The Not Happy Thread

What's wrong with Halloween decorations?

 

Car accidents are no fun. Even if you walk away from them. Allow yourself time to mentally recuperate from the shock. I'm glad you're okay.

 

That sounds like your cooling system is damaged. By the location I imagine your coolant reservoir is cracked, radiator likely punctured, and very possibly your water pump is cracked. Probably a couple thousand in repairs on top of the structural and facial. That smell is probably your heater core melting, thus why your temperature gauge was everywhere. I hope you didn't drive far to get back home.

I would donate the car to get rid of it for free. Sorry man, it sucks. At least you limped it home and don't need to pay that fee. Good luck.

 

I never thought of it that way, but yeah. I suppose you're right. I know Christmas is just one day as well, but it's always been a 'season' that extends for a couple of weeks. Mind you, it would be nice if it didn't start till the last couple weeks of December, but hey ho. I like a nice, long midwinter festival. (And I'm not religious, so it is more than one day for me. It's a couple of weeks to break up the cold and darkest part of the winter with warmth, light and feasting.) But Halloween?

I remember when I was a kid we spent a few days getting ready for it ...finishing our costumes, carving the pumpkin, making sure we had plenty of candy to give out at the door. But we didn't put decorations up till that evening. Definitely not.

There is certainly a trend these days to extend holidays ...by emphasizing the run-up to them. I'm not a fan. It makes the holiday itself seem like a bit of an anticlimax.

 

We always put them up in the beginning of October. My mother thoroughly enjoyed decorating. It was somewhat therapeutic for her. We all grew accustomed to it and had fun with it when I lived there. In my own home now, I always like keeping all the crazy holiday stuff around the house now just for the fun of themes.

 

Nothing wrong with that. I get annoyed at the commercialism, but not at people who just like to decorate and celebrate their own way.

I was trying to remember when we took our Halloween decorations down. I don't think it was the next day, but I don't think they were up very long either.

Here in Scotland I don't 'do' Halloween. All the years I've lived where we do ...in a cul-de-sac where there aren't any children any more ...we just don't get the trick or treaters (guisers.) There were a couple of years when we got a few, but only a couple. I used to buy candy every year just in case, but we always ended up eating it ourselves. One year I even carved a pumpkin and put it out on the porch in time-honoured fashion, with a candle inside. Nope. Nobody. So I don't bother any more.

Around here, the big deal is a few days later, with Guy Fawkes night. The whole neighourhood explodes with fireworks, bonfires, etc. I always feel a little bit left out, because it's not a holiday that resonates with me at all. Not part of my own traditions. I'm always glad when it's over and things quieten down.

 

We got it towed away yesterday and it felt like a weight lifted off my shoulders. Even if I have to buy a new car, I honestly feel much better.

Yeesh, yeah, looks like I'm better off buying a new car.

Just think of it as an excuse to eat food, chill with friends and set an effigy of a centuries-long-dead dude on fire.

I always found it odd, though. I mean, we don't go around burning the effigy of George III or John Wilkes Booth. Ah well.

As for Halloween, I don't really celebrate that as well. The closest I get to is an excuse to watch creepy videos on YouTube about hauntings and possessed dolls.

 

Nothing at all.... so long as they’re not put up until the 31st October and are removed on the 1st November.

 

I don't mind if they go up on October 1st. So long as it's in, y'know, October.

 

No no no, and no again. Just no.

 

'Penny for the Guy, mister?' said @BabyJud. 'If only, if only I might raise a shilling ha'penny to be-purchase me the rockets. Oh how I yearn for rockets and a bonfire to burn all the Catholics.' He scowled across the road, across the divide where so many Catholics gathered for their 'party.' A proper party with rules and safety, and the controlled jeopardy under boundaries of supervision. Daddo really got into the swing of things this season. What a prick.

 

You honestly expect people to have those exact days set aside for that? Why would anyone put up decorations for a single day? That really defeats the purpose of spending the time to decorate. If you like something, then decorate as early and as much as you want. If you don't, then don't.

I put up decorations when I have time. Earlier the better so then I don't get stuck with overlapping work. If I do it early, it's fun. If it's too late it's a chore.

 

Yes. I’ve never known it done any differently until this year, which is why I asked the question originally. At least that’s how it is here in the UK.

And as for why. I dunno, maybe because Halloween is a one day event?

 

Aren't most perceived holidays? Yet they've become a seasonal set of decorating. Probably American differences. Most months focus on a specific holiday for decoration. Setting out decorations just the day before would be considered fairly late here, and I generally would miss it because my time schedule is very tight and unpredictable. I never know when I'll travel for work.

 

I got ill yesterday. Kept tossin’ my lunch till I went to bed.

I still feel awful. I’m hoping though it’s just a residual awful as a repercussions of yesterday, and not that I’m going to continue being sick.

Fingers crossed.

 

Maybe that’s it then. Honestly, all I’ve ever known is for the cobwebs, plastic spiders and bats go up at some point during the 31st October, and they come down the next day - in fact very often after the kids have gone to bed on the 31st.

 

Halloween's okay - it's the 'plastic tat' in the supermarkets that pricks my enormous prick social conscience.
...
Had my first 'rocket episode' today - salivating in Tescos at the rocket stall. Apparently the pop-up shops are better? All set to blow £30 on 5 rockets and blast them from the beach any night between tomorrow night and December 1st.

 

Turns out I’m just regular ole sick.

Fun.

 

Always a blast. Enjoy!

Every time I leave the country, that is my fate for two weeks. Super fun times!

 

Mine’s probably more pathetic.

For the past two weekends, I’ve had parties and events each day.

And while I’m shy of 30, my body was not made of a constitution that sits well with being young from as far back as junior high. I’m pretty sure my body went “Alright, enough of that nonsense. We’re shutting down till you learn to have less fun and fewer friends.”

Heaven forbid I go to some films, housewarming party, art museum, Halloween party, and the like.

I probably shouldn’t tell it about the upcoming concerts and bachelorette. . .

 

Just recently went to a concert, and I'm nearly thirty. The recovery time is much slower than the old days. I used to be able to rally like none other, even after case races. Nowadays I have too many G&T's and I find myself suffering through the smell of pine needles and headaches for two days...

Still gotta have a good time though. It's a good sort of suffering if you had fun.

The bachelorette might be the death of you. But at least you'll go out swinging.