Some Last Minute Christmas Stuff

I’m not really sure what to write today, and to be honest, I’m a bit distracted (surprise, surprise).  I’m heading out later today to go to a Christmas party with a group of my high school friends, so I am really more focused on that than my blog at the moment. 

With that in mind, I will make this an extremely short blog post.  I knew I had to post something given my 10 Days of Christmas promise, and I will not go back on my word.  

In the spirit of Christmas Eve Eve (December 23), here are some last minute things you can do to get in the Christmas spirit (if you aren’t by this point):

1.      Bake Christmas cookies (hey, what’s jollier than eating sweet stuff?)

2.      Watch a Christmas movie (any one)

3.      Listen the Christmas music (and sing loudly for all to hear)

4.      Play Twister (well…maybe not holiday related, but how can you go wrong with this?)

And finally, for those who haven’t quite finished their Christmas shopping:

           Get On It!  

Only one more day until Christmas Eve, and I’m stoked.  Here’s wishing everyone happy holidays, whatever you celebrate.

Happy Christmas Eve Eve,

Shannon

Deck Them Halls and All That Stuff

One of my favorite things about the holidays is just the overall atmosphere, the feeling of warmth and comfort associated with the Christmas season.  Granted, it’s much easier to get in that spirit after your finals are over, but even students still obsessing over the papers they have yet to finish can find some comfort in the holiday music wafting through the air, the lights twinkling on overly-decorated houses, and the warm reds and greens covering everything in sight.

                                               

One of my favorite scenes from National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation is the one in which Chevy Chase is decorating the outside of the house with lights.  After he covers every square inch, he tries to light the lights, but they won’t go on.    He nearly goes ballistic trying to figure out why they won’t light, and he takes his anger out on a poor, defenseless Santa lawn ornament and his reindeer.  It’s a marvelous comedic moment.

When he finally gets everything lit (with some help from his wife), however, the mood suddenly changes.  A whole choir sings Hallelujah, and the family comes outside to bask in the beauty and blinding light from the decorations.  And everywhere else in the city, there’s a huge power surge forcing a backup generator to be turned on, but we can forget that in lieu of the awesome display.

The point is, there are just some things about the holidays that bring a smile to my face, and though sometimes it can be taken to an almost obsessive level, the lights that people use to decorate their homes are one of those things.  The brilliant glow providing illumination amid the dark night sky is enough to make you stop and look, to appreciate the hard work and effort put forth by the people of those homes. 

It’s almost enough to make you forget about all those giant, plastic snow globes littering the lawn.

Happy merry everything,

Shannon

The 10 Days of Christmas: Writer's Edition

It’s that time of year again.  You know what time of year, right?  Of course you do. 

Yes, it’s FINALS WEEK.  (dun, dun, dun)

This past week has been quite hectic, and it is still not over for me.  Thinking about Mango Street and feet and sexuality and whatnot is really just the tip of the iceberg, and while I adore Cisneros, I (like everyone else in the same, sinking boat) just want this paper to be finished already.

The big problem is the fact that, yeah, it is almost Christmas, and while Christmas itself is wonderful, the time leading up to it can be…stressful.  Normally, I am easily distracted by anything and everything regardless, but during the holiday season? 

Why must there be so many catchy, annoying tunes filling my head and bright, twinkling lights blurring my vision?  Why am I so intrigued by those blow-up snow globes on people’s lawns?  Why must the TV people play so many classic and not-so-classic Christmas movies that suck me in and never let me go?  Why do the kids on the Charlie Brown Christmas special dance like Frankenstein robot marionettes?

The Christmas season is filled to the brim with distractions, and hopefully this weekend I can finish the things I need to do before I can really enjoy all of them.  With that said, however, I am going to try something that isn’t going to help my stress levels in the slightest and will most likely drive me bananas. 

Starting today, I am doing the 10 Days of Christmas: Writer’s Edition.  Basically, I am going to try to post something to this blog every day leading up to Christmas, thus giving me even more of a challenge than I had previously and knocking me out of my mango-induced stupor.  The post does not necessarily have to be long or even about writing; it just has to be something.  Most likely, they will include Christmas-related somethings.  Or nonsense.

Why would I do this to myself, you ask?  Well, in the spirit of the holiday, I wanted to take the time out of my day to reflect on life, the universe, Douglas Adams references…and just appreciate the fact that, while I may be stressed out, it is still the Christmas season.  Or Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Festivus, Mayan Apocalypse…whatever it is you want to celebrate. 

Plus, if the world really is going to end, I might as well go out writing.

Happy 10 days to Christmas, folks.  Here’s hoping we make it!  J

Happy (Insert Phrase Here),

Shannon