Ageless Beauty

So I have finally gotten around to getting art for my apartment. Or if you're reluctant to call it art, we can at least say it's stuff to put on the walls so they are not blank anymore. I thought I would show you what I ordered. None of it has showed up yet, so you'll just have to see the online images. I got two photographic prints, and three silk screened gig posters. The first poster is a Stars poster from The Small Stakes. It's simple but I think it's awesome, and I love Stars, so that is great too.



I also got a gorgeously illustrated Decemberists poster by Diana Sudyka.



And another beautifully illustrated Andrew Bird poster by Jay Ryan from The Bird Machine. Maybe you'll notice a theme of falling girls here. Unintentional, I just like them both so much. To be perfectly honest with you I don't even listen to Andrew Bird, I just love this poster so much. Maybe I will have to start.




I also got the two prints of photographs from Etsy. The first one is from seller AliciaBock. I love the colors and the softness of it.



The other print comes from seller Maditi. I absolutely love it. I love the juxtaposition of the big green beads against the striped shirt. I love the way it is cropped, and I love the way her hair is moving. I just think it's fantastic, or if nothing else, fantastically me.



P.S. By the end of writing this post, I have officially decided, through listening to his music on his myspace page, that I in fact really like Andrew Bird. Haha. Oh silly me.

1. Christmas Wrapping - The Waitresses

"Bah, humbug!" No, that's too strong
'Cause it is my favorite holiday
But all this year's been a busy blur
Don't think I have the energy

To add to my already mad rush
Just 'cause it's 'tis the season.
The perfect gift for me would be
Completions and connections left from

Last year, ski shop,
Encounter, most interesting.
Had his number but never the time
Most of '81 passed along those lines.

So deck those halls, trim those trees
Raise up cups of Christmas cheer,
I just need to catch my breath,
Christmas by myself this year.

Calendar picture, frozen landscape,
Chilled this room for twenty-four days,
Evergreens, sparkling snow
Get this winter over with!

Flashback to springtime, saw him again,
Would've been good to go for lunch,
Couldn't agree when we were both free,
We tried, we said we'd keep in touch.

Didn't, of course, 'til summertime,
Out to the beach to his boat could I join him?
No, this time it was me,
Sunburn in the third degree.

Now the calendar's just one page
And, of course, I am excited
Tonight's the night, but I've set my mind
Not to do too much about it.

Merry Christmas! Merry Christmas!
But I think I'll miss this one this year.
Merry Christmas! Merry Christmas!
But I think I'll miss this one this year.
Merry Christmas! Merry Christmas!
But I think I'll miss this one this year.
Merry Christmas! Merry Christmas!
But I think I'll miss this one this year.

Hardly dashing through the snow
Cause I bundled up too tight
Last minute have-to-do's
A few cards a few calls
'Cause it's r-s-v-p
No thanks, no party lights
It's Christmas Eve, gonna relax
Turned down all of my invites.

Last fall I had a night to myself,
Same guy called, halloween party,
Waited all night for him to show,
This time his car wouldn't go,

Forget it, it's cold, it's getting late,
Trudge on home to celebrate
In a quiet way, unwind
Doing Christmas right this time.

A&P has provided me
With the world's smallest turkey
Already in the oven, nice and hot
Oh damn! Guess what I forgot?

So on with the boots, back out in the snow
To the only all-night grocery,
When what to my wondering eyes should appear
In the line is that guy I've been chasing all year!

"I'm spending this one alone," he said.
"Need a break; this year's been crazy."
I said, "Me too, but why are you?
You mean you forgot cranberries too?"

Then suddenly we laughed and laughed
Caught on to what was happening
That Christmas magic's brought this tale
To a very happy ending! "

Merry Christmas! Merry Christmas!
Couldn't miss this one this year!
Merry Christmas! Merry Christmas!
Couldn't miss this one this year!

2. Last Christmas - Jimmy Eat World

Last Christmas, I gave you my heart
The very next day you gave it away
This year to save me the tears
I’ll give it to someone special.

Last Christmas, I gave you my heart
The very next day you gave it away
This year to save me the tears
I’ll give it to someone special.

Last Christmas, I gave you my heart
The very next day you gave it away
This year to save me the tears
I’ll give it to someone special.

Last Christmas, I gave you my heart
The very next day you gave it away
This year to save me the tears
I’ll give it to someone special.

A face on a lover with a fire in his heart
A man undercover but you tore me apart
Now I‘ve found the real love, now I found
You’ll never fool me again!

A face on a lover with a fire in his heart
A man undercover but you tore me apart
Now I‘ve found the real love, now I found
You’ll never fool me again!

Last Christmas, I gave you my heart
The very next day you gave it away
This year to save me the tears
I’ll give it to someone special.

Last Christmas, I gave you my heart
The very next day you gave it away
This year to save me the tears
I’ll give it to someone special.

