Christmas fortune cookies

Depending on weather conditions, I will be headed to Austin, Texas for Christmas. I’ve got an aunt and uncle, and two young cousins (three and six I believe) waiting for my family’s arrival. As a poor college boy, I don’t have much to offer in the way of gifts. I can, however, write a few lines for those who have agreed to help me in my quest to become a better writer. My friends list is quite manageable for such a task. I remember seeing this on tristanter.

I will take on the form of a bad fortune cookie. Merry Christmas!

_bluejeanbaby_ - It’s too bad you don’t write more often. I assume Springfest is going to be wicked awesome.
aritei - You have a lot in common with me (the good parts of course). Good luck with med school.
blergeatkitty - I’m glad you’re joining the Peace Corps. Just remember, all the pain you go through will enhance my schadenfreude.
bonerici - Sir, you aren’t afraid to call bull on people. You’re very rational and able to explicate what you’re thinking. I’m sure I still have quite a bit to learn from you.
charity_whore - Great stories!
cheesentoast - I’m happy to have find a sister who shares her struggles. My faith definitely becomes stronger when I’m reading your journal.
cindmouse - You have a way of putting into words that which is most difficult to express. Kudos to another user who uses rodents for emoticons.
citen549 - Despite what my writing style indicates about me, I am not an English major. Let the anger out.
ckervina - It’s interesting to read the better half of couples. Kidding aside, I find it admirable that you’re willing to take less pay to teach and to do what you want to do.
cloewen - You’ve found your calling. It’s interesting to see the trials and tribulations of a shepherd.
correspondguy - Sorry that whole job thing didn’t work out. I’m still not sure why those law firms wouldn’t pick up a genuinely funny guy with a degree from Marquette.
crookedhead - Alas, TU sports is sucking. How we long for TU basketball to return to its days of glory.
culculhen - Ah, the dyslexic typing monkey. You work through your disability to write posts that force one to think.
darkest_peru - The stories that I’ve read in this creative journal have wonderful descriptions.
dishabil - Good ideas are here. A little fleshing out and who knows where they could go.
flcodemonkey - The Floridian from Moldova, if I remember correctly. You are full of experiences that give you a unique perspective on life.
force_of_will - Another one of those crazy people who want to take less money to teach. I hope you’ve been sharpened on your stay here.
gentleeleos - Being a public defender, you are familiar with the underbelly of society. I’m surprised you recover to share some very entertaining stories from your past.
happydog - For some reason, potatoes came to mind when I came to your name. I know we don’t see eye to eye on a lot of things, but I’m learning more and more you can have friends who don’t agree with you on a lot of things.
historybuff219 - It’s a battle to go where you want to go to college. There are many other battles in our lives, and we have to be ready to fight every single day.
iceofpluto - You were one of the first people to friend me, and I’m still not quite sure why. I can’t say much about you as you don’t write often, but you will fight fiercely for the one you want to be with for the rest of your days.
irethaldarion - In my humble opinion, you’re yearning for the opportunity to discover who you truly are. College will be a great place for you.
jeremyarc7 - It’s not often that I find a fellow Baptist Magic player. You have same wisdom because you want to teach history.
jinzi - Though you’re relatively new to the bandwagon, I feel that you’ll stick around here for some time. I really like your conversational style, since it almost feels like you’re striking a conversation rather than blogging.
jmfunnyface - I would never know about animals’ fates without you. Too bad about your Eagles. You’ve been with your man for some time, but you’re still figuring him out.
kimmaline - Penguins, penguins, everywhere a penguin. A lesser person would not have been able to continue living so courageously after your incident.
ltin371 - You write knowing that I’m probably the only one who’ll comment. It’s good to put your doubts out there because I have them too.
luminita - Well, I can definitely say you’re a gamer. You tell some pretty cute stories about your kids as well.
lyssabard - We agree to disagree. I forgot to mention that I have a bias against English (or literary) majors. You’ve happily passed that bias though.
md2020 - I’m going to miss you in Senate, mon ami. I expect you to return to Tulsa next fall.
megmcddd - You’re a bit on the hyper side. That hyperness allows you to keep up with your hectic schedule.
miripanda - Don’t we just hate procrastinating? Another good question would be how many times you’re going to watch Sex and the City over this break (I guess that depends on much you see your guy).
moocowrich - Like me, you aren’t normal (400 song lyrics?!?). We’re willing to take on financial concerns in student government, which isn’t always a rosy job. Oh, and you’d be a great RA.
paranoidgrl - I must apologize for introducing bittorrent to you. But I suppose a practicing lawyer can talk her way out of legal troubles.
partywhipple - Doesn’t everyone else realize that Fox News is just a moderate network? Keep up the good work with CotD. Hope your company avoids getting bought out, and you’re enjoying your current long distance romance.
poliphilo - You’re a lover of many things. I can tell you put a quite a bit of thought into what you write.
renough - Brother, thanks for backing me up on my most controversial article of the year. You have a talent for films, and you know those talents are not your own.
sarnath - It’s kind of hard to catch you, since you’re invisible. You’ve got a good angle on that laywer thing.
shawnj - I’d totally be bored without your links of interest. I enjoy your 2HC columns for their sincerity and style.
sleepybluekitty - You have the gift of encouragement, sister. Another great journal to remind me of my purpose.
susitna - It’s true, you are a very entertaining writer (must be in the genes). You’re just starting to uncover your abilities.
thanoslug - You have strong convictions. Where others would tread lightly, you stomp your feet down.
theferrett - Sensei, I’ve come this far. My, what a strange path it has been. I don’t doubt for a second that my writing has improved. You’ve taught me all that you can, and now I must learn the rest on my own.
thucyditron - So it seems the sun will shine on future classes at TU. You’re a well-known man in the history department because you were a Rhodes candidate.
tristanter - After being a player for so long, it’s nice to hear things from the judge’s point of view. May your big crush not crush you. And I got this idea from you.
tu_nenay_08 - You’re a bit too trusting, you know? But I suppose there are no gains without pains.
tu_oboe_girl - Many see you as somebody who is about to throw their tremendous capacities out the proverbial window. The more important thing is that you know why you’ve chosen your path.
turock - Hopefully, the Katamari Damacy craze will pass. You are a silly yet caring one.
tybuc - Do the people you work with realize they can think for themselves? You’re a guy who isn’t afraid of expressing his opinion.
usmu - The LJ user of the week makes me cry for humanity as well. I always enjoying hearing a Dutch opinion on matters.
visgoth - That incident sure changed things. The worse half finds amusement in the simple things, like the isblob generator.
wldntulk2knwwho - I would like to know who. I wonder if you know just how much I could say about you, mysterious man.
wundergeek - You seek better days in Canada. And yet, you know you will always care about what happens here.
wundernovel - Amazing story with awesome potential.
xzarakizraiia - To understate things, you get moody. But underneath that is an intelligent person waiting to unleash her powers.
ysabel - You have qualms with some of my ideas, which I guess is to be expected. You provide food for thought.
yuki_onna - You’ve answered a lot of questions about Japan. I must say that I’m impressed by your ability to produce such great writing on mere writing dares. I’ll eventually start the Labyrinth sometime this break.
zoethe - They say behind every great man lies a great woman. You’re concerned with many things, and you amazingly balance family, social, and work issues. On top of that, you’ve still got that good ole fan girl inside.

In retrospect, I’ve met quite a few people in my short time here on LJ. Some have to come to me, most had me come to them. In political views, they range from the far left to the far right. Some know me in person, most have only seen me in my icons. As far as interests go, some don’t even share the same interests I do. The youngest is in high school, while the oldest…well let’s not go there.

To turn the lens on myself, the quest that I am on will be one that I will be on for the rest of my life.

(no subject)

The sun came up, but it's still cold enough for the snow to stay around. A blanket of white covers everything, making everything brighter.

Hopefully it keeps up, since I'll be leaving for Austin tomorrow at 5:00 in the morning. We're leaving early so we can watch my cousins take part in a Christmas play. It makes me think though. Do you ever wonder how much your parents paraded you around when you were a kid?