One more, just one more.

Oh and one very last post of 2008. Have an old shack:

And a Neighbour in an old shack:

Happy New Year

So I figured I'd give 2008 one last hoorah before it gives way to 2009. So, "hoorah, 2008." There's so much to do in 2009, my head is swimming. There's a lot of unknown, too which makes me feel like I'm drowning. What's with the aqua-references? Eh, whatever. Well, here's to uncertainty and here's to your 2009. Toooot.

a caffeinated coma

So, I just did a quick re-design of the blog title and header. Tell me if you like it. My jury's still out but I felt the need for a face lift. I know for a fact I get this need from my mom. Our house completely switches around at least once a month. She usually does it when I'm out and about and when I come back it's like walking into someone else's home. It's a good thing I don't sleep walk. I'd break a lot of bones.

Merry Christmas!

So uh, here at the Young household, we like snowmen. They're cute and we're not ashamed of it. I would post pictures of all the snowmen we have but it's Christmas Eve and all I really want to do is knit and watch "White Christmas" which is, clearly the quintessential Christmas movie and you cannot tell me otherwise. I'm watching it right now. My favorite part is when Betty sings "Love, You Didn't Do Right By Me" into Bob's eyes and you can feel the tension dripping from stage curtains. Old fashioned angst. Better than chocolate.

Today, neighbour informed me Bing Crosby is on her top 5 list of men whose voices she would marry. I agree.

Back to the snowman thing. Do you see, blurred and obscure, in the second picture a distinctly unwooden pole in the center of our "Christmas tree?" Yes, that is because this year, we have a fake tree. Hhhh, I know. As far as I'm concerned we might as well spit on the Christmas season and those poor carolers out in the rain. Our house doesn't smell like freshly cut pine. It does, in fact, smell like that broccoli we burnt last week which is the exact opposite of Christmas, for it is the smell of Evil. Pure Evil.

Pardon me while I go boil some cinnamon sticks.

Merry Christmas, everyone. Tomorrow, amidst the activity and family, remember to keep Christ the center of your day.

A True Story

Picture this: a crowded grocery store. People merrily shopping for their various Christmas parties and other related functions. Employees smiling and offering assistance. Suddenly, there's a commotion by the checkout lines. A woman with an exasperated look on her face struggles to get in line, dragging one foot behind her. Hmm, curious. You hear a whining sound coming from the general direction of the gimpy foot. You realize no, it is not a genetic defect, no club foot, no broken toes, it's a child. She is latched so firmly to her mother's ankle no amount of hurricane force winds will detach her. She is crying about something. Something about not getting a toy or a snack. You look back up to the mother's face and realize she's not going to stop walking. She's not going to discipline her daughter, she's just going to keep mopping the floor with her offspring and hope no one notices. That look of exasperation on her face? There's something more behind it. Resignation. It's not the first time this has happened and it won't be the last.

It seems like just a small thing, just let her do it, the floors will be so shiny! But, when did this become acceptable? When did parents become afraid of their children? I'm not saying bully them, but some good healthy discipline never hurt, actually, the opposite is true. I never thought I'd say this but I'm glad I had a mother who wasn't afraid to punish me when I did something wrong. She wasn't just empty threats, she followed through. She did it because she loved me and always let me know it. So uh, thanks Mom.

Sorry about the heavy post. I just had to get that off my chest.

S'more Art

Amongst all the negativity I've spouted about this semester, I feel the need to say something positive. Despite my best efforts, I did get a little better at watercolor. It doesn't terrify me quite the same way as it used to. I even produced a painting that I sort of like. It's an interior view of my room (edited for cleanliness. Technically it's what my room would look like if I had any motivation to clean it).

SEE?!

Freedom!

I have just exited the last class of the last day of the semester at crummy State School. OH MAN. I have waited so long for this day. Never again do I have to wake up at the butt crack of dawn, no more ridiculous assignments full of ridiculous subject matter.

I was in the bathroom at school. On my way out I slowed, looked left then right to make sure no one was watching. Then, I snagged a handful of complimentary Tampons and ran out the door. It was my last defiant stand against the semester. I never knew such an adrenaline rush.

I feel horribly guilty.

Procrastinations and Ruminations

Hello, All. It's been weeks and weeks and weeks since the last time I blogged! Well, okay, two weeks. But it felt longer. It's finals season here in Real Life and the stress has driven me to a near catatonic state. Well, the good news is, it's pretty much over tomorrow. The bad news is that I have about 3 weeks worth of work to shove into today.

"Why the hootin' hades are you blogging?!" you ask.
"Well," says I, "I've been needing to blog for awhile and if I just get it out of the way it might help my productivity."
You snort skeptically, I agree.

I've been yanked in a few different directions as far as non-school related things go too. The other night, the coffee shop of my past employment asked if I would be the unofficial photographer for their Christmas party. Of course with my heaps of experience I instantly jumped at the chance to get some exposure. [Lie]

So, on Friday night I put on my best "I'm a photographer and I'm serious about it" outfit and plunged. Here are some shots from the evening. They're pretty grainy because I was shooting with a high ISO. See how I said that like I knew what I was talking about? I googled it.

Caryn was there and snagged the camera for a few shots that of course turned out fabulous. I'm not posting them out of spite.

My mom is in that last blurry picture smoking a pretzel.