3. Maybe This Christmas - Ron Sexsmith

Maybe this Christmas will mean something more
Maybe this year love will appear
Deeper than ever before
And maybe forgiveness will ask us to call
Someone we love
Someone we’ve lost
For reasons we can’t quite recall
Mmm, maybe this Christmas

Maybe there’ll be an open door
Maybe the star that shined before
Will shine once more, ohhh

Mmmmmmm, mmmmmmmm

And maybe this Christmas will find us at last
In heaven, at peace
Prayed for at least
For the love we’ve been shown in the past
Maybe this Christmas
Maybe this Christmas

Techincal Difficulties

So I didn't get a chance to finish my countdown because I had a severe lack of internet access all weekend. So I will put up the final three now. Sorry about the delay.

Now I'm a Believer

I know I've mentioned before my obsession with The Believer. But I'm not sure I've ever talked about why it is that I am obsessed with it. I'm sure there will be plenty of people who disagree with me, or even who don't care for it at all, but in my opinion The Believer is the best magazine in America, and this is why:

For starters, I love the physical attributes of the magazine. Unlike your typical glossy mag, The Believer is printed on high quality matte paper. To me personally this means two things. 1) it begs to be saved. I pour over my copies and then put them on the shelf with all the other issues I own, which I have serious plans to hold on to for the rest of my life. 2) it's much easier for read. I am very light sensitive, and when I look at white surfaces they actually glow. I've never really been sure why. I've tried to describe it to people I thought might be able to explain it me (doctor's, specialists on learning disabilities, etc.) and no such luck. The "brighter" white a surface is, the more it glows. This is true for the pages of books as well. The brighter white a page is, the more it glows and the harder it is for me to read. This is reflected in reading pace, the speed of onset of eye strain related fatigue, etc. Glossy magazine pages are basically the worst. Not only are the pages bright white, but they're already shiny, which just makes the glowing affect worse. The Believer is printed on matte, off-white pages, which means the glow factor is much more limited. Other physical attributes I like include the incredibly distinctive cover art by Charles Burns, the somewhat incongruous (but usually appealingly so) illustrations strewn throughout each issue and done by a different artist each month, and the general layout and formatting of the magazine.

I love the that the one commandment of The Believer is Thou Shalt not Publish Bad Reviews. The world of book reviews and literary criticism is filled with searing reviews of books the reviewer has decided are loathsome. While I suppose some people find this useful in helping them avoid the bad books that are out there, I feel differently about that kind of review. I would much rather know what to read than what not to read. Knowing what books are bad doesn't help me choose what to read next. Reading The Believer adds more to my constantly expanding reading list than anything else. I also feel that many of the reviewers who can't ever seem to find anything nice to say about a book are a lot like the Post film critics. As far as I can tell, the Post film critics have just seen far too many movies. They never like anything. And usually if the like something it's so bizarre that every normal human being finds it unwatchable. My Mom and I have said for years that if one of the Post critics likes a movie, we won't see it and if they hate it, we will. There are exceptions. And before you decide that all the members of the winsexy clan have totally pedestrian taste, I should clarify that we, well, don't. I mean sometimes, yes, but not always. Just take my word for it. Anyway, I think many book reviewers have just read too much and everything seems the same. Which I kind of understand. If I read that much I might feel the same way. But I think once you get to the point that you don't like anything you read, it may be time to get a new job. Enter The Believer which only publishes good reviews, helping out those of us that actually enjoy reading.

One of the things about The Believer that I am most fond of, is the way it makes me feel when I read it. Every time I sit down to read The Believer I feel a little smarter once I stand up again. And I don't mean this in the I look cool and feel smarter because I know The Believer is an intelligent magazine kind of way. What I am talking about is that every time I read The Believer I learn something I didn't already know or I understand something in a way I was previously unaware of or incapable of grasping. Not only do I enjoy it, but I really believe it makes my consciousness richer. Maybe not in the super structured hyper-intellectualised way I felt school made my consciousness richer (and I certainly don't mean this in a bad way, those of you who know me well know I loved school), but I still believe it contributes to a more intelligent, more interesting winsexy. And since I think striving to be ever more intelligent and interesting is an admirable goal and one of the things I like to think shapes my life, I love The Believer for assisting me in that quest.

4. Santa Claus is Coming to Town - Jackson 5

Santa claus is comin to town
Santa claus is comin to town

Youd better watch out
Youd better not cry
Youd better not pout
Im telling you why

Santa claus is comin to town
Santa claus is comin to town
Santa claus is comin to town

Hes making a list
And checking it twice
Gonna find out whos naughty and nice

Santa claus is comin to town
Santa claus is comin to town
Santa claus is comin to town

He sees you when youre sleeping
He knows when youre awake
He knows if youve been bad or good
So be good for goodness sake

Oh, youd better watch out
Youd better not cry
Better not pout
Im telling you why

Oh! santa claus is comin to town
Santa claus is comin to town
Santa claus is comin to town

Santa claus is comin to town
Santa claus is comin to town
Santa claus is comin to town

Little tin horns
And little toy drums
Rooty-toot-toot
And rump-a-tum-tum
Curly-haired dolls
That tootle and coo
Elephants, boats and kiddie cars too

Oh! santa claus is comin to town
Santa claus is comin to town
Santa claus is comin to town

One more time now..

