Holidaze

I officially know when I have entered holiday mode when I can no longer remember what day of the week it is.

It's that feeling from when you were a kid on summer vacation. From the end of June to the end of August, you really had no concept of time. The days just blurred together in an seemingly unending stream of diversions, only interrupted by the arrival of the first back-to-school ads.

I've got that feeling back this week and I'm hoping to keep it for at least the next two weeks.

Thank goodness they don't make back to work ads.

New Year's resolutions

With the new year rapidly approaching, I've been giving some thought to new year's resolutions.
Usually, I'm not a big subscriber to them. I have an easy time coming up with resolutions for other people, but not so much with myself (if you're looking for one, just let me know - I'll hook you up). At least - I have a hard time keeping to new year's resolutions. It becomes kind of a game you play - how long will I actually remember this bit of self-enlightenment? February if I'm lucky?

Maybe I'll go back to a phrase for the year.

Some past pearls of wisdom have included 'The grass is not greener', and 'Live' (said with one fist raised in the air). Both were quite effective.

So what should 2008's phrase be?

It was the best of times, it was the blurst of times...

As much as I love christmas and giving presents, I hate christmas shopping for them.

Of course, I have no one to blame but myself for leaving it this late.

The malls are filled with packs of ravenous shoppers, shouldering each other aside, filling the air with christmas cheer and cursing. The reason people are so happy to be at home with their families is because even the craziest family dynamic is a breeze compared to the malls.
I think I've got three presents left to buy - I'm going to try and make a series of surgical strikes over my lunch hours this week - and pray that I'm done before the weekend.

If you see me out shopping on the last weekend before christmas with the grumpy masses, you'll know I've failed.

Stupid monkeys...

Gangsta Diva

Quirky fact of the day:

Did you know that Celine Dion was big amongst Jamaican gangsta culture?
http://www.amazon.ca/Celine-Dions-Lets-Talk-About/dp/082642788X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1197697646&sr=1-1
Apparently at the end of the night the clubs there the DJs will start spinning some Celine and they all take out their guns and start shooting into the air - not cause they hate it or anything, but cause they're totally into it. Apparently you have to be a lover and a fighter down there.

So what does this mean? Is this one of the seven signs of the apocalypse?

Rituals

Ah Christmas time - time for my usual christmas rituals - things I like to do every year during the holidays. I'm not sure why, but mine all seem to revolve around TV.
I like to watch the Grinch, the Charlie Brown christmas special, and that old Bing Crosby movie Holiday Inn.
We used to do a christmas ski trip every year, but that's fallen by the wayside. For a few years we walked Candy Cane lane - but that was back when we lived only a couple blocks from it.
I guess I also have my usual round of christmas visits I do on christmas day. Ok, phew - I thought all my rituals involved sitting on my ass in front of the TV. See - I do get out of the house...

Refund please

Have you ever been to a movie so bad, so incredibly stupid - that you've actually walked out on it? What happens if it's a stupid dream? How do you walk out on that?
I had a dream where I was back working at my old job. Managing at some crummy retail store. And I was reciting the corporate line - trying to convince the other employees what a great place to work it was. Trying to get them to drink the corporate cool-aid, as it were.
What a crappy waste of a dream that was.
There's an hour of unconsciousness I'll never get back.
I think there's only ever been one actual movie that I've walked out on. Madonna's first movie. What the hell was it called? Desperately Seeking Susan? Don't ask what prompted two teenage boys to go see that - maybe it was the vague hope that she'd get naked. Add that to the list of disappointments about that movie.

Christmas shopping

Don't start! It's only December 6th - waaaaay too early to start your christmas shopping yet.
Trust me.
I didn't take my own advice and look what it's got me. Now there's something better that I want to buy for someone I've already bought something for. Now they get two presents.
Ok - sure, this strategy works for those who are receiving the presents, but as for me - the giver of the presents - it raises the stress level.
That's why I wait till the last possible moment to go out and finish the old christmas shopping - that way all of my options are in front of me. There's no waiting for that new book or new gadget to come in next week. You have to buy that present now!
Actually - now that I think about it - if everyone followed my strategy, the stores might get a little busy when I make my trip so cancel that. The rest of you please resume your regularly scheduled shopping.

Music and me

Just listening to some old songs on my iTunes.
I find it interesting how - depending on your state of mind - you can extract different things from the lyrics of a song. If you're feeling down and out, every sad lyric applies to your life. If you're mad, you rage with every injustice that is sung about. If you're in love, every romantic line is something you'd say to your girl.

My line of the week (at least this week) comes from an old Cracker song...

"I don't know what the world may need but I'm sure as hell that it starts with me, and that's a wisdom I'd laughed at.''

I have no idea what that means about my mood but hey...it's still a good song regardless.