BOOYAH! 4.0 GPA for the semester... and Happy "Holidays"

OK, so I don't profess to be all that smart (I ain't no dummy, either), but I must admit that getting an A+ in my Public Service Research II class nearly made me do a backflip! I also got A's in Budgeting and Finance and Public Labor Relations. And for all of you out there that think an MPA is a no-brainer degree, you're wrong. I'm much more challenged now than I ever was during my undergrad years, and am so grateful for it. I'm just glad that Dr. Lan thought our group project on States and their environmental policies was that high quality. So, props to my teammates Elvy and Lauren are also due.

Well, my friends, Christmas is upon us. While I know some of you do not observe Christmas, or even Hannukah or Kwanzaa, or any other type of spiritual or otherwise festive holiday at this time of year, I hope you will not slight me for being grateful to whom I believe created me and gave me life. I know places like Target and Wal-Mart and a barrage of other commercial entities are de-emphasizing the various religious holidays to either be more politically correct or all emcompassing. And to that end, I could care less - but when I feel like I have to suppress the holiday I celebrate because someone doesn't believe in God, or someone doesn't celebrate Christmas, or because of many of the perceptions people have about the church I belong to, I get irked. I am good at respecting peoples beliefs and values (and in some cases, the lack thereof) - so don't bug me or tell me to be more PC. I'll celebrate Christmas, because I am a Christian. And if you celebrate another holiday, to you I say: Happy Hannukah, Happy Kwanzaa, Happy Festivus to all the Seinfeldians, and Merry Happy Chrismahannukwanzikah to all who enjoy the Virgin Mobile phone commercials as much as I do. In any case, may you be well and happy this season, regardless of your belief...