It's Here! It's Here! Try & Look Happy Will Ya?

It's freezing. Thanksgiving has come and gone. And every single slow-jam station in the tri-state area and presumably the whole world is playing fuzzy-feeling-evoking christmas music on loop. It's the Holiday Season people! A time to happily reminisce and internally hate the fact that you have a shitload of presents to buy. Happy Holidays. I mean, come on who doesn't love the long ass lines, the old lady grabbing the last pair of gloves you were about to reach for, and the massive amounts of people in massive puffy jackets over-filling malls boasting their massiveness in their brochures. As you can tell I have a "massive" pet peeve when it comes to the holidays. But you know what? I try to push it aside. I try to fill my mind with the fluffiness and warmth everyone is always talking about. So for the sake of keeping the christmas spirit alive here are some suggestions to keep it alive as long as possible before the thought of how much your going to spend on other people murders it (best wishes!): 

1. ELF (2003) -  a funny film starring the great Will Ferrell as an Elf from the north pole looking for his father in NYC. Very family friendly. 

2. Nat King Cole's Rendition of "The Christmas Song" - This song is Christmas. Feel the love.

3. The Yule Log - Missing a fireplace to create the Christmasy ambiance? Fear not the yule log will be on T.V. christmas eve and christmas morning for your own mindless pleasure. Here's a clip now if you're feeling a little faux chilly: 

4. The Killers + "Don't Shoot Me Santa" - a song about a sinister santa attempting to well umm shoot this kid. Quite funny and great ear candy. I even listen to it in the off-holiday season. ; )

5. Starbuck's Peppermint Mocha Twist - despite the fact that mint is one of my favorite flavors (mint chocolate especially) it just makes the holidays ssssoooo much better. Why you ask? I have no clue. Maybe how it mirrors the cold weather outside? Who knows. So here's to candy canes, girl scout thin mints, peppermint barks, mint chocolate chip ice cream (preferably green), andes... oh i could go on and on! But there's nothing quite like a holiday season only offer like a peppermint mocha twist! Since the beginning of the limited offer I have had 5 orders of the good stuff. Yeah yeah starbucks is overpriced blah blah...it's christmas give a little - it's for yourself anyway! 

KELCIE.

The Plasticity of Belief: Religious Uncertainty and All It's Perks

What is religion but a mere placeholder for lonesome souls looking for guidance, forgiveness, or simply a relationship? I'm often confused by religion, more prominently the christian religion, and have been for years. I've been raised under catholicism, taught under catholic private schools, and am part of a very religious and very large catholic family. When I attend mass I find myself marveling at the architectural designs, historical significances, or asking myself the "i wonder how it was like 50 yrs ago?" questions in my head instead of marveling at the presence of the lord that the pastor goes on and on about in the background of my thoughts. I don't feel this presence, i don't understand the rituals of the mass, and i don't know why I always have to over analyze things and have to find the scientific basis or realistic explanations. I see people "happy" and "content" with their "faith". Sometimes I feel as though religion is a mere scare tactic - heaven or hell, heaven or hell, heaven or hell. When I mull over my explanations of what is religion, what is my religion, etc. etc. Karl Marx always comes to mind and cuts short my stream of consciousness. "Religion is the opiate of the masses". I sometimes I feel as though i'm on the outside looking in - watching the parishioners kneel and stand, sing hymns and praise all in synch like machines. But then I think about how on earth could all these people believe? there must be something true and tangible about all this. Then I once again start to have a moment of what feels like true faith, but with this comes the cycle of uncertainty and the words of Marx. The plasticity of belief is a funny thing - especially with the upcoming election.

KELCIE.