Hello friends!
I hope your holiday festivities are taking shape, however small or big they may be. This is going to be on the short side today, as I’ve been busy with guests and now we’ve got our regular weekend errands to run. We had a family gathering this weekend - my parents came to town, and Nolan and Mia stayed over last night. I love having company along when I take the dog out for his walks! This morning we saw some interesting things.
There was a pumpkin floating in the water.
We also saw a big branch that had come down in the recent winds. Nolan for scale.
Later we checked out a vintage shop here in town, and saw these gems.
Yikes! That sofa background really makes Santa “pop!”
I’m sure somebody worked vary hard on this painting. And I’m sure that’s a very friendly clown.
These clowns, not so much.
I’m doing a great job of not succumbing to the temptation to buy or collect more things, what with the impending move. Next weekend we’re going to check out a couple of areas that we’re interested in moving to, so I’ll be able to report back on our findings. The packing needs to begin in earnest - my parents brought us a bunch of empty boxes so there’s no need to delay! Time to start purging.
I’d better get moving. Until next week!
~Anne
Tidbits
Who Wore it Best? - US vs. UK book covers. I love cover art, especially comparing different versions.
Meanwhile in Iceland… a giant yule cat that eats children!
Up for a 2019 reading challenge? Here’s one to stretch yourself beyond your usual reads.
Have you ever wondered about those iconic ski resort maps that show all the runs? They’re the work of one man, James Niehues.
I’ve been enjoying this newsletter from Anne Helen Peterson - you might too! You may also enjoy following her dog on Instagram.
Making: carving away at my stamps! I’m particularly proud of this one.
Recently eaten: on Monday we had a pie lunch at work. I’m not much of a cook these days, but I did put together my favorite spinach/grapefruit salad. There was a nice selection of savory and sweet pies to sample. It wasn’t for everyone, but I really enjoyed the beet pie! Unrelated, here at home we had two pies - a chicken mushroom pie for dinner, and a delicious blueberry apple pie for lunch while the family was visiting. Sorry, no pictures but they sure were good!
Reading: I’m slowly making my way into Words and Music: A History of Pop in the Shape of a City by Paul Morley. In the car I’ve got Let’s Explore Diabetes with Owls on the go, read by the author David Sedaris. Hilarious! I’ve also started The Consuming Fire, by John Scalzi.
Video of the Week
Here’s a strange one for ya’…
Question of the Week
Just hit reply to send your answer, and I’ll share it next week. Always anonymous!
Let’s compile a list of your favorite 2018 reads, in these categories:
Fiction
Non-fiction
Graphic Novels
Audiobook
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Last week I asked how you feel about holiday music.
I LOVE Xmas music!!!! I love caroling!! I’m going bike ride caroling soon and it will be glorious. I sang carols on the sidewalk at art walk with other people. It was beautiful. I love Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree, I love the Wham! Song, I even love Mariah Carey’s xmas song! I love Billy Squire’s xmas song and the silly MTV video. I love Jesusy songs and I don’t even believe in him. I only allow the holiday music from Dec. 1st to Jan. 1st.
No holiday music! Noooooo! I sold Christmas trees for three winters and got enough Christmas music then to last me a life time. There is one exception, that being Jacob Miller's Natty Christmas reggae album.
Holiday music - I like a little - the Chieftans, Bells of Dublin from the 90s always gets played once. Barenaked Ladies, Barenaked for the Holidays, also from the 90s is great, and I also listen to this old-timey German holiday CD my mom used to always play but it's very cheesy, Peter Alexander, Wunderschöne Weihnachtszeit. It's from the sixties and interestingly, I just found it on Apple Music! The duet with him and his daughter is particularly cringe-worthy. But you know, tradition!
[I found the Peter Alexander on YouTube, so we can all enjoy the cheesiness - played on a Sony TC-KA5 Tape Deck! - Anne]
I heard my least favorite song (Simply Having a Wonderful Christmas Time) a full 3 days before December started...so no, we are simply not having a wonderful Christmas time. Not to go full Grinch, I will concede that I don't mind Wham's Last Christmas or Mariah Carey's All I Want for Christmas Is You, but I won't seek them out.
As a non-celebrant and picky music lover, bad music of any kind keeps me out of stores--I'm torn when I need to go grocery shopping and the store's playing new country-style Christmas songs. Maybe I should start stockpiling around late November from now on...
Yes! Love holiday music. Most loved is Gene Autry (from childhood), the Very Special Christmas CDs (the first couple anyway), lots of Bing (way better than Sinatra), Better Than Ezra's "Merry Christmas Eve", and "Straight To Hell" by the Clash. (I received Combat Rock for Christmas one year, and hey, they mention Christmas in the song!) Oh, and "Happy Xmas (War Is Over)", and "Do They Know It's Christmas?" (even though in retrospect it's so full of tacky-ass white guilt and condescension :( ) Oh, and The Waitresses "Christmas Wrapping" and Dan Fogelberg's "Same Old Lang Syne." Oh, and "Kwanzaa Juice" by Reggie Watts on Conan.
Most hated? Dominic the Donkey. Baby it's Cold Outside. Santa Baby. The Little Drummer Boy.
Holiday music. Meh. If I worked in retail or somewhere I was forced to hear it all the time I would feel different(I’ve been there). But I hear tidbits and it’s December-so all good. Although. Like most radio and retail shopping music channels they are repetitive thus making me wish for more parity. There’s better and more eclectic choices but sadly they don’t get enough rotation.
(See RUN DMC’s “Hollis Xmas”)
I fall on the “meh” end of holiday music appreciation. I’d rather choose what I listen to, rather than be subjected to the pap that gets played in all the stores. I heard a song the other day that sounded like the poor woman singing was getting stabbed. So festive!
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