Currently I'm actually going through a mix of relief, because my presents are finished, as well as a wave of panic. The winter break homework I've been assigned is due in a little over a week, and I have yet to start any of it yet.

I've gotten quite a bit better at stitching and sculpting because of my Christmas presents, and now my body is slow to want to stop practicing and making them. I want to continue making them, which makes the return of my obligations quite frustrating...

Normally, I celebrate Christmas comfortably with my family. We eat a pleasant dinner, attend mass, visit our friends, I drop off my friends' gifts, then we go home and wait until morning or the time when we can open presents.

However, since me and my father began volunteering our services to the American Red Cross, my father and I have decided to donate our time this Christmas to working for them. Until 12 o'clock this evening, we will be monitoring the various disasters in the area, and we will be sending services to any problems that might come up.

Within half an hour of arriving at the center of operations, and apartment complex burnt down, and approximately forty people lost their homes. The news channels nearby are gathering toys for the things all of the families living there have lost, while we direct them with addresses and phone numbers of the appropriate people to contact. We nearly had to coordinate a shelter opening up to give them somewhere to stay during Christmas, but most of them managed to find friends and family to stay with.

And that's two hours down. Four hours to go. Can you just imagine what else might be going on while you continue your annual celebrations in the comfort of your home?

After taking Latin for two years, I can still say that in general I prefer English because of the number of words there are and how specific you can get with them. However, I prefer Latin in some cases because it is simple, and conveys what you want with fewer words. Some phases I commonly use in English are actually quite amusing when you translate them literally from the Latin equivalent.

Anyway, one of my favorite phrases is "Carpe Diem." 
Most people know the translation to be 'Seize the day!'
But actually, the literal translation is "Pluck the day!" The basic meaning is there, but stated in the literal words, it's much more refreshing. ^^