The Myth & The Majesty

Normally, about this time each year, I'm feeling rather pessimistic. Normally, you'd be reading a brief tirade about the state of the world. Normally, this would be my tired, glad-it's-over piece. Normally. Here's the thing: I didn't have a great year. I didn't have a bad year, either. For one reason or another (maybe simple caffeination), I'm feeling optimistic about next year. As I get ready to quietly ring in 2012, I find myself making plans. Plans for travel, plans for jobs, plans for (hopefully) grad school. I see a year of motion ahead and that makes me happy. Happy New Year, all. I hope your best is yet to come.

Any week that starts with Christmas is a good one. This one has included some particularly good stuff. A fabulous gift in the form of an embroidered apron. A lot of fun wrapping some other gifts, including a mixer in the wrap-each-part-in-paper-so-it-looks-the-same-but-is-just-covered-in-paper fashion (with a bow). A Packers win. A lot of Settlers of Catan. And since Shorty's home, a lot of Who. Which mostly means I was reminded that Matt Smith in a Stetson is a very good thing. What can I say -- I'm into nerds. Moreso than even I realized. Of course, there's also the fact that there are extra people in this house. So overall a good week. The kind that hasn't left any real time for much of a quality post. I'd apologize, but truth be told -- I'll take a fun, busy week. Hey, have a good weekend anyway.

I love a holiday when you can dress like a demented elf and it's all okay. I also love a holiday where the house fills with people and food and great smells. Merry Christmas, everybody. Hope your day is filled with fun, no matter where you are and who you're with.

In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world.(This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And everyone went to their own town to register. (Luke 2:1-3) The innkeeper had been swamped for the last few days. More than once he had turned away guests, and a couple of times he had nearly evicted others for their loud revelry. His own house was crowded with his in-laws. To tell the truth, he was just looking forward to the completion of the census so he could go back to his usual clientele of merchants passing through. It wasn't just his inn; the whole town was crowded. The decree required that everyone return to their ancestral homes, which for many had meant long days of travel and a reception by family they hadn't seen in years. Sounds of family feasts and happy homecomings had been echoing down the city streets for the last few nights, a second harvest party for the year. When...

Long week. Wake/funeral. Not enough sleep. Last-minute shopping. Lots of cleaning. Now family starts arriving. That's good -- but it certainly doesn't bode well for that "rest" thing. Yep. Definitely Christmas.

Once again, on the not-serious side of things ... To my math nerd friends: go take a look at this comic . I'm a new devotee of Incidental Comics. They amuse. Monday's is great. Thank you. That is all.

Find life experiences and swallow them whole. Travel. Meet many people. Go down some dead ends and explore dark alleys. Try everything. Exhaust yourself in the glorious pursuit of life. - Lawrence K. Fish (Totally ripped this off a FB friend. But she's pretty awesome ... and so's the quote.)