All I Want for Christmas Is Some Time Off

....seriously, some time off would be MUCH appreciated!

Last year I wrote a post asking for Christmas CD suggestions and Penny Richards wrote this:

Gregg Miner's two-cd Christmas set. Miner is the proprietor of the Miner Museum of Vintage, Exotic, and Just Plain Unusual Musical Instruments, a private collection of hundreds of stringed instruments, from all times and places. The CDs are ridiculously entertaining, and the fat booklets that explain the cuts are fascinating

I ordered the CD set last December, and it is fantastic! This is coming from someone who is really sick of traditional Christmas CDs. I love the unusual sounds paired with the familiar tunes. Very entertaining.
You can find Gregg's CD here

Let There Be Peace On Earth - Down syndrome

Let's Dance

Let's dance put on your red shoes and dance the blues

Let's dance to the song
They're playin' on the radio


Let's sway
While color lights up your face
Let's sway
Sway through the crowd to an empty space


If you say run, I'll run with you
If you say hide, we'll hide
Because my love for you
Would break my heart in two
If you should fall
Into my arms
And tremble like a flower

Let's dance for fear
Your grace should fall
Let's dance for fear tonight is all


Let's sway you could look into my eyes
Let's sway under the moonlight,
This serious moonlight

If you say run, I'll run with you
If you say hide, we'll hide
Because my love for you
Would break my heart in two
If you should fall
Into my arms
And tremble like a flower


Let's dance put on your red shoes
And dance the blues

Let's dance to the song
They're playin' on the radio

Let's sway you could look into my eyes
Let's sway under the moonlight,
This serious moonlight

Happy Birthday to Me!

Today is my birthday. I like to share on my birthday. I will share this video of Dick Dale (who is in his seventies)playing his song "Nitro".

It is good to see someone over seventy still rockin' (and I don't mean in a rocking chair). This guy can really play the electric guitar. Enjoy!

Gonna Stand My Ground and I Won't Back Down

Yesterday was a good day for Kellen. He was able to go to church with Sweet Husband and I and afterwards came into the family room and watched the Super Bowl with us for several hours. We really enjoyed his company. It was nice to simply hang-out together instead of Kellen isolating himself in his bedroom.

As the half-time show came on, I listened to Tom Petty sing one of his signature songs. It sounded like it could be Kellen's theme song. Here I give you the lyrics:

Well I won't back down, no I won't back down
You can stand me up at the gates of hell
But I won't back down

Gonna stand my ground, won't be turned around
And I'll keep this world from draggin' me down
Gonna stand my ground and I won't back down

Hey baby, there aint no easy way out
Hey I will stand my ground
And I won't back down.

Well I know what's right, I got just one life
In a world that keeps on pushin' me around
But I'll stand my ground and I won't back down

Hey baby there aint no easy way out
Hey I will stand my ground
And I won't back down
No, I won't back down

The Best Christmas CD...Ever

This CD means "Christmas" to me. It's by Michael W. Smith and it's titled simply, "Christmas". Great music to listen to while baking cookies, wrapping gifts, or sitting by the fire admiring the lights on your tree.

Which CD means "Christmas" to you?

Open Your Eyes - Sean Delaney

Sean Delaney is musician as well as a Direct Support Professional with the Special Needs Program in upstate New York. After spending several years working with adults with autism and other developmental disabilities, he felt compelled to speak to his generation. This song is a plea to his peers to open their eyes and encourage them to become more aware and involved with this rapidly growing population.

CD Player Revelations

It's a rainy, windy, stormy day off from work. There is a fire in the fireplace and sugar cookies cooling on the counter. I know the burning question in your mind is, "Just what is in the CD player?" A little embarrassing, but I promise to tell the truth:

Eagles: Long Road Out of Eden
I had to go to two Wal-Marts to get this on sale as the first Wal-Mart was sold out. A two-disc purchase at $11.98! The song Waiting in the Weeds has been stuck in my head all day.I love their lyrics and the harmonies. I love me some Don Henley.

Creedence Clearwater Revival: Chronicle
A classic. When Sweet Husband hears the song Green River it reminds him of the cruise we took about eight years ago. The guitarist in one of the nightclubs did an awesome job with this song. Me? I try not to let it remind me of the Green River Killer whose victims all lived in my neck of the woods. He's in prison now, so there is no need to be scared. Anyway, awesome guitar on that song.

Big Waves: Five Decades of Surf Rock
I picked this up on a whim one day at Starbucks. Partly because of the title which reminds me of Sweet Husband's nickname, and partly because I have this thing about surfing. Have I ever tried surfing? No...but I love to watch surfing DVDs set to music. I find them very relaxing. I know, a little weird...that's okay. I have a friend with autism who loves Dick Dale music. I didn't even know who Dick Dale was until I picked up this CD. Great music which makes you feel like it is summer all year round.

