Challenge!

First, let me say that there IS a point to this blog: there’s a challenge at the end. You can skip to the end to challenge me, or better yet, given the topic of this blog, you can stick with it all the way.

I am very good at sticking with things. Some things. Ok, not many things at all. That was a lie. Here is a list of things I am good at sticking with:

Theatre/the Arts Industry

Boyfriends

Harry Potter

Here is a list of things I have started but failed to stick with:

A journalism degree

At least 5 jobs

Sign language classes

A desire to do a speech pathology degree (that’s right, the desire – I didn’t even make it to enrolling)

A Psychology Major

One linguistics course (I dropped out after waking up one morning and realising I had an exam that day that I didn’t want to do/hadn’t studied for)

Being in a choir

Cycling

Jogging

A webseries about my housemates and me

A kid’s book

A novel

Far more shortstories and plays than I would care to count

This list

I have a real desire to do a lot of things. I have a tendency to turn to my mum, for example, (as I did recently) and say: “You know, I really want to work with animals, like maybe being an animal trainer at a zoo. That would make me really happy”. I mean, it would make me happy but that’s not the point; the point is that even if I did suddenly change my entire career path, get an entry level job at a zoo and try to make that dream a reality, I would find something else to become passionate (read: frighteningly enthusiastic for 3 weeks) about, get distracted and quit before I’d even gotten to touch an animal.

I’m really not sure how those around me take me seriously. Perhaps they don’t. I thank them then, and congratulate them on their impressive acting skills. Because every time I start something new my family, friends and boyfriend all agree it sounds like a great idea that I should go for.

Karate is my current thing. I’m really into it, and bore the pants off anyone who gets within 2 meters of me during my post-punching-someone-in-the-gut high (which can last days). But given my record, I honestly can’t know that I won’t bore myself out of it next week.

A little while ago (like… last year sometime) my thing was arts and crafts. I bought a bunch of canvases and spent happy afternoons on my bedroom floor painting badly and gluing things to things. But I stopped… and there is still a milk crate full of craft crap and one lonely canvas sitting in my room.

More recently, I started an awesome Harry Potter inspired artwork that was basically big bits of card with pictures and one of my favourite chapters written out in tiny handwriting. I bet you can’t guess where it is? Buried… half finished in the mess of other things I’ve never finished on my desk. Yeah. I can’t believe I was surprised either, but I was. It’s a damn shame. The snake I drew was particularly good.

ANYWAY. This blog is called “challenge” because I want, finally, to put what is clearly a secret talent to work. There are 33 weeks left in this year. I would like to start something new every week. But I think it’s been established that I’M not about to think of 33 things. That is way too many things, I will probably get distracted and start writing a list of my favourite lists, or my favourite blogs I like to read while procrastinating (what? It hasn’t taken me HOURS to write this… honestly). So, I would like to challenge you – to give me 33 things I can start, 1 a week, but not necessarily finish. I challenge myself to actually do this. And also to write a blog about each one. I don’t have to do them in order, but I am going to start next week.

So… I have started this for you. (actually, my housemate Samara did most of these… I really am that shit). LAST UPDATED 28th August - you can click on the purple words. They are links, and will take you to the relevant blog. It only took me about 8 weeks to do that. 

1.     Plant and look after some herbs. Started!

2.     Film a Youtube video

3.      Take a partner dance class (Samara)

4.      Harry Potter Movie Marathon (Samara)

5.      Learn how to make a soufflé (Samara) Started!

6.      Make my own paper (Samara) done! (if poorly)

7.      Go rockclimbing  (anon) done!

8. Get a tarot card reading (anon) done!

9. write a song (jadams)

10. make some form of clothing (mim/Emily)

11. Host a dinner party (alex)

12. Register this challenge/blog for National Young Writer’s Month (alex) Done!

13. Write a blog every Monday for the NYWM done!

14. volunteer at a soup kitchen (cdm – chris is that you?)

15. watch a sunrise from mt coot-tha (cdm) done!

16. Update my blog background (cdm)/ learn how to do this!

17. send in a postsecret (kyle) Done!

18. go to Melbourne (another anon)

19. raise money for charity (another anon) started!

20. Become a fan of Dr Who (or rather, watch this season - I'm sure fannage will ensue) Achieved!

21. write a page of news relevant/topical jokes um... fail!

