Friday, December 19, 2008, Nashville, Tn., 2:34 a.m., C.T. (can't sleep)~

Dear Journal~

Hey!  Long time, no see!  Sorry for the lapse in writing; have been busy working at the pizza place, deliverin' pizza to the masses, being bogged down with a ton of schoolwork.  I will be glad when winter break (I prefer Christmas break) starts!  (It starts on Monday; we are off until the eighth of January.  Cool beans; I can handle that...LOL)

Stinko here.  Michael B. (Barnabas) Stinkowiectz.  The one people call Stinko; it's easier; my last name, which is Polish, is too hard to say.  It's not 'cause I stink, so don't EVEN go there, or I'll beat you to a pulp! (NOT really, but I WILL get annoyed!!) 

I've been here in Tennessee now since June.  Am getting used to the slower pace of life here; am even starting to understand the southern way of talkin' down here.  I'm beginnin' to sound like one of them now!  LOL 

My ma and pa are fine, and Stephen, my little brother who has heart problems, is doing okay since his last hospital stay (two months ago; his heart acted up, and he had to be in the hospital a few days; it really scared us, but he got better, thank goodness!).  As for Gloria, my big sister (she's turning eighteen next month), she's still a royal pain in my you-know-where!  I can't STAND her at times!!

I figured that since I'm now in the South, it'd be warmer; guess I was wrong.  We're under winter weather watches and warnings, and we may get some nasty weather anytime.  We may end up getting cut from school early today if the weather gets bad.  Hope not, but it'd get us an early start on Christmas break! :)

You ought to see our house:  it's all decorated.  Ma and pa, they went crazy with the lights.  We have enough lights to light up half of Nashville!  I mean, seriously!  We could easily rival some of the houses I saw in the rich part of town! 

I think one of the prettiest displays I've seen is the Sandusky family's, who live a few streets down from us.  They have all blue icicle lights on their house, and they have a huge wreath with white and red lights on their front door.  Also, the windows are done with white lights, and they have a huge Star of Bethlehem on their chimney. 

They have a Nativity scene in the front yard with "O Holy Night" spelled out in white lights; it's simple, but it's elegant.  Now let's see if they can get through this Christmas without someone stealing their Baby Jesus; it seems that every Christmas, some grinch steals their Baby Jesus! 

They have a Great Dane; I wouldn't be risking my life and limb to steal Baby Jesus if I knew about their dog!  LOL

The worst the dog can do is lick 'em to death.  I'd be more scared of their little ankle-biting Pomeranian; that little dog is MEAN!! LOL

Not really, but she does have an awful big mouth for her size! 

For Christmas, I will be working part of the day.  I work in the evening, which means I can have most of the day with my family.  I don't go in to work until five; I work until 11.  Not too bad; hopefully someone will be nice, give me a little extra green; that'd be cool! :)

I've just about completed my Christmas shopping.  I have shopped for pa, Gloria, and Stephen; now all I have to do is shop for ma; but she's so danged picky!  She's hard to shop for; I hate it!!  (NOT her, but her pickiness!)  It's a pain!  Maybe today will be the day; but if the weather is going to be bad later on, I may have to wait a few days.  Still have a week left, or at least six days; I can wing it! :)  No need to worry just  yet!  :)

Last night, I went to the Christmas Cantata at church.  It started last night; it goes through this weekend (one performance tonight, another one tomorrow night, and three Sunday, during all three services).  It was beautiful.  When Ronee' sang "O, Holy Night", it was enough to give chillbumps to people when they heard her hit those high notes.  And Johnathon managed to get through it without his hearing aids going out, like they did on Sunday. 

Nobody got sick or fell down, or lost their pants; some kid did get stage fright during the Cantata, but that was it.  Nothing major.  The Cantata proceeded without incident; it was absolutely wonderful!  I'd go again tonight, but I have to work at five.  Oh, well.  At least I got to go this year; it's better than not going at all!

If the weather gets bad, there may be no Cantata tonight or this weekend.  We'll just have to play it by ear, ya know??

I wish my boss would let me have the night off, but no, gotta work.  I'm on the schedule, dangit! :(

Well, I'm getting stupid, so I think I'll go back to sleep until five; that's when I have my alarm set.  School, ya know.  We'll see; hopefully the weather won't get too nasty!  Take care, and may God bless you this Christmas season; may you have the merriest of Christmases EVER if I don't write to you beforehand!  So long for now!

~Stinko.  :)