Random thoughts from Christmas and New Year's, now and in the past...
Hrm, let's start with the past, and hey, let's start with a bad memory, shall we?
Did you ever doing something you regret, years in the past, and then even just thinking about it makes you annoyed, angry...or even just laugh?
Well, I have a sort of laugh moment. It was Christmas...I think it was either 1998 or 1999. Peachtree City United Methodist Church. We had been working on a Christmas music program. We had a full orchestra assembled and performed a few services and then Christmas Eve services as well. I was tasked with solo singing what I consider to be one of the nicer Christmas songs, "I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day." It really is a beautiful song. I was REALLY excited about it. However, I was at somewhat of a vocal intersection in my life, as my voice had started stabilizing (men's voices don't really "set" until around age 17-25) but I had not really adjusted to it quite yet.
And if you know the song, you know there is a big build in the final verse with a high note that while not impossible to reach (unlike the high note in "O Holy Night") is still rather difficult to hold for your average tenor voice. And to make it worse, the build halts on the high note, then softens immediately into the end of the song. So I've got to belt out this high note, hold it and wait for the director to continue, and immediately go into falsetto for 4 notes and then back into modal (normal) register for the the final 4 notes.
Seriously, if I had the chance to go back and reverse it, I would tell the director - straight up - I'm not going to sing this song. Why? I'll tell you why...
BECAUSE...well, because I totally blew this in ALL 3 PERFORMANCES of the song. I sang 95% of the song perfectly, everything but the 5% of the song everyone waits to hear. I had to basically scream the high note to get it out, and then my falsetto cracked like a 13 year old boy. The final 4 notes of the song were a goner, too, because each time my voice was shaking from the vocal failure I had unleashed on the high note and falsetto.
After each performance, I did a couple of practice runs to fine tune it, but nonetheless, at the successive performances, as if on cue, I did the exact same thing.
If I could have dissappeared behind stage immediately afterward it might have helped my embarassment. But NO...we had to immediately go right into "Sleigh Ride" as if nothing had happened. Sheesh....
So every time I think of that moment now, I have an instant feeling of "holy CRAP...what was I thinking?!?!???" and then I quickly just transition to laughing about it, about how funny it is to sing a song you really like and then to really blow it in front of a huge church audience at the peak of the emotional build, ruining the song immediately. I guess it would have been an even funnier memory if it had been SOMEONE ELSE beside me.
It probably goes without saying that the director didn't ask me to do anymore solos ever again.
Moving along....
This Christmas was a lot of fun. Caleb got some great gifts from Santa Claus (how cool is that?). We did our Christmas here in Dacula a few days in advance as we spent the holiday down in Your Favorite Town with our families. It's really a lot of fun watching him play with toys, and get super excited when he sees all his stuff laid out for him. And this is just the beginning...next few years are prime-time Santa years. I think it's just the greatest thing right now. I'll detail more about it in Caleb's blog sometime in the next few days.
Another funny Christmas memory from the past...
My brother Michael was about 11 or 12 years old I think. He had asked for a drum set for Christmas. That's all he asked for...no candy, no toys, no anything. And as Christmas approached, somehow he got the idea that there was zero chance of him getting his wish. On Christmas morning, he decided he just flat was NOT going to get up and go downstairs to see his Christmas gifts, because he knew there was no drum set down there waiting for him.
At least that's what he thought. But when the rest of us went down there and saw it sitting there waiting for him, we all tried to cajole him into getting up. No dice. BUT...when someone banged on a cymbal and a drum, he practically teleported into the room. Now THAT is a Christmas surprise if I ever saw one. And oh boy, was he bad at playing on that drum set. At least he got Grandma and Grandpa up (their room was about 10 feet away from the drum set). He eventually got better, but that morning he was probably one of the most enthusiastically horrible drummers I've ever seen.
I'm sure his memory of that morning is a little different, probably just "OMG OMG! A DRUM SET! AHHHHHHHHH!!!!!"
A few years later, that drum set was victim of a flood in our basement, but it still sounded okay after that.
And let's not forget New Year's Eve...
