Country:United States State:Pennsylvania Metro:Philadelphia Birthday:12/30/1974 Gender:Male
Interests:professional: linguistics, theology, Bible translation; recreational: music (violin and guitar), sports (Philadelphia sports teams rule!), running, snowboarding, playing games (Cribbage is one of my favorites), taking care of pets, hack digital photography Expertise:Benevolent pestering Occupation:Student Industry:
For the first time this season, at 9:39 PM on Thursday, November 19, as I was parking my car between 47th and 48th on Spruce St, I heard Christmas music. It was on B101.1, and the song was "All I Want for Christmas is You" by Vince Vance and the Valiants. Not my favorite Christmas song by any stretch of the imagination, but it sure is good to hear Christmas music on the radio again. I had missed it so much that I started to listen to Christmas music on Pandora a few days ago. Actually, come to think of it, I'm almost 100% sure that I had listened to some Christmas music over the summer...I just love Christmas music that much.
For some reason, radio stations have been playing Christmas music later this year. Compared to previous years, this year was by far the latest. Here's what happened in previous years:
2004: 11/14 2005: 11/8 2006: 10/10 2007: Didn't record, for some insane reason 2008: 11/2
Personally, I think there has been a backlash against radio stations that decide to play Christmas music too early. And November 2 (from 2008) is probably a bit too early. But for some reason, November 19 felt a bit late to me. What do you think? When do you think radio stations should start playing Christmas music?
I love the Christmas season, but one thing that's always a bit difficult to deal are the short days. Today, it was dark by 4:45 PM. I can't wait until the winter solstice arrives on December 21, the shortest day of the year. That's when the days FINALLY start getting longer again. It easily is one of my favorite days of the year, and I can't WAIT!!!! :)
Well, it's definitely good to be back on Xanga, and I'm glad that a few of you left comments for my last entry. But while I'm thankful for your input, I must say: NONE OF YOU ANSWERED MY QUESTION!!! What's your favorite Christmas carol? After all that I shared in my entry, could not one of you have mentioned which carol is your favorite???
There is actually one other Christmas carol which I should mention as my favorite, but it's not a well-known or commonly sung carol. The title is "In the Bleak Midwinter," and it's a carol that I sang when I was in junior and senior high school (a LONG time ago!!!). I sang in Chapel Choir when I was in school (I went to a private school which was Episcopalian in background, though not officially part of the Episcopal Church). I'm not exactly sure why I joined...probably because most of my friends were in it. I liked singing, but at the time, it seemed like just another activity to do (I was involved in quite a few activities). Little did I know that experiences I had during Chapel Choir would become some of my most cherished memories as an adult.
This song was one that we performed every Christmas season during our annual Lessons and Carols service. It is one of the most beautiful pieces that I have ever sung (though I know that I didn't sing it particularly beautifully!!!). Enjoy, and answer my question already!!!
In my last post (a long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away) I said that my next update would likely be from North Dakota. Well, I was wrong. What can I say? I can only be right 99.999999% of the time, not 100%. After all, I'm only human!!!!
Anyway, you may be wondering, what momentous event could be worthy of writing about, after such a long drought? You might guess that it's the Philadelphia Phillies, PHinally winning a championship for the long-suffering and passionate PHans of Philadelphia. And that wouldn't be a bad guess at all (I definitely DO plan on writing about them soon!), but it would be wrong.
You might also guess that I would write about the end of Daylight Saving Time, since daylight is an important topic to me. And I have written about it before. But no, again, you would be wrong. (By the way, in case you're wondering, I'm actually sort of happy about Daylight Saving Time ending, since it's nice to have some daylight when I get up.)
What I want to write about is something I've written about several times in years past. In fact, it just well might be my most regular entry. That's right: the beginning of Christmas music on the radio. For some reason, I am obsessed with keeping track of when I first hear Christmas music on public airwaves. And today, November 2, 2008, on my way to church, I heard Christmas music on NOW 97.5 FM. And it kept playing. And it's still playing. Apparently, they're playing Christmas music 24/7 from now until (presumably) Christmas Day. Can you believe it??? Are you kidding me???
