Not quite the Nutcracker...

So December 2nd and how did I kick off the holiday season? A picnic at the beach during sunset. With some grad students in my department, I watched the sun set over the Pacific ocean, ate gourmet food (thanks to Sarah the birthday girl), drank wine, and for 2 hours forgot I was a graduate student faraway from home. There weren't any Christmas carols or red and green M & M's, but there was a sand snowman and it could be a holiday tradition worth repeating.

I still suggest strongly to NEVER BUY A MAGNAVOX.