Das X-Mas

Due to the downturn in the economy, we regret to inform you that Christmas will be canceled this year. Instead we'd like to offer you 'Christmas Lite.'

I wonder how many people got in touch with "the true meaning" of Christmas this year with tight financial situations? My family exchanged modest gifts, but spent a lot of quality time together (my older brother was stationed abroad last Christmas and is finally home in the United States for good... unless he happens to get deployed to Iraq for one last tour). I ended up buying myself a few presents, including some new ski clothes for my upcoming trip to Jackson Hole, Wyoming and some DVDs that I absolutely could not live without (the 4th season of the Office, the 2nd season of 30 Rock, and a used copy of the Bourne Ultimatum). After all, it is better to give AND receive, right? (And doesn't that count double when you're giving and receiving the gifts yourself?)

I bought only books (with the exception of one fleece) for my family. Not so much because they're bookworms, or that I singlehandedly wanted to bail out the book industry, but because they're presents that I can also enjoy! (As I can read the books later, or first, depending on which family member got the book - some of us get to do our reading quicker than others...)

Overall, it was a good Christmas. Hopefully the ski trip will be a blast, and will be followed by acceptance letters from all of the other business schools I've applied to (South Carolina, Colorado, Vanderbilt, and Southern Methodist.. though I won't interview there until January 13th).

Merry Christmas everyone!