Joshua Zamrycki's Weblog

As you all know, last night was the first night of Chanukah and, boy-o-boy, did we ring in the Festival of Lights in style! Chanukah is not a high holy day, but somewhere along the way it has become one of the most popular Jewish holidays of the year. It’s gotta be the presents. The holiday has absolutely nothing to do with presents, but its close proximity to Christmas has sucked it down to the same commercial depths. If you can’t beat em, join em! Let the gift giving begin…

It kinda feels like a cop-out, but one of the great things about being in a long-term relationship is that you can give gifts “from the two of you”. Saves money and effort. Best thing I’ve ever done.

First, for my happy-little-home-making sister Rebecca, we got a huge set of glassware. She wants to be a hosewife when she grows up.

We bought my sister Amanda A Box of Unfortunate Events. She likes Lemony Snicket (three weeks ago, I didn’t know what any of that meant either).

My mom received a little porcelain mermaid from Lladro’s Nao collection. She now has the entire series. I think they’re kinda creepy.

My Aunt Ruthis has been kicking herself since her trip to Barcelona for not buying a little statue of the dragon from Gaudi’s Parc Guell. So Jan and I trolled through the tourist shops and bought her one. She was over the moon!

Nana was easy. She loves jewlery and turquoise is her color. So when we say a mother of pearl necklace in her color, we knew she’d be putty in our hands.

Jan walked out of there with a pair of super-soft snuggle-trousers, a scarf, gloves, and a gift certificate for a one-hour massage. I got the new graphics card that I had convinced everyone to chip in for. I can almost hear Half-Life 2 calling my name now!

All in all, I’d say everyone left a very happy camper. My nana was even quoted as saying that she had made out like a bandit. Or “bandito” to be precise. So cute. And after the gift giving was over, we all retired to the living room for a fresh salad bar, some latkes and rugalach.

Are Chanukah and Christmas manifestations of materialism and commercial greed? Probably. But as long as I get my 128-bit full floating point precision which enables billions of color variations to render the same lighting and effects as Hollywood studios, I don’t think I’ll lose any sleep over it.