December 27, 2008, Nashville, TN., 2:48 a.m., C.S.T. (can't sleep)~

Dear Journal~

Nathan Lake here.  The one people call "The Creature", the kid with the pukey-ugly mug.  Hope this finds you well; I couldn't be better!

For one thing, I'm outta school; been off one week now, still have another week to go.  We go back on the sixth, something like that.  Anyway, I'm enjoying my Christmas break; nothin' to do but veg out, let your mind turn to mush!  LOL

How was your Christmas?  Mine was way cool:  got lots of neat stuff, including an m3P player, a Wii game system (that was my big gift!), $200.00 (that from my grandparents), clothes, shoes, socks, underwear, art supplies, a new journal for my writing/scribblings, and several books ("Diary of A Wimpy Kid:  Roderick Rules!"; it's the sequel to the first, and now I hear "The Last Straw", the third book to the series, is due out in February; I also got "Tyrell" by Coe Booth, and a couple of Garfield comic books ["Garfield Spills The Beans", "The Garfield Journal", "Lights, Camera, Hairballs!: Garfield At the Movies", and "Odie Unleashed!"]).

I guess you can say I did pretty good!  :)  Made out like a bank robber; got a lot of loot!

For Christmas Eve, we went to the Cantata; it was wonderful.  I enjoyed the music, and the Christmas lights were so pretty to see!  Now the next time we go to church, it will probably be plain; they usually take the lights/Christmas decorations down right after Christmas. 

I hate that:  just when you get used to the Christmas lights/decorations, it's time to take them down again, and then everything's back to what it was.  BUMMER. 

I love Christmas, don't get me wrong; it's just that there's this big buildup, then Christmas comes, and then--it's all over, and everyone's left with a feeling of the blues.  The post-Christmas letdown, as it were.  I'm feeling pretty blue myself; I am going to miss those pretty Christmas carols and seeing all the decorations up!

Why can't we be more like our elderly neighbors, the Halburtons?  They leave their Christmas decorations/lights up all year.  Even in the middle of August, you'll see the lights, Christmas tree, candy canes, and big, puffy snowman out in the yard!  And at night, they turn 'em on!

I'd sure hate to pay their electric bill, is all I gotta say about that!!

Maybe I can talk the parental units into leaving our Christmas decorations up all year:  that way, whenever I need a little Christmas in the middle of hot, sweltering July, all I have to do is see the tree, the lights, and then I'll feel a lot better!  :P

On to other news:  in February, I'm having more surgery done on my face.  My one eye is starting to cause problems; my vision's blurred in the left eye, and I think I have a leaky tear duct or something; seems like it's always watering.  Very annoying, that!  I'm not looking forward to it!  It may be a day surgery thing, but you never know:  so many variables are attached, and so much can happen when you least expect it.

I guess that means I'll be out of school for several months as I recuperate from my eye surgery; it appears to be something major. 

Hope it's nothing like a tumor; I don't think I could handle that!!

Jsut say a prayer for me, that's all I gotta say!

Well, I'm startin' to get stupid, so I'll go now.  I will write in here again, probably after the start of the new year.  So until then, this is Nathan Lake signin' outta here.  Take care, and may God bless you!

~Nathan ("The Creature").  :)