Santa claus is comin to town
Santa claus is comin to town
Santa claus is comin to town

5. All I Want For Christmas Is You- Mariah Carey

I don't want a lot for Christmas
There's just one thing I need
I don't care about the presents
Underneath the Christmas tree
I just want you for my own
More than you could ever know
Make my wish come true
All I want for Christmas is...
You

I don't want a lot for Christmas
There's just one thing I need
I don't care about the presents
Underneath the Christmas tree
I don't need to hang my stocking
There upon the fireplace
Santa Claus won't make me happy
With a toy on Christmas day
I just want you for my own
More than you could ever know
Make my wish come true
All I want for Christmas is you
You baby

I won't ask for much this Christmas
I don't even wish for snow
I'm just gonna keep on waiting
Underneath the mistletoe
I won't make a list and send it
To the North Pole for Saint Nick
I won't even stay awake to
Hear those magic reindeer click
'Cause I just want you here tonight
Holding on to me so tight
What more can I do
Baby all I want for Christmas is you
Ooh baby
All the lights are shining
So brightly everywhere
And the sound of children's
Laughter fills the air
And everyone is singing
I hear those sleigh bells ringing
Santa won't you bring me the one I really need
Won't you please bring my baby to me...

Oh I don't want a lot for Christmas
This is all I'm asking for
I just want to see my baby
Standing right outside my door
Oh I just want you for my own
More than you could ever know
Make my wish come true
Baby all I want for Christmas is...
You

All I want for Christmas is you... baby

6. Christmas (Baby, Please Come Home) - Death Cab for Cutie

The snow's coming down
I'm watching it fall
Watching the people around
Baby please come home

The church bells in town
They're ringing a song
What a happy sound
Baby please come home

They're singing deck the halls
But it's not like Christmas at all
I remember when you were here
All the fun we had last year

Pretty lights on the tree
I'm watching them shine
You should be here with me
Baby please come home
Baby please come home

They're singing deck the halls
But it's not like christmas at all
I remember when you were here
All the fun we had last year

If there was a way
I'd hold back these tears
But it's Christmas day
Baby please come home
Baby please come home
Baby please come home

7. Christmas - Blues Traveller

comes the time for christmas
And i really have to ask
If this is feeling merry
How much longer must it last
I wish a one horse open sleigh
Would come carry me away
But i've been waiting here all day
And one just hasn't come my way
Now excuse me if i'm not being reverent
But i was hoping for a miracle to hold me, watch me
Save me from my righteous doubt as i watch helpless
And everybody sings
If it's Hanukkah or Kwanzaa
Solstice, harvest or december twenty-fifth
Peace on earth to everyone
And abundance to everyone you're with
Laha da da da da da
Da da da da da da da da da da da
La da da da da da da da
La da da da da da da da da
Laha da da da da
Laha da da da da
Comes the time for christmas
And as you raise your yuletide flask
There's like this feeling that you carry
As if from every christmas past
It's as if each year it grows
It's like you feel it in your toes
And on and on your carol goes
Harvesting love among your woes
I want to buy into the benevolent
And i was hoping for a miracle
to hold me, watch me
Make me know what it's about
As the longing in me makes me want to sing
Noel or navidad
Season celebration or just the end of the year
Christmas can mean anything
And i mean to keep its hope forever near
Laha da da da da da
Da da da da da da da
da da da da
La da da da da da da da da
La da da da da
da da da da da
Laha da da da da
Laha da da da da
As if a cold and frozen soul is warm to love
By loves own hand
So goes the prayer if for a day peace on earth
And good will to man
At twenty below the winter storm it billows
But the fire is so warm inside
And the children while nestled in their pillows
Dream of st. nicholas's ride
And how the next day
they'll get up and they will play
In the still falling christmas snow
And together we'll celebrate forever
In defiance of the winds that blow
My god in heaven
now i feel like i'm seven
And spirit calls to me as well
As if christmas had made the winter warmer
Made a paradise from what was hell
As if a cold and frozen soul is warm to love
By loves own hand
So goes the prayer if for a day
peace on earth
And good will to man.......
I wish a one horse open sleigh
would come carry me away
And i'll keep waiting through next may
Until christmas
comes my way

8. Children Go Where I Send Thee- Natalie Merchant

Children, go where I send thee
How shall I send thee?
I'm gonna send thee one by one
One for the little bitty baby
Wrapped in swadling clothing,
Lying in a manger.
He was born, born
Born in Bethlehem.

Children, go where I send thee
How shall I send thee?
I'm gonna send thee two by two
Two for Paul and Silas
One for the little bitty baby.
Wrapped in swadling clothing,
and lying in a manger.
He was born, born
Born in Bethlehem.

