Good day. Just spent the afternoon putting up my father's outdoor Christmas lights, because he is a Grinch and refused to do it himself. That's okay, if I can make his Christmas less grumpy by eliminating some of the annoying grunt-work he so despises, I will spread the cheer. ("Though it has never put a scrap of gold or silver in my pocket, I believe that it has done me good, and will do me good; and I say, God bless it!")

This is a meme I shameless stole from several of you jobins, like viva_lla_gloria.

1. My username is ______ because ______.
seedyapartment because I used to have this theory that as long as I had music and my friends, I didn't care where I lived. It was my "seedy apartment" theory. I have yet to test it.

2. My name is _____ because ______.
Virginia Grace because my father thought "Virginia" was a classy name (haha) and Grace after my great grandmother, Gracie.

3. My journal is titled ____ because ____.
"Fashionable people doing questionable things", because it describes the activities going on in and around this journal, and also because it's from this amazing song called 'Fashionable People', by my musical boyfriend Joel Plaskett.

4. My friends page is called ____ because ____.
"The Mad Ones, because On The Road was the first book that I ever fell in love with and is still one of my very favorites now. And they're the only people for me.

5. My default userpic is ____ because ____.
because I like guitars, and it's appropriate for the majority of comments I make.

In the midst of the Christmas music downloading frenzied that apparently is Black Friday (WELCOME to my world, Americans who feel they have to wait until after TNKSGVNG to celebrate Christmas), I came across a list of Christmas favorites that included The Who's Christmas.

... I have never in my entire Who-obsessed life thought of that song as a Christmas song. Is that weird? Is is a Christmas song and I just never noticed?

I mean, I've just always been distracted, when listening to this song, by the fact that it's about whether or not Tommy can be 'saved' despite the fact that he doesn't understand what it means to accept Jesus as his personal Lord and Saviour (that age old baptism-as-a-baby debate that Catholics like to have). Despite the fact that the song is titled "Christmas" I've actually never managed to focus on that fact. At. All. What the hell, Virginia? I have heard this song probably, honestly, like, 2000 times.

So, like... I dunno! What do you think? Is this song appropriate for a Christmas song? (I have to say no, because it's just too everyday for me.)

Y/N?

In the song Can I Interest You In Hannukah from "A Colbert Christmas: The Greatest Gift of All", I laugh out loud EVERYTIME Jon and Stephen sing this part:

Jon: We have Latkes.
Stephen: WHAT ARE THEY?
Jon: Potato pancakes. We have dredels!
Stephen: WHAT ARE THEY?
Jon: Wooden tops. We have candles!
Stephen: WHAT ARE THEY?
Jon: THEY ARE CANDLES.

I spy with my little eye... ME. And everyone I know. This is what I was doing on my Christmas morning last year.

you know what time it is...

ONE: got through Christmas. Have never cried so much in one day in my entire life. Spent the day not working (thank you, new, soon-to-be-fired boss!), but in Hard Rock Cafe San Juan listening to such classics as My Angel is a Centerfold and Changes. Then, we saw Seven Pounds and bawled our eyes off. Also, we came out wanting pet jellyfish.

TWO: have been writing so much music lately. I wrote this song called "If You Are My Sunshine" that's about wanting to get out of Dorchster and do more, be more, see more, and at the same time, never, ever wanting to be anywhere that isn't Dorchester. I also wrote one called "Show me the Light", which is not original, but folky.

THREE: only here for 32 more days! This maes me both happy and sad. I've had shitty times with work and Christmas and all, but I've traveled to so many awesome places, seen so many awesome things, and more importantly, met so many awesome friends. I'm excited that if I ever travel to England (Devon), Holland, South Africa (Cape Town), France (Paris), New York (Long Island), Mexico (Mexico City), Chicago or Argentina, I have a place to stay. And not just with an aquaintance, but with a close friend who I'd feel completely comfortable with. So many new possibilities and oppertunities are now open to me.

1. Yesterday was the first day of our Christmas cruise. The rabbi got on board. The priest? Didn't. So we have very, vry upset guests. Like, I was yelled at several times. Uh oh. No priest.

