When you're nothing; you're still something.

Another update? I think I'm managing one per day this week. Madness!

To be fair (and I do try my best to be fair... to myself), I have had more free time this week than I've had since starting to work. My homework for my certification class has been submitted, play practice is on hiatus for the month and since it's the end of the semester, all my papers have been graded and the grades have been submitted. Tomorrow and Friday are half days, you guys! I am getting my hair cut tomorrow, after 8 months of not cutting it! I'm not too excited, though, considering I spent the past three years getting my hair cut by the ninja guy in the shop down from good old Munjeong Shiyoung. I miss my hair ninja. So we'll see how tomorrow goes. If it goes badly, I just won't ever get my hair cut again. Or at least, not until I go back to Seoul for a visit.

So, yes. Free time. Lots of it. Today in class I listened to my podcasts. The Heligoats was on NPR and it was awesome. But don't take my word for it. Listen for yourself. Otepka's stories are quirky and charming. It makes me miss my guitar, but I don't know why because I can only play my 2.75 songs, but maybe.. if I had it now... I would be able to play 3.75 songs. Or something.

Anyway, I am decidedly lacking in Christmas spirit. Haven't done a bit of shopping. My apartment looks the same. I wore a short-sleeved shirt to work today and didn't have to wear my coat as I went home? Texas is not conducive to Christmas, you guys.
But! I do have some decorations in my classroom. Hardly anything, really. But more than nothing?

And I received some gifts from my students. Nothing like my Teacher's Day loot from my kindergarten students, but these are high schoolers, and we are in the United States, so I was excited about my Starbucks gift card. I mean, super excited. Plus, hot chocolate in a snowman mug! And the reindeer bag has candy inside it. It made me happy.
I think I just like gifts. Small stuff, big stuff, doesn't really matter. I like everything. I like giving gifts, too, which makes it really weird that I haven't done any Christmas shopping yet? Except maybe not, because I am saving up for next semester's tuition, plus I do want to go overseas during summer vacation, and geez, that's going to cost a lot, too. I wonder if my family would be mad if I made them sculptures out of play-dough for Christmas?

So I decorated my whiteboard with the Christmas cards that I was receiving. I honestly don't ever know what to do with Christmas cards, so taping them to my whiteboard seemed like a good plan. Then I decorated my calendar. Can you see how well I was managing my time, here? I also think I did three crossword puzzles today. I'm turning into a crossword puzzle savant, folks, it's amazing. I should get a badge or something.
At the very least, a handshake and a pat on the back?