Instagram is often the first thing I check in the morning when I’m still too sleepy to get out of bed. If that doesn’t say something about its absolute integration in my life, I don’t know what could. I get teased often for posting too much to Instagram, but I have no plans of stopping anytime soon. Here’s some faves from my own feed:

There’s certainly no better way to learn about history than through great stories. If I had teenaged children (which would be really weird), I’d make them watch this series. It’s incredible to see how people lived without modern medicine, technology, or blue jeans, although I think I could do well with an attending maid to change my sheets and fix my hair.

I’ve only watched the first season, but I can’t wait to spend many more hours camped, mouth open, in front of my television. If you haven’t watched it yet, just give in. And do know that it takes at least three episodes to figure out who everyone is. Hang in there. Mary’s clothes alone will make it worth it.

This is just something that’s been on my mind lately: speaking up. I find too often that people don’t speak up about things that they think are wrong. I don’t mean that everyone should become poster-toting activists — I just mean the little things. Say you have a friend who says something you find offensive. Tell her. Say a coworker has done a poor job on a project that affects you. Tell him. Or say your Congress isn’t doing what you want. Tell them.

I think that, generally, people don’t speak up because they’re afraid of ruffling feathers. Here’s the thing: unless you go all super-bitch, people won’t get mad at you for voicing a well-reasoned opinion (trust me on the super-bitch thing), and if they do? Screw them. Your relationships with friends and coworkers should be strong enough that you can respectfully raise an issue without negative consequences. If not, you probably need new friends and coworkers.

People also stay quiet because they don’t think they have the authority to speak up. Okay,  don’t go busting down your boss’s door, but if there’s a problem that she should know about, find a way to tell her. The worst thing that happens is that she says no or you find out you’re wrong and learn something. The best case scenario is that she says yes and you both learn something (and you get a raise for saving the company a million dollars?). I’d say that’s worth the risk.

What about Genovese syndrome? I guess this is what happens to those popular cliques in high school in the movies: no one speaks up because, well, no one else is speaking up. It happens far beyond high school, though. You know it’s true. Even if you’re 1 against 30, it’s always worth standing up for something you believe in — or at least having a real discussion about it.

Speaking up is only half of it though. Once you say something, you or someone with the proper authority needs to follow through with action. Don’t complain to your friends about a crappy guy if you’re not going to confront the jerk. Don’t write a whiny letter to your bosses when the problem is a personal issue with a coworker. Don’t whine about politics if you don’t even vote. Don’t get me wrong: commiseration and tattling have their place, but they’re mostly just weak. There are ways to really change things that are wrong if you approach them respectfully and logically. And if you can’t change it, get rid of it. Dump the guy, quit the job, and move to Australia.

Argument: It’s a Hallmark holiday.
Sure, it’s a holiday full of materialism and too much pink, even for my taste, but what holiday hasn’t become commercialized? That’s the world we live in, and it’s only our consumerism that supports it. Don’t buy the cheap crap (please skip over the horrible St. Patrick’s day merchandise while you’re at it), and you are officially free from blame. As it is, the holiday was started in the 15th century, far before there was a Hallmark or a Walmart to put a shiny, plastic sheen over its true meaning (which is love, by the way) so the argument is moot, at best.

Argument: I don’t care about Valentine’s Day.
It’s a true sign of immaturity when someone can’t like something just because it’s not cool to like it, or vice versa. I see this all the time with Valentine’s Day. Girls love to boast that they are “different” or somehow smarter than their counterparts because they think Valentine’s Day is dumb. And guys stealthily shop on Amazon, lest one of their friends see that they actually want to show someone that they care. Stop it. Get over your own ego and pride. It feels good to do something nice for someone. Try it. Make the holiday your own and do something that is meaningful to you. If you don’t like chocolates or flowers or going out to dinner (in which case, um, WHAT?), then don’t do those things. But don’t write off the whole holiday.

Argument: I don’t know if I should do anything.
Don’t question whether you should make a gesture for someone you care about. Why would you not? Whether it’s a best friend, a new boyfriend, or a long-term spouse, everyone deserves love. They deserve it all the time, but this is a day set aside just for you to show it. Use it. And that doesn’t mean spending money; it’s never about the gifts. Just like Christmas, it’s just about showing that you care. This isn’t a holiday just for females either. Give a guy you care about something sweet, and tell me that the look on his face wasn’t incredible. And even if someone says she is not into Valentine’s Day (see above), she is. No one wants to feel unloved on this day. So go out with your girl friends, write your boyfriend a stupid poem, and send your Mom a card. Everyone needs love.