2. I watched Muppet's Christmas Carol yesterday for the first time this Christmas. Did I cry? Yes, it's possible.

3. I'm already counting down to February 1st. That's when I'm off this ship. I mean, yes, I love my friends, but damn it, I miss home. I miss sleeping. I miss not working.

4. Oh! I forgot to tell you that I was in quarantine in my Cabin for 48 hours because I had G.I. It's fun, let me assure you. When that happened, I wished I was back at work.

5. My boss is fighting for us, trying to get us four hours off on Christmas afternoon. Cross your fingers for me!

6. I got a Christmas card from my brother Max that had magazine clippings of random old men and like, trees and an apple. And it said "PS: in case you're wondering why I selected some of the pictures for this card, you don't have to be an astronomer to appreciate the stars."

Okay, so I've complained about this to several people, and was met with nothing ut a) apathy or b) "serves you right"s, and I am counting on you, oh members of my ever-sympathizing flist, to come through with some rage and/or bitching on my behalf.

On Christmas day, my schedual is as follows:

6am- 12pm- WORK
1pm-6:30pm- WORK
7pm-1am- WORK

CHRISTMAS FRAKKING DAY. I hate hate hate ships. HATE AND RAGE. I am counting on you people to come up with something other than "suck it up princess" and make me feel better.

Whenever I'm on the rag, which by the way is right now, I constantly have the song "Bloodclot" by Rancid in my head. Also, I hate calling it "the rag", so I don't know why I just did. I prefer calling it my period. Anyways, yes, the song. Constantly, in my head. Yay.

I'm going to name my baby Shere Khan. And no, I'm not kidding. Most hardcore name in the world. But, really, I like Bronx, so everyone else can suck it. Or just, you know. Have their opinions.

I've decided to say SCREW ALL THIS IGNORING CHRISTMAS STUFF. People have been telling me that to get through Christmas, I should just pretend it's not there, that it's just any other day, and that then I won't be sad. Christmas is my favorite time of year, my very favorite holiday, AND SO THEREFORE I've decided that I am NOT going to be ignorning it. I'm going to continue doing what I do every year: being very obnoxiously in love with Christmas, and decorating and playing music. I'm going to be HAPPY at Christmas, simply because it's Christmas. I GET TO WEAR AN ELF SUIT. And sure, maybe I'll shed a few tears on that day for lack of my family and friends, but it'll still be Christmas. So I went to the Stop 'N Shop and bought some garland and some bells and ribbon. BECAUSE, though Christmas has never put a scrap of gold or silver in my pocket, I believe that it has done me good, and will do me good; AND I SAY GOD BLESS IT.

Now, I just need to find a way to get a copy of Muppet's Christmas Carol in time for Christmas, and it'll all be alright.

Okay guys, I need positive vibes brainstorming to keep me from getting so sad.

What can I do so that I can have a Christmas-y Christmas? Minus a tree and my family. Any ideas? Think movies, decorations, music, anything. Ideas?

! I am doing well, having fun, except for the fact that starting in two days we have 900 kids onboard and I'm gonna be working my ass off.

! I am still ridiculously worried about Christmas... it breaks my heart that I'm going to be here without my family and without snow and without the decorations and without the Christmas lights and tree and ugh, I'm making myself sad just thinking about it. Christmas is my alltime favorite holiday, and I feel like I can't have it.

! Remind me to post some pictures here! I've put them all up on my facebook, but I've bene neglecting my lj.

! Any baby!Wentz news yet? Keep me updated. ♥

Things!

1. I find my lack of Gossip Girl disturbing.

2. Guess what time of year it is? THE MOST WONDERFUL ONE. (Sucks to you're asthmar Americans with your strangely placed Thanksgiving.)

3. Any mini!Wentz's running around yet? COME ON, COME ON.

4. There are 761 kids on my cruise ship right now. There are 15 Youth Staff to look after them. Does anyone wanna pull my hair out for me, or shall I just do it myself?

I'm really, really sad right now. I think it's because in fifteen days, give or take, I would normally start my months-long Christmas celebration. I can't do that here. I can't do it because it's all about the build up, the anticipation, and here? For Christmas? There's nothing to build up to. I won't watch my brothers open their carefully selected Christmas presents, won't get to see Mom mainline coffee all morning, won't watch Andrew watch Basketball at Nana's and fight with Janet over whether or not we can eat cookies for Breakfast. There won't be any Bowie or Bing. There will just be me in my cabin. Okay, that's a lie. There might be lots and lots of rum and a few of my new friends here. And there might be 24 hours of A Christmas Story on the crew channels.

