72.

What is ... the number of Christmas songs I sat through tonight?

I didn't realize there were so many Christmas "standards". I realized tonight that I can't tolerate anymore holiday music. My body is rejecting it. It's hampering my songwriting. It's dulling my senses. I mean, the performance was laudatory (especially everyone remembering where to go and what to sing), but it was really just a Christmastime musical overdose. And SLC was good enough, back in the day. But still, no amount of jazzed-up arrangements makes up for hearing the same jolly/somber tune hundreds of times. And it's not like I fully endorse new Christmas songs- the whole effect is having the song established as an everlasting association with the winter holiday season, and any new songs would have to spend a few years working hard to gain my respect. But, I just need some time without Christmas songs... like 3-4 years. Then, maybe. And what day is it... the 18th? Crap, they even play Christmas songs after Christmas, so it'll be a good couple of weeks before it's over.

Knecht Ruprecht

I learned about Krampus in German class today. Apparently, Austria has a unique holiday tradition- of having an evil santa emerge and terrorize all of the bad children before the good santa comes out with the presents.

Stories from my German TA followed about when he lived in Austria and a group of 50 or so men dressed up as Krampus in elaborately-decorated attire, wielding thumping rods and chains. The better to beat you with. He said they usually got intensely drunk and started going after everyone in sight with their weapons. Interesting concept.