Merry Christmas!

So I'm sitting in my room in Mildura, with a 38 degree Celsius max. temperature prediction today, about to go to a friend's house for pre-Christmas hang. And even though I feel so torn in different directions, I've come to realise that I would prefer it that way. At least compared to a solitary Christmas. Because I've never been satisfied with pure isolation.

I'm just grateful that I'll be seeing a variety of people over the next week or so. At least I have that variety and freedom, as compared to others.

And don't forget that it's always a lot worse than you think. There are others less fortunate who have no control over their financial situation and have a much less extravagant Christmas. Some won't even have enough food, let alone unsatisfactory presents worth standing in the returns line for on Boxing Day. Please think of others and donate if you can.

I'll be having a country Christmas, fulfilling tradition of watching I'll Be Home For Christmas on Christmas Eve with my sister, as well as watching the carols. I guess this film has a little more significance for me this year - college kid reluctantly returning to his family for Christmas. Although I would never have those kinds of crazy catastrophes on the way.

I won't say happy holidays, because being here in Australia for me, it almost feels like an ignorant northern hemisphere phrase. Merry Christmas will do.

I hope you all have a safe Christmas.

To achieve in my lifetime...

Melbourne at night. Simply amazing. I love you. 

Have my own car
Meet a 667er
Meet Misha Collins
Get a horse drawn carriage ride
Have a song dedicated to me
Get my probationary driver's license before I'm twenty-two
Feel like I belong in my family
Buy a city apartment in Melbourne (and outright!)
Buy my mum a house
Travel overseas at least once
Travel to these places:

• Paris/Versailles
• NYC
• Cyprus
• California
• Rome
• Dublin
• London

Speaking of which, get a passport!
Not move house for at least two years
See Coldplay live
See a band or singer other than Coldplay live
Have a huge bookshelf to fit ALL my books, movies and television shows
Live with awesome roommates 
Ride a tram just for fun, not to actually go someplace!
My prince charming composing a song with me in mind (cheesy, but...I need a Disney moment at some point)
Pay off my student debt
Get in the film industry somehow (Even if it's just holding a boom mike. I'll be happy)
Love unconditionally...and have it reciprocated
Own a pair of knee high black and white striped socks
Win once at NaNoWriMo
Get at least one book published
Learn French
Hear a piece of music that makes my heart break, and complete it simultaneously. 

Only this moment holds us together.

Greetings! I've been getting into the Christmas spirit lately. I dedicated an afternoon going to Chadstone, which is only about twenty minutes away by bus for me. Such a trip to Christmas shopping would have been unbelievable to me a year ago, and I'm very grateful that I was in Melbourne for Christmas shopping as Mildura is, I'll reluctantly admit, comparatively limiting.

I must say, I think the thing I most enjoy about Christmas is wrapping presents. For once I was choosing the wrapping and presentation, and I think my intended message of season has been appropriately communicated and presented.

I'll be in Mildura for Christmas before returning to Melbourne for New Year's Eve.

Sin City!

My goodness, why hadn't I seen this film sooner? It's a visually stunning piece.

I knew about two minutes in that it was going to be a visual treat for me, in addition to the storyline. It's films like this that keep my analytic mind in check. Vegetation is not an option for me, even with this five month break I'm three months into. 

This was also the second instance of renting instead of buying a film or television series, then watching it and wishing that I had bought it. 

The first instance was the complete series of Firefly. I just want to watch the opening titles every time. Are there any shows that you just leave the opening credits going because they're that awesome? It depends if I'm having a marathon of the show or what; but for me there's Dexter, NCIS, True Blood (the latter when it returns for a new season and you're just bursting with excitement all over again) and The Slap, which is simply a clear plate breaking in slow motion.

The DVD menu for Sin City is quite hypnotic; I think I sat there watching it for a couple of minutes before I had actually started watching it. 

Simply having a wonderful Christmas time.

Rule #4: The best way to keep a secret? Keep it to yourself.

So I've completed NaNoWriMo for the first time. Check that off my to do list.
I've been searching for new places to live, and making preparations for a potential holiday next year. I have also been working like anything, getting some extra shifts.

December is upon us, and I have been constructing a Christmas playlist - with recent artists. The Fray released a Christmas EP quite a while ago, something I was very happy to find. Of course, with Darren Criss being on Glee, one can be expected to find his awesome vocals among the others of the Glee Cast this Christmas episode coming up. At the moment, Bridezilla's Yuletide is a recommendation.

Looking forward to the Potter Puppet Pals' appearance at this year's Yule Ball being put up on YouTube before the actual Christmas day; I particularly enjoyed last year's appearance.

It might be easier to get into the Christmas spirit this year than I thought. I'm usually not very good, mainly because the idea's kind of gotten a little hollow and empty at the thought of the commercialism of the whole concept. But hey, perhaps this time around, the right people will make it better.