Generalities: December 2005 Archives

It's time for a bit of "The year in Review. This is some of the stuff I really enjoyed in 2005.

Music

This is the music from the soundtrack of my life last year.

• Bowling for Soup
• U2
• Thievery Corporation
• Death Cab for Cutie
• StoryHill
• Johnny Cash
• Halloween Alaska
• Coldfront-- OK, I didn't really listen to their music much but I saw them live three times, so I'll include them on the list.

Art

Seeing "The Gates" was an awesome experience. There is no art I've seen that measures up to the scale and power of this "exhibit".

Movies

These movies all hit home for one reason or another.

• Garden State
• Pieces of April
• Lost in Translation
• Riding Giants
• Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
• Hero

Books

Favorite books of last year.

• Because of Winn Dixie
• Fear and Lothing in Las Vegas
• The Shipping News
• Choke
• Fight Club
• The Things They Carried

Have a safe New Year celebration. See you next year!

Hooray, the shortest day (and longest night) of the year has arrived. It's the winter solstice. While winter isn't over yet, at least we're going to be getting more daylight hours soon.

I haven't posted much lately. I think it has something to do with the days which have become far too short. Today sunset was at 4:32 P.M. -- way too early if you ask me. I might just start celebrating the Winter Solstice since I'm looking forward to longer days more than I am looking forward to presents under the tree.

I've been drinking way too much coffee lately, I'm quite sure that can't be improving my mood. If I start seeing anything like this latte art staring at me from my coffee cup I'm certain I'll immediately spill all over myself.

... and another thing, if I have to listen to any more debate about "Happy Holidays" versus "Merry Christmas", I'm going to tell them exactly where they can put their festivus pole.

I've got the bug to cook up holiday treats this year. I started by pestering some of my favorite cooks -- begging them for their favorite holiday cookie recipes.

Last night I made "booze balls." This is not a malady; they are a variation of rum balls made with bourbon. I have to say they were pretty good.  

On Sunday I made ginger cookies which also turned out pretty good. There was some discussion of whether they should have been softer or crisper but somehow they all vanished from the coffee nook at work.

Predictably, people are talking the "keep the Christ in Christmas talk" which is followed by Young Joel's annual "keep the Saturn in Saturnalia talk."

Ironically enough, some churches are cancelling their Sunday morning service because Sunday happens to inconveniently fall on Christmas Day. You can read an article on it in the NYTimes. (Sorry you'll have to register or something and this link will prolly only work for a week or so --talk to the NY Times about it.)

When Christmas Falls on Sunday, Megachurches Take the Day Off

You can add my church to the list. Good thing people are used to Easter falling on a Sunday.

Reminds me I haven't posted the link to the "Keep the Chan in Chanuka" t-shirt.

[Link Courtesy of The Revealer]