Good morning, USA! I've got a feeling that it's gonna be a wonderful day!

I used to like the American Dad theme song just because it's catchy... Now I like it because after today's work on repealing Don't Ask Don't Tell, I feel just the tiniest bit patriotic. Our country took one huge step forward towards equality today.

So this week at work, we went in really early to rearrange the store and straighten it for a corporate visit the next day. And a new coworker and I were talking as we folded sweaters, and kind of got acquainted with an employee from another store. She mentioned she was into musical theatre, I told her I was an aspiring actress and we talked for a while. She had to leave, and then my coworker and I talked for a bit longer about theatre. I mentioned in passing that I didn't think people understood how important theatre is, and he asked, "What do you mean?"

I told him that theatre--and in this conversation it included all forms of entertainment--was not simply an escape for people, but a new way to bring ideas to our generation. A generation of people who don't watch or read the news to get their information, but go out and see movies or concerts, and understand messages through storytelling and relating to characters. I was happy because he, as a strictly non-theatre person, seemed to completely understand what I was telling him.

And I loved that I felt excited to be telling anyone about my passion. I never doubted my passion, but it's always nice when I feel that surge again.

One thousand words.

I don't normally do this, but I came across this photo today, and I can't explain why, but I felt really connected to it. I don't think I need to say anymore, so I'll just post it.

The Holiday Season

A year of buying things for myself, and occasionally for other peoples' birthdays, never seems to lead me to where I want to go for Christmas. Specifically gift-giving.

Don't get me wrong, I always give gifts over Christmas. But I realized this year that while I've given some great gifts to my friends, I find myself always neglecting my brothers, usually due to a very limited budget and an even more limited number of ideas. My brothers are amazingly difficult to shop for, namely due to our extreme difference of interests. I always thought it would be easy to shop for me because I'm very nerdy, and there are a vast number of things I enjoy. My brothers aren't quite the same story; there are things that they like, but nothing they're always openly excited for aside from sports. Adam is a huge Cubs fan, for instance, and Derek loves the Oregon Ducks. But sports? I hate giving sports memorabilia, especially since both already have a ton of it.

But my plight, the Plight of the Well-Meaning Sister as I call it, will cease to exist this year.

No longer will I suffer through Christmases of feeling bad because I didn't get my brothers something for Christmas! Nor will I wait until the last second to find them a sub-par gift. Because I have already found them gifts. Yes, ladies and gentlemen, on this day, December 6, I have found both of my brothers Christmas gifts that they will not only like, but will love wholeheartedly. I have found that the only trouble I'm having is limiting the number of gifts to give them, because I have struck a seriously huge goldmine of ideas. I obviously can't post them here (not that I think either of them read my blog), but I'm very excited about my gift-givings this Christmas.

Very. Very. Excited.