"Writers read literary biography, and surround themselves with other writers, deliberately to enforce in themselves the ludicrous notion that a reasonable option for occupying yourself on the planet until your life span plays itself out is sitting in a small room for the duration, in the company of pieces of paper."
- Annie Dillard

It's the shortest day of the year today.

The other day I noticed how many people I've heard saying, "Have a nice Christmas" lately. Not "Merry Christmas" or "Happy Holidays" or anything like that: "Have a nice Christmas." And I guess since I heard one of my classmates say it as she was leaving our final on Thursday, and I was in an English-major mode of thinking, I thought - "Aha! 'Christmas' is a metonym for the entire holiday break, and that metonymy allows us to wish each other well in a secular manner while still using the religious word, thereby fooling ourselves into thinking we've somehow solved the stupid battle over Christmas and Santa and baby Jesus and Hanukkah and menorahs and separation of church and state."

It was something like that, and yes, I realize how hopelessly geeky and useless and boring my thoughts are.

Have a nice Christmas.

I did all right this weekend getting through my homework. Not as momentous as I'd hoped, but okay. And just now, at the moment on Sunday night when I am gripped by listless inaction and four-year-fortified apathy, I get that roller-coaster feeling in my stomach about tomorrow. I wonder what'll happen, because this could end up determining so much about my life. Eek.

I think I'll watch a little Arrested Development if I can't get started on Rushdie anytime soon. I've been slowly (since this summer) working my way through the series, and it is hilarious. Not in a laugh-out-loud sort of way, but a more subtle, so-ridiculous-I-can-only-shake-my-head way. Gob may be one of my favorite characters ever, and I love Jason Bateman, as ever. I love the new Gap ad of him and his daughter. It was in both Lucky and InStyle this week and I'm probably going to rip one out and hang it up because it's adorable.

Okay, I'm going to do some more homework so that I can stymie this feeling like I haven't done enough. Hopefully. I know I said I wouldn't post anything else this month, but tomorrow is kind of momentous and I need to spill. Okay. And I already made my Nano count for today. Okay.

I hope.

I'm not prepared. And I have a fever. Great.

But I'm so smacking excited! =D