Thanks to the wonders of antibiotics, I’m feeling much better than I have these past few days. (Ear infection. Ow.) I’m all pepped up, but snowed in, so I’m happily fixing up the apartment and going through my YouTube favorites. Here’s a few videos to spread my cheer.
Happy snow in!
Merry Christmas Eve! I’m back home and doing some last minute stuff to get ready for tomorrow. I’m very excited for the presents, food, and jollyness tomorrow will bring. Here’s some a collection of internet stuff to make you merry and bright.
Links:
Quotes:
“Blessed is the season which engages the whole world in a conspiracy of love.”
-Hamilton Wright Mabie
“The charming aspect of Christmas is the fact that it expresses good will in a cheerful, happy, benevolent, non-sacrificial way. One says: “Merry Christmas”—not “Weep and Repent.” And the good will is expressed in a material, earthly form—by giving presents to one’s friends, or by sending them cards in token of remembrance”
-Ayn Rand
“One of the most glorious messes in the world is the mess created in the living room on Christmas day. Don’t clean it up too quickly.”
-Andy Rooney
“Christmas–that magic blanket that wraps itself about us, that something so intangible that it is like a fragrance. It may weave a spell of nostalgia. Christmas may be a day of feasting, or of prayer, but always it will be a day of remembrance–a day in which we think of everything we have ever loved.”
-Augusta E. Rundell
Once again we find ourselves enmeshed in the Holiday Season, that very special time of year when we join with our loved ones in sharing centuries-old traditions such as trying to find a parking space at the mall. We traditionally do this in my family by driving around the parking lot until we see a shopper emerge from the mall, then we follow her, in very much the same spirit as the Three Wise Men, who 2,000 years ago followed a star, week after week, until it led them to a parking space.
-Dave Barry
I’ve been drooling over this girl’s sign songs lately. Her interpretations are so well done. Her performances are concept driven and very ASL, versus an English-y word by word translation. She also signs along really well to the music, matching her signing to the beat and vocals. And best of all she puts so much emotion into the performances, which I think a lot of people leave out when they do song interpretations.
Watching these songs and digging into the cocept translation has really inspired me to get back to signing. I hope to go to more deaf events (which is difficult given they are so far away) and look into taking more ASL classes next semester. I’ve definitely plateaued in the past year with my signing, and I’m dying to do better.
Enjoy the videos. Although you may not understand the specific signs, I think the average person can understand her expressions and glean meaning from many of the signs. Let me know what you think. I’d love to hear what non-signers get from these videos.
(Sorry, but you’ll have to click through to see the videos. It’s well worth it. Promise!)
I’ve been listening to this song nonstop all weekend. (Thank you Rory for the introduction!) I love it. It’s so cute and dreamy and hopeful. I especially like how the song starts out, almost like a hip hop beat. And the video is so well done. I love the concept of Lisa as an awkward invisible little being living the the washer, collecting the lost buttons, and falling for the pretty boy who can’t see her.
Unfortunately I can’t find this song anywhere on iTunes. 
I absolutely love this song. I’ve damn near worn out the mix cd where I first heard it. I think it’s such a different type of love song, one about getting to know a person and loving them for who they are. I’ve had trouble with that in the past, and this song is a reminder of what proper love should be.
I also think Lisa Hannigan is splendid. I love the tambre of her voice and the quirkiness of the music. She seems cool in a relaxed, unforced kind of way.
Bah. This is how I felt this weekend. Hopefully today will be much better.
I LOVE this song. In fact I really love most of Adele’s songs. But I particularly like this one for the richness of the voice and the music. Everytime I hear it I have this really funky jazz dance routine going through my head. I think it’s a song you can really dig deep into with dance.
And after writing about Myers-Briggs types as a way to know yourself and others, now it reminds me of all the couples I see that have really opposite personalities that mesh well together. So now the dance routine in my head more explicitly involves an ISTJ and an ENFP duking it out, but ultimately winning out as a couple in the end.
Isn’t that a weird mental integration?
While your working off that sugar hangover, enjoy this cute Halloween sign song:
Good luck to my sister, the colorguard, their instructor and my best friend Brittany, and the whole band at State this weekend. I love the show and you guys are awesome! Kick Dunbar’s butt!
Here’s a video of the show, “Radiant Joy” from last week at quarterfinals. I just love this show. The pre-show music reminds me of the happy-go-lucky music from A Bug’s Life and Toy Story! (Wait…is it? Quick, somebody tell me.) Enjoy!
I love this verse:
Of course I was raised to gather courage from those
lofty tales so tried and true
If you’re able, I’d suggest it ’cause this
modern thought can get the best of you.This rather simple epitaph can save your hide, your falling mind
Fate isn’t what we’re up against there’s no design, no flaws to find
