Christmas Decompression

I'm one of those people who likes Christmas, as long as it's contained in the appropriate time frame. What I mean is, I hate when Christmas gets cheapened by department stores putting up displays and gifts after (or even before) Halloween. I'm a "one holiday at a time" kind of girl-- that way, I can stay focused. Or something like that.

I listened to Christmas music almost all day, every day when one of the stations dropped its normal soft rock rotation for a 24/7 holiday blitz. I came to realize that I really dislike The Little Drummer Boy and that I really like the classic version of Here Comes Santa Claus. I also came to realize that there are too many of us who believe that Christmas is ruined if a gift is out of stock or doesn't arrive in time.

I'm not sure if I ever felt dependent on a must-have gift on my Christmas list. I have many "would absolutely love you forever if you got this for me" items, don't get me wrong, and maybe it's just part of being grown-up, but I'd much rather spend time baking or eating food or playing cards or going on sleigh rides.

And even though I love getting in the Christmas spirit, I wasn't bummed that my parents' house wasn't bursting at the seams with decorations. My mom apologized to me at one point, and I told her that it meant much more just to be home for the holiday. She also apologized for us not having that many presents, but it's hard to get sheer volume under the tree when several things are true: 1. It's only my mom, dad, and me in our household, and 2. Our wishlists are fairly concise (and sometimes boring).

Anyway, I suppose what I'm trying to say is, yeah, toys are great, but time with family and friends make my holidays now. I spent a full day with my parents and our family friends, then spent the day after Christmas with my boyfriend and his family. His family usually celebrates Christmas near my hometown, which works out quite nicely.

Cameron took me on a sleigh ride while I was up in Leavenworth, and that was great. We glided across the snowy (yes, even though it was icy, old snow, it still counts) ground, with bells jingling on the horses and afternoon sunshine peeking over the mountains. I'd say it was picturesque, but more so than that, it was a very eastern Washington winter day.

Even more awesome: there were several cute dogs running around at the sleigh riding place, and I got to pet all of them. Yes, that's a highlight. Oh, and the hot cider. That was tasty, too.

But all good things come to an end. My bus ride home was miserable. The heat was on too high, and everyone around me smelled awful-- bad breath, unshowered, whatever it was, it was enough to give me a headache. It's enough to make me never want to travel during peak times again.

I also learned that you should always listen to your mother. Once I told her I was safe back in Seattle, she told me to get some rest. I instead decided to wash the dishes. Well, that ended poorly-- I broke another glass (third one in a week) and cut my arm on a shard. It was deep enough for me to call Cameron and ask him, "So... at what point does a person need to get stitches?" It wasn't bad enough for that, but it's probably the worst cut I've had in recent memory.

To top it off, all I wanted to do tonight was watch Up (thanks, Cammie, for the DVD) and drink hot cocoa. I saved enough milk for cereal tomorrow and poured a bunch into a mug. As my clumsiness would have it, I knocked over the mug when I got it out of the microwave. I spent the next while cleaning up the table (and floor) and microwave, and then I decided I was going to give up for now.

So, here I am. Decompressing from the holiday cheer and the bummer of a day today was. At least this coming week is a short one for me-- one of my best friends is getting married, and I'm a bridesmaid. It will be my first time as a bridesmaid since I was in 8th grade.

For now, take it easy. I'm off to hopefully not destroy everything I touch.

Just Calm Down

Sometimes, I forget that I'm a big girl now, and like another blogger said, I have to schedule my hang-out times with my friends.

And that means I need to start being the person who actually texts and calls.

Old habits die hard, but I'll get into the swing of things. Right? Sure.

Last night, though, I was also reminded that I can still go on adventures. Three of us decided-- while eating ice cream-- that more ice cream was necessary. Specifically, they wanted peppermint shakes.

Tip: Baskin-Robbins is usually open late enough to cover your "I need ice cream, and vanilla won't do" cravings.

Kate's Missed Point

Kathleen thinks I should mention her more in my blog.

Unfortunately, that type of request comes with the prerequisite (that word just took me 7 or 8 attempts) of fitting into this jumble I call my quarter-life crisis. Since I didn't enlighten anyone with my wisdom tooth adventure-- and let's face it, how enlightening is 4 days on the couch, watching Man v. Food and popping pills?-- I will entertain my readers (all...3... of you) with an introspective piece about my friends.

Also, my Vicodin just kicked in.

Let's start with my high school friends. We knew each other through several different paths, whether it be through biology or band classes, through a friend who was dating a dude in a group from another school, or even from chance encounters, like sharing the same birthday.

Today, I know that most of those friends are still there for me, even though they're scattered here and there-- some back in Wenatchee, some in different states, and some even in different countries. I know who my best friends are, too, because we can pick up our friendship like we never spent weeks or years without seeing each other. The technology called social media helps alleviate the distance, but it doesn't remedy the distance.

My parents always worried that I was friends with too many boys and that I would never have a good group of girlfriends from back home. Well, I'm happy that I do have a group of friends who share silly memories from high school: Kate, Tanja, Cara, and Beth. I'm not discounting any of my other friendships, but it's good to have those girls as best friends. I also can't believe that three of them are getting married in 2010. Anyway.

To add to that, not only do I have wonderful friends from my hometown, I met amazing people in college. What would I do without Erin, Ari, Ashley, Kili, Victor, Joe, Cameron, etc.?

Actually, I know what happens when I can't be around my friends as much as I want: everything goes haywire. Last year was by far the most bleak and depressing year on file for me. I don't like to dread going back to the city in which I live, and I don't like living alone. I don't like only have phone or online contact with people. I don't even like to inundate my blogs with terrible poetry.

I made the right choice in moving to Seattle. I can deal with a commute, as long as it means I'm closer to several friends. It doesn't make me closer to all, and it makes me further from some, but it's okay. I feel alive again.

My roommate Heidi and I just walked down to Cupcake Royale and had warm drinks and apple caramel cupcakes. That was something so simple, but I value things like that much more now after experiencing near rock-bottom last year.

Anyway, I could go on and on and on about how great my friends are. But instead, I think I'll get ready for bed and take an extended Vicodin nap.

Also, Erin, I'm going to go to Spain, one way or another.

Also, Kate, you're a face.

...this whole post wasn't too trite was it?