Happy Happy Joy Joy

"i've discovered a way to stay friends forever -

there's really nothing to it.

i simply tell you what to do and you do it"

shel silverstein

guess who was late to work today!!! guess who didn't go to work yesterday!! haha. this shit needs to stop. my new year's resolution will be to get to all events on time. i can get to meetings and class on time, but when it comes to dragging myself out of bed all early in the damn morning... i don't know. i just lose all motivation. it goes right out the window.

and somebody COULD HAVE called to wake me up this morning. but they didn't. thanks. i hope you were late too.

i'm just kiddin...

i used to be in love with lorna doones. i no longer enjoy the once delectable shortbread cookie. i don't know why that is. things change i guess.

and when the hell do the girl scouts startin selling their merchandise? does anybody have a girl scout in the family? i will be in need of somoas and thin mints. contact me if you have the inside scoop.

i have to study for my last test which takes place today at 5:30. if you ever need to take philosophy, jim thomas is your man. he's the greatest teacher because he actually makes sense. it's fun to go to his class because he relates the lessons to the real world so you can really understand the concept. i took 100 and 152 with the man and he's still doin the damn thing.

so here it is, dec 14th, and i'm 85% done with christmas shopping. i think i'm in my fourth phase of christmas in general. or maybe its the fifth. allow me to explain - my theory on christmas is that we go through about 7 phases on how we feel about christmas, based on our age.

first phase: we're babies, so we don't really know what the hell is going on anyway.

second phase: we're children and we look foward to christmas from thanksgiving day, if not sooner. we're excited to see presents under the tree, we can't wait to take pictures with santa, and we love the week off of school and playing in snow.

third phase: we're adolescents, but we stil look foward to getting presents. we now have to think about what we're going to get others, which could be hard, because most likely there isn't an abundance of funds for extravagent christmas gifts. we no longer believe in santa... you realize it was your mom all along. we're still excited about the week off of school though.

fourth phase: we're young adults. christmas has become somewhat of a routine. we know that its time for family to get together. we know what mom is gonna say at dinner. we know what grandma is gonna get us and when the christmas tree will go up (if we still have one). the gifts start to diminsh... more gift cards and cash are given. who knows what to get a young adult for christmas? nobody. your christmas list is longer due to the things you have to buy as opposed to what you want to receive. the money still isn't there yet though... you want to chill with your friends more than your family. that time off for christmas is longer than a week now.

fifth phase: we're older. your friends have kids now. you have a bit more money. so you shop more for others. christmas is still routine, but you dont mind it. you go home, chill with the family, and you're on your way to go out or do as you please with no complaints because you're grown now. you don't necessarily look foward to christmas, but you don't mind it either. unless you like to decorate and send out christmas cards and such...

sixth phase: you have kids. christmas is all about them. this is kinda overlapped with the first and second phase because your kids are living through those while you're watching. your motivation is to make your kids happy and get what they asked santa for. you drag your children to take the christmas pictures and to the family events so everybody can see how they've grown.

seventh phase: your kids are grown and you may have grandkids. you're pooped. just pass the egg nog (with plenty of rum) and watch the holiday go by.

either way, i'm ready for school to be done so when i come home from work, i can chill all the way out and not have to worry about somethin being due or some test to study for.

what do you want for christmas?