Happy Holidays! Happy Holidays! While the merry bells keep ringing...

I cannot believe that Christmas is just under a week away. I have already watched Miracle on 34th Street, Elf, White Christmas, and The Santa Clause. I still have to watch Scrooged and of course Holiday Inn.
With all of my free time I want to explore one of my musicological passions---Christmas music.
I was thinking of examining the orchestration of religious Christmas music to secular Christmas music. My theory (without much to go on) is that the orchestration used in the 30s, 40s and early 50s shaped what is used in the tunes. I don't know maybe I am on to something...

Learn to love me... Assemble the ways.. Now, today, tomorrow and always

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Whew! The holidays are over. Having a baby has changed the dynamic for celebrating the Yuletide cheer-for the better. It is all about her.

I have an interesting relationship with some of my relatives. They have no idea who I am or what I have done for the past twenty plus years.

I have actively been playing in bands since 1987. In that time I have written at least 100 songs, recorded with bands/solo, been in two musical productions, played over 1,000 shows, and toured the US a couple of times. Granted I am not a member of the Dave Mathews Band, but being a musician is part of who I am. And in 2010, I received my master’s degree in music history to boot! So when there are gestures that are completely oblivious to the fact that I know how to play instruments or know anything about music. I have to laugh and say things like- “Yeah, I know, I have played guitar for twenty five years,” or my favorite “Her (my daughter) parents are both musicians, you know?”

Okay, I am not super duper close to these people, but the small talk at these functions either there is no effort to find out how I am doing or if there is an acknowledgment it is usually negative. One of my favorites from about 8 years ago was, “I don’t know why you still waste your time playing, it seems like a waste of time.” A classic!

At least now, they don’t have to pretend to give a crap about me, because it IS and SHOULD be all about the baby. I want her to play instruments so bad. I hope that if she does decide to be a musician they will recognize her passion for it. I wasn’t going to post this, but fuck it they are not gonna read it anyway.

The picture is a painting that is on one of those boxes that control the stop lights. It is on my way home from work and when I was pregnant I walked by it everyday.

Everyday, everyday, everyday I write the book...

Two weeks ago, I got the email from my portfolio professor that I had passed my comps, so now I wait for the rigmarole of grades being submitted and I will be awarded my master's degree in library and information science. It has not really sunk in that I am really done with school. In January of 2007, I started my master's in music and the University of Tennessee and five years later, I am finishing my second degree. Oh yeah, I have moved 3 times and had a baby. 

For fun today I looked around at books to read for fun! I used to read a lot for pleasure before school and I am not sure what to read first. 

I have the biography of Rin Tin Tin, Chanel, and Ginger Rogers that I could read. I could read some academic books on music ranging from women performers of the Grand Ole Opry to the representation of "the other," in eighteenth century opera. 

The holidays have been busy so not being in school kind of feels like I am just on break. My husbando is waiting for the post school crazies to start. 

Speaking of the holidays we had a few folks over for Hanukkah, which was lovely and lil' miss will get two Christmases with grandparents. Next Saturday I get to see the Brian Setzer Orchestra Christmas. I make it a point to see some kind of holiday show. For the past 3 years I have been chipping away at my Christmas show. I really need a writing partner who will keep me not only focused, but give me input too. Yep, after all these years I am still my worst enemy when it comes to writing. The original songs I have written are saturated with plastic Santa nostalgia and the yearning that I adore in Christmas tunes of the 1940s and 50s and nobody has heard them. The script is in its fourteenth rewrite.

Maybe I will make my new year's resolution to have Christmas 2013 be the premiere of Eve and Abe Morning's Super Awesome Holiday Shindig.