22. make a kite that flies (Dave)

23. get dreadlocks (another, lovely anonymous) not happening. I cut off all my hair!

24.  conquer my phobia of roller coasters

25. go sky-diving

26. exercise every day for a week! Done!

27. do the bridge to brisbane (10km)

28. knit something and finish it (hilde) done!

29. have a dress made for me by the lovely Rachel Burke over at imakeyouwearit done!

30. submit some writing to some sort of writing competition

31. go a week without social networking sites done!

32. be an extra in a film/tv show/ad

33. Go for  hike over a mountain (Jono)

BONUS: take a photo of myself every week 

Please add suggestions here in the comments, or on my twitter, or my facebook, or to my face or something.

I want you to know the irony of this is whole thing is not lost on me, and that there is a very real possibility I’ll do 2 of these things and then join a circus instead.

L

Overanalysing Disney

... or Lizzy realises her childhood is a lie.

Ah, it's been done to death, I know. I'm pretty sure people have written university level theses on Disney films. But I recently rewatched four classic Disneys and I have to get some stuff off my chest. I watched: Beauty and the Beast, The Lion King, The Little Mermaid and Aladdin.

First up: parents. The only main character in any of these who has a mum and a dad is Simba. That's cool - we're showing children from a young age that no family is "normal" and it's ok to be raised by a single parent or, in the case of Aladdin, none at all: "I'd blame parents 'cept he hasn't got 'em" (Fat Lady, "One Jump Ahead", Aladdin, 1992). But my beef is, why is there never any explanation?

King Triton has a lot of daughters... like a lot. Are they all from the same mother? They don't look alike.

Does he get surrogates, or does he have concubines who must give up their children? Does he banish those concubines in anger for not giving him a male heir? He has a pretty intense temper, I wouldn't put it past him.

And sure, Simba's got a mum and dad... but has anyone else noticed that Mufasa is the only lion in a pride of lionesses? I mean, points for accuracy there Disney: there's no way a strong alpha like Mufasa would let any other males hang around his females, but ah... doesn't that make Nala Simba's sister?

Did Belle's mum just get fed up with her crazy inventor husband and walk out? Or did one of his inventions backfire and kill her? That's important backstory right there. If her dad accidentally killed her mum, Belle's 3 day romance with the Beast suddenly makes a lot more sense. She's a confused individual - she'll look for love anywhere.

And that, quite neatly, brings me to my next point. What's the obsession with 3 days Disney? Princess Jasmine has to marry before her next birthday... in three days' time. So, that means that the entire film: Jasmine's 'amusing' near death and impersonation of a mentally ill person in the marketplace, Aladdin's arrest, the Cave of Wonders, Aladdin's transformation into Prince Ali, the courting of Jasmine, the attempted murder of Aladdin, Jafar's crazy snake moment and the Genie's freedom... all happen in 3 days. There just aren't enough hours in there for all of that. I'm pretty sure there are at least 5 nights. Perhaps Arabian nights are different... and just happen when ever you need some drama.

Ariel, too, has to get a true love's kiss out of Eric before sundown on the third day. She doesn't have her voice to charm him with her wit... so relies upon eyelash batting and falling into lakes. It doesn't work... it takes 3 days and about half an hour.

And yeah - I'm pretty sure Belle spends all of about 3 days in the castle with the Beast before her dad is struck down with some sort of illness and she bails on him - accidentally setting a village of rednecks on him in the process.

I feel like we can't really blame Belle though; she is, after all, a child. Why is everyone in Disney 16? I mean, we're talking about marriage and true love and transforming oneself from one species to another here. Can't the characters at least be... I don't know 20? Shouldn't Ariel be in school?

The Little Mermaid was one of my all time favourites as a child. Obsessed. I watched the straight-to-VHS Little Mermaid movie about a whale (Whale of a Tale? Whale of a Time?) until it just about fell apart. But now, watching it as an adult: it's a story about a selfish princess who has the best life ever: no school, daddy's favourite, concerts in her honour... "but who cares, no big deal, I want mooooore" (selfish brat, "Part of Your World", The Little Mermaid, 1989). She then disobeys her father, makes a deal with a woman she knows to be a witch, goes to land with no plan, fucks it up, gets rescued by a prince, and leaves behind a very loyal friend, a loving father and a whole hoard of half sisters who are probably still grieving the banishment of their mothers.... I mean what sort of a message did that send to me as a child? Clearly none at all... I just wanted to throw away my life to become a mermaid. Oh wait.

