What Are You Doing New Year’s Eve?
Karen Carpenter. Hau’oli Makahiki Hou, everybody!
Karen Carpenter. Hau’oli Makahiki Hou, everybody!
Another staple CBC Radio’s “As It Happens” plays during Christmas week is a reading of O. Henry’s “The Gift of the Magi” by Alan Maitland. I recommend it. The man was a genius at the art of reading aloud.
Frederick Forsyth wrote a ghost story for his wife many years ago, and it was recorded by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation’s Alan Maitland for the radio show “As It Happens.” Every Christmas Eve the radio program plays it, and it never gets old. This recording starts with an interview of Forsyth by one of the …
Our microwave ovens seem to break around the holidays. Ten years ago one died in the midst of Thanksgiving dinner preparation. More recently we had to replace one around July 4th. I don’t know why. Anyway, last night I pressed the push button to open the door of the thing to reheat a cup of …
I was given several gifts which qualify as complete surprises. First, a CD of the soundtrack of the new movie “Into the Woods.” I had never expressed any desire for this, but I’m absolutely sure I’m going to love it. How can you not love Sondheim? Next, a lovely little memoir entitled “The Piano Shop …
Merry Christmas! Here are a couple of good reads for the day: The pertinent lines of Luke’s Gospel for Christmas Day in about two dozen different languages. It’s a fascinating display of languages across the world. Jo Walton’s wonderful imagining of Joseph’s reaction to Mary’s virgin pregnancy and birth.
I think I’ve posted the story of Virginia O’Hanlon’s 1897 letter to the New York Sun every year since I’ve been blogging (which means since 2001). You can find it here.
Try to identify the voices! Multiple cartoon voice actors read “The Night Before Christmas.”
By now everyone knows “Carol of the Bells” the way the Trans-Siberian Orchestra performs it. Here’s a quieter version by Robin Bullock.
A beautiful song from a wonderful 2008 album by Mary Chapin Carpenter.