♫Sing along Saturday♫ (Christmas Edition)

This is an old video, hence the poor quality, but it is one of my very favorite Christmas songs. Plus it's Sting.... what's not to like about that.  The first "Very Special Christmas" album is one of many I play every year.

After years and years of forced commercialism, and losing what Christmas is really about, I am really looking forward to Christmas this year.

Financial issues have forced us to give fewer gifts to our son, about which, at first, I felt really guilty. I wrapped his three little packages, and placed them under the tree, and said to myself, "It's beginning to look a little like Christmas." :(  And, I really wanted to figure out  how to add more presents.  But, the more I thought about it... the more I was ok with it. And, David is not a little kid anymore. He is 16, and he needs to learn what Christmas means, and it ain't presents.....(we have done Toys for Tots many years, and we donate food to food banks all the time, but our holidays always ended up being the same every year... go to people's houses and get food and presents and then watch tv until it was time to move on.)




So, this year with me being off work, and it just being the three of us.... We are finally going to do one of  the things I have wanted to do for the holidays for years and years..... We are volunteering at the local Rescue Mission, and serving dinner.  I am so excited for this. My son, less so, but I feel it will be an invaluable experience for him, and maybe teach him to be grateful for all that he does have, even if it is not as much as his friends.

W. :)

♫Sing along Saturday♫

 This is a band I fell in love with at age 19, when I was living in Sweden.  Kind of pseudo-punky pop.  This particular song makes me drive way too fast!  :)

♫Sing along Sunday!!♫

Really, can there be any other song to play on the anniversary of the Titanic disaster?





May all those souls continue to rest in peace.

W.

Sing along Saturday is preempted to share this...

I love Downton Abbey. This spoof is so funny, and spot on! My favorite part would have to be poor Mr. Bates...

W. :)

Bonus song for Sing Along Saturday!!

Just cuz it's fun!

W. :)

♫Sing along Saturday!!♫

Oh, Adele. Do you always know exactly how we feel?

So, speaking of making someone feel loved, try this on for size:

A Powerful Three-Step Algorithm for Happiness

Imagine if the key to happiness was to not make yourself feel better, but to make someone else feel better. To make someone else feel loved and appreciated.

And, how do you understand love? How do you express love? What is your Love Language?

I have been perusing the 5 Love Languages website, and it states that most people have a specific Love Language. They are:

1: Words of Affirmation
Actions don’t always speak louder than words. If this is your love language, unsolicited compliments mean the world to you. Hearing the words, “I love you,” are important—hearing the reasons behind that love sends your spirits skyward. Insults can leave you shattered and are not easily forgotten.

2: Quality Time
In the vernacular of Quality Time, nothing says, “I love you,” like full, undivided attention. Being there for this type of person is critical, but really being there—with the TV off, fork and knife down, and all chores and tasks on standby—makes your significant other feel truly special and loved. Distractions, postponed dates, or the failure to listen can be especially hurtful.

3: Receiving Gifts
Don’t mistake this love language for materialism; the receiver of gifts thrives on the love, thoughtfulness, and effort behind the gift. If you speak this language, the perfect gift or gesture shows that you are known, you are cared for, and you are prized above whatever was sacrificed to bring the gift to you. A missed birthday, anniversary, or a hasty, thoughtless gift would be disastrous—so would the absence of everyday gestures.

4: Acts of Service
Can vacuuming the floors really be an expression of love? Absolutely! Anything you do to ease the burden of responsibilities weighing on an “Acts of Service” person will speak volumes. The words he or she most want to hear: “Let me do that for you.” Laziness, broken commitments, and making more work for them tell speakers of this language their feelings don’t matter.

5: Physical Touch
This language isn’t all about the bedroom. A person whose primary language is Physical Touch is, not surprisingly, very touchy. Hugs, pats on the back, holding hands, and thoughtful touches on the arm, shoulder, or face—they can all be ways to show excitement, concern, care, and love. Physical presence and accessibility are crucial, while neglect or abuse can be unforgivable and destructive

I am a #2, with some #3 & #4 thrown into the mix. I would rather spend a great day doing stuff together, maybe get a card once in a while, and if I woke up to dinner cooked, that would be great!

My husband is #5 & #1. Talk about a mismatch! Husbeast is all touchy-touchy and verbal stroking. Not my cuppatea at all.

I am looking forward to getting this book from the library. I want to see how we can learn to give each other what the other needs. You'd think we'd know this by now, being together 20 years, and all that....

W. :)

♫Sing along Saturday!!♫

A while back, this song was used in an Old Navy commercial. I have loved it, and her, ever since. Enjoy.

W. :)

♫Sing along Saturday!!♫

The Ditty Bops! I love everything about this song. The harmony is beautiful, and when I sing a long I make it a three part harmony.

Oh, and we survived the tornado watches. The kiddo came home early from school, and around 4-5 pm there was a warning for our area. The storm line passed through so quickly, that by the time we got all of our important things put into a semi-safe place (the bathroom) it was all over and the sun was out.

W. :)

♫Sing along Saturday!!♫

What would you do if you suddenly became rich? Like RICH, rich. After hiring a tax attorney and a financial planner, put away $$ for the kiddo for school and such, set up a good retirement fund for me and the hubs, I know what I would do:

1. I would take my son out of school for the remainder of his high school time. I would hire him a tutor to take care of the necessary book learning to facilitate his getting the almighty high school diploma. However, I would take him traveling around the world for at least a year. I feel he would learn so much more about life than he ever would sitting in a classroom.

2. I would pay off all my bills. To be able to live debt-free would be so awesome!!! A clean slate.

3. I would pay off all my aunt and cousin's bills as well. They have taken care of my grandmother for years without ever asking anyone for any help (and I know my grandmother is a handful). And I would book them an awesome vacation.

4. I would pay off my mother's bills, and help her get her life situated. She has gotten herself into quite a situation with the cats. I would help her out of that, and put her into a nice retirement community for baby boomers.

5. Husbeast would do the same for his family, as well. Plus he wants to build and outfit a fire station in a rural town near here that is in serious need.

6. I would donate to all my favorite causes: ASPCA, Doctors Without Borders, Human Rights Campaign.

7. I would buy a new car for me. And a new vehicle for husbeast, and a car for the kiddo. My car is 10 years old. Husbeast's truck is 8 years old.

8. I would buy a nice Winnebago. My husbeast and I always wanted to retire and then travel all over the country. This would be a purchase for about 10-15 years from now.

9. I would decide where I REALLY wanted to settle down, and then purchase a piece of land and home there. And hire a maid and cook.

10. And I would continue to work. For sure. But having the luxury of working because I WANT to instead of because I HAVE to. Ahhhh.....

11. And I would want to do something like that man who goes around every year handing out $100 bills randomly to people on the street. Every time I hear about stories like that....oh my heart. <3

Think I need to buy a lotto ticket.

Spending the afternoon in the library with the kiddo researching a science project. Just what I wanted to do on my first day off of work. :P

Peace,

W. :)

It's time for Sing-Along-Saturday!!

Let's take it back....way back. To a more innocent time in music.



And in case you are unsure when whipping it would be the appropriate action to take, I submit this:



And along the lines of "Whip It," I provide the trailer for one of my favorite movies (because I am still suffering from teenage angst, apparently.).



Oh, and I LOVE ROLLER DERBY!!!



W. :)