Post No. 18 : Happy Holidays

Alright boys and girls, I’d like to wish everyone a Happy Holiday and Happy New Year to come. But I’m having a problem with just saying Happy Holiday.

As well all know, we now must be politically correct and say “Happy Holiday”; not Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah or Happy Kwanza. What the heck? Yeah, I know, calm yourselves. I think it makes sense that we have to do this; We don’t know what people celebrate and it’s rude to assume everyone celebrates Christmas. I think it’s fair if you know for a fact then go ahead, say it, but if you are unsure, Happy Holidays is a great substitute.

But it seems that people are making such request are people of a different “faith”, “religion” and such. Why are people doing this? Asking people to downplay a culture? I mean, how people of the Jewish faith feel if everyone of the Christian faith said “Hey, can you not call it the Menorah?” People in New York now have to call the big CHRISTMAS Tree in the Rockefeller Center a Family Tree. A family tree? Isn’t that a tree that kids in grade school make to show how they are connect to each family member? Why are we doing this? Why should we have to downplay any culture’s holiday? I should be able to celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah, or Kwanza if I truly want to. I shouldn’t have to hide the fact that I celebrate Christmas and neither should anyone else have to hide the obvious of what they celebrate. Embrace it! We are a multicultural country and we should embrace everyone’s culture.

I think Christmas isn’t about getting together with family anymore sometimes. Christmas is just a time for everyone to go out, buy so much, give and receive gifts, and see who gets the better gift and who was “a good boy/girl”. So for anyone I know that actually gets together with their family, early in the morning, open presents in their pjs, have a nice breakfast, and just hang out all day with one another, that’s what I want in the future. Unlike my family now who doesn’t really embrace Christmas other than giving a gift or two [which ends up being my brother and I giving my parents gifts] and having a Christmas dinner and going out Boxing Day to “buy our gifts”. A plus side to that is it’s slightly cheaper and I know exactly what I’m getting, the down side is there isn’t much family time. Oh well, I guess this is what my family is accustom to.

I think that’s all I really have to say about Christmas. Now if you will excuse me, I’m going to flip through the channels on TV and look for some classic Christmas movies and such.

Happy Holidays and hope the New Year brings plenty of joy and happiness to all!

Thanks.

-Allison

Post No. 17 : It’s been too long. I’ve missed you blog.

Wow, it’s definitely been too long since I’ve blogged. I have definitely FAILED at typing a blog at least once a week, huh? Haha, sorry. But now I think I have a lot to say on my mind which is a good thing, so this will be a long blog (I hope . . .)

It’s been about a month now and our household has gone through an ordeal of being robbed. Yes, it’s true. In the end, no one got hurt and everything that was taken is replaceable and insurance is covering most of our losses so we are doing fine. School is almost over for the semester and I’m so happy about it. School has been stressful throughout the semester with strict deadlines, making time to actually take pictures, and dealing with work. I wish school was something more; how I feel is that the things I’ve learned aren’t super important and will help me in the field, but after talking to a friend he made a good point about how knowing the background of things will help you improve so I’m less bitter about the program I’m in now. Now that first semester is over, I do feel more knowledgeable in photography and it feels great. I’m looking at photos more critically and am able to improve my pictures from what they were and are.

So, what’s the deal with people dating? I don’t get it. I only say that because I’m beyond jealous….how pathetic right? I think I discovered why I am the way I am with this thing we call “Love”. As a young tween of twelve years old, I had nothing better to do but constantly be on MSN and go into Chat rooms. To be honest, chat rooms back then were pretty awesome in a totally lame way. Chat rooms were different “parties” and ah, it was just messed up. I met some interesting people that I’m still friends with. But my life went through a whole phase of meeting random people online and that lasted from … twelve years old to eighteen. So anyways, whole phase of that, boys liking me even though they lived god knows how far away and I got really confused (yes…confused); How can I attract boys from where they are and have them be all “Wow, I’d do anything to be with you” to being one of the guys here and not being able to hold a guy’s attention for more than a week? Yeah, I know, I should know better than to try to get a boy at any cost but it still blows my mind. Are guys intimidated? Am I just not THAT great? Is it a physical attraction thing? I’m overly confused and shit happens and as much as I hate what has happened, I’m learning from it. Have to stay positive.

I talk about myself a lot… But this is something weird that not too many people know! So if you are reading this, you might be the few people that will find out and know this about me. Anyways, to a lot of my friends, I am the person they come to and have a long chat about whatever they like and ask for my opinion, advice, and what not. I seem to have all the right answers and know better, but when it comes to problems with me, I can’t seem to do squat for myself. When something happens, I know the right way to ‘take care of it’ but I don’t seem to be able to do that for myself. I’m too involved in the situation and my become very irrational about things and just get blinded by the possibilities. It’s like a death trap that I can’t get out of and I need to deal with things a little differently. It is very frustrating to hear people give me advice sometimes and it’s something I already know and believe in but I just can’t get it through my head. Just a little tid bit for you there about me.

Okay, something more important about life. What is the deal with the Holiday Seasons and it having to be called “Holidays”. We all know that it’s become a big thing and it’s politically incorrect to just call it Christmas because we are leaving out all the other holidays; Hanukkah and Kwanza (and probably much more). To be honest, why is it a big deal? Why must we become “politically correct” about Holidays. Isn’t that a little ignorant? People who do not celebrate Christmas complain how it’s always called Christmas and what not, well… why not do something serious about it than just saying “Hey! Stop telling me Merry Christmas!” Why not go out of your way to make it an event in your own home town? Have a parade, gatherings in public, whatever you like! Christmas is Christmas and that is that. You can’t just ignore that! I will NOT call the New York Christmas Tree a “Family Tree”; What is this bullshit! Maybe we should call the Menorah a candle holder? Don’t you agree? If I have to refer a CHRISTMAS TREE to a FAMILY TREE than nothing of holiday related item should be called what they are called and should be simplified into its simplest form which does not offend anyone. Holidays are what they are, I should be able to celebrate whatever I want and not have it become a religious thing or a political thing and have to worry about what I say to customers when they come in.

That is it for now. I really hope to write a whole lot more very soon.

Thanks.

-Allison