Yayyyyyyyyyyy I did get to write again: the "Lil bit of Attitude" as an ode to my daughter's BDay and to release my brain of all these ideas, so I can slumber. It is snowing outside a bit. (that is why we reference slumber, you nap during the day, or sleep during summer). Nothing anywhere near the East coast of the US, we would be just as shocked with this sort of storm: it would be unusual for Canada, except the very far oceanic east coast. They share the Atlantic: blame her! I truly would like to thank Mark Zuckerberg .......... Thanks https://www.facebook.com/zuck and Facebook ... I haven't quite figured out why or how you blessed me? But 100 or more followers a day is quite outstanding. One could wonder if you are merely showcasing how greater the power of Facebook + Commerce is over Twitter? Whatever the reason, big THANK YOU. Although, I have no idea how to respond to the imploding direct messages: I can't possibly answer you all. Although, I will continue to manage and respond under "NOTIFICATIONS" to those that include me in public communications. That will keep the integrity of social media: it isn't a gi-HUGE dating meat market or chat room. I am not looking for anyone nor trying to solve anyone's problems in love. I'm taken. Simply, nuff said. Thanks again Mark ~ what a ride! Thank YOU.
"Oh, my, this one has attitude!" exclamed the delivery nurse. Who may have been saying "here's another one" to the tired, adrenaline-rushed parents of this newborn creation ..... of theirs. A mixture of disbelief and amazement as this gaze upon this near perfect little human girl. Minutes from being in a warm, comfortable womb. Indignant at the harsh introduction she hadn't anticipated she let out a howl. This little beauty grew and grew: and sang "take me out to the Ball Game" at a mere 16 months. As a party favor, she blasted through the adults polite conversation, as their jaws dropped and gaped open at a special experience unfolded. Discussion began. How amazing is it that a little burst of energy could sing to the rafters, in such abandon, glorying in the musical flutes her own tonsils gave. Oblivious to the expressions of anyone around her. She liked bursting out and singing. Her abandon to anything akin to self-conscious expression. The audience crossed between envy and awe. How could such a little thing stand up, be so proud, and sing with such abandon? At ONLY 16 months. The parents who were always ready with a video camera were stunned into inaction. The musical notes combined with gusto and self-exuberance. How could they have created such a ... umm... creature? Alas, it was a daughter. They should have had their seat belts tightened. Yet they didn't do anything. Why should they? They weren't puppeteers, merely creators. They wondered, however, how can they take credit for such a beauty with such a powerful voice?
As the little girl developed and continued to grow became as ever a sight to behold. At 2, this confident, clever, creation would insist that she was a princess. Her hard-working mother and father fascinated, would wonder: how could a princess be born and insist she was one. They were, although not average folk, wondered how they could be responsible for this envisioned little lady? Then, one day, when the father was away at work, slagging dragons called life and career, the mother bent over a captive keyboard for job. A nanny, on call, living out, ever present, vacuuming the castle always to shine, was focussed on leaving a tread in the carpet, hadn't noticed her charge, who had transformed into an escapee to her mother's home office. Sneaking in, quietly, taking and absorbing every last detail. Alas, the mother noticed the scamp in her midst. The little joy did ask: "Mommy, what are you doing?" Lest the mother cause disillusionment of the responsibility of working and career, she tenderly said: "I am working. When you grown up, you will likely work too. What is it that you think you'll do too? The predictable reply did unfold "why, when I am grown up, I will be a princess!" Said with such convincement, less mortal men or mothers would never argue. However, the mother did sigh. She then glanced around, realizing that the King was not home nor was the princess' guard on command. She did try to dispell the disillusionment which chance had burst, said to her darling daughter with such thirst, for life, for dreams, goals and confidence: "why Sweetie, you will be princess when I am a queen!" Rationalizing that being realistic of drastic importance. Then to her utter dismay her daughter did respond: "Why mommy, I didn't know that you were a queen!!" The days grew onwards and upward the girl grew, when tragedy did brew. The media, the news, the television, no matter how one flew, protested the death of a princess many thought they knew. When dinner one day, was being prepared by her mother. As the news and the television broadcast the cover: A princess died while so many fed .. on the photos, paparazzi with the princess photos they led. How sad to have such a wonderful soul cut short, would end up causing this young four-year-old lady to retort: "That is so sad to hear about the princess." The mother, astonished, that this little girl wisdom, attuned to the news and the stories that bloomed. She asked her daughter, in parenting skills on high alert, how do you feel about this story? The daughter said "Sad". The mother now curious, nowhere near mad. Asked her little one why would she say so. When the gem said "well, I am a princess, so this one I should know". This is a reflection of a mother, rediscovering the journey she started with her daughter. She has just turned 23, in second year of university, dedicated to fine arts, art history and philanthropy. A mother's pride never diminishes with age. If anything, it flourishes as cheerleading captain of her daughter's journey. Happy Birthday sweet, beautiful daughter O mine.
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: BandAid 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 BandAid 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:
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.
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.
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"
