A secret is something you tell one person at a time.

I don't know where that's from, but I didn't make it up. Anyway, I don't have a whole lot to say lately, but I do have a secret to share with you.

I've heard it a few times every year for, like, 20 years or so. I may have loved it this whole time and not really known it. But now, as of like 3 days ago, I know.

I love Wham!'s "Last Christmas."

By the way, I am not wearing my American Apparel leotard plus knowing about the latest band before you while updating my Tumblr. In other words, this is true love, people. Not that hipster just-for-show ironic love.



Wham - Last Christmas
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Well, there it is.

Guess who's coming...

Good news--I really think Krampus is working! I feel at least 60% more Christmassy now than before.

And this is absolutely hilarious: 

Merry Krampus, everybody!

Workin on it

It seems to me that a lot of people have this magical relationship with Christmas. These are the people who get giddy when they hear "Santa Clause is Coming to Town" playing at the mall on Halloween, or who put up Christmas decorations before Thanksgiving. (I break out in hives at exposure to anything Christmas-related before Thanksgiving's over.)  These are the people who cannot wait to bake and ice three dozen sugar cookies for the office party. (I stress out that there won't be enough and that my decorations will look lame.)

A friend of mine once announced, in November, "Christmas is coming and I can't wait!" I think she has what these other people have: The Christmas Chip. 

Now, don't get me wrong, I like Christmas just fine. In fact, I love a lot of stuff about Christmas. But I don't have the chip. My first reaction to "Christmas is coming" is not "I can't wait," but something more like "Didn't we just do Christmas?" 

I've learned that, just like non-frizzy hair, lipstick-free teeth, and my savings account, cultivating the Christmas spirit is a part of life that may come naturally to others but I have to work at. 

Over the years I've identified these as some of the necessary steps to activating my Christmassy side: 

Drink eggnog (the real kind, with the real stuff in it) 

Send cards

Knit gifts

Drink Sugar Cookie Sleigh Ride Celestial Seasoning's Tea

Hear "Baby It's Cold Outside"

Hear Vince Guaraldi

Weep at the end of A Christmas Carol (the one with George C. Scott, which is the best ever)

And, this morning, a new step I've discovered that may help--Christmas Krampus! I think I've briefly heard a little about Krampus but I didn't really know much until I stumbled across an article this morning. Krampus is pretty much St. Nick's evil sidekick: A EUROPEAN HORNED GOAT-LOOKING FANGY DEMON THAT KIDNAPS BAD KIDS AND SPANKS THEM WITH SWITCHES! Now that says "holiday spirit" to me! 

If you're a weirdo like me who has just discovered that terror is a necessary step in getting Christmassy, you might like this very cool vintage Krampus card collection: 

I can't decide which is my favorite Krampus. Maybe the one at the end in the tux and monocle. I mean, just because you're terrorizing 5 year olds into peeing their pants doesn't mean you can't do it with some class.

How to breathe

Those who know me know that I work out pretty regularly. I actually like working out. I'm what you might call A Good Worker-Outter. But lately it seems I've hit a bit of the ole' plateau. Man that's frustrating.

Fortunately, my husband showed me this instructional video about breathing. I cannot wait to try this at the gym!



This workout video brings a whole new meaning to heavy breathing

Kid tested, Carolina approved

When the Broken Bells album first came out I thought, "Well, this passes, I guess" and then I didn't listen to it for a month or so. But then I gave it another chance and loved it. And now I listen to it a lot. And I'm still not so sure what it is about the first impression that didn't work for me, but do find it pretty fascinating how wrong my first impression was. (Perhaps, subconsciously I just expected that it wouldn't really work for me, like many of my favorite musicians' most recent albums?)

Anyway, there's these Broken Bells videos where they get kids to vote on their songs. I want you to watch one, and then think about the fact that: 1) "a bit dark" should totally be points in favor of passing with flying colors! (Sorry cute British kid, but you got it all wrong.), and 2) tunes aside, Brian (Mr. Mouse) and James get bonus points for being so well dressed and appreciating the importance of snacks! 

Check it out: 

Oh, and if you haven't seen this one yet, I thought I'd throw it in for good measure. If you have a crush on good music and Christina Hendricks, get ready to wet your pants:

But I DO want to see any more balloons!

First, you should watch this. It's required.





Now, think long and hard about your answer. Take your time. This one's a real doozy.

Help me decide! The best part of this whole thing is...
	The words "BALLOONSBALLOONSBALLOONS" coming at you to the tense Lifetime Original Movie piano music.
	Oh no, dont go back there--thats worse!
	Our hero Gary Coxe's crustache.
	The Rebel: I'm not gonna eat any mustard!
	Um, EVERYTHING. Mainly, the way I have never felt more normaller in all my life than I do right now.
pollcode.com free polls

Geeks and adorableness

We're big fans of the Semi-Automatic Kissing Machine here at la Casa K & G.

I WILL NOT APOLOGIZE FOR MY TONE!

You've probably already seen Phil Davidson rouse Stark County and make the village of Minerva proud. If you haven't yet, you should.

Sometimes my sense of humor can be a little different from my students (oh the sadness when one class did not laugh at Colbert during a satire unit!)... but I think my students really appreciated me showing them this today. It was an important lesson in "what not to do in your upcoming Chaucer presentations." Plus, stay off drugs, kids.