We are in December and that means it is time to reminisce a bit on the year that was (and still is for about 25 more days). I am known to offer up my “Brent’s Top 5 Best Songs” around this time of the year so that is what you will get tonight.

Each year I seem to sound like a broken record (notice the music pun?) because I complain that the selection of eligible songs is slim. Hate to say it, but I feel the same way this year. Although I had identified a couple songs as shoo-ins for this list, I had to really reflect on the other few songs that I actually enjoyed enough to include. As you will see, this 2017 list is dominated mostly by dudes. Enjoy…

5. “Ready For It” – Taylor Swift

Some thought I was tough on Taylor in a blog post I wrote last month so hopefully her inclusion on this list will dispel any notions of a Don’t Blink bias. Underwhelmed by Swift’s first song off her album, “Look What You Made Me Do,” her follow up single was much more to my liking. I feel “Ready For It” is a great representation of Swift’s versatile, catchy style.

Although I am lukewarm about her rapping sequences throughout the song (well at least I think that is what they are) I enjoy it when the melody changes tempo, especially when it gets to the In the middle of the night… sequence. Yes, this song is about one of Taylor’s ex-boyfriends and the lyrics describe silly fantasies, but it is a really good song to listen to while driving.

4. “Something Just Like This” – The Chainsmokers and Coldplay

I once told Sidney that I didn’t like Coldplay. She then started naming off some of the band’s songs and I realized I might not dislike them as much as I thought I did. Thanks to Sidney’s history lesson, I wasn’t as surprised when I found myself really liking “Something Just Like This.”

I really enjoyed the message of the song. It references superheroes and amazing feats but gets the message across that in order to win over your loved one, you don’t need to be extraordinary or on a different level from everyone else. Rather, you just need to be yourself, and you also need to be able to risk the ups and downs that come with devoting everything to someone. The musical rifts throughout the song are outstanding and I can feel the emotion throughout its entirety.

I almost included “Something Just Like This” as the third song in the video we did for my parents for their 60th birthday party but ended up choosing something else that would be more familiar to everyone. Still, I think it is a great song that describes their lives and marriage.

3. “Thunder” – Imagine Dragons

With Coldplay, I didn’t know for sure if I liked them. With Imagine Dragons, I knew for a fact I didn’t like them…until this song came out.

The song “Thunder” is just so different compared to most songs on the radio. It is original and fresh and uses great audio effects throughout its duration. Although the lyrics aren’t too creative (it probably says the word “thunder” about a thousand times), it is catchy and the female vocals add a lot to it. It was one of those songs that I liked immediately the first time I heard it.

Also, adding to my affinity for the song is the fact that I made a video of Sloan set to “Thunder.” Now, whenever I hear the song on the radio, which is a lot, I immediately think of Sloan! How could I not enjoy that?

2. “Ask Me How I Know” – Garth Brooks

Oh Garth, you do it again. The reason why country music is the best genre is because so much of the songs tell meaningful stories. When you can take someone with a once-in-a-generation voice and pair it with great storytelling, you have something extremely special.

That is why Garth Brooks has been a superstar for so many years and also why “Ask Me How I Know” is such an incredible song. I love the story that is told. The premise of the song is the advice from an elder, who is speaking from experience, to a younger person to not mess up with a girl “you swore you’d never find” because you will regret it for the rest of your life. Although I can’t speak about the messing up part, the way Garth sings about this particular girl completing this particular younger man is how I feel about Sidney completing my life. I can relate!

But let’s not forget that voice. Garth Brooks has not lost a shred of talent and the way he presents this song leaves absolutely no doubt about it.

1. Castle on the Hill – Ed Sheeran

This one is special! Sidney and I listened to this song during the last couple months she was pregnant, and even watched the music video on our Apple TV. Then, after our little girl was born, Sidney would sing the song while dancing with Sloan. Trust me, I have video.

But it just isn’t sentimental reasons for why “Castle on the Hill” by Ed Sheeran is my top song of the year. As with “Thunder,” it just has a unique sound to it. Both Sheeran’s voice and the song’s melody make it a very moving piecee. This is a great song to go to bed to and one to wake up to as well. It just works.

