*snowflakes*
I'm sitting in front of a large picture window displaying a beautiful snowstorm in my back yard. Our Christmas tree looks awesome...lots of ornaments from each roommate, colored lights, and silver ribbon. I've got three candles burning (apple cinnamon, Christmas cookie, and hazlenut coffee). They're my three favorites...Yankee Candle Co. rules! Emily is coming over in a few minutes to get a start on our Media Law and Ethics papers that are due Monday. In a week, my finals will be over and I'll be at home with my family making Christmas cookies and fudge and watching movies. I can't believe the semester is really over! It's so nice to know that I don't have another class to go to until halfway through January. I've got one semester of college left. Wow. Just saying that is so scary. I'll be graduating in a few months and then I'll have to figure out exactly what I'm doing with myself.
My roommates both really want me to stay in Lexington after I graduate. I think that is a good idea for at least a while. I'm just scared of getting stuck here. There's not much of a scene for the sort of stuff I want to write. Still, it would be nice to have a dash of normalcy and familiar surroundings after such a drastic uprooting.
For today though, I'm just happy to be sitting here in front of the falling snow. It's so beautiful. I'm really happy this Christmas and feeling so blessed. I've got some really great friends and I can't wait to see my family. I think I'll go make some hot chocolate and candy canes.
To you reading this, have a wonderful day and enjoy the snow!

* nesting *
I think I'm in the middle of a mighty powerful nesting phase. I'm doing laundry like a mad woman. I waxed my car today. Heck, I even baked a cake tonight. I've been surfing online doing my Christmas shopping. My roommates are both out tonight, so I'm working on a History of Sexuality paper and drinking hot chocolate. It's Christmas, Charlie Brown.
One of my Journalism professors has invited my classmates and I to his house in Northern Kentucky on Sunday. I think it's a nice gesture and I'm looking forward to hanging out with everyone in a place besides a classroom. I have classes with some really cool people, and the few times we've gone out together, we've had a blast. One of my best girlfriends from class, Emily, is studying in London this spring. I'm really going to miss her, but I've been helping her plan her trip and giving her all my info from my semester. I really wish her luck over there...if she has half as much fun as I did, she'll come home a new woman!
I remember this time last year...I was getting so excited about going home to pack for England. I really had a great time over there and I miss my friends very much...I'm hoping Stef will come see me this summer. It'd do me good to be around an English chick again. They were really cool girls. It'd be fun to see what she thinks of Lexington.
Last minute Christmas idea for Mandy: I love daisies. :) No pressure.

*christmas cards*

I'm sitting in bed writing out my Christmas cards. I really hate how I've lost touch with so many people. Still, I've got quite a few to write and I feel blessed. I am usually very against such a silly tradition (what exactly is personal about buying some generic greeting card?) but this year I decided to get into the spirit. I'm going to try to finish these up before dead week starts tomorrow. I'm dreading the next two weeks...I just want to be home NOW.
The Christmas Collage concerts were this weekend and I sang with the Women's Chorus. I think it turned out quite nice and I feel a bit more joyful.
My dear friend Nick and I went to a gender-bender birthday party last night together. He let me transform him into "Nicole." He wore a hot pink skirt of mine, a wig, and some makeup as well. I had Aerosmith's "Dude looks like a lady" stuck in my head all night. I went as "Marty," and I looked like a character from Pulp Fiction. I felt so weird not wearing makeup...almost naked. The part was in honor of my friend Emily's 21st birthday and I think everyone had a great time. I had never seen so many drag queens in my life! It felt nice and uncomplicated to be male for a night...especially because it only took me 20 minutes to get ready!
I had a coffee date with a pretty nice guy on Saturday. He talked WAY too much about himself though which left me feeling like I wanted to run away. He did manage to ask me to dinner and I agreed that we should go. I just didn't say when. I seriously hate dating. It's so hopeless. We all know that's never how it happens anyway. If it's supposed to be, it will happen. I may just lay low for a while and see if he forgets about me! *fingers crossed*
Dave Barnes was AWESOME on Friday night. He was very sweet in person as well. I reccommend his music to everyone!