5 movie marathon/ nine times the same song
Presents given and received: one pair of L.L. Bean slippers (Green); 1 Sylvania brand 20” Flat Screen Television; 2 Bottles of Jack Daniels, with initialed flask (thanks, L. Trela); Sony MDR-EX51LP Headphones; H&M gift card; 5 scratch off Lottery tickets (all losers); 1 notebook; Phillips brand DVD player; fancy magnets; 1 Borders gift card; travel mug; 1 Hannaford gift card; 1 Valvoline Oil Change gift card; 1 Deerhoof ticket for Irving Plaza; 1 pack of Orbit Wintermint Gum; One mixed-tape, featuring The Blow; Flaming Lips The Fearless Freaks DVD; iTrip; 2 Pairs of Thorlo brand running socks; Little Miss Sunshine DVD; Target gift card; 1 Olive Garden Gift Card (regift); 1 Cars movie blanket; cash, food, and various household accoutrements.

Christmas ended up being pretty rad this year. I went out to dinner with my parents on Christmas Eve and discovered that I’m still prone to bouts of junior high school variety embarrassment while hanging out with the parental units. Some things never go. Although it may have something to do with my father’s inexplicable outfit choices and his penchant for obnoxiously critiquing the meal in fine detail when asked how he likes it (which begs the question: which is more of a faux-pas, the pleated pants or the restaurant review? And even further, is my own scathing review of my father’s review just some inherent character flaw, floating around in the Kemp family gene pool, waiting to be passed on to further generations of now non-existent Kemp family lineage?). But mostly it’s a good time. The family unit is more conceptually akin to a banged up car that doesn’t really look too sweet but still gets you around OK. And it’s the getting around that can be a good thing.

Kari Ann made breakfast the next day while I just sat there. It’s the spirit of giving, I told her, which really makes the holiday season. And so that’s why I’m just sitting here, being so generous to you. “Well, you should get more into the holiday spirit,” she chided me, which is a point that rings true with bells of validation. And so I set the table, which is not much. But it’s something, at least.