HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

 

Just Another New Year's Eve...

 

PS to A Note to My Dear and Gentle Readers

I now appear to have resolved some of the problems I had with the comments. I shall, of course, remain constantly vigilant for any issues that might cause my readers confusion or discomfort. 

Faithfully yours - hamster

A Note to My Dear and Gentle Readers

Blogger’s spam filter has been giving me trouble. Your comments should appear as soon as you post them. But lately, comments have been getting snagged by the filter and sent for my approval instead of posting. I have to go and check the filter manually to catch this. So please be patient if you don’t see your comment right away. Many thanks for your kind attention!

Gallery: Virginia Winter

Being a visually-oriented sort, and one who doesn't understand the concept of ephemera, I have a habit of saving of saving images I like on the internet. And I mean LOTS of images. Initially I was saving them for Facebook--or at least that was what I told myself. I ended up with bunches and bunches of folders of saved photos, etc. and, once I left FB, I had nothing to do with them. Ah! But now I have a blog again. So allow me to present the first of undoubtedly many gallery posts which simply seek to share beautiful and/or interesting images with you. Some photos will be ones I took, but most will likely be downloads.

I do love living in Virginia; probably the first time I ever really loved the state I was living in.  So this gallery features winter scenes of Virginia landmarks. Enjoy!

Jefferson's Rotunda at UVa

Mount Vernon

 

 Monticello

 

Event of Earth-Shattering Importance!

 I installed my new winter comforter and pillowcases yesterday. Let the adjacent cosmos rejoice!!!

(Yes, they're purple.)

Christmas Songs: A Hypercritical Review

OK, it's time to get back into my usual fettle. You didn't expect me to keep up Peace on Earth/Good Will to Humanoids for long, did you? 

 

It now has become a holiday tradition to harp on Mariah Carey's "All I Want for Christmas."  I frankly have no problem with the song, despite having once written a little parody of it (see below*) in fact, I rather like it. I cannot say this for a number of other Christmas songs. At the same time, some people do not have a problem with the song per se, but rather that it's overplayed. Well... here I present my review of Christmas songs I dislike that are equally ubiquitous.  Enjoy!

Carol of the Bells: Yeah, I get it, the tune is supposed to mimic the sound of bells ringing, but it comes out as if it was written by someone with a peculiar form of psychosis.  The maniacally relentless and driving repetition, each in a higher octave, the refrain that sounds like a ride on some sort of aural roller-coaster.  It always gets on my nerves.

 

Little Drummer Boy: Aside from the fact that I do not find any such musician attested in historical or biblical sources, I question whether any mother of a newborn would encourage drum playing around her baby.  Implausible scenario.

 

Hallelujah Chorus: OK, this might take you aback, but hear me out.  It is ubiquitous to say the least, and at least no one does mass annual sing-alongs of "All I Want for Christmas."  Handel's "Messiah" has some pretty pieces in it, but keep in mind ol' George Frideric's best-known melodic lines were shamelessly ripped off of Jean-Baptiste Lully from the previous generation (and he was a far better composer).  And then there's the fact that GF composed his pious little ditties for George II, whose favorite pastime was the wholesale butchering of Catholic Highland Scots. Some of GF's works were actually written to celebrate these.

 

Sleigh Ride: I question the ethics of taking a horse out in likely icy conditions simply to amuse yourself and show off to your other privileged friends ("yoo hoo") that you can afford a horse and horse-drawn vehicle.  The whip-crack in the orchestral versions has a chilling effect suggesting cruelty of some sort (or perhaps kinkiness inappropriate for the season).

 

Jingle Bell Rock: Repetition ad nauseam!  There are no fewer than 30 jingles in this one. "Modern" Christmas songs habitually overdo jingle, ding-dong, and other such tintinnabulous expressions. Does anyone know where "Jingle Bell Square" is?

Here Comes Santa Clause: Words almost fail me! Heaven's above the repetition, and I find the syrupy religious sentiment in the otherwise vacuous lyrics a troubling juxtaposition. Nowhere in the annals of English-speaking Yuletide folklore do I find a reference to a "Santa Clause Lane." Sounds like a street in a cheap subdivision. Besides, Santa and his reindeer are supposed to fly, what are they doing on the highway?  

Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree: The lyrics have more references to dancing than a book on Dionysiac festivals; see above re repetition.  Worse yet, Justin Bieber did his own version of the song, calling it "always one of my favorite songs to celebrate the holidays."  If that ain't damning I don't know what is.  Audience Survey: Has any of you ever attended a "Christmas Party Hop"?

Wonderful Christmas Time: The repetition in this meaningless song makes "Jingle Bell Rock" sound like Shakespeare.  Modern Christmas songs are almost devoid of meaning other than having pleasant feelings and doing pleasant things at what just happens to be Christmas, feelings and things that can be experienced almost any time of year.  Oh, and the inspired lyrics in this one, e.g.:

Ooh ooh ooh ooh ooh
Ooh ooh ooh ooh ooh ooh
Doo doo doo doo doo doo doo

 

 Ding dong, ding dong
Ding dong, ding dong
Ding dong, ding dong
Ding dong, ding dong

 

See also under "Jingle Bell Rock" above.

 

----------------------------------------------------------------

 *  I don't want cheap shit for Christmas;
    I only want expensive things.
    Diamonds, rubies, gold for Christmas
    And some gaudy cocktail rings.
    You can leave me all alone,
    Just add to the things I own.
    That's all I want for Christmas  
    From you!

 

Jollities

For the purposes of this blog, the title "Jollities" will by used to indicate posts that consist of memes, cartoons, and other tomfooleries meant simply to amuse. There will seldom be any additional text or commentary.

Spanish Christmas

In December of 2022, we had the great good fortune of being in Spain and saw some lovely illuminations in Madrid and Málaga. Europeans seem to do up Christmas street lightening with a devotion and intensity generally greater than that found in the US of A --with the exception of certain clearly deranged folk usually found in suburban subdivisions, e.g.: 

But I digress. Here for your enjoyment, and to purge your memories of the photo above, we present Spanish Christmas lights.

-- this street in Málaga is famous for its lights

--and many other streets possess their own charm

 

 

--Madrid also does well for itself

--but the real magic was in the park next to the Prado Museum

Welcome to the Festively Relaunched HamsterBlog

As you may well know, I gave up on Facebook shortly after the election.  My aging nerves and frail sanity have much improved, and I have no intention of ever going back.  Nonetheless, I do miss sharing fascinating facts and diverting witticisms with friends, along with pretty pictures and minor details of my needlessly interesting life.  So I gleefully present the revivified and ever mighty HamsterBlog.  Feel free to follow, if you are so minded; I certainly hope you will.  With any luck, now that FB will no longer compete fir my interest, this reincarnation of my blog will have a long and fruitful life.

 

Allow me to recommence by wishing all a joyous holiday and peace in the new year.

 

This year's tree in the HamsterPalazzo

RELAUNCH OF BLOG