Farewell 2015, bring on 2016

So close, yet so far away .... the count down to 2016 and the farewell to 2015.  Time to fold up the bitter thoughts that may have lingered and shed its unproductive head.  Syonara baby to all the naggy little irritants that floated above my head, ready to *PUFF* and become a cloud, waiting to pour the negative imaginations.  Take a snow blower to the tenacious icicles that make you freeze, instead of live high on life.  Hit those memories like a volleyball.

You know you have some, we all do.  Granted, some seem to have more than others.  Is it because they exhaust them, some appear to be too willing to share their grief?  When so many others, will bottle it up and without a leak, the smallest of shaddow will egnite an explosion of rage, or rant, or retaliation.  How calm those can seem unless you are around when it catches alight.

You wouldn't be harboring any resentment towards anyone or anything per chance would you?  Sometimes masked in blame, you gurgle and ripple when a reminder flickers before you:  a transit bus sign, a song soothes you before it reminds you of a time, when things were less complicated.  

The burden of security.  Laying in our minds in varying capacities.  To one it may mean safety, while distinctions apart:  a warm bed to sleep in, a healthy meal to eat, the last drag on the cigarrette and the final withdrawal of a needle.  Where being clothed is always a choice and having clothes to wash and change is always a blessing instead of a chore.  

To have hands to pick out vegetables or fruit because we are grocery shopping.  The littlest things gone missing.  New ones to be discovered.

Let 2016 be a time of peace.  A peace of mind, a peace sign, a peaceful time.  Void of explosions, where those in need are given safety and men and women are only friends.  

Rejoice in the peace sign.  Let it be renewed symbolism of hope.  Those who want * P E A C E * have their wishes granted.  Let art and music along with all means of expression carry that one unified theme * P E A C E * to you, to me, to your neighbour, to mine, to your church, to my prayers, to your job and all that entails:  be paid, love what you do, help others become better.

2016 brings about a freshness and spirit.  Avoid casting a noose around your neck called "Resolutions" that are high, wide and difficult to reach.  Instead find steps you can make in that ultimate destination.  Health equals exercise, mental health, security, love, vegetables, fruit and food we can learn to like.  


Replace "Resolutions" with absolutions.  Things that are possible for you to accomplish one minute, one hour, one day, one month, arriving at another year.  You have cast aside the negative in 2015's wind, to allow the sun to shine on optimism, hope, pride, and opportunity.

Look into your left hand.  It is almost time to blow the molecules left of 2015 away.  Your right hand trying to force you to look ahead.  Don't look down, look up.  The horizon is changing with you at the wheel.  Of your destiny.

Twas the night after Christmas

Twas the night after Christmas
when all through the house
not a computer was whirring
not even a mouse.

The iPhones were laid by the plugin with care,
with hope that a battery charge would soon be there

We parents were all snug in their couch beds
while visions of quietness lay in our heads

The ole lady with her snoring n nothin a flap
we settled are arses for a short winter nap.

When out of the computer arose such a clatter,
We sprang from the couch to see twas the matter

Away to the mouse we flew like a flash
While we counted our leftover cash
When, what to my eyes should appear, 
 "Boxing Day sales" oh dear

With the haste fingers that flew very quick
To show the best Boxing Days sales by click

Now charge it, click it and shout by name,
To purchase the best by a seasoned dame

Now cash away, cash away, cash away all!
We then flew out of the driveway without even a stall.

To purchase twinkling, I thought in my head

All the marvelous things we'd buy if only we sped!

At the  department store to my utter awe

Stood before me a saleslady without a flaw

Her eyes how they twinkled

with the dust glitzy makeupsprinkled

A wink of her eye and a twist of her head

reassured  me to know we had nothing to dread. 

She spoke not a word, but went straight to the counter

and filled my purse with the season's must have her

She laid her finger aside of her nose with a nod,

the cash register came with rang zeros so bright,

She yelled:

"You got all the best deals so have a FUN night!"

Do we know it's Christmas?

When I woke up today and reread what I posted yesterday, it reminded me of the phenomena that began 30 years ago, 1984, when I was an optimistic, confident 24-year-old young lady, with the world at my doorstep, filled with that "anything was possible" and "can do" vigor.