Despite the incest thing... Nala's the best Disney princess of them all. And where is she in this picture? She'd fit right in:

Next time on Hum Drum Plum, we ask the big question: Why is Pocahontas' grandmother a tree?

An Open Letter to Translink

Dear Translink,

Hey, how’re you doing? Your website says you are feeling normal, with minor disruptions on the Ipswich line – but when has that ever been indicative of your actual status? Are you ok? Because I’ve noticed some stuff has been going on with you for the last… 10 years or so and I just wanted to check you’re ok.

Firstly, I’m not alone in my concerns. I did a survey, which is to say that I posted a facebook status asking what other people loved/hated about you. I got more than 20 comments on it… and I’ve gotta tell you buddy – there wasn’t a lot of love there. I see that’s upset you. I’m sorry, I will start with the love shall I? Soften the blow for the rant I’ve got stored up for you. I’ve been catching public transport since my first week of grade 8 in 2001 – I’ve got some stuff to say.

THE GOOD

Busses

The Happy Bus Driver. Everyone loves this guy. Oh, you’ve never heard of him? This guy is the happiest guy in the world, and considering he drives a bus in Brisbane – this is quite an achievement. More on that later. Whatever you’re paying him, (is it drugs? Are you paying him in drugs?) you should double it. Unless it’s drugs, I think he’s good. 

Trains

Train conductors who give you extra information about each stop as you pull in. “And this is Indooroopilly; this is your stop for the shopping centre or the cinema… there’s two cinemas here actually. Overkill.” “And this here is Chelmer…. I don’t know what’s in Chelmer. Looks like there’s a nice footy club – you could go there, if you wanted.” Considering these guys are train drivers in Brisbane…. Yeah – I think you see where I’m going with this.

Ferries/City Cats

My friend Samara loves it when everyone stands out in the rain on the back deck with their umbrellas and look like mushrooms. Good work Translink; keep that up.

(Also, there was a flood. I know that, I’m not a dickhead. The council and you have worked really hard to get the stops back up and running. As a Brisbanite and New Farm local, I am very grateful for that.)

THE BAD

Ok, here’s the big thing. YOUR WEBSITE IS ENTIRELY USELESS. I’m going to do a test right now. I’m going to put in two addresses into your journey planner. These are my address in New Farm, and my parent’s address in Sherwood. There we go. BAM. One option only. It tells me to catch a 199 and then a 105 and then walk for 960m. This will take me about an hour and a half. NO TRANSLINK. That is not the best way to get to Mum and Dad’s. But, because I’ve done my research, I know that the fault here is my own. I did not change the walking options (WALKING options? On a transport website? Are you serious?) Silly Lizzy. So, I change the walking options to “I’m happy (a loose term) to walk up to 1.5km, not 1km, as is the standard”. Aha. Here we go, it tells me to catch a 199 and then a train of which there are many more – going all night. This will take me just over 1 hour. The walking distance at the other end? 1300m. A meager 300m prevented me from getting an actually useful result from your website. Why are walking options even a thing, Translink? Never assume that I know what I’m doing. I’m a tech savvie, 20 something who uses public transport all the time – but I only worked out the walking options thing recently. Until that time, I just looked up 199 times and train times separately and worked it out myself. Imagine what Doris, a 70 something year old, who wants to get across town since they revoked her license after her stroke, has to go through. It’s in your best interest to help Doris out, or you’ll end up having to talk to her on the phone for an hour to explain….

Oh what’s that? Your phone service is no better? Of course… Listen up Translink, when I call you, I do not want to hear about your “functions and activities” unless your functions and activities involve telling me quickly and clearly when the next 333 leaves from King George Square – which apparently they do not.

I’ve got an idea, and this is deadly serious. You know how at each bus stop there is a list of every single bus service that leaves from that stop? Well, those must be documents on someone in your office’s computer right? PDFs that they spent ages doing up and getting right? Why aren’t they accessible on your website? Why can’t I, a regular user of your services, find out my stop number and search for it, bringing up the PDF relevant to my stop? I could print it out. I’d never have to use your website again! This is my dream.

