December 2008 Archives
Ahh... I had this long post written up that I was going to split into three parts with some festive images and peaceful Christmas music. Alas, I ran out of time on Christmas Eve. Of course, on Christmas Day, I slept all day, haha. Oh well-- those thoughts will still be relevant next year ;)Christmas was awesome this year. We did our usual Litza's / Temple Square routine on the 22nd, then on Christmas Eve... best Christmas Eve meal ever. I bought a beef tenderloin filet mignon at Costco, Steve got a big smoked ham, I made real mashed potatoes, Marianne made this amazing layered jello (it was practically dessert), mom made her signature rolls, and mom cooked the meats to perfection... possibly the best Christmas Eve dinner I've ever had, everything was so tasty and perfectly prepared (thanks Mom and Mel!).
The sibling gift exchange was pretty entertaining too-- despair.com calendars, easy-bake ovens, Hulk smash gloves, all kinds of great stuff. Christmas morning was fun seeing Addie experience her first Christmas and overall it was just really satisfying to see everyone being so generous with one another. In some way I feel like I've bridged this gap... I went from being a kid and enjoying Christmas as a kid, to reaching a point where I was old enough that Christmas just didn't feel the same anymore, and now I appreciate and enjoy it in a different way while still feeling the magic of childhood Christmases remembered.
I hope you had a wonderful Christmas as I did, and hope you're still enjoying the Holidays and looking forward to the good the new year will bring. Merry Christmas and Happy New Years!
One of my favorite things about Christmas time is the music. Especially that music which uplifts, warms the heart, and focuses the mind of the Spirit of Christmas-- peace on earth, good will toward men, brotherly love, and so on and so forth.
However, I expressly avoid the radio during the months of November and December, and that is because there is a deluge of crap labeled as "Christmas music" out there. Some of the songs are disgusting perversions of *good* Christmas music, either stylistically altered to the point of bearing little to no resemblance to the original, or perhaps so performed in such an overdone way as to detract from the spirit of the original and focus the song instead on the artist performing it. (Not to say there aren't some poppy renditions of songs that I love-- some classics include Jars of Clay's "Little Drummer Boy" or perhaps Sarah McLachlan and the Bare Naked Ladies doing "We Three Kings"... awesome stuff. They're done in a way that you still appreciate them as the classic Christmas tunes that they are.)
And then there's the crap that isn't based on Christmas at all. "Last Christmas" is the source of my rant today. I never really thought about the song until this year, but just considering the lyrics... I can't help but laugh at how it makes no sense, in addition to having really nothing to do with Christmas. Here we go...
Ok, first of all... if we're speaking metaphorically of giving one's own heart to someone they love... I'm having a hard time understanding the metaphor of that person giving it away to someone else. It just doesn't work for me. Now, I understand the metaphors of breaking, stabbing, smashing, stomping on and ripping to pieces someone's heart. But giving it away? Who can they give it to? Seems more likely they'd simply discard it in the trash or return it to the sender (if they're really thoughtful)-- these make much more sense as forms of rejection.
Ugh. As if you're THAT much smarter this year. You probably thought you were giving your heart to someone special LAST year. Be prepared for more tears, my friend.
Also, what does this song *really* have to do with Christmas? I mean, it tells us WHEN it happened... but there just isn't anything festive about it. No mention of Christ, His mission, or any of the principles he taught us to live. Disgraceful.
Hahaha. Yeah, not so smart. A year later and you're still pining for the same jerk. By the way, how are you giving it to someone special if they gave it away? Did it make its way back to you somehow? Also, I have a hard time believing that, since you're still stuck on this person who rejected you a long time ago, that you're really in any shape to be open to someone else special this year. I'll tell ya what you need this year...
It's too bad people listen to this junk masquerading as "Christmas Music". That's not to say that artists don't create *good* new Christmas music from time to time, but this... this is the epitome of lame. The music stinks, the lyrics are moronic, and it's devoid of any Christmas spirit.
P.S. I've given little thought or focus to this subject, I'm not that bitter. But I did find it amusing enough to jot down and post, hehe. Perhaps I need to do a post following this to showcase some more uplifting Christmas music.
