bahhhh humbug.

i have extremely strong, mixed feelings on this whole holiday season thing.

on the one hand, hooray for another celebration of love, but it all just feels so forced. there's a deadline to spend money on every person in your life that you want to celebrate with. right there it alienates all the broke people in the world, slash puts an unecessary pressure on the people with moderate amounts of money to spend what little they do have on people that may just want them to save it for themselves, slash makes everyone feel that if they get a gift, they must return one. it's the season of giving, and if someone wants to give a present, i highly doubt they're expecting one back, much less a forced last minute gift.

also, i hate surprises more than anything in the world. honestly. i used to open the presents under the tree when my mom wasn't home just so i could plan my reactions. there's something about having to open a gift in front of the person giving it, looking at them with that big "i'm so excited for you to see this present i just knew you'd like" on their face and then, inevitably having to fake a horrible smile back with a "oh wow thanks so much" comment when really your great aunt apparently missed the memo on the fact that purple chenile sweaters just aren't number one on your lists anymore. even if i end up liking the present there's just so much pressure on opening it.

ideally, i'd like the person to just tell me what they got me when they get it, just leave it on a counter one day, or just give me the wrapped thing and let me open it by myself. it may be selfish, but it really just benifits all involved.

besides that, i love my house at christmas. my mom dresses it up classicly, with wreaths above the fireplace, garland draping the stairway, and those silly fake candles in the windows. i hope that when i get older i have the motivation/skill to figure out how to decorate.

the snow puts a nice touch on the month of december. it really feels like christmas when there's a foot of snow on the ground and i have to trapse through icky slush at least twice a day.

however, the snow that turns into ice thing is not my cup of tea. i fell yesterday... and i'm not really a faller. i mean, not as though i'm graceful or anything, i just tend to avoid anything that might endanger my upright walking. alas... i was walking out of jenni's house yesterday, and they have about 7 snow-covered cement steps that were necessary to pass before getting on my way. consequently, very last step, down i go. i don't usually get embarrassed about things, and this time was no different, it just huuuurt. it hurts worse today than it did initially. apparently i not only scraped up the left side of my lower back, but also bruised the crap out of it. i can't even slouch in chairs at the moment. or get in/out of cars without grunting loudly. very obnoxious.

ah well, i suppose 'tis all for me for now.

have a holly jolly week.