The Christmas Card - Terry Gilliam

Terry Gilliam - The Christmas Card

(via The Daily Bunch)

Music, New to Me

I like all kinds of music, and love the second-hand iPod

I bought from my daughter when she upgraded herself to an iPod Touch. 

For most of the year, I have a blend of music I like,

consisting of 80s pop/rock, country, oldies, indies

and just whatever I stumble across that I find I enjoy.

Also have quite a few TV show themes

and a load of Halloween/horror tunes, too!

At Christmastime, however, I switch over to holiday music.

Between CDs I have bought or traded for (thanks, Swap-A-CD!)

and free and legal music online (thanks, generous musicians!),

I have a Christmastime music folder that has 1,628 holiday songs - and growing!

Yes, you read that right.

What can I say? I like Christmas music!

This Christmas, in addition to the new music I have found online

from artists who post free tunes hoping to gain more fans,

my lovely wife gifted me with some holiday CDs:

James Taylor

at Christmas

From 2006, this is a reissue of his limited edition

Hallmark CD from a couple years earlier.

He has a great voice and the arrangements are definitely James Taylor-esque,

so I like it. His duet with Natalie Cole on Baby, It's Cold Outside is great.

Wonderful CD, as expected. Mellow and relaxing.

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elf 

Music from the Major Motion Picture

This is the 2003 soundtrack for the Will Ferrell film of the same name.

The CD is pretty much a traditional Christmas album, with a few surprises.

The Zooey Deschanel/Leon Redbone version of Baby, It's Cold Outside is fun.

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New this year is A Very She & Him Christmas,

featuring the always fun Zooey Deschanel and her musical partner M. Ward.

Fun, a definite indie-sounding album, and Zooey has a fun, easy voice to listen to.

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Also new this year is Christmas, by Michael Buble.

This one hit the top of the charts, not surprisingly.

His voice is always great and from the liner notes,

he says he modeled this CD after the classics he listened to growing up,

like Bing Crosby's Christmas album.

I love it, his voice is great as always and the fresh sounding

yet respectful to their origins.

Awesome CD for Christmas music lovers!

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As for non-Christmas music, I was also gifted with Dolly Parton's latest CD, Better Day.

Was concerned this was going to be an "off" album, but I was worried for nothing.

Dolly is spot-on her game here, as usual.

Songs are great and her voice is beautiful, as always.

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Finally, my brother and his wife gave me Cyndi Lauper's At Last, from 2003.

I have had this on my Amazon with list since 2004,

it was the oldest item on the list and now I finally have it!

It is a collection of Lauper's covers of jazz standards.

She has such a great voice and it is interesting to hear her take on these songs.

Going to need a few listens to truly appreciate this one.

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So, that's what's new for me, music-wise.

I could try to cover all the new music from the online musicians,

but I really didn't keep track.

Maybe this Christmastime I will post the new music as I come across it,

so anyone who wants it can get it as well.

Give the musicians some more notice, as well,

which is always a good thing for those trying to get noticed.

Thanks for the gifts & Happy 2012!

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Twas the Night Before Christmas

Celebrity Impressionist Jim Meskimen recites

Clement C. Moore's "Twas the Night Before Christmas"

Hope everyone has a very Merry Christmas!

(thanks to The Fire Wire)

Christmastime is Here!

Christmastime is Here!

Another One Bites the Dust

Here it is, December 1st yet again and where have I been all November?

Completing yet another NaNoWriMo!

Yup, I made it over 50,000 words and wrote a novel. Sadly, this novel isn't one I am particularly proud of. The damn story just got away from me. Luckily, it is fanfic, a story dealing with my version of what happened after Halloween 2 and before Halloween 4. Yeah, I know, a tale told many a time by many a fan, but hey, it is my version, as creaky as it turned out.

The important part is I did it.

Another year, another NaNoWriMo successfully accomplished.

Also, as an added bonus this year, my two youngest kids (ages 15 and 13) also completed 50,000 plus word novels of their own! I am very proud of them for even attempting it, much less completing it! Kudos to you both!

Now, on to Christmastime!

Happy Holidays everyone!

Day 31: Favorite Part of the Season?

How can I choose?

So much is great! The music, the countdown, giving gifts and receiving gifts,
the food, the movies and specials!

But, most importantly, the best part is taking the time to spend moments with friends and family, reminding ourselves what and who is important in life.



