Christmas & Stuff

Yes, that is in fact a Buick. 

Christmas is nice. I like Christmas. You can unreliably depend on a moderate number of people being back in your neck of the woods and somewhat available to have a bit of free time to raise their caloric intake & blood-alcohol level. It's a real nice break from the regular grind. With a booked ticket on the cheapest Chinese airline that would get me from Hong Kong to Toronto, I got myself to the mother country. 

I think that staying at your parent's place is a sort of mixed bag of feelings. I certainly get to eat a plentiful amount of good (& endless) food, and the free accommodation & laundry services are certainly convenient. 

Cats are nice too. But a few years of regular employment gives you a bit of perspective on what your high school self was like (or in my case, even homebody college self). Apparently I enjoyed sleeping in a narrower-than-twin, 70+ year old bed in an attic with no ventilation or heating, using a computer on a desk that is propped up on shoddily-cut old lumber and an office chair with a missing wheel. Apparently I was fine with that. But given the pro's & cons I do enjoy giving my family a hard time when given the chance. Mom sent me out to run some errands and "help out with Christmas or I won't be making any goddamn roast", so I obliged her and picked up the Christmas tree. So you're welcome. 

The homestead

This was the only shot out of 20+ where
he was looking remotely at the camera

Caesars

They trusted me enough to let us make
our own S'mores

I don't know how anyone stays reasonably thin in Canada, there is far too much magnificent food & drink. Craft beer, rye whiskey, Hamiltonian mustard, havarti cheese, Angus burgers, sourdough bread, maple apple sausage, egg nog, president's choice chocolate chip cookies, jerk chicken wings, jalapeno-topped poutine, smoked brisket, oh baby the list could go on and on. I'm not sure how much weight I gained this break (that's not true), but I do know that I'm glad I was able to taste most everything I could get my hands on. I got some funny looks from my parents for coming home with a trunk full of beer cans, whiskey bottles, and various food stains on my clothes.

And the Buick. Should I talk about the Buick? Do you know I own a Buick? You'd think I'd have motor oil running through my veins with the amount of shout-outs I do for this thing. Besides a dead battery needing a jump, the Buick was a comfortable, warm & reliable machine that still makes me proud as punch. Here, see for yourself. 

Apparently, Most of these people
wouldn't like to have my help
during a zombie apocalypse

Toronto's most charming couple

I didn't take many pictures during the break, so I'll use that as my excuse as to why there so few only a pair of photos here. But I would like to say a big thank you to everybody and anybody who was able to take some time to see me in what turned out to be a very overbooked and frantic dash around the Golden Horseshoe to try and meet all my scheduled engagements. I promised myself that this Christmas wouldn't be like all the other holidays that I've done in the past, where I get so excited to see everyone & do everything that I end up planning every minute of every day, having multiple obligations in multiple cities that require a hasty hustle across the province to meet all of my arrangements.

Relaxing with pals is important

While it was a blast to see everyone and do all the things that there were to be done, I think I should be spending more of my off time relaxing and resting instead of bustling around town trying to see everyone on my Christmas list. Perhaps I've made myself too busy and bogged down by pedantic stuff to take my time with people who are important. Or maybe my brain just needs to cool its jets and stop running at top lesson-planning-on-the-go speed. Maybe that's something that you feel around the holidays.

The more civilized half of the
Kal's Pals Adventure Club

At least you can look forward to the summertime, when we have our 3rd annual Backyard Taco party. Show up, eat tacos, sit on the grass, and listen to my Mom tell embarrassing stories about me. More than anything, I can take a little bit more time to enjoy your company and not worry about my next obligation.

Something I realized this winter break, coming back for the 3rd time since leaving for this job. I was initially very worried (When I left for opportunity in Asia) that I'd be neglecting friendships, moments & ceremonies taking place at home, ones that would slip away from me and be irrecoverable. Worst of all, people I know would be doing fun things, without me. Maybe a silly fear, but the blight of the extrovert is one that has many perils and anxious moments. I also miss Canada more as time goes on, especially the awesome things that go on there on a regular basis.
I think I  came to the realization that people are going to do their own thing no matter what you do or don't do, and that's okay. Best thing to do is be your best self, keep a level head and get behind the wheel of something ridiculous to keep the blood pumping at maximum pressure.
 Mind you, this comes from someone who would do most anything in his power to bring people together for one reason or another (I suppose in some ways, I still will). It's nice to do what you like to do and then still come back every 6 months to see how things are shaking.

On a side note. I'm really flattered that people beyond my mother are interested in reading this 'ol blog. That's a nice feeling. Real nice. Makes it worth sharing the blunders and epiphanies. 

Good night. Sleep tight. You better work in July alright.