After Christmas Stress

I hope everyone had a very merry Christmas! I certainly did! Christmas Eve we went to the 7:00 PM service at St. John's. I love the lighting of the candles and singing "Silent Night." It's always such a beautiful time. I love going to Church on Christmas Eve. Then we watched Muppet Christmas Carol as always. :) Then I read all of my favorite children's Christmas stories before going to sleep.

Christmas morning was wonderful-- I was spoiled this year. My dad got me two beautiful necklace and earring sets, and a Snow Princess Vermont Teddy Bear, and I got the Sims 3 and Wii Lego Indiana Jones. There goes my productivity. AND I got a mini-camcorder! So excited!

Christmas afternoon was fun, too. Allison is still in D.C. and all alone, so she came over and we went to see Sherlock Holmes. The movie was really entertaining-- the first 20 minutes worried me a bit, as I found them slow and plot-less, but after that it really picked up. I recommend this movie to anyone-- it's action-packed, sexy, and pretty true to the original concept (but... more action-packed and sexy). It also left the way clear for a sequel, which thrills me. I love reading Sherlock Holmes, how much fun to see it in this new way!

But now... oh. Back to the stress. I tricked my mind into being ok with not having done any work on my syllabus or thesis, because I reasoned that I couldn't be expected to do any work until after Christmas. Now Christmas is over. I am excuse-less. And panicking. So much to do and no library in which to do it. Swem is closed, so there's no point in going to Williamsburg, and the Library of Congress seems a bit difficult to use, though I may have to try. GAH! I can already feel the knots building in my shoulders again. :(

Christmas Knickumknackums and Christmas Eve

According to the incomparable Carter Hailey, yesterday was Christmas Knickumknackums, or the day before the day before Christmas. You are allowed to open a single gift, though I did not, and you feel all Christmas-y. I did do the feeling Christmas-y bit. My mom and I made snickerdoodles, oatmeal raisin and oatmeal chocolate chip cookies, gingersnaps, and we are all set to make more cookies today, tortilla soup for Christmas Eve dinner, and apple pocket pies. I also worked on clay figures for people's Christmas presents yesterday. I just have to put finishing touches on Mike J.'s dragon, on Kacey's present, and on Emily's present. We also watched Mickey's Once Upon a Christmas and Mickey's Twice Upon a Christmas before turning on the NCIS.

Currently we're watching It's A Wonderful Life. I've never seen it before, so far so good. Kind of depressing. Thus far I'm not sure why it's a Christmas movie, but maybe it becomes clearer. I like how at the beginning they say "At exactly 10:45 Earth time." It reminded me of Twilight Zone: in "To Serve Man," the main character asks "What time is it on Earth?" and they say "It's exactly 12:00 noon," or something like that, as if Earth has one time :).

I'm so excited for Muppet Christmas Carol tonight!

EDIT at 4:08 PM: Yeah, It's A Wonderful Life is definitely a Christmas movie. And a very heart-warming one at that. Will watch again. Also, ran on the elliptical (yay exercise after all this time!) and was watching Babes in Toyland for the first time-- so cute! I want Annette Funicello's clothes and dancing abilities!

Wedding Bells Will Chime

Annie is married! She had her wedding amidst snow yesterday, but it was beautiful nonetheless. She had a gorgeous dress, and a very nice Wren Chapel ceremony. The reception was incredibly fun-- great food, great dancing, friends I hadn't seen in a long time. An extremely cute "first dance" for Annie and Eric to Taylor Swift's "Love Story." I am not a fan of that song at all, but they were so adorable dancing to it I couldn't help but enjoy it.

It's still a little strange that someone from our "group" is married. I know Kristi got married a few weeks ago, but... I don't know, that didn't feel as odd; as long as I've known her she's been engaged. I guess I had more time to adjust to the idea. But I've known Annie since my first day at William and Mary, and she certainly wasn't engaged then :). We spent the summer after freshman year with Michelle watching "Slings and Arrows" and drinking mint lemonade. We were in "Romeo and Juliet" together, and I spent so many Sunday dinners at Russian House, and so many nights at the Drunk Duck. And now she's in New York for her honeymoon and moving to El Paso, TX which is so far away. I've gotten used to her fairly frequent visits to Williamsburg for wedding planning... not sure what I'll do now that there's really no chance of seeing her at all. I'm happy for her, because she seemed so happy at her wedding, but I'm sad, too, because I'll really miss her.

