Christmas Time Is Here

It’s time for Christmas Music! I think some of the most beautiful songs are from this time of year. However, there is nothing WORSE than hearing your favorite song being done by Bob Seger, Wilson Phillips, Jonas Brothers, etc. That is what I have run into on the XM station “Holly.” Below is a reprint of an old xanga post, but I changed it up a little bit.

My list of top 8 songs go as follows:

8. “Christmas Time Is Here” – Yes, the song from “A Charlie Brown Christmas.” It’s kind of an ironic song to me because when the kids sing it in the show, the song sounds so sad. But the lyrics of “Christmas time is here, happiness and cheer. Fun for all, the children call, their favorite time of year.” I like it because it is not necessarily your standard Christmas Hymn-type song. Somewhat jazzy. We sang this song in high school and ended up on television and in the “Wrap-A-Wish” inset of the Fresno Bee (where we were asking for new robes while other families were asking for clothes and shelter – very tactless but that was my choir director for you).

7. "Santa Claus Is Comin’ To Town" – This is the first song that I remember my parents singing to me growing up so it has nostalgia behind it. Maybe it was because I was a bad kid because they always said the line, “he’s makin’ a list, checkin’ it twice. Gonna find out who’s naughty or nice.” This song is also a great song to teach kids about the apostrophe and you don’t need to say the –ing endings of words . . . if it makes for a better song.

6. “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” – A nice, slow song that can only be sung by Bing Crosby if you want authentic Christmas. We have all heard other versions, but the Bing version is by far superior. This is one of those songs that in the hands/voice of the wrong person can completely ruin it (i.e. Celine Dion, Rod Stewart, Clay Aiken).

5. “Sleigh Ride” – This could possibly count for two as I like both the instrumental and vocal versions of this song. Even with the cheesy lyrics (“Giddy up, giddy up, giddy up it’s grand, just holding your hand . . . “), this song reminds me not of a sleigh ride (because I’ve technically never been on one) but of playing “find the parking spot” at the local Fresno shopping centers. And who doesn’t remember when you played this in band and the 1st Trumpeter got to play the horse whinny on their mouthpiece and thought they were the shit!? Or the jokes that flew around when the director said, “Ready with your whip?” to the percussionist!!

4. “Bring A Torch, Jeanette, Isabella” – The story is that the song is an old French carol whose lyrics are taken from a painting based on two milkmaids who went in on Christmas morning to go and milk the cows. When they got to the stable, they saw that Jesus was born and then went throughout the village to tell everyone. People came, bearing torches, to see the Christ child. So I am assuming that the title is a command from the two as opposed to a statement made by a one Jeanette/Isabella. However, if I was the one telling everyone something to bring, the song would have been called, “Bring Some Booze, Vincent Villanueva!”

3. “Silent Night” – A very simple song that can only be sung simple. There is a version by Christina Aguilera where the first verse is beautiful. Then she ornaments the hell out of it and, in my opinion, ruins the song. Same with the Boyz II Men version. Sure, their a cappella singing is amazing, but they do it to a point where they try to jazz it up so much that they actually affect the chords of the song. If I could pick a Fantasy Team of Singers, I would place Alison Krauss,or Annarie Buxman (KHS ’93) on the roster. I think they all have very pure, spot-on pitch that would fit the song perfectly. This song also reminds me of the cold, clear nights in the Central Valley.

2. “The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire)” – I actually used to hate this song because to me, it was slow and boring. Much like your taste buds change every 7 years, I learned to really dig it. There is something about the melody that is so “Christmas-y” to me. I could do without the lyrics though. If I’ve learned one thing about Christmas Songs is that their lyrics are extremely strange and sometimes unfitting (see “We Three Kings” verse 4 for a nice description of what I mean). The Nat King Cole version of this song is unmatched! I HAVE heard though, that roasted chestnuts aren’t that good.

