Thank goodness for commercialized Xmas

You heard what I said. Three cheers for commercialized Xmas!

Before you self-righteous, holier than thou characters start jeering me and pushing me off building tops, hear me out.

I agree that Christians should hold near and dear to their hearts the main reason for celebrating Christmas -- the birth of Jesus Christ, our saviour. But what of non-Christians? Should they be left out in the celebrations? NO.

Even if stress now comes with the territory, a commercialized Xmas is better than nothing. This is the one time of the year you get together with your distant relatives and have some turkey. If it weren't for Xmas, you would never see them. This is the one time of the year you can give presents to your friends to show them that you care. If it weren't for Xmas, they'd never know how you feel. This is the one time of the year you can drink eggnog until you puke. If it weren't for Xmas, they wouldn't make eggnog. This is the one time of the year you can use mistletoe as an excuse to kiss your crush. If it weren't for Xmas, you'd get charged for sexual assault.

While we should not forget the lessons our Christian faith has taught us, we should give thanks for a commercialized Xmas. This way, more people get to join in and celebrate each other, if not God.

Stop patting yourselves on your backs

I was intrigued by an invitation to a dinner hosted by the Capital Markets group held by a major bank. Since this was an exclusive peek (apparently based on academic standings...which makes me think I might have gotten it by mistake), into the world of Capital Markets,I was excited at the chance to learn more about the banking world. But more importantly, they promised a free dinner at the University of Toronto Faculty Club (yum). As good as it sounds, there is one small snag. It is hosted by women for women. Alarm bells rang in my head. Uh-oh, is this going to be a lame excuse for ultra-feminists to congregate and cheer each other on?

The answer: yes it was. I regreted going as soon as one of the students asked "How did you decide who to invite to this dinner?" Translation: I already know that you invited me here because I do well in school [pat pat] but I'd like to hear you say it.

If this event was held thirty years ago, I would have been awed and volunteered my time to the feminist movement. But honestly, with 30-50% of women already working in that part of your business, I don't really give a rat's ass how you balance your life. You ten women aren't the only ones doing it. Stop congratulating yourselves [pat pat]. Stop making yourselves feel superior [pat pat]. Stop trying to empower me. The fact that you're making an issue out of this non-issue actually pushes "The Movement" back a decade.

If you're trying to fight against Ethnic Cleansing, racism, or something equally worthwhile (that actually exists), I'll support you. If you lure me to your event with a free dinner so I will sit there and watch you give yourself props, screw off.

Not only was I angered by the whole event, they served ice cream for dinner. I couldn't help myself because it was served in this little chocolate cup. Needless to say, I paid dearly for it later that night.

Within will match without

The side they see has it figured out
while the other struggles on
to only find that no one sees
what you truly long

The religious find it in their gods
the rich find it in their money
it seems like everyone has it
except the weak and lonely

Be it strength, comfort, love
or whatever your heart desires
hold a steady course and believe
it will come when your needs are most dire

- Stephanie Lau

Conceited or foolishly hopeful?

I've grown so much this year. Really, I have. I know people think of me as a gibberish-talking, clumsy, joking idiot most of the time, but I've actually matured a lot this year. Life threw me some nasty high fastballs that I couldn't help but chase, but it also threw some big fat hanging sliders right in the middle of the plate for me to eat up. I must say that this started off as the worst, but may turn out to be the best year of my life.

What turned the year around was how mature I've grown. I learned how to appreciate the people around me, but most importantly, I learned how to appreciate myself. This could possibly be the turning point of my life (the early part of it, anyway). I took the time to figure myself out, and one particular person really capped it all off. He doesn't know it, but that's what makes him the most important male in my life at this stage [let's call him by his fictional name, Gus]. I've only known him for a very short period of time, but he understands me better than anyone else [he's also charming and incredibly witty]. This is especially impressive when he understands parts of me that no one else knows exists.

Whether I'm conceited or foolishly hopeful can be debated, but I really do like myself at this stage and I believe that in time, there will be a perfect someone out there who sees me the way Gus and I see me. He will whisk me off my feet and make me the happy for the rest of my life.

I want more than what I had and I know I deserve it.