It's been an extremely snowy weekend. Mike J. drove in from Woodberry and it took him five hours, while it took Kay and Brian EIGHT hours from D.C. Crazy. Jason had stories about wiping out and spinning around on the icy roads. Luckily everyone made it here safely, and the roads in Williamsburg stayed MOSTLY clear (except when driving to the Winery for Annie's reception). And it was such a fun time seeing everyone!!! We spent Friday evening eating pizza and playing MarioKart until 3AM, and then Saturday night we played Apples to Apples! I haven't stayed up that late (except for paper-writing) in so long! I've also almost finished the Orangina clay dragon that I'm making for Mike, and bought a few more Christmas presents!!!

A wonderful wedding weekend. Congrats to Annie and Eric!

Christmastime is Here

Christmastime is definitely here. I have bought gifts for my parents and Dana, know what I'm getting Kay, and know what I'm making for Mike J., Emily, and Kacey. I still have some people on my list, though, that I'm struggling with figuring out what to get them. And I need to send a few Christmas cards. Despite the stress of Christmas-gift finding/making, though, I'm so excited to get in and wrap the presents I've bought and set them down under the Christmas tree!!! I really, truly am someone who likes the giving aspect of this holiday more than the getting aspect. If I had all the money in the world I would lavish thousands of presents upon my friends. It makes me happy to make other people happy. If I had all the time in the world I would make them thousands of presents-- as it is, this year has to be a mix of crafted and store-bought. I haven't made a single clay object for my parents yet-- so strange-- or even done any cross-stitching!

But Christmastime is here, regardless. I watched Love Actually with my mom the other night. I set up the Nativity Scene, something I do every year. It's my favorite part of Christmas decorating. I attended Cat's cookie decorating party yesterday (which was quite intense; she gave us a bit of dough to roll out, we cookie cut it, she baked it, and only then did we decorate). I have started in on my "Christmas" reads, such as the winter/Christmas chapters from Little House in the Big Woods and Little House on the Prairie, Merry Christmas Strega Nona, The Polar Express, Santa Calls, A Victorian Christmas Tea, Lone Star, and this book my mom had in the '60s full of Christmas stories for children. I love that one. And as soon as I go back home (I'm in the 'burg again, this time for Annie's wedding) it will be time for Charlie Brown Christmas, Mickey's Once Upon a Christmas, and most importantly, the Christmas Eve viewing of A Muppet Christmas Carol.

Did anyone else read The Polar Express as a child? One line that always stuck with me was the one about drinking hot chocolate as rich as a melted chocolate bar. I've searched for that hot chocolate everywhere. I found close approximations at a cafe in Paris, and at the coffee chain Cafe Nero in England, and the Williams-Sonoma Hot Chocolate I got is close. But mmm, I want to try the hot chocolate on the Polar Express. If only... :)

I miss being a little kid and having the whole month of build-up to Christmas. It feels as though it has come upon me so suddenly the past few years. Finals end and then BAM Christmas. I think I've forgotten how to really savor the holidays. *Sigh*

Anyways, this weekend should be nice! I have a facial this afternoon, followed by Annie's wedding rehearsal (I'm an usherette), and then Mike J. and Kay and Brian should get here either late tonight or early tomorrow and we will go to the wedding! Plus, I'm planning on starting in on making clay gifts, which will make me feel all happy and Christmas-y!

EDIT at 7:17 PM: It's snowing!!!!!

Home Sweet Home

I'm back home for a few days! I'm heading back to the 'burg in a few days for sundry parties (cocktail, bachelorette) and a wedding, but for now I'm back home! So far it's been lovely. I got in yesterday and met my parents at Tyson's for lunch and a bit of shopping. I got a dress for Annie's wedding, which I hope will be cute. And I have a Jason who is going to get a dark suit to match it! :) Can't wait to see him-- it's been months.

Then I got to see Kay! I honestly haven't seen her since summer, which is far too long. It was so nice to catch up with her. I got lunch with her today, and I saw her new house, which is so darling and she has such nice roommates!!! I have missed my Kay-diddle immensely.

