snoopy and his bud, woodstock

Tomorrow is Christmas Eve. I've always had mixed feelings about Christmas. I just can't seem to get really excited about it for some reason. I like the lights. I like running around people's yards and playing in the lights. (see below) I don't like much of the music. I do like 'Baby, It's cold outside' and Amy Grant's 'Grown-up Christmas list' from the 80's. I do like experiencing my nephew's excitement of Christmas and presents. I do like being with my family. I get tired of being with my family. I guess Christmas just seems like a lot of work. Put up decorations. Take down decorations. I think my beef with the whole thing is the presents. I don't like having to give someone a present. The best presents are when I find something for someone that is just perfect and should be his/hers. My other problem is all of the food. The holiday food just really doesn't work for me. My Dad did come home on Christmas day from the hospital one year. That was awesome. And my nephew came home from the NICU around Christmas one year. That was also awesome. Maybe it's the stress of the season followed by the inevitable let down after New Year's. Maybe it's the pressure to be happy when I just want to be a little bit scroogy right now. I'm having a hard time being emphatic right now with my patients who are complaining about being in treatment over Christmas. I understand that it's hard to be in treatment and miss out on life. But, I missed all kinds of things when I was treatment...senior mission trip to Russia, senior prom, senior year, my birthday with my family, etc. But, treatment saved my life. I wasn't much good at home anyway. I really just wanna tell them to suck it up and face the consequences of their actions. I am going over to Matt and Kendra's tomorrow night for Christmas Eve festivities. It is basically going to be totally awesome. We're thinking nerf wars, stockings, merriment, macaroni and cheese, and nerts. Quite possibly, the best Christmas Eve ever. My sponsor and I recently talked about expectations...

There was a fight at work yesterday. Two of the patients got into it. I (5'3") flew in the room like a bat outta hell and Matt (6'8") calmly entered the room and I'm not sure who appeared more imposing, but we basically saved the day and everyone involved. Bradford can reimburse us in the next fiscal year.