SPEAKER_01 0:00

Welcome back to the Blurred Spectrum Podcast. It's been a couple of weeks, a couple of months since we've done an episode. Disregard the background noise, because yeah, we decided to do something in our live studio space. We are here to go over uh a couple of topics that are near and dear to our heart. Things that piss us off. You know, the Siame Sadina's of the world. Um, but of course, this episode is about the holidays. Those those warm feelings on the inside, uh, the things that bring solace to your minds, the things that make your uh go warm. Um, no, that's not what this is about. This is about the anti-holidays. This is about all the things that we do not like about the holiday season, uh ranging from people to capitalism to time to skips or lack thereof, uh, money, uh, everything. So, but of course, as always, I have to introduce my uh esteemed panelists, starting with myself. No, no, not starting with myself. First off, starting to my left, okay, I gotta start to my right, because obviously you can see what you do at this time. Um starting with the ladies. Uh the nurses with the Moses, that is uh the Sahume cosplay. Then, of course, we have master uh uh uh seamstress of all things that are of the rainbow men skills. No, that wasn't as high as normally. Yeah, she didn't know that loud.

SPEAKER_00 1:36

She's like I don't know how to sign it.

SPEAKER_01 1:44

And then of course we have Lords of the Wind Kaze Shinryu. Back from from that's been like six, seven years. I think it's been an adventure.

unknown 1:58

But I have returned.

SPEAKER_00 2:01

I'm busy.

SPEAKER_01 2:10

And of course, your moderator, Suji No Shogun. Uh, wanted to make sure we did a live episode uh in person because uh we don't really need a reason to come and see each other. It's actually a part of one of my things that I don't like about the holidays. We'll come back to me in a couple seconds. But uh I guess we'll start off with the person who has always something to say. I would say I can hear you, but you're still digesting water. So I guess we will swing it over to the bopy your eyes went wide.

SPEAKER_03 2:40

Like, I never go first. That's I'm like Oh my god.

SPEAKER_01 2:44

Okay, I'll go first. Fine. I'll just I'll make it easy. So the thing I was gonna say uh that I do not like about the holidays is the holidays for me is supposed to be a time of uh fun, family, friendship, fellowship, all that jazz. Everybody comes together. Um the thing I don't like about the holidays is when families, friends uh feud. Uh, because I think everybody, not everybody, but a lot of people have like family uh feuds or family um what do they call those? Drama. Uh and what ends up happening is it either unfolds during the course of the year, or worse, it unfolds at Thanksgiving, which then flows into Christmas, which then messes up the new year, because Tanya Aunt Tanya stopped talking to Aunt Patty, and then Aunt Patty don't like the lifestyle of cousin Reggie, and then Reggie hates his Uncle Frank, and then all of a sudden the whole family just is mad at each other. Um, and then nobody comes over to the other person's house for Christmas. Uh so family feuds that ruin family traditions and friend traditions is what I don't like about the holidays because um I don't know if you know, I love fellowshipping. I love people, I love gathering people into a space and letting them enjoy themselves in said space. And when it's not able to happen, it bothers me. But in reality, I understand people are people, um, and you can either hold them against their will or hold them against their will. So, uh, you just have to see. Yes, C would be to allow them to live their life vicariously through you by having them still be in your house. Yes. That didn't work either. Uh okay, though, it's the reality is, you know, you can't force anybody to do the things that you want them to do. You just have to allow them to live their lives, because unless you're paying them to be where you want them to be, they're gonna do what they want to do. So um, I don't know if I just found a solution for my answer, but I will specifically say I still don't like it. It's it's great and it's it's upsetting. Um, so who has one next?

SPEAKER_03 4:48

I'll go. Um yeah, say, because you're gonna have me go first anyway. I wasn't! I really wasn't, but I cannot stand the money spent.

SPEAKER_04 5:00

Ooh, okay, man.

SPEAKER_03 5:03

Um, and it's it's just very, I would say, frustrating. It's anxiety feel. Every time October 31st comes around, I just feel this anxiety because I know what tomorrow is.

SPEAKER_01 5:16

It's Mariah Carey. Go ahead.

SPEAKER_03 5:17

Mariah Carey.

SPEAKER_01 5:21

I'm not she defrosted.

SPEAKER_03 5:25

She was in the icicle, and so I didn't talk to her eyes.

SPEAKER_01 5:28

I would hit the note, but I'm not my voice.

SPEAKER_03 5:30

It's time to know what we're all gonna get. And um, I would say the emphasis on adults. I think it's grown people that that force their their ideas on what they want for Christmas. I want this, you gotta give me this. And usually I always think about Christmas and children, you know, toys, and that it's always exciting to get things for kids. Yes. But it's always dreadful getting things for grown adults. Grown people, I'm like, you don't think this young? You gotta paycheck.

SPEAKER_04 5:58

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 5:58

Like, I need this. Yeah. In this color.

SPEAKER_01 6:02

I've never had that.

SPEAKER_03 6:03

I'm like, what?

SPEAKER_01 6:04

To an adult.

