This is a really fascinating video from The New York Times about residents of a Chelsea apartment in New York who started receiving hundreds of letters addressed to Santa and decided to try and fulfill all of the requests!
Artist: Barbra Streisand/ Album: Lazy Afternoon
Now I know a lot of people have set-in-stone traditions on Christmas day. Some open presents first thing in the morning. Some make gingerbread houses. And for some, the decorations are stripped down before anyone is allowed to get tucked into bed that very night. Besides all the regular family/reason-for-the—seasoness of it all, December 25th means one thing: the return of the Doctor!! (Here’s where my nerdiness really shines through, by the way). Doctor Who is a long running BBC sci-fi show about a space/time traveling alien and his (usually) female Earth companion. The series began in 1963 and has appeared in various forms ever since. The most recent regeneration came in 2005 with the ninth Doctor and every Christmas night BBC airs a special that I hastily download that evening (there being a sizeable enough time difference across the pond)! No, seriously, though, I love it a little too much.
Don’t worry, the TARDIS’ universal translator will take care of that
This years special is inspired by Dickens’ A Christmas Carol but you know… in the future… in space… and with Dumbledore Michael Gambon as Scrooge. At least I think that is what’s happening here.
DUMBLEDORE LIIIIIIIIIVVVVVEEES!!!
The 11th Doctor, Matt Smith, and his companion, Amelia Pond
So here’s hoping that everyone’s Christmas was fantastic, and as the Cybermen love to remind people:
That mean’s you, housewives!!!
And just for a little fun, a selection from CollegeHumor’s five re-imagined children’s classics as sci-fi books:
Dr. Who and Dr. Seuss: Probably my two favorite fake doctors. (Well… next to Dr. Pepper, that is)
Artist: Clark Gesner/ Album: You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown
Over the period of a couple of years when I was in high school and my undergrad I amassed about ten different brands of cologne. Some I wear for certain seasons, some with certain colors, and some for certain moods. (If you ever get a whiff of Dolce and Gabbana then watch out… I’m probably not in the best of spirits.)
In a response to a friends compliment on my musk one day:
“Oh, thanks! I’m actually kind of a scent whore.”
“What?! A centaur? You know, Joseph, sometimes I really don’t get the punch lines to your jokes.”
And, although we all know I love a good bit of half human/half beast mythology, that’s not exactly what I had in mind.
I wear Burberry cologne on the 25th and it is the only time in a year I do so. My bottle only has a couple of spritzes left (I think I’m covered through 2015) and for some reason I associate that scent with Christmas. Perhaps it’s because it has an “aromatic, woody, fougere fragrance […] with dry down notes of amber, cedarwood and tonka beans*.” Or more likely still, perhaps it just SMELLS LIKE FRIGGIN’ CHRISTMAS. Needless to say, with limited supplies I save it for that day and that day only.
And no, this isn’t my trying to subtly hint about a Christmas idea… As I mentioned, I have about plenty of different colognes… so I’m covered. (And most likely in too much cologne.) Ba-dum-ching! Also my hints are not so subtle. I STILL WANT THAT WATCH!!!
Artist: Martin Short/ Album: Fame Becomes Me
Ever since my nephew, Luke, was born I have given him some of my favorite children’s books in addition to his birthday and Christmas presents. I especially like the ones for this year, but as I’m sure he’s an AVID fan of the blog I won’t ruin the surprise by putting up the titles. That is, unless the surprise ends up to be utter disappointment like the kid in this video that’s been popping up on a lot of blogs I read.
You will READ it and you will LOVE it, Luke!
*Update: I was in such a hurry on my break earlier that I forgot to add an epilogue of sorts to the video. The mother actually disabled comments on her youtube page because she kept on getting so much nasty feedback:
After opening a whole bunch of toys, my son 3 year old came across a present with books....keep in mind that this was kinda like his first "real" Christmas....and again he's was only three years old!....let me repeat. ONLY THREE YEARS OLD... And that he could just about understand and get the concept of the whole gift getting thing. I guess much to the blame of me, the media, and every commercial out there on TV he was more under the perception that you only get "toys" for christmas. To him Books are the fun time we spend reading (no less than three) every night before he goes to bed. Let me make something clear again. HE REALLY DOES LOVE BOOKS! But I'm guessing he was "overwhelmed" after opening way too many gifts (my fault I went overboard that year) and I think he felt "tricked upon" when he opened the books.....plus the fact that we were laughing at his reaction kinda egged him on to say the Poo statement..... He really is one of the sweetest kids I know and to see this reaction (if you know him yourself) IS cute.