Children, go where I send thee
How shall I send thee?
I'm gonna send thee three by three
Three for the Hebrew children
Two for Paul and Silas
One for the little bitty baby
Wrapped in swadling clothing,
Lying in a manger.
He was born, born
Born in Bethlehem.

Children, go where I send thee
How shall I send thee?
I'm gonna send thee four by four
Four for the four knockin' at my door
Three for the Hebrew children
Two for Paul and Silas
One for the little bitty baby.
Wrapped in swadling clothing,
and lying in a manger.
He was born, born
Born in Bethlehem.

Children, go where I send thee
How shall I send thee?
I'm gonna send thee five by five
Five for the gospel preachers
Four for the four knockin' at my door
Three for the Hebrew children
Two for Paul and Silas
One for the little bitty baby
Wrapped in swadling clothing,
Lying in a manger.
He was born, born
Born in Bethlehem.

He was born, born
Born in Bethlehem.

9. Little Drummer Boy/Peace On Earth- Bing Crosby & David Bowie

Those of you who have never heard this song before might not know the two songs are laid over each other and intertwined. It's easier to give the lyrics for each song seperately. So here they are:

The Little Drummer Boy

"Come," they told me, - pa rum pa pum pum -
"Our newborn King to see. - pa rum pa pum pum -
Our finest gifts we bring - pa rum pa pum pum -
To lay before the King, - pa rum pa pum pum, rum pa pum pum, rum pa pum pum -
So to honor HIM - pa rum pa pum pum -
When we come."

"Baby Jesu," - pa rum pa pum pum -
"I am a poor boy, too. - pa rum pa pum pum -
I have no gift to bring - pa rum pa pum pum -
That's fit to give a king - pa rum pa pum pum, rum pa pum pum, rum pa pum pum -
Shall I play for you? - pa rum pa pum pum -
On my drum?

Mary nodded. - pa rum pa pum pum -
The ox and lamb kept time. - pa rum pa pum pum -
I played my drum for HIM, - pa rum pa pum pum -
I played my best for HIM, - pa rum pa pum pum, rum pa pum pum, rum pa pum pum
Then He smiled at me, - pa rum pa pum pum -
Me and my drum.


Peace on Earth

Peace on earth, can it be?
Years from now, perhaps we'll see,
See the day of glory,
See the day when men of good will
Live in peace, live in peace again.

Peace on earth, can it be?

Every child must be made aware,
Every child must be made to care,
Care enough for his fellow man
To give all the love that he can.

I pray my wish will come true
For my child and your child too,
He'll see the day of glory,
See the day when men of good will
Live in peace, live in peace again.

Peace on earth, can it be?
Can it be?

10. Fairytale of New York - The Pogues

It was Christmas Eve babe
In the drunk tank
An old man said to me, won't see another one
And then he sang a song
The Rare Old Mountain Dew
I turned my face away
And dreamed about you

Got on a lucky one
Came in eighteen to one
I've got a feeling
This year's for me and you
So happy Christmas
I love you baby
I can see a better time
When all our dreams come true

They've got cars big as bars
They've got rivers of gold
But the wind goes right through you
It's no place for the old
When you first took my hand
On a cold Christmas Eve
You promised me
Broadway was waiting for me

You were handsome
You were pretty
Queen of New York City
When the band finished playing
They howled out for more
Sinatra was swinging,
All the drunks they were singing
We kissed on a corner
Then danced through the night

The boys of the NYPD choir
Were singing "Galway Bay"
And the bells were ringing out
For Christmas day

You're a bum
You're a punk
You're an old slut on junk
Lying there almost dead on a drip in that bed
You scumbag, you maggot
You cheap lousy f@@@@@*
Happy Christmas your arse
I pray God it's our last

I could have been someone
Well so could anyone
You took my dreams from me
When I first found you
I kept them with me babe
I put them with my own
Can't make it all alone
I've built my dreams around you




*I hate sensorship, but I hate this word more and I don't ever want it to appear on my blog, so you're just going to have to suck it up.

Winter Passing

Last night I watched Winter Passing. I watched it mostly because I wanted to send it back to netflix, so I could get Rudolph (the claymation version) before Christmas. I had initially really wanted to see it, but hadn't really been in the mood since it had actually shown up in my mailbox (I'm also currently having the same problem with Pollock). But I am so glad I watched it, because it was the most beautiful film I have seen in a long time. In fact, it may be the most beautiful film I've ever seen. I'm not sure, still thinking about that, but I do think it is my new favorite movie. I am rather partial to both Ed Harris and Zooey Deschanel, but I thought they both did an amazing job. Especially Deschanel. Plus she really is heart-breakingly beautiful. I'm not a huge fan of Will Ferrel, but he did a really great job as well. I also have been told I really need to see Stranger than Fiction. Which I really would like to see. But back to Winter Passing, there are really painful moments, but it left me with a really fulfilled feeling. And it has a beautiful quality about it. I just loved it and you should see it.


