'Tis the Season to be Harried...

Fa la la. I'm pretty excited about Christmas this year. Indeed, I am. And yet (you knew this was coming, I'm sure), I can't help but feel totally overwhelmed and teetering on palpitations. Seriously. This likely sounds like exaggeration a la Kerry, but I should probably cut the caffeine when I'm this frenetic. I've been hardly eating, but when I do it's crapola. I've not been to the gym since before our T-giving vacation. Surely my body's been more healthy. Sigh.

But in good news, I finished my final, lingering paper today, and feel an odd sense of accomplishment at having completed a college quarter. I'm not so great at finishing things, see. It's remarkable to have this wrapped up and in good shape. I mean, I'm a quarter closer to being a college graduate, something I never envisioned for myself. Beyond any of that, I'm now actually educated about a subject I find amazing. There's so much more for me to learn, media policy-wise. I can't wait. What a great feeling.

But back to gross consumerism. I've spent half a month's wages on gifts thus far. I think I'm done, but you know how the stragglers rear their wee, expensive heads. I'm not particularly materialist, but I do love buying gifts for people. Oh, man, I love it. Seriously. I don't really like to receive gifts, but I'm all atwitter about what I got for Steve, my mom, dad, and others. It's sorta like a puzzle, the "What do I get for ____?"

I watched "Splendor in the Grass" last night while wrapping gifts. Such a light, festive film! I was pretty amazed by how prescient it was. I'm eager to read some critique of it - the messages about sexual repression, the genders' roles in sexuality and society, the expectations of men and women in the 20s and 30s...

Oh, and have I mentioned that I love "Project Runway?" I think not.