decemeber 16 also but it's later in the day *wow*

so sometimes I have high creativity, sometimes not. apparently sometimes my creative tides turn into a tsunami and I have one BIG idea all at once and sit at my computer for hours typing it all out. I kept wishing for more creative juice and I got it! guess that shows me to be careful what I wish for. Maybe slow-drip creativity is actually fine. at least it puts less strain on my poor behind which had to sit in a cheap folding desk chair for three hours straight

also unrelated: i got a big jar of applesauce and about a week later it started smelling and tasting like apple cider vinegar. so. maybe it fermented?? that did NOT happen with my last applesauce jar so maybe this one is just ~spicy~ 

got a late birthday present from my friend on a mission. that was uhhh really sweet and also quite unexpected, since we only communicate via email. she sent me three painted rocks! and a letter. usually I don't care much about gifts but that one was really touching because I didn't expect it at ALL. that's why we should just totally detach gift giving from Christmas. Just give gifts because you love people, don't make it a social expectation. Like bruh if it's a social expectation it is also no longer really meaningful to me as an expression of affection. At least with family, I feel like either you give stuff and it's expected, or you don't and it's offensive. Either way there's not a lot particularly positive about it especially if we're actively encouraging kids to present their parents with a list of stuff they want bought for them. In that case, it's not even reciprocal!!!

was talking with another friend, he told me about what his family does and it sounded like something I'd really like. Instead of parents getting everyone gifts, instead they do "secret santa" and each person only has to get a gift for ONE other person. The parents pay for all the gifts but the kids pick the present out! and presumably wrap it and stuff. I really like that and I feel like it's much better for kids so they can focus on what to get their siblings instead of just writing a really long letter to Santa of stuff that they want for themselves.