Granted, I was already married, but without children at the time.  My then husband and I spent our Christmas holidays usually on a bus filled with 15 year-old hockey players going on a trip to Spokane for a tournament.  My husband was a co-coach of a Bantam AA hockey team made up of a crew of dreamers and believers that they could reach for the impossible.  In 1984, we celebrated Christmas per usual, Christmas Eve Mass and then on to Boxing Day, where we had to take down our tree, pack everything up so we could take the road trip.  That was the basis of Christmas:  giving of one's self for others.

That year a phenomena was revealed in Britain that would be remembered every year since at Christmas Time:  Source Wikipedia:

Band Aid is a charity supergroup featuring mainly British and Irish^[1] musicians and recording artists.^[2][3][4] It was founded in 1984 by Bob Geldof and Midge Ure to raise money for anti-poverty efforts in Ethiopia by releasing the song "Do They Know It's Christmas?" for the Christmas market that year. On 25 November 1984, the song was recorded at Sarm West Studios in Notting Hill, London, and was released in the UK four days later.^[5][6] The single surpassed the hopes of the producers to become the Christmas number one on that release. Two subsequent re-recordings of the song to raise further money for charity also topped the charts. The original was produced by Midge Ure. The 12" version was mixed by Trevor Horn. In November 2014, a new version of the song was recorded by artists under the name of Band Aid 30.^[7]

The opening footage is startling, lest we were to forget the reason this emblem of hope was established.  

How was the idea born?

Bob Geldof was deeply bothered and moved by the flight of starving children Ethiopia.  He decided to leverage his contacts from the UK, Ireland, to raise money to help these unfortunates by creating a unique song, enlisting major the talent of the day, to record a song that all proceeds would directly go towards raising funds. 

The vocalists featured the best British and Irish talent: 

Robert "Kool" Bell (Kool & the Gang) Bono (U2) Pete Briquette (The Boomtown Rats) Adam Clayton (U2) Phil Collins (Genesis and solo artist) Chris Cross (Ultravox) Simon Crowe (The Boomtown Rats) Sarah Dallin (Bananarama) Siobhan Fahey (Bananarama) Johnny Fingers (The Boomtown Rats) Bob Geldof (The Boomtown Rats) Boy George (Culture Club) Glenn Gregory (Heaven 17) Tony Hadley (Spandau Ballet) John Keeble (Spandau Ballet) Gary Kemp (Spandau Ballet) Martin Kemp (Spandau Ballet) Simon Le Bon (Duran Duran) Marilyn George Michael (Wham!) Jon Moss (Culture Club) Steve Norman (Spandau Ballet) Rick Parfitt (Status Quo)

Nick Rhodes (Duran Duran) Francis Rossi (Status Quo) Sting (The Police) Andy Taylor (Duran Duran) James "J.T." Taylor (Kool & the Gang) John Taylor (Duran Duran) Roger Taylor (Duran Duran) Dennis Thomas (Kool & the Gang) Midge Ure (Ultravox) Martyn Ware (Heaven 17) Jody Watley Paul Weller (The Style Council) Keren Woodward (Bananarama) Paul Young Additional spoken messages on B-side: Stuart Adamson, Mark Brzezicki, Tony Butler, Bruce Watson (Big Country) David Bowie Holly Johnson (Frankie Goes to Hollywood) Paul McCartney Musicians: Phil Collins – drums John Taylor – bass Midge Ure – keyboards and programming

Originally recorded in 1984, its re-release in 1985 after "Live Aid", caused it to soar in popularity.  An emblem of the Holiday Season, it was very successful worldwide, selling over two million copies and raising more than $24,000,000 (US).  It became the benchmark for celebrity musicians inspiring actions of charity.

One of the biggest talent at the time was "WHAM!" fronted by George Michael and Andrew Ridgely had the #1 Hit in 1984 with "Careless Whisper" topping Billboard's Top Song.

Followed by "Wake me up before you go go" became a No# favorite in 1985 in countries like the US, Canada, Australia.  So, it wasn't surprising they'd be one of the first vocal standouts on 

In fact, Wham's "Last Christmas" became the highest-selling single to ever peak at #2 in the UK charts, remaining #2 for five weeks, when "Do They Know It's Christmas" surpassed it.

Joining the chart toppers to lend vocals were from the best names of the 84-85s  like Boy George (Culture Club), Spandau Ballet, and Duran Duran.
_________________________________

Fast forward 30 years and I'm a parent of kids of similar ages to what I was back then. Another "Do they know it's Christmas?" was released 2014/15 thirty years after the original.

