they mostly come out at night...mostly

I guess this is sort of my post-Christmas update. I suppose that means I should fill you in on Christmas events. Well, as I was driving to Greensboro after I got off work on Xmas Eve, my mom told me that they had to put our cat Pandora to sleep that morning. We had her for 12 years. Apparently she had some sort of thyroid problem, and eventually she couldn't really breathe anymore. So that was sad, but I'm glad she doesn't have to suffer now. And I've still got Ralph, although he still doesn't live with me.

Anyway, then I got to briefly hang out with Emily M., and we got appropriately drunk for the occasion. Hence my Xmas morning hangover. Although strangely, even though my parents knew I went to the bar, and they knew I didn't feel good, they never put two and two together to equal drunk. But I digress. The visit with my grandma and great aunt in VA wasn't nearly as unpleasant as usual. In fact, it was almost enjoyable...nobody complained about their aches or impending deaths, and we actually carried on a conversation that didn't involve much bitchiness.

I also saw The Curious Case of Benjamin Button with my parents. It truly deserves all the hype it's gotten. Brad Pitt, you son of a bitch, you've done it again.

Alright, enough about Xmas shit. Let's talk about hiking. I have been focused hardcorestyle on my Appalachian Trail goal as of late. I can't remember if I told you this already, but I decided to do about two weeks on the Mountains-to-Sea Trail this summer, probably from Asheville to Gboro so I'd have someone to drive me back here when I was done hiking. I think I just talked my friend Adam into doing that with me, so now I'm super excited. I knew it wouldn't be a good idea to do it alone. Two weeks should be a pretty good practice run for the AT, at least in these preliminary stages of planning. I think my ultimate goal is to thru-hike from Georgia to Maine before I turn 26. That gives me three years to graduate and get my shit together and do it. I don't think I've ever been more serious about anything in my life; I'm not even sure why, but I feel like this is something I have to do. And I know it's going to be the hardest fucking thing I ever do, but it will be so worth it.

Well, I'm tired and smelly from a hike I did earlier today, so I'm going to stop writing and go shower. I don't think I'll have trouble falling asleep tonight. I hope you don't either, my friend. Feel better.