As for the lyrics themselves, they are pretty good. Of course it is simply a song of reminiscing about the past and reporting how the people who played a role in it are doing in present day. The song is kind of like a high school reunion. So sure, a little corny, but still can’t take away from the power of the song. For me, it is the cream of the crop of 2017.

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Another recap of music’s best in the books! Did I make a decent list this year? Let me know. Also, hold on, because I might have more music hot takes later this month. For those who are longtime readers of this blog, you know what I mean. Don’t Blink.

Brent’s Top 5 Best Songs of 2016
Brent’s Top 5 Best Songs of 2015
Brent’s Top 5 Best Songs of 2012

It is now December and that means it is holiday party season! I kicked off the month with a neighborhood Christmas block party on Saturday night and this afternoon we had our holiday luncheon for our University Communication department at CCU. Now by no means is my calendar chock-full of holiday party after holiday party…I am not that popular. However, Sidney and I do have enough Yuletide functions on our calendar to keep us busy throughout the holiday season.

For tonight’s blog post, I wanted to offer up ten best practices (in no particular order) for the holiday party circuit.

Sidney and I have some tips to make the most out of the 2017 Christmas party season.

1. Be Joyful – It is the most wonderful time of the year! For those who go to Christmas parties ready to laugh and toss back some cups of egg nog, you got this tip down. But if you had a bad day, put your Scrooge attitude in check and make sure your face lights up like a Christmas tree. The best way to snap out of a sour mood is to enjoy some holiday cheer.

2. Ice Breaker – The best way to greet someone at a holiday party? Look them straight in the eye and exclaim “Merry Christmas!” Make sure it comes straight from the heart and that you have a twinkle in your eye when you say it. I have found this greeting, when said sincerely, will immediately gain the trust and admiration of the person you are talking to.

3. Break Out the Santa Suit – Now I wouldn’t do this for formal Christmas parties, but if it is a gathering of friends or a holiday cocktail hour with co-workers, be that guy who busts out the Santa suit! When you randomly shows up in St. Nick garb, it makes people smile and it also makes you a photo magnet. Even better, it allows you to play a character and perhaps act a little goofier than if you showed up in street clothes.

Busting out the Santa suit is fun.

4. Advice on White Elephant Exchanges – Pack an envelope with scratch-offs! No, seriously. Each time Sidney and I bring lotto tickets to a white elephant/Chinese gift exchange, our gift always gets stolen the maximum amount of times. People can’t resist the thought of possibly striking it rich on Christmas. Trust us and do it at least once this season.

5. Be Fun At Your Spouse’s Work Party – One of the best holiday social functions of the season for me is my wife’s Christmas party for her school. All of her teachers get together either at a bar or bowling alley for some good wholesome fun. I do my best to put myself out there and get to know my wife’s co-workers. Show the people at your spouse’s work party that she isn’t married to some dud.

6. Be Responsible – This one goes without saying but I will put it out there just in case. Many of the Christmas parties you go to will have holiday num nums available for your enjoyment. Be smart and know your limit. The last thing you want to do is become a drunken fool at a winter celebration. Over indulging will not only put you on Santa’s naughty list but it will make you a danger when you hit the roads to go home.

7. Prioritize – Some of us (not me) have what seems like an engagement every night during the month. Others of us have less hectic schedules but might be invited to a couple different holiday functions on the same weekend night. Don’t feel bad about sitting at home in front of the fireplace for some of these. Remember, this special season isn’t all about hitting up party after party. Go to the ones you are looking more forward to and actually have time for. There is no shame skipping a holiday function to either reflect on the joyful birth of Christ or to simply take a breather.

8. Music – If you want the perfect soundtrack for your holiday party, go for the “Fireplace Christmas Mix.” Either type it into YouTube or dial it up on your Apple TV. This selection will deliver instrumentals of classic Christmas songs and will instantly make your heart feel warm.

