My first post of 2012 is late!

I'm late, I'm late, for a very important... blog!

Sorry guys, I've gotten so out of the habit that it totally slipped my mind this week.

Anywho, I've had a pretty good holiday season. I'm all moved in now, though still trying to find my way around a bit - there are some great things about living right here, like that I'm right by the freeway and there's stores to suit most of my needs right over the overpass, but things like not having an affordable grocery store nearby annoy me.

I had a really low-key Christmas since the sister I was exchanging gifts with and I are both pretty broke. Though she did give me a six-piece set of sparkly nail polish, which makes me wonder who exactly she thinks I am. I know some people are into that, but the last time I was into really fun nail polish was about four years ago.... Ah well, I can save them to use if I get a teenage girl client again.

I got to visit one of my older sisters between Christmas and New Year's, which was fun, and also a relief since it's only a 2 hour drive now instead of 3 1/2. Also, we fulfilled our tradition of all-you-can-eat sushi which was delicious but a LOT of freakin' sushi.

I started work again last week, so I finally felt like a productive member of society, but there's something else I'm really excited about:

I get to go to my first Nerdfighter gathering! Well, almost/for sure/probably I do. On Tuesday (the day TFiOS comes out) there's a meetup at a local Barnes and Noble, and since I haven't made any new friends in this area I'm really excited to meet other Nerdfighters. Unfortunately, I just got notice that they're adding a new case to my Tuesday/Thursday rotation, so I'm just reeeeaaaally hoping it doesn't start until Thursday.

Anywho girls, I'll see you next week (and I'll let you know how the meetup went if I get to go to it)

DFTBA

Holiday Catch-up

Today the holidays are officially over for me, since I left home this morning to come back to Halifax, and had my first class of the semester this afternoon.  It was a really nice break.

The whole break was pretty chill.  I spent most of the week before Christmas just lazing around recovering from exams, although I also finished up my Christmas shopping and baked a bunch of Christmas cookies.

On Christmas Eve morning, I got together with my friends from home to do our annual gift exchange.  My secret Santa donated a flock of chicks in my name through Heifer International, which I thought was a really excellent idea.  After the exchange we played a few board games before all going home to spend the day with our families.  

I went home and helped mom make supper, then in the evening we went to visit my grandfather.  We don't really have a lot of Christmas traditions any more, but our Christmas Eve is usually pretty much the same.  We visit with my grandfather for a few hours.  On the way home we drive through town and then take the scenic route instead of the highway so that we can see everyone's Christmas lights.  When we get home we have a glass of egg nog and watch whatever classic Christmas special happens to be on TV (This year it was Scrooge (the 1951 version)).

For Christmas I got a new camera, and a few clothes, and a ton of chocolate.  I also used the Christmas money I got from a few of my relatives to buy a new iPod.  Both my old camera and iPod were over 6 years old, so the sudden technology upgrade is kind of incredible.

My brother got home on the 27th, so then we had a smaller second Christmas for all the presents to and from him.  He got me Munchkin, which is one of my favourite games and I've considered buying it for myself several times, so it was nice to have it for myself and be able to introduce it to my friends who've never played before.  His flight got in pretty early in the morning, so we still had the whole rest of the day after that, so we went to visit my great-aunt, did a little shopping, and went out for dinner.

On New Year's Eve my family always has fondue for dinner, which is one of my favourite meals of the year.  It's delicious, plus it's a nice slow meal, so you appreciate each other's company more rather than just sitting down and stuffing your faces.  One of my friends always hosts a party, so that's how I spent my New Year's Eve this year, as usual.  He has three younger sisters between the ages of ten and twenty, and all four kids have friends over and usually a bunch of their aunts and uncles are there too, so it tends to be a little crowded and crazy (they also have a hyperactive dog, and five cats, which just makes it even more ridiculous), but I think New Year's Eve is better when there are lots of people.  We played a few board games, had some snacks, and then it was time for fireworks.  Their firework displays are always pretty impressive; they seriously must spend a few hundred dollars on fireworks every year.  I love fireworks.  After that there's always a glass of champagne for the adults and sprite for the younger kids, and after making a few toasts and talking a bit about the past year and the new year and everything, we all head home.

I didn't really make any New Year's resolutions this year.  Usually I do.  Last year I had a whole spreadsheet of resolutions, and they were all specific and measurable and everything, so that I could keep track of my progress and make sure that I actually did them instead of giving up after a month like I usually do.  I guess it helped somewhat, since I didn't give up until April.  I don't know.  This year I just don't know what to resolve, I guess.  I'm not sure what direction I want to go.  I guess my resolution would be to actually do things that I want to/mean to/feel like I should do, instead of just saying I'm going to do them and then being too lazy.