In case no one is wondering...

[snowee]

Holidays
Well, it's official. I've been getting more and more cynical about Christmas year after year. It's not even the commercialism, 'cause let's face it. That argument is becoming quite the cliché. It's more about people's attitudes. Earlier and earlier in the year, they become more rude. Closer to the holiday, they become nastier to strangers. That's not Christmas spirit! Starting an argument with the woman behind the register - who has probably been on her feet for 8 hours, trying to hurry because of long lines, trying to smile through her umpteenth complaint - is not the attitude with which you should be buying Aunt Ninny her annual fruitcake.

Besides, we put so much pressure on ourselves to get just the right gift when in reality your true friends are the ones who think it's sweet you thought of them.

Then, of course, you have the friends or family members who are outrageously offended if you exchange a gift when they bought you something that you have no use for - or worse they buy you a gift that you know they really want for themselves and it doesn't suit you in the slightest but the last thing you need is more junk.

Last year we put up snow decorations and said we were celebrating "winter holidays". I'm quite fed up with the whole thing, really, but since we both come from very traditional Christian families we won't be cutting out the holiday completely. Instead we're doing our family festivities on Dec. 21st (Winter Solstice) - but we'll go do the family stuff on their holiday.

Point is, really, that my goal for the rest of this season is to be exceptionally nice to strangers (a difficult task given the return attitudes!) and to give gifts because that's what I really like. I don't need more stuff, yet I love to give it. I will also try to let those around me know I care, but this is always hard for me to do...




Drunke driving
Somehow we've missed out health class lesson about drinking. When you drink, your judgement is affected. When you drink a little, it will make you think your judgement isn't affected. It's not until you're completely hammered that you realize it might be a bad idea to drive.

So, we make up laws about how much alcohol you can have in yuor system and, supposedly, still drive safely. Problem #1 - no one carries a breathalizer in their trunk. Problem #2 - it's a biological fact that women usually get tipsy with a lower BAC than men. Problem #3 - People think they can have about 2 drinks before their BAC is above legal limits. It's not that simple. Body mass, last meal, and who mixed the drinks will also make a huge difference on your actual impairment.

Basically we say that people with impaired judgement can make a judgement on whether or not they are too impaired to drive. Is it just me or is this flawed?

Of course, drowsy driving accidents outnumbered drunken driving accidents last year and people on cell phone are coming in a very close third.

Look, kids, don't drive if you can't concentrate on the road, OKAY!?