Argument: It’s based on a massacre. That’s horrible.
If you do some research, the origins of the holiday and of St. Valentine are unclear. But why does it even matter? When, after you finished elementary school, have you thought about Pilgrims on Thanksgiving? And if you want to hear a messed up tale, look what they did to the Indians. Bet you still eat turkey. Maybe I’m able to have this view because of my upbringing: the only type of Christmas I ever had was a secular one, but it’s still my favorite holiday. Why? Because I love the traditions; I love the decorations; I love that families come together to share love and food and gifts. It’s a milestone during which, each year, we can look back on where we were in years past. To me, it just means family. And Valentine’s Day means love – or at least affection – so why would we not focus on that?

Holidays, like most things in life, are what you make them. Why would you take this beautiful, ancient holiday and turn it into something you’re actually embarrassed to admit celebrating? I’m sick of it, and I hope that these words can make a few people at least reconsider their views on Valentine’s Day. If not, here’s my last defense:

I rest my case.

1) A guest hand towel
No, boys, I don’t want to dry my hands on the towel you’ve been using to wipe down you body for the past two weeks. Get a hand towel. They sell them right there next to the regular towels. They’re cheap and easy to throw in the laundry. Get some.

2) Wine glasses
At one time or another, someone will bring over a bottle of wine. Do not pull out plastic cups from which to drink it. Even if it’s cheap wine, it’s wine. It should feel classy. They’re not expensive – just overlooked.

3) Hand soap
One time, I was at a friend’s house when a puppy pooped on my hand. I ran to the bathroom only to find, to my complete horror, that there was no soap. Nothing: not even a bar. I had to use shampoo. Buy a nice dispenser and then you can get the huge bottles once a year. Really not hard.

4) A file box
Not everything in the world is online yet. There are still papers to organize, and you need a file box for them – with real, labeled folders and everything. You’ll thank me when you get audited.

5) Wall art
And I don’t mean dorm room wall art. Band posters and IKEA prints are, in most cases, not acceptable wall art. I recommend Goodwill, thrift shops, local art walks, Etsy, or Poster Cabaret (preferably framed). You really have no excuse.

(image from CB2.com)

Purgatory can quickly become hellish (oh, I said it) if not kept in check. For instance, there is a section of my counter that is designated as paper/small object purgatory. This is where I keep things like mail that needs a response, receipts, and, currently, a shirt that needs a button repaired. If the mail goes unanswered or the receipts gather too heavily, then the system fails. But since this spot is highly conspicuous and in a place I spend a lot of time (yeah, the kitchen), items steadily stream in and out.

I also have a clothing purgatory because sometimes, ugh, it really is too hard to hang up that shirt when you get home. Clothing purgatory should never be a bed, a floor, or a sofa. Mine is a small stool that can’t have more than about 7 items on it without the pile toppling over. That way, even the shirts that I haven’t worn in a year will still get put in their proper place. I also have a bag that contains items I want to donate/sell, which I take care of based on how full it is. The annoyance of its obtrusion in my space is a great driver for me to make the trip to Goodwill.

So here’s the rules for managing your purgatory:

1) The area must be small (one drawer, one basket, one side of the desk, etc).
2) If an item doesn’t have a place in your home, make one. Don’t leave it in purgatory.
3) Keep the purgatory visible (under the bed will not work).
4) Make use of storage accessories to keep the area from just looking like a messy pile of crap.
5) Most importantly, you must tend to the items constantly – no less than once a month and maybe even daily.

I was never really a huge fan of Hitchens as a writer, but for his efforts in educating the world about the dark side of religion and about what it means to not believe, I must pay tribute. Rest in peace, Hitchens.

“Religion comes from the period of human prehistory where nobody—not even the mighty Democritus who concluded that all matter was made from atoms—had the smallest idea what was going on. It comes from the bawling and fearful infancy of our species, and is a babyish attempt to meet our inescapable demand for knowledge (as well as for comfort, reassurance, and other infantile needs). Today the least educated of my children knows much more about the natural order than any of the founders of religion.”

