Topic: MERRY CHRISTMAS (AND NO STIRRING) (Read 21556 times)

bk · « **Reply #90 on:** December 25, 2007, 11:02:46 AM »

And might I just ask where in tarnation IS everyone? You'd think it was Christmas Day or something.

bk · « **Reply #91 on:** December 25, 2007, 11:03:03 AM »

And might I just add - page three?

bk · « **Reply #92 on:** December 25, 2007, 11:03:21 AM »

Oh, just in the nick of time - page four.

bk · « **Reply #93 on:** December 25, 2007, 11:03:33 AM »

Will we never get to page five?

DearReaderLaura · « **Reply #94 on:** December 25, 2007, 11:09:22 AM »

I have had a headache for a couple of days.

DearReaderLaura · « **Reply #95 on:** December 25, 2007, 11:09:56 AM »

Maybe some day there will be some little Kimmelings on Christmas, BK.

DearReaderLaura · « **Reply #96 on:** December 25, 2007, 11:20:51 AM »

From my DD, Joshie cards and stamps:

From my DS, a wonderfully scented pine candle:

My DH and I have agreed on a joint gift to each other: We will pay for a motel room when the relatives visit later this year.

bk · « **Reply #97 on:** December 25, 2007, 11:27:53 AM »

Just heard from the darling daughter who will, in fact, not be here today - this has happened a couple of times before. Because her darling mother has both a Christmas Eve AND Christmas Day dinner, and expects her darling daughter at both, darling daughter has to drive down, spend a couple of hours here, and then drive back (almost all the way to San Diego). Since they slept in, it's too hard to do all that driving, so she'll be here bright and early tomorrow and will be able to spend more time, since they'll drive home directly from here.

bk · « **Reply #98 on:** December 25, 2007, 11:29:28 AM »

Since I rarely accept party invites on Christmas Day (last year being an exception) I now have the entire day to myself and I have no idea what myself wants to do with it. I guess myself can open up some presents and have some tuna pasta salad later (no spaghetti sauce for ME today).

bk · « **Reply #99 on:** December 25, 2007, 11:31:06 AM »

I could jump the gun and see Sweeney Todd at the Arclight Cinemas, but a) I don't like jumping the gun, b) I have no idea if they're showing film or digital media, although, that said, I'm sure I'd get right in, which leads to c) is that something I really want to see on Christmas Day? Is there a feel-good fun movie out right now?

JoseSPiano · « **Reply #100 on:** December 25, 2007, 11:39:57 AM »

Good Afternoon!

The Mass was actually sort of fun. Well, fun for me at least. First of all, the turnout seemed kind of small, we almost thought we had the wrong time since there weren't that many cars in the parking lot when we got there. -We also passed by some other churches on the way, and they all had empty parking lots. I guess Richmonders have started to prefer going to church on Christmas Eve rather than Christmas Day. In any case...

Today's music was provided by a female cantor, a women at the piano who also sang "back-up" every now and then, an organist, a cello player and someone on handbells. It was fun watching the handbell ringer decide which note, which bell to come in on during the melody lines. I could just tell she was wishing that Santa had brought her a couple of extra sets of hands. For the Order of the Mass, they used a very Stephen-Schartz-like setting. The pianist was actually sort of rocking out on it, while the organist played along. -I think the cellist just played melody when she could.

Then came Communion: "OK. Please join us in singing "Silent Night". We're going to sing verses one, two, and three. But after verse three, you all keep humming "Silent Night" because we're going to sing something else that goes along with it."

<the piano plays the intro>
Silent Night, Holy Night
<the organist comes in... in the wrong key>
All is calm, All is bright
Round yon Virgin
<the organist comes in again... in the wrong key>
....

2nd verse
<the organist comes in again.... and again in the wrong key>
...

3rd verse
<the organist comes in... Hallelujah! The right key this time!>

During the first two verses, I started looking around the church to see if anyone else was noticing that something was not right. Well, I didn't have to look around too much. Some of the lay people on the altar were looking at each, and slightly giggling. Even one of the priests kept looking over at the organist to see what was going on. Well...

<finish the 3rd verse>
"OK - remember keep humming "Silent Night" while we do our thing."

Well, the cantor and the pianist started doing their own thing. And the organist started doing her own thing as well. And never did the twain ever meet. Three counter-melodies later...

"OK. We're done, now let's all sing the first verse again."

Silent Night...

At least they all ended together, and that's what counts.

JoseSPiano · « **Reply #101 on:** December 25, 2007, 11:44:47 AM »

...And then for the postlude, the organist started playing Widor's Toccata... Then she started to superimpose "O, Come All Ye Faithful" on top of that. Well, sort of.

elmore3003 · « **Reply #102 on:** December 25, 2007, 11:46:57 AM »

I'm back from the Raines event, which was quite festive until one of the producers of the LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS revival showed up, and I got tired of her deliberate rudeness. She carries around the arrogance and superiority of one who knows with great certainty that on her death the word c**t will be removed forever from the English language, and I get a little tired of her pointed rudeness to me whenever we have the misfortune to meet, usually once a year since she's a good friend of Dona Raines. Her husband, who's a good actor and a gentleman may feel the same as his wife, but I never get the deliberate cold should that she so gracefully throws in my direction, knowing I can do nothing there about it. The rest of the guests, actors and friends from the opera world were quite delightful.

