I really wanted to start this entry with this picture, but couldn’t get it to fit. It’s Christmas time but it feels very different this year. I know I should be thinking of the reason for the season but this time around isn’t quite the same. This year Dad has had a hard time keeping business and is struggling to meet his end of the year quota. Knowing these kinds of things makes me miss childhood but I know it is part of growing up. He informed me this year we were to go shopping for Christmas together because he hasn’t gotten anyone a thing. Now normally it is a big deal that Dad buys super awesome presents and tries his best to keep them from him. This year, after dealing with health issues and work, Dad just hasn’t been the same. While we were shopping he asked if I wanted this or that, and I said yes please. He said it would be a surprise when I opened it. I thought that was just going to be one or two things, but I picked out all of my presents from him! My mom of course bought me a few things, but she buys the oddest things. Last year I got a humidifier from her, and she is always a big fan of stocking stuffers. Those little things that make no sense to be in a Christmas gift lineup, or are useless. She mailed me a pack of hot coco she got for free I am sure just a few weeks ago.Outside of this, it is the first year I have helped wrap the presents from Santa. Dad just kept telling me how burnt out he was. I think the stress of work, his recent diagnosis of high cholesterol and dealing with my mom is just a combination that has resulted in a need for a break. His reasoning today when I told him things don’t feel the same was “This happens every few years.” He went on to say that Christmas should just be a gift or two, look around — it’s ridiculous he said. Growing up is weird.

Over the Winter break I have been spending a lot of time online looking for ways to produce a steady income with little work. Isn’t this everyone’s dream? I have put considerable consideration in opening up a proxy network but I am worried. It is a big investment, sounds like a good amount of work (3-4 hours a day) and will be hard to break $1,000 per month. I think developing a good website in the field of reptiles will be my solution. I am working with a friend to develop a new site that will serve as a portal to my other reptile sites, as well as hopefully be useful to reptile keepers. I currently run a few websites relating to reptiles. One is Gecko Topsites, averaging between 90 and 100 unique visits a day. Bearded Dragon Topsites was my next venture, but is not near as successful, only getting 10 to 20 unique visits a day. Finally, is Reptile Wallpapers which is still under development but will be a good site if I ever get the code sorted out. My new site, called Reptile Network will be a portal to all these sites, as well as a link database, free image hosting, chat, and topsite. Wish me luck!

I think my strength is that I develop many ideas, my weakness is ability to keep them sorted out and follow through with them. When writing essays to apply to colleges last year this was always a question, maybe I have finally answered it. Dad told me I should list something I could turn around into an advantage, but I am not sure how I can use this to my advantage.

Well, this is my hodge-podge of what is going on lately. I have so much more to say but feel like if you’re reading this you’re overwhelmed enough as it is. Find any of this interesting? Leave me a comment saying hi or asking a question… it’d be some real motivation to write a little more.

Happy Holidays