4 songs only played at Christmas that aren't about Christmas

I love the Christmas season and I love Christmas music during this time of year, but there seems to be some confusion down at the radio station as to what constitutes a Christmas song. There are several that I only hear this time of year, but are void on any reference to Christmas at all.

1. "The Peanuts Theme"

I don't know why this gets played on the radio at Christmas. I like Charlie Brown and the gang, but come on, it is just a repeated piano rhythm and some maracas. Yet, every year I hear this several times through out the season.


2. "My Favorite Things"

Every year, my parents made us watch "The Sound of Music" when it came on TV. Although I enjoy it now, it was a drag when I was 11. Again I am baffled as to what this song has to do with Christmas. Maybe it's the presents? I don't know.


3. "Winter Wonderland"

This one is almost a prerequisite if you make a Christmas CD, but it doesn't talk about Christmas. It is all about winter and how wonderful it is to sit by the fire and make snowmen and have an imaginary wedding, but for some reason as soon a Christmas is over. Bam! No more "Winter Wonderland"!


4. "Jingle Bells"

If you stop a person on the street and ask them to name a Christmas song you will get a good percentage of them that say "Jingles Bells" even though Christmas isn't mentioned once. Look up the lyrics yourself if you don't believe me.
There are more versions and homages to this song then you can count (including "Jingle Bell Rock") but I think I like Barbara Streisand's version best even though I find it funny to hear Jewish singers belting out Christmas music.


5. "Last Christmas" by Wham

I know I said 4 songs, but this one needs to be included, because even though it mentions Christmas, it is just about a loser getting dumped by his girlfriend on Boxing Day and brooding about it all year before he comes up with some zinger lyrics to get back at her. In spite of it being a break up song it is included in all radio DJ's Christmas lists.

I can make dinner. (If you really want me to.)

My wife is having a bad day. No problem, as a caring husband I am there to step up to the plate and take charge. She usually handles it all but I can do it too.

I start by being the referee to the kids. Simple, send them downstairs to clean the family room. Ignore the screams and the sounds of high explosives amid shouts of whose toy belongs to whom and "Get off the blanket. I am trying to fold it."

Next, make dinner. I have never really learned how to cook but I do have a few "specialties". I tell my wife that I can make waffles for dinner. (definitely a specialty!) But alas, she informs me that the kids haven't had any vegetables today. Since grilling your spouse on what the kids have eaten when I know that she is having a bad day isn't conductive to a healthy lifestyle, I say, "Sure. I can make something else."

Door number two. "Stir fry." It's not really stir fry. I just call it that because I stir it as it fries. Start by cooking two cups of rice. While that is steaming, defrost polish kielbasa and cube it. cook that in the APP (All Purpose Pan) until it has crispy edges. Pour in a bag a frozen mixed veggies and top it with your freshly steamed rice. Stir it in the pan until it is all warm.

I sometimes wish that I was on one of those cooking shows where everything is already in little pre-measured bowls and someone else does the dishes, but my reality differs.

My little one doesn't help clean downstairs. She likes to help cook. My oldest spends all his time begging the little one to come and help. He works so hard at it that if he would just focus that time into actual cleaning that he would been done already. The kitchen is a mess so I clean enough to make dinner. I can do the rest later.

Dinner is a success! That simply means that everyone eats it without Mom and Dad having to resort to begging, coercion, or threats. Send the kids down to get pajamas on while my wife takes a bath. Send the kids back down to "Get your pajamas on!" Thus, finishes another day. Whew!

The Wall-E future may not so unrealistic...

I took my family to see the movie Wall-E when it was in theaters and I enjoyed it, in spite of the reviews. Apparently many people were annoyed at how the humans in Wall-E were portrayed. "We could never become a mass of bloated, unable to stand, introverts," they cry, "We will never become like that....why yes, I would like to super-size my value meal."

"Hmmm, my appointment is two blocks away and it's hard to walk and eat at the same time...TAXI!!"

Though it seems that Toyota saw Wall-E and immediately latched onto this scene and thought, "what a great idea. We should build one of those. It would really bring people together."







Now, just a short time later they present the i-REAL mobility vehicle

The awesome guys from Top Gear give us the scoop.


I love the question Richard asks at 1:25 and then at 3:00 he starts to sound like he could be pitching the idea to Wall-E's bosses at B&L to put on their spaceships.