I spent yesteday in Halifax with my father. And while I love spending time with him, and though we went to every music shop we could find, it sucked because the whole time felt like we were counting down. I teared up when I said goodbye to him in the terminal, and watched him walk away. Being sad? Makes me mellowdramatic.

And What a Catch, Donnie is certainly not helping matters any. I feel like I've reverted back to 12-year-old mode, what with the crying and the listening to sad songs and the wallowing. "I've got troubled thoughts and the self-esteem to match"? How many thousands of people can relate to that, I ask you? Tons.

I need cheering. Of the major persuasion.

I wanna say thank-yous for Christmas Cards from skies_of_honey (pretty card! sparkly!), msfiction (my mom and I have been in a debate as to whether snowmen had carrots for noses or not: I say yes, she says they have button noses. Your card was more evidence for my team) and halfway2home (BLAIR. BLAIR BLAIR BLAIR. I LOVE fandom cards, so I may have actually squealed when I opened yours.)

I've also got a bunch more than I haven't opened yet, so I'm very excited! We didn't get our mail all over Christmas break, so it's like exciting second Christmas opening all the cards.

Today for lunch I made a smoothie. It was a Strawberry-Kiwi Banana smoothie with key-lime sorbet. And it was good. Except, possibly next time, less kiwi. I put in a whole kiwi, so I think next time I'll just use a half. Anyone else like smoothies? They're awesome. It's all part of my plan for unplump, which, GO JOIN if you made a new years resolution to get into shape. This group is very motivational and fun! Who knew?!

Someone last week (karmicunderpath, I believe) linked to Joy Nash's Fat Rant and man, it pretty much made me cry. It rings so true! I love this woman!

I'm very sad because the new Gossip Girl is on tonight and it's switched to that like most shows, it doesn't air 'til the day after in Canada. ALSO, it's the season finale. ALSO ALSO, it's entitled "A Thin Line Between Chuck and Nate". NO. NO LINES BETWEEN MY BOYS ARE ALLOWED. It's okay, though, because the line is thin, and can be CRASHED THROUGH with lots of blowjobs and things on the part of Chuck. (SHHHH THAT'S WHAT IT MEANS.) RIGHT?

Does anyone have a good acoustic Grand Theft Autumn by Fall Out Boy? I've like the song for a few years now, and only just discovered that there was an acoustic version. In trying to find it, I've uncovered many iffy-quality live versions, but I want the one that's playing in this video. Anyone?

ALSO: I don't know if I ever recced gossipgirl_rpf before, but it's a community dedicated to Gossip Girl Real Person Fiction and Slash. And there are a few kick-ass Chace/Penn fics up there right now. Just sayin'.

CHRISTMAS CHRISTMAS CHRISTMAS.

For me, Christmas is pretty much over. At least, the exciting parts. We got up at 5am... which is kinda hilarious, since the youngest of us is 13, but homg fun. Everyone gets up early on Christmas these days. And there's already been a huge fight, but we're over it and we've eaten some chocolate.

And I got lots of fun things! Except, I got a cellphone, which I don't want, so we're gonna exchange it for something else. I hope my mother doesn't think I am ungrateful, I just don't want a cellphone. My brothers scored big, they got Guitar Hero 3, some Ipods, an X-Box 360, cellphones for themselves and tons of other little stuff. They are some happy, hyper, tired teenagers. Good times all around.

Ooh, and I got a rain stick! Which I love love love. (From 10 000 Villages, made in Indonesia.) LOVE LOVE. Sweater, boots, music, dvds. Finally, Veronica Mars season three. We are such a lucky family. ♥

Merry Christmas to everyone. Love and joy and peace and everything that a person should have on this day.

ETA: Clearly, I've just taken an hour from my Christmas to enjoy The Yuletide fics, and you? Should to. There is even some Chuck/Nate in there.

