i might wish you all the best, because it's christmas time!

I know I shouldn't need weather to make it feel like Christmas. I would think that the Spirit, the decorations and everything else around me should be sufficient. Sadly, it is not. Christmas is, admittedly, not one of my favorite holidays. For a myriad of reasons (mostly because it's so dang stress-inducing) it's hard for me to get into the Christmas spirit (or I guess what the retailers hope is the Christmas spirit.)

Try as I might, I just can't seem to get into it. When the thermometer still reads 78 degrees during the day and there aren't bits of white stuff falling from the sky, to me, it's not Christmas.

I don't know how kids around here deal with no-snow. I was talking with my friend Robbie's sister, Katie, and she was walking about how, until she went to BYU she hadn't seen a white Christmas! What?! She wanted to know what kids did on Christmas day after they opened their presents, because growing up they ran outside and played with their bikes and other outside toys they got.

I've done a bit of Christmas shopping, but not much. Luckily I don't have that many people to buy for (thank heavens for Christmas exchanges!) I've got half of my dad's gift and I'll probably wait until I return to Cleveland to get the last bit (yes, that will be only 2 days before Christmas). I can't even imagine traveling with a lot of presents and gifts.

Even when I head out to go shopping, I get panic-y because of all of the people around. It seems to me that back East everyone is quite friendly (even during the holidays, and perhaps especially so). Here, no one is friendly. Ever. (Sometimes Ohioans are crabby because of the months and months of no sun -- 'Zonie's don't have that excuse, it's perpetually summer here!)

I never thought I'd say it, but I really do miss the cold weather and the snow (I say that now because I'm so far away from it ... haha!).

I'm so dang excited to come home. I am fighting the urge to begin packing now. I just know that these next few weeks are going to fly by (it's already Tuesday for heaven's sake!). My seniors are wrapping up a research paper (it's been a painful process) which they will turn in by Friday. (I then have the task of grading all of these sure-to-be-wretched papers). My freshmen will be taking a final exam.

I hope all of you are enjoying this holiday season!! I'll be home before you know it!

**p.s. how do you like the face lift? Pretty snazzy, eh?**