The near and the dear ones.
A very happy holidays to everyone. Hannukah being so ridiculously early this year makes that a little less encompassing than I'd wish, but - this is a human-celebration time of year. Light things on fire, wish for the sun to come back, hold each other in the dark. Even California's been experimenting with dipping below freezing, and I'm missing central heating very much and fighting the urge to light candles everywhere. (Usually Christmas for us is still part Hannukah, so we can light the menorah and eat things boiled in oil and get everything in all at once. This year we're having latkes and brisket as our Christmas meal, but it's not quite the same.) My brother and his SO brought us a little pre-lit Christmas tree, which is beautiful and symbolic in a way I really appreciate, because we don't have the room for our old artificial tree in this apartment, and bringing home a real tree up the many many stairs would be an exercise in terrible judgement. I may possibly abduct the tree and some point and keep it in my room, because it really is incredibly pretty with the lights. I'm not sure where the ornaments are, but I have some some in my room from Riverkids, which I might sneak onto the tree soon.
I've been spending most of my time curled up with a heating pad, and somehow December absolutely snuck up on me and I'm really incredibly unprepared. I know what I want to get everyone, but I'm not sure I can manage getting out shopping, and it's too late to get anything shipped before practically New Year's. We usually do time-shifted holidays, so that's fine, but I'd still like to have a few things around to give on Christmas proper. I will probably make another batch of cookies, because I found an oatmeal chocolate-chip recipe that's so good that I've had three people tell me they're the best they've ever had, and my brother is suggesting I sell them. (My brother is very enthusiastic about Capitalism, and from him this is very high praise.)
I know a lot of people (hi, clarify) are incredibly sick of Christmas music, but I do bring you two songs, because I - you know, even as a Jewish heritage-identifying atheistwhatever, they warm the cockles of my heart.
Dar Williams - The Christians and the Pagans
So the Christians and the Pagans sat together at the table
Finding faith and common ground the best that they were able
And just before the meal was served, hands were held and prayers were said
Sending hope for peace on earth to all their gods and goddesses
I'm sure I've uploaded this before, I know that Sar has a copy, but it's - it's an incredibly well-crafted song, and upbeat and sweet and festive and clever, and about family and acceptance and, you know, lesbians and pumpkin pie and religious tolerance. It's a very, very good holiday song, and even though clarify is probably ready to stab Santa in the head with an icepick if she has to listen to another Christmas song, I hope sometime in February she can listen to this and enjoy it on its own merits. *grins*
John Lennon - Happy Christmas (War is Over)
And so this is Christmas (War is over)
For weak and for strong (If you want it)
For rich and the poor ones (War is over)
The road is so long (Now)
This is a song I associate very strongly with my mother, who may or may not have ever actually played it during the holidays, but who certainly played enough Beatles that they imprinted on me very deeply as a kid. (She also played enough Brother, a band of Australians playing bagpipes and didgeridoos and managing kind of a quasi-American rock sound [and I saw this referenced in a fic, recently, an oblique reference to a band with bagpipes and didgeridoos and rock riffs, and I was like I know just who that is], and they imprinted just as much, which may possibly explain certain things about my current musical tastes.) It's a bit less - overtly enthusiastic? If you've never heard it, I'd give it a listen, it's a beautiful song.
I hope everyone has (and is having) a wonderful holiday season, or at least a very good end to their year. I can't tell you all how much I appreciate your friendship and support and random 3-in-the-morning IMs about TV shows and annoying neighbors/roommates and homonyms, and your posts about all the same and everything else. I hope you're all safe and happy and with people you love, and that your new year is in all ways at least as good or better than your last. <3
I've been spending most of my time curled up with a heating pad, and somehow December absolutely snuck up on me and I'm really incredibly unprepared. I know what I want to get everyone, but I'm not sure I can manage getting out shopping, and it's too late to get anything shipped before practically New Year's. We usually do time-shifted holidays, so that's fine, but I'd still like to have a few things around to give on Christmas proper. I will probably make another batch of cookies, because I found an oatmeal chocolate-chip recipe that's so good that I've had three people tell me they're the best they've ever had, and my brother is suggesting I sell them. (My brother is very enthusiastic about Capitalism, and from him this is very high praise.)
I know a lot of people (hi, clarify) are incredibly sick of Christmas music, but I do bring you two songs, because I - you know, even as a Jewish heritage-identifying atheistwhatever, they warm the cockles of my heart.
Dar Williams - The Christians and the Pagans
So the Christians and the Pagans sat together at the table
Finding faith and common ground the best that they were able
And just before the meal was served, hands were held and prayers were said
Sending hope for peace on earth to all their gods and goddesses
I'm sure I've uploaded this before, I know that Sar has a copy, but it's - it's an incredibly well-crafted song, and upbeat and sweet and festive and clever, and about family and acceptance and, you know, lesbians and pumpkin pie and religious tolerance. It's a very, very good holiday song, and even though clarify is probably ready to stab Santa in the head with an icepick if she has to listen to another Christmas song, I hope sometime in February she can listen to this and enjoy it on its own merits. *grins*
John Lennon - Happy Christmas (War is Over)
And so this is Christmas (War is over)
For weak and for strong (If you want it)
For rich and the poor ones (War is over)
The road is so long (Now)
This is a song I associate very strongly with my mother, who may or may not have ever actually played it during the holidays, but who certainly played enough Beatles that they imprinted on me very deeply as a kid. (She also played enough Brother, a band of Australians playing bagpipes and didgeridoos and managing kind of a quasi-American rock sound [and I saw this referenced in a fic, recently, an oblique reference to a band with bagpipes and didgeridoos and rock riffs, and I was like I know just who that is], and they imprinted just as much, which may possibly explain certain things about my current musical tastes.) It's a bit less - overtly enthusiastic? If you've never heard it, I'd give it a listen, it's a beautiful song.
I hope everyone has (and is having) a wonderful holiday season, or at least a very good end to their year. I can't tell you all how much I appreciate your friendship and support and random 3-in-the-morning IMs about TV shows and annoying neighbors/roommates and homonyms, and your posts about all the same and everything else. I hope you're all safe and happy and with people you love, and that your new year is in all ways at least as good or better than your last. <3