Holiday Thoughts--Take Two, the Sober Version
Happy Holidays everyone.
Edit: I am trying to make Take Two a little nicer. The fact that I'm sober this time will help significantly. Um...here goes.
Yes, I am one of those people who say "Happy Holidays" instead of Merry Christmas. Believe it or not, there ARE people to belong to other religions other than Christianity. I have Jewish friends, and I would feel horrible if I wished them a Merry Christmas, a holiday which they do not celebrate. I almost wished a Wachovia teller a Happy Hanukkah for wishing me a Merry Christmas on the first day of Hanukkah. Get onto me all you'd like. I'm sick of fixation.
Edit: Ok, this is something I would say while sober. Chris and I have had an extensive argument over political correctness, and I suppose it all boils down to an individual's values. Above is a crudely-stated example of mine, I suppose. Pretend I said it nicely.
...
Insert "A Charlie Brown Christmas" here.
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Chris is coming in a day and a half and I still have no clue as to what to get him. Thoughts? I already have a beer cookbook, but his birthday is the 31st, so I need to get that gift too. I wanted to get him Robin Williams tickets, but they're all sold out in Charlotte! Right now, I'm thinking Jeff Dunham. He has a gift advantage over me due to the fact that he has, you know, money. I have to stick to things I can afford. Damnit, ETS!
Edit update: If I can't find any good beer brewing stuff together, I think I am going to give him a choice of concert tickets and buy the ones he wants the most. Sound good? He is so much better than this that I am!
...
Thank God (or whoever), all the stepchildren are done visiting, so the rest of my break should be peaceful. However, this was the best visitation period I have experienced thus far. I recall Chris and I walking into a near war zone this summer; there was only one fight this time, and it was short-lived. Yay progress! I never thought it would happen!
Some of you may know why I wasn't particularly excited about seeing my stepfather, but truly this was the best behavior I have out of him seen while his children have been present. He gets a gold star. Now I have nothing but a good rest of the trip to look forward to! Hopefully!
Also, I have been described by the parents as "benign" (in comparison to other students). I think that's pretty accurate.
...
Professionally, I believe things are going well. I am presenting at SEPA (whoo-hoo!) in February, almost done applying to graduate schools, and hopefully embarking on more research next semester! I also am now the proud owner of a "If you're OCD and you know it, wash your hands" t-shirt! I am loving my psychology nerdiness.
Edit: I am also going to take my own advice into account. :)
...
I have a lot of respect for people struggling to make it on their own, especially in this economy. Times are rough, cling to what you have. My dad lost his job early in the fall and only recently found a job, one that pays him significantly less than his previous salary. I understand that others have it worse. To those, I say--keep your chin up and hopefully things will get better.
...
I was on Cloud Nine when Obama was elected. I am a little wary of the extent to which I believe in him. Certainly, no one man can solve our nations [extensive] problems. Over idolization and dependency upon one person can lead to extreme disappointment, simply because, more than likely, that person could never live up to the the intense expectations put upon him. I know this; I am not an idiot. And yet, this election filled me with an optimism in regards to our government the likes of which I have never felt before. I've never been exposed to a population who BELIEVED in their leader, who truly felt that their President would provide positive change to a previously dour situation. This is new to me. I just hope he lives up to the expectations. God knows the media is waiting to tear him down.
...
I hope Bob is able to celebrate New Years with us, as does the rest of my family. By the way, Bob, the majority consensus is that you should come over and drink anyway, regardless of the presence of painkillers. Apparently, that's how Eddie got through the surgery (shocker).
...
I got to see AC/DC in concert. It. Was. AMAZING!! INCREDIBLE!! AWESOME!! Worth every penny, truly. Holy shit. How else can I describe it? It was AC/DC. Live. In concert. And we had incredible seats. I was 100 feet away from Angus Young and Brian Johnson. And, of course, Malcom and the others, when they felt like moving. Incredible. If anyone gets the opportunity, GO! You won't regret!
...
I am not only able to hang out with a girl who made out with my boyfriend right before we got together, but we are friends. I feel like I'm growing.
...
If I have one nugget of wisdom (and I use that term loosely) to impart on everyone for the incoming new year, it is this: Never fail to take the perspective of the Other into account. Yes, we all (including myself) have our strongly held beliefs, but be aware when we are slaves of one-sided thinking and fixation. Just take a second and think--how would others feel? Stepping out of a childlike ethnocentrism tends to be the way this country progresses, and I love progress.
This year, I will try to take my own advice into account. If I ever act an ass, just let me know. Chances are, I am drunk. :)
Edit: Case and point. :)
...
Hopefully, all (or most) nastiness has been removed from this post. I need to learn to post drunk writings only when I am in that jubilant form of drunkenness. :)
I hope everyone had a happy holiday season and I wish the world a greatly improved New Year! Don't forget to smile!