SPEAKER_03 6:05

To a grown adult, and then seeing adults.

unknown 6:10

Right. Right. Yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_03 6:17

Yeah, it's the expectation. You know, and or or just uh gift counting. How come this person got more gifts than me? I want this gift.

SPEAKER_01 6:26

So it sounds like you're talking about adult childlike adults.

SPEAKER_03 6:30

Yes. Absolutely. And then it just I remember like when I was younger, I used to love Christmas. But it wasn't until I was an adult that I despised it.

SPEAKER_04 6:39

Wow. I absolutely despise, yes.

SPEAKER_03 6:42

Okay, despised. Yes. You know, and it just it just sucks the joy out of what Christmas could be. I think that's why I always love Halloween. Because no matter if you're younger or older, is everybody dressing up in candy?

SPEAKER_04 6:58

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 6:59

Girl, people like can you guys? Okay, drunk. You know what I'm saying? You work for the board. And um, it it's just uh the amount of m people that are in debt after Christmas.

SPEAKER_01 7:12

Lord, that's a Jesus, right?

SPEAKER_03 7:14

Debt. And then I'm serious because then look, we all waiting for for fucking taxes to come around. Like shit, we wait. What is when the taxes come out? Taxes don't come out until February. That's true. So you gotta wait another two months to recover. Some people don't recover financially until spring. From Christmas. Okay. And especially if you have a big family. Oh, don't even use that on big families. Big families are the worst. Because then it's not like you can only just give for one person, then you have to give for everybody.

SPEAKER_01 7:40

I I will say our family at the beginning stages, when we're all young, all the moms and aunties, they took their money, and every cousin, every nephew, every niece, everybody, even if it was like a random shirt from Sears, everybody got something. I think once it was like our aunts and uncles, and then eventually our turn to start doing stuff, we all were like, Well, y'all don't even talk to us like that. Why don't you buy you a gift? I don't know the last time I saw your face. No disrespect, but I I'm a you're all y'all, you know, I'm a gift giver. But I'm like, if I'm gonna get you a gift, I have to know you well enough to know what you want. Because I don't want to just, oh, here. And then you're like, oh, thank you. That's um gift cards. I I don't like gift cards. I just like gift cards. Really? Because it's a cop out. In my opinion.

SPEAKER_02 8:31

I don't mind cards as long as it's not a specific place.

SPEAKER_01 8:36

As a substitution, yes. As a substitute, I'm sorry, thank you. As a substitution, I think it's a cop out because I feel like if I know you or if you're expecting something from me, maybe not that long. If I know you, then I should be able to get you something. Even if it's something small, it's the thought in it. But if you just got me a gift, like if you got me a gift card to a place that makes sense, then okay, that makes sense. But if I got Tiffany a gift card to UAL, she'd be like.

SPEAKER_03 9:02

What's UAL?

SPEAKER_01 9:04

Who?

SPEAKER_03 9:04

UAL. Oh, oh, oh, I'm sorry. I'm thinking of a damn sore. Like the wall.

SPEAKER_01 9:10

I didn't do it, yo. I'm sorry.

SPEAKER_03 9:15

So to be fair, I never use the acronyms.

SPEAKER_01 9:18

That's true, you don't. That is very good.

SPEAKER_03 9:20

Don't come for me. I won't say.

unknown 9:28

I wasn't looking at the colour.

SPEAKER_01 9:30

Let me see again.

SPEAKER_03 9:32

I know what the hell you know means. How do you know these acronyms? I'm thinking it's like some WPCS. I don't know. What the fuck is that? No one note. Anywho, how do we left?

SPEAKER_01 9:43

So I apologize. That's about all I should have spelled it out for our listeners who don't know what UAL is, because there are some. So Urban Anime Lounge. I got her Urban Anime Lounge gift card. What would she do with that when she is a part of Urban Anime Lounge?

SPEAKER_03 9:57

That would be a spot.

SPEAKER_01 9:57

It would be that would be true. Why do you do this? Why would you do that? Oh, and my excuse would be, oh, I was supporting your organization while giving you a gift. That's supporting. Right.

SPEAKER_02 10:09

That's supported an organization by me. But you know what?

SPEAKER_01 10:13

See, and she told me. And see how upset she is? That's what I'm talking about. That's you know, because some people just get gift cards. Because even back in the day when they used to have like the, well, they still have them, but the Visa gift cards. I just love this card. I used to hate those. Oh, yeah. Because it was no certain people, certain people don't know which Visa gift card to get. Because there's some, there's a standard one that you can give people, but then there's like selected ones. And if you get those, you put $10, $15, $20, $25, $30 into it. And it literally says you have to sign up for a subscription for you to be able to get the money out. And people don't know that, yeah, buddy. Don't forget I'm Nigerians. So there's some Nigerians who just pick up what they find, they pay for it, and they hand it out. Because I've gotten cars, I literally had to sign up for a subscription to something just to be able to get $25 out. And the subscription gets how much it was $4.99. So now I'm down to $20.

unknown 11:00

Oh. Oh no.

SPEAKER_01 11:02

So again, try, the try. Another part. Uh but continuous, right?