I also never wrote about seeing Green Street Hooligans a few weeks ago. I also loved that, but in a very different way. It was gritty and violent, but it was gripping. Also Charlie Hunnam is, well, absolutely gorgeous. So I pretty much couldn't take my eyes off him during the entire film. I also have a piece of advise for him: keep you head shaved buddy. Cus the girly blond hair look, so does not work for you. But who does that actually work for (sorry blondy boys, but I'm just not a big fan)? Anyway you should also see Green Street Hooligans because it was great.

11. O Holy Night - Tracy Chapman

O holy night the stars are brightly shining
It is the night of our dear saviors birth

Long lay the world in sin and error pining
Till he appeared and the soul felt its worth

A thrill of hope, the weary world rejoices
For yonder breaks a new glorious morn

Fall on your knees
O hear the angels voices
O night divine
O night when christ was born
O night divine, o night
O night divine

A thrill of hope, the weary world rejoices
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn

Fall on your knees
O hear the angels voices
O night divine
O night when christ was born
O night divine, o night
O night divine

12. Rock of Ages - Ben Kweller

Rock of Ages
Let our song praise your saving power;
You amid the raging foes,
Were our sheltering tower
Furious they assailed us,
But your arm availed us,
And your word broke their sword,
When our own strength failed us.
And your word broke their sword,
When our own strength failed us

13. Jingle Bells - Lisa Loeb

Oh what fun it is to ride

Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way!
O what fun it is to ride in a one-horse open sleigh.
Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way!
O what fun it is to ride in a one-horse open sleigh.

Oh What Fun Oh What Fun

Dashing through the snow, in a one-horse open sleigh,
Over the fields we go, laughing all the way.
Bells on bob-tails ring, making spirits bright,
What fun it is to ride and sing a sleighing song tonight.

Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way!
O what fun it is to ride in a one-horse open sleigh.
Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way!
O what fun it is to ride in a one-horse open sleigh.

Now the ground is white, go it while you're young
Take the world tonight, and sing this sleighing song;

O Jingle Bells Jingle Bells
Jingle Bells Jingle Bells
Oh what fun it is to ride
Oh what fun

14. Holiday Inn Medley - Frank Sinatra & Bing Crosby

Happy holiday, happy holiday
While the merry bells keep ringing
May your ev'ry wish come true

Happy holiday, happy holiday
May the calendar keep bringing
Happy holidays to you

~

Let's start the new year right
Twelve o'clock tonight
When they dim the light
Let's begin

Kissing the old year out
Kissing the new year in

Let's watch the old year die
With a fond good-bye
And our hopes as high
As a kite

How can our love go wrong if
We start the new year? ring out the old year, let's start the new year right

~

Upon a February morn
A tiny baby boy was born
Abraham, Abraham

When he grew up this tiny babe
Folks all called him Honest Abe
Abraham, Abraham

In eighteen sixty, he became
The sixteenth president
And now he's in the hall of fame
A most respected gent

That's why we celebrate
This blessed February date
Abraham, Abraham

~

Be careful, it's my heart
It's not my watch you're holding, it's my heart

It's not the note I sent you
That you quickly burned
It's not the book I lent you
That you never returned

Remember, it's my heart
The heart with which so willingly I part

It's yours to take, to keep or break
But please, before you start
Be careful, it's my heart

~

In your Easter bonnet, with all the frills upon it,
You'll be the grandest lady in the Easter Parade.
I'll be all in clover and when they look you over,
I'll be the proudest fellow in the Easter Parade.
On the avenue, Fifth Avenue, the photographers will snap us,
And you'll find that you're in the rotogravure.
Oh, I could write a sonnet about your Easter bonnet,
And of the girl I'm taking to the Easter Parade.

~

I'm dreaming of a white Christmas
Just like the ones I used to know

Where the treetops glisten
And children listen
To hear sleigh bells in the snow

I'm dreaming of white Christmas
With every Christmas card I write

May your days be merry and bright
And may all your Christmases be white

15. Carol of the Bells - Phantom Planet

this version of the song has no lyrics, it's all just carol of the bells played on electric guitar, but it's good so you should check it out anyway.

16. Blue Christmas - Sheryl Crow

I'll have a blue Christmas without you
I'll be so blue just thinkin' about you
Decorations of red on a green Christmas tree
Won't be the same dear if you're not here with me

And when the blue snowflakes start fallin'
That's when the blue memories start callin'
You'll be doin' alright with your Christmas of white
And I'll have a blue, blue Christmas

You'll be doin' alright with your Christmas of white
And I'll have a blue, blue Christmas
And I'll have a blue, blue Christmas
And I'll have a blue, blue Christmas

17. The Christmas Song - The Raveonettes

All the lights are coming on now
How i wish that it would snow now
i dont fell like going home now
i wish that i could stay

All the trees are on display now
and its cold now
i dont feel like going home now
i wish that i could stay

i wish that i could walk
i wish that i could walk
you home

All the lights are coming on now
How i wish that it would snow now
i dont fell like going home now
i wish that i could stay

Santas coming to town
with sequins in his hair
Santas coming to town
with sequins in his hair

18. Oi! to the World - No Doubt

Haji was a punk just like any other boy
And he never had no trouble till he started up his Oi band
Safe in the garage or singing in the tub
Till Haji went too far and he plugged in at the pub

'Twas a cold Christmas eve when Trevor and the skins
Popped in for a pint and to nick a back of crisps
Trevor liked the music but not the Unity
He unwound Haji's turban and he knocked him to his knees

If God came down on Christmas Day
I know exactly what He'd say
He'd say "Oi to the punks and Oi to the skins
and Oi to the world and everybody wins!"

