December 25, 2002 :: 11:34 p.m.
Quacky the Christmas Duck
Christmas is over in 26 minutes. It's weird how all of the cooking and planning and frantic shopping go on for weeks/months beforehand, but then on December 26th it's all just over. No more Christmas until next year. But it was nice while it lasted, at least. It snowed like a mother today - craziness. We haven't had a white Christmas in years. It was gorgeous - all powdery and bright and unblemished. The trees looked like lace; I took many pictures. Rufus went out to investigate the situation this morning, which was just adorable. He was bounding around like a rabbit, speckled with snowflakes, burying his head in the snow every once in a while. Eventually he decided that it was much too cold to bother with, and came back inside. It was just... ah, kitties. How I love thee.
While driving to Duncannon this afternoon for my family's Christmas shindig, I think I had a genuine Peace On Earth, Goodwill Toward Men moment. I was listening to music and it was snowing, all soft and white, and the world just looked... beautiful. Empty and peaceful and silent. I say that I think I had one because I could be mistaking my intense joy at not seeing six million people running around like mad preparing for Christmas for goodwill toward men. Actually, that's probably the case. I wasn't so much the holiday cheer or some random, compassionate revelation as it was the pleasure that I take from being completely separated from the mass stupidity that is "people." Yeah, that explains it.
The gathering itself was rather uneventful, I guess. Everyone was there, except for my mom and grandma. My mom actually got into an accident on the way, which, I think, is why she didn't come. I wish she would have been there, but I'm too grateful that the accident wasn't a serious one and that she's okay to dwell on my disappointment. I got to see Adam (brother), at least, which is an extremely rare occasion. He gave me the coolest calendar in the world, with art by someone named Michael Parks (who I have never heard of before). I wore my fun beanie hat, and received many compliments. I personally think that it makes me look like a turtle, but everyone else seems to love it, so I'll just keep my disparaging opinion to myself. Ooh! And my brother Jobe brought his dogs, so I got to meet his new one. It's a huge, fluffy, black Newfoundland named Scooby. He's only four months old and he's almost as big as their full-grown Labrador Retriever (who is a mighty large dog). He's adorable - I wanted to smuggle him away and call him my own.
I've been wanting a dog like crazy lately, for some reason, and everywhere I look there are gorgeous dogs taunting me with their wonderfulness. I've always considered myself a hardcore cat person, but more and more I'm just wanting a big, cuddly dog to go running with and things. And it does have to be a big dog - small dogs are cute, but I've always had a predilection toward large dogs. They're just... big and fun. Lately my future dog of choice has been a Rottweiler, which has garnered me many a disbelieving look. I don't get it, really. They're somewhat aggressive by nature, yes, but any dog's temperament depends on how it is raised and treated. And hey, aside from the fact that I think they're beautiful, no one would mess with you if you were walking a Rottweiler. But I don't know, really. Thinking about what kind of dog I may have in the future always amuses me, because Adam wants a dog like Sam - a Beagle - and I want some huge beast of a dog, like a Siberian Husky or a Rottweiler or a Newfoundland. I just have this picture in my head of a Beagle sitting next to any of those dogs, and it makes me laugh. Heh. I love Sam, though. He's a sweetie.
After family time, I went to Adam's to exchange presents. I ended up eating with them, too, which was nice - they actually have meals. We don't do meals in my house. We forage. It's like a tiny example of a hunter-gatherer society plopped down right in the middle of suburban Carlisle. Only without the hunting, or, actually, the gathering. So never mind that, then. Suffice it to say that an actual meal was a nice change of pace for someone whose diet closely resembles that of a grazing cow, only with less grass and more junk food.
After dinner, Adam and I exchanged gifts. I gave him a stuffed duck that quacks when you squeeze it(because ducks rock), a black t-shirt with a regular Nintendo controller on it, the new Zelda game for Gameboy Advance, and The Illustrated History of Electronic Gaming (something to that effect; I don't remember the title exactly). He gave me a yummy melon-scented candle, the "Once More, With Feeling" script book, Lilo & Stitch on DVD, and the Buffy third season DVDs (weee!). That last one isn't here yet, of course, but just knowing that I have it coming is exciting beyond belief. I also got a George Carlin page-a-day calendar thingy from his Dad and Anne, which is very cool and was really nice of them. I love my presents, he seems to like his (especially the duck), and so all is well on this Christmas night. It was a good time. I'm glad I got to spend some of my Christmas with him, because I love him to tiny little bits and pieces, and so it would have seemed quite empty otherwise. Yay for Adam, because he's grrrrreat! And I'm suddenly channeling Tony the Tiger.
I used my B&N gift card online today - I ordered two books and two CDs. I think I'm going to stop by Dick Blick at some point tomorrow and see if they actually stock any of the things that I wanted to order. Here's hoping. I also need to go to the mall and Target eventually, but not tomorrow - you will not see me anywhere near the mall or Target on "Gift Return Day." *shudder*
Hrm. Well, it's time for me to stop. I'm in a very cheery mood, listening to Radio Buffy and reflecting on my pretty damn good Christmas, and so I predict that if I don't shut up soon I'll start thinking about depressing things. Such is my mind. So Merry Christmas, everyone.
Six days until 2003. Scary.
back & forth
Wait, there's more!
I like pina coladas - March 30, 2005
must... finish... projects... - March 22, 2005
Mr. Postman delivers the good stuff - March 18, 2005
when everything is bad - March 16, 2005
of fruits and menstruation - March 15, 2005