SPEAKER_03 11:08

Uh, but yeah, no, it's just like the financial difficulties around that time. It seems like, um, you know, it's like a lot of family, or you're trying to figure out what you want to get your loved one, you know, and you're already financially going through things, you're expelling money you already don't have. And there's an expectation that, well, what are you gonna give me? And you're like, well shit, I'm not even out of my financial hole. So now I have to figure out ways to procure this money that I don't have to give to you, and then you have to think of reciprocity. What am I gonna get back? And it's not that you should think, oh, what am I getting out of it? But if you're gonna go broke for something and somebody just hands you like a piece of paper, good job. You're gonna feel some type of fucking way. You know, so um that and I I just I would say a lot of a lot of family drama as well, and also and a lot of people don't talk about this, but a lot of people die around the end of the year.

SPEAKER_04 12:00

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 12:01

Which is kind of weird. And it's always it seems like sometimes they not that they hold out, but it just seems like a trend of a lot of people passing away around the end of the year. So a lot of people always constantly feel triggered by the end of the year. Um, it could be that loved ones did pass and you can't spend that time with them. Um, so usually the Christmas or Thanksgiving, the times when you do have a lot of family, is always a constant reminder that you don't have that person with you. Um so I'm I'm not a fan of the holidays. I do love living like curious people who enjoy it. Um, like you see cosplayers that do Christmas stuff, and you see the Christmas light. So it's all around you and it's very visually beautiful and appealing, but it just doesn't hit me the same way, like how it does with other people. I didn't mean it leave a melancholy. No, no, maybe it's a negative. Sorry in Gia.

SPEAKER_00 13:05

Uh so um have any uh specifically negative experiences or emotions with uh the holidays. Some of this some of that is kind of auto-correcting because as far as the whole gift thing, I I just kinda stop. I just kinda like nobody expect shit for me anyway, so I mean Welling up to my exit.

unknown 13:42

There it is.

SPEAKER_00 13:45

Oh sadly, I got them last year. So um, yeah, yeah, like you know, I look I look into the input and output, and it's like no, yeah, I'll just you know, they they get my smile and my presence, and you know, they need help, I got 'em. But the presence is the gifted.

unknown 14:07

I mean, time's a better gift anyway. Like, what you need my husband?

SPEAKER_04 14:12

I love that, actually. Yes.

unknown 14:15

Yes, yes.

SPEAKER_00 14:16

Um, but uh but but I will I will I will say if I had if I had to say something, my one uh my one thing with the holiday season is where the fuck they put it. I hate the cold. I I barely I don't I I I barely want to leave leave my house on a nice day. So then you have the audacity to make outside attack me and make it completely inhospitable.

SPEAKER_02 14:45

Oh my god. I'm I am a hundred percent, nine thousand percent there with you.

SPEAKER_00 14:53

Yeah, it's it's it's awful, it's terrible, it's a little bit.

SPEAKER_02 14:55

I don't know if I've ever heard that it's there, but I'm so glad you said that.

SPEAKER_00 15:02

Yeah, but uh fucking flood penalty. Persephone, I'm gonna say nothing. FaceTime didn't do nothing to you.

SPEAKER_03 15:16

Now listen, so you cursing up persephone, your ass won't stay any longer in the underworld. Put some respect on her motherfucking nigga. Oh, she ain't coming back. That's what I'm saying.

SPEAKER_01 16:28

Sound-wise. One of our uh ornaments that are on the wall happened to strike the symbols, even though she was quiet during this entire course of the conversation.

SPEAKER_03 16:39

The wrath of the gods.

SPEAKER_01 16:40

Oh, okay.

SPEAKER_03 16:41

That was that was the original happening.

SPEAKER_01 16:43

They did.

SPEAKER_04 16:48

I'm sorry.

SPEAKER_01 16:49

Um, I'm sorry, but they make the talk to me. That's your warning.

SPEAKER_03 16:59

It meant to say left to Suchi, and then you picked the wrong left. Oh, sorry. I'm sorry.

SPEAKER_00 17:06

Oh sorry, Dog, were you totally on your points when you completed that? Uh yeah, no, no, that was uh that was that was mostly when you cause a lot of chaos when you quote your point. Yeah, you know. Uh I'm I'm upset. Okay, I'm just on brand.

SPEAKER_01 17:28

So yeah, I think I'm not gonna do it. It's crazy. On brand, brand on. I didn't I said it. I didn't even realize it. Okay, look at that.

SPEAKER_03 17:38

I had to read into that one, okay.

SPEAKER_01 17:43

Um, the skips.

SPEAKER_02 17:45

Yes, so yes, to cause point. I'm not gonna stay on it too long.

SPEAKER_01 17:51

Don't jump on it.

SPEAKER_02 17:54

Right. I'm not gonna stay on it too long, but um, for me, it's definitely um like the seasonal depression kicks in um winter. Now I feel like actually love the holidays. Um I love like all of the things that Silent said about like Christmas, the lights, it's pretty. Um Thanksgiving for me is like all the food. I mean, I love the family portion, the gathering, and all that stuff.

unknown 18:21

I like to see I really get to see art all year round, but the food I can do.