However, I expressly avoid the radio during the months of November and December, and that is because there is a deluge of crap labeled as "Christmas music" out there. Some of the songs are disgusting perversions of *good* Christmas music, either stylistically altered to the point of bearing little to no resemblance to the original, or perhaps so performed in such an overdone way as to detract from the spirit of the original and focus the song instead on the artist performing it. (Not to say there aren't some poppy renditions of songs that I love-- some classics include Jars of Clay's "Little Drummer Boy" or perhaps Sarah McLachlan and the Bare Naked Ladies doing "We Three Kings"... awesome stuff. They're done in a way that you still appreciate them as the classic Christmas tunes that they are.)
And then there's the crap that isn't based on Christmas at all. "Last Christmas" is the source of my rant today. I never really thought about the song until this year, but just considering the lyrics... I can't help but laugh at how it makes no sense, in addition to having really nothing to do with Christmas. Here we go...
"Last Christmas I gave you my heart
But the very next day, you gave it away..."
Ok, first of all... if we're speaking metaphorically of giving one's own heart to someone they love... I'm having a hard time understanding the metaphor of that person giving it away to someone else. It just doesn't work for me. Now, I understand the metaphors of breaking, stabbing, smashing, stomping on and ripping to pieces someone's heart. But giving it away? Who can they give it to? Seems more likely they'd simply discard it in the trash or return it to the sender (if they're really thoughtful)-- these make much more sense as forms of rejection.
"This year, to save me from tears
I'll give it to someone special..."
Ugh. As if you're THAT much smarter this year. You probably thought you were giving your heart to someone special LAST year. Be prepared for more tears, my friend.
Also, what does this song *really* have to do with Christmas? I mean, it tells us WHEN it happened... but there just isn't anything festive about it. No mention of Christ, His mission, or any of the principles he taught us to live. Disgraceful.
"Once bitten and twice shyed
I keep my distance but you still catch my eye
Tell me baby
Do you recognize me
Well, it's been a year, it doesn't surprise me
Merry Christmas, I wrapped it up and sent it
With a note saying 'I love you', I meant it
Now I know what a fool I've been
But if you kiss me now, I know you'd fool me again..."
Hahaha. Yeah, not so smart. A year later and you're still pining for the same jerk. By the way, how are you giving it to someone special if they gave it away? Did it make its way back to you somehow? Also, I have a hard time believing that, since you're still stuck on this person who rejected you a long time ago, that you're really in any shape to be open to someone else special this year. I'll tell ya what you need this year...
It's too bad people listen to this junk masquerading as "Christmas Music". That's not to say that artists don't create *good* new Christmas music from time to time, but this... this is the epitome of lame. The music stinks, the lyrics are moronic, and it's devoid of any Christmas spirit.
P.S. I've given little thought or focus to this subject, I'm not that bitter. But I did find it amusing enough to jot down and post, hehe. Perhaps I need to do a post following this to showcase some more uplifting Christmas music.
So I headed downtown today to meet up with Mar, Jesse, Meloo and of course little Addie for lunch at Siegfried's today, followed by a little shopping excursion at the Gateway with Mar and Addie.
First stop was J Crew-- so we had a little fun with the full size mirrors (could Addie be any more adorable?)
You can see she's lively and happy...
After Brookstone and Apple, however, she's just about all funned out-- she has even less stamina for shopping than me, it seems... or maybe she just thinks the Apple store is real boring, hehe. Here she's fading...
Annnnnnnd gone! Hahaha... look how sweet she is.
And you can't blame Mar for giggling a little. Poor kid didn't really have any other way to sleep than to slump over on her side like that. Even with her back to Addie, Mar was tuned in to her movements and position while they made their way around the mall... and Mar knew when she was fading, haha. It was only a little cat nap, though-- she was awake in a matter of minutes.
First stop was J Crew-- so we had a little fun with the full size mirrors (could Addie be any more adorable?)
You can see she's lively and happy... After Brookstone and Apple, however, she's just about all funned out-- she has even less stamina for shopping than me, it seems... or maybe she just thinks the Apple store is real boring, hehe. Here she's fading... Annnnnnnd gone! Hahaha... look how sweet she is.And you can't blame Mar for giggling a little. Poor kid didn't really have any other way to sleep than to slump over on her side like that. Even with her back to Addie, Mar was tuned in to her movements and position while they made their way around the mall... and Mar knew when she was fading, haha. It was only a little cat nap, though-- she was awake in a matter of minutes.