It comes as no surprise that UK sensation  One Direction softly vocalizes the first words acapello. They are a favorite of my daughters 21 and 23, not so far off of my own age 30 years earlier. 

Band Aids 30 years lifted off the Billboard charts at No. 1.  (Source:  Billboard )

The Band Aid 30 line-up on the new version of the single, which is raising funds to fight the Ebola virus in West Africa, includes such stars as Bono, One Direction, Rita Ora, Ed Sheeran, Sam Smith,Ellie Goulding, Emeli Sandé, Coldplay’s Chris Martin, Seal,Sinead O’Connor and Roger Taylor of Queen. “Do They Know It’s Christmas” has now topped the U.K. chart in all four of its incarnations, including the multi-million-selling first version at Christmas 1984 and subsequent anniversary editions in 1989 and 2004.  The 1984 original re-charted yesterday at No. 61.


Similarly to WHAM in 1984/85, One Direction is certainly a chart topper, and adored by Millinneal girls and minus.  Billboard recognized them as the "Artist of the Year" for 2014, when the 30 years later tribute was launched, they represent the first lyrics and melody, while girls swoon over Harry.  (Source:  Billboard )

Wise anthem for the Millennial generation:

Today Millinneal Ed Sheeran sings for his generation topping the charts in 2015.    (Source: Billboard):

Born in Halifax, West Yorkshire, England in 1991, Sheeran released his first EP, The Orange Room, while still at school, and his first two albums, his self-titled debut and Want Some, by the age of 16. After moving to London to gain more live experience, his performance of the self-penned "You Need Me, I Don't Need You" on YouTube channel SB.tv gained half a million viewers and attracted the attention of actor/R&B star Jamie Foxx, who invited him to appear on his Los Angeles Sirius radio show.

His new record debuted at number one on both the U.S. and U.K. charts, reached gold or platinum status in 15 countries, and the singles for "Sing" and "Thinking Out Loud" both topped the British charts.

 I hope you enjoy the music and videos selected to emphasize how impactful charity can be, whether famous or not.  Enjoy the spirit it brings.

My Honey Do Christmas

"Joyful" by Jill Ankrom 

Life is awesome!  I have today (Saturday), tomorrow (Sunday), and the day after (Monday) off .... life is good.

I had a little sleep in, which I had planned to be oh, about noon, because I can.  Instead, my dog Buddy decided it was way past my up-time.  Which made me realize, I had Christmas to do.

Click the links as you read along to this blog so that you can enjoy along with me:

The one, the only, Nat King Cole, 1950


Not surprising, I put my collection of iTunes music on, with Canadian Johnny Reid, the first to burst forth, singing:  "Angels we have Heard on High".  Gloria, indeed.  Then the masterful Michael Blube, another Canadian, melodic genius singing about good cheer.

Okay, I'm all set.  My to do list floating in my head.  What about that part about writing it all down lest we forget?  Well, I've been anxiously anticipating this weekend off all week.  The whiners, the complainers, the demanders, fading with each strum of a guitar.  

The main thing I have to do this weekend is a Gingerbread House to represent my team at work, to be unveiled at our team celebration on Thursday.  There goes Bob Dylan with "Hark the Herald Angels Sing" (I've never thought he had much of a voice, but I guess the raspy wordsmith is a bit of a legend.) 

  I picked up the "some assembly required" Gingerbread House along with adornments on Wednesday.  Last year, my house, was chosen as the winner for our floor, to go on to challenge the building, then off to our downtown tower.  Unfortunately, the spirit of Christmas can sometimes flutter in competative spirit.  It got disqualified by the rules, 100% edible products only .... when the soldier wrapped with tinfoil became the culprit in what I dubbed "Tinselgate".  Even three team fellows offered to eat them to demonstrate they were, in fact, edible.   Well, not this year.  Everything is 100% edible as the label states.  Even though as most of it is 85% sugar, makes that debatable.

Gingerbread House to represent my team at work, to be unveiled at our team celebration on Thursday.  There goes Bob Dylan with "Hark the Herald Angels Sing" (I've never thought he had much of a voice, but I guess the raspy wordsmith is a bit of a legend.) 

