Been lazy for updates. Here are some:

I finally finished my exams on the 21st. So far I have 2 of my 4 marks back (my history ones). I'm actually quite irritated with my US history class. I'm pretty convinced I deserved an "A" because I had no problems with the material and did put a lot of work into the course. Needless to say, while some of the material I learned was interesting, the course was not as enjoyable as I had expected after attending the first class. On the bright side, barring complete collapse, I should get "A"s in my polisci classes, so I'll fall just short of straight "A's" this term. Having said that, I probably just jinxed my chances. Agh.

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I went with my sister yesterday to go buy my eurorail pass and pick up some much needed information packages. It finally dawned on me that in just under 3 weeks I'll be in Europe. I'm pretty excited but at the same time kind of worried because I have to get my shit together in a really short time. By the time I will have returned to Vancouver, a lot will have changed so I have to make my plans accordingly. I have to figure out where to store all my useless possessions (furniture etc...). The reason being that I won't have a house to return too when I get back (presumably).

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It's Christmas Eve and my aunt is being excessively festive. She really loves the holiday and it's her daughter's first Christmas so she's been pretty excited. It's nice having my uncle and aunt living upstairs... they keep this house sane. As well my meme is here. While I love her a great deal, she has been really frustrating since my mom left. You see, my meme's mental condition has detiorated rapidly in the last four years. It's quite obvious at this point that she's suffering from dimensia (spelling?). Because of her fall, my mom has taken on the burden of taking care of her. Now that my mom is on vacation, my meme is even more depressed and continually asks when my mom's coming back. I can't imagine how worse it would have been had we told her that my mom was supposed to be in France. We'd never hear the end of it. Well in short, it's tough to deal with.

On the positive, my sister surprised everyone and showed up for christmas this year. I have seen her only two days in the last two years so it's really nice to spend some quality time with her. Of course, my brother in law is staying with her as well but I have only heard from up above. We haven't spoke in about three and a half years. It's too bad because I actually got along with him in the past.

It's nice to have part of my family around for the Christmas. My Mom's in Toronto, my Dad's in Paris, and my sister was supposed to be in Victoria. Thankfully her presence prevented the unfortunate possibility of every member of my immediate family celebrating the holidays in a different city.

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My Dad sent an e-mail the other day wishing everyone happy holidays. Apparently he's been having a blast visiting numerous synagogues and what not. He signed off with "shalom." Yep, that's my father... the jew? *insert exaggerated rolling of the eyes here*. I really wish he'd give up this stupid fixation he has developed in recent years with everything Portuguese and Jewish.

Thankfully I'll be meeting him in London, so we'll have some time to talk. He was so busy in the last week before he left that I didn't even get a chance to say goodbye to him. We'll be flying to Porto (Portugal) shortly after, so I might see what it is about the two aforementioned identities that fascinates him so much. It will be my first time visiting the mainland of Portugal.


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That's all I care to share. This posts always end up longer than they should be. Anyway, I'll try to update while I'm in Europe but my access to the internet may at times be spotty.

Better get upstairs, as I have been down here too long.

Merry Christmas everyone. And for those who don't celebrate Christmas, Happy (belated) Hannukah/Kwanza/miscellaneous religious holiday!