Now I don’t want to start criticising the staff who run your social media, as I suspect they are unhappy cogs in your bureaucratic clock of insanity, but why is it that @612Brisbane can use information from twitter users to let other twitter users know about service disruptions, while your social media and website continue to say “services are running as normal”? No they’re not, Translink, 612 just told me that Steph from Alderley is stuck on a train a Bowen Hills that hasn’t moved for 10 minutes.  I realise the drivers probably don’t have to time to call the office and have a chat about the signal fault, but it must get registered somewhere instantly right? Like at a station? Can’t that automatically send a message to the office and automatically update the website? Meanwhile, why must your twitter only function between 9 and 5 Monday to Friday? Sure, you can’t be paying staff 24/7 to update it, but can’t there be an automatic update when something changes on the website? Can’t there? Please?

Speaking of staff, aside from the happy bus driver, and a handful of train conductors who like to talk shit over the PA, your staff clearly HATE THEIR LIVES. And, in the case of bus drivers – seem to hate mine also. I have always said this, either bus driving attracts unhappy people, or it makes them unhappy. Either way, you need to do something for your staff before there is a suicide/multiple homicide on Corro Drive. Grumpy as hell bus drivers, taking corners at 70, screeching on the brakes at every intersection… honestly it’s a surprise there haven’t been some really serious accidents.

Some more questions for you TL…

Why do the regular services stop an hour and a half before the nightlink starts?

Why do long distance trips take longer than the maximum single trip time?

Why do you use the shitty trains during offpeak times? Surely if it’s offpeak, you could have your pick?

Why do go card machines break all the time? Like… ALL the time? I’m not complaining about the 30 or so free rides I’ve gotten, but you should be.

Why is it the busses with no air-conditioning that leak? What is this water? And why is it on my lap?

Why do all the brand new bus stop shelters have a big gap at the back so rain gets in?

Why do all the brand new bus stop shelters have only about 1 meter of roof so rain gets in?

How did you get the 598 and 599 to suck THAT badly?

What is the city glider’s purpose in life?

AND FINALLY, THE UGLY

1. ALL busses should be wheelchair and pram accessible, no exceptions.

2. This:

Special indeed, TL, very special.

Sincerely,

Lizzyish

Nerdblog 2: Comedy

So I am a stand-up comedy nerd... fangirl... perhaps FIEND would be more accurate.

I'm not sure when this started, certainly not as long ago as my harry potter obsession, in fact probably only within the last 2 years. But it started, and now I am obsessed. I love the quickness of it, I love when it goes wrong, I love that people make whole careers out of making others laugh and being stupid. What a great life. My twitter account is devoted almost entirely to following comedians, and then retweeting them, @ replying them, and then dying with excitement when they reply (it happens more often then you would think).

Just yesterday, Josh Thomas walked into my office. That's not that weird, if you know where I work it makes sense and you would think that I would be cool cucumber about it but no. I got very, very star struck. I'm not even really sure why. I do like him, he's very funny - and I am mega into anti-comedy comedy of which he is a king - but he's not one of my absolute favourites. Also, as I said - it shouldn't have been that surprising to see him. But seriously, my stomach did a little turn and I think I may have blushed. LAME. It's ok dear reader, I didn't do anything stupid. While my housemate did suggest I should have "lovehugged" him, I kept my cool... and then promptly left the office before my cool leapt away from me and started moonwalking to Mmbop by Hanson or something.

Musical comedy is the best. The first time I heard the Axis of Awesome was epiphanic. (I know right? I did call it a nerdblog for a reason). That's when I realised I was super mega into musical comedians. Not only are they funny AND musically talented, but they must also create songs that people find catchy but which won't stop being funny each time you hear it. Think about "On a Boat" - now there is a song that is catchy and funny every time. And yet, if a non-musical comedian tells the same joke more than 2 or 3 times it gets pretty unfunny very quickly.

Sammy J (as in... "and Randy") is another of my all time favourite musical comedians. One time, he spoke to me while he was on stage. Life highlight. Right there.

Speaking of meeting comedians, I met Paul McDermott once... who is my favourite celebrity/personality/comedian person EVER. Like EVER. And you know what? AT THE TIME I WASN'T EVEN THAT INTO HIM. Probably for the best, because if I met him now, I would only embarrass myself (more so even then I'm doing now.. if that's possible). I became a MASSIVE fan after getting into The Sideshow, the cancellation of which is one of the greatest tragedies on Australian TV.