1. “O Holy Night” – Funny side note, when my parents used to sing this to my sister, she used to actually get a curled bottom lip. I guess my tendencies for great Christmas songs is pretty balanced between songs about the birth of Baby Jesus and the festivities that happen during Christmas (as opposed to events in people’s lives at Christmas i.e. “Christmas Shoes,” “Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer,” “Merry Christmas With Love,” etc.). This song though, this one is my ultimate favorite song. I think one of the best versions of this song can be found on the HOME ALONE soundtrack. It is a children’s choir singing it but the harmonies are so great in their arrangement. There is nothing like hearing it on a big pipe organ and full-choir though. I love the part right after the unison singing when it splits into all the harmonies and the lyrics there are “Fall on your knees, o hear the angel voices. O night, divine, o night, when Christ was born.” There is just something very powerful about the idea of falling to your knees in genuflection because of an event. That coupled with the lyrics, chords, and orchestration is the reason that this makes it my favorite Christmas Song!

I'd Gladly Pay You Thursday, For A Hamburger Today

I love burgers! Ever since I was a little kid, I have been a fan. Mom used to use some sort of special meat (okay, maybe it was just the stuff that was on sale) but her burgers were amazing! Usually this would be the Friday Meal (then Dad and I would head off to watch the Football Game at the Lions Bowl – armed with Mom’s canister of hot chocolate w/cinnamon that she made for us).

But I digress. Since I’ve moved to L.A., I have always kept my eyes and stomach open for the best tasting burger. For awhile there, it was something as simple as Hamburger Hamlet, but recently, I got the feeling that there was something else. Something more.

I tried The Apple Pan a few years ago and although the burger was good, it wasn’t memorable.

Enter, The Counter. I had heard about this place on some “Your L.A.” show and it looked pretty damn good. I mentioned it to Gay Friend Lance and he said, “oh yeah, Oprah and her dikey friend Gayle had it a few years ago.” So at this point, I KNEW it was legit, since the “now 200 lb Oprah” was pimping it out. Then again, she pimped out “The Secret” and was all about that for awhile.

I picked up Tim(bo) Abramson,
typed in the address into the Navi and we were off.

This place is completely hidden and not too far from the old House of Love. It was a random Sunday night and the place was packed. A good sign so far. We got inside and asked how long the wait would be for two. They said that it would be about 30 – 40 minutes, but we could take a seat at the counter if we wanted. I thought this was both perfect (and ironic – considering the name of the place).

The way this place works is you choose everything from the bun type to the toppings.

I went with Chili, Fried Egg and Sprouts (had to get the healthy in there, right?). I forget what Timbo’s was but he left so much of it, we can examine that later. We accompanied our order with a combo sweet potato/French fries order and shakes. Gut buster!

I had to "go plate" with this meal or else the trip would have been all for not. I channeled my inner Kobayashi and went for it. In lieu of dipping it in water, I used the magic troika of digestion aid: ice water, a shake and just the oil from the chili! Here is the result:

Timbo, wasn't as good. As you can see, he was struggling and only finished 1/2 of his burger (these were also the smallest burgers you can get at this place). I question if his shake was 1/3 Vanilla, 1/3 Chocolate and 1/3 weaksauce!

If I were to give this place an overall letter rating, it would be a “B” (but a solid one). The food isn’t really that great, but the gimmick is what gets you. It’s cool to put in your own order, but when you think about it, you are doing the job of the waiter (normally they stand with the pad and mark off your options as you tell them). But since I’m all about gimmicks, I bumped up the grade a little bit.

If you are in for a fun experience, then give The Counter a try, otherwise, just stick to Father’s Office!

Time To Start Anew

I decided to take the plunge as well and go with the blogger.com blog. Xanga was too 2005 and it was time to upgrade the model. I already have a lot of material ready so expect some stuff pretty soon. Topics on deck include (but are not limited to): tell-all books, Twilight (what is the hype about), Indian Gaming Casinos, Sonic, Ghost Adventures and of course, Las Vegas!