Our semi-new tradition is spending New Year's Eve with Andy and Abby. We've probably done it for 4 or 5 years now (except last year, which will always be fondly remembered as the diarrhea/vomiting New Year's Eve in my household).
It's getting more complicated though...kids, dogs, so on and so on. It's nice, though, not going out anywhere and just playing games with some friends all night. We got a bunch of new Wii games for Christmas this year, gonna have to try them out tomorrow night.
Hope you all had a great Christmas, and have a Happy New Year!
Showing posts with label Humor. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Humor. Show all posts
12.30.2009
2.13.2009
I am NOT...
...a guitar hero, but I play one on TV (er, well, not really).
...addicted to shopahol, but I do like buying stuff.
...ready to admit that I'm a "grown up," even though my son calls me Dad.
...a complete narcissist, even though I'd certainly be justified if I was.
...likely to ever bother trying shrimp again, since they're basically the bottom-feeding, scum-sucking cockroaches of the sea. Bon appetit!
...trying to start a new Facebook note-posting trend with this thing.
...a lesbian, because I'm a dude...but I dig chicks anyway.
...unemployed, even though nobody else can claim me as their employee.
...interested in causing physical harm to anybody, but if someone breaks into my house while I'm here, they won't get much chance to explain themselves before I try to introduce them to God the hard way.
...a hyphenated U.S. citizen.
...thinking about moving, and wondering if/when/how. Nope, not at all.
...a real mean guy most of the time...but I can be a jerk every now and then. Watch out fellas.
...a fan of movies, generally speaking, but I love a good comedy or action film.
...going to put off getting started with the day to think up more witty garbage to list here.
...addicted to shopahol, but I do like buying stuff.
...ready to admit that I'm a "grown up," even though my son calls me Dad.
...a complete narcissist, even though I'd certainly be justified if I was.
...likely to ever bother trying shrimp again, since they're basically the bottom-feeding, scum-sucking cockroaches of the sea. Bon appetit!
...trying to start a new Facebook note-posting trend with this thing.
...a lesbian, because I'm a dude...but I dig chicks anyway.
...unemployed, even though nobody else can claim me as their employee.
...interested in causing physical harm to anybody, but if someone breaks into my house while I'm here, they won't get much chance to explain themselves before I try to introduce them to God the hard way.
...a hyphenated U.S. citizen.
...thinking about moving, and wondering if/when/how. Nope, not at all.
...a real mean guy most of the time...but I can be a jerk every now and then. Watch out fellas.
...a fan of movies, generally speaking, but I love a good comedy or action film.
...going to put off getting started with the day to think up more witty garbage to list here.
1.29.2009
25 Things (Facebook thing)
Okay, here's 25 things...
7) I like random things, like starting a list out of order
2) I never took a guitar lesson until I got to college and majored in classical guitar, I just learned to play by listening to the radio and CDs and trying to figure out where the notes were (my instructor recognized this fact immediately...)
3) I clean the shower in the nude
4) I have been drinking coffee since I was very very young. Seriously, my grandma put some coffee and milk in a bottle with some sugar. I now wake up with about 2 cups every day.
5) I've never had a cavity or any other dental problem.
6) Speaking of teeth, on the same day I had all 4 of my wisdom teeth pulled, I was eating pizza for dinner that night. I had hot wings for lunch the next day. None of that was a good idea.
1) I don't think #1 always has to be the first.
8) A lot of the clothes I wear are the same stuff I had throughout college (and in some rare cases, also high school). This isn't so much because I'm "thrifty," I'm just unimaginative when it comes to clothes.
9) I have been going to Georgia Bulldog football games since before I can remember, as my grandfather has had tickets for about 50 years. We've also had the same tailgate spot for about as long as people have been tailgating at UGA.
10) I'm very good at reading maps, and I have a good internal compass. Thank you Boy Scouts.
11) Doritos are my all-time fave junk food...Spicy Nacho. When I was about 9 years old, I took my birthday money one time and bought a "Super/Family" size bag of Doritos. Money well spent.
12) I prefer to write the IRS a check on April 15th. I very much dislike getting a huge refund (and I shouldn't have to explain that one). My wife feels very differently about this.
