having a blue christmas like Elvis?

so pleasing when the season is the reason
but it's so hard when so depressing
people are so busy stressing
forgetting to count blessings
so find something to believe in
joy and peace brings relief in darkest days

From talking with my friends who are all mopey and tired out from studying for exams and sick and tired and no fun. Maybe growing up on the rainy west coast, I kinda brought my own sunshine with me if that seasonal disorder was getting me down. Found ways of coping when it got depressing because others were having rough times too.

Don't get me wrong, I've had enough rough Christmas times. There's a few years when I was white as a ghost in photos because I was so sick and tired from school etc. and it was really hard to be joyful. Or having a sad time for various reasons. But I'm surviving so far! After searching through a few malls to find just the right one, I’ve been wearing a Santa’s hat for the past decade. It’s pretty fun to be a cheeky elf anyways :)

Thought I'd pass on a few hints to defeat the lameness that makes Christmas less fun in no particular order but always fun from my family's traditions and other stuff I do.

1) Go carolling around the block -- even if you're tone deaf, elderly neighbours' smiles will make your day
2) Find a Christmas lights tour -- there's bus-tours and maps in the newspaper for colourful cheerfulness
3) Escape! Into a good book/movie/video game, whichever, take a mental vacation with a cup of cocoa
4) Phone or write to a friend! Ask them to break you out your funk or mope together (but not too long!)
5) Count your blessings -- remember how many ways you're cared for everything you need

6) Make Christmas cookies -- Pretty much kid-proof so i’m sure you will do fine! but don’t burn them.

7) Do random acts of kindness -- you can never do too many but even better during Christmas

8) Write Santa a letter -- don’t tell me you’re too old to believe in the spirit of giving and magic

9) Blast old carols or movies -- easier to get into the Christmas mood (movie list forthcoming here)

10) Create gifts -- not using credit cards lessens stress, re-gifting and making crafty stuff is enviro-friendly too

11) Donate or help make a hamper -- again with remembering how blessed you are and help a family out

12) go to a Christmas recital -- if you don’t have a kid in school, they’re a blast to see and reminence

There’s plenty of other stuff you can think up to stave off the winter blues so get creative and hope this helps out. Reminding others to do the same is just as awesome to show how you care. Not to be all gushy but we gotta look after each other. So go share the joy of the Christmas spirit.

jet set life

Having forgotten how busy my schedule becomes between: working full-time; volunteering for two different projects through my church and the university operetta company; and finding time for my girlfriend, roomates and other friends. Half the time I'm fueled by the evil but so useful coffee, the other half of the time it's just pure sugar-coated excitement of being involved and getting so much stuff done.

Now I won't complain for boredom nor comprehend how people can twitter their angst of nothing to do. To divulge these projects in more detail I will in coming days, but this is the first time I've had to breathe in a while -- and that's between three coffee shop meetings, a photo-shoot consequential editting to put off the other two larger shoots I did over the weekend, and errands & tasks to put off. There goes my day off from work.

Admittedly I do sit on my butt in rare few spare moments/hours to read, watch movies or video games, but haven't had barely any time to do that lately. Forcing myself to write necessary emails or open up a book or article over breakfast cereal, coffee break at work or when crashing before bed is about the only thing that keeps my mind from other stuff that my life has incorporated to stay connected.

Keeping in touch I might begrudgingly use Facebook and this blog more: barely updating my status once or twice a week, I don't understand how someone could find time to twitter, text & blog all at once. How much is necessary to make public? Will someone possibly want to read about someone's ability to operate a toothbrush or make pancakes -- something I'm quite accomplished at and love to share if you're not busy to come over on a Saturday morning -- but that's besides the point.

Living in a larger city has spun my head around seven times from Saturday on how many events, workshops, benefit fundraisers, concerts, theatre productions, sports games, club outings and protests there are going on all the time.... With the access of the library to data-banks, periodicals, world's supply of newspapers, and paperback & ebooks, where do I even begin? I can't even decide on a single book so I'm reading short stories -- just as delisious and cut short. No wonder it's not a luxary to just sit at home and relax with my feet up and do nothing.

And even if I do that, the cat, who does nothing but dream under a sun-beam all day, jumps on my lap and stares at me like I was crazy to scold him for not mopping the floor or doing the dishes while I was gone for the day.

To suit my mood, I was listening to Jazz Manouche on Broadway: Hot Club of Edmonton from the lovely CBC radio 2 concert on demand archive while typing. If you're up for some gypsy jazz with some Stéphane Grappelli infused fiddling, check it out ^_^ Just make sure you have enough time to enjoy it.

Gotta run for my next appointment so stay tuned ^_^

-- PLR --