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 My primary Writing.com blog. |
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Logocentric (adj). Regarding words and language as a fundamental expression of an external reality (especially applied as a negative term to traditional Western thought by postmodernist critics). Sometimes I just write whatever I feel like. Other times I respond to prompts, many taken from the following places: Thanks for stopping by!  |
I was reading "Six Things About Me"  from Šuŋgmánitu Tȟáŋka  and decided that I'd do the same. The following are six fun facts and bits of random trivia about me:1. Although I've received dozens of screen credits on big budget studio movies for my work as a Marvel employee, the screen credit I'm proudest of is for a low-budget made-for-TV movie romantic comedy few people have seen, where I was credited as a co-writer. 2. Some of my more memorable celebrity encounters include helping Meg Ryan figure out how to use a microwave, firing an intern who fan-girled a little too hard over David Duchovny during an elevator ride we all shared, and personally delivering contraband merchandise to Quentin Tarantino at his house. 3. I am technically a third-degree brown belt in mixed martial arts (back in the day when it was truly a mix of disciplines like karate, tae kwon do, kung fu, etc. instead of just mostly Brazilian jujitsu and cage fighting). I quit just a few weeks short of my black belt test during my senior year in high school because a childhood friend of mine died of bacterial meningitis suddenly, and I had to write her obituary and interview her family for the school paper, which messed me up pretty bad at the time. 4. I once spent the night on Alcatraz, in solitary confinement. I should probably clarify this was during its National Park era and not it's "active federal prison" era.  5. Based on some amateur genealogy on the part of my uncle, it is believed that our family is distantly related to one of the early U.S Presidents. Unfortunately, it's John Tyler and not one of the cool ones. 6. When my wife and I were planning our wedding (a small-ish beach wedding with about 100 guests), my wife's parents were in the middle of an ugly divorce and we briefly had to consider hiring private security because certain family members were seriously threatening to show up uninvited to physically jump/beat up my wife's father. It might be kind of interesting to make this an ongoing community activity, so I'm going to nominate three other people to do the same, and hope that they participate and nominate folks of their own. You know, just like one of those old school email chain letters, except without the threat of years of misfortune if you don't do it.  I nominate: Jayne  Jeromée  Annette  |
| WDC 48-Hour Challenge: Media Prompt | Prompt ▶︎ This Kelly Clarkson holiday song was one that I featured in a prior "12 Days of "Christmas"" playlist back in 2022 (see: "Underneath the Tree" ). We didn't make tamales this year so the reference to playing it while family is around wasn't quite the same, but it did come up constantly on the holiday playlists we've had in the car at playing in the living room all season long.Christmas this year was a pretty low-key affair. We went to a Christmas service at a church with friends, then spent Christmas Eve and Christmas together with just our family. We had dinner last night, opened presents this morning, and mostly just spent the past two days as a family. It was a modest haul of presents, we made cookies, and we called relatives and texted friends to wish them a Merry Christmas. Next year, we'll probably do it up a little bigger, but every once in a while it's nice to have an easy, laid back holiday. |
 "All I Want for Christmas Is You" by Fifth Harmony On the Twelfth Day of Christmas, last but certainly not least, I had to include "All I Want for Christmas Is You," a perennial favorite of mine. In this case, I decided to feature the version by Fifth Harmony (pre-Camila Cabello departure), just to mix it up a little bit. I think the group does a pretty good job of covering the different range of notes that Mariah Carey hits in her original... if you can get past some of the blatant product placement in this video. |
"A Nonsense Christmas" by Sabrina Carpenter On the Eleventh Day of Christmas, I went with another Sabrina Carpenter song, this one of her own design. I really enjoy her music, especially the way she's unapologetically suggestive and sometimes even raunchy. I don't know anyone else who could make lines like, "I might change your contact to 'Has a Huge North Pole'" and, "When you're coming down the chimney, ooh, it feels so good / I need that Charles Dickens" actually work and sound lyrical. This is definitely not a song you'd want to play at an all-ages Christmas party or family gathering (unless you enjoy watching your friends and loved ones' befuddled looks as they wonder whether they just heard what they thought they heard in the lyrics of this song ), but this is a great one to play when you're alone in the car or listening with your headphones. |
"Winter Song" by Sara Bareilles (feat. Ingrid Michaelson) On the Tenth Day of Christmas, I picked a collaboration by two of my favorite indepdent female singer/songwriters. Ingrid Michaelson and Sara Bareilles are both incredible talents, and hearing them do a duet on a track is really incredible. I suppose this isn't technically a "holiday" song because "Winter" isn't a holiday and the song doesn't make any explicit reference to Christmas or any other holiday... but I'm including it anyway because it fits with the theme of the season and, well, I really like it.  |
"Merry Christmas, Please Don't Call" by Bleachers On the Ninth Day of Christmas, I picked something from Bleachers, which is one of my favorite bands in recent years. Jack Antonoff is an incredibly talented music producer, and an unexpectedly good musical artist. Like yesterday's song, I like the alternative sound of this song and, while I wouldn't necessarily listen to this song on repeat over and over again like I would some other holiday classics, it does a great job of adding some texture and depth to a Christmas playlist that's also filled with more traditional Christmas songs. |
"Christmas in the Sand" by Colbie Callait On the Eighth Day of Christmas, I wanted to pick a nontraditional Christmas song and I've always liked Colbie Callait's voice and musical style, so I thought this was the perfect song to feature this year. It's fun, lighthearted, and makes for a good palate cleanser between the more formal, traditional, and familiar songs on a Christmas playlist. It's always fun when this one comes up on a playlist at a party. |
"Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" by Lauren Daigle On the Seventh Day of Christmas, I wanted to pick "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas" and was tempted to do a more popular version like the one from Michael Buble or Sam Smith, but went with Lauren Daigle - a popular contemporary Christian artist - because I like the instrumentals on this version. It's got a classic, acoustic sound that I really like and think fits the intent of the song perfectly. |
"You're A Mean One, Mr. Grinch" by Lindsey Stirling (feat. Sabrina Carpenter) On the Sixth Day of Christmas, I chose my favorite version of "You're A Mean One, Mr. Grinch," which is the version done by American violinist Lindsey Sterling with featuring the vocals of Sabrina Carpenter. I'm a huge fan of classical artists who can add some contemporary flair to their instruments, and Lindsey Stirling is one of the best, often combining EDM beats and choreographed dance with her classical compositions. And, in this case, I think her choice to feature Sabrina Carpenter's sultry vocals was a great choice. This is the kind of song I could definitely see played at a lot of holiday parties over the years. |
"Hallelujah" by Pentatonix On the Fifth Day of Christmas, I had to settle on a Pentatonix Christmas song to feature. There are so many great options, but I finally chose this one because I think their vocal talents really lend themselves well to the style and the tone of the song. Some of the songs they do don't always lend themselves well to a capella stylings, but in this case I think it really works. It's one of my favorite songs to listen to every Christmas. |
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