And the 'holiday' part of this break from class is going to suck. While everyone else talks about the War on Christ, I'll be at home contemplating the Buddhist principle of impermanence. 6 months ago, I left for college from the place I had called home. Now, I'll be returning to a house that's decidedly not home, and there will be no happy dog to greet me. The lack of dog has taken its toll on my mom, who hasn't been able to communicate with me like her normal self ever since Pep died last week. And worse, unlike Thanksgiving we can't worm our way out of the family nonsense, because this Christmas my grandfather will be abandoned in rural bumblefuck Oklahoma if we don't something about it. So my visit to my brother will be cut short so I can take a detour through rural bumblefuck OK to pick up this grandfather - my last remaining one - who has the mental capacity of a 6-month-old. I'm praying he falls asleep quickly so his jibberish doesn't seriously drive me insane over the span of a 3 hour drive where I can't speed because the cops will be out in full force. Not to mention I won't even be able to crank up my music like usual to make the time pass. Worst of all is that the idea of holiday guilt got into my mom's head so she has to try to guilt-trip me into making the damn trip instead of just commanding it. I can deal with taking orders, dipshit. Leave it at that.Christmas is going to be a completely useless day. I've asked for nothing toy-wise aside from an espresso maker and help paying for my Spring Break ticket to NY and Boston. Just like last year, it'll be a full day of me feeling guilty for every minute not wasted in the living room while my mom screams at my retarded-with-senility grandfather. I suppose I'm so pissed off about the trip home because of the fun I've been having here. I purposely delayed my trip home so that I could take a vacation in Austin and do the things I always mean to do here but never get the chance to do - hang out with insanely busy people, go to completely random parties. Best of all is the 'experience Austin' stuff: BBQ at The Salt Lick, Xmas lights at the Trail of Lights, all that kind of stuff that just can't be done elsewhere. I'm pretty strongly considering coming back to Austin earlier than I had planned (like first week of January) so that I get more vacation time here.But it's not all gloom and doom. I'm really psyched to have plenty of time available for lots of friends all over the A-town (and Dallas) area. I'm not bringing much gaming stuff home aside from my computer, so I should have some time for reading, TV, and similarly relaxing activities. In any case, I'll be back in town tomorrow night and if I'm not already taken I'll be making phone calls to come chill with you A-town guys.