The Dawn of a New Year

I know it's taht time again. Time to make resolutions and all that mumbo-jumbo. But the truth is, reolutions are mostly a devise to make yourself feel better for a few days, maybe a week. Most people can't last 3 weeks into their reolutions, which is ironic since it reprotedly takes 21-24 days of repetition for somethign to become a habit. Coincidence?

Most Americans talk a good game. We like to discuss ad nauseum what we are going to resolve to do. We even carry them out for a little while, as I previously mentioned. Try going to a gym during the first two weeks of January, and you'll see what I mean. But the fact remains that most of us never complete our goals. It's sad, actually, that we are a nation of quitters, by and large (and getting larger all the time).

I'm thoroughly impressed by those folks who can put their mind to doing something and follow through with it. I respect those who are able to make a resolution and carry it out to fruition. Sadly, I've never been that type of person, a fact that is probably quite obvious to many.

So, I've decided that I'm not going to resolve to change things about me. Saying it is meaningless. I am going to change things about me. Hopefully, those of you who know me will see said changes as they evolve. We'll see how this goes.

So, bring on 2009, because 2008 needs to be pushed into distant memory as soon as possible!

My 5 Favorite Christmas Movies

In the traditon of my Christmas songs lists found on The Lyric Philospoher, I decided to list my top 5 favorite Christmas movies. Now, these are not your 'traditional'' Christmas movies. You won't find "Miralce on 34th Street" here, nor will you find "It's a Wonderful Life". This list is for your more...contemporary movies. Perhaps in 30 years, these will be the classics someone blogs about.

5) “Muppets Christmas Carol” – Kermit, Miss Piggy, Scooter, Gonzo, Fozzie, Ralph, and Animal doing Dickens? Instant comedy ensues.

4) “A Christmas Story” – Okay, it’s a pop culture phenomenon. Even the annual 24-hour marathon cannot diminish the humor and the sweetness in this movie. I can watch this twice in a row, and laugh at the same things each time, yet each time I watch it, I notice something that I hadn’t before. It is a “Love it or Hate it” movie, like most comedies. If you love it, you will always love it. If you hate it, you will never get it, and have to put up with those of us who love it.

3) “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation” – Ah, the Griswalds. Again, a movie that you either love or hate. But, let’s be honest, how can you not laugh out loud when the cat gets fried under the recliner? Although, I do find it interesting that somehow Rusty, who was the older sibling in the first movie, is suddenly the younger sibling in this movie, but I digress.

2) “Mickey’s Christmas Carol” – Perhaps I should be ashamed of myself that my fondest memories of Dicken’s classic “A Christmas Carol” are of animated versions of his timeless characters. On the other hand, is there a better Ebeneezer Scrooge than Uncle Scrooge?

1) “Scrooged” – This is my favorite Christmas movie. I’m not even sure I can pinpoint an exact reason, other than I laugh myself silly every time I watch it. Every character in the movie is so outrageous. Carol Kane as the Ghost of Christmas Present is comedy gold. This is Bill Murray at his best. Watching him descend into comic madness while trying to maintain some form of control is simply classic.

Championship Game 2008

Well, for the second time in three years, I find myself vying for the Alliance Fantasy Football League championship. I wasn't sure I'd make it this year, given my 1-3 record in the final 4 weeks of the season. Yes, I did back into the playoffs, but I made sure to structure my team in such a way that, if I made it to the playoffs, I'd have players with favorable matchups when I got there. That strategy served me well in the first round, having won by a total of 40 points. The championship round is a best of two weeks process, as was the semi-finals, so it is the cumulative total of points over the next two weeks that will determine the champion. Knowing that teams that are guaranteed playoff spots tend to rest their starters in the final week. it's always helpful to have players that are on teams still trying to get into the post-season. This is where I feel I may have an advantage, because I have only three players that are currently on playoff-bound teams. And each of those players have capable back-ups that I can start next week if needed.

So, while I won't go so far as to declare victory, I am feeling pretty good about hoisting the McKeesport FFL championship cup once again.

Top 10 Most Annoying Christmas Songs (part 2)

I've posted numbers 5 through 1...but you'll have to check out The Lyric Philosopher to see what they are. It will be worth the click, I promise.

Tagged

I discovered that I've been tagged by my good friend Jeff - status pending after this, :o) - so I felt I should provide the requisite 8 things about me that may or may not be well known.

8) I am a ridiculously emotional guy, much more so than I'm ever willing to admit. I've been know to have tears well up in my eyes at Hallmark commercials.

7) My dream job would be a Studio Session and Tour Backup Singer. I have no desire whatsoever to be up front on stage. I love to sing, I love to sing harmony, and I want to sing with whomever will let me sing with them.

6) I absolutely hate computers but realize that they are a necesary evil in my life.