No matter how much your family is trying on your nerves today, remember. It's Christmas Eve! (I'm not sure how that's supposed to help, but oh well.) Hee.

Bweeee, higuyshi! It's Christmas Eve! Me and Jamie and Johnny did the countdown, with a side of larebear over msn, and it was so much fun. We rang in Christmas Eve (in my estimation, the most exciting day of the year) watching Muppet's Family Christmas. Then we all got under the Christmas tree so we could discuss important things, such as what time we would get up on Christmas morning and whether or not we could eat the gingerbread men right now or not. Then Johnny went to bed, because he is thirteen, and therefore bedtime is still an issue.

THEN, me and Jamie watched Sin City and Bedtime Stories. Yes, folks, I am thatmuch closer to being caught up! And may I just say, oh, man, how I've missed the show! I didn't know I was missing it until I watched it. I feel all full of Christmas joy and our boys just made it even better. We wanna try and watch the remaining three we'll need to be caught up by tomorrow, mostly so that we can watch the Christmas episode before actual Christmas.

I don't really have anything to say about the two episodes, besides JENSEN IS PRETTY and HISANDYHI. I'd say more, but I'm just gonna assume it's all been said and continue on with the remaining episodes. I'm quite excited, as I'm almost perfectly unspoiled.

CHRISTMAS. I should maybe go to bed soon? Yes. Right after I read all kinds of schmoopy Christmas fic, like the one lostt1 posted recently.

I played a good show tonight. Lots of fun. We played the debut of my song Quiet People Are Better in Bed, and it went over really well. Fabulous, because I was kinda nervous about it, but there was much laughing and tons of dancing (see, live, the band does this jazzed up version with a super-funky bass-line that kinda sounds like bass in the theme song for Full House). I'll post pictures and possibly some video of the gig tomorrow.

In the meantime, hey look. Adventures in Panic! at the Disco badfic. Not just any badfic, oh no. Badfic Marysue. Also, I really hope you didn't write this.

“Brendon! You're so hot! Are you single? Will you marry me?”

If I have to hear anymore of those comments, I will shoot myself…and him…my boyfriend, Brendon Urie.

Facebook just sent me a message from my countdown that said "2 Day 'Til Christmas", and I kinda freaked out a little. CHRISTMAS.

ETA: eeheehee. "Now I was scared, well not scared but a little confused. Brendon was acting not like himself. We never fooled around in public before. It was always behind closed and locked doors of hotel rooms, and our bedrooms, never in a venue, on the tour bus or anywhere like that. Brendon was a very private person when it came to this kind of stuff. He told the Press he has a girlfriend but when asked anything about me, he never answers them. He just says it's his own private business and to respect it or something to that degree." WELL NOT SCARED, OKAY I LIED.

ETA2: Ummz, I was just reading a thread on the Remus/Sirius community that was asking people whether or not they liked Shoebox or not, and I clicked in, curious, because obviously, everyone likes Shoebox and I couldn't imagine who would claim otherwise. And I found some people who don't like Remus' characterization, which is fair enough, so I got reading their comments. And one of them said that Shoebox_Project "was for the masses that pretty much didn't read everything else." Hahahaha. 1) if this claim is indeed true, there was a reason it was elevated to that status 2) just because many, many people like it doesn't make it less good. I feel like I'm reading music-snobbery! It's like Shoebox is the Justin Timberlake of fic. IT'S FANFICTION FOR CHRISTSAKE. About MINOR characters. In an DIFFERENT era. It's a niche genre, even, and people are like, IT'S TOO MAINSTREAM FOR ME. Oh, people. Oh fandom. ♥

It's getting newsfeed messages like this from facebook that make all the hassle worthwhile:

Shannon and Ashley are going to the event Christmas on December 25th. It's hosted by Jesus and Santa.

Here are some songs I am currently looping:

Give Peace a Chance- John Lennon. Not exactly news, but.
Friend of the Devil- Grateful Dead. Love love love.
Extra Fries- Jon Epworth and the Improvements. Fabulous songwriting, here.
A Little Preist- The Sweeny Todd soundtrack. This one is delightful, HBC actually does a fabulous job, and Johnny? Well.

And here's the link to my Christmas folder again, in case there's something you're missing for this holiday season.