mr_slacker70

How do I get to sleep? Is the couch my only choice tonight?

I've become Scrooge and the Grinch rolled into one and I wonder if I'm not the only one. Let me clarify, I'm not mean or rude or anything, I'm just tired of Christmas being shoved down my throat every second from Nov 1 on. The commercialism is impossible to ignore as it is constantly advertised on TV, the newspaper, and every storefront. I'm tired of the overspending every year that my wife does which contributes to my kids becoming more and more materialistic. I find it difficult to focus on the "true meaning of Christmas" because I don't know what it is anymore and every one around me appears to be caught up in only the hype. I'm no longer very religious so I don't find comfort in the Christian beginings of the holiday. Any ideas on brightening my mood?

My wife frequently gets irritated with me because I baby our dog, and says I'm sweeter to the dog than her. She loves the dog too, but I give her much more attention than my wife does.

The dog is happy to see me when I walk through the door everyday no matter what's going on - even when I'm in a lousy mood. She (dog) doesn't get defensive, she just wants to play and get some love (don't be sick with that one). Not so much with my spouse - most days it's a semi-b!+ch session about her day that greets me. So yeah, some days it is nicer to come home to the dog who does not really want anything from me than the rest of the family who attack me with request (kids are guilty too, asking for allowance or french fries etc). I've explained this to my wife as nicely as I can muster (OK somewhat sarcastically) but just get the stare. I've also tried being as sweet to everybody else as I am to the dog when I walk through the door, but the responses to me haven't changed. Pretty common?

Some ideas on a perfect date (not entire weekend unfortunately)with your spouse. All responsed appreciated.

I'm in my mid-thirties and have been married for 13 years. I have two grade school age kids. I love them all, however I'm bored out of my skull with the banality of our life. We are lower middle-class and don't have the money to buy excitement. But it is more than that: I am discontent with not being able to pursue anything new (career wise) for myself because it may set us back further financially than we already are (I make significantly more money). I'm so sick of sales and it's all I've ever done. I don't mind helping with housekeeping, but outside of washing the clothes, feel like I'm doing way more than she is and I can't stand the domestic monotony. SEX, she seems content with once a week - Sat only - but subtract an average of twice a month for her period, misc. illnesses or anything that may interupt her getting her in the mood emotionally. There's more but I don't have the space here. Am I starting a mid-life crisis, and being a jerk - or do things need to change? HELP.