'tis the season...of random thoughts

Well, it's December! I was just thinking that it is hard to believe that it's been almost a year since I triumphantly returned from my 3-month jaunt across Europe with Caitlin. What a year 2008 has been for me. I have had some huge highs and relatively few lows, to be honest. I would consider this year to be one of the best of my life. 2009 is going to be pretty interesting, that's for sure.

Despite the fact that 2008 has been a good year for me, the past little while as been a real struggle for many of those nearest and dearest to me. Personal injury, broken relationships, confusion, depression, and emotional pain are just a few of the things that I am trying to support people through. Compound all of that with what's happening economically and politically and sometimes I find it hard to stay positive in the face of everything. Funnily enough (and rare for me), rather than shake my faith, as difficulties often have in the past, the present crises have caused me to realize that I have no answers, I cannot save anyone from his/her circumstances, and thus that my faith is really all I have.

I have also been very angry lately, though I have been doing a very good job (for me) of controlling my temper. Certain situations have had me boiling inside, but I am learning to better cope without having a full-blown fit/swear-fest/yell about it. Considering that I am almost 30, I'd say this is a positive development for the Renegade Librarian.

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I was sickened by the story of the Wal-Mart worker who was trampled to death in New York. This man died because people wanted to buy stuff on sale and so they stampeded right over him. How screwed up is that? How screwed up are we as a society when that kind of thing is happening?

On to happier and more lighthearted fare...

I am eagerly anticipating the new U2 album, which is supposed to be out early in February. There is a sweet interview with The Edge in Mojo which can be found here.

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My friend Michelle has really been on her comedic game lately, as evidenced by this post, which I snickered the whole way through. Caitlin and I always find ourselves laughing at the sharp wit of the Capital "L" Librarian. What a peach she is!

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For those of you who like The Office (NBC), here is a sweet 10-minute YouTube collage of Jim vs. Dwight moments from the show. Awesome.

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I was at a fundraiser for a friend's daughter's class project at Stellys school, which was a great time, but I bit into some weird dessert that had raisins disguised in it and it was horrific. I remembered why I loathe the little black bits of disgustingness so much. I haven't eaten a raisin in over a decade and I don't plan on touching another one any time soon, despite being told "try them again now that you're older, you may change your mind." Yeah, right. Gross.

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My family may well be engaging in a "no gift" Christmas and I, for one, could not be happier. We all have more than we could possibly ever want or need as it is and it's far more important to us to be together and enjoy one another than it is to exchange gifts. We always end up knowing what we're getting from people anyway because we tell them exactly what we want, often buying it ourselves and then having the "giver" reimburse us--kinda lame, to be honest. I'd far rather have a great meal together, play some games, laugh and talk than anything else. I am looking forward to this Christmas more than I have any other for a long time.