SPEAKER_02 18:30

Um But the art is like it's like a it's like an emotional roller coaster for me because like the holiday season is gonna try to run the year. So like I don't wanna be outside. I'm already depressed, it's cold as fun. Like, I like I don't like anything about the trick either. Um so like there's that depressive state, but then also like being around my family and trying to you know still be in that you know holiday holiday spirit of fun time or whatever. So that's like one of the biggest things for me when I come Saturday. But also Saturday preaching about the money aspect. I really hate the pressure of gift giving. Uh and I'm somebody who likes to give gifts, but I'm also somebody who likes to outdo and get when we talk about giving gifts. So like so it became it gives me like so much anxiety, and then also like I feel like because of the gift giving thing, society has like like built in that like pressure for us. So when somebody gives me a gift and I don't have a gift for them, I feel like a terrible person. It literally like like heart-wrenching to me. Like when somebody gives me a gift and I don't have something to give them.

SPEAKER_01 19:55

Um so what you're saying is we should only get you birthday presents, not Christmas presents. Well, I'm gonna say birthday presents you you shouldn't be getting the anything, but Christmas presents. Right, right.

SPEAKER_02 20:07

Yeah, it's I I don't know. I don't like to, you know, because I people tell me, oh just accept it, just take your flower. Like, you know, like it's like a compliment when people say, oh, accept, just accept it, and I and I just like that's what I try to do. But at the end of the day, I still feel terrible because I'm like, damn, like my friend thought about me enough to give me a gift. And it's not that I didn't think about you, but I I I probably couldn't afford it, or like I if I had money to get all of my friends' gifts, then I would. But I I literally have to be shoes, like, who's giving a gift? Like, who's giving a gift this year? Because and I and I think God, like all the time that my family, my immediate family is not humongous because I don't I don't even know how I would handle that. Yeah, like oh my god, like I'm only gonna give you the one in the county. Oh I'm only gonna give them one gift. Like, I've never given somebody just one gift in my family. Um so if it, you know, stuff like that, I have my mom and my nephew, and if I only give my mom one gift, I feel like you're like I literally hate myself. So that that aspect of it is really like hard for me.

unknown 21:23

I don't know about it, but it's very stressful for me.

SPEAKER_02 21:26

Um gifts and I'm having to do them, and then also just make sure my family feels like oh, like she she thought, she's thoughtful enough to give me something. Um because I'm I'm I'm sure people, you know, do feel that way, like, oh, you only got a look. But my mom would never say that. My sister, however. She'd be like, that's it. And I'd be like, I'm like, when the last time you got me a car, bitch. Not only. Um so so and and even then I would feel bad. Even though she hasn't gotten me anything, I would still feel bad that I didn't get her something and she would be a good thing.

SPEAKER_00 22:11

Oh shit.

SPEAKER_03 22:14

Uh no, I I I wanted to piggyback off of you.

SPEAKER_04 22:21

Of course.

SPEAKER_03 22:23

We're a woman. Yes. But I wanted to piggyback off of what you said about like the gift counting. So like with my app, my brother has like three kids. Kids are like growing, you know, growing young people. And so I would have to think, okay, well, I want to get the oldest, this, this, this. And I'm like, oh shit, that means okay.

SPEAKER_01 22:43

I mean the youngest has to get.

SPEAKER_03 22:45

Yes, and then you know, the youngest is a is a is a boy, so I'm like, oh shit, now for me it's like easier for me to pick for girls, the accessories. Yeah. I'm like, oh shit, they got five, they got five, this is like this, this, this. And then, you know, my brother, you know, I'm like, I gotta get him something too. But I actually like to get gifts for them because they never like pressure me or anything.

SPEAKER_01 23:07

Like, the mom, I'm like, oh my you don't tell people.

SPEAKER_03 23:12

Okay, yeah. Sorry for fiblessness. But uh, it's the pressure of, you know, for some individuals, I'm not gonna say the names, they will you you try your best to get a gift and you can tell they're not happy. Oh yeah. That is for me, that's like so crushing. Cause like you already don't have the fucking money. You already know, like, they you know they like this, and you're like, eh, it's it's nice. Don't tell me that shit. Just lie. Lie to me. Right. Like this is so cute, it's amazing. It's amazing, man. How did you know? Drove my fucking evil and put it in the closet if you want. Right.

SPEAKER_02 23:55

Seriously. Yes. Let me know. Yes. Yes.

SPEAKER_01 24:02

Give me the truth. I don't want lies. I promise you, I can see through the lies. I don't want it. Because I I have I have children who I get gifts for. Like, I was gonna say, to piggyback off of what you both said, is that after a while, I stopped getting gifts for adults. Other than my mother and my father, I stopped giving gifts for adults. Only children. Like friends, if I got it, I'll do it. But children only. So, like, friends, my children, a couple of cousins, nieces and nephews, godchildren, that's all I was giving gifts for. So, with my niece and nephew, I was like, okay, what am I gonna get? Matter of fact, make this easier. Give me a Christmas list. What do you, what's your what you what's your list to Santa? Give me your list.

unknown 24:43

These people out here asking for mathbooks I've had.

