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Procrastination and Christmas




When I remembered, like halfway through the day today that it was December 1st, I felt a mixture of panic and excitement.

Panic,  because I have a fifteen page paper due one week from today that I've written about two page of, and another due four days after that which I haven't even written a word of. I should definitely be doing that now instead of blogging but Sir Kenelm Digby and his scientific pursuits have been on my mind for most of the day and seriously I am so tired of reading documents that write s's as f's. Like they had normal s's, I've caught one or two, they just decided not to use them. I can't read one freaking line without being tripped up by their stupid pretentious Renaissance syntax. Jerks. 

This is the crap I have to deal with as an Early Modern historian.
 "fo much attention." "fo long a time,""your goodneffe."
THE CAPITAL S IS NORMAL WHY NOT THE LITTLE ONES?!?!?!
JUST STAHP.


So here we are. Because I'm an adult and I totally have my life together. 

But also excitement was a thing, for the obvious reasons- three weeks from yesterday I get to go home for a full two and a half weeks, which hasn't happened since... well since last Christmas. I've visited a bunch but it always seems too short and like as soon as I unpack I need to repack again. So I'm so jazzed that I'm going to have a real break to go see them. 

It's a little unfortunate how relateable I find the Grinch, 
The next thing I did after having these realizations is turn on Josh Groban's "Believe," which I'm entirely confident is just the best Christmas-playlist song. And by that I mean I'm not ambitious enough to create a real playlist, so I listen to that song on repeat until motivation strikes later in the month. Which is fine because, like I said, it's the best. His voice is like musical chocolate and I <3 it.



It's great, though. I am basically done Christmas shopping. Just like three more things to get, and I'm so psyched to give people their things. I know it sounds mushy and cliche but giving is actually so much more satisfying to me than getting stuff. Like, I enjoy stuff, I will not lie, but I love thinking about a person and trying to find something that suits them. Something that they maybe won't expect but will love anyway. I don't know. My wallet probs isn't thrilled- after food, the thing I have least self-restraint on buying is presents for people I love. 

I actually had a conversation the other day with someone who disliked the Thanksgiving- New Years season because "you have to pretend to be excited about all of this," and it made me so sad. Like I know some people feel that way but still. It's a little disheartening that so many holiday ads are like "now you have to tolerate your relatives how tragic." I know that not everyone has great relationships with their immediate and/or extended family. Like I know for sure that especially after the events of this past year, tempers can be high and disagreements about life in general are pretty easily triggered. My family is no exception- I love every one of them more can you can imagine but I know I have strong opinions that are opposed to some of theirs, and stubbornness is not uncommon in our family (and I will 100% defend those positions if brought up. I have done my research and am not afraid to fight you.). 



But their presence is also a salve- I don't know about you but I get so overwhelmed with life in general and with my own problems, and it's nice to go back to a place where I feel entirely safe. I  sometimes disagree with my siblings or with my parents but at the end of the day I know we'd die for one another. They are some of my best friends. 

Also they will not judge me if I sleep till noon and spend my day watching Netflix. They'd probably join in, and occasionally offer me food. Which is why they rock. 



I realize that you don't need to know any of this, random humans on the interwebs. But I just had thoughts and sometimes I decide to share those thoughts rather than attend to responsibilities, and hopefully they are somewhat amusing/interesting to you. Here are some more thoughts: the new Moana movie is spectacular. I have been listening to that soundtrack since the night I left the theater. 


Not only is the soundtrack rad, LOOK AT THAT FACE. SO FREAKIN CUTE

Also wonderful is Fantastic Beasts. Eddie Redmayne is such a precious human-creature. Also he, and Newt are Hufflepuffs. My house is the bomb and literally nothing can convince me otherwise. So much house pride <3 

You might belong in Hufflepuff
Where they are just and loyal
Those patient Hufflepuffs are true
and unafraid of toil
For those of you also facing the end-of-semester struggles, good luck. I believe in you, friends. I recommend chocolate (science says it relieves stress and who am I to disagree with science?) and maybe alcohol as long as it doesn't impede your studying/writing abilities. 



For the rest of you, I hope your holidays are lovely. If you do have problems, go see one of the aforementioned movies and your mood will brighten right up. Also just try not to be hateful. Like, especially this year. If you think something's going to cause a fight, if you know that person isn't about to agree with you (especially if there is shouting involved) maybe think of something else to talk about? Nothing is going to change by arguing amongst yourselves; if you don't like something, there are ways of contributing to solving that problem that don't involve estranging family members. People to call, petitions to sign, things to support, real life humans in your community and around the world that you could be helping out in a variety of ways.

Unless you are as pretty/charming as Carey Elwes as Robin Hood (or any role, lets be honest)
AND can rock green tights that well, don't be this guy. 

If you really need to get away from it all, try marathoning Doctor Who; that has never not worked for me. 



Or, actually, try baking. I've discovered since having my own kitchen that stress-baking is a reality for me and honestly it's best to just embrace it- you relieve stress, your friends get brownies, everyone wins. 

Now that I've successfully wasted the past hour I should probably get back to Sir K. He needs my attention more than Josh Groban or sharing my movie opinions. Have a great rest-of-semester, holiday season, end-of-year, etc. I leave you with the sage words of Leslie Knope: 


LOVE YOU BYE



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