This list changes each year, usually depending on my mood, my stress level and how much baking I have to do. On another note, why does Christmas always make me think of “Braveheart”? Maybe it’s the red and green tartan? Never been able to figure that one out… but I digress…
MY TOP 5 CHRISTMAS SONGS OF 2013
5) All I Want for Christmas is You by Mariah Carey. For me, this is a classic. It’s a happy song that’s been around for… what… 20 years now? There was a period where I felt I might need to retire it but then that movie “Love Actually”, particularly that adorable little boy in the school concert, revived it for me.
4) Oh Holy Night – Various Artists. I adore this song, I float around on air to this song, as long as the singer doesn’t completely butcher that high note. This song is special. Sacred. Not everyone can sing it and not everyone should. This song is for people with pipes. Josh Groban, Celine Dion, have spine-tingling renditions. This one never leaves the top 5 list.
3) Baby it’s Cold Outside – Various Artists. There are two that never fail to make me smile, one is Willie Nelson and Norah Jones, the other is Rod Stewart and Dolly Parton. I like those unique voices, Willie’s twang, Norah’s smooth jazzy sound, Rod’s scratchy voice that sounds like he smiles when he sings. Dolly, too, just makes me happy when I hear her. I love the flirtiness of these lyrics. Reminds me of first love, when it’s fresh, intoxicating, innocent. Warms me up better than an ugly reindeer sweater.
2) Happy Christmas by John Lennon (and Yoko Ono) – This is a NEW addition to my Top 5 list. It has replaced “Blue Christmas” by Elvis, which still has a place in my heart… maybe in my Top 10 favorite Christmas songs. There’s just something about it that… transcends. These days I have a greater appreciation for Lennon, for who he was or might have been at his core, beyond the Beatles. So much so that I’m willing to forgive the cringe-worthy moments when I can actually hear Yoko singing.
1) Moonlight Sonata by Beethoven. Maybe not a song that everyone equates with Christmas, but for me it isn’t Christmas without Beethoven. This song is as much a part of the holidays as chocolate and family arguments. There isn’t a specific memory attached to this song so it’s hard for me to explain, but suffice it to say it’s a part of me. It always has been, it always will be.
Until I started typing this post today, I actually didn’t realize I liked so many Christmas songs. I thought I found Christmas music, in general, pretty darn annoying. Who knows, maybe next year I’ll feature 10 songs.
So, tell me. What are your favorites for the holidays?
So much has happened. So much to say. Where to begin? Apologies if this reads like a “random thoughts” post. It sort-of is one.
There have been at least 4 separate occasions in the past 2 weeks that I told myself to put my “ass in chair” and get some writing done. Did it happen? No. Life keeps getting in the way. It’s a shame, too, because I have so much to write about. Funny things, serious things, cooking things. Mmm… food… there’s always something more that can be said about food… but I digress.
After my last post – “I Jumped”, my son fell ill. It’s not abnormal for a child who is new to daycare to catch things, so at first we weren’t alarmed. Only when he stopped eating did my internal alarm go off. He complained incessantly of tummy aches, and that’s not something he’s ever said before. We took him to the pediatrician, who said nothing was wrong, and lectured me on “good eating”. We took him to the peds ER, who said he was constipated and sent us home with some laxatives. We took him BACK to the pediatrician, who said it’s the flu (even though flu and strep tests were negative) and told us to give him tylenol and liquids. Finally, after 2 weeks of this, my son was 10 lbs down and too weak to walk. Frustrated and crying, I picked him up from my husband and went back to the Peds ER. (The pediatrician, tired of seeing us, refused to see us so the ER was the only option.) He was immediately admitted after triage, which scared me. They started IV fluids and took us to our room, where we’d live for the next week. Turns out my sweet boy had bronchitis, a raging infection in both ears, and was severely dehydrated. Our hospital stay took a toll on me, but he was a real trooper, watching SpongeBob and making jokes. Thank God for my husband and family, who visited and brought us contraband snacks. It goes without saying, I was and still am pissed at the doctors – numerous doctors – who examined my son and sent us home, each time sewing a seed of doubt in my mind. Am I going crazy? He seems really “off”. Lesson learned, my Mommy Instinct is RIGHT ON THE MONEY and I will not doubt it again and I will not take no for an answer in the future.