9. For Those Who Want to Steal the Show… – If you want to bring a dish to a holiday potluck that will have people coming back for more, go with an addicting snack called Christmas Reindeer Crack. After seeing it last year online, I decided to make it. Even for someone like me who is an absolute disaster in the kitchen, the snack turned out incredible. What is Christmas Reindeer Crack, you ask? Well, it is a mixture of M&M’s, peanuts, pretzels, and Fritos coated in white chocolate. But if you want a better description, click here for my blog post from last year.

I made Christmas Reindeer Crack last year and it was beyond delicious.

10. Dress Code – If you aren’t going as Santa (see tip #3), have a general idea on the type of dress that will be worn by most at the party. As I am not a big fan of “ugly holiday sweaters,” I tend to dress in Christmas colors depending on the type of function it is. If it is a more formal event, I will sport a red tie. If it is casual, I might slip on a red or green (or maybe a red and green) thermal. Never deny the power of props! Some reindeer antlers can go a long way.

If you are attending a more formal holiday gathering, wear a red tie.

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In closing, let me end with alluding to what I addressed with tip #7. Enjoy the opportunities to socialize and eat good food this holiday season and use the above to help you maximize the fun. But please remember what Christmas is all about. Just in the same way that we can get all wrapped up in buying presents and accumulating material possessions, we can do the same with focusing on holiday parties. Have a good time but set a limit. Don’t Blink.

How about a quick rant?…

I have written about the new age variety of spam, specifically the email and social media kind. But much to the surprise of many, the old-fashioned form of “junk communication” is back and stronger than ever…

The solicitation phone call.

Getting a phone call from a solicitor is the worst.

With the rise of cell phones and the decline of landline phones, the volume of solicitors clogging up the lines greatly decreased during the early part of the decade. However, it didn’t take long before “they” got a hold of cell phone numbers. For the past two years, I have probably received a junk phone call at least five times per week.

Although annoyed at these calls, I never had the motivation to actually write a blog post on them. However, that changed when I received one this past Thursday. For those of you who didn’t read my numerous blog posts over the last two weeks referencing a certain holiday, last Thursday happened to be Thanksgiving.

The tweet I sent out after getting an unwanted call on Thanksgiving.

Really? Spam calls on Thanksgiving? Can’t these companies check a box within their robocalling software to cease phone calls on family holidays? Just a little privacy and respect would be nice.

But these days it just isn’t the automated recordings and the inconvenient times they call that fire me up. Rather, it is the trickery and deceit that is used to make you answer them.

Many of us have the obligation to pick up our phones when they ring. So even when a call comes in from a random town in a state I have never been to, I will usually answer it, knowing that a gimmick likely awaits me on the other line. These calls are annoying, but at least they are predictable.

But telemarketing agencies have grown more sophisticated. They have found ways to bother the people who would normally press decline the second a spam call would come through.

The first trick is calling from a local number. Even if the company is located in Texas AND calling from a Texas phone, their call still comes through with a Myrtle Beach (or whatever city you happen to be living in) area code. Of course most of us will accept a call that appears local.

Another trick takes “calling local” a step further. These days, I get numerous spam calls from numbers that have the identical first three digits (not the area code but the actual seven-digit number) as my number. Although this method has now turned into an obvious indicator that it is in fact a solicitation, it did work on me the first couple times.

Finally, you also get the “persistent callers.” You let a suspected spam call go directly to voicemail and then the number calls you back immediately after. Hmmm, you think, if they are calling again it must be a legitimate call.

These methods are unethical because they mess with you. Someone calling twice might heighten your curiosity and fear. Or, you might be expecting an important phone call and answer the local number with high hopes, only for your expectations to be crushed. Or, you might excuse yourself from the office or a social function to take what you think is an important call.

I wish spam phone calls didn’t make such a big comeback (or callback haha). You can sign up for as many “Do Not Call” lists as you want, the random telephone numbers will still find a way to show up on your iPhone screen under the Incoming Call heading. Although I am accepting of the fact that these type of phone calls are once again here to stay, can we at least get some peace and quiet on the holidays? Don’t Blink.