do plan ahead. Virtually everything closes where I am on Christmas day except the service stations. Hmmm. So...I will need food, christmas cheer, gifts, other fluids and oh please do not forget the toilet paper!

Do watch and supervise any children in your care constantly. I saw a baby recieve a lollipop today. That baby was then peaking off her head on sugar and very angry and sticky at the same time. It's also good to make sure children wash their hands, play nicely and don't run in traffic.

Do be a law abiding citizen. No speeding. No public misdemeaner. No brawls. No stealing from next door because they are out... you get the gist. Christmas probably is boring and even more stressful from the inside of a cell.

Do travel safely. It's a horrid time of year for a crash. People will miss you and/or be severely traumatised from a horrific accident. Take your time. Keep your wits about you. Take plenty of breaks.

Do your best to enjoy it. It's that one time of year people have to let you sing all day, dress strangely and be over the top happy or cheery. Everyone tries to be a little more positive. When else will people pull together and look for the best in things and attempt to be good to each other? Enjoy it while you can.

Do think creatively and thoughfully for every gift you give. Gift Cards are great but sometimes it depends on where you get the gift card from and some people may actually find it offensive. Nothing says 'I know you and I actually thought this through' like a real gift you picked out that matches the reciever. Easier said than done (fact). We might not get that right every year but it is very much worth the effort. When you make an effort people change and they start making an effort to. Notice it.

So thats it. Merry Christmas and all that. A bit of Christmas cheer and the feet being put up is on the cards. I hope you enjoyed my little spin on Christmas and I hope you enjoyed your own Christmas even better.

-Mez