SPEAKER_01 24:46

Well, this chick like cars, uh PS5s, I'm like, you already have one. Oh, I need another one, so when my cousin comes over, he can play too. That's not how it works.

SPEAKER_02 24:57

I'm just excuse me. Christmas get the Christmas list be out. But I remember when my mom used to ask me for a Christmas list, it would have like hair berets and socks, friends socks.

unknown 25:11

Can I get this?

SPEAKER_02 25:12

And I might ask for a video game or a party. Yeah. My my nephew, actually, my mom this year totally had me up. Like, I said, I said, Ma, you got a whole computer on you.

SPEAKER_04 25:28

Yep.

SPEAKER_02 25:29

Who about a whole computer? Who about it? Who first of all, don't even get me started because on her birthday, she was trying to get a new computer because her her her shit went out, and I gave her $200 to put towards the computer. She's still up there.

SPEAKER_00 25:43

They don't have a computer.

SPEAKER_02 25:44

I said, you know what? Not this on your Christmas list. What are we doing? I'd be like, and you'd be the first one mad when somebody puts something crazy on A list. You'd be like, girl, who who got this?

SPEAKER_03 25:57

Who got this? It's not the kids. I'm telling you, it's not, it's not the kids. It's the adults why hate Christmas. It's not the kids. Because even with like the crazy um suggestions from children, like I want a MacBook or an iPod, you can get them useful shit like pens, gel pens. I love this. It smells good.

SPEAKER_01 26:19

As long as you get a kid one of the things on their list that's not too crazy and everything else is fluff, they'll be satisfied. Yes. After that, every year. It's like literally this fluff, fluff, fluff. I do, I purposely, I know exactly what box, shape box I wrapped it in. So I give them all the fluff. Oh, socks. Oh, is this my shirt? Oh, snap, isn't it? So it's slightly grows, and then as soon as they get to that box, I'm like, okay, exactly. No, no, no, no, no, but all of a sudden, oh my god, you got this! And Christmas is safe.

SPEAKER_03 26:47

Yes. But you know, the big items should be left for parents. Tell listeners, the big items for the parents, okay?

SPEAKER_00 26:55

That's true.

SPEAKER_03 26:56

No, seriously, because there's no reason why I should be getting like a nephew or somebody else's kid, like a whole entire Xbox or a PlayStation. I'll give you a game. Because we'll get you a game. Or maybe a gift card to GameStop. You know? I know Suchi loves uh gift cards. Roblox Roblox.

SPEAKER_00 27:16

I mean, I guess that's if the parents go on to get that sometimes Auntie Red shit and the parents ain't got it.

SPEAKER_04 27:23

That is true.

SPEAKER_00 27:24

That is true. But I mean, but you only leave it for the parents if the parents are. If the parents have it, yes.

SPEAKER_03 27:29

But it has to be like a mutual understanding and conversation. But some people were like, yeah, you couldn't get my my my child this computer or this this uh this guitar. I would say I think what no basically some. I couldn't get some what you're supposed to get. Right. I'm not playing you. Right.

SPEAKER_00 27:50

I'm not you don't have a conversation anyway, because like what what they haven't already.

SPEAKER_03 27:54

That's true. That's very, very true. And so like I've now learned to ask like my nieces and my nephew for a vision board, aesthetic vision board. Because kids, if you're gonna buy any clothes personal, you have to know their size.

SPEAKER_04 28:06

Yes.

SPEAKER_03 28:06

And don't go by the size they tell you, because you don't know about our smaller. And you don't think it's okay?

SPEAKER_01 28:11

And even if you get the size, even if they get the size right, by summertime next year, they'll grow out of it.

SPEAKER_03 28:16

It's gonna change. I always buy the size of it. Oh, it's the same. Yeah, always buy the size of stuff. Exactly. And just really listen to like what they what they tell you or they show you. So that's how I always get it right with like my nieces and my nephew, aesthetically. Because they, you know, they send me Pinterest stuff. I don't even know how to fucking operate things like that. They just send me Pinterest. Auntie, Nene, I want this. Alright, okay, not a problem. You know? So, so yeah, I guess it's more so if if you want to put in the effort, Christmas can be a or holiday season can be a great time. A lot of people don't want to put in the effort at all. They just want to just kind of either throw nonsensical gifts, say, I did it, I'm done, I did it, give me a A. And then you're just kind of like left. I don't know, like, like Miss Skittle says, you know, you kind of feel bad if maybe somebody got you something great and you're like, Well, I don't have anything. You could be like you just forgot. Yeah. You could have been busy. Busy. Or you didn't have the money. So it's okay. It's just too stressful.