Edit: I am trying to make Take Two a little nicer. The fact that I'm sober this time will help significantly. Um...here goes.
Yes, I am one of those people who say "Happy Holidays" instead of Merry Christmas. Believe it or not, there ARE people to belong to other religions other than Christianity. I have Jewish friends, and I would feel horrible if I wished them a Merry Christmas, a holiday which they do not celebrate. I almost wished a Wachovia teller a Happy Hanukkah for wishing me a Merry Christmas on the first day of Hanukkah. Get onto me all you'd like. I'm sick of fixation.
Edit: Ok, this is something I would say while sober. Chris and I have had an extensive argument over political correctness, and I suppose it all boils down to an individual's values. Above is a crudely-stated example of mine, I suppose. Pretend I said it nicely.
...
Insert "A Charlie Brown Christmas" here.
...
Chris is coming in a day and a half and I still have no clue as to what to get him. Thoughts? I already have a beer cookbook, but his birthday is the 31st, so I need to get that gift too. I wanted to get him Robin Williams tickets, but they're all sold out in Charlotte! Right now, I'm thinking Jeff Dunham. He has a gift advantage over me due to the fact that he has, you know, money. I have to stick to things I can afford. Damnit, ETS!
Edit update: If I can't find any good beer brewing stuff together, I think I am going to give him a choice of concert tickets and buy the ones he wants the most. Sound good? He is so much better than this that I am!
...
Thank God (or whoever), all the stepchildren are done visiting, so the rest of my break should be peaceful. However, this was the best visitation period I have experienced thus far. I recall Chris and I walking into a near war zone this summer; there was only one fight this time, and it was short-lived. Yay progress! I never thought it would happen!
Some of you may know why I wasn't particularly excited about seeing my stepfather, but truly this was the best behavior I have out of him seen while his children have been present. He gets a gold star. Now I have nothing but a good rest of the trip to look forward to! Hopefully!
Also, I have been described by the parents as "benign" (in comparison to other students). I think that's pretty accurate.
...
Professionally, I believe things are going well. I am presenting at SEPA (whoo-hoo!) in February, almost done applying to graduate schools, and hopefully embarking on more research next semester! I also am now the proud owner of a "If you're OCD and you know it, wash your hands" t-shirt! I am loving my psychology nerdiness.
Edit: I am also going to take my own advice into account. :)
...
I have a lot of respect for people struggling to make it on their own, especially in this economy. Times are rough, cling to what you have. My dad lost his job early in the fall and only recently found a job, one that pays him significantly less than his previous salary. I understand that others have it worse. To those, I say--keep your chin up and hopefully things will get better.
...
I was on Cloud Nine when Obama was elected. I am a little wary of the extent to which I believe in him. Certainly, no one man can solve our nations [extensive] problems. Over idolization and dependency upon one person can lead to extreme disappointment, simply because, more than likely, that person could never live up to the the intense expectations put upon him. I know this; I am not an idiot. And yet, this election filled me with an optimism in regards to our government the likes of which I have never felt before. I've never been exposed to a population who BELIEVED in their leader, who truly felt that their President would provide positive change to a previously dour situation. This is new to me. I just hope he lives up to the expectations. God knows the media is waiting to tear him down.
...
I hope Bob is able to celebrate New Years with us, as does the rest of my family. By the way, Bob, the majority consensus is that you should come over and drink anyway, regardless of the presence of painkillers. Apparently, that's how Eddie got through the surgery (shocker).
...
I got to see AC/DC in concert. It. Was. AMAZING!! INCREDIBLE!! AWESOME!! Worth every penny, truly. Holy shit. How else can I describe it? It was AC/DC. Live. In concert. And we had incredible seats. I was 100 feet away from Angus Young and Brian Johnson. And, of course, Malcom and the others, when they felt like moving. Incredible. If anyone gets the opportunity, GO! You won't regret!
...
I am not only able to hang out with a girl who made out with my boyfriend right before we got together, but we are friends. I feel like I'm growing.
...
If I have one nugget of wisdom (and I use that term loosely) to impart on everyone for the incoming new year, it is this: Never fail to take the perspective of the Other into account. Yes, we all (including myself) have our strongly held beliefs, but be aware when we are slaves of one-sided thinking and fixation. Just take a second and think--how would others feel? Stepping out of a childlike ethnocentrism tends to be the way this country progresses, and I love progress.
This year, I will try to take my own advice into account. If I ever act an ass, just let me know. Chances are, I am drunk. :)
Edit: Case and point. :)
...
Hopefully, all (or most) nastiness has been removed from this post. I need to learn to post drunk writings only when I am in that jubilant form of drunkenness. :)
I hope everyone had a happy holiday season and I wish the world a greatly improved New Year! Don't forget to smile!