Eight is a lot of legs, David...
Okok, I know, I know! I haven't posted in ages. I've been busy with finals, and moving back, and then.. relaxing : )! Relaxing takes up a lot of time, you know!
Mostly I've been busy buying presents, wrapping presents, gathering presents to be taken to Britain (that cant be wrapped due to they might be BOMBS!), gathering wrapping materials to pack to take to Britain to wrap my presents with (my Dad always seems to just have strips of paper left, I don't know how he ever gets anything wrapped), and gathering things on the lists my Dad keeps emailing over of things I need to bring over with me (aluminium foil, rice krispies). But it's been good fun, I enjoy going to the mall when it's all Christmassy. Yesterday I sat and watched the little kids get put on Santa's knee at Northeast Mall and it was really great. Little kids, that I love watching because they remind me of the siblings I don't get to see often, and Santa, whom I have fond memories of, sitting on his knee and telling him I wanted Puppy Surprise, or one of those electronic Barbie Cars you could sit in (even though I really wanted the GI Joe, or whatever the 'guy' car was.. I was too shy to ask).
Speaking of old toys, before I left SU Shalane and I sat down and went through a website with 80's toys and found all the ones we used to have, and remembered having, and wanted. It was great fun!
Anyway, so I've decided to put you all in the Xmas mood by putting up my top 10 Christmas songs for my friends.. so here you go!
(Please download and listen, don't stream!)
10.
The Christmas Song - Nat 'King' Cole - A classic, I know, but such a great one! There's something about it that draws me in every time, and I sing it constantly. I like this version because Nat 'King' Cole's voice is the best for the song.
9.
Santa Baby - Eartha Kitt - Kylie remade this one recently, but personally I like this version better, because Eartha Kitt's voice sounds more innocent and cute in some way. This is just a fun song, and amusing.
8.
Happy Christmas (War is Over) - John & Yoko - A Christmas Classic, a good song, and a truer one these past few Christmasses with the War in Iraq. Wish it could be over just cuz I wanted it, like the lyrics say... *sigh*
7.
Do They Know It's Christmas? - Band Aid - This single was released to raise money for the famine in Ethiopia, no profit was made from it, and all the famous artists of the time got together to perform. Due to it being a completely non-profit song, it redefined the music industry in Britain, as many of the copyright/producing companies wanted a cut of the money. The bands threatened to create their own music industry in order to produce the song completley non-profit. From
this site that lists all the artists in Band Aid: "It was released November of 1984, and immediately debuted at Number One in Great Britain, and was Number One on the American charts two weeks later.. The song was written by Sir Bob Geldof, and sold fifty million copies. It sold over 3 million copies in Great Briton alone. Midge Ure was the co-producer, and he personally accompaned the first relief shipment of over $70,000 worth of food and medical supplies to Ethiopa, March 11, 1985." 'Band Aid 20' (compilation of today's great artists) recorded a new version of the single in 2004 and released it Nov 29 to raise money for people in Sudan. It's projected to be 2004's Christmas Number One in Britain. (Xmas number one in Britain is a big deal.) The lyrics are also very true.
6.
Merry Xmas Everybody - Slade - Redone by many people, this is the original, and the best! Most other people replace the play on words in one of the lines '..if you land upon your head then you've been slay-ed/sleighed/slade' with '..if you land upon your head then you'll say' which is boring and un-funny. This song is often sung at [British] football matches around Christmas, and hearing thousands of people roar it is just amazing!
5.
Christmas Wrapping - The Waitresses - Recently remade by the Spice Girls, the original is definitely the best. A catchy song that's down to earth but great fun to listen to and sing along to once you know the words.
4.
Stop the Cavalry - Jona Lewie - The simplicity of Jona Lewie's voice in this song as he talks about war and dying and nuclear fallout zones just makes the whole song. It's a really catchy song.
3.
I Believe in Father Christmas - Greg Lake - I love the lyrics in this song, especially the opening verse. It to me brings to mind a lot of memories. It might seem a bit confusing at first, bit if you listen you catch the message in the song. For those of you up on music, you'll recognise Lt. Keyjay's theme played in between verses.
2.
A Winter's Tale - The Magnets - Such a bittersweet Christmas song, I'm sure most of us have felt this in some form, at some time, in relation to someone. The intro includes the quote I end this post with... please listen, it's the way he says it that makes it so good! I'm pretty sure this is all acappella.
1.
Driving Home for Christmas - Chris Rea - A 1988 UK Single, my favorite Christmas song of them all! I played this song as I exited I-30 for Cooper driving home from SU this year, and I'll be playing as I drive from Newcastle Airport to the Cottage!
And so I leave tomorrow. Yes, sudden I know. And I'm here typing up all of this instead of packing. The big kick is that nobody in Britain knows I'm coming except my dad and my grandmother, so the twins and Kenneth are not expecting me to show up! So I'll just magically appear on the doorstep on the Christmas Eve Eve (23rd). I'm looking forwards to it so much... from 'Driving Home for Christmas':
Oh I can't wait to see those faces...
My Itinerary:
22nd Dec - Leave USofA on jet plane (Boeing 777 to be specific)
23rd Dec - Arrive LGW about 7:20am and spend day looking around Christmassy London
23rd Dec - Around 7pm, catch plane to Newcastle and drive to Cottage - SURPRISE!
25th Dec - Christmas, YEY!
27th Dec (I think) - Drive to Leeds, catch plane to Geneva, Switzerland, take train to Villars and arrive at Resort
2nd Jan (I think) - Train/fly back to Newcastle/Cottage
5th Jan - Depart LGW and arrive DFW about 2:15pm
I might be online more this time, because apparently my Dad has a wireless network now, but you can always text me (same number) and I'll get it. Not sure if it'll work in Switzerland, we'll see.
So, my friends, I hope you have an extremely happy
Christmas... And a glorious New Year. I hope you get everything you asked for, and more, and that you have a great time with friends and family, enjoying the wonderful season that is so much warmth and happiness.
I leave you with this:
Well, it's a kick anyway, isn't it?
What a great thing it is to be alive.
M'Lords. M'Ladies. Beloveds.
Would it embarrass you very much if I were to tell you...
that I love you?
- Lord Buckley