Haji was a bloody mess, he ran out through the crowd
he said "we'll meet again we are bloody but not unbowed"
Trevor called his bluff and told him where to meet
Christmas day on the roof down at 20 Oxford street

If God came down on Christmas Day
I know exactly what He'd say
He'd say "Oi to the punks and Oi to the skins
and Oi to the world and everybody wins!"

On the roof with the nun chucks Trevor broke a lot of bones
But Haji had a sword like that guy in Indiana Jones

Police sirens wailing, a bloody dying man
Haji was alone and abandoned by his band
Trevor was there fading and still so full of hate
When the skins left him there and went down the fire escape
Oi! Oi!

But then Haji saw the north star shining more then ever
So he made a tourniquet from his turban saving Trevor
They rappelled down the roof with the rest of the turban
and went back to the pub where they bought each other bourbon

If God came down on Christmas Day
I know exactly what He'd say
He'd say "Oi to the punks and Oi to the skins
and Oi to the world and everybody wins!"

If God came down on Christmas Day
I know exactly what He'd say
He'd say "Oi to the punks and Oi to the skins
and Oi to the world and everybody wins!"
Oi! Oi!

19. The Christmas Song - Al Green

Chestnuts roasting on an open fire
Jack Frost nipping at your nose
Yuletide carols being sung by a choir
And folks dressed up like eskimos

Everybody knows some tofu and some mistletoe
Help to make the season bright
Tiny tots with their eyes all aglow
Will find it hard to sleep tonight

They know that Santa's on his way
He's loaded lots of toys
And goodies on his sleigh
And every mother's child is gonna spy
To see if reindeer really know how to fly

And so, I'm offering this simple phrase
To kids from one to ninety-two
Although its been said
Many times, many ways
Merry Christmas! Merry Christmas! Merry Christmas to.. You!

Iraq and a hard place

Over the last few years I have come to hate the news. I pretty much never watch the news, because it makes me so upset. I've always hated local news because it was depressing, but I used to at least find national and international news interesting. That changed pretty much entirely once Bush took office. Every time I would read the paper there was more about Iraq, or some other thing he had done that pissed me off to no end. Most of the time when I would watch the news I would end up having to watch some maddening clip of him making some stupid speech or comment. Not only would it make me mad, but I just literally can't stand to listen to the man speak. It actually makes me go nuts. So I basically just gave up the news. Went cold turkey. I mean I watch the news every now and then. And sometimes I'll read sections of the paper besides Style and the Sunday Source, but not all that often. I realize that sometimes this puts me in situations where I seem kind of stupid and out of the loop, but I just get in such a funk from news of what's actually going on that I put up with that. And I do get a decent amount of news by way of word of mouth. I also know that people I really care about don't really care if I am sometimes out of the loop and have to ask them what is going on when they are talking about something. But the entire situation may change. Today Carla asked me if I had heard about the murders of sex workers in Ipswich, because Carla is my link to UK news. I obviously had not heard about them, but given my rather morbid streak I was intrigued and googled it. The first thing that came up was a BBC News article. So I read it. And was reminded how much I DON'T hate BBC News. So I went to the main headlines page and was confronted with "Growing pressure: US president is caught between Iraq and a hard place." Now that is a really fabulous headline. I mean how can you not love a headline like that. And a news outlet that uses it. So despite all the awful, and upsetting things that happen in the world everyday that I have been trying to avoid reading about for the last four years, maybe more, I am now going to try and keep up again via the BBC News. I hope that because they are a news outlet that doesn't make me absolutely insane I will actually be able to do it. Also from my point of view, things are looking up a little so maybe it won't ALL be bad news anymore. Cheers to that.

20. Run Rudolph Run- Bryan Adams

Out of all the reindeer you know you're the mastermind
Run, run Rudolph, Randalph's not too far behind
Run, run Rudolph, Santa's got to make it to town
Randalph he can hurry, he can take the freeway down
And away went Rudolph a whizzing like a merry-go-round

Said Santa to a boy child "What have you been longing for?"
"All I want for Christmas is a Rock and Roll electric guitar"
And away went Rudolph a whizzing like a shooting star

Run, run Rudolph, Santa's got to make it to town
Can't you make him hurry, tell him he can take the freeway down
And away went Rudolph a whizzing like a merry-go-round

Said Santa to a girl child "What would you like most to get?"
"I want a little baby doll that can cry, scream and wet"
And away went Rudolph a whizzing like a Saber jet

Run, run Rudolph, run, run Rudolph, a running like a son-of-a-gun.