SPEAKER_01 29:11

I I I think the problem, not problem, but I think one of the things that we all we all have all new. Maybe nothing. I think one of the things that we all have to do is probably nice. I think one of the things that we maybe should try to subscribe to is the fact that outside of society has been forcing us to believe. Because we actually don't have to eat anything. And I see the stress on both y'all's heads. I see it. Like, it's in reality, like you both made excellent points between the anxiety about getting the wrong thing, the stress about being in debt in January and February, the concept of somebody looking you in your face and telling you the truth about the fact that they don't like the person. So that's a bunch of different emotions. That contributes to the other thing I don't like about the holidays is seasonal depression. Where and a lot of people, and we all kind of said different things that contribute to it. You know, whether it's a loss of a loved one, whether it's the you know, capitalism, you know, being in debt, dealing with other people's emotions about what you got, uh perceived, you know, the family traumas, all these different things, all these things contribute to it, and it's yeah, it's not making it any easier. I think, especially because as we get older, we're now the thought process, we're now in the place of the adults who we knew when we were children, but times are different and costs are different. Like things, the things that they paid for back in the day, I and I understand, yes, they made a different amount of money and the cost of dudes were different, blah blah blah. I study all that stuff, I know how that works. But the difference is it's now disproportionate. It's no longer where you make this much, you spend this much. It's now you make this much, shit costs this much. And it's it's it's it makes it impossible for us to have real uh uh uh expectations of what we're gonna get people. Birthdays, Christmases, the holidays in general, our our regular bills are getting more Christmas presents than we are. So it's like when you think about it that way, it's okay to not get five gifts for every child. It's okay to leave a certain someone out because they may not deserve it at this particular time. Or maybe you just make it more something like, hey, what do you want for Christmas? I bet between now and January we'll get your gift. I can't give it to you right now. It's okay to say that. It might hurt, it might feel awkward, but in reality, your bills will thank you. Your wallet will thank you, your sanity will thank you. Because by the time you get to February, and then you do get your tax money, you would have given the gift or bought the gift. Especially, think about it, right after Christmas, all the stuff that you bought goes on sale, then it's even cheaper than it was a month before. So now you buy it right after Christmas into January, you give the child a gift, and then literally three weeks later, it's recoupes because of your taxes. So now you're not waiting two months, waiting like two weeks.

SPEAKER_03 32:03

So logically, it makes complete sense. The holidays aren't about the logic.

SPEAKER_02 32:13

Because logically, they look under that tree and it's fine, yes.

SPEAKER_04 32:20

Why are you under the tree?

SPEAKER_03 32:21

There's two people in the house, somebody's gonna be paying. Yes. They're gonna be like, oh, you're gonna wait. Yes. Oh, yes. It's true. Like when it comes to either Christmas, the holiday season, or even birthdays, we've been programmed to get a gift at a certain time. Everything about marketing, everything about capitalism in general is get this gift before this time. So we're programmed that we have to do it. That's also another stress. We have to make sure we order shit from Sheehan a whole month before.

SPEAKER_02 32:58

Look, I have I went on there to order my uh New Year's outfit. I was like, I gotta get this shit done because I go, where did you get it?

SPEAKER_03 33:10

You're gonna get it when it's sunny outside and the birds get chirping and the flies buzzing. You might get for New Year's. So yeah. Yeah. So logically, and as we're all adults, we understand how much stress and and pressure is put on us to get gifts at a certain time. We also know that, you know, we could just wait. But a lot of people, and again, it's adults. Why is it my gift here? They look on the tree. And I hear more issues more from like adults, like, you know, there's there's no my where's the gifts from the tree? Because they love the idea of waking up Christmas morning or whatever. I'm telling you, personally.

SPEAKER_01 33:47

I understand. What adults are you talking to? Personal spirit. You know, because you're saying it, and then I'm I'm listening to Kyle's reaction, and then I'm like, but why is he reacting? I'm like, wait a minute, wait a minute. What adult is told me that? I've never heard adults say that to my face. Or over the phone. That they are waiting for gifts under the tree from you?

SPEAKER_03 34:02

I've been told a person. Personally. No, they're not.

SPEAKER_01 34:07

Of course.

SPEAKER_03 34:08

No, of course not.

SPEAKER_04 34:08

Okay.

SPEAKER_03 34:09

Of course it's not.

SPEAKER_04 34:10

Oh, wait, she's just perfect.

SPEAKER_03 34:13

Of course not. It's not friends. You know, it's just a lot of time. I don't want to say because I'll be nice. But um, it's just always usually grown people who are very close to you. Um, and those are the ones that that give you that pressure and expectation of having certain things on time. And it's not like they put that same pressure on themselves.

SPEAKER_04 34:33

Of course.

SPEAKER_03 34:34

At all. So it's just a lack of reciprocity. And I think that's my biggest issue, brand.

unknown 34:44

I'm gonna say, mm-mm.

SPEAKER_04 34:53

Yes.

unknown 34:53

Yes.

SPEAKER_03 34:54

I mean, like, just like Halloween candy. Everybody knows to see Halloween candy the day after Halloween. Because everything is on clearance. Everything is gonna be put in the bag. Exactly. Okay. So we love going to work and there's a whole bunch of candy. Niggas that go to work and see candy everywhere we act, like that's Halloween. Like, get our hands in. Take a scroll down shoppers and five blows. A dollar for a magnet? Yes. So I I don't I don't know. Like, how would you feel, let's say, if you had you had your birthday? Some people are really big on birthdays. And let's say right. That's why I'm talking to this right here next week. So let's say um you were expecting a gift. How would you feel getting your gift maybe about three weeks later after your birthday? Honest opinion.