13) When I was a kid (up until about age 12), I really planned to be an astronaut. Then I started playing guitar. Po-tay-to, Po-tah-to, right?
14) I'm a European-American (in the modern interpretation).
15) I use sarcasm in almost all aspects of my social interactions. Sometimes it's even appropriate. Most people tell me they can't tell when I'm serious anymore. Seriously.
16) When I was a kid, I wanted to visit Wisconsin and eat cheese.
17) I have a mild fear of heights, but a real aversion to flying. I've been on only 5 trips via airplane in my life.
18) I've never been further west than Texas, and have left the US only once (honeymoon to Jamaica).
19) One night in college, Eric and I saw this infomercial for some crazy pen set that could pierce an aluminum can, or go through a stack of papers without being damaged. For some reason that was awesome and we bought two of them. Worst pens I've ever used...almost no ink, although it spilled whatever ink it had all over whatever you were writing on. Penalli Pen Set, the pens made by Satan.
20) I got two speeding tickets in the speed trap capital of the world, Tyrone, GA. I was only speeding the first time (honest!), the second time I was going 10 under (honest!). At any rate, I was so fed up I just drove way around the city of Tyrone on the way to Peachtree City for almost 2 years just to avoid getting pulled over again in that crappy-crap-crap town (if you live there, sorry).
21) For Gwam's birthday in college, the rest of us got him a pretty pink cake with flowers that said "Happy Gay Birthday! We HATE You!" The cake lady at Kroger was pretty confused.
22) The instruments I have played over the years...song flute, trumpet/cornet/bugle, guitar, bass guitar, french horn, ukulele, drums/percussion.
23) Over the course of my 28 years, I have spent over 60 weeks at a beach, mostly on the Georgia coast (over a year's worth of my life). Surprisingly, it hasn't been enough.
24) I eat kid cereals...Cap'n Crunch, Froot Loops, Cinnamon Toast Crunch, etc. I like Raisin Bran and Honey Bunches of Oats and Frosted Mini Wheats pretty well, but those are still fairly borderline. Grape Nuts and all that kind of stuff is for grown ups, and I most certainly am not "grown up."
25) I can make myself look very pregnant/fat. I have repeatedly fooled the weight guy at the carnival, getting him to guess me at around 210-220 (actual weight is more like 165-175). I am proud of this. My bro-in-law Blake can do the same thing, and we are both quite happy to show it off. In a related bit of info, the carny guy usually will guess me about 8-10 years younger as well. The Froot Loops must be keeping me young.
7) I like random things, like starting a list out of order
2) I never took a guitar lesson until I got to college and majored in classical guitar, I just learned to play by listening to the radio and CDs and trying to figure out where the notes were (my instructor recognized this fact immediately...)
3) I clean the shower in the nude
4) I have been drinking coffee since I was very very young. Seriously, my grandma put some coffee and milk in a bottle with some sugar. I now wake up with about 2 cups every day.
5) I've never had a cavity or any other dental problem.
6) Speaking of teeth, on the same day I had all 4 of my wisdom teeth pulled, I was eating pizza for dinner that night. I had hot wings for lunch the next day. None of that was a good idea.
1) I don't think #1 always has to be the first.
8) A lot of the clothes I wear are the same stuff I had throughout college (and in some rare cases, also high school). This isn't so much because I'm "thrifty," I'm just unimaginative when it comes to clothes.
9) I have been going to Georgia Bulldog football games since before I can remember, as my grandfather has had tickets for about 50 years. We've also had the same tailgate spot for about as long as people have been tailgating at UGA.
10) I'm very good at reading maps, and I have a good internal compass. Thank you Boy Scouts.
11) Doritos are my all-time fave junk food...Spicy Nacho. When I was about 9 years old, I took my birthday money one time and bought a "Super/Family" size bag of Doritos. Money well spent.
12) I prefer to write the IRS a check on April 15th. I very much dislike getting a huge refund (and I shouldn't have to explain that one). My wife feels very differently about this.
13) When I was a kid (up until about age 12), I really planned to be an astronaut. Then I started playing guitar. Po-tay-to, Po-tah-to, right?
14) I'm a European-American (in the modern interpretation).
