The 52nd Week of the Year

Hey, look at that. 2nd post in 1 month. This must mean I'm finally committed to pursuing my passions and preventing my hobbies from falling by the wayside because of work and other distractions. Or I left work at 5:01 and nothing is on TV during the awkward 5 days between Christmas and New Year's Eve... believe what you want.

The 52nd week of the year - always a wash, isn't it? It's the time when you (I) sit around claiming you're going to be healthy after stuffing yourself on Christmas, but you know you're going to drink and eat much later than you should on New Year's Eve, so why start now, right? Better to kick off the new year with a fresh start (and a fresh 10 pounds around your waist). Nothing is ever accomplished during week 52. No one is at work, so even if you are you can't do much. No one is in the city to play with. There's leftover, stale junk food from Christmas that you told yourself you won't eat, but it's just sitting there.. staring at you.

... The best idea is to celebrate New Year's Eve the night after Christmas. Then we could all just get on with it. Jesus could ring in the New Year... by swinging on a disco ball in the middle of Times Square. Why hasn't the Catholic Church seized this amazing PR opportunity?

L.L. Bean Christmas Catalogue Models

Anyway, the inspiration for this post was actually a really fantastic Christmas weekend. Just like the old days - quiet Christmas Eve at Grandma's and lively Christmas Day at the Roti house (but no meatballs this year. What gives?)

Christmas Traditions:

1. March of the Wooden Soldiers

2. Football

3. Christmas Eve e-mail from Dad: "Kris, do you have anything for Mom's stocking?"

4. Knicks season opener (okay, maybe that's not a Christmas tradition)

5. Grandma's Chocolate Cream Pie

6. Mom's string beans

7. Italian red wine

8. More wine

9. Gift-giving chaos, followed by organized chaos with each gift opened one at a time by the respective family member (Welcome, John) in descending age order

10. And, most importantly, DAD'S CHRISTMAS SUSPENDERS (please note: 52-year-old-Matt really needs bigger suspenders than 30-year-old-Matt).

(was going to try to write this to the tune of "The 12 Days of Christmas," but I don't have all day).

Grandma: "Another puzzle? Seriously?!"

So as we enter a new year, here's to celebrating the ordinary; the traditions we've grown to love without rhyme or reason ("I'll build a bamboo bungalow for two..."). Whether silly or annoying, hysterical or delayed hysterical (that's when you don't laugh until you're sure Mom will laugh with you), we can count on the quirks and family oddities. Which means, in essence, we can count on our family to welcome us home.

The End of the End

Two posts in one day? It must be finals (procrastination) time. Two final exams until I am officially done with school... forever. Well, for a few years. I'll be a real person in the real world now.

Big news: just bought a new MacBook Pro and the new Office 2008 for Mac. Super excited.

I'm watching "It's a Wonderful Life." What could be better?! Jimmy Stuart, chocolate chip cookies and red wine.

I can't wait to head home for Christmas... every time I pass the trees being sold on the street (or a drunken Santa wandering around) I can't wait to spend time with the family and catch up with friends at home. We're starting a new tradition this year... Christmas in Manhattan. How modern. As long as there's ham and the smell of pine trees, I'm all set.

Can't wait for my long-awaited trip to London. Catching up with friends, eating meat pies, and meeting friendly and interesting people as is always the case at the pub. And I am infinitely excited to bum around Dublin with Kay. A city with old-world charm, a beautiful, natural landscape, AND casual, flannel-shirt appropriate social scene? Yes, please.

But more than anything I'm looking forward to a new chapter in my life. Beginning in February, I'll be working full time, which is more than just having a more regular daily schedule. No more breaks from normal life without having to take vacation time. No more Wednesday afternoons off to hit the gym. And no more casual attire.

But, more importantly, I think I'll have more control over the direction my life takes. I'm not progressing toward one goal (getting a degree) with thousands of other people all heading toward the same thing. It's up to me now to carve out my future. To take on particular projects, to enter a new social circle, to recognize the impact that small decisions along the way will have on where my life goes. It's exciting. Scary, too, but more exciting.

On that note, time to get dressed and head to the bar. Professor Tom's tonight.

So This is Christmas

And so Happy Christmas 

For Black and for White

For Yellow and Red ones

Let's stop all the fight.

I know I haven't posted in a while, but that will change this Spring when this becomes my London travel blog. But hearing this festive song in the car today inspired me to comment on the close of what has shaped up to be a truly momentous 2008. It seems John Lennon was ahead of his time. 

To recap, we have a new president, a financial crisis, the biggest Real Estate ponzi in history, a week-long hostage crisis in Dubai, bribery by an Illinois state governor to fill the president-elect's seat (then his refusal to step down), a bailout for Wall Street and no bailout for auto makers... and that only sums up the fourth quarter.

I'm pretty sure there has not been a slow news day in months. For the first time in a long time, we Americans are eager to read the day's news to be aware of what is going on in the world. Is it simply because there is so much going on? Is it because we have optimistic hopes for the future when the new administration (officially) rushes in? Or is America only concerned with news now that it affects us personally on a daily basis?... Namely, our pockets. 

I don't have any answers... just something to think about.

Moving on, I do have a few New Year's resolutions...

1. Pack my life (for 5 months) into two suitcases for my move to London

2. Somehow balance work / school well enough to still have a life while in London

3. Do as the locals do... not as the tourists do.

4. TRAVEL. Enough said.

5. Get an apartment in NYC while living in London... somehow... right.

So these are my normal New Year's resolutions... the type you would expect to hear from someone. The answers that are easy to regurgitate when someone asks you what your resolutions are for the next year. 

This sounds corny and lame (because it is), but each year I try to set a personal goal for myself, too. Something that only I could possibly judge the success of.  In past years, my goals have been to communicate better, be more open with the people I care about, and to take ownership of my life by deciding what I really value. This year... I can't figure out what my personal goal is. But I WILL figure it out... there's always some goal to strive for as long as I am not perfect =) Even though it is lame and corny, I challenge everyone to think about it!

On that note, this meager posting will probably be my last before the holidays, so wishing you a week of great times with family, hearty food, and plentiful drinks.