Well, dear readers, Christmas 2015 is over and done with and I’m sure in about three days it will be Christmas 2016 – that’s how fast these years are flying by, like a gazelle singing a put-together of Witch Doctor and The Purple People Eater in G. I wonder why no one but the gazelle has covered these two brilliant songs. I may have to devote an entire Kritzerland show to the songs of the 1950s, just so I can showcase the best of the best. Witch Doctor was by David Seville (really Ross Bagdasarian) – Mr. Saville would later use a device used in Witch Doctor – a sped up voice – to create Alvin and the Chipmunks. But how many here know that Mr. Bagdasarian also appears in a classic motion picture? Well, he does – he’s the composer trying to write a tune whilst James Stewart is discovering more sinister things in Rear Window. The Purple People Eater was written and sung by Sheb Wooley. But how many people here know that Mr. Wooley also appears in a classic motion picture? Well, he does – High Noon. Both songs came out in 1958 (within two months of each other) and shockingly both were number one on the Billboard chart. I have no idea what the HELL I’m talking about. I think it was something about Christmas.
I had a perfectly fine Christmas day. I got about seven hours of sleep, but stayed in bed for a bit. I’d stayed up till three in the morning cleaning the kitchen and washing all the big pots and pans (stop and snap, spelled backwards), so I awoke to a clean house. Once up, I opened my handful of gifts, one of which was from dear readers Amy and Mark – a DVD of The Subterraneans, which I haven’t seen since my mother dragged me out of the theater because she thought something lewd had gone on. I remember the moment vividly and I can’t wait to see if I recognize it. I had a few telephonic conversations, did some work at the piano, but mostly just relaxed. Then it was time to get ready and them I moseyed on over to Cissy Wechter’s Christmas Day partay.
It’s always a lovely affair, Cissy’s parties are, and last night’s was no different. There are always a lot of folks there, and I know most of them, since David and I have been friends for almost thirty years now. So many of the little kids are now all grown up – one is even engaged to be married. David and I had fun catching up and I chatted with quite a few other people, too. The food is always amazing and true to form, Cissy made her famous kugel just for me. I tried to be a good boy, but I’m not sure I achieved it. I was reasonable on the first helping – one slice of ham, one slice of turkey, no stuffing, one little piece of sweet potato, CRANBERRIES, some kugel and some green bean casserole. She never has breads, which is a good thing. I finished all that rather quickly and had the following items for seconds: one slice of ham, one slice of turkey, CRANBERRIES, another piece of sweet potato and more kugel. Now, that doesn’t sound like that much food to me, but I was stuffed to the gills and thought I was going to explode. But I had just enough room for some desserts – trifle, a small slice of chocolate chip pound cake and a little thing that looked like a biscotti but was much better. I was there for about three and a half hours. She lives in West Hills and I have to tell you that it was REALLY cold up there. Then I headed home like so much fish. Here is an actual photograph of my first helping. That really is only one slice of ham and one slice of turkey.
Cissy gave me a rather large amount of kugel to take home, so I have that here, along with a couple of turkey legs. Once home, I answered some e-mails, played around at the piano, talked to the Pearl of Barry, and that was about it.
Today, I must be up early for she of the Evil Eye will be here to clean whatever needs to be cleaned. I’ll go out and have something VERY light as a snack to kill some time – perhaps a bagel, or some poached eggs. Then I’ll hopefully pick up some packages, then come home. My intention is to catch up on some viewing, perhaps watching two or three motion pictures. For my main meal, I’ll probably make some spaghetti (but not more than six ounces), since I have a nice amount of sauce left in the refrigerator, and I’ll have a tiny bit of the kugel, too.
Tomorrow, I’ll put the finishing touches on the songs for the Kritzerland show, relax, and just have a ME day. Monday I’m seeing Jason Graae and Faith Prince at The Federal, Tuesday I have a lunch meeting, and Wednesday I’m lunching with dear reader Jeanne. Then we have our annual New Year’s Rockin’ Eve Bash right here at haineshisway.com, the only partay you want to attend that evening. On New Year’s Day I begin writing a new novel and then attend a party at Barry Pearl’s home environment.
Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, do stuff, hopefully pick up packages, watch motion pictures and relax. Today’s topic of discussion: Tell us all about what you did for Christmas and what fun presents you got. Let’s have loads of lovely postings, shall we, whilst I hit the road to dreamland, after which I shall arise and lead you all in a sing-a-long of Witch Doctor and The Purple People Eater.