15) I use sarcasm in almost all aspects of my social interactions. Sometimes it's even appropriate. Most people tell me they can't tell when I'm serious anymore. Seriously.
16) When I was a kid, I wanted to visit Wisconsin and eat cheese.
17) I have a mild fear of heights, but a real aversion to flying. I've been on only 5 trips via airplane in my life.
18) I've never been further west than Texas, and have left the US only once (honeymoon to Jamaica).
19) One night in college, Eric and I saw this infomercial for some crazy pen set that could pierce an aluminum can, or go through a stack of papers without being damaged. For some reason that was awesome and we bought two of them. Worst pens I've ever used...almost no ink, although it spilled whatever ink it had all over whatever you were writing on. Penalli Pen Set, the pens made by Satan.
20) I got two speeding tickets in the speed trap capital of the world, Tyrone, GA. I was only speeding the first time (honest!), the second time I was going 10 under (honest!). At any rate, I was so fed up I just drove way around the city of Tyrone on the way to Peachtree City for almost 2 years just to avoid getting pulled over again in that crappy-crap-crap town (if you live there, sorry).
21) For Gwam's birthday in college, the rest of us got him a pretty pink cake with flowers that said "Happy Gay Birthday! We HATE You!" The cake lady at Kroger was pretty confused.
22) The instruments I have played over the years...song flute, trumpet/cornet/bugle, guitar, bass guitar, french horn, ukulele, drums/percussion.
23) Over the course of my 28 years, I have spent over 60 weeks at a beach, mostly on the Georgia coast (over a year's worth of my life). Surprisingly, it hasn't been enough.
24) I eat kid cereals...Cap'n Crunch, Froot Loops, Cinnamon Toast Crunch, etc. I like Raisin Bran and Honey Bunches of Oats and Frosted Mini Wheats pretty well, but those are still fairly borderline. Grape Nuts and all that kind of stuff is for grown ups, and I most certainly am not "grown up."
25) I can make myself look very pregnant/fat. I have repeatedly fooled the weight guy at the carnival, getting him to guess me at around 210-220 (actual weight is more like 165-175). I am proud of this. My bro-in-law Blake can do the same thing, and we are both quite happy to show it off. In a related bit of info, the carny guy usually will guess me about 8-10 years younger as well. The Froot Loops must be keeping me young.
10.02.2008
I lost the bet
Well, as many of you have already noticed, I lost a recent bet. Georgia and Alabama played a football game this past Saturday in Athens that was supposed to be the biggest game in the past 20 or so years for Georgia. SEC championship and BCS National Championship all on the line in this early season matchup of top 10 teams.
I had seen Georgia and Alabama play every single game so far this season, and both looked very good, but my bet was that Georgia was going to win. Not just win, but win big.
Well, at stake between my friend David and I was that time honored act of making your Facebook profile picture and Facebook status a complete and total reflection of who you are, what you are all about, what you were up to recently, how incredibly awesome you are. David, being a Bama fan, felt perhaps as strongly in favor of a Bama win as I did a Georgia win. David, being the winner of this bet by virtue of his team's total domination of Georgia football, now has the satisfaction of not only saving his own profile from ruination, but ensuring that my profile remains Crimson for at least until October 11th.
You see, the deal was this...loser's profile is owned until the losing team wins another SEC game. Georgia doesn't play another SEC game (or any game) until October 11th when they take on mighty (awful) Tennessee in Sanford Stadium. The whole "at least" part of October 11th is that Georgia actually has to win against Tennessee. Shouldn't be hard, but still...shame shame until the game.
So enjoy, fellow Facebookers. Enjoy the Roll Tide status, enjoy the screen-printed adornments and the "we're #1" smiling endorsement. It will be over soon as UGA returns to SEC dominance.
And for anyone willing to take another one of my foolhardy bets...here's one for a few weeks down the road. If UGA and Alabama have a rematch in the Georgia Dome for the SEC Championship game, at stake is a year-long shame. Not on Facebook this time, no. This time, it will be a little more gutsy - the winning team's logo affixed to your vehicle's rear window until 2009 season kickoff, and flags flying proudly from the windows for no less than a full week. No cheating, either...if you have more than one automotive choice, I will be happy to provide the additional stickers you'll need to properly dress all of your transportation.
