Staff Letters: Phil

...I've worn out always being afraid... An endless stream of fear that I've made...

I was going to change the quote up there, but it's more appropriate this month than ever. This month is about conquering fears I have, getting projects done I've been meaning to do, and being afraid of nothing (except rollercoasters, they're evil).

It's a very odd year for me. I remember getting into college and thinking that 2005 would never come. But, here it is. While I've walked, and feel like I've graduated college, I will (all going well), actually finish my degree this year. Get the little piece of paper.

The last two years held a lot I never expected out of life. Much good, but a lot bad as well. But out of all darkness comes some light, and the experiences helped me to grow. So here's to growth, learning, and the betterment of ourselves. Before I get onto what happened in December, I'd like to thank Lynn, Josh, Jason, and Chet for their help in the last year - make that two years for some of them. You all rock.

Anyway, I headed back to humidity-hell, erm, I mean Florida for the holidays. I got to see family and friends. My mom likes to show me off, so there was a day where I had to dress up and schmooze with all of my mom's friends. But since some of them are a heck of a lot closer to my age than her age, and cute, that wasn't so bad. It's funny how two years ago, someone 10 years older than me was "old" but now they're "my age."

Anyway, I spent 3 days in Boca, where I saw most of the usual gang. It was great to see them all - though sadly, they all go to sleep much earlier. You'd think they were 42, not 22. But ah well. Other than that, all was much as it always is when I go back to Boca. It's really cool how we kinda fall into old times even though we've all changed a lot - and how that change kinda fuels it. Interestingly, we also ran into a few people who I haven't seen since 9th or 10th grade - most of which hadn't changed a bit, or at least hadn't appeared to. Thats a bit odd.

But either way, I had a great Christmas. I flew back on New Year's Eve so I could spend that with Lynn. We hung out with some friends and watched the usual New Year's TV. Sadly, the New Year's TV is getting worse and worse. At least last year, amidst the boy-bands (which I can tolerate a wee-bit better than bad R&B), they had Metallica and a few other bands randing from "eh" to "not bad." This year, almost every single band sucked ass. Major ass. They're favorite band was that stupid cowboy and his friend that sing "save a horse, ride a cowboy." Which sucks so bad, that I think watching it actualy killed a small part of my soul. Fuckers. But it was fun to be with friends.

On the motorcycle front, I've ordered a new wiring harness for my bike and when I get that, in theory, I should be almost ready to go. That should be the last piece required for getting the bike to start. In theory.

So, interesting story with getting my girlfriend a Christmas present. After tons of searching, I found this nice pendent and earing set online (I didn't want to look online, but didn't have much luck in brick&mortar stores). But her friends weren't thrilled with it (any female that wasn't friends with Lynn liked it, but ah well). So I found another pendent and earing set as well as a bracelet I also liked and her friends mostly went for the bracelet. So I purchased that. But when it got to me, the quality was quite sub-par. The gemstones were way too light, the silver was dented, and one of the stones was chipped. They offered to fix the dent/chip, but I was displeased -- and only about 4 days til Lynn and I were to exchange gifts. So out shopping I went again, keeping the bracelet I had as a backup. I mentioned this to my mother who happened to run into the type of bracelet I was looking for minutes after I got off the phone with her. So I told her to buy it and email me pictures. I wasn't thrilled with it, but her friends said she'd like it. I kept shopping and 2 days before the big day I found another bracelet in a store that I loved. I bought it and sent pictures to only one friend (the rest of them seemed less enthusiastic to keep giving me feedback). Told she would probably like both the one my mother had and the one I most recently purchased equally, I wrapped the one I purchased. Of course, at this point I owned not one, but three silver and amethyst bracelets! So after giving it to her I showed her the original bracelet and the picture of the one my mother had in Miami. Liking the one she had opened the best, the other two got returned. How's that for shopping?

After all that, I'm glad that, for once my parents gave me very easy and concise xmas shopping lists this year - 20 minutes online and all their presents were purchased.

That's about it for this month. See ya'll next month!

Phil

GOOD

Christmas is over
Christmas presents
Lynn
Lynn's ass

BAD

Uptight people
People taking me too seriously
No time
Tight in money after the holidays

MOVIES

Meet the Fockers
Life Aquatic
Zoolander
Top Gun
The Three Muskateers
Spider-man 2

OLD LETTERS

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