And Good Riddance...

Nope, I'm not done with this yet. So much to your dismay, or disappointment (or whatever strange feelings inside you may get), the only time I'll stop is when I'm on the lam. And I'm not... yet. Or at least I don't know if I am... am I?

Anyways, today is that day. The last of the last. Number 365. Day 365. And for 2006, good riddance, what a pretty pathetic year, if at most, tepid, or I'd like to define as 'meh'. Unfortunately that's all we can agree to, now if we could get some solution for world peace. But it's a start.

Now, rather than write out some convulted and horribly incoherent list, I have decided to simply point you in the direction of this Wikipedia article to tell how horrible 2006 was. And to start, it's just world events. Think about it. To quote the following, is the month of January. Read it, fall into a fetal position (thumb sucking optional), then soldier on to the next month. Repeat until December. Or scoff at Wikipedia. Some of you may. Go ahead.

January, a bad start to a bad year:

January

January 1 - Russia cuts natural gas to Ukraine over a price dispute.
January 2 - The Bad Reichenhall ice rink roof in Germany collapses after heavy snowfall in the Bavarian Alps, killing 15.
January 3 - Twelve deceased coal miners and 1 survivor are discovered in the Sago Mine Disaster near Buckhannon, West Virginia in the United States.
January 4 - Powers are transferred from Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon to his deputy, Vice Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, after Sharon suffers a massive hemorrhagic stroke.
January 5 - A hotel in Mecca, Saudi Arabia collapses, killing 76 pilgrims visiting to perform hajj.
January 6 - The record-breaking 2005 Atlantic hurricane season officially draws to a close as Tropical Storm Zeta dissipates.
January 7 - Embroiled in multiple scandals, former U.S. House Majority Leader Tom DeLay announces he will not seek to reassume his former post.
January 7 - U.K. Liberal Democrat leader Charles Kennedy resigns after revelations that he has a drinking problem.
January 8 - A powerful, magnitude 6.9 earthquake epicentered off the coast of the Greek island of Kythera shakes much of Greece and is felt throughout the eastern Mediterranean basin. Only a few minor injuries and no significant damage are reported.
January 9 - The Dow Jones Industrial Average closes above 11,000 for the first time since June 7, 2001, closing at 11,011.90.
January 11 - The Augustine Volcano in Alaska erupts twice, marking its first major eruption since 1986.
January 12 - A stampede during the Stoning of the devil ritual on the last day at the Hajj in Mina, Saudi Arabia, kills 362 pilgrims.
January 14 - A natural gas explosion in a coal mine kills 8 in Romania.
January 15 - NASA's Stardust mission successfully ends, the first to return dust from a comet.
January 22 - Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers scores 81 points in a regulation NBA game, second only to Wilt Chamberlain who scored 100 points on December 8, 1961.
January 23 - Stephen Harper wins the federal election in Canada, forming a minority government.
January 25 - Hamas wins the majority of seats in the Palestinian Legislative Council elections.
January 25 - Deus Caritas Est, the first encyclical of Pope Benedict XVI, is promulgated.
January 27 - Celebrations are held in Salzburg and around the world for the 250th anniversary of the birth of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.
January 28 - A trade hall roof collapses in Katowice, Poland, killing 65 people.
January 31 - Samuel Alito is sworn in as an associate justice of the Supreme Court of the United States.


Pretty crappy for the most part already, eh?

If you disagree, that's what the Comments are for. Or send me threatening email. That always works. Fan mail would be a first for me, be it hate mail or not. So go ahead, write! It doesn't have to be as clever as what I type (or it could be better, dazzle me, please), but as long as it looks like English, I just might as well read it.


But onto my 2006.

2006 for me meant I finished high school. The second semester wasn't all that bad, but I could've done better. My summer could've been better, as I'm still stuck on whether or not that we didn't go on a family vacation this summer was good or bad. Well summer ended, as they all do. And to everyone's surprise, the Spring of 2006, the University of Toronto admitted me. (Well, more like late May infact). Laugh it up all you want. I find it hilarious myself, when my parents kept lecturing me on how hard university would be to enter, ad infinitum. Well, maybe I applied to general arts. Maybe that's why. But I'll have to say physical chemistry really nailed my ass, along with the rest of this semester's students in CHM139H1. I didn't get much done from September to December 31st. 3 papers, alot of late nights up either doing work or not doing work and waking up Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays before the sun comes up to get downtown (and it will continue this semster).

Long complaint short: I hate Tuesdays, where I have essentially 10/12 hours of classes (U of T is open from 9AM to 9PM). Sounds like fun, right? Maybe in some sick, sadistic sort of way.

About my general laziness: I hate writing labs. I hate writing labs for a Tuesday because simply, I work myself to death on Tuesdays. And to you who think arts courses (e.g. English, history, etc) are bird courses or something, you have been lied to. And, oh how those labs infuriate me. (repetition is always good to get a point across, something I learned in history). Now's a good time to stop complaining.

