Some More Mindless Drivel...

I'm hoping this works.  I'm trying to get a plan together so I can knock off a couple of months off of my work load.  I'm kinda tired of piling on projects that become something akin to Mount Everest, when I really just the Alps.  I seemed to have a figure out a nice way to get more done in the last couple of days too, even managed to get a paragraph or two of writing done, while on my lunch break.  Though the coolest thing I did today was pick my sweet, kickass, bitchin', new handgun.  Its odd, I feel very adult for some reason now.  I'm not all panicky, just suddenly very mature or something.  I had no idea I could be that way... I bought some ammo, and some hearing protection too, though I'd planned on getting some hearing protection anyway, just to block out noise if I'm at a Starbucks or something trying to write.  Those things work like a charm, and are also handy when visiting family too. 

I'm pretty close to sort of finishing the open salvo of the first sort of "chain of events" for my last story.  I'm trying to figure out the plausibility of all of this...stuff, and I look at current events, and think, "Oh yeah that could happen."  So far, I'm trying my best to make this little ol' spy story just about the biggest thing I can dream up.  I think this thing sort of like male fantasy, but probably without all the girls.  The main character is married, though I guess there's nothing wrong with making her sound hot...  That'd be new territory for me too, and I'm not sure I'm ready or willing to dip into that kind of craziness right now.  I'm just trying to find a rhythm, and it seems like its getting to be more fun, and less of a process this time.  Alright then, I think I'm done now...maybe...

A Word If I May

In light of the election that's now two months past, I was thinking of a few things.  Many are claiming they don't want to be involved in politics anymore, after the result of Obama's supposed "reelection."  I pretty scoff at this, because frankly, he's no business being in office, yes its obvious he's not a natural born citizen, its very obvious, nor has he any concept of whats constitutional.  This I think is what drives people to be discouraged.  That despite their efforts, this man was reelected. That's a fair emotion to have.  People put up a good fight or whatever, and now they feel disheartened, discouraged, beaten...  What I would suggest to you people who call yourselves conservatives, or Republicans is this...  Don't give up.  Its really very simple.  You see, its conservative ideas that are based in morality, and God, and freedom, why are you suddenly going to give up on them because we lost an election?  Granted, this election was most likely "won" by heavy voter fraud, and deception, but so what?  If you think its bad now, consider the Germans, who tried to fight the Nazis from within during World War 2.  Consider the Founders, and the those who died during the Revolution, so they and their progeny could live in freedom, unshackled by government.  Certainly these people, who we claim to admire, are examples to us of what we should be.  These people died, put themselves, their families, and their personal property in danger for the hope of being free, and we get into a tizzy because an election didn't go our way.  The Revolution lasted 8 years.  We seem to start squirming after a few months it seems.

We've grown weak and spineless.  But I want you to consider something else.  Something perhaps you didn't realize, or haven't really thought of much at all.  Obama lost voters.  There were less people this time around who voted for him, so somewhere in there some folks changed their minds.  Somewhere in the last 4 years you may have talked to someone about politics who "converted" and voted for freedom like the rest of us conservatives did in November.  And basically you're message to these folks who are taking responsibility for themselves for the first time, who finally realize what freedom really is...is to go hide in a corner for the rest of their lives when we lose.  Or if you prefer to think closer to home, is that the message you want you're kids to pick up?  People like you, went out to strangers, showed them, helped them to awaken to the ideas of individual responsibility, individual freedom and self-government, and you want to walk out.  I have to ask you why you're walking out when you have no choice to stay.  Its obvious we have the moral, political, and logical highground, yet we're the ones who are supposed to disappear like shadows, or dust being swept away.  Its a silly idea.  There's a reason all of the great presidents and leaders we've had have been conservatives.  Its freedom.  We lost a fixed election, and clearly we've the better ideas, sure we're a little emotional.  I am too.  But I'm not giving into these people.  I've a little girl, I want to leave an example for.  While we are seeing all this foolishness happen politically because of Democrat policies, we're just the first generation to start to feel the destruction, how are our kids supposed to fight liberalism and tyranny, if they've no examples of how to do that? 

