Soooo....

[Snowflake]

Originally Posted by Moonliner

I still have bad feelings about the last office "swapping game" I attended.

We had a $12 limit. I came up with "A romantic evening". Two pieces of firewood, matches, hot coco mix, two candles and a $5 blockbuster gift card.

Nobody wanted it.

Gee, that's a great gift, it would have been fine for me Moonie. I would have loved it.

Our office has a $20 limit and the gifts can be gag or not. Hence the starbucks card, our office has a huge number of addicts to the *bx.

[Ghoulish Delight]

Had to skip our company holiday party this year. It fell in the middle of Hannukah, was up with family the whole weekend. Too bad, means I missed the opportunity to win one of the raffle prizes (they range from $100 gift cards to 1-week Alaskan cruises).

[Snowflake]

Originally Posted by Ghoulish Delight

Had to skip our company holiday party this year. It fell in the middle of Hannukah, was up with family the whole weekend. Too bad, means I missed the opportunity to win one of the raffle prizes (they range from $100 gift cards to 1-week Alaskan cruises).

Boy, what a difference.....our firm (the scrooges) have us open on Xmas eve. The partner in charge of our office, is secretly giving us the day providing our docket is clear. Sad.

BTW, GD & CP, Happy Hannukah, I don't think I said it! Though I'm late....

[Ghoulish Delight]

Originally Posted by Snowflake

BTW, GD & CP, Happy Hannukah, I don't think I said it! Though I'm late....

Thanks! (you snuck in under the wire, it doesn't end until tomorrow at sundown).

[Morrigoon]

Our office is having a little party tomorrow at lunchtime. No money for the big blowout gala like they did two years ago, so we just have parties in the individual offices. Gift exchange gifts are supposed to be in the $25 range. Needless to say I won't be participating. If I can't spend that much on my own parents I'm sure as hell not spending it on random people. If I could come up with something under $10 that was of the same quality/value as the $25 gifts, I would, but I don't see that happening in the next 24 hours.

[Kevy Baby]

(Serious post from Kevy - I request that you do not post any of this out of context.)

Having feelings of anger, frustration, etc. are normal. While you may be able to "push them out of your mind", your body remembers these feelings (a process referred to as somatization). If you don't get them out, they just build up inside you, often coming out in wholly inappropriate ways. Some believe (myself included) that these issues, if allowed to build up too much, can lead to and or/contribute to bodily illnesses.

When the frustrations do build up, I have a remedy that works well for me (and others). Beat your troubles out (remember: I am being serious in this post).

It is a cathartic exercise that I learned many years ago. To start, you need to make a pounder. Your best bet is to find an old bath towel. Fold and roll it so that the short side of the flat towel becomes the length of the pounder. Now wrap it up (tightly) so that you have something like a fat baseball bat. When you think you have enough duct tape on it, double that amount.

Now, get an old pillow and a quiet place (preferably with no kiddies or non-understanding folks around). I will do this on my knees on the floor, but you can find other suitable locations/positions. Do a basic breathing exercise to get yourself focused. Three slow deep breaths - in through the nose and SLOWLY out through the mouth.

Now start focusing on all of the negative thoughts that are bugging you. Whether it is a person or a situation, make those thoughts the only thing you are thinking of. Allow the anger to build up inside of you and start focusing it on the pillow in front of you.

When you feel that the feelings are at a boil, start beating the crap out of the pillow using the pounder. Scream your most primal scream, swear, say all the vile things you want to. Get it all out, focusing all of the negative energy on the pillow and beat the living daylights out of it. (BTW: for obvious reasons, don't use a feather pillow!).

Once you feel you have done all the damage you can, then put the pounder down and lay back (or get into some other comfortable position). You may be breathing hard from the physical exertion - that is fine, but you want to try to slow down your breathing as you can. Reflect back on the feelings and what you can do to avoid them in the future. Finally, take slow deep breaths (in through the nose and SLOWLY out through the mouth).

When you fell ready, get up and go about your business!

Doing this once will not "cure" you. But used as an exercise, can be quite useful!

[Moonliner]

Originally Posted by Kevy Baby

you need to make a pounder.

Humm, while I've never really thought about it in that much detail , I do have a punching bag hanging in the basement that I beat the crap out of every now and then. I agree it can be quite cathartic.

[Ponine]

Originally Posted by Kevy Baby

(Serious post from Kevy - I request that you do not post any of this out of context.)


It is a cathartic exercise that I learned many years ago. To start, you need to make a pounder. Your best bet is to find an old bath towel. Fold and roll it so that the short side of the flat towel becomes the length of the pounder. Now wrap it up (tightly) so that you have something like a fat baseball bat. When you think you have enough duct tape on it, double that amount.

I'm not trying to quote out of context, but I am not getting a visual on this paragraph. I cannot wrap my mind around the directions.

[Cadaverous Pallor]

Ponine, I believe Kevy meant rolling it up like this.



Sounds like fun. As an angry teen I used to take a belt to my bed's white baseboard, leaving black stripes. The noise was very cathartic.

[blueerica]

Argh!

I forgot the forks I was supposed to bring for a class potluck tonight... So, I have to lose my amazing, awesome, kick-a$$ parking spot for some lousy forks. I wish they sold them on campus. It would be worth the premium.