5) I'm a TV Junkie (no surprise for some). Favorite Shows right now are "Chuck," "NCIS," "CSI," "Numbers" and "Knight Rider."

4) I was 16 when I bowled my first and only 300-game. I am desperately trying to repeat that feat.

3) I want to go line-dancing.

2) The only regret in my life is that I stopped taking piano lessons after 3 years.

1) I think I'd like to live in Nashville at some point in my life.

Top 10 Most Annoying Christmas Songs Part 1

Well, I figured since it's that time of year, and I'm in a rotten mood because of work, I'd start off this blog with my 10 most annoying songs of the season. Here are songs 10-6... (these are also posted on my music blog The Lyric Philosopher)

10) "Blue Christmas" (Elvis Presley) – schmaltzy song, stupid lyrics, obnoxious spoken part in the middle, and the goofy ‘whoo-ooh-ooh-ohh’ repeating over and over again make this one of the more annoying songs of the season.

9) "Do They Know It’s Christmastime?" (Band-Aid) – the “We Are the World” of Christmas songs. While I’m all for feeding the world, do we need to be reminded through this less than appealing song every December? Shouldn’t we be doing this all the time? Christmas songs should not be political in nature.

8) "My Favorite Things" (from Sound of Music) – I have yet to understand how this song has been classified a Christmas Song. So the song talks about snowflakes and presents. In the context of the musical, it has nothing to do with Christmas.

7) "Happy X-Mas (War Is Over)" (John Lennon) – Another example of good artists doing bad songs. Politics and Christmas songs do not mix.

6) "Wonderful Christmastime" (Paul McCartney) – A perfect example of what happens when good artists do bad songs. Maybe the former Beatles should have stayed out of the Holiday song genre.

My Newest Venture

I’ve been pondering this for some time now, and I’ve decided that my day-to-day life just isn’t interesting enough to blog about on a daily/weekly/monthly basis. Yet, I still feel the need to share my opinions on certain topics that may not necessarily be related to my life…at least directly. So, I contemplated starting a sports-based blog, but my good friends over at the Peanut Vendors kind of ran with that idea. So, I thought about focusing on a specific sport, and that may still play out. But most sports are seasonal, and hard to keep going during the off-season. The exception may be football, and there are just way too many football blogs available for me to get noticed. I might try a bowling blog. And maybe a softball blog over the summer, but the jury’s still out on those.

So, after much thought, I decided that I could try to keep a regular appointment with my computer on the subject of music. So that’s what I’m going to do. I’ll be blogging about songs that affect me at any given point in time. No genre is off-limits, though I don’t see me blogging much about rap, death metal, emo, techno, classical, and folk music as those genres aren’t found on my iPod playlist at the moment. More likely, you’re going to see a lot of posts on CCM, Praise & Worship, Country, Rock and Pop music. Basically, I’ll be ranting about all things lyrical and musical. I’ll be digging into lyrics, pointing out the absurd and the annoying. I’ll also point out the thought-provoking and the poignant. I tend to be a lyrical philosopher, sometimes seeing deeper meaning in song lyrics that may or may not be present, but often have an affect on me. I’ll try to provide my opinion and insight into some songs where applicable. And, ultimately, I will give my yea or nay on the song. I’m thinking a “Makes the Playlist” to represent a thumbs up, and “Recycle It” for a thumbs down.

So here it is...The Lyric Philosopher!


So, hopefully you will find something of interest here and perhaps I will find some satisfaction in knowing that my thoughts and opinions might make a difference to someone out there!

Back From the Dead...sort of

The sightings are true. I am alive and well. I can't believe it's been over a month since my last post, and for the 4 of you who may still read this, I sincerely apologize. I liken it to the tree falling in the woods metaphor. If no one reads my blog, then was it really missed?

Quick catch-up time...

My Dad is officially cancer free. He had his kidney removed and so far, all is well. He's still recovering, much slower than he woud like, but actually somewhat ahead of schedule for everyone else but him. :o) Praises to the Great Physician!

Still hovering around 210 average in bowling. We're over three months in, and I've only dipped below 600 twice so far. Still thinking about a new ball, but that's a luxury that will need to wait for another time. Considered joining a Sport Bowling league - 4 weeks on each of the PBA oil patterns - but I think that might have to wait until next year at this point.

Work is ridiculous. Too much to go into right now, but please keep me in your prayers, as it's getting more stressful than ever, which is not fun at all.

Church is going great. our Annual Christmas Cantata is this coming Sunday, and promises ot be a wonderful event. We're praying that God will use the Choir and the music to draw those in darkness to a saving relationship with Jesus.

That's life in a nushell. Christmas is coming way too fast. If work wasn't so nutso right now, I might actually be looking forward to it. It disturbs me that, lately, I'm finding myself identifying more with Ebenezer Scrooge than with Bob Cratchitt.

More to come, I promise. Just now now.