We were called racist, even though we had a black man in our presidential primary, and have minorities in our party serving all throughout various levels in government, we were called anti-women when we didn't want to finance abortions, and anti-whatever you can think of.  These Democrats are anti-freedom.  Let them answer that.  You want to be emotional about politics?  Then use your own emotions as fuel for logical debate, and clear thinking.  This party has no problem trying to classify people by race, or people group, when we're all supposed to be equal, not one group over another, or one group looking for some kind of special treatment.  You want to freak these people out?  Give them irrefutable answers to the arguments where you don't engage in a shouting match or name calling, like they do.  You want to get emotional?  Ask why you were fighting for your rights, and for limited government in the first place.  You have the keys to freedom in your hands.  Do what your many of your fathers, and grandfathers, and great-grandfathers did.  Help to unlock someone from the chains of oppression, either by fighting with your hands, or fighting with your heart.

Time Keeps On Slippin' Slippin' Slippin'...Into the Future...

I'm not getting much done in the new year, and for some reason, I've been getting hit with some really nasty insomnia.  I'm trying to play some catch up now, but I'm behind on my reading.  I'm just starting to get into another book on wartime espionage during World War 2.  I'm actually past most of what I need for World War 2 at this point, but I'm trying to get a better feel for human intelligence, and not just the technological kind that we use computers, and satellites for.  I'm trying to adapt to the era I'm writing for, since its past the 40s, and not quite up to our own era, and still try to focus on the idea that a guy in the field is more important than an analyst with a supercomputer.  I just think that using technology to find a bad guy is great, but ultimately you need somebody on the ground to capture him.  That's part of the dilemma I'm sort of kicking arond a little.  How do you avoid being caught in the world we live in nowadays?  I have a lot to pour over, and too much to read still, even though I've knocked out another book.  I just finished one of the Special Forces books I was going through.  Now I've one left on that subject, a few biographies to poke through, a book by Reagan to look at, and a book on capitalism.  I guess I'm staying busy or something.  Same stuff.  New year. 

Schedule

I'm learning not to make up schedules anymore.  I just added 3 more books to my research list, so I may or may not be done with all my research by February now, instead of January, like it was supposed to be.  That's what I get for trying to be thorough, and write a good story.  I'd have more to say, but at this point, I've just been reading a lot, and sleeping less.  Tomorrow is New Year's Eve, and I think this year is one of the most disappointing, interesting, and frankly, gut wrenching years I've ever experienced.  I can't even figure out how I made it except with my usual amount of charm and good looks.  Ok...just joking.  There's really a lot of stuff that's been happening/blowing up in my face, this year, I can't even begin to think of.  I suppose I should try to reflect on all the pluses and minuses and all that, but I'd really like to just forget about most of it.  I would think you folks might do something similar, though with different results.  All I can really offer to you as a new year comes, is that for all the dopey junk that comes along in life, I'm still here, for some reason, so you should be too.

Merry Christmases

Its that time of year again.  I know people are excited about this.  I really do.  I just can't seem to get excited too much.  I wish I could, its just this year has really taken a toll on me.  I'm just tired a lot, greying a little, and have seen pretty much every relationship or connection to anyone kinda stretched in many ways.  Somehow I've managed to still get a few things done here and there, and try to persevere anyhow.  I'd share some of the gory details, but this time I thought I would try to be uplifting and all that crap.  So with that in mind... I managed to scrape together a few pages of literary genius the past week or so...and its been pretty good so far.  I'm thinking I might need to change a few things in the edit, but its moving, which is something I've been trying to do for a long while.  This dumb little story seems to be doing all the right things, so far.  I think I've got the coolest ending for this thing too.  That's what I'm gonna be mulling over this Christmas I think.  Kind of a great little gift to myself.  Alright kids...its Christmas Eve tomorrow.  Enjoy your plans, your time with friends and loved ones, and whatnot.  That's cheer-y enough for you, right?

Lost A Little

I'm mildly misplaced on an ending to my story.  I was getting a lot of ideas up till about today.  Last couple of days I've been fighting an occasional headache, and I think that ulcer I thought I managed to ditch, is rearing its ugly head.  Just have been feeling like death a little the last couple of days for some reason.  I'm likely to be pushing 80 hours this week, a lot of 10 hour plus days, so I can't get anything done, as far as writing goes.  Although yesterday, I did seem to crank a good page or two.  I guess things are started taking off, but not very consistantly.  I haven't done any Christmas shopping either.  Although its not exactly like I've got a lot of people to shop for.  I just get gifts for my daughter, which is frigging awesome, since I can save money just buying for her, and it gives me a great excuse.  "Sorry I spent a little much on the kid, this year."  Perfect.  Good plan, ain't it?

January...I Think

I've got till the end of January to finish all my reading, for this story.  I've got books 4 books on espionage, 2 on Special Forces, and a couple on politics.  This should be fun.  Sort of.  This is probably the most I've ever done in trying to prepare for a project.  So far...I'm behind because I wanted to be a lot farther along than I am, but that's price I pay for being distracted by the internet all the time.  I did manage however to find out a solid piece of information that I need.  I also need to track down some calendars from the 80s, or at least something generic I can find online.  There seem to be a steady flow of idas still too.  At some point I need to draw up an outline.  I haven't been getting as much done as I like, but I have been getting more consistent with things.  Instead of trying to get large chunks done at once, and being disappointed when I didn't get something done, I've just been trying to focus on smaller, more manageable blocks.  Seems to be working so far.  Just not today.  I wasn't feeling too hot, so I've been kind of doing a lot of nothing.  Just a bit lazy too...  I need to start getting this handwritten draft moving, and then I plan on typing it out before finally sending it in for editing.  Hope this works out, I need to do a handwritten version, because I'll be taking my computer in to be fixed, and I'd like to work since my laptop will be gone for several days.  I've been able to take down all of my notes by hand, and there's something about being able to handwrite something too. 

I've been thinking about getting really dark in this novela too.  The real world is exceptionally brutal, and I think I'd like to reflect that in my story.  There's not always opportunites for heroes and the heroic to get the villian to reveal his master plan to them, or stall for time while the henchmen try to work over the hero trying to get information from him.  I wanted something entertaining, but real as I can make it in my limited ability.  I think it'll make for a better story if the my hero can solve his own problems, as opposed to relying on the villain to tell him, or something like that.  I guess I need to get back and do some reading, I'm pretty behind, and should try to do some catch up.  Happy Sunday knuckleheads.

My Feet Are Cold

My feet are cold.  I guess that's not really too exciting or anything.  Anyhoo... I did manage to cut a few more things down in my writing process, so I should be really flying soon.  I've been progressing rather well so far, through the everything, I just wish it was faster.  My impatience now isn't so much in wanting to finish something quickly, but to see what the final product looks like.  I've got a few pages done already, and I need to get some more reading done, but I am very happy for the way things are going.  There's still a bunch of ideas I've been getting too, got one on the way home from the Walmart today too.  I'm working on a little character bio now, and then its back to reading on Special Forces tactics in a while.  Most of the story has been developed for the most part I think, but I'm trying to learn about tactics and all that, so it sounds right. I got a lot of notes this time around too.  Its really crazy.  I've got 14 pages of note so far, with more to follow.  So either I'm taking this writing thing more seriously, or I just need all that info.  I guess I'll find out in a few months. 

Today is also the last day of November which is weird for some reason.  This has been the slowest fast year ever.  Things went by kind of fast I guess, but I think with the anticipation of the election, time just seemed to drag.  I'm trying to find other things to look forward so time will slow down a little.  I turned 31 this year, and it seems like I was just some punk kid a few minutes ago.  I keep finding gray hairs too, although I guess it doesn't matter to much, since I'm hot no matter what color my hair is...  Oops...just kidding its not November anymore...I guess it switched months on me while I was writing.  Time travel is great isn't it?

Turkey Day

Today I slept in till about 11:30 or so, which was nice since, I couldn't get to sleep till about 4 a.m. last night.  I pretty much sat around all day, messing around, but I did manage to get another page done today.  I've been able to get off to a really good start so far on this last story.  Its got about four different things happening at once, but it should die down soon, as the events become more connected.  There's quite a bit going on, but I think I'm doing a halfway decent job of making sure its understandable.  There's supposed to be a lot of background stuff thats going to come together later on.  Its seems like its going good.  I'm a few pages in now, and the thing is just taking off.  I had Thanksgiving by myself this year, which was one of the best decisions ever.  I didn't endure some of the irritating conversation that happens with family, and whoever.   I drank a little too much too fast on an empty stomach and eventually ended up on the couch for a while.  Oops.  Anyhoo, it was a fairly productive day.  Sadly I have to go back to work tomorrow, but tomorrow is Friday, so it shouldn't be too bad.  I hope.  Happy Thanksgiving peoples.

