I can't really say that an entire country would be a bunch of whiners.  But sometimes cold weather can be tough to handle.  I know that we complain about cold in this city but it's nothing compared to those who live up in the far north experience.  I was recently in California (it was December) and listening to the radio I heard that the DJ wanted people to curl up and stay warm.  I was on my way to Universal City Walk that night and was walking around with my jacket open, carrying my gloves.  I almost laughed at people who had on hats and mitts and were bundled up.  Then again, California doesn't get cold and snow like we get here in Canada.  But that's the same thing when people come here from Jamaica or the Bahamas.  It really isn't that much different.

That’s tough.  When I was young and had a hamster (which wasn’t a Christmas present) I received pretty much all gifts for the animal.  I guess you could consider that toys for inside the hamster cage are technically for me, but I was kind of disappointed because I wasn’t going to be able to play with the gifts like the other kids.  I came across a picture of me holding up the items and I have a really fake smile on my face.  There is another one where I almost have a frown.  Now, the best gift… let me think about that.  There isn’t really one that sticks out in my mind.  I’m not too difficult to please (yeah, yeah, I hear my friends snickering at that… be quiet!) so I think I appreciate any gift that I get.  However, my last birthday in August was the best one I’d ever had because I got to spend lots of time with a close friend  and we went kayaking, hiking in a rainforest and lots of other stuff I had never done before.  It was a really special birthday out on the West Coast.  So that’s a gift that I’ll remember probably forever.  I have framed pictures from it on my desk.

 

I’m probably the wrong person to ask about shopping.  I don’t really enjoy malls to begin with, so hitting the crowds of people (not violently… although, it’s crossed my mind) isn’t all that appealing for me.  Usually I’m the type of person who goes shopping only when I know I need something, I’m in and out and done.  I don’t start doing it on a certain date, but when someone mentions they want something, I’ll remember and if I happen to be going by that store or am in the area, I’ll pick it up.  I think a lot of the strategy is to plan at home first.  Look through catalogues and on the Internet, and if you can get ideas from those, shop there.  However, it’s December so depending on where you order from it may not arrive in time.  But I have found that my good friends at Amazon.ca (coincidentally there is an ad for them right beside this message—no, that was not planned!) are fast and other national companies are too.  I think when getting stuff from outside of your country it may be a toss up if it gets here on time.  But check with the store.  Sending goods is surprisingly fast these days… except when you are trying to send stuff from my house to the coast.

 

That’s tough.  I’ve always spent Christmas with my family so I don’t know how it feels.  I know what it’s like to be alone on New Year’s and Valentine’s and my birthday though!  I think that can be equally as depressing.  But it is a good questions nonetheless.  I am the master of entertaining myself:

-Load up on DVDs and snacks.  (Don’t read “The Great Weight Debate” after this suggestion!)  Sometimes I will spend an entire weekend curled up and laugh my ass off at my favourite TV shows.  I enjoy the older sitcoms that aren’t really around anymore and some of them I know word for word and I still howl with laughter.

-Make CDs or get out some of your favourites and blast the music and sing and dance and have a good time.  I sometimes do this to get myself in a creative mood if I have writer’s block (or too much to drink).

-Write!  As cheesy as it sounds, sometimes when you are alone and your mind wanders you can come up with a really creative story or poem or script or anything.  The possibilities are endless.  Write about your favourite Christmas or make up a story about a child who has never experienced it and what all goes along with the holiday.  And if you do that, send me a copy.  I would love to see anything you people write!