Currents
Archive
Saturday, November 10, 2007
Today's Topic: HOLIDAYS
So, for the first time in my entire life, this year I didn't do anything halloweenish on Halloween, my most-favored holiday of the year. No yard haunt, no party, no dressing up, hell, we didn't even hand out candy to the kiddies. Complete All Hallow's grinches this year. Bummer.
On the plus side, I didn't waste the evening. I got together in the studio with Lenny and Cap and laid down some more tracks for the new Burning Peace album. Being that we started the damn thing in January, took all summer off, then just got back on track in September, I'm guessing it'll be done sometime before my 50th birthday. But it will be done, dammit, or my name isn't Fred Mertz.
I'm not super-big on holidays. I'm usually the guy who ends up at the bank on Veteran's, Flag, and Memorial day(s) wondering why the hell I can't get a little service, ferchrissake. But Thanksgiving is nearly here, and that's one I actually enjoy. As some may have noticed, I enjoy food. :) I also happen to be a cham-peen turkey meister, having spent the last 15 years honing the craft of producing a moist tasty meal from a bird that tends toward dry and bland.
I've cooked the official family turkey (or turkeys, depending on the size of the crowd) for the last few years, and it's been fun every time.The last couple years we've had a really BIG family get together (including folks from both mine and Lisa's side), which makes for quite an experience. I think we topped out at something like 35 adults, kids, and grandkids. Good thing Lou & Cris have a BIG house. We're talking about doing it there again this year, but I don't think the crowd will be quite as big. Then again, who knows. I'm planning on cooking two birds just in case, and I know Lou is going to do some tri-tip again (YUM!).
I DO LOVE a good turkey dinner. Holy crap, I nearly kill myself trying to shove all the food in each year. So much food, not enough stomach! Bring back the Roman tradition of vomitariums, that's what I say! Bring on that sweet, golden fowl! Yum yum yum yum!
But I digress.
Christmas blows. I loved it as a kid because of the presents, and being a singing show-off I generally enjoyed doing the whole caroling thing. Why, the first time I used a four-track cassette deck I recorded a set of carols. Ain't that a hoot?
However, as I've grown to be an increasingly anti-theist cynic, I've found that joining the fray on this one has really lost any magic for me. 99% of the people who celebrate the damn thing have no clue about the origin of their cherished traditions, and thus I find the folks spouting inanities such as, "He's the reason for the season," beyond my level of curmudgeonly tolerance.
And I haven't even gone into the sheer crush of mindless, near-mandatory consumerism. Hell, it's downright Un-American not to spend a shitload of cash on everyone you know during this Blessed Event. I like giving gifts to friends and family as much as anyone, but the arms race that ensues in some families and social groups is staggering. I've personally observed a family of adult siblings and grandparents drop thousands on high priced toys and gadgets for a SINGLE 2 year old baby, most of which the tyke couldn't possibly use until the stuff is all years obsolete. Why? To prove that they all love the kid the most, and to outdo each other in their wanton display of conspicuous consumption. Call it a pissing match of platinum cards. Ugh.
My wife and I have decided we're not doing it this year. We've never gone nuts the way most people do, but we've always tried to do some gift giving for the folks we know are certain to do the same for us. We said to ourselves it was only fair, rather than hurt anyone's feelings. But this year, I guess we're going to blaze ahead and take charge of our own December destiny. We'll likely still do something present-wise for the kids, because, hell, they're our kids and we're not too proud to be hypocrites in that regard. But the gifting back and forth amongst adults just because It's That Time Of Year ... FEH!
Save it for a birthday, or hell, just some random day during the year when you want to surprise someone you love with an unexpected gift. And fer gossake don't worry about the price; it really is the thought that counts. If your friend or relative is offended by your inexpensive token of appreciation, there's something wrong with THEIR worldview, not yours.
But, of course, I'll end up doing the Christmas Day thing because it's for the kids and grandma and my xmas-lovin' sister and brother-in-law, not for me, Mr. Cranky McCrankster. I'll probably watch some or all of "A Christmas Story" again, because it's still funny after 20+ years. And I'll probably end up singing some carols because, hell, some habits are harder to break than others. Ho Ho Ho.
NEW YEAR'S EVE is what I'd really like to look forward to this year. I've tried to throw a party on this date for the past three years, and I've been thwarted every time. In 2004 the snow clobbered us two nights prior, rendering the entire valley a frozen winter wonderland that even 4WD cats feared to tread. The next year the torrents came again, but failed to freeze, thus flooding out our venue of choice. And of course last year our favorite venue got sold out from under us right before the holiday, thus ending any further plans to use it for a year-end bacchanal.
The last time I had an actual NYE party was four years back at my sister's house. WHAT A TIME WE HAD! Good stuff, that. Don't suppose we'll be doing that again, now that my nephew Max went and got hisself born on Jan 2nd. It'll be all about the BIRTHDAY party over at that house! :)
But, I'm hoping that the fourth time will be the charm, allowing us to actually have a get-together on Dec. 31st, 2007. Still trying to find a place to do it, but I've had a couple ideas that might pan out. If it pulls together, my notion is to do what we did in 2003 and invite a few musicians to share their talents and party with us. And of course get in some Burning Peace action. Yowza!
Ok, enough blogging. Time to move on to other things and dream of Halloween frights for future years to come. mmmmmMMMWAHAHAHAHAHA!Labels: Hollidays
|