SPEAKER_01 35:47

Which is probable, because she's out of town. So we can't get it to her empty.

SPEAKER_03 35:51

Let's say your ass was actually stuck at home. Oh right. And not and not in Puttacana. You know, how would you feel? Three weeks?

unknown 36:03

Who?

SPEAKER_03 36:03

See?

SPEAKER_02 36:04

You and that's never That's a long time. But I'm gonna be like, damn, this is August. What do you mean August? You ain't even ugly over here at this point.

SPEAKER_04 36:19

Damn.

SPEAKER_02 36:19

Be a whole what's that Leo? I mean, so I'm not, I'm not, I'm definitely not gonna be ungrateful. If you tell me, oh, you know, it's gonna be a little while, and I'll be like, damn. But might give you the face, but I'm gonna be like, damn. But I'm not gonna turn it down when you get it.

SPEAKER_03 36:41

I know you're not gonna turn it down, but I think because, you know, for people that are you're an empath, I'm an empath, I think we all have empathy around here. So if if I know I financially don't have it, and I'm like, I'm sorry, but you know, in my in my mind, I'm like, damn, you know, one day, I'm gonna feel bad. Like, you know, that feeling bad, because it's like I feel like I can't produce for the one that I love. That's that was saying that kind of like that programming of the expectation.

SPEAKER_04 37:05

So that's give me some credit back.

SPEAKER_02 37:10

I am the type of person who if I have so say I am at home and I have something and you show up to it, I'm not, I don't, I don't know expecting nothing to you. Your presence is not great. So um now I think I would be more upset if I have something and you tell me you're gonna come and you don't show up.

SPEAKER_00 37:29

Oh yeah, then I would then I would really be like I'll be more upset with you over that than if you um but if I was a gift for that and I feel like if there were if I was uh if I was gonna go to someone and I knew I was bringing like a delayed gift, I think I would bring, I think that's when it's I think a second gift in a car and a car. Yes. Especially, especially if there's gonna be a thing and it's gonna be an ungifting.

unknown 38:01

Right. And then everybody wants to show their thing.

SPEAKER_00 38:03

Well, that's when I'm gonna be like, you know, I'm gonna I'm gonna write in the car like, all right, in three months. You receive a brand new you know, X, Y, Z, maybe that's picture of it.

SPEAKER_02 38:16

A card, a card is fine too. I'm I'm like I know people who hate cars. Like if they give yes. I love cards. I literally have two shoeboxes of cards that people have given me my whole party coach.

SPEAKER_01 38:30

And I don't mean like money, I I don't mean money in the cards.

SPEAKER_02 38:32

I mean sign it.

SPEAKER_01 38:33

Say something. Even if it says happy birthday, Merry Christmas, Hobby Kanza, say something. If it's empty, you just put the card in the envelope and hand it. You didn't even write anything on the card.

SPEAKER_04 38:42

Who does that?

SPEAKER_01 38:43

Oh, they're oh no.

SPEAKER_04 38:44

Are you serious?

SPEAKER_01 38:45

Yeah, they go, they they pick the first thing they find in the grocery store, Hallmark, they put it in the card and they hand it.

SPEAKER_02 38:49

Yes. And I and you know, you know they didn't read it. Because sometimes you read the card and you be like, no. What does it have to do with the cards? We not even graduate all graduations.

SPEAKER_03 38:58

This isn't it.

SPEAKER_02 39:00

No, some of them be too heartfelt or too much. Right. Yeah. I'm like, we didn't even own it. Right. We're like, me, you're not even on that level. You didn't read it. And and I'm glad you didn't sign it because we not think. We not there. You're not there. How I can give this to somebody who manages the phoniness.

SPEAKER_03 39:16

That's what I'm saying.

unknown 39:21

Bring that back. Bring that back.

SPEAKER_01 39:24

Bring it. I've spent, I've spent almost an hour in a grocery store pining over a card because of who is going to.

SPEAKER_04 39:35

Yes.

SPEAKER_01 39:35

Like, because I'm like, uh, like I what was it? We were doing an event and I was like, okay, I don't really know this person, but they've done a lot for my business or a lot for the brand. So I'm like, okay, so I want something that that is heartfelt but not too heartfelt. Like we know you, but we don't know you. So I'm like, oh okay, he's five work, and I'm by myself. So I'm like, I gotta call people. So I call my sister, call this person. I'm like, what do you think? I don't know, I can't think. Because it's like I want to make sure I'm conveying the right emotion. So to to know that I put that much on somebody who I don't even know that well, yet you've known me for X amount of years, and you just got me a card you picked up off the shelf, I've gotten a happy birthday mom card before.

SPEAKER_03 40:15

Hell no. I'm like, it wasn't like a gag card. You know some people have like gag cards.

SPEAKER_01 40:24

It had a bouquet of flowers on the front.

unknown 40:27

Stop it.

