I'll be (not at) Home for Christmas

It was a long and drawn out and thought out process, but I decided to not go home for Christmas this year. I have gone home every Christmas except the one I spent with ExOfNote's family since I left home. This year, like many others, it was just going to be my parents, Midge, and me.

The more I thought about it, the more I decided that not going would be a better idea. Whenever we're around each other—at least at their home—my father and I invariably get in some fight about something that ultimately doesn't matter. But it gets ugly. And I'm done fighting with him. He knows exactly what buttons to push, and if it's been too long without an argument he'll go at them full force. It's ridiculous and I decided I don't need to put up with it anymore.

Add to that the expense of flying on Christmas and the fact that I just saw them in September, and, though I know it'll be a bit lonely, I decided staying here was better than going there.

Hopefully we all have a happy Christmas.