Well, according to what a friend told me, Fox News earlier today called this one of the three most dangerous cities in Iraq. Maybe they should have told the Iraqis that live around here that. They haven't seemed to figure out they are dangerous, yet. Maybe they are just trying to lull us into a sense of complacency ... ever since Saddam was captured a year ago November.

I guess what I am trying to say is don't believe everything you hear on the news, even if it is on Fox.

I am good, I guess. I've been in the Army over 15 years now. Done an unacompanied tour in Korea, and this is the first Christmas that I have not spent with my wife since we started dating. (Okay, we started dating in January of '85, and were married in June of the same year, but you get the point.)

As far as I am concerned, while it is December 25 here, according to the calendar, this is not Christmas. I, either, had my Christmas on my R&R, or will have it when I get back, or a combination of the two. (Not that I would ever be in denial, or anything.)

Today was my long day at work. So, I am on the computer after a 19 hour day at work. Tonight the music in the sports bar was done by our regular R&B/Hip-Hop DJ. He played some Christmas music at the start of the night. Then, immediately launched into a tune whose chorus featured the line "Deys Ho's in Da House, if you see 'em point 'em out". I didn't realize that was a Christmas carol. I can see where it relates to the spirit of giving, I guess.

Maybe it's a Kwanza thing.

Which brings us to Christmas music.

Being a musician is a seasonal job, in that, you play what is appropriate for the season. No matter how atrocious the music might be. There really is very little good Christmas music, and what little there is has been played to death. I should know. I have done a good bit of that playing myself. I have performed "Sleigh Ride" on trumpet, trombone, euphonium, and tuba. I've played it enough on euph to pretty much have the part memorized without trying.

At my first duty station, one year, the commander pulled out the music for the Christmas concert in mid-September. We rehearsed it, at least, 16 hours a week as a full group (this does not smaller groups that performed on the concert, or breaking the large ensemble into smaller sections to rehearse parts) until mid-December when the concert was.

It's situations like the one above that help you understand the story I am about to relate.

This is about one of my closest friends in high school. He was, later, one of the groomsmen in my wedding. We were in band and choir together, among other things. By the time we were in the last week of school before the Christmas break, between band, choir, and him working at the local radio station, he had heard, sung, or played about all the Christmas music he could take. One year, he found a Santa hat, and walked around school with it on. He would walk up to his close friends,his whole body clenched, and, with the most evil glare, between gritted teeth, growl, "Ho. Ho. F***ing Ho." and trundle off.

He became a Baptist minister, by the way.

It's, technically, my day off. I plan on sleeping in, doing some straightening around my area, doing fun stuff with my computer, and listening to "comfort music". I've been listening to a lot of music from my Jr. High/High School/early college days lately. I have found it to be very relaxing, even when it is Iron Maiden, or Judas Priest. (I'll update the sidebar later.)

Until I see you, or talk to you later, I hope you have a very Happy Holiday, and I hope Santa doesn't leave you a gift like the following: