Dead Week.

I always think of the week between Christmas and New Year as "Dead Week". It's like college when nothing really pressing is going on and no one really knows what they should be doing - although everyone has plenty of ideas about what they want to be doing.

I had a great Christmas and hope everyone else out there did too. A special thank you to all my family and friends that made it a great holiday all around. Giftwise, I got a Nintendo Wii for Christmas. I couldn't help but think of all the disappointed boys and girls out there that were not as lucky as me to find a Wii under their tree. Seriously, people were getting killed for that video game system this year. And people were paying 50% above retail price on eBay for the Wii in the days leading up to Christmas. After learning about my Wii, my new Nintendo DS, and new Razr V3x phone, my 11 year old cousin Lyndsie asked me, "How many toys do you have, Justin?" I told her, "All of them."

Which reminds me of that old store in Crossroads called Execu-Toy or something. It was a toy store for yuppies. Who remembers it? Anyway, they had alot of products with the phrase "He Who Dies With The Most Toys Wins." I don't subscribe to that philosophy, but it naturally came to mind.

I saw Dreamgirls yesterday. My money is on Jennifer Hudson to win an Oscar. She was the high point of the picture. Beyonce was good too. However the movie seemed to just plod along without much plot. I should have seen the Pursuit of Happyness instead.

Finally, for those of you keeping score, my Big Brain Academy high score is now 1,452 grams. Grade B; brain of Investor. Top that, if you can.

Today's Song: And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going, Jennifer Hudson (Download it.)

Tagging is the way to go.

I got this Holiday quiz from Leah:

1. Egg Nog or Hot Chocolate? I'd be lying if I said "I hate eggnog lattes."

2. Does Santa wrap presents or just sit them under the tree? Wrapped in brown postage wrap.

3. Colored lights on tree/house or white? Both.

4. Do you hang mistletoe? No, I don't know anyone that does, sadly.

5. When do you put your decorations up? No set schedule.

6. What is your favorite holiday dish (excluding dessert)? Rhodes rolls.

7. Favorite holiday memory as a child? Our annual Christmas Eve party.

8. When and how did you learn the truth about Santa? My dad took me to McDonalds in Antelope Square in Layton. He told me that Santa isn't an actual person, but rather his spirit lives in all our hearts. And, "If you ruin Santa Claus for your little sister, you will never see a Christmas present again." I wonder why that memory is so poignant.

9. Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve? I try to - very hard. I always did when I was little.

10. How do you decorate your Christmas Tree? I pulled it out of the box, arranged the branches, and plugged it in.

11. Snow! Love it or Dread it? DREAD IT, HATE IT, HATE IT (in the valley)! I don't mind it in the mountains where I can appreciate the aesthetic of it.

12. Can you ice skate? Not as well as I roller skate.

13. Do you remember your favorite gift? A go-cart that I received Christmas 1983. I'd wanted one desperately for years.

14. What's the most important thing about the holidays for you?

15. What is your favorite holiday dessert? Sugar cookies.

16. What is your favorite holiday tradition? Going to my grandparents house for scones on Christmas morning.

17. What tops your tree? Dust?

18. Which do you prefer, giving or receiving? I like both, but I am better at one than the other.

19. What is your favorite Christmas Song? Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas - it's both melancholy and hopeful.

In other news, I finished my Christmas shopping last night. For the most part anyway. And I decided to finish it at the downtown Nordstrom - for old time's sake. Crossroads Plaza used to be ground zero for Utah Christmas shopping. But last night, it was just really quiet and kind of sad. I got really nostalgic thinking it was the last year I would buy presents in that store in that mall.

Here's a funny Nordstrom at Crossroads at Christmas story:

In 1991, I asked for Cool Water cologne. I guess I was a little ahead of the curve because it wasn't readily available or even well known in Utah yet. My mom went to the Nordstrom fragrance counter at Crossroads and asked the sales clerk, "Do you have 'Cool Water?'" The clerk looked at her funny and said, "There's a drinking fountain on level 2."

Today's Song: Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas, James Taylor

p.s. I inadvertently failed to tag VT (assuming she is still around) and Leah in yesterday's post. So please, post your seven songs.

Tagged.

I accepted (dethroned)up's invitation to: "List seven songs you are into right now. No matter what the genre, whether or not they have words, or even if they’re not any good, but they must be songs you’re really enjoying now. Post these instructions in your livejournal/blog along with your seven songs. Then tag seven other people to see what they’re listening to."

Part one is easy enough:

1. We Need A Little Christmas, Johnny Mathis
2. Someday at Christmas, Pearl Jam
3. Irreplaceable, Beyonce
4. California, Mates of State
5. Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas, Rosemary Clooney
6. Happy Holiday, Peggy Lee
7. Brighter Discontent, The Submarines

Admittedly, it's a pretty Holiday heavy list, but what the hell - once a year.

The hard part is Part Two - tagging seven people. I will tag people to post in the comments section:

1. Ava/Stella
2. Aunt
3. B-Lo
4. Georgeory
5. Ali
6. Deanna
7. Sister

Today's Song: Redundant.

I want to see my friends in this commercial!

So go to this website, and upload a photograph.

I tried it, but the result was a little too buggy to be posted. Maybe my computer isn't good enough for the technology.

Poll question: Let's say you purchase a sweater and a t-shirt from a well known store. You get home and realize the clerk slipped an extra sweater in the bag - because he was folding a pile of sweaters when ringing you up. The receipt shows you weren't charged for the sweater. Do you return the sweater?

Today's Song: We Need A Little Christmas, Johnny Mathis

Back to the Future

Last year I recorded the Charlie Brown Christmas special on my DVR. I didn't watch it until this year. Mind you, that special first aired in 1965. And in that special, Charlie Brown laments the "commercialization of Christmas." They were complaining about that clear back in 1965?!

Also, in watching older sitcoms, say from the late 60's and early 70's, I've noticed that they complain about high fat content of foods and the dangers of sun exposure and tanning. I thought these were new concerns. I didn't concern myself with the fat content of foods until 1992. As for sun exposure, I'm still struggling with accepting that the sun is bad for my skin and may cause skin cancer. (Okay, okay - it does cause skin cancer and premature aging and a host of other evils.)

So what was news for me is actually, technically old news.

I just bored myself typing that observation.

I'm disenchanted with old school Christmas songs this year. Johnny Mathis, Bing Crosby, Barbra Streisand, Nat King Cole, and Barbra Streisand aren't working for me. So I went on-lnie and downloaded a slew of hip indie Christmas songs - some original, some are just new bands doing the old standards. I recommend these websites if you are looking to update your Christmas music:

http://whokilledthemixtape.blogspot.com/
http://noisefortoaster.blogspot.com/

Today's Song: Come On! Let's Boogey to the Elf Dance, Sufjan Stevens

Save the Hoo Hahs.

Get your shirt now.

I bristle about the use of the word "frat."

Today's Song: Smile Like You Mean It, David Gray

Some Shakins

There used to be fountains up and down the blocks of Main Street SLC. I remember loving to throw coins in them when I was little. Not so many fountains in town anymore. The fountain at the Church Office Building is quite nice, and the display at Gateway is nice also, but in a very different way.

Try the snowman frosted cookies at Starbucks if you haven't already. And, that is, if you can find them.

Who knew that the deepest part of the Great Salt Lake is only 15 feet?!

Birthday gift ideas for a twenty-something little sister that likes nice things?

Turtle necks, aka polo necks: love them or hate them? I vacillate every winter.

Today's Song: Holiday in Spain, Counting Crows