Ok, well it wasn't really my first Christmas. I did celebrate it one year when I lived in Australia, but it wasn't same since it was in the middle of the summer and I had to hang out with my girlfriend's yobbo family. This time it was different. I had almost a complete gentile experience. And it was fun.

About a month ago Jen and I went tree shopping. We went to the tree lot at Long's drugs, then to Target and back to Long's where We picked out a lovely 5 1/2 foot noble fir. We carried it back to my car and put it the back where the tree kindly shed a good chunk of pine needles leaving a major mess but also a nice fresh smell.

We dragged the tree out of the car, up the stairs and into the apartment. We trimmed the tree with lights and ornaments (Can you believe I'm 34 and have never done this before?). It was beautiful. (I'll have a picture up tomorrow).

Then I started shopping. I would buy Hanukah presents for my family and Jewish friends and stick them under the tree. It looked great. I kept them under there as long as I could before I had to box them up and ship them out or deliver them in person.

Last night I came over to Jen's for dinner. We didn't have turkey or ham or anything major, just a nice little dinner. The Elvis was sining Christmas Carols on the stereo. After dinner we exchanged gifts. It was very simple, but good clean fun and it's easy to understand why people like it so much.