Big & Rich: Horse of a Different Color
These guys have some really good harmonies as well. Have you ever heard their song, Live This Life? It will send chills up your spine. I love the way they refer to a girl in a chair with wheels (instead of a girl in a wheelchair). Don't just sit there, go listen on itunes or something.

Tom Jones Reloaded: Greatest Hits
This is a Sweet Husband purchase. A complete and total blast from the past. Kellen's cardiologist has this same name. The phrase, "It's not unusual..." comes to mind every time I make an appointment. He is the best doctor ever, but not the type of guy you want to throw your underwear at.

Now don't you feel like you know me better? Tell the truth, what's in your CD player?

Pushing the Presets

My car was in the shop earlier this week and when I got it back, the presets on my radio were gone. Usually when I push "1", I get Sweet Husband's smooth jazz station. When I push "4", I get Kellen's country music station. All the other buttons were set for stations I love. Now when I push any of the buttons, all I get is static. At first I was annoyed...mostly because I don't know how to reset the buttons. I'm used to pushing a button and getting what I want...what I expect. It takes a little extra effort to tune in a station by hand and I don't even know where to find my regular stations as I've become so dependent on the presets.

Lately I've been pushing the scan button and started dialing the tune knob. I found myself listening to music I'd never heard before. Some of it I didn't care for, but some of it was really good! I even heard some music I hadn't heard in a long time and it brought back some great memories. Losing my preset radio stations is expanding my horizons and getting me out of a rut. Would I go so far as to say it has been a blessing in disguise? Probably not.

I started to relate this experience to Kellen. Maybe his internal "presets" are gone too? Things he used to like just sound like static now. I hope he can find joy and comfort in a routine soon...but in the meantime, can he learn to tune into what's playing around him and perhaps find something new he could embrace?

Yellow

Look at the stars,
Look how they shine for you,
And everything you do,
Yeah they were all yellow

This morning as we were driving down the freeway, Kellen sang along with Coldplay. It is so good to hear him singing again. It's as if the sun is finally shining for him after five dark months of winter.

I've always associated the color yellow with Kellen. Maybe it's because of his blond hair or the fact that yellow is Kellen's favorite color. Mostly it's because when he smiles he throws light like a sunbeam. Perhaps that's why I will do almost anything to cause him to smile.

I came along
I wrote a song for you
And all the things you do
And it was called yellow

Stand Up For Your Rights, Sit Down For Your Bagel

Get up, stand up. Stand up for your rights.

Kellen has been singing this phrase all over the house since dinner time last night. He went to bed singing it, he got up this morning singing it, he sang it from the bathtub, he came into the kitchen and sang for his breakfast. I finally said, "Ok, but sit down for your bagel."

Such powerful words. Powerful words coming from my son. My son with a disability. My son who has been struggling with depression and anxiety for several months (if not years.) My son who appears to be coming out of a fog now. He is emerging singing to the world, "Stand up for your rights." Is this a coincidence? I don't think so. I don't believe in coincidences.

Sing it for Kellen today, sing it for yourself:

Get Up Stand Up
by Bob Marley/Peter Toshi

Get up, stand up
Stand up for your rights
Get up, stand up
Stand up for your rights
Get up, stand up
Stand up for your rights
Get up, stand up
Don't give up the fight

Preacher man don't tell me
Heaven is under the earth
I know you don't know
what life is really worth
it's not all that glitters is gold
half the story has never been told
so now you see the light
stand up for your rights

Most people think
great good will come from the skies
take away everything
and make everybody feel high
but if you know what life is worth
you would look for yours on earth
and now you've seen the light
You stand up for your rights

Get up, stand up (Yeah Yeah)
Stand up for your rights (Oh)
Get up, stand up (Get up, stand up)
Don't give up the fight (Life is your right)
Get up, stand up (So we can't give up the fight)
Stand up for your right (Lord Lord)
Get up, stand up (People struggling on)
Don't give up the fight (Yeah)

O Holy Night

O Holy Night! The stars are brightly shining,
It is the night of the dear Saviour's birth.
Long lay the world in sin and error pining.
Till He appeared and the soul felt its worth.
A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices,
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn.

Fall on your knees! Oh, hear the angel voices!
O night divine, O night when Christ was born;
O night, O Holy Night , O night divine!
O night, O Holy Night , O night divine!

Led by the light of faith serenely beaming,
With glowing hearts by His cradle we stand.
O'er the world a star is sweetly gleaming,
Now come the wisemen from out of the Orient land.
The King of Kings lay thus in lowly manger;
In all our trials born to be our friend.
He knows our need, our weakness is no stranger,
Behold your King! Before him lowly bend!
Behold your King! Before him lowly bend!

Truly He taught us to love one another,
His law is love and His gospel is peace.
Chains he shall break, for the slave is our brother.
And in his name all oppression shall cease.
Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we,
With all our hearts we praise His holy name.
Christ is the Lord! Then ever, ever praise we,
His power and glory ever more proclaim!
His power and glory ever more proclaim!