Here's a new "Live" version of Straight No Chaser's big hit:

Readers of this blog know that I like Uncle Jay's take on the news. Each year he gives a (musical) recap of that year's news as a special Christmas gift. Enjoy:

Mary Ann Melton is an extraordinary photographer. She sometimes enjoys using her art to meet needs. This year she's produced a calendar to raise funds for the needy in Namwianga, Zimbabwe. You can order the calendar by clicking here.

You can view Mary Ann's blog here.

Take a moment to ponder this short message:


Upside Down from Pace Hartfield on Vimeo.

Thanks to Art Rogers.

Last Christmas I was introduced to the video posted here.

Here's another classic carol from Straight No Chaser, enjoy.

When Bubba turned 5 earlier this week, we decided to have his party today (Saturday). He and his sisters decided to help the Blushing Bride make the cake, here's the result:

Here's more fun Bill Crider referred me to:



Or how about with a little 'soul patch'?

In an effort to reduce lurking, bloggers worldwide are encouraged to comment on five (count them, 5) different blogs today--that's December 3, 2008. If you are not a perenial lurker (you comment on your friends' blogs) you are asked to make at least two of the five are blogs on which you've never posted a comment.

For those who are unsure about making a comment, all you have to do is click on the comment link at the end of a post you're interested in and follow the instructions to join the conversation. Most people in the blogosphere make it easy for you to participate in their thought processes. So, welcome to the world wide web.

I'm off to make some rounds.

HT: John Smulo

Update -- Just so you know, here's my five for today (I may comment more, but these are the ones I've hit for BCD):

1. Of course I had to comment at SmuloSpace. After all I found the fun at his place. (Frequent reader, occasional commenter)
2. Pickle-osophy -- I found a great Advent poem at this new (to me) site.
3. Gabbatha Ministries Blog -- Josh is a long-time blog friend who comments here from time to time, as I do on his site.
4. Ramblings -- This is a super photo blog that I visit often, and only occasionally comment on.
5. Bookish Adventures of Bibliomom -- another new blog for me, but one I should find interesting given my love for all things Book.
   

Bubba is officially a hand-full today (That's 5 for the uninspired). He's looking forward to a "skateboard" party (complete with skateboard shaped cake) this coming weekend -- yes, I'll post the pictures of the cake. So, he screamed, "Awesome!" when he got this out of the package:

The Elementary School has a Christmas program each year. Here's a clip of Puddn 'n Pie singing "Jolly Old St. Nicholas" with some of her classmates:

The Blushing Bride and I decided to treat each other to a new digital camera for Christmas this year. She braved the throngs of "Black Friday" and picked up a Nikon S210 which we did not wait until Christmas to unwrap.

Here's a sample of the first video clip:

If I did a bit of verbal and mental calisthenics I could probably fit this into the "Word Police" category, but this one is personal. So, if you're tired of the griping and belly-aching that runs rampant throughout the blogosphere, this is a great post to skip.

Today's gripe? Namely, names.

I received another letter at the office today addressed to "Ben Potter." Granted I tried to adopt the more "manly" affectation of Ben several years ago. As a matter of fact I have several Ben friends. When we moved to a new school district at the beginning of my freshman year in high school, the computer did a massive overhaul on my name crunching my first name to three letters ("Ben") in order to include my middle name -- and so teachers had to be corrected for the first several weeks of school every year. Otherwise everyone would have been trying to get my attention with a hearty Ben Allen (don't try it, some of you out there, or you're liable to get a nasty word-lashing in your comment section).

Here's the thing -- to my friends, my name is Benjie (I've long since quit trying to correct people's spelling on the matter, although I am a whole 'e' better than the movie dog). To people who don't know me, and in legal matters, etc. I introduce myself as Benjamin. After all, that's my name. My problem with 'Ben'? Every time someone calls me that (with the possible exception of my father and sometimes my older brother) my mind flashes on an old movie, and a very young Michael Jackson's voice enters my head.



So my advice to you, if someone introduces themself to you -- use the name they told you. I've discovered that if Angela introduces herself as Angela, then 'Angie' is a bad move. Same with Jennifer and Jenny. I have a friend whose name is Robert, and he cringes when people take it upon themselves to call him Bob.

In other words, don't call me 'Ben' if you don't know me. If you do know me, then you know better. You should understand that the mail came from a source that got my name either off of a list (which should have read 'Benjamin') or from my church website in which I am referred to as either 'Benjamin' or 'Benjie' and never as 'Ben.'

Have a nice day.

Some of you will recall that the Blushing Bride and I found similar gifts for our Copper Anniversary. We don't think that will happen again, but I thought I'd share with you our Brass gifts for year eight.

I stumbled upon this possibility and was able to keep it secret from her until this morning.

I must say that the Blushing Bride did well in looking for something that said "I love you" in brass. We have collected candlesticks since we wed eight years ago. She found this candle holder and a nifty snuffer to go with.

I also made some snide remark about it being our brass anniversary, and so did she get me a brass door knocker? At the bottom of the gift bag I found this (she bought it before the remark, I must say). Now I just have to find the perfect place for it.

Ya'll have a good one, and a happy thanksgiving to boot.

It was eight years ago that the Blushing Bride became my Blushing Bride by saying, "I will" to me in front of both our dads and a small gathering of friends and family.

Happy Anniversary, Sweetie.

Special message just for you -- Olive, Olive!

Everyone seems to be playing the "grab a book" meme. Bill Crider joined in the version that includes "the bookworm award" a couple of days ago! My friend Kacy from Billy Graham's Electric Rodeo popped one up on her Facebook page. So I thought I'd jump on the bandwagon. The meme says to pick up a book--any one near at hand will do (don't go looking for that intellectual tome to make you look smarter than the average bear), find page 56, and post the fifth full sentence. There are variations on a theme here.

Since I just finished one read (look for a review of Sinner over at Book 'em Benj-O soon), I had to stand up to get a new book. What I found was Ed McBain's Killer's Choice. Here's the obligatory sentence:

"That car'd been repainted."

As memes go, your suppose to tag friends. Since I'm just playing around, anyone who wants to play the game can do so in the comment section here, or pick up the thread on your own blog.

Have fun.

Some of you will not understand why the title displays today's "Word Police" entry. But perhaps by the end of your reading you to will be able to distinguish more nuances of the English language.

In our current example the writer has chosen to use a word not related to the present tense word to indicate past tense. Let me help you out --

Lead (pronounced with the long 'e' sound: ee) is a verb in its present tense, suggesting that the leading is in process (or should be in process) "Can he lead us to victory?"

Lead (pronounced with the short 'e' sound: eh) is a soft, heavy metal (symbol: Pb; atomic number: 82--don't ask me, go check your periodic table!). It shouldn't be confused with soft rock or heavy metal, though. This word can also be used to great advantage in the colloquial expression "Get the lead out!"

The offense occurs so often when people use our second example to denote the past tense of our first. The past tense, instead, should simply drop the 'a' and find its spelling as led (pronounced like our second example today). Thus, our title would rightly read "He led them to victory!" indicating a fixed past action of leading.

Have a nice day.