The Sense of Christmas

It’s finally here! Friday is finally here! And that puts us another day closer to Christmas. How cool is that? Earlier this week, Nana let us choose our favorite goofy Christmas song. Today I’d like to know your favorite Christmas memory associated with one of the five senses.

Could it be Nat King Cole singing about his chestnuts? Or is it not Christmas until you see snow?

For me it was how my mom used to have lots of apples, nuts and candy available, so the house always had a sweet, applenutty smell. And even to this day, that’s what Christmas is to me. That warm nutty smell that slaps you in the face as you run in from the cold and rain.

I would come in and see the light breaking from the kitchen so it could mix with the glow from the television as the local news aired. So where’s mom? In the kitchen, the living room perhaps? Or maybe she’s taking a nap. Then the warmth of the house would enfold me like the proverbial warm blanket and I would feel it permeate from my torso, down to my big toe and up to my eye brows at the same time. Before I could scream “MAMA!”, it would hit me with all its goodness and glory: The sweet, smooth and slightly seductive scent of red delicious apples, granny smiths, pecans, walnuts and peppermint. All co-wafting in a beautiful praise dance dedicated to Christmas. Let the festivities begin.

So what sense invokes “Christmas” for you?

 

Exiles…Thoughts for Thursday

Isn’t it interesting how there are days you can think of all kinds of junk, and other days your mind just wants to be blank.  Some days I can be driving down the road and think of some theme I’d like to put together for this here little chat fest page.  Other days no matter how hard I try, nothing comes.  I envy all those talented people who write books, and more than one, and wonder how they always come up with their stories.  Newspaper writers, speech writers, poetry writers, movie screenplay writers, television shows week in and week out - how do stories come to them.    We have a person here who is extremely talented and I wish she would write a book.  I can see her on Oprah now talking about her inspiration, and all the etcs. that go with it.   

What about you, have you ever wanted to write a book, short story, speech, editorial, poem – or maybe you have.  I took speech and drama in high school and had to prepare and deliver speeches on topics the teacher would pick, as well as deliver  interpretations of prose – even went to contest several times, never won, but it was always fun.  I’ve written poetry – when I was younger – but can’t remember but one that I wrote.  I don’t even know where the copies of them are – and I know I printed them at one time.  I remember a little bit of my first one – it began:  I like to walk and look at the sky, and thank God for being alive; I like to see the ocean and feel the salty air, and thank God for being there….. I was 17 years old.   One of my favorite poetry writers of this century is Maya Angelou.  Here’s the first part of a favorite of mine:  (here’s the link to read the entire poem – http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/phenomenal-woman/)  Do you have a favorite? 

Phenominal Woman:

Pretty women wonder where my secret lies.
I’m not cute or built to suit a fashion model’s size
But when I start to tell them,
They think I’m telling lies.
I say,
It’s in the reach of my arms
The span of my hips,
The stride of my step,
The curl of my lips.
I’m a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That’s me.

 

Exiles…American Idol Tidbits

The Hits Daily Double final sales numbers  are in. Here’s how it shook out:

1. Susan Boyle – I Dreamed A Dream – 669,843
2. Andrea Bocelli - My Christmas – 215,002
3. Adam Lambert – For Your Entertainment – 195,974
4. Lady Gaga – Fame Monster (EP) – 181,279
5. Rihanna - Rated R – 180,198
6. Miley Cyrus – Time of Our Lives – 151,653
7. Lady Gaga – Fame – 144,622
8. Taylor Swift – Fearless – 122,848
9. Carrie Underwood – Play On – 114,393
10. Michael Jackson – This is It – 106,05

Of note:  Kris Allen, Kris Allen – #31 with 34,920, a 59% decrease
 Allison Iraheta – Just Like You – #8 on iTune

Rumor has it that Allison Iraheta and Kris Allen will appear on the FOX New Years Eve speciaI  and Adam Lambert on ABC’s New Years Rocking Eve! 

A red-haired Kellie Pickler sings a slinky “Santa Baby” for a special CMT music video.  How do you like the red hair?

 

Exiles….24 Days to Christmas

Well, here we go, the countdown begins.  Are you ready?  Are you set?  Then let’s go!  Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer with Burl Ives and the abominal snowman will be on CBS this Wednesday at 8pm/7pm central.   And don’t forget, American Idol 4th place finisher, Oscar, Grammy, SAG, Golden Globe winner Jennifer Hudson’s I’ll Be Home for Christmas, an hour-long primetime music special will air Monday, December 14 at 8PM ET/PT.  The special will follow Hudson as she travels to her native Chicago “to share childhood memories of the music, people and places that set the stage for her phenomenal success,” according to ABC.  She will also perform holiday hits such as “Silent Night,” “The Christmas Song” and “O Holy Night.”  In addition, the holiday special will feature Hudson and singer Michael Buble performing “Baby It’s Cold Outside” and “Let It Snow” as duets.

 Multi-country award winner Carrie Underwood, will also be hosting  a Christmas Special.  The All-Star Holiday Special, 2 hours long, will be on FOX, Monday, December 7, same times 8pm/7pm.  It’s reported Carrier will be singing all her hits, and even a few Holiday songs (isn’t a holiday special for holiday songs)  And she’ll be singing along with guests such as Brad Paisley, Kristin Chenoweth, Dolly Parton and another AI winner David Cook.  This special sounds like it’s a little bit country.

Let’s start the Christmas Season off by sharing our favorite “goofy” Christmas songs.  Do you have one?  There’s so many….here’s one of mine.’

I’m gettin’ nuttin’ for Christmas
Mommy and Daddy are mad.
I’m gettin’ nuttin’ for Christmas
‘Cause I ain’t been nuttin’ but bad.

I broke my bat on Johnny’s head;
Somebody snitched on me.
I hid a frog in sister’s bed;
Somebody snitched on me.

I spilled some ink on Mommy’s rug;
I made Tommy eat a bug;
Bought some gum with a penny slug;
Somebody snitched on me. 

I put a tack on teacher’s chair;
Somebody snitched on me.
I tied a knot in Suzy’s hair;
Somebody snitched on me.
I did a dance on Mommy’s plant.
Climbed a tree and tore my pants.
Filled that sugar bowl with ants;
Somebody snitched on me.

So you better be good whatever you do
‘Cause if you’re bad, I’m warning you,
You’ll get nuttin’ for Christmas