Any takers?
I had seen Georgia and Alabama play every single game so far this season, and both looked very good, but my bet was that Georgia was going to win. Not just win, but win big.
Well, at stake between my friend David and I was that time honored act of making your Facebook profile picture and Facebook status a complete and total reflection of who you are, what you are all about, what you were up to recently, how incredibly awesome you are. David, being a Bama fan, felt perhaps as strongly in favor of a Bama win as I did a Georgia win. David, being the winner of this bet by virtue of his team's total domination of Georgia football, now has the satisfaction of not only saving his own profile from ruination, but ensuring that my profile remains Crimson for at least until October 11th.
You see, the deal was this...loser's profile is owned until the losing team wins another SEC game. Georgia doesn't play another SEC game (or any game) until October 11th when they take on mighty (awful) Tennessee in Sanford Stadium. The whole "at least" part of October 11th is that Georgia actually has to win against Tennessee. Shouldn't be hard, but still...shame shame until the game.
So enjoy, fellow Facebookers. Enjoy the Roll Tide status, enjoy the screen-printed adornments and the "we're #1" smiling endorsement. It will be over soon as UGA returns to SEC dominance.
And for anyone willing to take another one of my foolhardy bets...here's one for a few weeks down the road. If UGA and Alabama have a rematch in the Georgia Dome for the SEC Championship game, at stake is a year-long shame. Not on Facebook this time, no. This time, it will be a little more gutsy - the winning team's logo affixed to your vehicle's rear window until 2009 season kickoff, and flags flying proudly from the windows for no less than a full week. No cheating, either...if you have more than one automotive choice, I will be happy to provide the additional stickers you'll need to properly dress all of your transportation.
Any takers?
8.16.2008
Cereal
A quick blog...
They say breakfast is the most important meal of the day, and I tend to agree. That being said, I'm not a huge breakfast cereal fan...my idea of a good breakfast is some grits and eggs with bacon/sausage and some good coffee. A nice, big, warm meal to fire up the day. During the work week, however, cereal is usually the most time-efficient food to get going with the day.
So if I'm going to have cereal, I want something like Cinnamon Toast Crucnch, Froot Loops, or Cap'n Crunch...SUGAR. I also like things like raisin bran, Cheerios (Hone Nut) and Rice Chex sometimes, but I'm going to pass those over if one of my preferred little-kid-at-the-table cereals are available.
My wife goes for the really nasty stuff, like Grape Nuts (neither a grape nor a nut). I'll pass. Gimme the sugar.
They say breakfast is the most important meal of the day, and I tend to agree. That being said, I'm not a huge breakfast cereal fan...my idea of a good breakfast is some grits and eggs with bacon/sausage and some good coffee. A nice, big, warm meal to fire up the day. During the work week, however, cereal is usually the most time-efficient food to get going with the day.
So if I'm going to have cereal, I want something like Cinnamon Toast Crucnch, Froot Loops, or Cap'n Crunch...SUGAR. I also like things like raisin bran, Cheerios (Hone Nut) and Rice Chex sometimes, but I'm going to pass those over if one of my preferred little-kid-at-the-table cereals are available.
My wife goes for the really nasty stuff, like Grape Nuts (neither a grape nor a nut). I'll pass. Gimme the sugar.
1.17.2008
Blizzard Hits Georgia...No Survivors
I love when it snows in Georgia. It's unique, only happening once a year or every other year. However, you can see the news coverage and witness dozens of people in an area lightly dusted with snow running out to get space heaters, generators, heated blankets, milk, bread, whatever. Seriously, even if the "storm" lasted more than a day or two, you quite likely have enough food and water for a worst-case-scenario, and the space heater you bought two years ago when it snowed probably still works. I mean, I know it's still in the box, so it hasn't been tested yet, but it probably works.
When these people are interviewed, they are often VERY concerned, saying "well, you never know what could happen" or "it don't look like much, but believe you me, if it gets worse, y'all are gonna be callin' me for my heaters." I mean....okay, look, I get it. I was in Boy Scouts (motto: "Be prepared). But really? Really?
