And so begins Christmas 2004...

Well I decided last month (after Jocelyn kept bugging me that HER holiday - halloween - hadn't even happened) that November 1st would mark the start of the Christmas season for me. I love Christmas so much, and honestly, I don't understand how so many people can and have said to me that it's much too early and basically respond in a negative way. Now, I don't expect everyone to just pick up and begin Christmas with me, not at all. Most normal people start the "Christmas Season" in December, or at least closer than now, and that's totally fine (and normal... kinda unlike myself anyways.) But a lot of these people seem to be so focused on what Christmas is today. The media seems to equate Christmas with money - people spending it, and retail companies making it. Heck, they don't even call it Christmas anymore. Seriously, look around, NO WHERE will you find signs saying "Merry Christmas". It's all politically correct, "Happy Holidays". They seem to profit out of the holiday that started out as a memorial to the birth of Jesus. No frills, no gimmicks, just Jesus. Now I realize not everyone believes in that, but I do. And even still, if I didn't believe that, Christmas is much much more than spending money, buying gifts, getting gifts, etc. It's about family and loved ones and the joy that people can feel over the holidays. I'm so excited for this joy that I am already feeling, and I hope that more of you (if anyone reads this) will feel that joy and excitement for what it really is. I realize that "The real meaning of Christmas" as a phrase is a huge cliche, but maybe it's because so many people haven't realized it, despite all the talk of it.

Anyways, I guess that's enough of my rant, however, I think I've changed my mind about my English essay that I was doing .... We are supposed to do a position paper, to learn how to "argue" in essays. I was going to do a paper on mountain biking and how it should be permitted on all trails in the North Shore, because lots of people are against it. But I think I'm going to look into doing it on the holiday season...

Oh! I got my geography midterm back annnndd................. (drum roll please.....).... I got 99%. A+!!! And my map quiz that sorta went with it, I got 100%. I was sooo happy. Crazy happy. It was awesome. I celebrated by buying myself a mocha.

And with that, I'm going to go work on my essay. Merry Christmas! :D