I was avoiding work by browsing through iTunes today. Though it would be interesting to see what iTunes says my favorite music is. I must admit to being a bit dismayed at the lack of variety in the “regular” music category, but then I remembered that I don’t listen to much music on my iPod, so iTunes wasn’t catching all the other stuff I hear.

However, when it comes to Christmas music, I do listen to quite a bit on the iPod since a) I’m the only one in the house with deep abiding love of Christmas music and b)it’s easier to carry the iPod than a whole bunch of extra CD’s in the car. So, here’s 10 most listened to Christmas albums of my 2008:

1. The Cool Shades of Christmas by Jay Rouse
2. Snow Angels by Over the Rhine
3. A Charlie Brown Christmas by Vince Guaraldi
4. One More Drifter in the Snow by Aimee Mann
5. A Celtic Christmas by Emily Mitchell
6. Winter Guitar by Laurence Juber
7. Home for Christmas by Amy Grant
8. On Yoolis Night: Medieval Carols & Motets by Anonymous 4
9. A Christmas Album by Amy Grant
10. Chant Noel: Chants For The Holiday Season by Santo Domingo de Silos Abbey Monks’ Choir

Colleges rarely have weather-related cancellations. In fact, in the 10 years Sherry and I have been teaching, I think I can count on one hand the number of suprise days off we’ve had. So, one of the unforeseen pleasures of having a teenager in the house for the first time is that we’ve been swept up in the wintertime weather watch. Before S, Sherry and I would just listen to the NPR news in the morning while we got ready. We never had the TV on, nor did we really do much online news checking. Now, we’re signed up for text-message alerts from a local TV channel, we know who’s got the best school-closing lists, and there’s always an extra bit of energy in the air on mornings, like today, when the weather has gone the least bit touchy.

Of course, what all this does for me mainly is make me think about the fact that there seem to be many more school closings and delays today than when I was in school walking barefoot in two-feet of snow uphill both ways.

So, yeah, I’m lovin’ it that the Steelers are headed to the Super Bowl for the seventh time. What do I do about it? I stop shaving for a few weeks in a lame “playoff beard” motion. Other than that I make sure I know where my towel is so that I can wave it around on Super Sunday.

On the other hand, take a look at what a group of kids, ages 11-13, have put together. Even if you’re not bleeding Black and Gold, you gotta admit that these kids ROCK. Like, you know, really rock, not just wanging on a plastic video game controller rock.

8:45 or so
I’m sure that there are going to be many, many moving stories today, stories of men and women for whom today’s transfer of power means much more than just a new executive in the White House. The first one that has moved me this morning is the description of the NPR reporter of Ella Mae Johnson, a 105 year-old woman who moved to Cleveland in 1926 to attend classes at Western Reserve University. The reporter commented that Johnson actually heard W.E.B. Dubois speak. As the reporter described how this woman would not let the nurses who care for her talk her out of attending and how she is sitting bundled head to toe in hats, scarves, and even a sleeping bag, I am forced to wonder how many of us have the faith to wait that long for those things in which we hope.

9:45am
As the President-elect and others exit St. John’s Episcopal Church after the traditional pre-inauguration service, I’m reminded of a West Wing episode featuring the service held before the Supreme Court goes into session. Charlie is mentoring a young man who is a bit confused about how such a thing can be. What about “Church and State” the young man asks. As the series demonstrated on numerous occasions, the answer seemed to be that religion can be a visible part of the government without a)the State taking over the Church and b)the Church taking over the State and c)the practice of religion necessarily being read as the State establishing a Church.

(ps: I don’t think the church denomination says anything about Obama’s alliances to the church since the church is located across the street from the White House.)

9:53am
Obama arriving at the White House for the traditional Last Meeting. Can those Marines look more chisled and iconic?

Michelle Obama is a TALL woman. I’d never noticed that.

As quaint as this coffee seems, I think it’s a fantastic symbol of our tradition of peaceful transfers of power. That the departing and incoming Presidents can sit together and have coffee, smile, exchange gifts and hugs, is a great tribute to our unity as Americans.

10:47am
Gentleman on CSPAN who used to be Chief Steward commented that outgoing presidents feel they’ve done a good job. They’re certainly the ones who know all of the insider details about unpopular decisions. Still, the exhuberance and hope for the new president that I see and hear seems to suggest that many don’t think Mr. Bush should have that opinion of himself. I can’t imagine that this is a comfortable day for the Bushes.

11:09am
CSPAN is showing live footage of people getting seated, no commentary just the marching band music. It’s really hard to listen to marching band music and not feel happy.

11:37am
NPR commentator just noted that B. Obama has had good luck with the weather for large events during his road to the White House. Is this a hearkening back to the ancient idea that the health of the king is the health of the nation, that the gods smile on good leaders with fair weather?

11:54am
Rick Warren’s prayer will probably stir some comment, but, as a prayer from a Christian for a Christian, it was excellent. I particularly was moved by the litany of forgiveness and the list of qualities he asked God to imbue to Obama’s leadership.

12:00
Chinese-American, Jewish-American, African-American, men and woman, collectively playing an old Shaker hymn: that’s some elitism I could use more of.

12:05
So there it is. The rest is gravy.

12:27pm
Powerful speech, steeped in history–American and world–while looking ahead. I truly hope that Obama’s claim that the ground has shifted beneath the cynics is true. Now, to the poet.

I know it’s just about the middle of January, but I’m finally getting my act together in re: photos. I just sprung for the Flickr Pro account, so I must be a pro. At any rate, for the fam out there, I’ve uploaded pics from the two Christmas celebrations we attended.

BLTs, you can go here.

Members of the GJLMTW clan can go here.

Enjoy!

I’ve played in a fair number of Ice Bowls, but today was the snowiest. It was also the first Ice Bowl for me in which I’ve gone absolutely bone dry in the way of prizes. Couldn’t even score a raffle win. The image below might sum up a day that was both frustrating AND fun. Of course, it’s better since it wasn’t my disc…

Stuck in the Ice