The Holiday thus far...
12/22/04 - Took plane home (to Illinois). Girl on plane, about 16 or 17 years old, was really attractive... she was underage but nevertheless was really cute. (Stupid law we have... oh well) Arrived in O'Hare airport where my brother found me and walked with him out to car and found mom waiting. It was good to be home again. We talked a lot about movies and life on the drive home; mom of course ceaselessly interjecting, and questioning me as usual -- but to tell the truth both of us were hoping she'd pay more attention to the road (being in the car with her is quite a scary experience... you have no idea...) Arrived home late and went to sleep since I had been up for over 30 hours.
12/23/04 - Shopping day. Went with Chris and Greg to the mall in Sterling (the flat mall). I bought my brother Jeff a John Williams CD -- he's a music major and a big fan of the guy. For my mom, I got a $50 gift card for a department store (which I spent way too much on but hey... it's my mom and I love her..)
I got my dad a DVD, my brother Greg an illustrated Tolkien book. Now I was almost done shopping except for Becky and Chris. They were tough because she is 24 and lives with her boyfriend in Peoria and I am out of touch with her most of the time... eventually I decided on an ice cream maker for her (which she really liked) and "Hero" for Chris (he's building a collection now and wanted to see it) Cousin Michelle (and her four young kids) came over along with my aunt and uncle and other two cousins. We had dinner and a small gift exchange. Nicole was as cute as ever; and she's always very quiet but every once in a while she says something and it's usually something smart and barely audible... and she is REALLY adorable... (she's about 4 now..)
Michelle's younger children, Megan is two now and I can't remember the new little boy's name, who is probably only 9 months. He was sleeping sitting up in a chair and looked so cute like that ... until he woke up of course and started screaming his lungs out. Renee never changes; same appearance every damned time I see the girl, she's always got the same hairstyle, same height and weight, etc. Same thing with Emily; she's 22 now and still looks like she's 16. Jeez, GROW UP girls. Managed to avoid Uncle Leonard and his tractor stories. (for now..)
Becky came home from Peoria (without Matt).
12/24/04 - I actually went to church today. my mom was playing the piano there and everyone else was going too. Now... my brothers and sister are all regular churchgoers, and as you've probably realized in my previous posts, I am not. In fact I don't go to church at all.. but today I did... I didn't complain about it or anything, I just went. It was a very small gathering, only about a dozen people there (including my family) and the pastor reminded me of Colonel Sanders. So we sang some hymns and read some Bible passages. I of course kept my mouth shut and didn't volunteer to read any; the whole time I was afraid he'd pick on me to read. But he didn't which was good. We lighted a candle and it was very nice. But... like I alluded to, usually whenever they go to church I don't go. Tonight I only did this becuase it was Christmas eve and my mom was playing the piano. I was most of the time, kind of uncomfortable but I didn't say anything... I even tried to force myself to believe in the pastor's words... I tried to. And I was moved by the old women in the pews behind me with stories from their own lives. I was moved by the pastor's life story and how he turned to faith after his life of trying to attain something he described as a hole in his life. I guess I kind of know what he means by that, but I just don't understand how it can be filled, like it did for them. So unless I experience this for myself, I cannot understand it nor believe in it. An unenlightened stubborn fool I remain.
12/25/04 - Presents! Yaaaaay! My loot: video games: Half-life 2, Knights of the Old Republic, and for PS2 - Front Mission 4. A lock-picker for car locks, so if I ever lose my car I can steal someone else's. A bin of M&Ms and a bin of skittles, which ended up going in the big plate for all to grab. Return of the King Extended Edition, Spider-man 2, a set of black gloves (to go with the lock-picker) and a tie. My two most unexpected (and coolest) gifts: a radio-powered flying U.F.O. (yes, it flies!!! It's GOOD!) Becky bought 4 of all different colors (and frequencies) for each of us guys. It was cool when we went outside and flew them all together. The highest on record was mine, which went up the height of the front-yard tree. The problem is that you need to charge them way too much. And finally.. the best gift ever... was my SWORD! Yes, Jeff got me a real sword... (made in Pakistan and found at an antique store). I was most pleased :) We all watched ROTK that night. It was an awesome day!!!
12/26/04 - Slept. Got up. Matt came over. Is not engaged but apparently they will be probably next year, since there's talk of Matt selling his Camaro. So... who's taking bets on which one of us marries last, or never marries at all? Anyway... Went to store. Ate stuffed shells. Matt stayed a while then left. Not much else to say. Night! Comments? Thoughts? Sharings? Please feel free.
Oh yeah, by the way, I've been saying "Merry Christmas" my whole life, because that's how I was raised. We never said "Happy Holidays" in our family... so I won't say it here. Maybe I should though, because I don't consider myself a Christian. Does that mean I have to change my holiday greeting? I'm not sure. But it feels much cozier with "Merry Christmas"... It feels more like home. "Happy Holidays" sounds more like a greeting card you get from co-workers... ugh. So:
MERRY CHRISTMAS!
