Merry Christmas!

It's been a pretty cool year here at I Need a [Permanent] Vacation. I have been blessed with so much in 2008, and I feel good things coming in 2009.

I'll be around here and there, but I'm taking this time to soak up the spirit and love of family and friends.

I wish you all nothing but magic and joy during this happy season!

So, until next year, enjoy a few pictures from my trip this past Sunday to the Georgia Aquarium with my pal Mike.

Stacey's gift guide

As I was trolling the interweb for the perfect gifts this holiday season a few things struck me. And, because I'm a giving kind of person, I decided to share them with you all! I also kinda sorta got the idea from Dooce.

But anyhow, here are a few things that put a smile on my face. And if you're still looking for that gift for the person who has everything, my guess is that they don't have these:



A. Keep Calm and Carry on Poster - I mean, seriously, who doesn't need a little reminder to keep our wits in tact every so often? Goodness knows I do. And this poster would fit perfectly in those little office cubicles we all know and love. A reproduction of a British World War II poster, it's also got historical value, right? Great for the freak-out prone history buff!

B. Porn for Women - I don't usually endorse porn. But this ... this I can live with! Men vacuuming! Men cooking! Men LISTENING! High-quality stuff, if you ask me!

C. Mo's Bacon Bar - What a cool stocking stuffer! They say everything tastes better with bacon, right? Chocolate is already fabulous ... just imagine it even MORE fabulous when combined with the flavors of crisp Applewood smoked bacon and Alder smoked salt. I'd try it.

D. I Listen To Bands That Don't Even Exist Yet t-shirt - We all have that friend. The one who prides himself or herself on knowing who's cool before they make it into the cool category. I actually have several friends who could wear this shirt with pride.

So, there you have it. My last-minute Christmas idea list. So tell me, have you found any unique gifts online? Please share!

Help in the kitchen

Jim's family's annual soup kitchen party is this Saturday night. So he decided to help me out a bit this year.

Turns out, Jim's an expert noodle slicer. I'm not sure if it was the wine, or if it's just in his blood, but he's got it goin' on.

Hooray!

It's been a crazy few months, but I can't even tell you all how wonderful life has become.

Thanks to some major encouragement (read: serious prodding) from my good friend Mike, I finally signed up for an art class, as you all know. What I didn't know was how much creativity I had inside me just waiting to come out.

Over the past three months I've had my hands in several media including ink, pastels, scratchboard and acrylics. I've been introduced to some amazing artists, made some true friends and gained the confidence that I, too, can be all artsy-fartsy.

The encouragement of my classmates has been invaluable. We are our own toughest critics, and having them behind me during each critique was such a great confidence-booster.

Now I'm eagarly anticipating next semester, when I'll be taking illustration! I've heard the professor is tough, but I think I'm ready. In fact, I know I am.

Having a challenge that is helping me unlock all the creativity I've kept buried for so long is so exciting. My dream is to one day put my work on exhibit, but for now I'm focused on soaking up as much as I possibly can from my instructors and peers.

So thanks, Mike, for pressing me until I finally registered for class. As much as I've stressed over every little detail, I've loved every minute of it. Well ... except for all that stupid red tape, but you know.

View from my window

I haven't left my apartment all day because I feel like crap-aroni. However, the sunset tonight made me smile. I bet it was truly beautiful with a full view of the horizon.

Tomorrow is the final exam for my class, which means I'll have a full month without school. Hopefully that will mean I'll be a better blogger. ... Unless, of course, the flu or whatever this is that has a firm grim on my body, doesn't kill me first.

I kinda hope I'll survive.