'Tis the Season

Christmas is fast approaching, and I'm not ready!
I had to fight the crowds at 7am this morning just to get a box of Christmas cards, so I'm dreading walking into the mall this weekend to finish my shopping. I'm going to smile though while waiting in line, just to be the odd one out. I love Christmas.

Today my lab is getting together for lunch and to give away the gifts we get. It's a fun idea. We are doing a secret Santa style exchange. But instead of buying something fitted for the person, we are getting a toy that maybe has some funny relation to the person we were buying for. Then we'll all head down to give the toys away for a charity. I like it. It was less pressure buying something for someone that you know they aren't going to keep anyways, so as long as it's a cool toy for a kid, you don't have to worry about if the person likes it or not. I hope we keep doing this in the lab in years to come. It makes me feel good.

Another thing that makes me feel good is the thought of food on Christmas eve. Steak and crab legs, oh baby! I can smell it already. I can't wait!

Mama Dukes is on holidays starting today, preparing for our open house party on Friday. It's going to be fun. Isn't Christmas exciting? I don't know about you, but I feel pretty jolly ;)

J-Walking is a Crime

Even for a deer.

So it's Saturday night, and Gemini and I just finished having a nice dinner with friends of his family. Afterwards, we went to a party for one of his work friends. It was in an apartment building close to the mall in our city. This area is close to the highway and some main roads. I didn't know a single person, so it was awkward at first. We went to chat on the balcony and get away from the people for a minute.

I look across the road and see the profile of a deer. I look at Gemini and back at the deer, and say "Is that a deer? It can't be real." But then I see it's ear twitch. I've only had one drink, so it can't be my imagination, right?

Then the thing moves it's whole head, and I start to freak out a bit. I tell Gemini that there's a deer across the road. And then it emerges up the little incline and stands on the sidewalk for a minute. It's huge. It would have made a lot of good summer sausage.

The deer walks down the street and crosses the road before strolling out of sight. I was amazed. I have friends who hunt, so I guess it was even more incredible knowing that people go out and sit in tree stands and wait for hours and hours to see a deer come that close. They freeze their buns off to spot deer, and I just saw one in the middle of the city walking down the road.

I'd say we're populating a little too much when their are deer J-walking in the city.

Why?

Why do people feed wild pigeons and rats?

I saw two people throw seed and bread crumbs for the pigeons at the train station today in a matter of the 30 seconds it took me to find my subway token. Why would you do this? You're encouraging the flocking of several hundred birds in the busiest place on Earth at any time of day. It just seems silly to me. I don't understand what goes through people's heads. I just don't.

On a lighter note, I have done zero Christmas shopping. I'm going to be one of those. You know, those people who do all of their Christmas shopping in one day on the 23rd. That's going to be me. And in the end, it will work out, because things always work out at Christmas time. It's like a rule.

Also, I met a semi-super-important sleep contact last night. I joined several other students in taking him to a pub for food and drinks. It was interesting conversation, but I had to leave about an hour into the really good work talk (ie. things about sleep) in order to make it home in time to get 6 hours of sleep before getting up to come to work again.

I sort of knew this all along, but re-enforced yesterday that I absolutely suck at being social. I need to take a course on how to introduce myself. On how to talk to people without feeling soo embarrassed you'd think I was naked or something. My work world requires networking, and if I fail at anything, it might be this aspect. I have to do lunch with this person again tomorrow, in a more formal and intimite (just 2 other people) setting. I think this will be better for conversation, but I can't help but be nervous just the same. I don't know why I think this way. I do good work, and have something to share...I just need to get it out of my mouth. I over-think things.

And to change the topic of this blog yet again (I'm obviously feeling scattered today), I am about to learn how to teach a lab. This is OK and normally wouldn't bother me, but what am I doing? Cutting legs off cockroaches (yes, cockroaches) to make preparations to learn about touch sensors, and how the little hairs on the not-so-tiny cockroach legs respond to touch. Gross. How did I get myself into this? I should have stuck to my four-year-old instinct, and become a table dancer :)

I feel boring

I'm happily bored with life right now. Nothing dramatic is happening. I have a lot of work that is getting done at a snail's pace. Nothing much has changed, or happened that is spectacular. I haven't even seen too many weired people lately. Christmas is coming. I'm trying not to eat too many sugar cookies, I'm listening to an overload of Christmas carols by Josh Groban (because his voice is amazing and makes me want to hug everyone), and trying to think of good ideas for Christmas surprises.

The world is getting into the Christmas season where every parking spot is fought over, and people get their spouse to stand in the "other" line in case it starts to move faster.

I am happy. I am busy. It's Christmas. I love Christmas.

But I wish I could stay in bed, cuddled up with Hot Chocolate, and watching a good Christmas movie.

I need blogging ideas.