25. December 2011 by [JP].

Earlier this month, I read a well written, eloquent comment on a Facebook discussion about X-Mas. I even learned something from it.

Regrettably, i cant find it again, probably because the original thread was deleted, due to the FB profile’s owner not enjoying being owned by an old lady while on the interwebs.

Therefore, You’ll just have to deal with me copypasta’ing a few wiki articles together and adding my own comments.

Oh Noes, dont take Christ out of Christmas and replace him with an X.

Oh, but wait…

“Xmas” is a common abbreviation of the word “Christmas”. It is sometimes pronounced /ˈɛksməs/, but it, and variants such as “Xtemass”, originated as handwriting abbreviations for the typical pronunciation /ˈkrɪsməs/. The “-mas” part is from the Latin-derived Old English word for “Mass”,while the “X” comes from the Greek letter Chi, which is the first letter of the Greek word Χριστός, translated as “Christ”.

There is a common misconception that the word Xmas is a secular attempt to remove the religious tradition from Christmas by taking the “Christ” out of “Christmas”.

The word “Christ” and its compounds, including “Christmas”, have been abbreviated in English for at least the past 1,000 years, long before the modern “Xmas” was commonly used.

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12. December 2011 by [JP].

I wanted a new wireless mouse that works with my new keyboard. Sam’s had the model I wanted for 29 bucks, and I was going to get it there. But I got on CL to see what I could find.

And I found. For 35 bucks, that model mouse AND a wireless keyboard.

So I emailed the guy to confirm the model number.

And it was correct.

So I said i’ll take it.

The first indication that something might be amiss was him asking if I’m sure I wanted to do it so late in the day… um, 6pm after work was late? He asked if I was sure I could make it out, with the possibility of snow. Of course, I have a truck. How far could it be, he said Rio Rancho.

Yeah. Rio Rancho. Specifically, that one subdivision way the heck out there by the armory, 10 miles outside of the city’s heart. You know the one, with those weird random O shaped things.

I stopped at the Walgreens to get some cash, and a snack. Then I noticed the GPS said i was 20 miles away. I was like wait, no way.

Then, 15 miles later, instead of routing me over 700 feet of perfectly good road, the GPS, not beliving it existed, routed me thru a nearly 2 mile loop of mud, ice, and a snow covered hill.,, which I must admit, was the best part of the trip. Finally I get to the loop he lived on… all the cookie cutter houses looked the same.

But of course, how could I miss it, since he told me the scientific name of the trees alongside his driveway… Yeah, next time, just say “the 2 skinny ones” So, I arrived. Being that I wasnt working, the taurus was in the usual off-duty spot, in my tac bag. Which was in the back seat of the truck. Why would I need it? After all, i’m just going to ring the doorbell, pick up the keyboard and mouse, and hand over some cash.

I walk to the door, he invites me in. My spidey sense is way tingling. 3 steps inside his house, alarm bells are going off in my head, and I think to myself,  ”oh. crap. can I take this guy if I have to? Do I have a weapon on my person? Oh, right, theres a pocket knife in my cargo pocket. Whew. Can I reach it? I dont know”

We turn the corner and the only open door in the hallway is a bedroom. I’m like WTF did i get myself into here? and why are my 13 hollowpoints on the other side of a door, and 20 feet of ice and snow, rather then tucked in my belt. He points to the linen closet, and when he opens the door, I expect the worst, like a decapitated head, or some S&M gear to be hanging.

Instead, there was the mouse and keyboard on a shelf. I pick up the mouse and inspect it, its just what I wanted. I hand him the money and back towards the door. I thank him, and walk outside to the truck. It hesitates for a split second before starting and i’m like WTF, seriously? I back out of the corner lot, and head down the street.

Of course, I take the frozen muddy hill again, that shit was fun the first time.

PS, this mouse, the Logitech m705, is freaking awesome.

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