Tis the Season...

...for Michael McLean music.

My daughter frequently defends listening to Christmas music early by citing her years as a 'choir kid' when school choirs start learning holiday music practically from the beginning of the school year.  Having been a choir kid myself, I can't argue with her!  Anyone that knows my family knows that Christmas begins early...about 10 minutes after returning from the annual trip to the pumpkin patch near my father's childhood home in southern Idaho.  For me, it begins when I identify the craft projects I need to complete for the season - generally gifts of tree skirts and/or christmas stockings... the number of which I've made since 1988 I cannot identify.  ( if YOU have a request, speak now or forever through 2010 hold your peace)

So, this year I've got only one tree skirt to make (for BFF Stacy)... and one advent calendar project to do with friend Rachael.  Not too demanding...once I get started.  These are the things that get me in the holiday spirit. And I try not to sweat over how to afford Christmas...I'm sure anyone that's thought of it (and isn't independently wealthy) has stressed over it.  Its only FIVE paychecks away!

I love all kinds of christmas music with my beloved Harry Connick Jr being a staple. Even so, some of my favorite holiday music comes from a play called 'The Forgotten Carols' by the wonderful Michael McLean.  Part of the reason I love the music so much is because my friend, Karalee, now deceased, introduced me to them.  The other part is that they are just plain wonderful.  It took many, many years before I was able to listen to the songs and NOT tear up. Now, I've been fortunate enough to see the play a few times as well, which makes it all the more special. Since the tour is limited to the West, I am grateful Anna sent me the DVD the first year it was available and I can watch it anytime.

In short, the play is about a rigid, stiff nurse sent to care for an aging 'Uncle John' during the holiday season.  She thinks Uncle John is a bit 'touched' when he tells her he's been alive for over 2000 years.  Over the course of the play, her heart softens and opens as she hears his 'forgotten' carols. While I love the entire show and all the music, there are some songs that effect me more deeply than the others.  I especially love that they are not the typical characters of which we hear for Christmas. A few of them are: (many of them are on youtube)

An overview... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rUVTP64vbfI

• Let Him In:  about the innkeeper that turned away Mary and Joseph - wow, what a legacy!  Fortunately, its a positive song as it is really about letting Christ into your life.
• He Was Here: about a shepherd that slept through the angel's announcement and missed seeing the baby Jesus - a song about faith.
• I Was Not His Father: about Joseph...ever think how it would have felt to be charged to raise Jesus???
• Handel Dream: Composer Handel as an angel in heaven who couldn't hold a tune in a bucket... but was destined to provide the world with music that lives through time.

The original version of the CD/Book/Play was added to when Michael McLean added a couple of songs as a 'conclusion' and it is one of these songs that is my favorite. 'What I Need'

All I ever wanted, all I ever dreamed of, everything I hoped, and all the things I prayed for
Couldn't hold a candle to what I've been given , I've been given what I need.
A mansion on a hill, or love like in the movies, perfect little lives where no one has a problem, instead of all those things I thought I really wanted, I've been given what I need.

Even when I didn't understand, when I thought you had no heart, thank you for rejecting my demands and always giving me the better part. 

When I get frustrated with where things are in my life, I remember that someone who knows better - and when I step back and stop trying to control the way events unfold, things turn out exactly how they are supposed to. 


And because I love so many  of Michael McLean's songs, I also want to post this one for my brother... the first time I heard it, I thought of you.  I've been trying to share it with you for years and lost the CD.

I know you don't feel very special most of the time and I want you to know that -I- think you're special and I am grateful you are my brother.  I've always been impressed that you have always been one of the 'ninety and nine' while I have frequently been the lost lamb.  You don't have to be a spiritual giant to be a great man.  I love you. Happy Birthday!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bjt2w9spiwU&feature=related

Saturday Screed

Welcome Fall!  Thou art my favorite time of year!

Occassionally I am accused of being a control freak.  Yeah, I KNOW... crazy!  So I've been thinking, in a light hearted way, about those thing over which I fuss...and those I don't.  Here are a few things I came up with...feel free to add to the list.

(my daughter can confirm...or refute... the following)

• I hate open cabinets and drawers... but last night's dishes still in the sink the AM, not a problem.
• I don't care where you squeeze the toothpaste tube, but you'd better learn how to put toilet paper on the holder... the right direction.
• I don't mind driving everywhere... but don't touch my music and MY drink goes in the forward cup holder.
• If I can't see that you've been drinking milk out of the carton, I don't care...just don't leave it in the fridge empty.
• I have 'look' towels  and 'use' towels... I will show you the difference.
• If the thread count is less than 600, I don't care how good the price or cute the pattern, those sheets are not going home with me.
• Yes, I alphabetize my DVDs...what of it? 

Ok... the mindless is done. 

I went to Sam's Club today, for the first time since I was home in Utah in July.  As I walked around picking up the things on my list a few things occurred to me...some not for the first time.

Shopping at Sam's is limited for a single woman with no storage space...lol  There are a few things that I just can't bring myself to pay for at the grocery store and its worth the initial output.  But the list is short.  I like to buy things like chicken breast and pork chops and then break them up into 'individual' portions and freeze them.  Granola bars, ziploc bags, bread, and occasionally books and movies end up in my basket... but I eschew 6 packs of anything, 120 load laundry soap, and 36 rolls of paper towels... no room.  Still I like to go and wander around.

Sam's (and other warehouse stores) make the overwhelming presence of fattening, processed, never-gonna-be-good-for-you food that is prevalent in our society even more noticeable.  They outshadow the fruits an veggies and good stuff. Wow!  I briefly considered a 5 lb bag of baby carrots... but they'd go bad before I had a chance to finish them off... or my skin would turn orange from eating them all, and that would clash with my hair. 

People really do go to Sam's for dinner on a saturday... not to BUY it but to partake of the many demonstration stations throughout the store...there may have been things I would have considered buying but I couldn't tell because I could not navigagte the hordes clustered around the breaded chicken patty or quiche stations. 

On Thursday I went to my book group... and in addition to a great bunch of women, the book we read was Garlic and Sapphires by Ruth Reichl.  She was a food critic and would go out in disguise so people wouldn't fawn all over her... and my favorite aspect was all of the different characters she developed...all imbued with different personality characteristics that were parts of her, many that she did not even realize she had!  It reminded me of Lucy.

Lucy is my alter ego... back in the day I had friends who used to give men fake names when we were out... Mel and Steffie...lol  I never could do that.  I started referring to Lucy when I realize there were two distinct sides of me... Rieda is all about responsibity while Lucy was all about the fun but I think there's supposed to be a balance, right?  Oh, Lucy asserts herself occasionally and gets away with a few things... makes impulsive decisions but its Rieda that makes sure things don't get out of hand.  Ok...sometimes that is SO boring...lol 

I think Rieda and Lucy need to go on a playdate...what do you think? :)