If you are not yet aware of the Doug Anthony All Stars then we probably aren't friends. I don't mean this in a threatening way, just in a "we clearly haven't spoken for more than 3 minutes at a time" kinda way. Because that's about how often I mention them. Seriously, if only to make our next meeting more bearable - youtube them. Amazing. I won't link to them because I've gone link crazy in this post and there's too many excellent videos to choose from. That's one thing you can count on Paul McDermott fans for. He can't BLINK on television without it getting put onto youtube and turned into an animated gif within 12 minutes of it going to air.

So.. anyway. Nerdrant over. If you're not into comedy I'm sorry, not for my blog, for your sadness. I hope you're ok.


L

Harry Potter Lego for Wii - Nerdblog

Ok. So I love Harry Potter. You might be thinking "omg me too!" but you'd be wrong; you don't even LIKE Harry Potter, not compared to my love for it. Trust me, you don't want to fight about this; I know sectumsempra.

There has been a big hole in my HP appreciation though: Harry Potter video games. So unlike many fans I never really got into the many computer games. I think I played Chamber of Secrets once, I don't remember it. I suspect I was at a phase where I still hoped that my letter was just lost in the mail or that Australian Magic Schools worked on a different system and I still had a chance of going to one and being a witch. So anything that (rather lamely) attempted to recreate the world just made me depressed.

In the last 2 years I've become obsessive about games for Wii and as such, got pretty excited about the concept of wand-like action with the wii-mote. This excitement, as anyone who has played the HP Wii games will know, was unfounded and sadly crushed by the shitty controls and THE FACT THAT YOU USE THE NUNCHUK FOR SPELLS. Stupid. Really, fucking, unwandlike and stupid. I just bashed the keys while writing that, that's how stupid I think that is.

Also both Order of the Phoenix and Half Blood Prince were both a bit, well, ugly don't you think? So grey and urgh. And WHY does that lady painting refer to Sir Cadogan as Sir CaDUGun? Even the movie got that right! So I haven't bought Deathly Hallows Part 1 even thought it *does* look much better. Oh no, I've just rewatched that trailer and now I'm being tempted... don't do it. Must. be strong.

Anyway, the point of this blog ("what?" I hear you cry, "there was a point? egads!" Because as it turns out, you all say egads in my mind) is to rant about Harry Potter Lego Years 1-4.

Um... it's pretty great. It doesn't even pretend for a second that the wii-mote is going to be wandlike and that somehow makes it ok. Also, exploring is actually fun. And while it is dubious to think that lumos would get rid of a devil's snare and wingardium leviosa seems to be the default spell for all situations, I really like it. I love that you get points (those stud things that I first thought were knuts and sickles and then got really confused when there were blue ones) for being destructive. In fact, you aren't a "true wizard" unless you've destroyed everything in sight and then occasionally wingardium leviosad (read: reparod but whatevs) it back into place. It's glichy at times but that just adds to the humour. "Oh no, Harry's stuck behind that toilet again, and I can't switch to Ron because he's disappeared for some reason. Hermione, help a sister out here".

I'm currently in the second year, and I'm enjoying that the more you learn the more you can unlock (it's a metaphor for life!). I'm wondering how shit is going to go down when it turns out Ron's rat is actually a human who has been in hiding for years and whose actions directly caused the deaths of Harry's parents. I say this merely because Scabbers is quite useful for solving puzzles and going through small tunnels and when he's outed as a human... I mean, surely that's going to get a bit awkward? What if I need him to go through a tunnel?

Also... will the lego characters get taller? In a cut scene, Harry's little lego arm came off and Hagrid was all like "ho ho ho" - it's clear that biology doesn't work quite the same way but are they still going to be little squat bricks come the Yule Ball? Coz Hermione's going to look pretty weird in the dress.



You know what would be fucking awesome? A lego LOTR game... I would play the HELL out of that.

Resolution Schmesolution

Ergh. A New Year's resolution - now if that isn't a depressing realisation of failure waiting to happen nothing is. I never make them. I think when I was younger I once tried to be "nicer" but ultimately kids, you have to be true to yourself.

