Sweet Christmas Laughter

After several very late nights and finishing 3 big projects, I am done with my first semester of library school. I do not have any finals, which is wonderful. This is a very different experience from undergrad. I've never done schooling like this before, but that is not necessarily a bad thing. I am looking forward to next semester already. I am hoping to be able to keep up better with everything, do my projects ahead of time (i.e. not the night before), and become involved with other community activities. In short, I am hoping to become a better manager of my time, which has always been a struggle for me. It also does not help that my bad behavior (procrastination) is often rewarded with good grades. It just reinforces that I can get away with it. Though I know sometime I'm going to push it too far, and that will not be good. So, I am hoping to change before that happens. I guess this is an early New Year's resolution.

Also, a week ago from Friday, I went with my friend of the same name and I picked out my first Christmas tree. We went to a Christmas tree farm and picked out a live one. My friend had never picked out an uncut tree before, so it was a new experience for both of us. The guy let me cut it too. He offered to let me cut it completely by myself, but I let him start it, as I didn't want to look stupid if I couldn't get it started. (The first cuts are the hardest.) So I finished cutting it. It is a cute little Scotch pine: short and fat, just like I wanted. I had a few friends over for wassail, cookies, and tree decorating. The guys helped me get the tree more securely attached to the stand. It is a spike stand, so the tree is wedged on a spike. It's leaning a little, but I don't think it will fall. (Hopefully) It was so funny watching them trying to force the tree more securely in place. Also, Scotch pines are extremely spiky and prickly. One guy was impaled by a needle, and there was a good amount of teasing and complaining about the spikiness. But it is is a cute tree, so I don't care about the prickly part. :-) The tree's name was originally Addison, but that changed when we put the lights on. It then seemed like an Ambrose. This opened the door for a plethora of name suggestions. Like Ira. And Pierce. And Mahalel Hashbaz (sp?) (Courtesy Angy, of course :-) So, it doesn't really have a name, but I think it's Ambrose. :-)

My first tree makes me happy.

On Thursday we had our Bible study Christmas party. Another first for me, as it was my first White Elephant. So much fun! Oh my, I laughed so hard that night. It was good for the soul. Angy's gift was amazing. The recipient was not impressed, but several of us were laughing so hard we were crying. I don't want togive it away, so you'll have to bug her if you want to know. We also played a game of telephone pictionary, which is great fun.

I am looking forward to making Christmas cookies, sending Christmas cards, and catching up on my life. I think it will be a little hard when everyone leaves for break. I will be here as I have to work, but I don't mind. It gives me something to do. Even though I was busy and low on sleep since Thanksgiving, I don't have the same exhaustion/relieve that I had in undergrad. Maybe that's another reason why I procrastinate. I like the relief and sweet sleep when it is all over.

Question: What is your favorite Christmas carol? Mine is Oh Holy Night. Most definitely.

Blessings.