21. Rudolph the Rednose Reindeer-Jewel

Rudolph, the red-nosed reindeer
had a very shiny nose
and if you ever saw it
you would even say it glows
all of the other reindeer
used to laugh and call him names
they never let poor Rudolph
join in any reindeer games
then one foggy Christmas eve
Santa came to say:
"Rudolph with your nose so bright
won't you guide my sleigh tonight?"
then how the reindeer loved him
as they shouted out with glee (yippee)
"Rudolph, the red-nosed reindeer
you'll go down in history."
Rudolph, the red-nosed reindeer
had a very shiny nose
and if you ever saw it
you would even say it glows
all of the other reindeer
used to laugh and call him names
they never let poor Rudolph
join in any reindeer games
then one foggy Christmas eve
Santa came to say:
"Rudolph with your nose so bright
won't you guide my sleigh tonight"
then how the reindeer loved him
as they shouted out with glee (yippee)
"Rudolph, the red-nosed reindeer
you'll go down in history"

let it snow

I absolutely love snow. I think it comes mostly from growing up in DC and having so little. Even though I'd usually get tired of it by the end of the season up in Boston, it still didn't break me of my love for snow. Actually I think it just made it stronger, at least in December, and maybe January. Maybe it also comes a from having a Minnesotan for a mother. Regardless, I love snow. It's not a love of Lorelai proportions, that would be hard to rival, but it is a strong and deep love for sure.

It has finally gotten cold here in DC. Most of November seemed to linger around 60 and sometimes warmer. Now that I've gotten used to real fall that was kind of hard. I mean who can really enjoy a gingerbread latte when it's 75 degrees out? I know that I can't. But that's all changed. It's been quite chilly the last few days, which I have loved. There have been coats and scarves and fur trapper hats in my life and that makes me happy.

And this morning on my way to work I had a perfect moment. Walking form the bus to Starbucks (part of my daily routine) I saw some little white flecks blow through the air. It was windy and my first thought was it was just street dust being picked up by the wind (the street I work on is a little dirty). But then there were more, and then the wind died down for a moment and I realized they were moving in an approximately downwards direction. And then my heart went: SNOW!!!! I instantly starting grinning ear to ear as I walked down the street. And people kept giving me kinda strange looks, like why is that girl smiling like a deranged person? And I just wanted to say to them, can't you see it's snowing! But I didn't, since I know not every one gets as excited by barely noticeable flurries as I do. By the time I got to Starbucks it was mostly over, but I did watch a guy in the crosswalk feel a flake fall on his cheek, I watched his hand reach up and then the grin spread across his face too. I went inside and ordered my gingerbread latte, and relished in the fact that winter has finally arrived.

22. Frosty the Snowman-The Roches

Hey who's that over there?
That's that weird guy down the street
Oh yeah he's a snowman
The one with the funny nose
Frosty the snowman was a jolly happy soul
With a corn cob pipe and a button nose and two eyes made out of coal
Frosty the snowman is a fairy tale they say
He was made of snow but the children know how he came to life on day
There must have been some magic in that old silk hat they found
For when they placed it on his had he began to dance around
Frosty the snowman was alive as he could be
And the children say he ca laugh and play but we don't believe 'um anyway
He's Real!
Frosty the snowman knew the sun was hot that day
So he said let's run and we'll have some fun now before I melt away
Down to the village with the broomstick in his hand
Running here and there all around the square tripping all over himself with the broomstick
He was walking in the streets of town right to the traffic cop
And he only paused a moment when he heard him holler stop
Frosty the snowman was happy on his way
But he waved goodbye saying don't you cry I'll be back again someday
Hippity hop hop
Hippity hop hop
Look at that snowman go
In his easter bonnet with all the frills upon it
He'll be the only snowman in the easter parade

23. Sleigh Ride-Johnny Mathis

Just hear those sleigh bells jingling, ring-ting-tingling too
Come on, it's lovely weather for a sleigh ride together with you
Outside the snow is falling and friends are calling "You Hoo"
Come on, it's lovely weather for a sleigh ride together with you

Giddy-up giddy-up giddy-up let's go, Let's look at the show
We're riding in a wonderland of snow
Giddy-up giddy-up giddy-up it's grand, Just holding your hand
We're gliding along with a song of a wintry fairy land

Our cheeks are nice and rosy and comfy cozy are we
We've snuggled close together like two birds of a feather would be
Let's take that road before us and sing a chorus or two
Come on, it's lovely weather for a sleigh ride together with you

There's a birthday party at the home of Farmer Gray
It'll be the perfect ending of a perfect day
We'll be singing the songs we love to sing without a single stop
At the fireplace where we'll watch the chestnuts pop
Pop! Pop! Pop!

