*

I’ll be real with you. That first year of falling asleep...

Sat, 26 Dec 2009 23:28:11 -0700

I’ll be real with you. That first year of falling asleep on Christmas Eve with relative ease, with no interest in whether or not the reindeer would make a commotion on the roof this time, was somewhat of a let-down.

As it happened, I knew just what was happening. I didn’t want it to happen, but I also was really starting to value my sleep. And so it happened.

Since then, Christmas has been a whole new ball game, with new additions to the rules with each coming year: packages get smaller but pricier, present-opening comes later but lasts longer, etc.

Christmas 2009 was the most Alternative Christmas yet. I say “Alternative” and it sounds like we are an Alternative Family with Alternative Beliefs and Alternative Dinner menus — but nope, we’re about as un-alternative a family as you get in The Bay.

Still, this year we sort of had “Share Your Favorite YouTube Video” time instead of sharing our talents in the annual family Christmas Eve program. We listened to Run DMC Christmas songs in the car instead of the ol’ Amy Grant Christmas album, and there were jokes of reenacting “Home Alone” movie scenes instead of the Nativity Scene. That didn’t really happen, but almost.

Around the time when Paige and Hayley started bustin’ their Bay Area dance moves to New Boys Ft. Ray J for the aunts and uncles is when I questioned, “Whaaaat is happppening to Christmas?!?”

But on Christmas afternoon, I took a ride on my new toy (actually my dad’s old Huffy bike) in my new back-to-school clothes (actually some new gym pants) in the glorious sunshine with my dog, and got chased by little boys with new water guns (nothing fiction there). Around this time, I started thinking again about what Christmas these days felt like.

Then I thought back to the days of eagerness about whether or not Santa would polish off our festively-decorated sugar cookies as he slid down the chimney.

And yep, it still feels a little bit like that.

My mom thinks I’m a Christmas music hater, but it just...

Wed, 23 Dec 2009 18:27:31 -0700

My mom thinks I’m a Christmas music hater, but it just isn’t so. There is so much good music to hear through the months of November and December, I can’t listen to Christmas songs alone, but there are definitely appropriate moments. And today was one of them — shopping in San Francisco among the bustling last-minute Christmas shoppers.

This is one of my favorite Christmas songs to date, everyone deserves to give it a listen — or two or three. “Oh Holy Night” as recorded by my sister’s friend from Freshman year at BYU. Embarrassing, but Sam Wood, I’m yours.

Everybody these days is writing those posts about the top...

Mon, 21 Dec 2009 17:49:47 -0700

Everybody these days is writing those posts about the top albums/tracks of the year. By “everybody,” I mean all those music blogs I read that probably no one who reads this cares about.

Nonetheless, here’s my much more succinct version. From the times when Nicole and I were practically banished to our shared room at King Henry, to the subways of Manhattan, to my Provo —> Salt Lake City commute, here is my 2009 soundtrack, boiled down to the top 30-60 seconds of my most-listened-to songs.

13. White Winter Hymnal. Fleet Foxes. 0:39 - 0:53

12. Comptine d’Un Autre Ete. Yann Tiersen. 0:48 - 1:07

11. Street Talkin’. Slick Rick & Outkast. 0:18 - 0:45 [can’t find edited version online whoops]

10. The Reeling. Passion Pit. 0:00 - 0:30

09. Osaka Loop Line. Discovery. 0:00 - 0:30

08. Blessa. Toro Y Moi. 0:00 - 0:45

07. Daily Routine. Animal Collective. 0:25 - 1:05

06. Auditorium. Mos Def Ft. Slick Rick. 0:15 - 0:56

05. All We Ask [Live Acoustic Version]. Grizzly Bear. 3:33 - 4:25

04. Banshee Beat. Animal Collective. 2:10 -2:59

03. Rome [Neighbors Remix Ft. Devendra Banhart]. Phoenix. 1:08 - 1:43

02. Flume. Bon Iver. 2:14 - 3:01

01. Ready, Able. Grizzly Bear. 1:46 - 7:17.

There you have it. Listen to those portions via some noise-cancelling head phones; you’ll laugh, you’ll cry, you’ll dance, you’ll dream. That’s my blog Christmas present to you.

Other Christmas song of the day: I’ve Got My Love To Keep Me Warm [Stuhr Remix]. Kay Starr.

Slept in til noon, went for a nice long run in California...

Sat, 19 Dec 2009 23:45:47 -0700

Slept in til noon, went for a nice long run in California “cold” that was just refreshing enough when I worked up a sweat. Shopped with the mother, dinner with the sisters, sipped some peppermint tea. No place like home for the holidays.

