Another post at last

I haven't written anything since Christmas. I'm really falling down on the job! I always feel a little bit listless after Christmas, because, what with all the build up and excitement and whatnot, things always seem a bit dull and lifeless afterwards. Not to mention the energy everyone spends getting ready and being merry...I always feel tired after being excited and merry. But this year, unlike most, this listless feeling has stretched out into a week of not really feeling like doing much of anything. I definitely haven't felt up to writing a blog post...But now it's New Year's Eve, and I really don't want to put this post off any longer. I know I said if I missed stuff I'd just let it be missed, but since I feel like I have to talk at least a little bit about how my Christmas went, I'll once again tell the story in pictures...

The Christmas tree with all it's lovely Christmasyness...

Happy snowman! ^__^
(Just look at that happy smile!)

The lovely bearded Christmas guy all nice and cozy near the trunk of the tree...

My haul of Christmas gifts from my parents and sister...
(I feel like a picture of my family here would be nice and meaningful, but I didn't really take any...I have to do that more often, instead of leaving photography of people to my sister!)


I got two volumes of CLAMP No Kiseki, the special fifteenth anniversary series of one of my favourite manga-ka (or perhaps I should make that plural, as they're a group of four women). Each volume comes with three Chess pieces! With the one volume I already had, I'm well on my way to getting the entire Chess set ^__^

This one's all about my favourite CLAMP series, Tsubasa Reservoir Chronicles!

The whole gang of black pieces!
(Doesn't Yuko-san make the perfect black queen?)

Kohaku-san and Sakura-chan, and, of course, Mokona! So cute!
^__^

The two Mokonas, Soel and Larg.

Fai-san and Kuro-tan! Kyaah!
(Yes, I am a fangirl of both XD)

Mmm, chocolate...

Mmm, hot chocolate!

My new hat! With tassels!
^___^

Socks!
(The nice sort, not the 'oh, thanks...socks' sort)

All the different shades of fuzzy...

Tokyo Babylon! Although one of CLAMP's earlier works, I enjyoed it a lot and want the entire series now ^__^

Look, a seashell owl!

And a seashell PIGGY! ^___^
Idzie got them for me, and they're two of my favourite types of animals...
(Just look at that cute face! ^__^)

My funky random Christmas mug.
(I never knew what on Earth a satsuma was until I got this mug XD)

Doggy! ^__^

Uzumaki: The Art of Naruto!
(I love artbooks! ^__^)

Nice slogan, eh?

I love Christmas, love that for one day in a busy year everyone actually gives being merry and generous and generally happy a try, but I can't help but feel that maybe, if everyone stopped worrying so much about how much gifts cost and what if they forget to get something for someone and how are they going to get the house cleaned up in time for company, maybe people wouldn't have to suffer a month of stress leading up to one day of happiness. Wouldn't it be nice if, in our culture that values people being productive above everything else, people tried to focus on their own happiness and the happiness of others more then just once a year? I also noticed that so many people donate to charity in the holiday season, but what about the rest of the year? Are we giving the poor and homeless who survive until Christmas a reward, then leaving them to fend for themselves again? I understand that people want everyone to have a good Christmas, and that they're thinking more about giving at this time of year, but still, I can't help but think that it doesn't make too much sense.
Last night I was talking to my mom, and she was saying that it was depressing, knowing another had gone by and she hadn't achieved everything that she wanted to. I've felt that way the past few years as well, (being past the joy I had as a child that New Year's was an exciting event), getting depressed about what hasn't happened during the past year. But this year, I don't feel that way at all. I was saying to my mom that she shouldn't think of it that way, that another year was past and gone because, really, the year was passing constantly. Years don't change on a single date, don't jump from one year to the next like that. Time is constantly passing, and you might as well measure it in days or weeks or not at all, instead of picking one special day to signify that an entire year is gone. I know that this is true, but I don't even think that it's why I'm not sad this New Year's Eve. I just haven't really been thinking about what I might have done, what I could have done, and what I didn't do. Because, really, none of that matters. What's important is what I did do, and what's even more important is what I can do. Just because I didn't do something I wanted to before a certain magical date doesn't mean I can never do it, doesn't mean I've missed an opportunity. I have another year ahead of me, filled with things I'm looking forward to, and who knows what spontaneous, amazing experiences as well. (After all, that's what life's all about!) I think people often feel sad on New Year's because they realize that time has passed, precious time that you can never ever get back, and even if you can still do the amazing things you want to, you have, ultimately, lost some time that you might have done them in. But it's like I was saying to my mom, time is passing every minute. Every single second is one you'll never get back, but if you enjoyed it, then it doesn't matter what you were doing or what you weren't doing. I think that, instead of getting depressed at the end of a year, everyone should think at the end of every day, did I enjoy that day? And if the answer is yes, (at least for most of those days), then there's nothing at all to be depressed about when you reach the end of the year and haven't achieved all sorts of milestones. I guess what it really comes down to with me is that, whatever regrets I have about the past year, I'm happy with my life, and I think that's a pretty good thing to achieve.

Most of that came to me as I sat here writing, so I hope that it all makes sense...That has to be one of the reasons I like blogging. Talking something over, whether with a family member or friend or with yourself and your keyboard, can really help you realize what you think about something.
Well, I don't have much else to say, so I hope everyone has a good time tonight, and I wish you all happiness for this coming year. Kampai!

Emi

Quote of the post: The world has achieved brilliance without wisdom, power without conscience. Ours is a world of nuclear giants and ethical infants. We know more about war that we know about peace, more about killing than we know about living.
-Omar Bradley

Christmas Spirit

I'm very tired, and not thinking very much at all, so I probably shouldn't be writing a blog post...Ah, well. My mom, sister and I just finished putting up the tree and getting the lights on...We're waiting for morning to decorate it with ornaments, but it's still beautiful even now. Watching the tree, all lit up in the dark living room, Christmas music playing, I finally feel like it's really Christmas time. I know it's very late to finally feel that Christmas spirit that's I've been missing this past month, but it's definitely way better late than never.
Watching the beautiful tree and wishing everyone a happy, wonderful winter,

Emi