College Essay Excellence

Two years ago, I was afraid of wanting anything. 

I figured wanting will lead to trying, and trying will lead to failure.. 

But now I find that I can't stop wanting. 

I want to fly somewhere in First Class. 
I want to travel to Europe on a business trip. 
I want to get invited to the White House. 
I want to learn about the world. 
I want to surprise myself. 
I want to be in love. 
I want to be the best person I can be. 
I want to define myself instead of having others define me. 
I want to win and have people be happy for me. 
I want to lose and get over it. 

I want to grow up and be generous and big-hearted, the way that people have been with me.

I want an interesting and surprising life. 

It's not that I think I will get all of these things; I just want the possibility of getting them. 

College represents possibility. 

The possibility that things are going to change. I can't wait! 

... Tyra Collette's college essay in Friday Night Lights - "Underdogs" (Season 3: Episode 12)

Love Actually

It's Christmas time! I was prepared early this year. Last year, I was busy planning a surprise wedding and wedding reveal engagement party. This year, my presents were bought in October and wrapped in November. (To my haters - Christmas is the same day,  every single year after all.)

My husband and I even decorated our bungalow for the occasion. We put up our first real Christmas tree, lights inside and outside, Christmas scented Glad plug-ins, and a giant inflatable Husky in our front yard. I guess you can say we are definitely in the Christmas spirit.

My favorite Christmas movie is Love Actually. Although it is too risqué for some folk, you can't deny that that this opening narrative is endearing -

"Whenever I get gloomy with the state of the world, I think about the arrivals gate at Heathrow Airport. General opinions starting to make out that we live in a world of hatred and greed, but I don't see that.

It seems to me that love is everywhere.

Often it's not particularly dignified or newsworthy, but it's always there - fathers and sons, mothers and daughters, husbands and wives, boyfriends, girlfriends, old friends.

When the planes hit the Twin Towers, as far as I know none of the phone calls from the people on board were messages of hate or revenue - they were all messages of love.

If you look for it, I've got a sneaky feeling that you'll find that love actually is all around."