(http://spamusement.com/)

So my 2012 New Year’s resolution will be simply to trust my intuition more often, from decisions at the supermarket to personal relationships. I hope that it can take some of the daily mental stress out of my life and leave my brain open to more important thoughts – like puppies.

If my trip to Disneyland was any predictor, 26 is sure to be a great year. But without further ado, here is the final status of my list. The ones in bold are the ones I still want to do (maybe a “12 before 2012″ list?).

1) Visit San Francisco
2) Launch new personal site (I think the redesigned blog counts)
3) Organize file box
4) Write an article for a blog or newspaper
5) Take a guitar lesson
6) Complete a new painting
7) Learn to cook 3 new dinners
8) Run an 8-minute mile (Realized I hate running and gave this one up.)
9) Buy a new TV stand
10) Get new artwork for living room
11) Get car professionally cleaned
12) Print new photos of friends/family for frames
13) Learn how to bind a book (Lost interest)
14) Get a new Twitter avatar
15) Learn how to wear eyeshadow (Doesn’t mean I’m going to do it though)
16) Finish a a 5.10+ climb at the rock gym
17) Clean out GMail Inbox (Ha.)
18) Organize and arrange bookshelf
19) Get cavities filled (ew)
20) Organize/back-up files from dying Macbook
21) See the Grand Canyon
22) Speak in front of an audience (It’s not really what I had in mind, but a few presentations at work counts, right?)
23) Digitize old photos
24) Get a pedicure (Thanks, Mom)
25) Repair vintage purse
26) Get new chairs for dining room table (In the process of reupholstering now)

The Santa Clause
Let it be doubly noted that I mean ONLY the first one. I don’t know what sort of drugs happened to bring about The Santa Clause 2 and 3, but they are certainly not up to the standards of this 1994 classic. Tim Allen is hilarious, and the boy who plays his son is the cutest thing ever.

Elf
If you don’t love this movie, I’m not sure we would be able to relate on anything. Will Ferrell’s personality makes for a perfectly hilarious Buddy the Elf, with quotable lines to spare. Add in a really great and original storyline, and you’ve got one of the best Christmas films ever created (yeah, I said it).

White Christmas
How can you not adore a musical romance? I love the songs and dances (hello, Bing Crosby) in this movie equally as much as I love the old-timey dialogue and beautiful scenes. Until I’ve seen this movie, it just doesn’t feel like Christmastime.

A Charlie Brown Christmas
I grew up watching this movie. When I watch it now, I sort of miss the accidental bits of commercial that were recorded into the VHS tape that we had of it in my childhood. This movie has a sweet message and great one-liners. It’s Peanuts at their finest.

A Christmas Carol
I couldn’t begin to know how many movie versions of this tale exist. One of my absolute favorites, however, is the 1984 version starring George C. Scott. Scrooge, Cratchit, and all of the other characters are perfect (except that the David Bowie-haired ghost of Christmas past creeps me out a bit). Phooey on the new Jim Carey one.

Miracle on 34th Street
I know that many will disagree, but I just love the 1994 version of this film. The storyline is so cute and Christmasy (spellcheck approved) that I’d like any version, but this one strikes a chord with me. I’m sure that little girl would annoy the piss out of me if I had to spend the whole day with her, but she’s adorable in this film.

Mr. Magoo’s Christmas Carol
This one is another childhood classic – and it goes back even to my parents’ childhoods. I don’t recall ever watching Mr. Magoo cartoons, but I just adore this movie. The original songs are brilliant, and the whole thing just feels so sincere.

Love Actually
This movie is a more recent favorite. The myriad love stories are great, the cast is incredible, and that stupid Christmas song kind of grows on you. Plus, duh: Hugh Grant.

How the Grinch Stole Christmas
And, again, I don’t mean the one with Jim Carey. I do enjoy that one, but this original tops it by far. Anyone who knows me knows that I love Dr. Seuss artwork. The scenes in this are Seuss-y and perfect, and the songs are unforgettable.

National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation
If this movie doesn’t make you laugh, nothing will. Although “Cousin Eddie” gets a bit tiresome, the holiday season just wouldn’t feel right without Chevy Chase’s antics.

Honorable Mentions: The Nightmare Before Christmas (I like watching this more around Halloween though), The Polar Express (growing on me every year), It’s a Wonderful Life, The Muppet Christmas Carol, and my recent new fave Prep and Landing.