What’s on my iPod (Dec.)

‘Tis the season!  Not only do I have a Christmas Top 10 playlist, but I now have a new iPhone.  I have been accused of being a gadget geek. However, some people just have too much technology for their own good (like me).

I am captivated by this new “toy,” and I fear that friends and family may not hear from me for months.  Oh wait! I forgot … it is  a phone too, so I guess I can call them.  I guess.

 

Top 10 Christmas Songs – Playlist

1. Run Rudolph, Run by Chuck Berry.  A song my niece and I shake our booties to!
2. Santa Baby by Taylor Swift.  I suppose it’s only natural for her to do a Christmas album.  She probably needs to win an award or something.
3. Up on the Housetop by Gene Autry.  I know what you’re saying! Gene Autry?  All I can tell you is that when I was a kid I had a cousin who sang this non-stop until we stuffed him into a stocking.
4. Christmas Canon Rock – Trans-Siberian Orchestra.  I wanted to see them live but was out of country  last year when they were here.  I hear they put on an awesome show.
5. O Holy Night by Johnny Mathis – Quite simply, it isn’t Christmas without playing the Johnny Mathis Christmas CD.
6. Let it Snow by Dean Martin – And then again, it’s not Christmas without the Dean Martin Christmas CD either.
7. A Marshmallow World by Dean Martin – Okay, so I like Dean Martin at Christmas.  Stop making fun of me!
8. Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas – by Judy Garland.  Love the song and the movie, “Meet Me in St. Louis.”  Tootie reminds me of my mean little niece! Trivia: Judy Garland refused to sing the line, “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas … it may be your last,” in the movie.  Here’s a link to the movie trivia test.
9. Joy to the World by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir.  These people are good.  I wonder why no one has ever heard of them before?
10. Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree – by Brenda Lee.  Another standard but it will always get you up  and moving!

Everyone celebrates the holidays in their own way using traditions and customs passed down through the years.  My wish for you is that no matter what faith, creed, color or nationality you are is to remember that we are all here together and as much as I wish you a happy holiday season, I wish you peace and happiness always and a gentle reminder that there are people in the world who can use any help you might be able to give them, even if it’s a smile.

Christmas Things-To-Do

The continuing dialogue of my 7 year old niece and her random conversations with me, her favorite uncle.

Her:  Well, I started making your list.

Me:   Awesome!  So I guess me circling all that stuff in the Best Buy catalog is going to pay off right?

Her:  No.  Not a Christmas present list.  A list of things you need to do.

Me:   Does this list involve sleeping as much as possible, drinking beer, eating turkey and avoiding you at all costs?

Her:  No, but it’s a good list.  It’s a list of traditions.

Me:   Look.  You are 7 years old.  The way I figure it, you probably didn’t even start knowing what Christmas was until you were at least 4.  So how can you and I have “Christmas traditions,” if they’re only 3 years old?

Her:  Well, you have to start somewhere.

Me:   Okay, here’s one to add to the list.   You only call me once a week.  How’s that for tradition?

Her:  That’s not gonna happen!  Haha!  Okay, are you ready?

Me:   No.

Her:  Okay, good.  Here’s the list:

1. Finish putting up the tree at grandma’s house.
2. Help decorate the house.  You can do the outside stuff.
3. Go to my play.
4. After the play take me on a carriage ride and get me some hot chocolate.
5. Make your fudge and magic cookie bars.
6. Watch Rudolph, Frosty, Charlie Brown, Shrek Christmas and Grinch with me.
7. Read me “Night Before Christmas.”  You can do that a bunch of times.
8. Help me buy and wrap presents for Mama, Grandma and Sissy.  Everyone else gets an ornament I made them at school.
9. Take me to the Christmas Parade.
10. Take me to see the lights downtown and the windows.

Her:  I guess that’s it for this week.

Me:   This week?  I’m really glad you’re not that into Christmas otherwise it might be hard to take care of everything.

Her:  So when will we get started on my list?

Me:   After I make a phone call to the North Pole.

Her:  Who are you calling?  Santa?

Me:   No.  Anyone who can tell me how I can get you dropped off at the “Island of Misfit Toys.”

Her:  Goodbye Poopie Head.

Deranged Christmas Dance

It's that time of year. Happy Holidays!

Just for the record, my nieces, my mom and their dog really do dance like this. No, really they do!

Home Skool

The continuing dialogue of my 7 year old niece and her random conversations with me, her favorite uncle.

Her:  Do you know what I was thinking about?

Me:   Yes.  You were thinking that if you were able to travel at the speed of light, and then a little faster, you could go back in time and make a better decision about using one of my autographed baseball’s as a fetch toy for Maggie.

Her:  No. What?!  Never mind.  I was thinking it was better if I was home-schooled like my friend Allie.

Me:   I’ll bet the school you go to would think that to be a better idea too.

Her:  I just need a teacher.  Someone who is smart.

Me:   Ut oh.

Her:  Well, I was thinking that my mom would just make me go to  school, grandma doesn’t know about new stuff, my aunts would agree with my mom, and my uncles aren’t smart enough. 

Me:   Except for me.

Her:  Well, you are a little smarter than the other ones.  Would you be my teacher at home?

Me:   You do realize that this is a really, really, really bad idea don’t you?

Her:  Yes, and I’d miss all my friends at school anyway.

Me:   Then why did you even bring it up?

Her:  Just for something to talk about.

Me:   I’d be a great teacher.  Between classes, the kids could go run and get me a beer.

Her:  Goodbye Poopie Head.