'Tis the Season?? Already??!

I'm not sure why, but I cannot get into the holiday spirit this year. Maybe it's because I still have four finals this week, of which two of them are crucial that I do well on. Maybe it's because I'm either studying my butt off or moving all my stuff from one room into another room one box at a time. Maybe it's just that this year feels more commercialized than ever. Just because everyone says that it's Christmastime doesn't actually make it Christmastime. It was even in the 50's here for a high (which is seasonal here in AZ) and I can't get into the mood. Am I just a big Scrooge?

The only thing that has remotely reminded me to be festive is the distinctive ring of the Salvation Army people outside of all the stores. That's it. I can't get into the lights or the stockings or the giant inflatable snowman globes with an internal fan that blows the little pieces of Styrofoam all over, making it look like it's snowing. Is this what the holidays are all about now, trying to show off one's joy more than the next person (I'm happier than you, dammit!) Now I'm not trying to say that it's wrong to enjoy the holiday, but why can't we have this kind of enthusiasm the rest of the year? And don't get me started on gifts. I don't know what I'm getting my cousin, and frankly I'm glad I don't know. I don't want these last couple weeks to be a mad dash of hints and suggestions. I wanted to get him a Transformers poster, but my mom said no. Yeah, I'm short on cash, but that doesn't mean I can't find something I think he'd like. Well I know he would like a new cordless drill, but that's out of my budget range.

For that matter, I don't really want anything for Christmas. I know I've got a few sets of clothes coming, and my aunt's been talking about maybe getting me an ACTUAL computer desk (what I use now used to be her old dining table) but the fact of the matter is I don't need anything. I'm happy with what I got. Sure, the newer things are always shinier, prettier, and more technologically advanced, but so what? What matters the most is that a video game is fun and that I can clear reception when I'm talking on the phone. People get bogged down by the bells and whistles and forget the important thing: the people who tried their best to please you with the gift. I would just like to hang out with my friends for a while and have some fun. That would be an awesome Christmas gift, the one that's not a gift at all. And don't worry, I bought myself a CD for Christmas, so I'm good.