(By the way, in 2006, the first day I heard Christmas music was October 10 (on Yahoo Launchcast); in 2005, November 8; and in 2004, November 14. For some strange reason, I didn't record the date last year. A tragedy.)
Now, don't get me wrong. I LOVE Christmas music! This is no exaggeration: I listen to Christmas music at various points throughout the year. Voluntarily. But I find it exceedingly odd that radio stations would begin playing Christmas music exclusively on November 2--about two months before the holiday! Does anyone else find this odd??? If not, why not???
Before I go, let me ask one final question. My favorite Christmas carol has for a while been "Hark the Herald Angels Sing," mainly because I find the lyrics such a beautiful expression of praise. I especially like the third verse:
Hail the heav'n-born Prince of Peace!
Hail the Son of Righteousness!
Light and life to all He brings
Ris'n with healing in His wings
Mild He lays His glory by
Born that man no more may die
Born to raise the sons of earth
Born to give them second birth
Hark! The herald angels sing
"Glory to the newborn King!"
For some reason, I love singing the "Hail"s at the beginning of this verse, with the explanation for the praise following. I should write more later, but just a great carol overall.
Here is one of my favorite renditions of the carol.
I love the kid at the end just going nuts!!!
Anyway, these days, "Silent Night" has also become a favorite of mine. Again, the third verse is so beautiful...and at some point, I need to write more about it than just that.
Silent night, holy night
Son of God, love's pure light
Radiant beams from Thy holy face
With the dawn of redeeming grace
Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth
Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth
So now, I'm curious...what's YOUR favorite Christmas carol? It couldn't possibly be different from mine, could it??? Kidding!!!
Anyway, not much of an update here, I realize, but I'll try to write a bit more regularly. Thanks for those of you who continue to read this blog!!!
Enjoy the extra hour of daylight in the morning, everyone!!!
It's been a while since I've written about sports, but I feel the need to bless you with my sports insight now given how much of the NBA Playoffs that I've been able to watch. In general, I don't think the playoffs have been very exciting, even though there have been several competitive series, there have been relatively few competitive games, with all of the blowouts in the playoffs. But I digress...let me give my expert prediction of the Finals.
The Lakers are just too good this year. No one on the Celtics can stop Kobe. The Lakers' bigs are too good for the Celtics, with Lamar Odom really coming into his own as a third option. Boston has to work too hard to get decent shots, and I think LA's defense will really clamp down. It's the matchup that the NBA wanted, but I don't think it will be a very competitive series.
Not that I'm rooting for the Lakers (I also don't like them), but I see the Lakers in 5.
My next post will likely be from North Dakota. Stay tuned!!!!!!!!!!!
I'm here in Baltimore with Jamie--visiting my arch nemesis, Scott, and his wife and my friend, Sandy. About a month and a half ago, I stayed for the last time at their house for the past few years. (They're living in temporary housing right now in Baltimore.) It's strange how much I had grown accustomed and even attached to their old place. Now that they're moving, I feel a bit nostalgic not only about our friendships, but also about the places we used to visit that we won't be able to visit any longer. People say things like "home is where the heart is" or "home is people, not places," but I would beg to differ. Home is not just a place; people certainly make a home really "Home." But places also still uniquely define an important part of one's experience of Home. I think I'll miss Hampden and that little section of Baltimore that I got to know (by way of Scott and Sandy). Say it with me: Awwwwwww (with rising intonation).
This morning, I was taking a shower, with my back to the showerhead, when suddenly, a very important question entered my mind: Do most people stand facing the showerhead, or facing away from it?
Now, while the majority of my time in the shower is spent facing away from the showerhead, I do obviously spend some time facing it, especially when rinsing off my chest. But for most of my shower, I think I like to face away from it. What about you, my loyal readers: Which direction do you like to face when taking a shower: towards the showerhead or away from it???
What's your favorite Christmas carol? After all that I shared in my entry, could not one of you have mentioned which carol is your favorite??? 