And now i'm off to a wonderful event n West 43rd Street.

JoseSPiano · « **Reply #103 on:** December 25, 2007, 11:49:49 AM »

After Church, we tried to find a grocery store that was open since my Mom wanted to buy a birthday cake for my niece, Alexandra, since her birthday was yesterday. Ukrop's, closed. Food Lion, closed. Wal-mart, closed (which sort of surprised me, at least.) Well, Walgreens was open, so we stopped in there. They didn't carry cakes, but they did carry Duncan Hines Cake Mix, Frosting, a baking pan, and birthday candles.

Once we got home, I made the cake. Of course, trying to track down the measuring cups was "fun". Additionally, my mom had no idea where she put her hand-mixer, so I whisked it all up by hand. -With a very small whisk. The cake is still cooling, and we'll frost it in a little bit.

The "gang" is due here around 5:00, and I think I'm going to take a little nap, or least just veg while I can.

FJL · « **Reply #104 on:** December 25, 2007, 11:51:05 AM »

Looking forward to seeing you, Larry!

JoseSPiano · « **Reply #105 on:** December 25, 2007, 11:53:52 AM »

~~~~~SAFE TRAVEL VIBES TO THOSE DRS AND FAMILY WHO WILL BE HEADING TO GRANDMA'S HOUSE
- OR EVEN JUST DOWN TO 43RD STREET~~~~~

FJL · « **Reply #106 on:** December 25, 2007, 11:55:33 AM »

We're six for dinner, plus Maureen and Bill are joining us for dessert - but Skip seems to have made enough food for twelve.

JMK · « **Reply #107 on:** December 25, 2007, 11:56:46 AM »

Quote from: elmore3003 on December 25, 2007, 11:46:57 AM

I'm back from the Raines event, which was quite festive until one of the producers of the LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS revival showed up, and I got tired of her deliberate rudeness. She carries around the arrogance and superiority of one who knows with great certainty that on her death the word c**t will be removed forever from the English language, and I get a little tired of her pointed rudeness to me whenever we have the misfortune to meet, usually once a year since she's a good friend of Dona Raines. Her husband, who's a good actor and a gentleman may feel the same as his wife, but I never get the deliberate cold should that she so gracefully throws in my direction, knowing I can do nothing there about it. The rest of the guests, actors and friends from the opera world were quite delightful.

And now i'm off to a wonderful event n West 43rd Street.

Where's Audrey II when you really need her?

JoseSPiano · « **Reply #108 on:** December 25, 2007, 11:56:54 AM »

bk - I'm sorry to hear that your daughter can't join you today, but at least you'll be able to spend more time with her tomorrow.

As for a movie to see today, "The Water Horse: Legend of the Deep" opens today.

Or you could try your luck with "Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story".

DearReaderLaura · « **Reply #109 on:** December 25, 2007, 11:57:00 AM »

DR Jose, you kinda described what our music sounds like every week -- at least the singers.

bk · « **Reply #110 on:** December 25, 2007, 11:57:20 AM »

If there's enough food for twelve perhaps I'll come over, too. I could be there in six hours.

DearReaderLaura · « **Reply #111 on:** December 25, 2007, 11:57:47 AM »

One gentleman last night sang Silent Night last night with a decidedly cowboy twang.

bk · « **Reply #112 on:** December 25, 2007, 11:58:12 AM »

I have opened a few lovely gifts, and now am sitting here like so much fish.

bk · « **Reply #113 on:** December 25, 2007, 11:58:47 AM »

A huge branch from the palm tree in the back fell into the pool - it was quite a chore to get it out of there.

JMK · « **Reply #114 on:** December 25, 2007, 11:59:01 AM »

It is snowing in Portland!! This is the first time I can ever remember it snowing on Christmas Day!

JoseSPiano · « **Reply #115 on:** December 25, 2007, 12:01:57 PM »

Oh... And another favorite moment from this morning's service:

"OK. We're going to sing "O, Come All Ye Faithful" for the Processional. We're going to sing verses one, two and four, but we're going to start by singing the first verse in Latin."

At that point the woman behind me muttered: I hate it when we have to sing in those foreign languages.

Jeanne · « **Reply #116 on:** December 25, 2007, 12:04:36 PM »

Quote from: TCB on December 25, 2007, 10:32:57 AM

I couldn't find any real mistletoe and the store yesterday, so I had to improvise.

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Broccolitoe
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George · « **Reply #117 on:** December 25, 2007, 12:10:07 PM »

Quote from: Sandra on December 25, 2007, 07:15:11 AM

Merry Christmas, from my handy-dandy new electronic thingamajig that fits in the palm of my hand and gets the internet. Thanks, Mom!

Sounds like the thingamajig that my sister got!

George · « **Reply #118 on:** December 25, 2007, 12:14:14 PM »

Quote from: JMK on December 25, 2007, 11:59:01 AM

It is snowing in Portland!! This is the first time I can ever remember it snowing on Christmas Day!

I just looked out my window and it's snowing here in Olympia, too!!

George · « **Reply #119 on:** December 25, 2007, 12:14:25 PM »

And since we're so close...

News:

Author Topic: MERRY CHRISTMAS (AND NO STIRRING) (Read 21556 times)

FJL

FJL