I'm not a regular LJ poster but this greeting goes out to all. Happy Holidays too, for those who feel offended by the Merry Christmas.
12/23/04 - Shopping day. Went with Chris and Greg to the mall in Sterling (the flat mall). I bought my brother Jeff a John Williams CD -- he's a music major and a big fan of the guy. For my mom, I got a $50 gift card for a department store (which I spent way too much on but hey... it's my mom and I love her..)
I got my dad a DVD, my brother Greg an illustrated Tolkien book. Now I was almost done shopping except for Becky and Chris. They were tough because she is 24 and lives with her boyfriend in Peoria and I am out of touch with her most of the time... eventually I decided on an ice cream maker for her (which she really liked) and "Hero" for Chris (he's building a collection now and wanted to see it) Cousin Michelle (and her four young kids) came over along with my aunt and uncle and other two cousins. We had dinner and a small gift exchange. Nicole was as cute as ever; and she's always very quiet but every once in a while she says something and it's usually something smart and barely audible... and she is REALLY adorable... (she's about 4 now..)
Michelle's younger children, Megan is two now and I can't remember the new little boy's name, who is probably only 9 months. He was sleeping sitting up in a chair and looked so cute like that ... until he woke up of course and started screaming his lungs out. Renee never changes; same appearance every damned time I see the girl, she's always got the same hairstyle, same height and weight, etc. Same thing with Emily; she's 22 now and still looks like she's 16. Jeez, GROW UP girls. Managed to avoid Uncle Leonard and his tractor stories. (for now..)
Becky came home from Peoria (without Matt).
12/24/04 - I actually went to church today. my mom was playing the piano there and everyone else was going too. Now... my brothers and sister are all regular churchgoers, and as you've probably realized in my previous posts, I am not. In fact I don't go to church at all.. but today I did... I didn't complain about it or anything, I just went. It was a very small gathering, only about a dozen people there (including my family) and the pastor reminded me of Colonel Sanders. So we sang some hymns and read some Bible passages. I of course kept my mouth shut and didn't volunteer to read any; the whole time I was afraid he'd pick on me to read. But he didn't which was good. We lighted a candle and it was very nice. But... like I alluded to, usually whenever they go to church I don't go. Tonight I only did this becuase it was Christmas eve and my mom was playing the piano. I was most of the time, kind of uncomfortable but I didn't say anything... I even tried to force myself to believe in the pastor's words... I tried to. And I was moved by the old women in the pews behind me with stories from their own lives. I was moved by the pastor's life story and how he turned to faith after his life of trying to attain something he described as a hole in his life. I guess I kind of know what he means by that, but I just don't understand how it can be filled, like it did for them. So unless I experience this for myself, I cannot understand it nor believe in it. An unenlightened stubborn fool I remain.
12/25/04 - Presents! Yaaaaay! My loot: video games: Half-life 2, Knights of the Old Republic, and for PS2 - Front Mission 4. A lock-picker for car locks, so if I ever lose my car I can steal someone else's. A bin of M&Ms and a bin of skittles, which ended up going in the big plate for all to grab. Return of the King Extended Edition, Spider-man 2, a set of black gloves (to go with the lock-picker) and a tie. My two most unexpected (and coolest) gifts: a radio-powered flying U.F.O. (yes, it flies!!! It's GOOD!) Becky bought 4 of all different colors (and frequencies) for each of us guys. It was cool when we went outside and flew them all together. The highest on record was mine, which went up the height of the front-yard tree. The problem is that you need to charge them way too much. And finally.. the best gift ever... was my SWORD! Yes, Jeff got me a real sword... (made in Pakistan and found at an antique store). I was most pleased :) We all watched ROTK that night. It was an awesome day!!!
12/26/04 - Slept. Got up. Matt came over. Is not engaged but apparently they will be probably next year, since there's talk of Matt selling his Camaro. So... who's taking bets on which one of us marries last, or never marries at all? Anyway... Went to store. Ate stuffed shells. Matt stayed a while then left. Not much else to say. Night! Comments? Thoughts? Sharings? Please feel free.
Oh yeah, by the way, I've been saying "Merry Christmas" my whole life, because that's how I was raised. We never said "Happy Holidays" in our family... so I won't say it here. Maybe I should though, because I don't consider myself a Christian. Does that mean I have to change my holiday greeting? I'm not sure. But it feels much cozier with "Merry Christmas"... It feels more like home. "Happy Holidays" sounds more like a greeting card you get from co-workers... ugh. So:
MERRY CHRISTMAS!
I'm not a regular LJ poster but this greeting goes out to all. Happy Holidays too, for those who feel offended by the Merry Christmas.