In spite of the ridiculous news coverage, I think everyone is gonna be okay. Looking outside here, there's a little ice on the road, but rain has been falling since 3am and even the snow is melting on the lawn.
Perhaps in the northernmost counties of the state, it's a little worse. Hilary headed up there for work this morning, and she called and told me that it's basically just a little wet, some ice, but everyone's out and about.
Nonetheless, after dinner last night, I took Jingles and we wandered around the neighborhood in the snow. We timed it just right, too...the snow started coming full force at that point. When we left, the sidewalk and driveway in front of the house were lightly dusted (melting on contact mostly). By the time we got back, it was covered with snow, and the streets were getting a pretty white covering as well. LOTS of snow.
Went in for a few minutes to warm up (quite windy out), but then Jingles and I went back out for a little while longer until it got too windy. Snow was blasting out my eyeballs (stings the nostrils....). Jingles went absolutely berserko. She L-O-V-E-D the snow. Of course, I got ZERO in the way of photographs of this whole ordeal, but I was just enjoying it - not documenting it.
By the time I went to bed, it was mainly sleet/rain, and then this morning it's just rain. A whole lot of fun, but not a whole lot of snow. As is typical with Georgia weather, I'm absolutely expecting to be wearing shorts and flip flops in the 80 degree heat that is to follow next week. Okay, I'm being a little bit sarcastic (no people, I'm not predicting the weather, and no, I've heard no predictions of 80 degree temps for next week). Point being - we gots us some craaazzy weather here in this state.
Baby class tonight...earlier concerns that class might be canceled have given way to reality. It's gonna be a little wet, but nothing will stop us from our quest to learn more about the miracle of pushing a watermelon through a Life Saver. Last week's class was interesting. This week - another video, more "techniques" and even a tour of the facilities. I hope it's an audio tour...I'll bring my own headphones just in case. Maybe we'll even get dumped out into a little gift shop with souvenirs at the end!
When these people are interviewed, they are often VERY concerned, saying "well, you never know what could happen" or "it don't look like much, but believe you me, if it gets worse, y'all are gonna be callin' me for my heaters." I mean....okay, look, I get it. I was in Boy Scouts (motto: "Be prepared). But really? Really?
In spite of the ridiculous news coverage, I think everyone is gonna be okay. Looking outside here, there's a little ice on the road, but rain has been falling since 3am and even the snow is melting on the lawn.
Perhaps in the northernmost counties of the state, it's a little worse. Hilary headed up there for work this morning, and she called and told me that it's basically just a little wet, some ice, but everyone's out and about.
Nonetheless, after dinner last night, I took Jingles and we wandered around the neighborhood in the snow. We timed it just right, too...the snow started coming full force at that point. When we left, the sidewalk and driveway in front of the house were lightly dusted (melting on contact mostly). By the time we got back, it was covered with snow, and the streets were getting a pretty white covering as well. LOTS of snow.
Went in for a few minutes to warm up (quite windy out), but then Jingles and I went back out for a little while longer until it got too windy. Snow was blasting out my eyeballs (stings the nostrils....). Jingles went absolutely berserko. She L-O-V-E-D the snow. Of course, I got ZERO in the way of photographs of this whole ordeal, but I was just enjoying it - not documenting it.
By the time I went to bed, it was mainly sleet/rain, and then this morning it's just rain. A whole lot of fun, but not a whole lot of snow. As is typical with Georgia weather, I'm absolutely expecting to be wearing shorts and flip flops in the 80 degree heat that is to follow next week. Okay, I'm being a little bit sarcastic (no people, I'm not predicting the weather, and no, I've heard no predictions of 80 degree temps for next week). Point being - we gots us some craaazzy weather here in this state.
Baby class tonight...earlier concerns that class might be canceled have given way to reality. It's gonna be a little wet, but nothing will stop us from our quest to learn more about the miracle of pushing a watermelon through a Life Saver. Last week's class was interesting. This week - another video, more "techniques" and even a tour of the facilities. I hope it's an audio tour...I'll bring my own headphones just in case. Maybe we'll even get dumped out into a little gift shop with souvenirs at the end!
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