There's a happy feeling nothing in the world can buy
When they pass around the coffee and the pumpkin pie
It'll nearly be like a picture print by Currier and Ives
These wonderful things are the things we remember all through our lives
These wonderful things are the things we remember all through our lives

Just hear those sleigh bells jingling , ring-ting-tingling too
Come on, it's lovely weather for a sleigh ride together with you
Outside the snow is falling and friends are calling "You Hoo"
Come on, it's lovely weather for a sleigh ride together with you

Giddy-up giddy-up giddy-up let's go, Let's look at the show
We're riding in a wonderland of snow-ow
Giddy-up giddy-up giddy-up it's grand, Just holding your hand
We're gliding along with a song of a wintry fairy land

Nice and rosy and comfy cozy are we
We've snuggled close together like two birds of a feather would be
Let's take that road before us and sing a chorus or two
Come on, it's lovely weather for a sleigh ride together with you
Lovely weather for a sleigh ride together with you
Lovely weather for a sleigh ride together with
Lovely weather for a sleigh ride together with

24. Do You Hear What I hear-Whiteney Houston

Said the little lamb to the shepherd boy,
Do you hear what I hear
Ringing through the night, shepherd boy,
Do you hear what I hear
A song, a song, high above the trees
With a voice as big as the sea
With a voice as big as the sea

Said the shepherd boy to the mighty king
Do you know what I know
In your palace warm, mighty king
Do you know what I know
A child, a child, shivers in the cold
Let us bring him silver and gold
Let us bring him silver and gold

Said the king to the people everywhere,
Listen to what I say
Pray for peace, people everywhere,
Listen to what I say
A child, a child, sleeping in the night
He will bring us goodness and light
He will bring us goodness and light

Apologies

So I've kind of fallen off on the whole Christmas Countdown Front over the weekend, and for this I must apologize. In my own defense, I went to 2 parties, a pizza easting session, a birthday dinner, the yarn barns and work, and I also had two migraines. But I am back, and now I will catch up on the countdown. Sorry about the not so scheduled interruption of service.

Everyone's favorite elf

Because of my name I have often felt that it was fate that I should love Christmas so much. I pretty much have taken it upon myself over the year to be an ambassador of Christmas joy and cheer, and given my rather diminutive size this has lead some to compare me to an elf. Well the always inspirational Lesley has taken the comparison one step further. I have now become an elf.

25. Song for a Winter's Night-Sarah McLachlan

The lamp is burnin' low upon my table top
The snow is softly fallin'
The air is still within the silence of my room
I hear your voice softly callin'

If I could only have you near
To breathe a sigh or two
I would be happy just to hold the hands I love
Upon this winter night with you

The smoke is rising in the shadows overhead
My glass is almost empty
I read again between the lines upon the page
The words of love you sent me

If I could know within my heart
That you were lonely too
I would be happy just to hold the hands I love
Upon this winter night with you

The fire is dying now, my lamp is growing dim
The shades of night are liftin'
The mornin' light steals across my windowpane
Where webs of snow are driftin'

If I could only have you near
To breathe a sigh or two
I would be happy just to hold the hands I love
On this winter's night with you
And to be once again with with you

Happy Birthday lil bro

So my little brother turns 18 today, which is beyond weird for me. Not weird in a bad way, but I just can't believe how old he is! I thought I would share with all of you what I wrote on his facebook wall. The funniest part is that it took three posts to say it all, so I will leave the breaks the way they worked out on facebook.

"how is it that it's almost noon and i am the first person to write on your wall for your b-day? tell your friends i said they were slackers. anyway, lil bro, i cannot believe that you are 18. really, i like literally don't believe it. in fact i think i'm taking back a year, you are not allowed to be 18 yet. why you might ask? well because i'm you're big sister and i say so (remember that one?). i mean i remember when you loved moles, and when you wouldn't wear anything but sweatpants in black or grey, and when you had chubby chubby cheeks. i remember when you still wore diapers, and the dinosaur blanky you used to carry everywhere. i remember the time you stuck the bean up your nose and we were so scared cus we lurved you so much and you were so little. i remember all the cars, and all the legos, and then all the computers, oh wait that's now. i remember the forts we used to build in the back of the minivan on road trips, and how i secretly felt bad when you weren't big enough


(sorry ran out of room on the last one, who knew there was a character limit on facebook wall post, so now i will continue) to go on all the rides with dad and i at disney world, although i never would have admitted it. i remember climbing "the mountain" in our backyard when they were doing the addition, and then when it froze and we just had that much more fun climbing the frozen mountain. i remember when you learned how to drive and i was scared half to death for the rest of the world. and i remember how i would come home form college and all of a sudden you weren't just my baby bro, but you were a real person, and that may have scared me more. i remember the day i realized that you weren't annoying and trying to come into my room anymore, but that you were really cool and fun to hang out with, and that when you came into my room, i actually wanted you there. but despite how growed up you are, you will always be my baby brother and i love you more than you know. hope i didn't

(part 3) embarrass you to much on facebook. oh and sorry i used to poke you when you were trying to take naps."