oh crap, i think i might be the grinch

We are just a couple of days away from Christmas. We've had four snowfalls this month, so a White Christmas seems promising. Everything is wrapped and organized. Our apartment is adorably decorated. Even my cubicle at work is festooned with lights, paper cranes, snowflakes, and candy - thanks to my Secret Santa.

The thing is... I kind of don't care.

It's not that I am feeling anything against Christmas. I just don't have my usual excitement. I've watched a couple of Christmas movies, and even gotten some great gifts already. It just hasn't hit me that it's actually here. It still feels like we're jumping the gun.


I'm not sure what to blame. I've been extra stressed at work lately and that's been taking up most of my head-space (as well as most of my blogging time, obviously.) I also got pissed back in OCTOBER when the stores started putting Christmas stuff out next to the Halloween candy, and maybe this over-extension of the holiday (and my annoyance about it) has kind of ruined the anticipation for me. Maybe I'm just getting old. But it feels like it's just suddenly Christmas. It's coming and going much too quickly, and I haven't had the chance to really feel the spirit.

I felt really bad about this until I found out that pretty much everyone I know - even the people who are usually super excited - feel the same way this year. Now I still feel a little bad, but mostly justified - if my friends and family are feeling the same way I am, it means I'm not acting Scroogeish.

A little Love Actually the other night did help though. One of my favorite Christmas movies (actually, one of my favorite movies, period) - it gets me a little sappy and giddy every single time I watch it.

Today I spent a lot of time with some of my husband's family, which means I got to hang out with my little buddy (Hubs's cousin, 1st grade - he's a twin actually, but his brother was sick and couldn't come.) He was so excited about Santa coming that it added a little spark to my holiday spirit as well -- maybe then, this is just one of those crappy parts of growing up and I won't feel real excitement for Christmas again until I've got kids to remind me how to Believe. Hmm.

NYC recap

Well, Hubs and I spent last weekend in NYC with our dear friend Lexi. She lives in Astoria in the most adorable studio - lemme tell you, I can understand why she needs to be going to school for interior design. Her place looks great.

We had a great time just hanging out, seeing friends, and eating and drinking way too much. Saturday we went on a "tour" of Brooklyn Brewery (the quotation marks are because it's only a one room tour, but it was still fun!) and then we attempted to see the tree. Yeah, wasn't about to wait in line for hours w/ obnoxious tourists, so we got as close as we dared, took a few photos, and got out of there. I had hoped to catch up with gmeyster but we desperately needed to get out of the area, so hopefully next time!

Saturday night Lexi and her wonderful boyfriend took us for Greek food in Astoria. Where better to get an authentic Greek meal, except maybe Greece? It was delicious. Well worth how stuffed I felt afterwards...

Sunday we got brunch with good buddy Mo, walked around lower Manhattan for a while, and then caught the 7:30 show of the Upright Citizens Brigade show "Assscat 3000" -- hilarious. For $8 we saw Amy Poehler, Jack McBrayer, Rob Huebel, Paul Scheer, and a couple other regulars on 30 Rock/Best Week Ever whose names are escaping me at this moment. Point is, we got to witness these brilliant comic minds doing longform improv for under $10. It was a definite highlight.

We actually left on Monday and the rest of the week I tried to catch up on sleep (unsuccessful) and get back into healthful eating (successful) and not jump off the roof at work (barely successful.) There were several people out for whom I am the back-up guy on projects, so I was doing those extra bits plus my own work -- it was a miserable week and I'm glad it's over. This upcoming week will be better, because it has to be.

Also I'm applying for another position at the ol' company and need good vibes! Send them my way because though I don't think I'll get this position, I need a change very, very badly.

Here are a bunch of shots from NYC... till next time.

fat AND fit? the hell you say!

I don't have time to really post right now, but as a chubby chick with a pretty active lifestyle and a gym membership I appreciate this article:

Read on, fit fatties, read on!

Skinny bitches, you can read too I guess. ;)

Someday I may have my own commentary on this as I actually do have strong opinions (ie, what do we consider "fit", what do we consider "fat", etc) but again... NO TIME!