Obligatory hangout with your family month

Its been said that I don't like Christmas. Not one bit. But.... occasionally I like to see and hangout with my family, and since December seems to be the popular month to do it.... I've been home for the last 10 days. 8 by choice, 2 by force. It hasn't been all bad.... I got to at least sleep on an actual bed last night, and I got to eat some delicious food. So without further ado... here are some pictures

(I used to never understand people who took pictures of their food.... until I realized how I missed Cafe Rio burrito's and felt the need to commemorate the event with a picture... mmmm)

Representing the red heads... We were missing Campbell and Carter but 3/5 isn't bad.

The boys at Christmas Eve lunch.

Julia. Explaining to me just how much she loves Justin Bieber.

Its been a good 10 days. But I'm ready to see the East coast again.

Rain, rain, don't go away.

It's a rainy, cold day here in New Jersey.

Interesting fact about me...

I love the rain.

I understand how it can make some sad, depressed, and tired, but rain makes me feel calm, quiet, and content. It settles all the thoughts racing through my head and it brings me back to my center. I wouldn't mind it one bit if I lived in a place that rained every day. The rain today makes me a little less bugged about Christmas quickly approaching.

Lately a lot of people have asked me why I hate Christmas so much. I gave my few feeble reasons, but I honestly just don't quite know why. This year especially has been bad. Its always been an annoyance to me but in the past I've been able to drag myself into the festivities and then I'm ok... Maybe its because this is the first Christmas in 6 years that I've been single. Or maybe its because I'm far from home and having been living with a Jewish family there has been absolutely no christmas festivities to throw myself into... Regardless of the reason I'm just feeling extra grinch-ish this year.

But even then I'm not sure if Grinch is the right word... I don't mind that others love it, but I'd prefer if they would just leave me be to sit and be bitter...

On a slightly related note...

I go home in 6 days. I'm very thrilled. I have been missing home a lot lately. I miss my parents and my sisters and brother. I miss my nieces and nephews and mountains. Oh how I miss mountains.

Occasionally (and when I say occasionally I mean a lot actually) I dream about Utah. Simple things. Like going back and working at the mall again. Or Sunday dinners at my parents house. Or my friends. I dream about old friends a lot. And then I wake up and its not sadness I feel... Its different. Harder to explain. Its like I'm on vacation and one day I'll have to go home and resume life. Or its like my life here in Jersey is the dream and one morning I'll wake up and I'll be back home. Its so surreal.

I can't quite figure out why I'm feeling this way, but maybe being back in Utah for a bit will help me sort some things out. Either way I can't wait.

As is...

As is with everything in my life, when I put something down in writing (i.e. my blog)(What does i.e. even mean? is it In Example or am I totally off base? ANYWAY!) it always comes undone or goes to pot (another saying I just don't understand but equally love) I shouldn't say everything. I still love my job, family, tattoo, and friends but if you are any good at power of deduction.... somethings just don't last. Oh well, life goes on. And with life going on comes the fact that Thanksgiving and my birthday have passed (moment of silence.... until next year.) And so is the time for Christmas and New Years.

I'll be completely honest. I don't like Christmas. Can't stand it actually. The music is obnoxious, its the same 10 songs sung by various amounts of people, and some are just plain creepy. I hate that everywhere I go there are a million people. And not even nice people. Mean, nasty old women who want to fight me for the pillow pet I wanted to buy. Anyway, I could go on and on about how I don't like Christmas, but who really wants to hear that?

Instead I'll leave you with the bit of joy that is getting me through until January...

I get to go home in two weeks....

Also *if* I have to listen to Christmas music... let it be this one.