In happier news, Thanksgiving was rad. We spent the day in Atlanta in my Uncle’s castle. He calls it a house, but I swear, all it’s missing is a moat. Gorgeous abode. The food was good and the company was even better. Took pictures, chatted, ate, laughed, listened to stories and dreamed about the future. So grateful for experiences like these and for our loved ones.
I looked at microfilm for the first time yesterday! I’m in what feels like a never-ending search for my husband’s biological father, so we went to the local library last night to search through records. I spent an hour looking for birth records in the local paper. I found nothing and left frustrated. It wasn’t until about midnight last night that I realized I’d been looking at the wrong year. On the one hand, damnit, I am tired. On the other hand, hope renewed! I can go back and look and possibly FIND something next time!
I was accused of something at work that I know I didn’t do. Today I was vindicated. Yes, I’m still leaving, but I had prepared to fight. We don’t mess around with this girl’s integrity and reputation, mkay? Happily all was resolved to our mutual satisfaction.
Went to my first comic convention with my brother. It was TOO much fun. Got to meet some guys from the Walking Dead. I don’t watch the show but apparently it’s a big thing. I am a nerd at heart, and a super huge sci-fi/trekkie girl, so I was in my element. We are now committed to going to Dragon Con in Atlanta next year and it can’t get here soon enough! I need ideas for costumes though – there are 4 of us.
FRINGE is one of the best shows I’ve ever had the pleasure of watching. Engages my mind while entertaining me. I am a little bit obsessed.
Christmas shopping is just about done. I have a few small things to get, but for the most part, I am done and it’s all wrapped. This is the earliest I’ve ever been done, the most I’ve ever spent, and the most FUN I’ve ever had doing it. (Black Friday/Cyber Monday deals were a bust. Deals? I see no deals!?!) Anyway, I enjoy the spirit of Christmas and I can’t wait to see everyone around the tree. We spend Christmas at my brother’s house, usually beginning with a great big breakfast buffet (everyone brings something) and culminating with naps. This year I’m bringing chocolate covered bacon. Oh, yeah. I don’t say EPIC a lot but man oh man, this Christmas morning is going to be one for the record books. So excited!
Running, my love, I’m so happy to be reunited with you. Let’s go farther, faster, stronger in 2014.
Paul Walker. I didn’t like him as an actor. I mean, not that I’d seen anything besides the movie where Jessica Alba’s butt is so famously not part of her body while snorkeling for treasure, and the F&F films. HOWEVER I am sad about his passing, like many people. Some are annoyed that it’s getting so much press, saying that people die every day, soldiers and firefighters and the like, and aren’t so “virally” recognized. Yep, that’s true. The thing is, Paul Walker’s impact isn’t about him being an actor, and him being an actor doesn’t diminish his nobility. By all accounts he was a good person with a big heart. I think the reason people have responded en masse to his passing is because of that, and because he is someone we can all relate to and felt connected to. Kinda reminiscent of Heath Ledger’s passing. For me, at least.
I made sugar cookies that I saw in “Bon Appetite” magazine. I’d already been inspired by “Julie and Julia”, having watched it in the hospital one night. Thank God for free movies, because those recliners are the antithesis of comfort. There was no sleep. Til Brooklyn and beyond, I’m not even kidding. The movie was way better than I expected. I adore Stanley Tucci, he always gives a good performance and I was mesmerized by the love story there, and by Julia Child’s life, struggles, tenacity, warmth. I think I love her a little. And more than that, I really felt like I could identify with her as a person, a woman, a cook, a dreamer, a lover of France. Anyway… The cookies… I used pearl dust for the first time and was so proud, I tweeted the magazine to show them. Who knows if they saw it or cared, but I was over the moon. Here’s a photo:
Picasso Cookies
On the way to a meeting today I heard “Here I go Again” by Whitesnake. I laughed because it felt like a “God wink”. Going in to the job to say goodbye to everyone and I hear THIS song? Yeah. SO not a coincidence. But it gets funnier/eerier. On the way out of saying goodbye I hear “Home Sweet Home” by Motley Crue. Two things to note here: One, I listen to awesome music. Two, I do believe I was hearing a message that I’m on my perfect life path RIGHT NOW. Lately I am open enough to recognize and receive love and abundance. This fills my heart with joy and excitement!
Painting furniture today, and finally, finally putting my hands to these keys again. Feels good. My dream is to live in a big warm home with my hubs and kids, and write for a living, and be home to cook and create and go on vacations whenever we like. I give you my word, I am on my way!
Attitude Soup 