  I picked up the "some assembly required" Gingerbread House along with adornments on Wednesday.  Last year, my house, was chosen as the winner for our floor, to go on to challenge the building, then off to our downtown tower.  Unfortunately, the spirit of Christmas can sometimes flutter in competitive spirit.  It got disqualified by the rules, 100% edible products only .... when the soldier wrapped with tinfoil became the culprit in what I dubbed "Tinselgate".  Even three team fellows offered to eat them to demonstrate they were, in fact, edible.   Well, not this year.  Everything is 100% edible as the label states.  Even though most of it is 85% sugar making that debatable.

My husband just walked into the kitchen where my armor of Christmas music is playing, when the Chipmunks holiday song just happened to play.  Reinforcing in his mind that I'm a corny Christmas sucker, who loves to get in the mood of giving.  I may not have the money to dole out randomly, but more enough spirit and giving than most.

Why am I so caught up in the holiday spirit?  Well, definitely because of my "Honey Do" list, which happens to be minus the Christmas shopping -- I finished that a couple of weeks ago.  I'm intent to put a dent in the wrapping this weekend, to avoid the glasses of wine to keep me awake and pushing on to wrapping the heap of Christmas bootie for others to happily unwrap.

The funner side of Christmas with this Kelly Clarkson melody: "4 carats"

I've had to adapt my expectations.  I no longer have wide-eyed children at home, giddy with excitement decorating the Christmas tree's meaning:  Santa is on track.  Yet traditions evolve, instead of making lopsided Gingerbread houses, one each, for their own creativity to unfold, I am making one for my work team.  

The Christmas music is playing .... a tradition that I will keep on for all the years I'm allowed to be around to enjoy it, even if the songs change with the times.  The classics like "White Christmas" by Bing Cosby, will never dim or cease to lift the harmony of spirits in good cheer.

My husband will continue to lift his eyebrows at the choice of music, when he'd choose "Thunder" by ACDC instead.  He never complains.  Content in the air of preparation one associates with happy memories, from childhood to parenthood to husbandhood to blending familydom to empty nest dom. 

Our adult children, aged 24 to 27, will be coming over tomorrow to join in the festivities to celebrate his birthday.  I don't know if he expects anything except his daughter's visit.  My youngest is off in Vancouver creating her future, yet a bit despondent I'd guess because I had always created the Christmas atmosphere.  Not about the gifts, about the spirit, the anticipation, the decorating, and whatever inspiration popped out.  My elder daughter is off to Los Angelos this weekend, the city of Angels.  Yes, the holidays' spirit reaches everyone in a unique way.  

Masterful talented duo Mary J. Blige with Andrea Bocelli

The kids and their fiance will be charged with putting up the tree, decorating it, while I will reward them with dinner.  The hubby may even get into the act, who knows.  The peaceful contentment of our lives does not force him to do anything he doesn't want to.  However, he is the man of the house and hides his enjoyment of being in the thick of things.  Doling out jokes at my son, who flourishes in the attention that is not harsh or sarcastic like his father tends to do.  The epitamy of stepparrentdom can be enjoyable.  Our daughter is the first one in line to absorb our traditions of decorating and embracing Christmas.







I'm excited for Christmas this year.  Hell, (I mean heck) I am every year.  Yet, as your children age and grow with character you are so proud of, instilled in family values that they instinctively know they own.  They move on to relationships (one engaged), journeys (one in LA), adventures (one in Vancouver) and peaceful safety of what home means (one who stays close to home).

Yes, I would like more money, who wouldn't?  But one knows that being content with what you have is the most wise definition we can exude.  Regardless of religion, this is a time of reflection.  Our values.  Rejoicing in peace, family and loved ones is what it should be about.

So, it's time to lift my fingers from the magnetic keyboard that exhausts my brain from stress and levels into enjoyment of what my weekend has in store.  I just may get one or two presents wrapped without the aid of wine, and a good night sleep instead.




Peace, harmony, love and the spirit of the Holidays are yours to be inspired by.

Shaken' Stevens "Echoes of Merry Christmas"

Music source:   The UK's Telegraph  asking what are the all time favorite Christmas songs of all time with my top favorites:

The self-described "Queen of Christmas" Mariah Carey

Can you even remember this one?  If not, you're too young and I'll have one for you in a minute:

The first real HIPSTERS: WHAM!

A timeless classic by Bing Crosby: White Christmas

What newcomers will bring forward this season's good tidings:

Justin Bieber's take on Christmas with "Mistletoe" came out in 2011.

"Mistletoe" by Justin Bieber came out in 2011.

This just came out this year (music only) "Home this Christmas"