1. I love Dickens’ A Christmas Carol. It is my absolute, favorite holiday story, a position formed by multiple viewings of multiple versions of the tale courtesy of the UHF stations of my youth. It seemed then that at any point of the Christmas season [...]]]> Here are two things you may not know about me.

1. I love Dickens’ A Christmas Carol. It is my absolute, favorite holiday story, a position formed by multiple viewings of multiple versions of the tale courtesy of the UHF stations of my youth. It seemed then that at any point of the Christmas season one could sit down, turn on the tube, twist the dial, and tune into a Christmas ghost story, with dark and scary moments that stood out against the Rankin and Bass productions that littered the 70s.  My 7th grade English teacher made the actual text assigned reading and I discovered I loved it as much as the movies, more in some cases, as I had never much cottoned to the musical adaption with Finney and Guinness.  A  few years later George C. Scott’s turn as Scrooge in the 1984 television film became for me the perfect Christmas special, not least because it adheres faithfully to Dickens’ original story.

2. Apart from A Christmas Carol, I have never read any of Dickens’ work. Not a single one of his books was ever assigned to me again, not in high school and not in college.  Ten or so years ago I attempted Oliver Twist, but made it only halfway before succumbing to boredom and the allure of other, more appealing titles.

I offer up these two facts so that you might understand how it is I came to be wrestling with a copy of the Oxford Illustrated edition of Christmas Stories as we head into February. The book was on display at the library and I thought ‘Oh, I love A Christmas Carol. Surely I will love these other Christmas stories Dickens wrote.’

So far I can only say ‘not so much’. Over the course of several weeks I trudged through The Chimes, the second Christmas tale Dickens wrote (after A Christmas Carol.) It contained all the moralizing and none of the magic his first effort, failing to fulfill the story-teller’s first obligation: to entertain. The goblins (or ghosts – I’m still not sure who was doing what) of the Chimes are not the least bit interesting and pale in comparison to the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Future.

Christmas Stories remains on my nightstand and I tell myself I will continue the struggle, at least to the extent of attempting The Cricket on the Hearth, the next story in the book,  but I do have piles of other books that are far more tempting. I think Dickens and I might just call it quits.

N.B. I have a tumblr blog, at least for now. We’ll see where it takes us.

Cowboy Songs – National Geographic

I received this as a two record set for Christmas 1976, and played the hell out if it the next five years -my first exposure to American [...]]]> The magic of the internet returned to me two much-loved and long out-of-print albums, and now I share with you. Feel the love.

Cowboy Songs – National Geographic

I received this as a two record set for Christmas 1976, and played the hell out if it the next five years -my first exposure to American standards such as Red River Valley, The Streets of Laredo and Jesse James.  I have no idea what happened to the LPs, but you can go here to download a copy.

Tiny Days – Scruffy the Cat

I can’t remember how I discovered Scruffy, but I owned a cassette of Tiny Days by my junior year of high school. Then I went off to college in Baltimore and found to my surprise that plenty of folks I met were into this Boston band. On one memorable occasion the band played an impromptu show at our fraternity house, much to the neighbor’s delight. Great party though. Great memories. You can find Tiny Days here – I highly recommend a listen.

And here’s a bonus: the Raindogs’ Lost Souls, another record from another great Boston band. I’ve been listening to this one a lot lately.

No lie though, that was some scary shite.

Meanwhile, the Rocket has been practicing her walking around skills – video here.

This was my first trip ever to New York where I a) was in bed by 11 PM both nights and b) did not [...]]]> Last weekend Herself, the Rocket and I took ourselves down to New York.  Photos can be found here.

Meanwhile, the Rocket has been practicing her walking around skills – video here.

This was my first trip ever to New York where I a) was in bed by 11 PM both nights and b) did not consume all the beer purchased. Madeleine loves her FAO Schwartz stuffed dog though, and Herself and I enjoyed yummy cocktails at Bubby’s. The Bees Knees was just that, although next time I’m getting a Calvados Sidecar.

During backyard games of Star Wars figures, this strange – and useless – ability was ascribed [...]]]> Among the many ridiculous things my friends and I believed, was the notion that a being able to ‘stop its molecules,’ as our scientific vernacular had it, would be able to freeze itself and thus remain suspended in midair.

During backyard games of Star Wars figures, this strange – and useless – ability was ascribed to Hammerhead.  How and why, I have no recollection. But it did give the otherwise peripheral figure of Hammerhead a peculiar touch of class.

Also, I can still kick you in the head. So I got that going for me.

Me: Do you think our souls are the same age?

Herself: I think your soul is about twelve.

One year ago my wife and I were married.

Two days ago our beautiful daughter turned three months old.

I am a very, very lucky man.

Happy Anniversary ma petite. Happy Anniversary to us.