Tinsel on the tree

Well, the dates are set to enjoy another Christmas here/around Austin, and this 70 degree weather has me all hot and bothered by the possibility of a quiet holiday. The students will be gone, the town will be half the size, and Thai places will still be open on Christmas Eve.

What a Christmas miracle.

But ever since about mid-August, my world has been turned upside down. I graduated, met my boyfriend and bed roomie the very same day, moved to Dallas, lived out of suitcases, went to Europe alone, came back to Austin, and have been sharing breakfast with the handsomest kid from Michigan anyone this side of the Mason-Dixon line has ever seen. My fanaticism and loyalty to such traditions as Christmas have also been questioned, so this year I have spent much of my time trying to mot give into the usual holiday spirits.

Yet, there are still a few aspects of the holidays that in which Jake and I are partaking. Only in our own crazy way.

1. Christmas decorations from Blue Hanger. Jake and I are both junk enthusiasts, so we spend a lot of our time at the North Blue Hanger, a wholesale Goodwill store that is just off 183 and Spicewood Springs. When Christmas rolled around, we set out to make the best depressing and disillusioned version of a Christmas tree, especially because it seemed to sum up our feelings with overdone American culture and rampant consumerism at the of this year. For less than 6 dollars, we got our very own (2 foot tall) Christmas tree! Complete with lights!



2. Cookies. I don't usually have too much of a sweet tooth, unless it is for carrot cake or gingerbread. But this year after my mother's Christmas party, a literal ton of European cookies ended up pawned off on me and waiting for a reason for a snack attack. Little did I know how many cookies I took home with me that day. Little did I know that half of the cookies were covered in dark chocolate. Needless to say, I have a box of half-eaten cookies now.

3. Improv. I'm not sure if I was really a part of the improv scene a year ago to date, but I have finally gotten my foot back on the stage of improv, and am currently working to catch up and be in my own troupe. Hey- what is better than hanging around a bunch of adults who just like acting like kids in their free time?




4. Increased consumption of heavy beers. I don't know if this is due to the many free afternoons I am enjoying, or just the fact that beer never stops making my cheeks red. Thanks beer!

5. Sleeping with pants on half of the night, and then taking them off in a fit of sweat when you wake up and it's 70 degrees outside. Texas weather is just too much sometimes.