I just got word today that my partner, and friend, Martin is leaving Dancris and San Luis Obispo much sooner than I expected. Sadness. Since we've started off on such a great little note, I may as well make this the "depression" entry. It's been a while, no? Life is good right now, but holidays always make me feel this way. I don't know if its the gifts, the tinsel, the crappy music, or just the blank look in the eyes of shoppers. It just gets me down. I guess mostly because it reveals to me how shallow most of the relationships in my life are. I see those "Kodak Families" with faces aglow with the wonder of the season, and I wonder "is it real?". I of course would love to believe it is, and I think it probably is in most cases. My family seems to be the exception, and I don't know why. We're just all islands unto ourselves. Yet it doesn't make sense to me. We a decent amount of time together, I mean I go down for every birthday and holiday... so why don't we have the kind of wild ruckus at holiday times that other families seem to experience? I dunno. Maybe it's 'cause we're white.

Well, I guess I've had enough of that. The words don't come readily to my fingertips, so I can't really describe to you exactly what I feel. How was Christmas? It was fine. Vegas was a blast, I'm glad we got the chance to go. It really makes me want to go and see more of this country... I'm thinking a long road trip this summer might be fun. 3 weeks in September? It could totally work out... but it's a long way to go before then. So for now, I'll just dream. Per average, I was gifted money. I already have plans for it... exciting, exciting things. Insurance payments and credit card debt... woo. Actually, I did splurge a bit today. I purchased Apple Care (extended warranty for my laptop) and the Indiana Jones DVD set, as well as the Shogun mini-series which recently came out on DVD. So that'll keep me busy for a bit. I also got a new mascot for my car to replace the sumo wrestlers that were melted: a scale die-cast 'mech from Mechwarrior. It's quite a bit bigger than the sumo, but it adds that "Golly you're a huge dork" factor that my car couldn't muster from just an apple sticker.

This town is so nice when no one is in it. I wish Cal Poly would go away sometimes, but then I'd never graduate, and I wouldn't have any reason to stay here... so I guess Poly can stay and I'll just enjoy the quiet times that quarter breaks bring. Right now there are no more than 5 cars in the parking lot. Downtown isn't much different, and the normal loud friday parties are no more. Breaks are great.