I have deleted a lot of very undeserved negative comments that have been posted....I understand now that without a good understanding of the back history one could make a poor assumption of him....but now i hope you know that he was ONLY THREE YEARS OLD PEOPLE and that he only thought your supposed to get toys for christmas....partly because of how commercialized this holiday has become.....we have since taught him differently..............but just for kicks were gonna wrap books again for him and see what happens....
Artist: The Divine Comedy/ Album: Promenade
There’s one rather silly picture from my study abroad semester I always go back and look at during Christmastime. Does anyone here know what a nutria is? Well for the uninformed amongst you, it’s a semiaquatic rodent affectionately referred to as the “beaver rat,” which is a name that probably doesn’t give these little fella’s enough credit. I mean, who else in the animal kingdom would dress up as the Medici family for a good holiday dinner scene?
Lorenzo is NOT having it!
My dear dear friends Lauren and Meredith and I took a weekend trip to Vienna one weekend and were lucky enough to be there the same time as the Christmas market. The same market where I bought about 12 glass ornaments that I then had to carry in my lap the whole plane ride home so they didn’t break. It’s also the same market where Lauren, Meredith and I pigged out on Viennese street food.
Exhibit A. (Also, way to laugh in my face, Meredith
We also couldn’t miss out on a trip to the Schoenbrunn Palace, so here’s my Christmas card circa 2004:
Meredith, Myself, Lauren
Artist: Jule Styne/ Album: Funny Girl
Christmastime (which C is also for) also means it’s Maersk butter cookie time!!! Mallory’s dad works for the shipping company and for the past 7 years I have gotten a tin of them. When I lived in Ann Arbor I would always fly into Houston, which meant a stop in The Woodlands on the way back to Crockett, which meant getting to see Mallory, which meant *breath* MAERSK COOKIES!
Mallory’s parents, Greg and Denise, actually got to deliver them this time because when we met up for breakfast with Santa earlier this month.
Joseph, Denise, Greg, and the Star of Maersk
My favorite ones are the ones that look like braids, and my only instruction to friends eating from the tin is: “Okay, but none of the braids.” One time my friend, Will, just laughed and grabbed three of them. Our friendship almost ended on that day.
Ingredients: Butter, sugar, love, flour, crack, more butter
So… THANK YOU BELL FAMILY for feeding my sugar habit! Also, just because it’s Christmas, and according to that scene from Love, Actually, at Christmas you tell the truth, these cookies are basically the only reason I have kept up my friendship with Mallory. She’s actually pretty boring. Sorry you had to here it here first, Mal! HAVE A FUN TRIP TO DISNEY!!!!!
Artist: Marilyn Horne
So this isn’t so much a song from an album as it is a song from a Sesame Street episode. Deal with it! (Also, you might remember it from my previous post about opera singers who sang on the show)
This past weekend I went to the Third Annual Tacky Sweater Christmas party held by my friend, Stephanie. Basically the rules are thus: wear a tacky sweater and bring something to dip into the chocolate fountain. I’m not the best costume dresser (as you may remember from my Halloween post) so I opted for a “red and green” theme. I must say the host of the party did steal the show, though.
Making our Christmas card photo. LOOK HOW HAPPY WE ARE!
This isn’t my first round on the tacky sweater party merry-go-round, either! Stephanie actually had her first one in Ann Arbor two years ago.
With special guest stars, Kevin Miller, Kelley Kimball and Jeremy Reger (And yes, despite Stephanie having on the exact same outfit in both pictures—HOW TACKY—they are actually from 2008 and 2010, respectively)
The irony of it all is that as I am writing this post based solely on a party with a cold-weather-clothing theme I am sitting at a coffee shop enjoying a refreshing iced coffee in EIGHTY DEGREE heat. So… you know, Merry Christmas from Texas and all?
And it’s supposed to get warmer :(
Artist: Meagan Mullally (that would be Karen from Will and Grace)/ Album: Big as a Berry
