1) I am on my first real break since going to the Dominican Republic last year. It's strange to think that I have a week off right now. We're on our way to Michigan for the holidays. We were supposed to leave today. However, mother nature put a damper on that. At least it is pretty outside.

2) This has been a very hectic week. On Wednesday, we celebrated Christmas with my family. This will be the first time I won't be spending Christmas with my family. It was a real nice night though, and we all had a good time. I know I've mentioned it on here before, but holidays aren't my favorite days. I feel like sometimes I build them up in my head to having to be something. I'm not sure what that something is all the time though. I find that when I just take things easy, they seem to work out better.

3) We've been watching "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia". A real funny show. At first, I didn't think it was as funny as people make it out to be. But when Danny DeVito joined the cast, I think it really hit its stride.

4) This week, Gov. Paterson rolled out a new tax plan. Absolutely tax soft drinks. They are unhealthy and people need to learn to limit themselves. Also, put wine in grocery stores. I'm not much of a wine drinker, but it'll make life easier. Today on NPR, there was someone talking about taxes on protected land in the Adirondacks and Catskills. I'm not really sure the point they were trying to make, I was drifting in and out of listening.

But I remember in AP Environmental Science, my teacher Mrs. Fitz telling us how that land was super valuable. Worth hundreds of millions of dollars. I was thinking that a great way to raise revenue would be to sell some of that land to some developers. Not "evil corporations", but someone to put in a resort, or something like it. I know what you're thinking, that doesn't sound like something you would normally read here, I'm supposed to be a granola-eating tree hugger. Well I have news for you, I like Cheerios more. But here is the thing about the resort, you make it be real green. You have the whole board come and certify it. Then, it's going to fill up with people, and you take a nightly room tax. Bingo. There is decent amount of cash. It may be crazy sounding, but it seems like Paterson is up for anything right now.