The Realm of Plausibilty and the Not-So-Plausible

I had an interesting idea of trying to make this last story go nuclear, but I'm not sure if I'd be drifting away from the plausible and onto something thats completely in the realm of fantasy, although who doesn't love an atomic weapon in a story?  I was shooting for realistic, but I didn't want to make it completely off the wall.  I did manage to scrap some cool little plot twists so far, and I think I am going to make my story take place in the 80s instead of the present.  Its gonna give me some ideas that'll will fit with what I want to accomplish, but I'm a little hampered since its a slightly less advanced age I'm dealing with.  I'm off to a good start though.  I'm three paragraphs in, and its going ok far.  I'm not too stressed out about the start of this, and that's not often the case.  I usually freak out, and panic out things.  There's a shot I might have a good story to write for a change.  Gotta love that, right? 

Confused No More

After being completely up in the air, I think I've found something pretty friggin' cool ideas to go with for my final story.  This has to be the most ambitious thing I'm going to attempt at least on a fictional scale.  I've been back and forth on this enough, but I think I'm getting all the right things to click.  I even managed to get started on the first couple of paragraphs today, and its not even that bad.  I might be able to keep what I've written so far instead of throwing it out.  Nice huh?  I can see the growth between this project and all my others, as this one is much more serious, and much more realistic, I guess, too.  This project is starting to bring back some of the fun I had when I first started writing.  Guess it helps to actually care about what you're doing.  Who'd have thunk it?
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          

Crazy

I've narrowed some things down.  I think I've got all my counter-intelligence, counter-terrorism, and counter-whatever else is left, to about maybe...10 books or so.  I'm getting good at picking out some of the junk, I was going to waste my time on, to just the really important ones.  I've narrowed it down to all things that are more recent in our history, like the war on terror.  There's a lot of difference in technology between our era, and say, the 1940s when a lot of spy stories take place.  World War 2 is sort of the go-to for spy stories, because everyone hates Nazis and its one of the easier things to develop imagery for, rescuing the French girl from a Nazi held chalet, to deliver the microfilm...yada, yada, yada.  I actually love those World War 2 espionage thrillers.  Some of my favorites books are about that.  Its just I feel like every drop juice has been squeezed out of the orange, if you catch my drift, and I can't think of anything good.  I feel like there's always a good idea floating around, you just have to find it.  I'd like to work on my dialogue too.  It just doesn't seem natural to me...I know what I'm what trying to convey, its just dialogue is so...forced, or something.  There's this thing where its like I just have to give up and write dialogue, not because I want to, but because I have to.  I've probably mentioned this a time of two.  I think its a product of writing a lot of essays in college, I didn't learn all the in and outs of writing conversations.  I'm getting better I suppose, I just suck at it.  I'm gonna have to work on my witty one-liners and pickup lines I guess, because you do have to fit them in the spy novel of course.

El Sigho

I managed to get some note done today, but not much else.  I was actually going to try and do something productive tonight, but I got held up by at least a good 40 minutes in traffic, as I was traversed about 6 miles in those forty minutes.  I have no idea why it was moving so slow, but there was no reason for it, other than a little rain.  People act dumb in LA when it rains.  Anyhoo, I've been busy trying to figure out how to analyze current events a little better, so I can fit some kind of realistic scenario.  My problem is I'm not all that patient with this pre-writing process junk, and I just want to get it done already.  I'm thinking it might be a good idea to put off publishing and try and get the spy novel thing done before I publish and put it into the revision, that way I save some time and money down the road.  I can't imagine trying to do all the stuff needed to publish three separate times.  It'll take a little longer, but I think it could be worth it.  It was close to what I intended to do in the first place, so this could work out nicely.  Also.  Its Friday.  I have no idea what that means other than I get to sleep in tomorrow a little bit. 

Post Election Depression

Well thanks America for voting the wrong way.  Yeesh.  Somehow this might be the fitting end to this year.  I'm not into that Mayan crap, but let's be honest here, things are pretty bleak, and about to get worse.  I just can't fathom why people want Obama running their lives, and driving up the cost of everything.  It makes no sense to me.  This is the most corrupt administration ever.  And he gets a free pass from the media, and you're called racist if you criticize him, even though he's also half-white.  Its crazy.  People complain about spending, but when they're guy does it, its suddenly ok?  Its ok not to respond to a terrorist attack?  Its ok to hand cartels guns so law abiding gun owners get blamed?  Its ok to take personal healthcare decisions out of the hands of the people and put into government run programs?  Yeah...this isn't going to end well... 

I'm gonna try and do a little writing I suppose, if I can't fit into my busy schedule of depression and cartoon downloading.  I'm trying to figure out if I can maybe work on two or three books at the same time.  I'm thinking one or two of these might be a good thing to have done before the next election.  Anyway, its something I have to think over.  I'm a little weird right now, and I need to figure out a good timetable for all this.  I'd like to finish about 7 or 8 books before the year is out.  If I can finish those books off, I think I can get some early stuff out of the way, and I can maybe spend some time around Christmas and New Year's working on a plan for just reading in 2013.  Alright its now time to think about getting in my five minutes of writing in for the day.  Sheesh.  Onwards and upwards...

A Plea to You Before The Biggest Election Perhaps in Our Nation's History

Tomorrow many of you will go to the polls and vote.  Typically people have their decision made up the night before the election, and tomorrow is probably the biggest day in history, in a very long time.  I'm not gonna ask where you stand on abortion, gay marriage, illegal immigration, gun rights, etc, etc.  I'm simply going to mention economics.  I'm a single dad in California, I live under the poverty line, and work typically 40 to 60 hours to be there.  I made $3,600 less this year than last year.  That's with Obama as president.  I literally can't imagine what next year will look like, or the year after.  I'm worried I could be on the street, and lose just about everything.  I implore you to vote Romney tomorrow, because he is a business man, and understands what is needed to balance a budget.  We have 6 trillion in new debt, and the Federal government is the largest its ever been.  There's no reason to blow money at a rate like this, and in your heart of hearts you know this isn't right.  I'm asking to simply vote on economics.  If you take out the social issues, which aren't really the main focus of Romney's campaign anyway, you're left with the same system we've had since our founding. 

Its capitalism vs. socialism, and really its capitalism vs. communism.  I'm broke, I don't fault the wealthy, for working hard and achieving things.  And if it really came down to it wouldn't you rather be rich too?  Obama says he's the champion of the middle class, but the middle class income has dropped under his so-called recovery.  I work for a small business, I can tell you I live in the reality of how business has been cramped, and bogged down.  This is an election of values.  I'm trusting you have some, or there wouldn't be things you are passionate about, or care about.  This election is not about the social issues, which are important to us, on either side of the aisle, this is about how to make prosperity for ourselves and for our children.  You know how to make and recognize prosperity, government does not.  Tomorrow is your opportunity to show that you know how to run your own life better than government does. That's what this is about in a nutshell.  I simply can't afford to have government spend its whatever it wants whenever it wants trying to get me to live a certain way, and I think you know you can't afford it either.  Go to the polls tomorrow with that in mind.  Thanks for letting me borrow your time.

A Little Election Humor

Here are my old "teleprompter pickup lines."  I was going to put them in my book revision if I could, but since the book isn't ready yet, here you go.  They're meant to make fun of fun Obama, but feel free to try them out on unsuspecting women. 


"You have a beautiful readout..."

"I love it when you tell me what to say."

"Do you need help with your power supply?"

 "I could totally lose myself in your video monitor."

"You have the prettiest camera lens I've ever seen."

"Can I check out your software?"

"Can we spend some time programming each other?"

"You have such a nice tripod"

"I always feel so important with you around."

 "Can I plug you in?"

 "You have such a nice casing."

 "I'm just here to make sure all your parts are in working order."

"I just want to make sure you're getting the right amount of electricity."

"I brought the non-streak glass cleaner this time."

"I love the heat from your power connection."

