Hello! This past week has been quite a long one. Christmas hasn’t been the greatest thing in the world, but it has nonetheless been good to me. I didn’t receive too much, but then again, I didn’t give much either. I bought Christmas cards for about fifteen people and spent about 3-4 hours delivering them all. There’s still a few people that I haven’t been able to give their cards to and they know who they are. Hit me up! So remember how I spent over $1000 in gifts last year? Well this year, I decided to simply save. I spent less than $70, which I actually feel good about. There’s no reason to be wasteful again. So what did I get for Christmas? Well I got…

• A tie clip and cuff links. (Thanks Mom!)
• $370 over time. (Thanks again Mom!)
• Popcorn, candy, and a $25 gift card. (Thanks Melyssa!)
• This…

This is a framed illustration of Crimson Viper, also known as “my obsession on Street Fighter IV.” It was drawn, colored, and remastered by Eunice. I can tell that a lot of effort was put into this project. Though there may be some flaws with the drawing itself (disproportions) the message is clearly there. For the past year, Eunice has clearly paid attention to my interests and took full advantage of it. Hands down, this has to be one of the best presents I have ever received. My main problem is wondering where I’m going to hang it. My wall is already filled with cards. I might just have to move some of them. Thank you Eunice!

I’m sorry that I haven’t been pumping out posts like I usually should be, but I promise you that my blogging finger has been itching for a while. I’ll be sure to dish out posts well into the new year. I really hope that everybody had a good, if not decent Christmas. Looking at the astonishing number of negative Facebook status updates on Christmas Day really has made me worried. If your Christmas hasn’t been too bright then I hope that the new year will at least bring you a better memory. :)

60’s 70’s 80’s 90’s 2000 AND NOW?

I remember when mom bought this artificial house tree years ago. I was in the third grade and we had just moved back into the house that she and I were forced to leave when I was no more than five years old. I thought nothing of the tree at the time, but when Christmas came, she bought some Christmas lights and threw them on there. I didn’t like it. I wanted a real Christmas tree. I wanted a tree that I could decorate with bright lights and top off with a trumpeting angel. I wanted the same type of tree that you find only in magazines and fancy TV commercials. But no, all we had was this… house tree.

As more Christmas seasons passed over the years, I cared less and less about how the tree was decorated. As my sister Eunice and I started to grow as teenagers, we eventually stopped decorating the tree because we didn’t care. We don’t place presents under the tree anymore, we simply give them to each other on Christmas day. Christmas never died in our house. Just the tree.

It was earlier one evening and I had just woken up from a nap. To my surprise, I caught Eunice hanging lights and ornaments on the house tree. I didn’t understand her motive, but then again, did I really need to? Christmas is nearing. She must’ve felt that this was the thing to do. But seriously? Why this tree? Why not just drive to the store and buy a real Christmas tree? We’re much older now. I have the money. It’s not a big deal, so why not? Well because… after all this time, I’ve come to realize that… this is our Christmas tree. This is the Christmas tree that Eunice and I grew up with during our youth and I think we’ll continue to do so, except this time I won’t be complaining anymore.

It’s still pretty ghetto though…

 

I’ve been feeling really stressed lately and I don’t know why. There’s just too much on my mind, and for no good reason either. I’m worried about some people while missing others like crazy. Thoughts keep coming out of nowhere and I can’t even begin to try to sort through it all. Summarizing all the people I miss into a simple, organized paragraph would be just as difficult as trying to see them all again. On top of that, what about finals? Finals. Finals. Finals. I must have talked about that a million times already. Maybe seeing everyone finish their finals this past week makes me jealous and stresses me out for the exams I have to take on Tuesday.

Anthony invited me to go to the Final Winter Dance Tournament in Austin but I was not able to go because of work, which is a real bummer. The Japanese style arcade scene is amazing and I never get the chance to experience events and gatherings as such. Anthony, I hope you, Matt, and Raymond had a good time. Hopefully kicked a lot of ass! Tell me how it went!! And speaking of work, I don’t know. I just don’t feel like working that much these days but I know I need to. Christmas cash just doesn’t happen to grow on trees you know. Psh. Just keep your head up Ruiz. Think positive thoughts and don’t give up! *shakes fist* 하이팅!! (fighting!!)

Darn. Now that song is stuck in my head and it’s been looping for the past hour. Everyone please continue to stay warm, safe, and healthy.

English final today and no more until next week! x)

Christmas time is here, so you know what that means: present shopping and gift giving. So what do I want for Christmas? Well after spending over $1000 last year on Christmas gifts, I’ve come to realize that material goods don’t mean anything, whether I’m giving or receiving them. I don’t care at all. Nobody can really give me a perfect gift because they can’t relate 100% to my interests. It’s like finding a needle in a haystack, you more than likely won’t find it. Instead of a material good, all I would want from ANYBODY is a Christmas card. Yes, that’s right. A Christmas card. I would like Christmas card, whether it’s bought or made, with a unique and personal message about anything. How you’ve been, how Christmas has been for you, holiday blessings, your secret feelings about me (just kidding), anything. Only something that unique and special can really make me happy. Not a gift, like an accessory or fancy electronic. For me, I don’t want Christmas to end up being a contest about who can give the best gift or who received the most presents. A time like this comes only once a year. I just want Christmas to feel like the way it’s supposed to be. (continue reading…)