I wrote the fam’s christmas card letter this year. Here it is:

For the Brown family, 2009 was a lovely year much like the others, only slightly different.

2009 was the year Brooke (22) became a real live college graduate and a real live writer (at Deseret News in Salt Lake City), and learned about real-world subjects like commute traffic and middle-aged journalist humor.

It was the year Kelli (20) got adventurous, and decided to make a quick trip to Africa, make a decision about her major, and make an announcement she was going to serve a mission — followed by another change in major, and a change in mind about that mission thing.

It was the year Paige (18) became the third Brown girl to leave the nest, and witness her first real live winter in Rexburg, Idaho while learning about collegiate BYU-I topics she’s still not sure how to define, like sociology and communications.

It was the year Courtney (16) became a legitimate California driver, cruising to In N’ Out Burger with her buds or to dominate on the volleyball court on her club and high school team.

It was the year Bailey (13) suddenly turned all-things-teen, having girl talk with her girlfriends via her newly-acquired and very active Facebook account, where she uploaded lots and lots of pictures, and developed a photography hobby.

As for Shelley and Aaron, 2009 was the year they got better at texting and picture messaging, but worse at eyesight. And so, Aaron got glasses, and Shelley started holding paper farther away from her face.

Aaron ran more, and Shelley loved her cocker spaniel Macey more. Aaron started a fishing-related blog, and Shelley read lots of married woman blogs related to nothing of the sort.

Aaron and Shelley also took all but one African safari-bound daughter to see the previously unknown world of the East Coast, USA, where they gawked at men dressed like mermaids on the subway in New York, bonded with the Amish over homemade pretzels in Pennsylvania, and developed a true love for Abraham Lincoln in Washington D.C.

In 2009, the Browns met new people, learned new facts and tried new things. They got a little older, and a little wiser too. And for that, 2009 was so very good.

Hoping the same for you and yours.

Merry christmas and all the best in 2010.

Love,

The Brown Family

*This year-in-review was written by Daughter No. 1, Brooke.

Song of the day: No Place Like Home For the Holidays: Perry Como.

Song of the day: can’t-help-it-more Washed Out: Belong....

Tue, 15 Dec 2009 11:07:09 -0700

Song of the day: can’t-help-it-more Washed Out: Belong. Article of the day: Next Big Thing. and books.

I only left the house for 3 hours yesterday. And in the...

Mon, 14 Dec 2009 11:17:30 -0700

I only left the house for 3 hours yesterday. And in the evening, I made truffles followed by homemade crescent rolls, while roommate Lauren read aloud about majorly deep life philosophies. We went to bed overly-full of thoughts and food. Life at The Nook is a simple life, but a good life. I will miss it.

“I never feel lonely in the kitchen. Food is very friendly. Just looking at a potato, I like to pat it. There’s something so pleasant about a big baking potato or a whole bunch of peas in their shells… . To me, the kitchen has never stopped being a place just full of possibilities and pleasures.” What a gal, that Julia Child.

Song of the day: Washed Out: New Theory. Article of the day: DIY Christmas.

Song of the day: Bruce Springsteen: I’m on Fire. Article...

Fri, 11 Dec 2009 14:04:56 -0700

Song of the day: Bruce Springsteen: I’m on Fire. Article of the day: Boring.

Perhaps every friendship should begin with some good, quality,...

Wed, 09 Dec 2009 11:17:36 -0700

Perhaps every friendship should begin with some good, quality, soulful round of song.

Song of the day: Norman Blake: You are My Sunshine.

*Ignore the images on this video. Just listen. Back in the day (about four months ago) when...

Tue, 08 Dec 2009 15:05:00 -0700

*Ignore the images on this video. Just listen. Back in the day (about four months ago) when...

This morning I learned what a winter walk to the bus stop is...

Mon, 07 Dec 2009 18:40:00 -0700

This morning I learned what a winter walk to the bus stop is like, before the snow plows arrive and the powder is footprint-free.

And as the bundled-up middle school boys laughed and shoveled their driveway in the illuminating glow of Christmas lights, I almost thought this snow thing was wonderful. Almost.

Song of the day: Sigur Ros: All Alright

I have a couple favorite Trax riders these days. Rider #1: A...

Fri, 04 Dec 2009 11:50:00 -0700

I have a couple favorite Trax riders these days.

Rider #1: A lone LDS missionary boy, with an unknown handicap and an enthusiasm for whatever is playing on his discman that day.

Yesterday’s playlist*:

1. “Grandma Got Run Over By a Reindeer.” Dr. Elmo.

