My Advent Calendar of Music – Day #4: Blue, Blue, Blue Christmas

Can you go a Christmas season without hearing “Blue Christmas” at least once? I say you cannot! This is one of those songs that grows on you over the years.

Continue reading →

Posted in Advent/Christmas, Holidays, Music | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

My Advent Calendar of Music – Day #3: A Cappella Fun

The first time I heard this arrangement of “The 12 Days of Christmas”, I knew that I had to go out and buy this group’s album:
.

.
I liked their music so much that I bought copies as Christmas presents for our church choir director and organist (and the organist’s son loved it so much that he insisted on listening to the CD at bedtime every night!).

Continue reading →

Posted in Advent/Christmas, Holidays, Music | Tagged , , , , | 4 Comments

My Advent Calendar of Music – Day #2: Longing for Home


.
I have to admit, when I was a kid, I didn’t care for this song at all – I think it’s only as we grow up and leave home that we are able to appreciate the bittersweet sentiment of this song.  It wasn’t until I was older that I learned the story of this song – and that has made it one of my favorites as an adult:

In 1943, this song joined “White Christmas” to become one of America’s most popular Christmas songs. The recording by Bing Crosby shot to the top ten of the record charts that year and became a holiday musical tradition in the United States. The idea of being home for Christmas originated in World War II when soldiers at first thought that the war would be quick and they would return by Christmas time. This inevitably did not happen, hence the line “if only in my dreams”.

Continue reading →

Posted in Advent/Christmas, Holidays, Music | Tagged , , , | 4 Comments

My Advent Calendar of Music – Day #1: Anticipation

Back in 2011, I got an idea for something to do for the days leading up to Christmas – I LOVE Christmas music, both sacred and secular, so I thought it might be nice to post some of my favorites. People seemed to like it, so I’m just re-posting what I did last year (which is why you may see comments from last year).

The thing is, I have LOTS of favorites – too many for just one post – so I decided to do a musical version of an Advent calendar, and count down the days until that most joyous day which celebrates Christ’s birth. Whenever possible, I have included links where you can purchase your own copy of each day’s selections.

I hope you enjoy my selections – some days there may be just one song; other days, I may do both a “church” and a popular song (both “classics” and contemporary); some days I may post different versions of the same song.  I’m just winging it, so bear with me!

Continue reading →

Posted in Advent/Christmas, Holidays, Music | Tagged , , , , , | 6 Comments

The Angel Tree (a heartwarming Koch family Christmas tale)

.
.
Every family has their own “family lore” – stories handed down from generation to generation.  These are generally told around the campfire, on the front porch, or around the dining room table.  The good ones are side-splittingly funny; the really great ones are the ones which manage to embarass one or more family members.

Every year, Paul or I will drag out this old chestnut – it never fails to leave friends and family rolling in the aisles:

When Rebecca was a baby, Paul would oftentimes get Sarah and Michelle ready for school in the mornings.  Since they were ages 9 and 10 at the time, this consisted of waking them up. telling them to get dressed/ready, and driving them 3 blocks to the school.

Continue reading →

Posted in Family, Holidays, Humor, Messin' with my kids, Think about it | Tagged , , | 16 Comments

“Come Ye Thankful People”

Whenever I think of Thanksgiving, this is the song that comes to mind – and this is a beautiful arrangement sung by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir:
.

.

Posted in Family, Holiday/Patriotic, Holidays, Inspirational, Music | Tagged , , | 3 Comments

A Thanksgiving Classic

.
.

From 1978, this classic clip from the sitcom “WKRP in Cincinnati” never fails to leave me in stitches:

.
.
Turkey Day’s comin’!
.

Posted in Holidays, Humor, Just Because | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Solitaire-y Confinement

Bonus points if you get this reference….

.
Well, it’s been a week since the election.
I’m still trying to get used to my disappointment, thus the lack of posts.
(It’s almost like I’m going through the grieving process)

I’m laying off of most of my political blog haunts for a while.

In the meantime, I’m playing Solitaire.
And since it’s 2012, I’m playing it on the computer.
A deck of cards is soooo 20th Century 😛

.
.
All is not lost, however – I’ve added a new Category/Tag to my blog:

“Obama Sucks“

I’m sure you’ll be seeing it a lot over the next 4 years.
The gloves are coming off….
.
(“Solitaire” by the Carpenters is available in CD and MP3 formats)
.

Posted in Contemporary, Elections, Feelin' Sorry for Myself, Humor, Just Because, Music, Obama Sucks | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

On Jonathan’s Birthday – “Autumn Leaves”

.
Today would have been my friend Becky’s oldest son’s 30th birthday.  Jonathan left us much too soon (a car accident in 2001), but he left lots of great memories behind for those who loved him best.

One of the things that his family ran across while looking for things to include in his memorial service was a poem that he had written in one of his classes about a leaf falling to the ground.  It gave them great comfort, and ever since then whenever Autumn rolls around I like to think that Jonathan is surrounding everyone who knew and loved him with his presence.

Every time I hear this song, I think about Jonathan and his family:

.
(“Autumn Leaves” sung by Eva Cassidy is available in CD and MP3 formats)
.

Posted in Contemporary, Just Because, Music | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

WHOOP!!!!!!

Varsity’s Horns Are Sawed Off…..

Congratulations to our beloved Texas Aggies – this afternoon they hung on to beat #1-ranked Alabama, 29-24!  It was a great game (especially since I was convinced that Bama was gonna eat us for lunch), and we’ve been thrilled with the Ags’ inaugural season in the SEC.

WOW!

One of my blogging buddies posted this – its a little naughty (not a lot), but a whole lot of fun:

.
I bet they’re having a grand time in College Station tonight!
.

Posted in Broadway/TV/Film, Humor, I Love America, Just Because, Music, Texas | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment