Holidazed and Confused
Merry Christmas Eve!
This is a short holiday ANNIEGRAM missive to wish you joy and peace and hope, even in the midst of a whole lot of public health bullshit and oppressive Omicron nightmares.
It’s weird to think that we’re still in this timeline of masks and quarantine-ing and rising infection rates and hospitals being overwhelmed and people blatantly having symptoms like being unable to smell Yankee Candles and yet not attributing it to COVID and blah blah blah blah.
I think we’re all tired. And ready for a thing to be “over” that doesn’t show any signs of stopping. At least we’ve got some corn for popping, right?
(SIDENOTE: This is the perfect stovetop popcorn recipe. You’re welcome.)
Rough times and terrifying elf-popcorn-gifs and all, it can still be a season of goodwill and glad tidings.
As a card-carrying member of the Episcopalian-Agnostic-Pastor’s-Kid club I still appreciate the bible’s Christmas story about hope in the face of struggle, and light at the end of darkness, and joy coming after despair.
Years ago I wrote this song about Simeon, who was told he’d get to see the Messiah in his lifetime, and still chose to believe in something promised even as the years wore on…and on…and on…and he got older and, yet, still no Jesus.
And I can identify with that desire to keep believing things will turn out, to hold faith for a changing world and a new day at the dawn. I understand the hope that your waiting will be rewarded by a good coming soon. I get the yearning for an “Everlasting Light.”
In honor of the gift-giving season, here are not just three but TWELVE holiday “Good Things” to (hopefully) make your season sparkly.
Adrian Bliss’s comedy shorts are so funny and sweet, and this one about a cow not being able to get back into the “private party” of Jesus’ birth is pretty great.
Not sure how to tell unvaccinated friends/family you’d prefer they didn’t murder you this Christmas? There’s a candle for that.
I made this creamy, nutmeg-y spaghetti squash casserole last year (and am doing a repeat this year!) and it’s goooood.
Anxious about the variant? Here’s a newsletter called “Calm Covid” with helpful, calming advice about things like what to expect in the coming weeks, what the data is saying about infection rates, what to have on hand in case of illness, and more.
This is a Christmas bop. (And the wardrobes and hairstyles are next level.)
In the early 90's my family discovered this pure, charming holiday gem of a movie at a Blockbuster video and it's been our go-to Christmas movie every year. With Alan Cumming, Mr. Bean, and quotable quotes like "Have you just injected LSD into my bottom?" what's not to love?! Def recommend to anyone who needs a new seasonal screen delight this year.
Not sure what to do for a solo Christmas? Here’s a list of ideas and encouragement!
I think I share this horrible/hilarious song every year but I DONT CARE it’s just too funny.
Like spice? Like chocolate? Put a pinch of cayenne and a pinch of cinnamon and a pinch of salt in your cocoa TRUST ME. Eat with these vegan thumb-print cookies, so easy and delish. Put your favorite jam in them NOM NOM NOM.
Don’t have streaming TV but love Buddy the Elf? Watch this snippet of the special “Movie’s that Made Us: Elf.” (Or watch the whole thing on Netflix, ya ninnymuggins!)
If you’ve been on the naughty list, just give Santa an uppercut like this irate kiddo.
Not sure who to give a special someone? Why not give them a truly unique gift of an ANNIEGRAM subscription? Supporting the arts AND giving a year of encouragement and mental health memes and weird gifs—what could be better?!
Ho-Ho-Hoping for Some Joy in 2022,
Annie B.
Not only is Adrian Bliss just too-freakin-adorable, but he’s funny as shit, too! Glad someone else I know can appreciate him as much as I do!