Every year, PNC Financial Services figures out how much all the presents in the Twelve Days of Christmas would cost. This year, it’s $46,729.86. That’s a record high. It’s up 2.7% from last year, which was the previous record holder. If you’re wondering, ten lords a leaping led the way at $14,539.20. That’s almost a…
“Do You Hear What I Hear?” is one of my favorite Christmas carols. Sadly, it’s not one of the more common holiday songs. Of my fifty-ish holiday albums, the only one it seems to be on is a Bing Crosby compilation. You’re not likely to hear it while walking through the grocery store. I listen…
Every holiday season, at least since the advent of social media, I see people asking other people to be aware of people who struggle during the holidays. They want us to be sensitive; to watch what we say and do. As far as I can tell, the requests for sensitivity rarely come from people who…
Charles Brown is a fascinating figure in American music. He’s great, first of all. Absolutely great. He’s legendary in the blues and traditional R&B worlds, but most people now probably don’t know him by name. He was a singer, pianist, and songwriter. The easiest way to describe Brown’s sound is he is where Ray Charles…
I work in a school. One of the students was telling me all about her family’s Elf on the Shelf. He’s apparently very silly. He hides in the dog’s bed, hangs from the light fixtures, and even hung out in the microwave one morning. That sounds dangerous to me, but who am I to tell…
Anyone who knows me, or anyone who has read my December posts from past years, knows that I love holiday music. I binge it every year starting the day after Thanksgiving. It always makes me happy. I’ve written many things about my favorite holiday songs. Today, I thought I’d try something a little different and…
As a kid, Christmas is many things. It’s exciting and fun and wonderous and magical. As an adult, it’s different. I still love Christmas, but not in the same way. As an adult, Christmas is a lot more work. It’s our job to make it exciting and fun and wonderous and magical for the kids….
I am a fan of cooking shows. It’s a bit odd since I have the palate of a five year old. I’d never eat most of what I see on the shows, but I still enjoy them. The best cooking show of all time is Good Eats. There’s no arguing that. It is the best….
It is a pleasure giving my daughter gifts. She gets visibly excited, really, genuinely excited. It doesn’t even matter that much what the gift is. She’s as happy with clothes as she is with toys or crafts or books. It makes Christmas morning a real treat. This was a somewhat challenging year for me and…
Christmas time is here don’t want the trees to get cold so bring them inside *** Hanukah ended but there’s no need to be sad memories remain *** Nature has gone cold gray is the dominant shade unless there is snow
