Late? It’s barely 3am.

It’s 1:32 (so not quite), listening to Angels And Airwaves again (did you know, I love you?). That’s Angels And Airwaves, mind you, none of this ampersand business. I told iTunes this, and Zune had a fit. Knocked out a good chunk of I-Empire, for reasons unknown.

Come to think of it, the band isn’t even consistent with the name... bah.

Anyway. I’m downloading the first season of Eureka, trying to get the torrents far enough that the AVIs don’t have too many holes in them. Progress is slow, dialup over cell. Though I think my average is at least 10kbps.

You know… heh. I love my family. We were watching the second episode a while ago, and Grandma came down the stairs. Wanted to make sure everything was okay, that we were comfortable and all that. She’s so very… pleased, I think. Pleased that her grandkids are all here, in the cabin. This was sort of her life’s dream, I think. She told me about it, years ago when I’m pretty sure she didn’t think I understood, said that it was a vision she had. She’s so happy. It’s beautiful. I love it when people become happy again.

Gift-opening is tomorrow at some point. My sister’s supposed to arrive before then; am hoping she makes it in time. I only have this shirt for my selected (by lot) cousin, and while it’s a nice shirt, methinks what the sister brings will make the package a bit more satisfying than the shirt by itself. Nine years isn’t quite old enough for a single shirt to make a good gift.

Christmas has been good. But it’s difficult, you know, to get past – transcend, I suppose – the logistics and miscellany that the holiday involves. Clear your head and forget the declaration (defamation, desecration) of good gifting to all people (eBay: “ikebowen, get the gift you really wanted”; read: yes, we know what you’re thinking) and remember something simple. I’d argue that you can’t really stay sane without infinity in focus. Though perhaps it takes a degree of insanity to do so. Paradox. Hoorah. Tis the season.

The photo for this entry (and more in photog) comes from this last week, walking the shore with my cousins. Sent the following to a friend from that night, and I now address it to you. O reader blesséd, though belated.

I’m out on the beach of Lake Michigan, watching the waves in moonlight. Kind of at peace with life. So… I guess I’m wishing a bit of something similar for you this Christmas. Something like that.

And cheers, also.