LETTITOR Ready or not... happy holidays! he smell of peppermint and stress-sweat in the air; & the taste of non-alcoholic *cough* eggnog and oh-so-buttery shortbread; the sweet caress of a cold winter’s wind as it bites through even the thickest of peacoats: welcome to the end of the semester and the beginning of holiday hell. If you’re reading this, that means you've persevered through the year’s doldrums and currently find yourself at the frosty-white—more than likely rain- drenched, in Vancouver—doorstep of December. Hereto at The Other Press, with only one more issue to go in our 2011 publishing calendar, we're just as surprised as you are that another year is on its way out. Anyway, regardless of which (if any) celebrations—religious or otherwise—you find yourself preparing to embark on in the weeks ahead, what I’m about to say is intended as a general statement for all peoples: relax, this only happens once a year, don’t spoil it for the rest of us. Whether or not you buy into and support the commercial, consumer-centric side of things—a holier-than-thou bullet I'll gladly dodge here—the “holidays” are generally swell in my books. Naive as it may be, I have no reservations in saying that, come December 1, the world just seems more... magical? Perhaps it’s the result of ACROSS being bombarded by the raw eye pollution of tacky lights and plastic snowmen which, overwhelming the senses, render Vancouverites, from wide-eyed tots to hardened youths, defenceless to 31-day-long onslaught of cheer and goodwill. Or, maybe we’re just conditioned into feeling this way after years of Christmas specials, wish lists, and letters to Santa. On second thought, the letters penned in oddly-familiar writing—I'm looking at you, Mom—probably didn’t help to define the line between real world fact and holiday fiction. Oh well. Unlike other things that occur on an annual basis—like doing your taxes or having your colon checked— the holiday season is something I willingly donate my time, energy, and sanity to. So, for those dreading the impending ho-ho-holidays, here are a few tips from me to you to help you not only survive, but enjoy yourself this December. Participate in a secret Santa gift exchange. This might come across as a suggestion that hits the nail on the head a little too literally, but it needs to be said. Perfect for the student on a budget, secret Santa exchanges are great for groups of all sizes to have some fun in the gift-giving spirit of the holidays without breaking the bank. Setting a limit of $10 or $20 begs for participants to get creative, which often results in some kitschy, downright wacky “gifts.” Play a game to keep things simple or draw names from a hat if you’re feeling bold; you might even learn a thing or two about your friends based on the thoughtful, thoughtless, and generally absurd things people is a Scrooge, if for no other reason than the sanctity of your sanity— and the sanity of the rest of us—I beg you to at least entertain the idea of holiday cheer. If not, pack a bag lunch and I'll see you when you crawl out of your cave on come up with. January 1! Develop a taste for eggnog. If you don’t already, learn to love Later days, eggnog. It’s great on its own and serves as a solid contender for Cody Klyne best seasonal rum mixer. Nothing Editor in Chief says “I’m trying my best to enjoy The Other Press the holidays” like a fridge stocked with eggnog and a freezer filled with spiced rum. (Note: For those intolerant of lactose *raises hand* don’t fret. Silk, Lactaid and, I hope, Almond Fresh, make mean lactose- free variants.) Make a holiday playlist. As of November 1, whether you genuinely like or ironically enjoy Christmas music, the fact that it’s everywhere is just one of those “facts of life” things that will never change. Embrace it! While there’s a wealth of trite that you'll have to endure in the day-to-day, there’s also a world of brilliant covers and classic gems waiting to enrich your commute, home, or office. A standby: A Charlie Brown Christmas (Vince Guaraldi Trio, 1965). Anew classic: A Very She & Him Christmas (She & Him, 2011). While I know that by this point a Grinch is a Grinch and a Scrooge 1- Conscription org.; 4- Tree of the birch family 9- Antlered animal; 14- "The Bells" poet; 15- Mislead 16- Big name at Indy; 17- Egyptian cobra; 18- Alamogordo's county 19- "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" author 20- Dilapidated; 23- St. crossers; 24- Sky light; 25- Lets up 28- Hit on the head; 30- Buddy; 33- Large drinking bowl 34- Describes a gently cooked steak; 35- "East of Eden" brother 36- High-speed separator; 39- Gets the picture 40- Wall St. debuts; 41- More cunning; 42- Computer key 43- 1982 Disney film; 44- Biases; 45- Fine hair; 46- Jack of "Rio Lobo" 47- Development of a cancer; 54- Income source 55- Blew it; 56- Altar in the sky; 57- Hives 58- Actor Christopher; 59- Baseball club; 60- Hickory-nut 61- Blender brand; 62- Extra-wide shoe size DOWN 1- Disagreement; 2- Cubs slugger Sammy; 3- Equinox mo 4- Skin emollient; 5- Petrol units; 6- Exploits; 7- French 101 verb 8- Board's partner; 9- Eskimo boot; 10- _ a million 11- _ buco (veal dish); 12- In the public eye; 13- Trick ending? 21- Spuds; 22- "Lou Grant" star; 25- Divert; 26- Bundles 27- Early Mexican; 28- Ecclesiastical rule; 29- Scraps 30- Boston hockey player; 31- Man of many words; 32- Lulus 34- Bank takeback; 35- Blazing; 37- Wispy clouds 38- Inhabitant of Oahu, Mindanao, or Java 43- City in S Arizona; 44- Arm cover 45- "Band of Gold" singer Payne; 46- "Snowy" bird 47- Attention; 48- A Baldwin brother 49- Adopted son of Claudius; 50- Metal containers 51- Kemo _ ; 52- Dies _ ; 53- Fill completely; 54- Dine The Other Crossword Puzzles provided by BestCrosswords.com. Used with permission.