Black Friday went any way but normal this year. I guess most people were sleeping in a turkey-induced coma or throwing elbows at a 65-year-old woman over a pair of half-off shoes. I?m sure the employees at El Nuevo Herald Newspaper, sister paper to the Miami Herald, didn?t think their morning would go as at did.

According to reports in both the Miami Herald and the Sacramento Bee, Jose Varela, freelance cartoonist, entered the Miami Herald?s building on Friday brandishing a hunting knife and what appeared to be a submachine gun. Varela, who was wearing a black polo shirt with ??FBI?? printed on the back, demanded to see Humberto Castello, El Nuevo Herald?s executive editor.

When Varela learned that Castello was out of the building at the time, he declared himself editor and what followed was a three-and-a-half-hour standoff ending in Varela?s arrest. No one was hurt and the submachine gun actually turned out to be a toy. His reasoning for all this: “ethics” issues.

The day after Thanksgiving is supposed to be for recovering from too much of Grandma?s pumpkin pie, shopping for the newest member of the family or putting up decorations around the house with your baby brother ? not a police standoff.

What is the deal with people? What if I got mad one day because my story didn?t make it into the paper, but instead got put online or cut altogether, and I decided to come in and take over The State Hornet office. Guess what guys? I?m the new editor in chief!

But sad to say, it?s not just this one whack job. What about the people who are robbing gaming stores at gunpoint or beating each other up for the new PlayStation 3? You do understand it?s just a video gaming system right? Let?s put some life perspective on this one.

With Christmas decorations going up before Halloween, I think people?s stress levels are increasing to a newfound high. And I know you PS3 freaks understand level concepts.

Remember when the holidays were simple? Was there some level of stress dealing with family and cooking and cleaning? Of course. But people weren?t going crazy like they are now. The most drastic holiday backlash was your best friend ripping off your new Barbie?s head because her mom got her Malibu Barbie when she wanted the Ice Princess one that you got.

It used to be wearing pajamas with the footies and watching “A Charlie Brown Christmas” and “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” while drinking hot chocolate with those baby marshmallows.

It used to be singing Christmas carols, not listening to the repeats on Y92. It used to be spraying fake snow on the windows and cutting out paper snowflakes, which you could never quite get strung together like they do in the movies. It used to be gingerbread houses and putting together stockings for a local shelter.

Many people have said they have come to dread this time of year. Our lack of income and increased gift expectations has lead to a dreadful feeling. The parking problems at school are bad enough, but now we have to fight our way into the malls, questioning minute by minute the DMV?s testing system– do they give just anyone a license nowadays?

The fact that some people?s college graduation comes two days before Christmas has especially killed moods. Graduation, a culmination of four to five years of work, is now overshadowed by Christmas. And Christmas isn?t that fun now because they are focused on finishing up papers and finals so they can graduate.

So my recommendation, as we really get into this holiday season, is to take it in stride. Pace yourself with all the festivities and shopping and such. Treat yourself to something to help you relax. Or even do something good for someone else; you?d be surprised how good helping others can make you feel. And just remember what the holidays are all about anyway: vacation from school. Oh yeah, and that family bonding thing.

At the very least, keep the toy guns at home, I think a standoff in The State Hornet office just might kill what?s left of my holiday spirit.

Nicki Croly can be reached at [email protected]