I love Christmas and family. I love the shopping, giving gifts, decorating, and having family stay with me. It's nice, even when it isn't. Thankfully there weren't any real dramatic episodes to report this holiday season. I enjoyed my house guests. I enjoyed visiting all types of family. I just hated having to observe some of my family. Let me explain. Christmas eve eve was nice, until I got into a heated discussion about Brittany Spears with my sister. BRITTANY SPEARS?! Who argues about Brittany Spears?! We do. I didn't realize until much later that my critic of Brittany's mothering skills was, in a way, a critic of my sister's mothering skills. So I fought with myself over my feelings of guilt over inadvertently dissing my sister, but not really feeling all that guilty about it.
Then there was Christmas. Christmas was wonderful, it really was. We finished it off by visiting my Dad and stepmom's house. It seemed like a perfect way to end the evening, and it almost was, except for the fact that my dad is an alcoholic. Some people don't think this is a problem because he is not a mean alcoholic. I, however, find his alcoholism to be a problem, because it isn't good for his body or our conversations. My dad talks forever about the same subjects over and over again when he is drunk and you can't get away. All I can think of during our conversations is how sad his state is, how much I know he doesn't want to be this way, how awkward this all is, and how can I get out of here! I know all I can do for him is pray. Nothing more. Sometimes I worry about he and my sister. My grandma tells me not to. She says I've always tried to save people and that I can't save anyone who doesn't want to be saved. She's right. So when I worry about them, I get into some major prayer. It really is all I can do.
So, with this you are probably saying, 'this doesn't sound like a wonderful Christmas.' It was because I was able to spend a good amount of time with all of my family. Everyone enjoyed their gifts, I enjoyed mine. This holiday also opened my eyes even more to my sister and my dad and sisters problems and helped me to resolve to pray for them more. I also hope the conversations my sister and I had will bring about some epiphany for her. I know it did for me.

Is it me or are more and more musical artist sounding the same these days? Case in point: When I first heard Fergies "London Bridge" and "Fergalious" my first reaction was 'Man, these suck!'. At that time I wasn't sure why they sucked so it nagged at me until I reached a decision. Fergies music sucks for two reasons: 1. The lyrics are so ridiculous that a seven year old even asked me what she was talking about and why it sounded 'stupid'. 2. She sounds like she ripped off Gwen Stephani's first solo album. (Now I have to add, I don't like Gwen's latest song "Wind it up". It sounds like she took the sound of music soundtrack, a marching band, and a crazy lady, threw them in a blender and what came out was a musical assault on the ears that should be illegal! She and the Neptunes really could have done much better.) You may be asking yourself what brought about this rant and rip apart of these two women? This morning I was accosted by their back to back videos on the television and it reminded me how irritated I am by the lack of originality in the music industry and by artists these days. I know the "industry" has a rhyme and reason for it , with the bottom line being money, but that is all a little too much of a discussion/rant then I would like to get into on a blog this morning.
Now I watched the billboard Music awards the other day; did anyone notice The Killers are still rockin' the 'stache? Brandon flowers and crew are, I believe, trying to bring back the mustache. A male friend of mine informed me the other day that he had read in GQ , or some other male magazine, over the summer that the mustache was making a come back and was the rage in New York. My friend had tried earlier this year to bring back the 'stache to our conservative city. He had a moustache for several months but no one, not even his fiance, were convinced on the come back, so he formed it into a gotee. I give him credit for giving it a good faith effort, but I think the Killers will be able to continue where he left off. Who knows , thanks to these grass roots efforts, we might be seeing more moustaches soon.

I have just had the best week in a long time! This week I managed to get in touch with friends that I haven't seen in , maybe, eight years. It was so good to see so many familiar faces and catch up. It was nothing I planned, it was just a gift that was given to me and I am still revealing in the awe of it all. It was the best week in a long time and I am very thankful for it.

This is going to be a very random post for many reasons. One I've meant to post for so long now and figured I had better 'just do it', and 2. why not :)
Did anyone else see the on the AP that Al-Qaida has denounced the Popes visit to Turkey? I was really mystified as to why the AP thought this was news. Even for those who haven't been keeping up with the Popes comments on Islam, this is not surprising news! Why did the AP report this and why did Al-Qaida bother to say anything? We get it already Al-Qaida, you don't like other religions and they are all blasphemous, don't bother releasing any statements!

More randomness: Brittany Spears, Paris Hilton, and Lindsey Lohan. Can these girls put on some underpants and with all of their millions, at least, purchase some class?! I hope there aren't anymore young girls, or older girls, that look up them. I am tired of seeing their antics on magazines, in the news, or on E!. Where are these three girls parents?! If my mom every heard or saw me doing anything like this, she would take me aside and smack me! I hope their moms wake up and give them, at least, a good talking too!

Now that I have gotten that off of my chest: How about the season we are starting to enter into? I LOVE the Christmas/holiday season. I LOVE IT! I love shopping for the perfect gift. I love picking out and sending Christmas(and Hanukkah), cards. I love decorating. I love it all. My only bummer this year, is that I have my house up for sale. Since it is up for sale, I can't decorate very much. My tree is going to be a small table top tree, and I can only put a few thing in the yard. It's a bit of a bummer, but it is better than nothing, and my gifts will look quit impressive next to that dinky tree.....minimal is starting to not sound so bad:)

I have a love hate relationship with fall. I would have a full love relationship with fall if it were 75 degrees every day and if it didn't seem like winter was just waiting around the corner. I love racking the leaves, picking pumpkins, trick or treat, apple picking, baking, all the quintessential fall activities. I just hate that it goes so quickly and before we know it winter is here.
Currently I am hating that the elections are just days away and I haven't figured out which politician is lying less that the other. I just don't get why politicians are still using mud slinging techniques. All it seems to do is disenchant people with the political process. Well, maybe I just answered my own question. We as a people can't allow our selves to get away from the political process before or after we have voted. Even after the poles have closed we as a people have to watch the politicians. We have to always be sure they are doing the will of their constituents, not the will of their pocket books. We all have to remember We are the boss of them, not the other way around.
To end on a happy note, tomorrow is beggars night! I love seeing all the creative costumes. I love eating the candy and talking with my neighbors. I look froward to this every year. Beggars night, a good excuse to get out doors.
Have fun!

I am testing to see if this works. Maybe I'll use it , maybe I won't . Not sure.