Holiday Report Teaser

So, I'm sitting in the Denver International Airport right now on my way to SeaTac and then a scenic drive down to the greater Portland area.  I didn't get patted down this morning and I didn't get naked photos of myself leaked to the net...I feel a little let down by my friendly neighborhood TSA agent, or is the photo thing like the paparazzi, hiding in the airport security...bushes...?  Did it happen without me even knowing?  I guess someone who watches TMZ or similar shows will just have to keep me informed on the "Gary Bunker streaks through airport" story if/when it breaks.

Airport food is expensive.  Airport food is gross.  I've decided against purchasing airport food.

I feel like such a high-tech traveler with my laptop out accessing the airport's WiFi.  The fact that this makes me feel special proves I am a dork.  I know it was already official, but what's better than proof?  More proof. 

At the beginning of this trip I'd never actually seen someone use the barf bag on an airplane before, I realize they are probably very discrete about it and don't announce to the world when they are about to blow chunks.  But I've been on a good number of airplanes, all of them had barf bags, so I wondered where the market for those things was.  This morning that all changed.  Thank you person in 16B  for laying my questions to rest (I was in 16C just fyi). 

As promised this is a Holiday Report Teaser.  So here goes...Chicago Deepdish, Sketchy Whitecastle, the Ole Kansas Homestead, Several wardrobe additions by my fashion consultants, Saying no to gross airport food,  Seattle, Portland, Snowboarding, and more!!!  Be ready world, when this monthlong adventure that we at Butler call Christmas break is over, it should make for some good story material.  Maybe not the stuff of legend...but Maybe the stuff of legend! 

Til then, Merry Christmas, Happy New Year, a Festivious Festivus, Happy Hanukkah, Kool Kwanza, and Happy Holiday to everyone.    

God Bless Us, Everyone!

It's that time of year again.  And seeing as it is my first Christmas with a blog, I'm super excited to do a Christmas blog post!  Christmas is and always has been one of my favorite times of year.  First off (I'll say it) it's nice to get presents.  I feel like we sometimes avoid saying that for fear of appearing shallow or something along those lines.  Sometimes it's nice to receive nice things and not to have to do much of anything to receive them.  However, I will agree with the generally held sentiment that that is but one aspect of the holiday and far from the most important.

On the flip side, more than receiving gifts, I absolutely LOVE giving gifts at Christmas.  I remember being a little more excited at my siblings opening the gifts I got for them than the other way around.  I think that is what they are getting at with the old cliche, "tis better to give than to receive."  There is a certain joy that comes from seeing that your efforts on someone else's behalf have been worth it, and that they are grateful for those efforts.  I feel that joy whenever I give something to someone else that I care about. 

I also love Christmas carols.  I think my current playlist on the old blog should make that abundantly clear.  I think that has to do with the themes of Christmas songs.  Obviously, the birth of the Savior, Jesus Christ, is the first big theme.  I'll get into that more later on.  Giving and receiving gifts, see above.  Spending time with family and  friends, when you've got friends and family like mine this is always something to look forward to.  Santa Claus, how could you not like a jolly old man who brings toys for kids and provides job opportunities for the largest elf demographic on the planet?  My point being, the themes of the vast majority of Christmas songs are either grateful, hopeful, or something else uplifting.  They make you think happy thoughts, and that is why I love Christmas songs.  As a side note, I understand not wanting to hear them all year long, but to those who have an aversion for Christmas songs before Thanksgiving, I say to you, where are all the Thanksgiving carols?  Until you can answer that mystery, I say "jingle all the way" through November and December! 

Another great thing about Christmas time, at least at this point in my life, is no homework!  It is so nice to wake up each day during the break without being stressed about the next paper, exam, presentation, you get the idea.  I think my fellow students will agree, after that last final exam one of the best things about the Christmas break is just soaking up the freedom and doing whatever it is you normally do while procrastinating school work...but doing it completely guilt-free.  For me that is watching sports and playing video games.  I'm sure you've all got your own favorite activities, but I have to think that the no-guilt feeling is mutual. 

Finally, I told you I would get back to it, Christmas is the time that we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ.  Whatever your religious persuasion may be, you must admit that with all that has been written of Christ he must have led a pretty amazing life.  Someone like that is an example and an inspiration of how we should treat others.  For me the conviction runs deeper.  I truly do feel that Christ is my Savior and the Savior of the world.  I am so grateful that so many people take this time of year to celebrate His birth and the beginning of His earthly mission.  The teachings of the gospel of Jesus Christ bless my life continually, and I am grateful to have a knowledge of his divine role in the plan of happiness for all of God's children.  The title of this post quotes the words of Tiny Tim in Dickens' A Christmas Carol.  "God bless us, everyone."  In so many ways He already has by sending us His only begotten son.  May God bless you and everyone at this Christmas season!