New Year’s Resolutions

It's that time again ... Every year around this time I have a joke that I recycle when I am on the radio. Basically, I say that I am going to make some New Years Resolutions I can actually keep. I then proceed to list how I am (1) going to gain 20-30 pounds (2) … Continue reading New Year’s Resolutions →

Keeping Christmas All The Year

Well, the Christmas presents are now opened. The music books with Christmas Carols are now back up on the shelves and the Christmas music on the radio has abruptly ceased. It is painfully obvious that Christmas is over! I have never understood how these radio stations that go "all Christmas music" LONG before Thanksgiving, can … Continue reading Keeping Christmas All The Year →

The Ghost of Christmas Eve Past (and Yet To Come)

For as long as I can remember, Christmas Eve was always spent with Grandma and Grandpa P. when we were kids. I don't necessarily know that there was any particular reason for this, I only know that from a very young age, this was the tradition. I also remember that dreaming of a White Christmas … Continue reading The Ghost of Christmas Eve Past (and Yet To Come) →

To: S. Claus. North Pole.

December 19, 2018 Dear Santa, I know it has been some time since I have written a letter to you, and I bet you are wondering why I have chosen to do so after all these years. Well, to be honest, there have been a lot of changes in my life over the past few … Continue reading To: S. Claus. North Pole. →

Happy Birthday, Pops.

Today would have been my Grandpa P's 96th birthday. In a previous blog, I wrote about my mom's dad, and today I want to write about my dad's dad - Pops. This blog is sort of a rewrite of a blog I wrote years ago on the anniversary of his passing. When my mom's dad … Continue reading Happy Birthday, Pops. →

Christmas Songs I Can Do Without

In order for my Christmas season to be "official", I have to hear Bobby Helms "Jingle Bell Rock" in its entirety on the radio. I'm not sure why, it just has always been the song that I have associated with the holiday. Perhaps it was one of those songs that I remember hearing on the … Continue reading Christmas Songs I Can Do Without →

Holiday Wake Up

As a midnight shifter, I drink a lot of coffee. I can thank my grandfather for my love of coffee. He gave me my first cup (mostly cream and sugar) when I was about 11 or 12. As I grew older, I began to just drink it black. The only time I really drank it … Continue reading Holiday Wake Up →

My Top 20 Favorite Christmas Characters

Growing up, I loved watching all of the various Christmas specials that were shown on TV every year. With the availability of almost all of them on DVD, we can watch them whenever we want - even if it's not during the holiday season! My brother and I would sit in front of the TV … Continue reading My Top 20 Favorite Christmas Characters →

A holiday tradition since 1982 …..

"Marley was dead: to begin with" ... so begins the Dickens classic A Christmas Carol. It was originally published on December 19, 1843 and the first edition was completely sold out by Christmas Eve (that's less than a week!). This was not Dickens' first Christmas story. As a matter of fact, he had written three … Continue reading A holiday tradition since 1982 ….. →

The Benefits of Music Education

Introduction The following is a research paper that I wrote for one of my college classes in November of 2010. Eight years later, it still remains one of my favorite writings. If you have ever wondered about why music is SO important in school - please read on. The Benefits of Music Education (2010) In … Continue reading The Benefits of Music Education →