"Your lens says 'no no' but your power light says 'yes yes.'" 

"You look so good in that carrying case." 

"Made in China?  Baby I thought you were made in heaven."

"Just once I'd like to give you something to say."

"The gentle warmth of your power supply, lets me know you're burning energy for me."



I know, I know, they're kinda chessy. 

Sunday...

I'm going to knock off some more books off my reading list I think.  I've been doing that a bit anyway, but I need to step it up.  I looked at my library, and realized I still need to ditch a couple of hundred books.  I'm trying to unload some more, but it seems like I take in 10 books for every 20 I get rid of.  I'm working on trying to get back up to whipping through a book in a week, but I seemed to have slowed down more and more over the years, and it seems like my memory is getting worse and worse too.  I can't tell if its aging, or the lack of not having to use my brain for too much more than driving a forklift these days.  I'm also having trouble telling if I'm repeating myself when I blog.  This might be a problem later, for my writing, especially if I'm trying to write mysteries, and spy stories.  Its tough to remember what clues I dropped where in a story, and what nuance I wanted to convey...  Wow, I just used nuance in a sentence.  Fancy.  I'm really just tired of life.  I don't mean in a despair sort of way right now, just tired.  I'd like a nice solid month in Hawaii.  That's not too much to ask for is it?  I've got a lot more notes this time around than I have before too.  I guess this is so I can remember things.  I'm trying to be better with it, especially since I hate doing them.  Diagraming, and outlining, are things I really despise.  I used to pride myself on having a good memory, but I guess those days be over.  And so children, I leave you with this, take notes, because one day you'll be thinking you're going to remember something that was a brilliant idea, and find out later you didn't remember at all.  Fin.

Saturday

Its been kind of wacky day.  I was going to sleep in till 10 or 11 today, and had that plan destroyed when some guys were taking down a tree or something at 8am.  If 10 or 11 seems late, keep in mind I stayed up till 2 or 2:30 last nite, and I don't usually sleep too well during the week.  SO...I go to the bank, and can't cash my check because its drawn on a different bank, so I have to deposit the check instead, which means I can't get at the money I need.  Then I took a nap.  Then I watch a movie or two, and now I'm working on a book title for the novel, and maybe just maybe work on finishing that last story for the book revision.  I used to have a great knack for getting motivated if I missed a day of writing, but now I'm worried I'm getting lazy about it a little.  Anyhoo, I guess thats it.  Tune in tomorrow, when we find out whether or not I was able to get any work done tonight.  Ha.

Meh

I get to sleep in this weekend.  Yeah, baby, yeah!  I'm super tired, mostly physically, and could use the time to myself.  I'm on empty.  Its getting closer to the holidays, so I hope I can expect some time off then too.  There's really a lot to do as far as research is concerned, and I'd like to knock some of it out before the year is out, since I'm not too likely to finish the book revision this year like I wanted.  I'm already two months behind of where I wanted to be on it, but I guess you can't rush greatness.  I think I can finish all the counter-terrorism, and espionage type reading in a few months, but I gotta organize a list for the history book, and I gotta work a little harder at putting that list together.  Sometimes you can track down other materials by checking out the bibliography in the back of a book, so you can see what books, and things, were used for that particular book.  I did that a little in college, when I'd writer a paper, and needed other sources to cite.  Its a handy little tool sometimes, and makes you look scholorly and intelligent, because you found a bunch of sources and are well-read.  Yadda yadda yadda.  I'm gonna be reading well into 2015 or 2016 I guess, maybe longer.  Chicks dig smart guys right?

Dear Diary...

Heh, just kidding about the title.  Today, I got some cool stuff, all espionage-y and whatnot.  I got some books on the Secret Service, the CIA, and a few wacky conspiracy ones, but the best one has to be the book of Reagan speeches.  I was a just a kid during his presidency, I don't really remember much of the 80s really, and I thought it'd be good to read about the best president of the modern era.  So there you go.  I'm working on a title now for the novel now.  I say "working" but really I haven't got started on it yet.  I've been consumed by trying to read up on spy stuff, that I haven't given too much time to finishing the stuff I'm working on, or the stuff I want to start working on.  Oh yeah, and its officially Christmas time, the Starbucks cup I got with my coffee said so...