Bah Humbug

I went cross country skiing yesterday. I know - riveting. Well, luckily it isn't the point of this blog, but I'm getting there. After a day of skiing in the sunny but cold day, I arrived home and took a scorching hot shower that lasted long enough to make environmental advocates visibly cringe. Once out of the blessed bathing stall, I became quite sleepy. Yet, it was only 6 pm. I struggled to keep my eyes open and wanted nothing more than the comfort of my bed and the blinding darkness of my room. But, it was only 6. I vowed to remain awake until 9 and ventured to my neighbor's house in the hopes that her company would keep me alert until the pre-determined bed time. My neighbor has TV, which is novel as I do not, so it often proves a useful distraction. Such is the case in this story. She promptly flipped to "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" or whatever the official name is. I was delighted as it is a favorite from childhood, but this was the version portraying real people dressed up like freaks that would never truly exist. The one with Jim Carrey. Inwardly reminding myself that beggars cannot be choosers, I sat quietly and let the TV erode more of my mind while seducing me into watching more. Whilst viewing this movie, I came to an important realization. An epiphany if you will. I found myself saying things like "Here, here, Brutha" when the grinch was at his most nasty and hateful, and I realized that I just might be a grinch myself. It is widely known amongst my friends that I hate Christmas (please review the "list of things I suck at" which was recently amended), or at least what it has become. But my feelings of comaraderie with the grinch didn't stop there, oh no. My concern grew when I realized that it was the grinch's general disdain for human-kind to which I truly related. I honestly enjoyed watching him ruin the Christmas festivities for the Whoville residents (who I generally viewed as idiots, half-wits, and losers) and felt that the grinch was "telling it like it is." I mean, honestly, what the hell is wrong with me??? Has it really come to this? The creature I most relate to is an outcast full of malice and hostility who isolates himself in a remote and isolated location? I'm sad to report that it has truly given me pause. And if I find that it is the case, is it a bad thing? Would I really want it any differently.

Merry Fucking Christmas...

In the Nick of Time

This year almost managed to slip by without ONE solitary post. Perish the thought. I readily acknowledge that nobody is still checking this thing. I mean, obviously I cannot commit to doing anything consistently. And besides that, I don't have much to write about. This is more of a platform for my occasional need to pontificate in writing about any number of things in my head. Trick is catching one and holding on long enough to wrestle with it.

I have a new holiday tradition. Because the most recent holiday was Thanksgiving, I should probably specify that I am referring to Halloween, the most sacred of holidays. This tradition began last year with a trip to the grocery store to obtain night time medication to help me sleep as I had a terrible cold that kept me from sleeping. As I prepared to enter the store, a homeless man sitting cold and forgotten on the sidewalk just outside of the entrance asked in a hopeful, but somewhat dejected tone, "Hey - will you buy me a sandwich?" Surprised that he was asking for food rather than money, I said, "Sure. What kind of sandwich would you like?" The homeless man gave this great consideration before responding, "Roast Beef." I offered to buy some side dishes, a beverage, and dessert and warned, "You better be here when I come out. I don't eat meat, so I won't eat this sandwich." He assured me he would be there. A few moments later, I exited the store. As promised, the man was waiting. I gave him the food and chatted with him briefly before heading home (and realizing I forgot the cold medicine). I felt so much better about purchasing dinner for this man than I would have felt buying candy for children who go around terrorizing people and expecting candy in return. This year, I went to the store for the same reason on Halloween weekend (apparently that is becoming a bit of a tradition as well) and ended up buying dinner for another homeless man. It kind of made my day. I hope that the economy continues to struggle as it provides no shortage of homeless people for whom I can purchase food one day each year.