“God Bless Us Everyone.”

I’m a gadget guy. I would love to have all the new stuff that’s out. I want an iPhone, the latest iMac, even a MacBook Pro just for kicks, a sweet slr digital camera, a flat-panel HDTV. Luckily, I can’t afford that stuff or I’d be consumed by my consumerism. Instead I have exactly what I need: snuggles from my five-year-old and six-day-old daughters and my beautiful bride on a cold night, a big ole dog in my lap on the couch, and family (blood, married-into and adopted friends who are now family) near and far who I love and love me. You can’t get that kind of warmth from the glow of a 60″ LCDTV (even though I would probably try).

Merry Christmas everyone!

Top 10 Christmas Songs (at least for now)

h/t: brc for the inspiration from his post Bruce’s Top 10 Essential Christmas Albums

I’ve been meaning to post this for awhile but now that I’m in my advent time (waiting for both my new baby and the,”Dear 8 pounds 6 ounces baby Jesus, new born, not even spoken a word yet.”) I have some slightly anxious time to post about Christmas Tunes. There is no particular order. This is how they popped into my head.

  • “Linus & Lucy” by the Vince Guaraldi Trio, but I also have a sweet version from moe.
  • “The Twelve Days of Christmas” by Bob and Doug McKenzie from their Great White North album.
  • “The Spirit of Christmas” by Ray Charles off of the National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation Soundtrack
  • “Merry Christmas, Baby” by Otis Redding
  • “Christmastime is Here” by Richard Cheese which is on his Silent Nightclub album. The way that the Young Extroverted One times the ‘Yowza’ perfectly is what makes it the best for me.
  • “Must Be Santa” by Brave Combo on the Must Be Santa! The Rounder Christmas Album. I’m a little bit of a sucker for some polka.
  • “Mele Kalikimaka” by either Bing Crosby or Jimmy Buffett. I just love listening to the YEO try to sing this one. It makes me smile.
  • “This Time of Year” by the Mighty Mighty Bosstones from A Santa Cause – It’s a Punk Rock Christmas. I have no reason other than I dig the Bosstones and it’s a Christmas tune.
  • “Hey, Santa Claus” by The Moonglows. I found this one on the National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation Soundtrack. The YEO has this song down, also.
  • “We Wish You a Merry Christmas” as recorded by John Denver & the Muppets’ on their Christmas Together album. As a whole I don’t really like this album. Maybe, it’s John Denver, I’m not sure. However, this song has the great “Bring me some figgy pudding” line that Miss Piggy has an issue with. I love that part!

Thanksgiving Ruminations

Wow, where the heck have I been? I haven’t been getting much computer time at work getting the new director all trained and situated and I have been busy at home wrestling with a wall in the babies room trying to get it stripped, primed and painted.

The following is a post I wrote right after Thanksgiving and am now getting around to putting it up here:

I was sitting in the rec room of the Elder Extroverted Holy One’s mom’s house watching the Green Bay Packer game on turkey day. EEHO’s aunt, uncle and cousin’s were there watching as well. They’re from the West Virgina/Ohio area and are surprisingly Packer Backers. Unlike myself, who is contractually obligated to be a Packer Backer according to my birth certificate. But, it was nice to have some like-minded folks to watch the game with. As I sat there I looked around the room and said with my eyes glistening just a little, “This is just like being in Wisconsin with a house full of Beckers!” Well, except for the lack of stale cigarette smoke, drunk uncle with hands firmly clasped around my neck and other assorted showings of family love and bar paraphernalia. It was a good day with good food, good sports (not only did the Packers play but the Predators played as well.  I had to settle for watching it on T.V. because the EEHO wouldn’t let me go to the game) and good family.

“What’ll You Have?”

The Reality of Santa Claus and Parenthood

My wife, the Elder Extroverted Holy One, pointed out a realization she made last night with some friends. WE are the parents! WE have to do all that Santa Claus stuff! ZOINKS!

Geez, I thought all that stuff was going to end up under the tree by the time we all wake up on Christmas morning. What? I have to put a bike together at 3:00 in the morning!?! Huh? Presents have to remain hidden until Christmas eve? I understand that the unreality of the St. Nick has been my reality for a long time now. But it just occurred to us that now the Young Extroverted One is at that age of Christmas magic. And that WE are the ones who have to perpetuate that magic. Which is cool and fine with me but that should have been on the parenting syllabus. Now I feel so overwhelmed and not quite ready for this Christmas magic to happen.

I suppose as long as the YEO experiences this holidy magic it’ll be just fine. Just can’t let her see us sweatin’ it!