Christmas Spirit

The past couple weeks I have been getting in the Christmas spirit. Because Chicago refuses to give me snow, it's been a little tough. Plus, I can't put up a Christmas tree. Maybe I'll convince Dan and Andrew they need one for the week I'm living on their couch.

But little by little, I've been getting Christmas-y. Want to see how? Well, okay, you convinced me...

1. "A Christmas Carol" by Charles Dickens at the Goodman Theatre.

Dan took me and a couple of Chicago Semester girls with his and Andrew's comp tickets a few weeks ago. It was so great. All four of us were really excited about Christmas afterwards. Plus, it was great theatre. Can't beat that.

2. Zoo Lights at Lincoln Park Zoo.

Yes, it was December and I was wearing a sweater and jean jacket. Chicago is wonky this year. But Zoo Lights was so cool. Heather and Lynda were visiting for the weekend, so we made out way through the zoo. Saw no animals, but lots and lots of Christmas lights. It was great.

3. Ice Skating in Millennium Park.

I had never been ice skating before, but it was on my to do list before leaving Chicago. I was really nervous before we got there. And when we were putting on our skates. And right before we got in the rink. And the first couple laps around the rink.

But after about fifteen or twenty minutes, I was doing surprisingly well. I could go a lap around the rink without holding onto the rail. It was so fun! And I only fell once, which is pretty impressive for a first time ice skater. I loved it, and because Christmas music was playing, it was a great way to get all excited for Christmas music.

4. Christmas movies and Christmas Pandora. I don't have a picture for these, sorry. But my roommate bought a pack of six classic Christmas movies, so we've been watching old movies like Frosty and Rudolph and Santa Claus is Comin' to Town. When we don't watch movies, I have Christmas music playing from my computer. It's lovely.

It's been a little strange, making it through this much of December without any snow or Christmas tree decorating or present wrapping. But I think I'll make it, somehow. A week from tomorrow night I will be on a bus all night to get me back to Nebraska. I will be home by Christmas Eve's eve, and I will try very hard to convince my mother to put up the Christmas tree (she doesn't want to put one up because she always gets yelled at for not taking it down until March or April, so she decided to just not put one up this year. Silly, and not acceptable. That will be my task, so beware, family. My tradition of putting up the tree with old Christmas movies will not be broken).

I am excited to spend my Christmas at home. I'm excited to go to Christmas Eve service with my Grandma. I'm excited for chili and new pajamas on Christmas Eve. I'm excited for cinnamon rolls and staying in my pajamas all day on Christmas. I'm excited for snow, because it will happen while I'm home. I can feel it.

Until next time.