Christmas

Things I love

- Not asking for anything so it's all a surprise
- Oddly shaped packages
- Lights
- Baby Jesus being swapped with the calf in our nativity scene
- Sifting through cards
- Wrapping presents (gift bags are an abomination)
- Dickens village under the baby grand
- Looking at the tree with all the lights off
- Stealing $9.00 gifts at the girl party
- Bows and ribbons
- Visiting family and friends
- Shopping for other people
- Midnight Mass and LoneStar Brass
- Opening presents on Christmas morning
- Taking pictures in Grandma's yard with the light-up nativity
- Almond toffee & Granny's divinity
- Santa hats
*-Singing with my sister in the car -- and how the rest of our family puts up with it just because it's Christmas :)

Elfing!

First things first, check out this link. I love it.

http://www.elfyourself.com/?id=1551433277

Secondly, I went to the reconciliation service at church tonight with my family. I do my thing, tell the priest all my deepest darkest secrets, and then he literally says to me 'Well are you trying to be a good person?' Wow. Zing! I just kinda sat there like....uh.....If ever there was a time in my life when I have stuttered, confession today was that time. Then he gave me a blessing and sent me on my merry way. I didn't even get a penance. I'm wondering if the whole thing was legit.

Anyway, I'm feeling more Christmassy today, I think my elf helped!! Go ahead, make your own. You know you want to....

Steph is leaving me!

This dawned on me again last night as we were headed out and dancing in the car together to Get Low.

She's not dying, Dallas isn't too terribly far, I'm spending my entire Christmas break with her, and we have a trip to Vegas planned. These are the only reasons that I'm not tying her up and holding her hostage. Well that and it's just not really all that feasible. For the record, I did think about it!

I'm going to miss her terribly :(

Procrastination At Its Finest

It's been a long while, but I'm back to the blogging world! Although I'm not entirely certain exactly what prompted my return, I'd be willing to bet that my preparation for finals has something to do with it. Somehow I feel a little less guilty if my procrastination methods involve me sitting at a desk where I'm at least in close proximity to my study materials. I'd be lying if I didn't admit that part of it has to do with me missing the people I'm close with who have been spread all over the world. Stephanie's impending move to Dallas (6 days!) has me in that nostalgic 'I miss my people' type of mood. In any case, I'm back and spending 30 minutes (okay maybe more like an hourish) of my study time to get this thing up and running.

I noticed something unusual about myself while I was at work yesterday. My ipod and I are inseparable - and I found myself listening to Johnny Cooper's Everything. If you don't know Johnny Cooper, he's an incredible 18 year old guy that plays around here occasionally. He's young and a little bit short, so you don't really expect him to have this amazingly huge voice. His music is pretty good and the band is entertaining. There are a couple members that look like they could have played with the original ZZ Top guys. It's great. Anyhow, I'm up in the lab listening to this song and I realize that listening to some love songs -- love songs like that one -- can make me feel a little bit...uncomfortable? I don't know how to explain it. It's like my heart beats faster and I get that feeling in my stomach like I've walked into a private conversation and overheard something that wasn't meant for my ears. The interesting thing is that I never get that feeling when I'm listening to the music live. It's gotta be something about the translation of an emotion that's so serious or strong being better live. I really don't know, it just seems a little strange. I know it's always been that way but I just never have really understood why. Yet another reason to love live music, I suppose.

In any case, that's more than enough rambling for the time being. With that, I'm going to put the headphones back on and get further into this Cell Biology mess. Wish me luck! Wednesday I'll officially be done with my courses for the semester. Research is a whole other situation, but classes will be overwith and I'll be able to enjoy the Christmas season a little bit more.

Happy Advent!!