Ahhhhhh the holidays. This year, perhaps a bit different from the last, my feelings of excitedness (not a word) and trepidation for Germany have been replaced with depression (actual word) and trepidation for the impending five months of desperate job searching. As I sit alone in my room, a glass of German beer in hand, one resume and cover letter down (25 million to go) I am in a holiday funk, dear friends. I will not blame Lauren’s recent early graduation and move to DC (seriously, congratulations) for bringing my own life into pathetic perspective. Realizing that finals week is actually over and I have a month of zero commitments lying ahead had to happen at some point. The emo-ish, wallowing parts of me would like to point out that the A I got my my EU final will not matter in the real world, but since that’s all I’ve got going for me right now, I’m going to hold on to it. The grumpy, uninspired parts of me would like to point out that I’m a body-loathing blob of beer weight and cheese fries, but that won’t do anything for my already alarmingly low amount of holiday spirit. Thus, I’ll get up (or maybe, go to sleep and try this all tomorrow) look for jobs, talk to Neil, wrap some presents, and continue with the day-to-day because that’s my only option. This one whiny post aside, nobody wants to hear it because everyone else I know is also going through it.

…HARK! BUT WAIT! Thank goodness for Jezebel, for what did I just stumble upon in those self-doubting moments between “Preview” and “Publish”? This, an article on tonight’s lunar eclipse. And hallelujah, perhaps an explanation:
“You may be feeling more emotional than usual under an eclipse, especially if the eclipse is lunar (full moon).”
Well at least I know have an extraterrestrial body on which to blame everything. I’m sure it had nothing to do with this picture which made me want to cry and puke at the same time, or more like cry so hard I puked. I’ll spare you the gut-wrenching, heartbreaking emotions I feel over not being in Germany– I’m sure I have some spare paper I could fashion into a makeshift diary around here somewhere. Happy Holidays, everyone (and yes, Mom, I said “holidays.” Because not everyone saying “holidays” wants to take Christ outta Christmas, they just realize that New Years or Jewish people deserve to be acknowledged, also.)

“When are you due?”

“Excuse me?”

“Aren’t you pregnant?  You must be having triplets or something, at least eight months along I’d guess.”

“Nope.  Just a food baby.  A pretty epic Christmas indeed.”

And THAT’S how I imagine a random conversation going in the grocery store tomorrow should I find the motivation or ability to get up from the prone position I’ve just kind of fallen into. 

SO.MANY.THINGS. happened today:

1.) My father noticed the um, crack in my laptop that’s been hanging out on the right hinge of the screen for like, I don’t know… a month or so?  Or three?  It was way worse and I kind of just popped it back in place (yep, he’s not thrilled.  I am a dumbass.)  He asked what my genius self planned to do if the screen decided to just crap out on my one day, perhaps when I’m say, ohhhh THOUSANDS OF MILES AWAY FROM HOME.  And I said “Uhh… Internet cafe?”  Wrong answer.  So now I get to decide whether to take my chances with this slightly handicapped Dell OR use some of my Christmas money to buy a new one.  I’m no math wizard, but the voices of reason in my life are gunning for me to get a new one to ensure (insure?) my sanity while abroad.  This option does not work well with my natural frugalness (parents, do NOT laugh– just because I can spend money like a drunken sailor at a strip club doesn’t mean this is something I want to spend said money on.)

2.) That guy tried to blow up that plane while landing in Detroit.  Normally, I don’t give two shits about things in the world not directly affecting me (I know, how mature of me) but this DOES alter my life, don’t you see?!?!  We fly out on Tuesday for Miami and sure as shit the FAA has already been all “We’re stepping up airport securtiy” AGAIN.  Even though everyone knows that if some guy on the news gets busted for sneaking bombs on in his shoes, the LAST TIME you’d want to repeat said manuever would be directly following said criminal activity.  Because that’s the first place they’re gonna look.  This is not rocket scientist, it is simply a childhood of a few too many Saturday morning cartoons.

3.) AND THIS IS A BIG ONE: So my friend Lauren (@laurensieben for all you Twitter freaks) was all “Yo Brittney, your blog is rad, we’re both studying abroad, let’s be rad together.”  So she and I now have a NEW BLOG that is devoted to our adventures in Europe.  (It is conveniently listed in the blogroll to your right!)  We have a lot in common–journalism majors, severe sarcasm, the wish to one day not be stuck busing tables forever, the ability to make at least two people outside of our families chuckle with our writing.  She’ll be in Spain, I’ll be in Germany.  Props to Papa K for getting creative with the doman name (Iowa Girls Gone Wild…hehe– we have no moral objections to our target audience being misguided perverts) and getting it all set up.

BUT WAIT, BRITTNEY– what does that mean for this little gem of a site?!?!  Never fear, you all know I’m much too self-serving to let my little Brittney Has Something To Say (dot com!  T-shirts available soon!) go by the wayside.  Perhaps when I’m lazy I’ll copy/paste the same post on both blogs.  There will certainly not be fresh content on both every day, or even every other– I plan on actually experiencing Europe and then perhaps filling in the details for you as an afterthought.  I haven’t actually thought that far ahead.  My main concern at the moment is what to wear home tomorrow since I’m quite certain I didn’t pack any muumuu’s big enough to cover this post-holiday girth.

Ohhh and I forget to tell you the absolute best part of today:

4.) I’m learning how to look into the webcam while Skyping instead of using it as a mirror.  Baby steps, people– baby steps.