Night Island

What I didn't do today: Post Yuletide recs before the reveals
What I did do today:
( This meme )

It's the end of my first week of winter break, and a general sense of ennui has settled in. Christmas wasn't so bad. I enjoy Christmas almost always, but I hate the current level of commercialization. Although I appreciate my presents and the festive decorations, I don't need them. All I need is a crackling fire, a chill in the air, and a slice of time to reflect. That all seems so antithetical to the rush that Christmas has become. Fortunately, I was able to find some quiet time. Even though my faith in Christianity has waxed and waned over the year, it gives me great joy to slow down and consider the Nativity. Plus, I was able to read A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens for the first time--that was a real treat!

I don't understand my ESFJ aunt. She seems obsessed with being the perfect hostess and home-maker. Everything from the meal to the decorations has to be perfect, and it is catastrophe otherwise. I do not understand this point of view. My perfectionism lies elsewhere, and I eschew gender roles enough to avoid this preoccupation myself. Yes, I want to cook someday, but I don't want it to be my life. Anyway, her preoccupation can put a huge damper on the holidays because she is so fussy, but it was mostly kept at bay his time around.

We didn't have a home-cooked meal this meal, but that is perfectly fine by me. It would have been best if we had brought in food from a restaurant on Christmas Eve, but oh no, we had to go out to eat. Do you have any idea how difficult it is to find somewhere to eat on Christmas day? It was almost hilarious. Every restaurant we found that said it was open on their website turned out to be closed. Hence, we had to settle for the old standby of Denn's. Ugh. Is this what is like to be non-Christian on Christmas? I suppose so. I have heard that there is convetional wisdom that some Chinese food restaurants may be open on Christmas, but I knw that no one else would go for that...

Overall, it was a weird holiday. It did not go how I would have wanted it, but such is life. I understand how important family is, but regardless, I am beginning to become frustrated with mine. It's probably that they've been all that I've had for some years, but their opinions and closed-mindedness is geting to me. Apparently, my aunt and uncle have no interest in visiting any country in Asia. I think this is a hasty generalization, and based on their other comments at other times, I can't help but see xenopobia behind hit. Really, if you are at all curious about the world, I don't see how you can write off Asia like that. Then again, I'm an unrepentant Japanophile, so what would I know?

I really did not intend to rant about my family, but it helps to get this off my chest. They're probably not so bad, but I haven't seen enough of the world to say for sure. I originally meant to write about all the little joys that this Christmas vacation has given me, but it will have to wait. I agreed to go to a movie in a few hours. The good news is that it's Into the Woods. Yay for Sondheim! <3