Hope you all have a great Independence Day. I’ll be back to my normally scheduled blogging next week. Until then, hope you see lots of fireworks.

I know what you’re thinking. How will Brandon outdo last year’s heart-shaped pizza? Well behold, my friends, the heart-shaped chocolate cherry cake that he masterfully baked. He also got me a batman card similar to the cards I mentioned in the post below, and some Dove chocolate. Altogether, a very healthy V-day.

Have a great Valentines Day!

I can’t complain about 2007. I was officially hired at a job that I really enjoy here in Atlanta. We made a lot of new friends. We moved from a completely crappy apartment into an apartment that we really like. We celebrated our 5th wedding anniversary. I enrolled at Oglethorpe to continue my education (so far keeping a 4.0 GPA—we’ll see if that lasts). We found out that we’re going to have a new little niece and nephew in the Spring of this year. And last but not least, we got Monster.

So anyway, happy new year! May this one be even better.

Happy Holidays: “We should be sensitive to those who don’t celebrate Christmas. We don’t want to offend or alienate those who have different religious beliefs.”

Merry Christmas: “It’s Christ’s birthday that we’re celebrating. He’s the reason for the season. We aren’t compromising for other people. If they don’t like it, they can leave.”

I’m not partial either way, though I do lean toward happy holidays. I can see the point of both sides. But here’s something I thought of: which argument is kinder? As Christians, yes, we celebrate Christ’s birth. That’s what this season means to us. But why get hostile over it? Saying happy holidays or merry x-mas won’t take away what we have. It just means something different to other people. Why do we have to be so dogmatic about it?

I hate the hostility that this debate brings. I hate having to find cards that say “merry Christmas” for those friends/family members who are caught up in the whole argument. I just want to enjoy the season, and focus on what it means to me. Christ’s birth, a time of giving, a time to spend with your family or the people you love.

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags?  Both. Depends on the shape of the present and the cheapness I’m feeling.

2. Real or Artificial tree?   Artificial. A real tree would look stupid strapped to the roof of our car. Plus the cat would eat it. Not that he doesn’t eat our fake one.

3. When do you put up the tree?  Beginning of December

4. When do you take the tree down? End of December
5. Do you like Eggnog?  Depends. Sometimes it’s WAY too sweet. Otherwise, maybe.

6. Favorite Gift you received as a child? Mermaid doll that you could take in the bath tub. She sang, too. This hollow sounding la-la-la la-la-la-la song. Sounded like she was in a cave. Loved that doll.

7. Do you have a nativity scene?  Nope. Monster would probably break it anyhow.

8. Hardest person to buy for? My Dad and Brandon. Brandon always wants books, but I have no idea which ones.

9. Easiest person to buy for? This year: my sister, Brandi.

10. Worst Christmas gift ever received? I got a really lame puzzle of a puppy in 4th grade at a gift exchange. Oh, and I got a mannequin head that was bald and grotesque at a white elephant party. Wait, that was the best gift I ever received.

11. Christmas Cards… Snail mail or E-mail?  Both. Mostly snail mail.

12. Favorite Christmas Movie?  A Christmas Story.

13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? Way too late, I’m usually busy with school stuff.

14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present?  Yes. Once I got some really smelly body splash, and I was actually too embarrassed to recycle it because I didn’t want anyone to think I thought it smelled good.

15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? Ham. Mmm, ham.

16. Clear lights or colored on the tree? Colored, because they’re cheap. Er, I mean, because they’re fun. Yes.

17. Favorite Christmas Song?  “What Child is This?”

18. Travel at Christmas or Stay Home?  Used to travel when we lived in CA, now I stay within a two-state radius.

19. Can you name Santa’s Reindeer? Yep.
20. Do you have an Angel or a Star on top of your tree?  A big red bow that we got for $2 at Wal-Mart. We have the least pretentious tree EVER.

21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or Morning?  It depends on when my family can get together. My mom used to be a stickler about it being Christmas morning at our house.

22. Most annoying thing about this time of the year? Crowds and soccer moms who act all stressed out, but it’s because they do it to themselves.

23. Shopping…Mall or online?  Half mall, half online.

24. You decorate outside for Christmas or just inside (or at all)? Inside. I guess we could put lights on our balcony, but we’re exceedingly lazy.

25. Favorite Christmas cookie? Screw cookies. I like black forest cake.

26. Do you own Christmassy clothing or jewelry?  Nope, I’m not in 4th grade and I’m not an elementary school teacher.

27. Do you believe in Santa?  We’re not as tight as we used to be, but I guess I do. What with all the magic in my heart and all.

On Sunday we attended a pumpkin carving party and had the brilliant idea to carve a Christmas tree jack-o-lantern. Okay, I had the brilliant idea and Brandon went along with me because there really wasn’t that much of a better option.

What with retailers pushing the sale of Christmas items further and further into the months before (seriously, one store had Christmas trees for sale a week ago, and I heard Christmas music playing in another store), I figured the Christmas tree carving was entirely appropriate.

Anyway, happy halloween!

The weekend rather flew by. We visited my home town and spent time with friends and family. It’s getting harder and harder to get together with friends. Everyone is so busy, and really Labor Day is one of the only holidays that people aren’t expected to spend nearly exclusively with family.

It’s kind of depressing to realize that we’re just all growing up and growing apart. But it’s part of life I guess. It’s funny how in middle and high school I was always trying to get away from my family, wanting to spend all of my time with my friends who actually “got me.” You know, what with my uniqueness and my need to rebel in a tame way that wouldn’t cause longterm consequences. But as I get older I realize that family is far more constant. They’re there for me, loving me the same as when I pushed them away.

Anyway, I hope you all had a great Labor Day weekend (you know, all of my hundreds of readers). Try not to yawn too much at work today.

So whether you celebrate Christ’s resurrection or the coming of the Easter bunny (CANDY!), I hope you had a nice holiday.

How do you celebrate Presidents Day anyway? I guess you could wear a big top hat and make speeches. And buy stuff at the Presidents Day sales. And maybe have a portrait painted in your honor, because presidents like that sort of thing. Anyway, however you celebrate, enjoy your weekend.