Luckily, something good of this year can be salvaged in my advantage. TIME named me one of the People of the Year. I'm not kidding. Okay, so you're probably one too, but I'm more important because I'm doing this... unless you're doing this too. (i.e. blogging)

Here's hoping I get more done in 2007, such as being more diligent with my work, and getting it done early. Well, probably not. New Year's resolutions? Maybe to write real New Year's resolutions for 2008. Or 2009.

Happy 2007. In about 8 hours and 15 minutes. At least for the Eastern Time Zone...ers.

p.s. I turn 19 on the 5th, January. If that really matters at all. Or if anyone reads this at all.

Gearing up for Christmas

Christmas. Yes, Christmas.

And if you seem offended, well, too bad. I celebrate Christmas. You can celebrate whatever, I really don't care. But more power to you. This is what I hate about people turning "Merry Christmas" into "Happy Holidays". What happened? I seem to remember a time that when you told it to someone they didn't care less if they celebrated it or not, but now it seems like it's some kind of racial slur. Tolerance has gone down, just noone sees it.


Anyways, I was never the politically correct type, you have to put so much effort into not offending anyone, but that's what I'm much better at. And besides, there were times when you didn't have to be politically correct. Ah, yesterday. All my troubles seemed to far away.


But to the matter of Christmas. It's not being ruined by the fact that (again) there are more rambling morons who insist if you wish someone a "Merry Christmas" and they don't celebrate you, you deserved to be lynched in the public square. No, it's not that fear of some bombing or anything. If you live in Toronto, you'd know.

THE SNOW IS MISSING. WHERE IS THE SNOW? I DO NOT KNOW.

But I know who does.


This is a travesty. A TRAVESTY. A week before Christmas and where is the snow? I blame global warming. Everyone, Americans, Western Infidels, Mexican illegal immigrants (or aliens for your politically correct nutcases), the Kyoto protocol, the Taliban, Al Qaeda, Kim Jong-Il, George Bush, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, the Smurfs, the Carebears, WHATEVER. Blame whoever you want for Global warming, but why do we have to suffer for it? I, myself, had only one other ... (I shudder at the thought) Green Christmas. Back when I was maybe 7? But that doesn't matter. I don't want another one. But maybe I know who to ask. I shall address it in the form of a letter because prayer service is probably backed up at this time of year. Did I give it away? Probably. Well, He can read it for Himself and maybe I'll make him feel guilty and it'll snow within the week. We don't live in freaking Arizona.

My letter is as follows:

Dear God,

Why hasn't it snowed in Toronto yet? Is this your cruel idea of punishing us? We would very much like a White Christmas, please. And those poor souls who run the snow plow fleet every year would like to see work themselves. See, I'm not at all inconsiderate and only think of my own intentions. So, to reiterate, please have it snow by Christmas in Toronto, because not only is it unnatural for a Green Christmas in Toronto, there are others who need to find work during the winters of our city. Otherwise, please forward this to the appropriate deity who controls the weather, whether global or over the assigned area of Southern Ontario.

Thanks,
Kelvin





Yes, I'm going to Hell, but I might as well make the most of it :)



Now, with a week coming up before Christmas, there's much to be done. I actually bought my parents Christmas presents. I won't say what but I bought them ahead of time (last week of November, first week December). Now all I have to do is wrap them. And that is a difficult task for a guy. I'll admit it, but I'm willing to learn, only because I don't want to pay someone to do it. Also, I paid for these gifts myself, but I'll be nice and put my little brother's and sister's names on the tags anyways. Only because I should. What does that mean?

Me: Hey Winnie (sister), do you have 20$, help me pay for Christmas presents for the folks. Then we won't look like the bloodsucking leeches we are for at least a day.
Sister: NO.

Now I have a week to figure out how to wrap presents, and do it twice (and maybe more for practice). Wish me luck.


Now, last but not least, the decorations. Pictures later, but it's the standard fare at our house. 2 foot tall Christmas tree, lights being fixed outside the house (we don't take em down, we're lazy over here), and figures of angels and Xmas trees on the windows that flash. Then we have the family Christmas party where we usually invite whoever we're related to who's over in Canada to come. More of them means more presents for me.


Now, as for myself, I need to find my Santa hat. It is imperative that I do. Why? Many reasons why, but I shall tell you now. First, it is confortable; sure it gets hot if you leave it on for too long, but it is oh so comfortable. Second, it makes the ladies irresistable. You may think I'm lying, but I do not. I wore the exact same hat during Grade 11 and 12, and I can clearly recall (especially in French class) everyone wanted to wear it. And Carmen Chan kept trying to kill me to wear it. You can ask her. She'll deny it, but it's true. I don't lie.

Well, maybe I do, but not there.


Happy Holidays, but I only say that because it is the holidays. It'll be Merry Christmas when it's December 25th, and there isn't a thing you can do to stop me short of either killing me or ripping out my vocal chords. Do you worst.

"Yes, you look lovely, now JUMP!"

The Runaway Bride ... no the other one

This is the only reason I'm waiting for Christmas.

21 days and counting.