Music Monday

I almost didn't post today, but then K just came down and inspired me. BUMD and I were flipping through the channels and landed on a show featuring Pink Floyd. Another Brick in the Wall, Part 2 was playing. Her response was similar to the last time she heard it: “Is this Kids Bop or something, except without the bad singing?”

Kids these days, sheesh. Clearly, we need to further her musical education.

Happy Holidays to All!

I was paying for my purchases at Restoration Hardware the other day when another customer approached the register. The cashiers said "Merry Christmas" and the OC responded that she was so happy to hear that because no one says "Merry Christmas" anymore and what a shame that was, etc. The cashier said that they love Christmas and I said that I loved Christmas too, as well as Hanukkah, Solstice, Kwanzaa, and all of the other holidays people are celebrating this time of year. That's why I wish people "Happy Holidays" instead of "Merry Christmas". I think it's respectful of the diversity, rather than ignoring one holiday, as some people seem to think is the case.

At any rate, here's our holiday letter. Enjoy!

Music Monday

Among other things, 2008 will go down as the year I finally discovered Jason Mraz. Despite having his music in my iTunes for the past few years, I only started listening to his songs in Feb/March of this year. I started with "Geek in The Pink", quickly moved on to "I'm Yours", and followed that by buying almost everything else he's done. Mraz has become one of my 'Phone Book people' - those who I would listed to even if all they were doing was reciting listings from the phone book. His voice is fantastic. It's only fitting that the last Christmastime Music Monday feature his version of "Winter Wonderland". Enjoy!

Growing old gracefully

We were just discussing tonight's trip to see The Polar Express in IMAX. C, who is ever jaded, allowed that "there are a few inches of my heart left" for the movie. I love him.

Day of Reckoning, Month 3

Three more pounds down, for a grand total of six in three months. Not exactly stellar, but I'm ok with that. With all the holiday "cheer" that's going on this time of year, I'm surprised I'm not up three instead.

Grand total so far: 6 down, 54 to go.

Music Monday

My family spends a lot of time being flippant about most things in life - the holidays are no exception. There's nothing quite like a funny holiday song to get things going. There are plenty of them - Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer and Adam Sandler's Hanukkah Song get a lot of air play. I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus is a standard as well, but the appeal of the updated version, I Saw Daddy Kissing Santa Claus, is increasing (Santa and Daddy are clearly gay, therefore Santa must support gay marriage, right? Who wants to go against Santa?).

BUMD and I tend to skewer other songs as well. We love singing these lyrics, taught to us by a friend's girlfriend many years ago, to the tune of Carol of the Bells: "Just go away, leave me alone, I'm doing fine, don't bother me. Have yourself a very Merry Christmas somewhere else!" BUMD has also done his best to make me snicker every time I hear another one of my favorites, Vanessa Williams' version of Baby It's Cold Outside.

Here's one of his other favorite holiday tunes, Tom Lehrer's I'm Spending Hanukkah in Santa Monica.

Music Monday

We put up our Christmas tree the Sunday after Thanksgiving. In accordance with tradition, we couldn't actually decorate it that day. No, things around here seem to have to age for a while before they can be dealt with. Kinda like the router we got a few years ago - BUMD finally put it into action a few weeks ago. The practice of letting things age is neither intentional, practical, nor necessary, but it is certainly a household tradition.

A week later, we finally got around to decorating the tree. We put the music on and made the tree extra beautiful. I've never been a fan of colored lights or fake trees. However, that all changed a few years ago when we got our current tree. It is beautiful just standing there.

One of the first songs I put on was "I believe in Father Christmas" by Emerson, Lake, and Palmer. It is beautiful and haunting. They've released a couple of versions of the song, as well as Greg Lake's solo version. This particular version is my favorite. It took a bit of searching to find it on YouTube. Fortunately, the search also turned up U2's cover of the song. It's gorgeous. Enjoy!

ELP


U2

Music Monday

It's Christmastime!

The kids keep asking me if it's Christmas yet. While the actual event doesn't take place until December 25, Christmastime officially starts around noon on Thanksgiving day. Why noon? That's when Santa appears during the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in NYC. That's how I've always timed it - your mileage may vary. Certainly retail stores' times vary. Target had its displays up before Halloween. That's just wrong.

The best part about Christmastime is that I finally get to listen to songs I only hear once a year. Maybe that's why most of them stay so popular - a month isn't nearly enough time to get sick of them, and then you have almost eleven months to forget all about them.

My all-time favorite Christmas song is "Sleigh Ride." My favorite version of this song was performed by Arthur Fiedler and the Boston Pops. It's a classic. Some inventive (and surely driven) person put together this video. Watch and enjoy (and marvel at the time it must have taken).