Walking in a Winter Wonderland... Glad I didn't step in any reindeer leftovers...

Dang! It's dag'gum chilly in my apartment!

Usually I'd find this mildly poetic, as I wreak of the stereotype: a young 20-something in her shabby-chic studio flat, wrapped up in oversized sweater with her spoiled little pooches in her lap and sipping her nightly herbal tea as she catches up with the world about her holiday past...

...Huhn!

Replace tea with store brand OJ (I need that vitamin C to ward off this cold I'm on the brink of, and I didn't have a stinkin' coupon for Minute Maid!), but you got that right about my yummy new sweater. It's comes courtesy of my mother, who - as part of her Christmas present to my sister and I - took us to Ann Taylor Loft to pick out a few things. That's one of the best parts about getting older: the surprise and "magic" is a little lost on Christmas morning, but it sure beats her trying to buy me something she just knows I'm going to take back anyways. Throw in a fresh hair cut, a dinner at a favorite hole-in-the-wall Italian restaurant, and there's your Christmas magic right there. I'm content.

What other loot did I get, do you ask? WELL, since you're curious, I managed to score a few hot ticket items I've been swooning over the last several months. Aside from my new nice sweaters (thanks again, Ma!), I got the latest little iPod - in blue! - from my Old Man. Gosh, she's a beaut! I've been using my darling pink iPod Mini since my 20th birthday many many moons ago, and honestly I don't think it was supposed to last 4+ years. Still, I've been devoted to Pink Pook-iPod, as I knew her, and it was one of my first big gifts from John. Unfortunately, the curse of wham-bam-thank-you-ma'am techy parts kicked in, and the battery has suffered a slew of demensia outbreaks.... Dad saved the day, and now I have a new little boy blue Nano - Pook-iPod II - to take her place. Let's hope I get lucky again.

Speaking of big gifts from John, wow wee! Homeboy spoiled me again this Christmas: Wii Fit PLUS!!! Forget the hints; I flat-out told John I want one, and I'd do inappropriate things to get it. John saved me from shame, and my jaw hit the floor as I tore off the wrapping paper. So excited! It wasn't hard to convince him: "But honey-snoogles, just think how toned I'll be for the summer... and then I'd have a reason to use my authentic adult onesie!" So now I have my SWEET new little iPod (seriously, this thing is freakishly small... how DO they get all that music in there?!) to listen to my groovy tunes while mastering the art of yoga in the privacy of my own home. Even better? My boss (that I like to pronounce "bawse") and my office neighbor (hiiiii, Eileen!) also got the Wii Fit Plus... now we can totally hang out in cyberspace with our Mii's... awesome.

Christmas break side note: John and I went to see the new 3D movie Avatar. You guys... Don't. Do it. Save your $10 and donate it to a worthy cause. I wish I had. I'll let you decide for yourself, but overall I was hugely disappointed. Beautifully crafted? Yes. Deep, inspiring, or otherwise a gift of cinema? NOT. And there's damn alien boobies, for crying out loud! Not only was I unimpressed with the movie, but I was completely denied a chance to view it properly. Being part of a crowded theatre, for one, upsets me enough as it is - but throw in a 4 year old behind you with leg spasms and tourettes AND a crazy ass-backward family from Wut-thefug, NC, and you've got a real chummy environment. This is why I won't have kids, won't visit the foothills of mountains, or particularly enjoy going to the movies.

And, I didn't quite get my big Christmas crescendo mentioned in the previous post, but it's okay. It was quiet, delightful, uneventful, devoid of usual Goetowski crises, and simple. I needed it - but I have to say I'm glad it's over. 2010 needs to get here quickly... I'm ready for a running start.

Wait, can I run on my Wii Fit? Best find out!...

See you next year, faithful readers!

PS. Check out my Flickr goodies, now that I know you're on your break and have time to do it... Feedback is much appreciated, y'all! >>>>

An Emo Christmas Story: "Ohh, Fuuuuudge...."

It's officially the 72 hour countdown until Christmas. It's also the first day of winter, and Christmas Day is projected to be 60ish degrees. I love it.

Normally this is where I acknowledge my long absence in writing and blame it on some momentous, life changing period in the recent past. However, this time, I have no one to blame but myself. My hiatus, unlike previous ones, was brought on by an apathy I haven't experienced in a while: the dreaded holiday blues. It's an honest to goodness depression that somehow kicks in right after I burn off the last calorie from Thanksgiving. I suddenly get upset by the littlest things; I feel crampy and achy everywhere all the time, like I'm on the brink of getting sick; my head swells and I'm inexplicably tired all the time for no reason. It pretty much started when I was a freshman in college; exams in high school were a breeze, so I never worried as much. Yet as academia kicked into high gear and kicked my ass while it was at it, for 3 solid weeks I immediately went into battle mode, revved up the angst, exhausted my coffee pot, and pushed myself through finals and final projects. In the end, the relief poured from the heavens as I toughed it out and flung myself past the finish line. The ultimate prize? A month long break with plenty of opportunity to get in the spirit, while spending as much time in my PJ's as humanly possible.

Now that I'm post all-nighters, Thirsty Thursdays, and spell-checking even my post-it notes to the roommate ("Yes, I'm still alive in here. Leave the pumpkin spiced latte by the door and move away slowly. And no, I haven't showered since the last exam. I don't have time. xoxo, C"), I get a stinkin' four day weekend for Christmas and three day weekend for New Years. I've done no Christmas shopping (which in a way is great, because I don't have to do any Christmas wrapping), and I think I'm going to yak if I hear "Winter Wonderland" one more time (YEAH, that stupid blue bird best be gone away - what the crap do they have to do with baby Jesus anyways?). Not only that, but I'm so stressed about being in ten different places at once, especially now that I have such limited time to squeeze in my holly jollies and fa-la-las, that I find myself zoning out just to keep from caving in.

Aside from writing the most emo post ever (I hope I get coal in my stocking so I can use it for eyeliner), I promise I have been trying my hardest to get into the Christmas spirit. I've tried to enjoy the goodies and good times along the way. I even decorated my office - the only one in our department who did! But again, some strange holiday drear has taken over and I can't shake it. I really hope I get visited by some apparitions on Christmas Eve - not only do I need to wake up Christmas morning and have an excuse to yell at the paperboy below my balcony, but I really need some motivation to look forward in life. Good will towards men and peace on earth wouldn't be so bad either.

In being the sort who doesn't let things go easily, a complex I curse and love equally, I've decided through Christmas and New Years, I'm going to pretend I'm in one of those coming of age movies. After a slew of mishaps and resisting the urge to except reality, I'll discover something so profound about myself that it's so simple in its meaning and whimsical in its elements, I'll be forced to do something completely compulsive it practically propels me into the next chapter of my life. All the while, a Michael Buble song will play as it happens in rapid time (I'm thinking "Feeling Good"... it's straight up HOT).

There you have it, all you boys and girls. Santa better have a sleigh full of gusto for me. If not, vodka will do just fine.