I've come to a conclusion on the cellphone issue: I'm going to buy the most expensive phone I can find, download expensive ringtones and MP3s, blast the music, and randomly make some guy in a bakery listen to the latest Keith Urban song. Because I so desperately want to be cool like in the ads on TV.

Moving on: Happy New Years Eve. I'm officially in for the remainder. Not a bad thing. I went to a friend's wedding reception this afternoon and by the time I left a light sleet had turned into snow. We've got a couple inches now.

I've been thinking I need a new cellphone.

Lest you think it's because I crave the latest gadgets—it's not. My phone is at least four years old and I'm sick of the battery dying on me constantly.

So I went looking. And gosh do these new-fangled cellphones seem all snazzy.

Speakerphone. Bluetooth. Texting. Web access. Email access. MP3 player. Video recorder. Camera. Customized ringtones...

I don't get any of it. From my experience, a speakerphone means the user holds the phone up to their mouth and screams as loud as they can into it.

And while I can see some usefulness for web access (say you're lost and need directions or a phone number) it ain't useful enough for me to pay for it. And the last thing I want to do is receive emails on my phone. I delete enough spam on one computer. Having to deal with it on my phone makes no sense.

The texting thing seriously worries me. I blame that and similar messaging services for the widespread demise of spelling among our youth. Back when I gave out my email address to website visitors, I received emails that almost needed a translator to figure out what the hell it meant.

Tell me ur suprized.

As for the music, photos and video: how can the quality not be crappy? It's a fucking cellphone.

Eh. Just one more example of needless shit that people buy because of the shiny advertising.

I just want a damn cellphone. To make phonecalls. Is that so hard?

Christmas is over. It wa sort of a crappy one. I woke up in a bad mood and then really didn't feel all that great at my mom's. I felt bad.

But now I'm home. And faced with the terrible truth: I have to go back to work tomorrow. And if my informal poll is any indicator, there are a lot of people that have it off.

I want it off.

I want a vacation. Not a sick day, not a day where I need to work on my own stuff... a simple vacation day. A day where no one makes me feel bad or guilty about taking some time for myself.

Eh. I need a nap.

It's a few hours into Christmas Day.

Christmas Eve turned out just wonderful. Mom and I made final preparations for today's meal (she's hosting the family Christmas dinner), had dinner consisting of deli salads (no cooking was my idea), chatted and then exchanged gifts.

My mom gives the greatest gifts. And gave me (as a final gift) the first volume of Doctor Who season one. Which totally made sense because the entire series is quite pricey.

After all the other great stuff she'd given me, I thought it made sense. But she apparently thought she'd bought me the entire season. I explained that there were actually a few more discs, but that the first one was great.

She looked at me, confused, and said, "Hold on." Walked away and came back with the rest of the season.

Quite the joker, my mom.

I'm currently wrapping gifts. I had to go shopping today for the remainder and was just dreading the multitude of traffic and shoppers. So when I woke up at 8:30 this morning I was all ready to roll over and go back to bed. But instead I got up and decided to get to the stores before the crowds.

Which worked well. I got to go home and nap after I was done.

I finally decorated for Christmas tonight. I'd been putting it off, but I pissed off my mom about Christmas plans and felt guilty. Plus after receiving gifts from my boss and a client who dropped by, I had something to put under it.

Actually one of the gifts my client dropped off was for Ramona, but she'll have to wait until Christmas Eve to open it.

The snow lasted... well, it's still here. But when the only sound you hear walking down the street is water constantly trickling into the storm drains it's not lasting much longer.

I'm okay with that.

I got kicked out of work today.

It was for the best, since I was about ready to walk out the door anywyay. But around 1:45 she came in and told me to finish up what I was doing and go home.

Which was really sweet of her. The weather had turned for the worse.

When I was driving into work it was raining. A few hours later it was pouring. And around 1 PM it started snowing heavily. Huge clumps of snow.

For those not familiar, rain followed by snow means slippery roads. First serious rain followed by snow means really unsure drivers.

Luckily I got home in one piece. However I am not looking forward to driving into work tomorrow.

I haven't checked in a bit, huh? Alright, the rundown:

• I finally bought Flintstones' Sour Gummies vitamins. After some hesitation, I tried one and do declare them to be the tastiest vitamins ever.
  
  
• I was looking through my store the other day and made a curious discovery: I had earned a certain amount from referrals. From seven different people even. If people mention a store when they sign up that store gets a small percentage of sales. So if that's the case, seven people took it upon themselves to mention my store. Which is pretty nice.
  
  
• I only get Monday off for Christmas. Which I just don't think is fair. Christmas Eve is stealing my Sunday.
  
  
• My dad was in town last weekend. I don't see him often so it was great that I got to see him twice in one weekend.
  
  
• We still have no snow around here. Which is odd as the first snow was in early October. All the weather people keep promising us a chance of some snow for Christmas, but they seem to be trying to convince themselves as much as us.

Looking through my logs for the day I noticed a search string:

What's wrong with Marissa Cooper

She's dead. That's what's wrong.

To be fair, the person may be watching earlier seasons. Either way it made me laugh.

Ah well.

Random Story: I was at a greeting card store and noticed there was a huge section of musical cards for sale (the signage was pretty prominent). Which are so annoying. I'm just saying.

I watched this guy walk over to the section, pick one up, open it, and recoil in horror as it started to play its little ditty. He quickly closed it, looked around (clearly embarassed), and put it back.

Two seconds later he picked up a nearby card, opened it, and again seemed shocked when it played music.

I think it took him opening at least six cards before he finally realized that they all played music.

I don't know why, but I thought it was funny.

I was trying to avoid making a Christmas list (I can't think of anything) and so I thought I'd write a rant. And suddenly realized I forgot to retire November.

Which is indicative of the last few weeks, I suppose.

I've been busy, yo.

So about a year ago my healthy, vibrant grandmother was diagnosed with cancer. She died several months later. It was a hard holiday season.

Tonight my mom called me to tell me that my aunt's mother has a lump in her breast that is most likely cancerous.

I hate the holidays.