SPEAKER_01 40:28

I was like, did you just take your mom's card? Did you just go and buy this and what's paid? Cards should definitely be its own topic because it wasn't birthday, it was like, it was for I was graduating and it just said congratulations, mom. That's what it said.

SPEAKER_03 40:42

Mom, it was rushing.

SPEAKER_00 40:44

Didn't even think you're saying it.

unknown 40:45

No.

SPEAKER_00 40:46

I used to I used the best cards because I had a program on my computer and it just had all the templates and you could fill in and change whatever you wanted. Fill everything in. Yeah. I love that, yeah. Easy.

SPEAKER_03 40:58

Yes. Yeah, especially going back to like the cards and making sure it's for the right ones. Because there are family members that you can't give certain cards to. Very true. Like I love you so much. You've done so much for me. Exactly.

SPEAKER_02 41:12

No, that's what exactly what I mean. Like I'll be like, yes.

SPEAKER_03 41:17

You've always been there for me. I love you, but no. Right. Right. Yes. Yes. This is a beautiful card because I'm my daddy with a yes. So it's the phoniness as well. Holidays. The phoniness, I just can't stand, you know, you can see the force interaction. The people that you don't even want to even be around the energy. And there's nothing worse than being around a group of people that don't have the same energy as you. Especially when it's negative. You're being around your family too long. Yes. Yes.

SPEAKER_04 41:51

That's why I get my plate.

SPEAKER_03 41:52

Yes.

SPEAKER_02 41:54

Yes. Yeah. Cause sometimes it don't even be a feud until things get together. Like, oh no, why we this is why?

SPEAKER_01 42:05

This is why. Like I forgot. Yes.

SPEAKER_03 42:10

And a lot of times you think that it's an individual experience until you see all these memes.

SPEAKER_01 42:14

Yes.

SPEAKER_03 42:16

I've never been so seen on social media before.

SPEAKER_01 42:19

I don't begin on there. But then when I be we'd be sharing memes and stuff like that. I'm like, you spoke to me. And I was like, why did they speak to me?

SPEAKER_03 42:27

Yes. You know what I mean? Caribbean families. I decided maybe my mom just means shit. Maybe that's really what it is at times. But I'm like, oh no, oh, Caribbean women are. She's like, huh. You know, they were talking about like, you know, getting the uh too much meat out of the pot. Yes. Um, you know, you get your ass chewed out. Um, I'm just trying to get meat, you know, you just get chewed the fuck out. You just think collectively, we all as Caribbean people get chewed out for taking too much meat out of the pot. And then you just feel this camaraderie from across the globe.

SPEAKER_01 43:01

I am not alone.

SPEAKER_03 43:02

Yeah, you're not alone. I was like, Jake, look at that shit. Yeah, every time. Yes.

SPEAKER_01 43:09

So we need to wrap up this episode. Uh, as we were just going off on a tangent. It was a good tangent, though. Um, but of course, as always, thank you all for listening. Thank you all for following, subscribing. Uh, as we close out this year, because I believe this is our second to last episode of the year, the last one will be a loving interview uh that we're gonna do with one of our uh supported writers. Uh but as we close out, we want to make sure that each and every one of your families has either a happy holidays, a happy New Year's, a happy uh Christmas Holocaust.

SPEAKER_03 43:40

Yes.

SPEAKER_01 43:41

That thing. Um or or a happy uh uh uh non-holiday. If you don't do nothing, then you just actually have a happy new day. Enjoy yourself.

unknown 43:51

Yes.

SPEAKER_01 43:52

Do what you gotta do to make sure you are happy, fuck everybody else if you don't care about them. Alright, so of course, as always, I have to wrap it up by giving each of my fans the opportunity to say how they can be followed. So sorry. From my left, cause they should. If you want to be, how would you like them to follow in front of you?

unknown 44:08

Huh?

SPEAKER_01 44:08

Okay, that's what I said.

SPEAKER_00 44:12

If they were like, uh oh, real quick, fuck this now, too. Oh, Jesus!

SPEAKER_04 44:18

Uh so it's who are you who are you right?

SPEAKER_00 44:27

Uh you can find me on Barry 3B on the ground.

SPEAKER_01 44:30

Oh my god, Miss Skittles? Okay, okay.

SPEAKER_02 44:42

MZZ Skittles, T R underscore Cosplay on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok.

SPEAKER_01 44:49

And Savlay.

SPEAKER_03 44:51

7A Cosplay on Facebook, 78 underscore cosplay on IG, and 78 cosplays, 78 period cosplays at g on.com.

SPEAKER_01 45:01

And I can be found at sushiogun, sushi underscore no underscore shogun, t-s-u-c-h-i, uh on IG, and then of course our podcast, and I can be found on Articles Arcade on almost all platforms. Just look if not there, then go to the next one. Um, and then of course, and then of course our podcast can be found on D Blur Spectrum Podcast, that's D Blur Spectrum on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube. Um, and of course, as always, as we always send out our episodes, and of course, end out for here. We want to say, um Thank you, thank you, thank you.