Frasbee

I dunno about you guys, 'specially the ones who get paid more than me (all of you).

Anyway, right when one might need the money the most for gifts and travel, we end up working the least.

I feel a little scrooged about it all.

Even for one that is thrifty with plenty of savings, I can't help but stress over a depleting bank account.

Anybody else feelin' me on this?

piette

Ummmm........I think most of the country is feeling it to some degree.

Jeff

brian john

Do something that Christmas is really suppose to be about Volunteer, spread some good I think you will reap the Christmas Sprit beyond just spending dollars on gifts.

walkerj

Mr. Gaquin,
I am always excited to read your posts. You seem to know a thing or two about the electrical trade. I have a whole new repect for you. Christmas is about giving, not spending money.
Help out someone less fortunate than yourself. A neighbor, a friend, a family member. Give some old clothes to the salvation army, work the soup kitchen, take all your change to the Santa with the bell in front of wall mart.

76nemo

Wow, brian completely floored the subject.

I just got laid off a couple of weeks ago, and I am not sweating Christmas. People get too wrapped up in spending, and that to me is all hogwash. Christmas isn't about exchanging gifts. Christmas is about family, pictures/photo albums, laughter, and children. Christmas to me wasn't intended for adults, maybe if you are religious, that's fine.


Most of us are feeling the crunch, but what does Christmas have to do with it? I know where you're coming from. Appreciate your family and friends and their well being. If you have never seen the movie "Pay it Forward", maybe brian john may loan it to you. Sounds to me like he knows the true spirit behind this holiday.

For what it's worth, I wish you all the best.


Take good care.



~Brad

TheRick

I am spending this Christmas away from my family (wife and 3 kids). I have never been away from them for more than a couple of days...and I have to say that it isn't easy. I know it is very cliche'....but you really don't appreciate how good things are until they change.

Don't get me wrong I am not looking for anybody's sympathy, I took this position knowing full well what it entailed, and I do not regret it for a second. The work we are accomlishing is way to important for that.

My point is, although I am spending this Holiday season away from my family, all I have to do is look around me to realize just how lucky I still am! I am surrounded by several thousand soldiers 24/7 who are constantly putting their lives on the line to help provide a better life for people they don't even know. I am not going to get into the politics of why we are here in Iraq, and whether or not we should be. Regardless of your opinions and political views, the bottom line is OUR troops are in harms way on a daily basis.

If you truly want to "give back" or "pay it forward" or whatever name you put to it, thank a soldier or veteran. Visit a VA Hospital and sit with a disabled veteran, send a care package to soldiers overseas, do something to show your appreciation for the sacrifices they make EVERY day. When I look around at the level of Professionalism, and Dedication in the Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, and Marines that serve our great Nation I can't help but feel a great sense of not only Pride in being an American, but also a great deal of gratitude toward those Servicemembers.

So if you would, thank a soldier or veteran this Holiday season...just a simple "Thank You" for all they do is plenty...believe me they DESERVE it!

__________________
Rick Boudreau
TASK FORCE SAFE INSPECTION TEAM LEADER
Tal Afar, Iraq
"fool-proof systems do not take into account the ingenuity of fools"

TOOL_5150

Here here Brian! Christmas is all about spending time with the ones you love. You only get 1 life to live... and work is not, and should not, be your life.

~Matt

__________________
I would rather beg for forgiveness then beg for permission.

Frasbee

I'm not even spending all that much on gifts.

It's the fact that all these days off between Thanksgiving and New Year is killin' me.

I was doing better during the summer with gas at 4.25.

I just applied and paid for health insurance, and part of me regrets it, because now that means I cannot set money aside to save.

This was one of the reasons why I was such a grinch last christmas, and I was making even less, then.

I can't wait until this is all over.

TOOL_5150

I got the same issue.


I do agree to that. I am using my time off though so it isnt a total loss. Just not making much for money.

~Matt

__________________
I would rather beg for forgiveness then beg for permission.

leland

Thank you Rick!!!
(for your service,and more)

You put it all in perfect perspective!
It is a time for reflection and family! (for me)
This commercialism s%%T has got to stop!
Step back and enjoy it for what it is!

PS: Pm for anything you need! I'm involved with a few outfits supporting you folks!

Be Safe, And.... Merry Christmas !!!

__________________
"When one American is not worth the effort to be found, we as Americans have lost" (Rolling Thunder MA 1)

TheRick

I appreciate the gratitude, but the soldiers are the ones that really deserve it. They are out there putting themselves in harm's way.

The work we are doing is an attempt to make their lives safer when they are "inside the wire." I am very limited as to what I can disclose, but I will tell you that we are making great progress in acheiving that goal.

If anyone is interested the adopt a platoon program is a great way to help out! http://www.adoptaplatoon.org/ You business owners out there take note of a great way to support our troops, and of course get a tax deduction for the charitable contribution!

Thank you and Merry Christmas!

__________________
Rick Boudreau
TASK FORCE SAFE INSPECTION TEAM LEADER
Tal Afar, Iraq
"fool-proof systems do not take into account the ingenuity of fools"

frank

It is about friends and family.

I will give gifts to close family members but for the most part Christmas will be spent catching up on old friends. With the wife,son and daughter in law I will be making visits to long time friends in Germany and the Czech Republic, not to mention folks more local. With the Construction Industry now closed until 5th January there is plenty of time to make Christmas what it should be. Good on ya Brian. Right on!!!


Frank

MechanicalDVR

This year has been good for me at work and the wife is doing well also. So today we started looking for a house closer to the beach, if not across the street. We want to take advantage of the falling prices and a good credit score. On the Holiday note, we took a couple hundred worth of toys to the Toys for Tots drop off this afternoon.