Wow, that time went by quickly.

The obligatory "What I Did Over Winter Break" synopsis:

-played two services in church, and enjoyed it. I love the Greensleeves medley, and I'm a sucker for Bach and good acoustics. -sigh- I know I complain beforehand every time, but it *is* usually fun in the end. Don't mind the grousing.

-went to Hawai'i to visit Sam and family on vacation!!! It took some doing, especially after a surreal, nightmarish trip to the airport that took an extra two hours. BUT I managed to get out there *and* move my flights to the 28th instead of the 26th, and it was truly incredible. I'm very glad I came. His family is so nice, it's unbelievable. Now I know where Sam gets his great qualities. ;) Saw some lovely waterfalls and beaches, kayaked down the Wailua River with Sam, swam in a waterfall pool and stood under the fall itself, snorkeled for the first time in my life (and saw a needlefish!! wow), heard a slack-key guitar concert, saw lots of hula performed, swam in gorgeous crystal-clear ocean and even celebrated Hannukah (if looking on and humming the tune counts) and Christmas away from family for the first time *ever*. Definitely missed my family, but Sam's family was absolutely wonderful.

Not the most traditional Christmas ever, but it was really different and fun. Thanks for asking me to come out there, dear. :)

-came back home to grad school apps due in no time. But the Princeton app is now in (and thank goodness!), and I have another couple days until UT's is due, and Notre Dame's not till the 15th. All the same, I'll get them both done tomorrow. No ifs, ands, or buts.

-also came home to an impromptu giving of unwrapped presents. ;) Sorry mom, dad, and kat... but it's the thought that counts, right? And I am now the proud owner of a LOTR ROTK calendar, plus a nifty tool set for the days ahead when I don't live across the hall from virtually any and every tool I will ever need. ;) Thanks Mom and Dad!

Oh yeah, speaking of Christmas... thanks to Sam's kind parents, I now possess one super-nifty Hawai'ian shirt (it's creamy yellow with blue flowers and *trucks* all over it!! perfect for 'truck-girl' ;) and flip-flops, which I'll be wearing a fair bit once the weather gets warmer. And thanks to a very generous Sam, I now own the extended edition LOTR Risk game! I'll be back at tech by 1 PM on the 2nd - come by my room and play!

Man, I hope I don't flame with that game around... I received the shorter version last year for secret santa, and we certainly played it at least 3 times *during finals week* first time. Closest I've ever been to flaming with 'easy' classes. ;)


I think that's about it for now. Need sleep before the great adventure tomorrow, so I'm signing off. Night all, and Happy New Year!