A selection of some of my favorite Christmas carols. A daily event through Christmas.
Today's selection: Moody Blues - "What Child Is This?" - 1580/1865/1994
The tune is Greensleeves with lyrics written in 1865 but not published until 1871. The tune Greensleeves was registered in 1580 in London. Although often credited to King Henry VIII, he had died before the tune was registered.
The Moody Blues released this version in 1994.
Years ago though. We don't live here anymore
and we have cats now so no Christmas trees.
I'm not a church-goer; I don't consider myself "Christian", mostly because I find the corporate structure of churches somewhat nauseating with middle management (preachers) not trustworthy. And a few other reasons I need not go into here. But I will acknowledge "something" is there.
However, tonight will find me in a church ... out of respect for some friends - and for the purpose of maintaining contact with others having similar feelings of our nation.
Stolen from Kim Du Toit of "Splendid Isolation"
"allow me to remind you that while religion itself has little interest for me, I am absolutely firm in my support for the Judeo-Christian culture and heritage.
And I am even more supportive when I consider the alternatives of atheistic totalitarianism (i.e. Communists) and, even worse, radical Islamism. They both suck big time, without reservation."
I wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
Continue reading →A selection of some of my favorite Christmas carols. A daily event through Christmas.
Today's selection: Tennessee Ernie Ford - "O Holy Night" - 1847/1958
Written by a French poet as a song to celebrate a Christmas Mass dedication of new stained glass windows. Translated into English in 1855, certain verses were modified to allow a "singable translation". It was the first song played over radio in 1906. It is considered to be the most popular Christmas song - it's certainly my favorite.
This version was recorded in 1958.
Yet we came so close ... or maybe we just let it go.
Sometimes, I wish I had taken the blue pill ...
A selection of some of my favorite Christmas carols. A daily event through Christmas.
Today's selection: Bob Seger - "Little Drummer Boy" - 1950/1988
Little Drummer Boy was written in 1941 by Katherine Davis but first recorded by the Trapp Family (Sound of Music) in 1951. It became popular with a 1958 recording by Harry Simeone. The Simeone version hit the Top40 for 5 years.
Bob Seger recorded the song in 1987 for his album "Ultimate Hits: Rock & Roll Never Forgets" but as a personal side note, I had heard Bob Seger play this song at several live concerts including a performance at the opening of a suburban Detroit mall in 1968 (Bob Seger was the headliner but that was one of the best concerts I've been to).
Up along I-70 near on 50 miles west of Denver, up the hill from Georgetown, is the small town of Silver Plume. 640 feet elevation change in 2 miles. Once rich with silver mines, the railroad made it up this far. Although long gone, a small segment of the old railroad was rebuilt on the original roadbed between Georgetown and Silver Plume.
The town was formed in 1864, one of the earlier settlements in Colorado. Once having a population of just over 1000, there are now only about 200 people that live here. Much of the town and the railroad facilities were torn up when I-70 was built through the narrow pass. The historical Georgetown Loop Railroad has the engine house and related facilities located in Silver Plume which is the major business in town.
Silver Plume is a very small, old, rural mining town dating from the Colorado gold and silver rush of the last four decades of the 19th century. Most people don't know the story behind the Colorado Ghost town that never dies. Located near historic Georgetown, historic Silver Plume is a former silver mining camp that was originally incorporated in 1880.
So up from town a ways off what I suspect was a section of old US6 or possibly the end of the old railroad grade was this Christmas tree. Although right next to I-70 (up the embankment in the photo), it was not visible from the Interstate and few people travel the old roadway.
But someone put up this piece of Christmas joy for the few to enjoy.
Continue reading →A selection of some of my favorite Christmas carols. A daily event through Christmas.
Today's selection: Leon Redbone & Dr John - "Frosty The Snowman" - 1950/1988
Frosty The Snowman was first recorded by Gene Autry in 1950, followed by Jimmy Durante the same year. Autry had success with Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer and looked to have another Christmas song.
The song has been covered many times through the years; a TV version came out in 1969 with Jimmy Durante as the narrator.
Leon Redbone performed a duet of the song with Dr John on Redbone's 1988 album "Christmas Island"
and there's no question of guilt.
Headline: "75-Year-Old Seattle Woman Loses Her Eye After ‘Serial Assaulter’ Known to Cops Hits Her Face at Full Force with Wooden Board with Screw"
Update 12/22: "The monster who stabbed an elderly Seattle woman in the eye identifies as transgender."
Continue reading →stolen from "Notes From The Bunker"
Does the end begin sometime during this next two weeks of supposed joy and celebration?
I seem to wake up every morning checking the news ... just in case.
"So, in my its-worth-what-you-paid for it opinion, there’s a lot of horses at the starting line and their just waiting for the starting shot. I’ve been wrong before, and I'm probably wrong on this too, but it sure looks like everyone is just waiting for the music to start."
Can't say I don't feel the same way. And Christmas/New Years seem obvious target dates.
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As of 8:03AM in God's preferred time zone, the days begin to get longer. Unfortunately, the days also tend to get colder. The last new moon of 2025 was yesterday (12/20) at 6:43PM. So last night (Dec 20/21) was the darkest night of the year.
Wheeeee!
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