Last night I went to a fondue party with Allison in DC. It was fantastic to meet new people and to hang out with other graduate students from another program. They seemed about as bogged down with work as the people in my program, so I guess grad school hell is universal. Still, I had a wonderful time eating chocolate-covered strawberries and talking about Winter Break plans and just generally being away from the Williamsburg scene. I need a new influx of people. Sometimes Williamsburg just feels so incredibly small and everyone is too interconnected. A change of scene is sometimes necessary.

Today, besides seeing Kay, I also went to a movie with Adam! Haven't seen him since the summer either. We saw The Princess and the Frog. I am so extremely happy that Disney has decided to go back to 2-D hand-drawn animation. Their decision to only do 3-D CGI was perhaps one of the most disappointing things I ever heard, so I'm thrilled they've gone back to their roots. They better keep up this hand-drawn thing, now. So many people have missed it. And this movie wasn't half bad, either! If I had been in a charge I may have changed a few things, but ultimately, I think it was a good product and worthy of the Disney name. I really loved the Tiana, the princess. The Charlotte character was hilarious, too. So, overall, good.

Tonight is Nativity Scene set-up and Christmas tree decorating with parents :)!!!

Turkey in the Rain

So, last week when Mike J. was visiting we went out to La Tolteca with Kacey. It was raining (big surprise, that's all it's done this semester). So anyways, Kacey mentioned that when turkeys feel rain on their heads they look up to see what is hitting them and the rain gets in their noses and they drown. I'm not sure if this is true or not, but Mike J. decided it should be a proverb.

Don't be a turkey in the rain.

It means something like, "Don't do something stupid." Or "Don't make poor life decisions." Or, when you feel really dumb about something you might say, "Geez, I was just a turkey in rain."

I was just a turkey in the rain.

But whatever, life goes on, it's good, there's always hope for redemption :).

In other news, I went to the spa today and it was lovely.

Hebrew Jewbulation!

I have finished with everything! I turned in my final paper, "The Formation of Converso Identity: A Lecture," to Professor Homza about twenty minutes ago and now... the sweet feeling of freedom. I can do anything today. I could go for a walk in CW. I could go to the spa. I could watch a movie. I could Rosetta Stone. I could read for fun. I could drink. I could sleep. I could begin Christmas shopping, Christmas cross-stitching, and Christmas clay-making. *Happiness*

Really, though, writing this paper was one of the least stressful things I've done this semester... or since about sophomore year. I gave myself plenty of time to research and write, instead of cramming it all in the night before the due date. And I had a fantastic place to write, as I was at Mike and Zan's apartment, so the process was tempered with episodes of Dr. Who and random trips to Taco Bell (even though I made Mike make me a salad because Taco Bell just isn't real food). Yay for writing near friends!!!

And, since I finished the paper nominally around noon yesterday, I even got to go out for ice cream with Laura before frantically footnoting!

Last night, after I had almost finished the paper, including the footnoting, the editing, and the bibliography, and had sent out the paper to Kay and Zan to proof-read and edit (well, Kay edited :), Zan showed me Mel Brooks' "The Spanish Inquisition" from History of the World Part 1 on his computer), I went to the Leafe with a couple of grad students for a drink called "Hebrew Jewbulation Bar Mitzvah Thirteenth Anniversary Ale." We just got a sample of it, as it was strong, and then I had a pint of Magic Hat #9, but I feel that it's the thought that counts.

Welcome, Winter Break! You don't know how much I've longed for you!

Wedding Bells Will Ring

Yesterday my friend, Kristi, got married. I was a reader in the wedding (1 Corinthians 13:4-8, 13), so I got to attend the wedding rehearsal and the rehearsal dinner on Friday, and then I handed out programs before the wedding, and of course did the reading and attended the reception.

The wedding was absolutely gorgeous. Kristi is so happy. I'm so happy for her. She deserves to be incredibly happy and she is. You could see how radiant she felt all weekend, and her vows were lovely and sincere. I don't know her husband, Kevin, that well, but he seems like a great guy and seems to really, really love her. :)

The wedding took place at Walnut Hills Baptist Church, and Mike J. came down for it and helped me to hand out programs. I have missed him so much! I always forget how funny he is and how he brightens up any situation. We had a great time joking and catching up, and I'm excited to see him again in a few weeks for Annie's wedding. Anyways, we handed out programs before the wedding and talked to some of the ushers, who were equally entertaining, and then the wedding happened (the chaplain, in my opinion, left a little to be desired) and then we headed over to the reception.

Oh. My. God. Amazing. It was at a really nice country club on Richmond Road out near Lightfoot. The dining room was decorated beautifully with silver tree centerpieces which Kristi and her sister made, and lovely red bows on every chair. They had bacon-wrapped scallops at the hors d'oeurves table and a specialty drink called "A Passionate Kiss." Then for dinner we had filet mignon at our fun "single's" table... which actually was fun. I liked everyone there. We kept clinking our silverware on the glasses to make Kristi and Kevin kiss, and at one point when we were clinking Kristi looked over and mouthed, "I will kill you." It was hilarious. I'm not sure they actually got to eat their food so many people were clinking silverware. Then we did a "shamrock dance" much like musical chairs except the winner got a bottle of Bailey's. I was in the top 10, but didn't win. The dancing part was ok, except the DJ kind of sucked, but that in itself provided loads of fun.

The best part was how happy everyone was, especially Kristi. :)

That night after the reception Mike J. and I hosted "Twilight Zone Saturday," and we watched some new episodes and got to enjoy a late night of Rod Serling. So overall, a fantastic weekend.

Let's Dance!

I'm in such a mood-- I want to dance. And sing and generally just be happy! If you know me, you know the dancing thing is odd. I have absolutely no sense of rhythm. I'm usually quite embarrassed to dance. But right now, give me music and a dance floor! No idea why I feel this way. Well, a little of an idea. I just drove around in my car with some dance music on. I went to see Director's Workshops again tonight (each night was fantastic-- good job to the directors/actors!) and driving home I had on upbeat music. So I decided I wanted to go to Bloom just so I could drive around longer and anyways I needed cat food. And then driving home more upbeat music! And then home to write discussion notes for Sale of the Century: Artistic Relations Between Spain and Great Britain 1604-1655. But that's done! Now I want to dance!

Maybe this weekend at Kristi's wedding I can dance.

Also, only a research paper left (due next Thursday) and I will have completed my first semester as a graduate student! Hooray!

'Tis the Season

Happy December 1st! Finally we can start actually getting into a Christmas mood. ABC is done with it's Countdown to 25 Days of Christmas, and can now just... count down the 25 days until Christmas. Now stores can legitimately play Christmas music, and now I can finally feel ok about decorating the house, watching Christmas movies, and feeling light-hearted. Christmastime is almost here! The season of clay figurines over Orangina bottles, and Muppet Christmas Carol, Love Actually, and Charlie Brown Christmas, has arrived! Hooray!

And at long last the semester is winding down. I only have one more book and one more research paper to go. I finished my 10 page prospectus and annotated bibliography on Sunday night (though it needs a touch of editing), I had my last research methods class yesterday, and most importantly, my last Hoffman class!!! I didn't even do as terribly on the paper as I expected, even though I somehow managed to not turn in the 2nd page. Oops. I really hope for a good grade in the class overall. I think my discussion skills were up to par, but I guess we'll see when the grades come out.

I already feel a touch freer. The research paper for Homza will be a lot of work, but that's my last big project of the semester. Now I can start to get excited for Kristi's wedding on Saturday, make fun plans for Winter Break, not feel guilty spending two nights at Director's Workshop shows, and maybe take a bit of time to make hot chocolate and watch a movie. And of course, I need to ILL some books for my thesis and make a plan for how to tackle the reading over break, and I need to work on my syllabus for my independent study. But generally, feeling a bit more serene about my academic life than I have in awhile.

Personal life, on the other hand, alternates between being totally boring, mildly irritating, and rather depressing. EXCEPT that Kacey, Megan, Luci, and I have formed a Geocache team. We are doing this great thing where we basically go treasure-hunting around Williamsburg (and the WORLD!) and we plan on having great adventures in our Geocache searches. There are Geocaches everywhere from DoG Street to the Olympic Stadium in Beijing. Honestly, life just got more exciting. :)