3 (+7) Reasons I Heart Christmas!

I don’t care what anyone says about the meaning of Christmas being diluted by the advent of Santa Claus, mass spending, and giant feasts.  I still love Christmas for its non-religious reasons.  Why?  Here are a few reasons (in no specific order):

1. Santa Claus.
2. Gifts.  Lots of them.
3. Forces little kids to behave at least once a year.  (Come on.  It’s a blessing for parents.)
4. Corporations make up any promotional f— ups and losses during this holiday due to massive spending from consumers.  (You buy even when you don’t have to.)
5. Dancing elves.
6. Beautiful decorations and bright lights (plus a giant tree).
7. Ridiculously delicious foods.
8. Reindeer.
9. Family time.
10. Romantic rendezvous (e.g. ice-skating, hot chocolate runs, fancy dinners, crazy partying, drunken debauchery, etc.)

Regardless whether people have any idea behind the religious holiday that is Christmas, the non-religious but globally celebrated Santa-Claus-is-coming-to-town holiday is pretty AWESOME.

So, Merry Christmas, everyone!!!

(Oh by the way, I got my parents an iPad.  I know.  I succumbed.)

Dear Santa…

As I had mentioned in my previous post, I do really enjoy the holidays… especially when it comes to Santa Claus.   I love knowing that there’s a jolly, white-bearded, Ho-Ho-Ho-ing, Coca-cola chugging, grandfather-like Santa out there making children happy every year.

Though I am no longer considered a child (by normal standards), I still feel like a kid at heart.  Hence, I wanted to send in my letter  to Santa (via online, of course.  I mean, it is the 21st century after all!)

Here it is:

Dear Santa,

I know you’ve been very busy this year trying to heal our nations sorrows: war, recession, taxes, Wikileaks, naughty kids, etc.  Thus, I will make this very easy for you.  I have been a very GOOD kid this year.  Yeah… I might not have pushed myself as hard as I could have to fulfil my 2010 goal: to enjoy my life now; however, I have done more to meet new people, explore new places and even learn new things!

For example:

New people: random strangers.  I met people on subway stations, clubs, bars, coffee shops, etc.  Everyone has a story and I love listening to it.

New places: Afro-Peruvian restaurant/jazz bar.  Latin flavored jazzed music.  You can’t go wrong there.

New things: cooking.  Yes.  That’s new for me.  I am so proud of myself!  I made some finger food (pears and brie cheese wrapped in prosciutto), spaghetti, roasted asparagus, etc.  Hey.  Don’t judge.  That’s quite a feat for me.

So, my dear Santa, I would like any (or all) of the following for Christmas:

1.) for my loved ones to be happy
2.) an Xbox Kinect
3.) a 50″ LED/LCD 1080p TV
4.) roundtrip tickets to Italy
5.) a trip to Disneyland
6.) dinner at French Laundry
7.) 20 boxes of Theraflu (regular flavored please) to keep myself from being sick
8.) for NYC to be rid of bedbugs
9.) to win Mega Mills
10.) the deed to a diamond mine

Thank you!

There you have it, my wish list.

I suggest you all write a letter to Santa because you never know when he might just answer it…