• In Cary, NC visiting the bro and SIL. They have quite the nice pad. I'm sick as a dog though, so not a very fun companion. #

I honestly thought that I might miss the whole presents thing this year once Christmas came around. But I have to say that I really don't. It just means a lot to be with my family having a good time being silly with each other.

Last night we stayed up until 2am playing games. We first played Apples to Apples, which is a bit of a simple game, but it's so much fun. We then played my favorite, but everyone else's least favorite, Trivial Pursuit. It was a new version that has Easy, Medium, Hard questions. That ended up taking us forever. But I love it, so everyone else can just suck it :D

We're probably going to go see a movie later. Most likely it will be The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. I always think it's weird when people go see movies on Christmas. And then it dawned on me that we do it almost every year. Huh, we are a weird bunch, no doubt.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS everyone!!!!!

I also want to say hey and thanks to all my new visitors lately. Thanks for all the comments. I promise I will respond more in the future. With the holidays, I've just been a bit preoccupied.

I'll have to tell y'all about our recent adventures in a Cary, North Carolina hookah bar next time. Good times.

• in VA visiting mi madre y padre #
• relaxing on my mom's couch with her sweet fluffy kittie. He likes to suck on earlobes. It's kinda weird. #
• I've doing the unthinkable. I'm watching Lost Boys 2. I'm about 2 minutes in, and I'm already regretting it. #

• We walk into Mangia... 68 degrees outside. We walk out of Mangia about 90 minutes later... 43 degrees & pouring. Wasn't prepared for that. #

I must apologize to the nation. Perhaps, even the world.

My family could single-handedly bring this economy to a complete halt. You see, we are not buying each other any presents this year. I know, it's quite shocking.

For those that are not in the know. The six of us - Mom, Dad, Bro, SIL, Me, Mike - tend to go a little nuts when it comes to giving each other gifts. For a few years, I would rack up the credit cards at Christmas, and then pay them off throughout the year. Now I'm smarter. I use my Amex Blue Cash all year long for every purchase possible, so I can get the cash back. We get quite a bit back, which I then use to pay for Christmas stuff.

One year, for example, we all gave each other a Playstation2. That same year, I got a Sony MiniDV camcorder. And those were just 2 of my gifts. I'll have to find some pictures of underneath our tree, cuz it's one of those things you have to see to believe. A couple years ago, we caught a clue, and decided we needed to tame it down. So, we tried to put a limit on how much we could spend per person ($150). My mom hated that. She, of course, did not stay within that budget. Then last year we tried doing a secret santa sort of thing. We still had the same limit of $150, but each person only had one person to buy for. Mom still didn't quite stay within her budget, but she did get better. She was insanely frustrated by her inability to buy for both of her kids, since she had gotten someone else. Last year, we put all the names in the hat, and pulled them again for this year.

Then my brother had to go and move to North Carolina, and my mom went off on her boss and tendered her resignation as of Jan. 1. With those particularly strenuous financial situations, we decided to do no gifts at all this year. Considering the loot I generally walk away with, you'd think I might take this decision hard. Fret not. I was actually suddenly very excited.

I don't have to buy any gifts. I just have to get my butt to Virginia to visit my family, and that's that. How freakin' awesome is that?

But, to my fellow Americans and Earthlings.... I do apologize for what this could do to our economy :D