Holy guacamole, it’s the last week in January! I predict it’s gonna be another head turning, calendar pages flying off the wall kind of year just like every year before.   We’re both guilty of being a bit of a couch potato especially on the weekends.  We normally do not watch broadcast TV due to scheduling conflicts with our bedtime and over the holidays we got sidelined keeping up with The Voice. 

Last Thursday night we  finished the season.  Carter Rubin, the grandson of one of Jay and the Americans’ band members, won the prestigious singing competition. The 15-year old is talented but his voice hasn’t seasoned enough to suit my ear.  In short,  his voice hasn’t begun to change yet or much.  Perhaps, he needs some rough activity to induce those hormones to work the right way.  I’m eager to hear how he sounds in 5 to 10 years.  Listen to Carter’s music collage from The Voice.

The Voice has turned more into a popularity contest instead of a talent show.  One of our favorite contenders was the Oprah singer, Ryan Gallagher, who got kicked off the show for “supposedly breaking the Covid-19 protocol”.  However, Ryan says that’s not the reason and details are forth coming.  I have suspicions why but I will wait to see what comes of this before I say.   Here’s Ryan’s recording of Ed Sheeran’s “Perfect” cover he would’ve performed had he not been booted off.

While snooping around on YouTube, I decided to subscribe to follow Ryan’s YT channel to stay in the loop of this young artist’s career.  I think he’ll do great things.  Please listen to Ryan’s album, When I Fall. 

Binge watching does occupy a lot of our weekend nights but we don’t have to worry yet about the vultures.  We do get up for snack and bathroom breaks. *roll eyes*

No exs here but this one made me laugh with the wife putting her new cough potato on notice.

Today, I’m joining Tuesday 4.

1. What makes you rejoice the most?  Aside my family I’d say enjoying creative passions such as sketching and cooking are my favorite hobbies that fill me with great joy currently.

2. What song makes you feel joyful or happy? Two secular songs that always that make me bubbly and get me to my feet are “Happy” (Pharrell Williams) and “I Can’t Stop The Feeling” (Justin Timberlake).  Did you listen to them? Do they make  you feel all happy inside?   But, generally songs that fill be with real joy are contemporary Christian worship and praise.  One song that comes to mind is Dallas Holm, Rise Again. 

3. Do sounds of nature give you a joyous feeling?  Oh sure, I love the happy sound of a creek gurgling in the woods or listening to the wind rustling through the trees or to hear birds singing but just being out in nature fills me with joy even if I couldn’t hear a thing.

4. How about holidays? Do you really rejoice or just kind of show up?  Being blessed is joyous and Thanksgiving allows me special time to give extra thanks to God.  Christmas I celebrate the anniversary of Jesus’ birth, the love and hope given to the world which is continually felt even this day.  God giving me this great gift is the reason I not only rejoice all December long but  the other 11 months as well.   Easter gives me similar feelings as Christmas. If it weren’t for Jesus’ selflessness to die for me I wouldn’t know this this joy that lives within.  As for other holidays, many are fun but none can compare to the ones  I mentioned. 

It’s time to grab a cup of coffee and follow along with me as I head off to visit some of my favorites today,  Comedy-Plus (Sandee), Stacy Uncorked, and Eugi’s Causerie.  I’m going to end things with a popular song by Carter Rubin’s grandpa’s band, Jay & The Americans is best known for, “Come A Little Bit Closer”.  I hope to see you tomorrow Wild Wednesdays, the party where just about anything goes!   XX, Cathy