However, suddenly I find myself accidentally making these resolutions. I'll just suddenly say to someone "you know what I'm going to do this year?" and they inevitably make that face we all make when someone says something like this. You know the face? The one that says "don't show any doubt, be supportive, what?! as if he'll EVER keep that one, he loves cocaine"

Now first of all, as a Brisbane-ite and New Farm local the first resolution I intend to make (and it's not so much a "New Year" as a "life" resolution) is to only ever buy really tall houses on hills. And to own a life raft. And insure with Suncorp.

But seriously, I made the decision to start karate classes this year. Why? I don't know! It just came out of my mouth one day and suddenly it's happening. I have no physical skill and I hate hard work. I know nothing about martial art; I recently told someone that I would have to buy "the pajamas and the teeth" before I started. I'm terrified of trying to break a plank of wood with anything other than a power-tool (and even then). I can't even sit upright, let alone do the splits. I JUST HAD TO THINK ABOUT WHAT 'THE SPLITS' WAS CALLED: That thing when your legs are out straight... you know the thing, that flexible thing that you can't do. 


The other accidental resolution I've made... and this is the one that is relevant to you if you are reading this, is to try to write something; anything for at least 10 minutes every day this year. Starting yesterday. I have an idea for a play, and one for a webseries and I have about 3 other things that I've started and not finished. However, I wasn't specific in my resolution making (because I'm so lazy I'll even try to trick myself) and now I suspect that whenever I can't be bothered to write an actual thing, I will write a blog. Probably about how sore I am from these stupid karate classes I should never have taken.


So strap yourselves in children, it's going to be an exciting 2 weeks!

L

How the Grinch ate Christmas

Ah December....


you bastard.


Yes, for those of you who know me (and let's face it, that's all of you - I'm no famous blogger..er) you know that I hate Christmas. I know, I know, "but Lizzy," I hear you cry, "it's so joyous and wonderful and fun and there's presents and family and it's the BEST!"

I know. But I still hate it. And here are the reasons why.

Children, children everywhere and not a drop to drink.

I spend Christmas Evening and Day with 3 wonderful, excellent children that I love to death. These are my siblings. For them, Christmas starts at dawn. Dawn is not a time I like to experience. We do not get on. I do not function at dawn. But I have no choice, I will have stayed up till midnight wrapping presents and eating carrots (we leave them for the reindeer) only to be awoken around 4:45am by children. It's as though they have adrenalin pumping through their veins as they sleep so that by the time they wake up my parents and I have to pull them down from the ceiling so that they can unwrap their presents. Presents + adrenalin turn my usually nicely tempered, fun siblings into squabbling, selfish crazy people. In miniature. Actually one of them's kinda getting tall now. Beside the point. Moving on.

Present Phobia


I have one. I don't like unwrapping presents, and I don't like watching people unwrap presents I have bought for them. Merry Christmas! Urgh.


Toowoomba


My extended family live in Toowoomba. We often go there for Christmas. The last time I spent any amount of time in Toowoomba I got a tic on my neck. Also it has a lot of flowers. These two facts are all I know about it. I'm sure it has lots of great features but I really can't stand being there.

Expectation


"It's going to be lovely, we'll only stay a few hours, we'll eat food, exchange pleasantries and presents and get out of there" inevitably turns into "I didn't realise she would bring HIM and I can't believe we forgot the present for blah, and why did noone think to preorder the chicken - such and such spent so long in the kitchen I felt awful, urgh why is it so HOT?!"

Tee-total
I have a self-imposed alcohol ban for Christmas Day. I am far too candid as it is, the last thing I need to have is less inhibitions when surrounded by people I'm related to who don't necessarily know what I really think about politics, or how much time I really spend on the internet and how much I really don't want to be there. Particularly considering someone in my extended family once said "If I were your father I wouldn't allow you to do that (probably get a peircing or move in with a boyfriend or something else benign and boring) and I replied "lucky for both of us you're not then hey?" I was sober. Very sober.

Reviewing this list I'm considering revoking this ban.

*******

So, this year I decided to be positive. I've been compiling a mental list of all the things that are good about Christmas (keeping in mind that I see my family regularly so "seeing my family" doesn't really count). Here is the list.

1. Those delicious shortbread biscuits that come in tins
2. Stone fruit

I honestly can't think of anything else. My list of 2 things is comprised entirely of food. Om nom nom, Merry Christmas.