2. “The Lion Sleeps Tonight.” The Tokens.

3. Unclear. Possibly “The Fresh Prince of Bel Air Theme Song.” Will Smith.

*I know this only from his accompanying vocals, enhanced with random protests (“Wait - No. NoNoNoNo NOOOO!’) and delighted cheers (“Yeah, all right now everybody, yeah!”).

Rider #2: Completely legitimate, modern Native American man, who sports completely legitimate, modern Native American man denim and leather jackets and waist-length, beaded jet black tresses.

I wrongly want to ask him if he, too, might be on Team Jacob?

Song of the day: The Cure: Fire in Cairo

The way she calls us “ladies,” and motivates with...

Thu, 03 Dec 2009 10:09:00 -0700

The way she calls us “ladies,” and motivates with descriptions of Thanksgiving’s turkey with gravy,

The way she knowingly shouts inaccurate, deceptive countdowns without so much as a quiver in her voice,

The way she blasts Pitbull remixes of the remixes so loudly, even having the satisfaction of hearing my own irregular huffing and puffing is impossible …

These things make me wonder if this is what being that modern, strong and oh-so-womanly “lady” are all about — all the while preparing to punch that gym instructor cleanly and squarely in the face. Like, really hard. And then make an early (and triumphant) exit. And maybe slam the class door a little while I’m at it.

My body may be feeling effectively sore now, but I declare my days at Gold’s Gym Power Pump class officially over.

Song of the day that I strangely keep listening to while running on the treadmill: Beach House: Used to Be. Article of the day: One I forgot to post awhile ago.

Speed walking to the bus stop after work every day, I pass the...

Tue, 01 Dec 2009 16:27:00 -0700

Speed walking to the bus stop after work every day, I pass the same rabbel-rousing Salt Lake skater boys, the same completely empty, newly-opened restaurant and the same homeless men asking for money. The whole scene makes me a little sad.

But yesterday one of the usual homeless men approached me and, rather than requesting money, requested a smile.

“Oh, please young lady, please just smile?”

A little creepy, maybe. But at least he reminded me to walk down that sad strip of city street looking happy, and maybe soon those skater boys will be causing less ruckus, that sad burrito restaurant will get a little business and those homeless people will be giving a little smile back.

Song of the day: Toro Y Moi: Blessa. Article of the day: New Moon Mania.

Headin’ back to the bay. Song of the day: Camera Obscura:...

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 12:28:53 -0700

Headin’ back to the bay.

Song of the day: Camera Obscura: Tears for Affairs. Article of the Day.

This weekend felt like an official farewell to the warm days....

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 13:42:26 -0700

This weekend felt like an official farewell to the warm days. See ya later summer/fall; You brought nice things in 2009.

Song of the day: Glenn Miller Orchestra: Indian Summer.

Just more love for Willie. Soothing. Song of the day: Willie...

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 19:11:28 -0700

Just more love for Willie. Soothing.

Song of the day: Willie Nelson: Rainbow Connection.

Adversity causes some to break; others to break records....

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 09:54:00 -0700

Adversity causes some to break; others to break records. [William A. Ward]

Upon the first, second, third and fourth reads of above quote, I nodded my head in firm agreement, imagining some thug risin’ from the ‘hood, defying all odds; then, in a moment of triumph, throwing copies of his platinum-selling record off the highest building in New York City, just cause he can. Now that he’s on top of the charts, top of his game.

Now, I think maybe this Ward guy meant something more like running really really fast. At the Olympics, or maybe just on the playground.

But I like the more literal interpretation. Breaking records, smashing them real good.

All I’m tryin’ to do is break those records.

Cause when all else fails, there’s always Hip Hop.

Song of the day: TuPac: Keep Ya Head Up.

Just in a blog post slump, but still … Song of the day:...

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 10:57:04 -0700

Just in a blog post slump, but still …

Song of the day: Animal Collective: Daily Routine

SYTYCD Article of the day.

Song of the day: Cat Stevens: Miles From Nowhere. Article of the...

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 15:32:26 -0700

Song of the day: Cat Stevens: Miles From Nowhere. Article of the day.

Once I cried when my mom dressed me up as a tiger. Then I just...

Fri, 30 Oct 2009 12:49:00 -0600

Once I cried when my mom dressed me up as a tiger. Then I just resorted to Dorothy for about 10 years straight. The holiday used to be a little traumatic for me, but nowadays I like it aiight … happy almost Halloween.

My most Halloweenish song of the day: Arcade Fire: My Body is a Cage.