This was a fun challenge!

Hope everyone had a Merry Christmas, or whatever,
and I wish you all a great 2011!

Day 30: Are You Sad?

Always a bit blue when it is all said and done.

So much fun stuff to do, as a family and with friends. That is why we celebrate from Thanksgiving to New Year's, so it isn't all just about "one day".

This year, things got a bit rushed towards the end and a few traditions and things got pushed to the very last minute or lost in the shuffle.
I hate when that happens and hope to do better next year.



And hey, the countdown begins all over again!

Day 29: Do You Believe In Santa

I believe in the spirit of kindness and giving that Santa represents.

We should all keep a bit of that - of him - alive inside ourselves, all year long.

Day 28: What Did You Feed The Reindeer

Well, this year we didn't leave anything for the reindeer.

Yeah, we dropped the ball. Was a very busy couple of weeks before Christmas.

Hopefully next year we will be better with getting everything accomplished!

Day 27: What Did You Feed Santa

My son used the mug and plate that are especially made for Santa to put out a drink of Hood Egg Nog and four cookies - two peanut butter with chocolate chip, 2 sugar.

I am sure Santa enjoyed it, as the Egg Nog was gone
and there was only one small piece of cookies left behind.


(online pic - not our set)

Day 26: What Did You Give?

Wow, well we gave a lot of stuff to a lot of people!

From Santa, our daughter got a leather coat and our son a laptop.

Our older son got a Wii.

My wife got some stocking stuff, including a Red Sox sign.



And much more.

We love giving gifts!

Day 25: What Did You Get?

Hopefully, I will find some time to update this post
with some of the gifts I have received.

But, if not, I want to take a moment to wish everyone
a very Merry Christmas and truly Happy Holidays!



Go and enjoy!

UPDATE:

Well, I received many wonderful gifts. Among them:









And a few more items, including a much needed winter coat.

Thank you all!

Day 24: Favorite Christmas Thing You're Doing/Done In School

Wow, this is going back!

I guess the best thing was in Kindergarten back in the mid-70s.

The school had a holiday play and our class recited
'Twas the Night Before Christmas while we were on stage in our pajamas.

Day 23: Advent Calendar You're Doing

We have a few here - chalkboard, tiles, digital, chocolate -
but the kids are the ones who do those.

I have my laptop desktop as a countdown calendar,
and I x'off each day as it goes by!

Day 22: Anticipation or the Day

To clarify, this means do you like
the anticipation of the holiday or do you like the actual day itself.



For me, it is sort of a mix.

I love the lead up to it, so much so that we have dubbed it our own Christmastime - from Thanksgiving to New Year's - when we try and celebrate all the time, in different ways, so we enjoy it all. Waiting for just one day can be a let down, if you expect it to somehow last longer than any other day.

But it is also good to enjoy that day, to watch people be happy,
enjoying being together and the festivities.

So, that is my answer, if it is one. :)

Day 21: Favorite Christmas Picture

My three kids on Christmas morning 6 years ago.

Day 20: How Late Do You Stay Up on December 24th

Usually, about a half hour or so after the kids have gone to bed.

And that is only once the last of the guests have left.
Anywhere between 10:00 PM and midnight!



One year, we hadn't found any time to wrap some gifts,
so my wife and I, with help from my mom, were up until wee morning hours,
wrapping gifts and getting things settled.

That was a long night & a short sleep!

Day 19: How Early Do You Get Up on December 25th

Usually, pretty early!

We used to wake when we heard the kids moving about,
but the past couple of years, I think we woke before the kids!

We wait for them to come in and show us what Santa put in their stockings,
then we go down, light the tree, get the camera and get settled.

Then the kids come down and the fun kicks into high gear!

Day 18: Favorite Part of Christmas Day

Without a doubt,
my favorite part of Christmas Day
is when the kids come down and open their gifts.



Love seeing the mixture of joy, happiness and surprise!

Makes all the chaos well worthwhile!

Day 17: Favorite Part of Christmas Eve

Once all the family is gone and the kids are in bed and Santa has come and gone,
my wife and I exchange our gifts to one another.



Usually, this is just the stuff we put into our stockings,
but it is still a nice, quiet moment for just the two of us to celebrate together,
and that is the best part.

A moment of peace amidst all the Christmastime fun!