For my sixth Turnstile NYC Thursday, and my final post of the year, I am going to write about something that entire world tunes in to see. Something that had been a tradition in New York City since 1907. It is the Ball dropping on New Years Eve in Times Square. 

​Every year hundreds of thousands, maybe even a million or two people cram into the few blocks in the Crossroads of the World, Times Square, and stand there for literally two days to wait to see the ball drop to ring in the new year. The hours leading up to the event are jam-packed full of exciting music. Usually the biggest stars of music of that year, will come on and sing a song or two. When Gangnam Style was the hit song of the year a few years ago, PSY sang that year. When Icona Pop had their big hit, they sang too. This year, artists like Adele, Nick Jonas, Taylor Swift, and John Legend will perform. 

Ryan Seacrest has co-hosted it for years, and it used to be Dick Clark, from its inception back in 1974, to his passing away in 2012. He was a joy to watch, and an American legend. Even through his later years after his stroke, when he couldn't speak that well, made you feel kinda sad, it was still a joy to see him on the TV every December 31st, wishing us all a great New Year, and then shortly after the ball dropping, the annual scene of him kissing his wife was so beautiful as well.

But the ball is the main attraction. With the 12,000 pound ball risen 40 feet above Two Times Square's roof, ready to make its 30 second decline tomorrow night, it is truly almost time to ring in the new year. It is capable of making over 16 million different colors and patterns. It's insane. In the minutes before the ball drops. John Lennon's 'Imagine' is played almost as a type of sing-a-long. Then the ball hits the bottom of the pole, then the sign that read the year lights up with sparks around it, while millions upon millions of pieces of confetti rain down on Times Square. Each piece has a message that was written on it, about people's goals for the upcoming year. 

I have never gone to see the ball drop in person, and I probably never will, because it is so not worth it. I am going to be honest here. You have to stand in your spot, without sleeping, eating, or going to the bathroom, for literally a day and a half. Not for me, I can tell you that for a fact! It is not built for New Yorkers, Long Islanders, or even people from New Jersey to go to. It is made for people who are not from around these states, or even from this country, or even from this side of the world! Whenever they interview these people it is so cool to see people from The Netherland, China, Japan, there was someone from Vietnam a few years ago. Incredible stuff!

So thats that. I hope you all enjoyed this post about New Years Eve in Times Square, and I hope that you all are ready to ring in the new year!

Have you ever gone to Times Square on New Year's Eve? Would you want to go?

Peace and Love,
DGS

Quotes of the Day: "Be as you wish to seem." - Socrates
"Write it on your heart, that every day, is the best day in the year." - Ralph Waldo Emerson

For my seventh and final Wisdom Wednesday of the year, I am going to choose something that was said to me by my father, on both my graduation from middle school, and again to me after my graduation from high school. What he told me is that you can make your life whatever you want it to be!

It might seem so simple, yet so broad at the same time, and it is, but there is so much more to it than that. What this piece of advice is saying, is that whatever you want to do with your life, is it all up to you. Only you have the power and the ability to change your life. Only you hold the key to unlocking your hearts most inner desires! (Deep right there, I know!)

I know you might say, 'But Dylan, other people from the outside can have positive or negative effects on your life too!", and you're right, but it is all about not allowing those words, if they are bad, to manipulate you, and not allowing them to change who you truly are inside, because if you do, then those people will win. If the goods words change you, then that's all good in the hood!

This can be such a big piece of advice as well, as we all come into the new year of 2016, with high hopes for an excellent year. With this piece of advice, you can come into this new year, and make it whatever you want it to be! Don't let other things or people hold you back! You can do as much, or as little as you want!

You want to join a club or sport in school? - Do it!
You want to maybe become the Captain or leader of said club or said sport? - Oh Captain! My Captain!
You want to ask your friend out on a date? - Good luck to ya! Invite me to the ceremony!
You want to study harder, or pay attention in school to get better grades? - Get it done! Get that diploma!
You want to break up with a toxic friendship or relationship? - Don't let the door hit ya on the way out!
You want to make new friends? - Get out there!
You want to get a job? - Make that money son!
You want to buy something like a car, or a house? - Go for it!
You want to lose weight for health reasons, or for other general appeal? - God bless ya!
You want to become more responsible for your actions? - Good for yo!

It's all about wanting to please yourself. You might think thats selfish, but it's not in the context that I am writing to you all in. What I am saying is that you are only hurting yourself, if you let other people's thoughts and actions change the way that you go about your business.

It's ridiculous to me, that people will change their whole life's dreams, for the sake of other peoples opinions, that don't really care about or for you. You should not be worried about what others might say or think about you. If you are happy with who you are inside, then your 'haters' have no hook to hang their hat on! Period, end of sentence, and onto the next paragraph! 

(I actually went onto the next paragraph!) It is all about taking that first step, that drive, that initiative! You need to be happy with yourself, and know who you are inside, to figure out how to make your life the best that it can be. This is not an easy task to accomplish, but if you do so, and are able to, then your life will truly become magical, I guarantee it!

Was this advice helpful to you? Would this be something that you would want to follow in your life?

Peace and Love,
DGS

Quotes of the Day: "Enjoy your own life without comparing it to one another's." - Unknown
"In the end, we only regret the chances that we Didn't take!" - Unknown
"In the end, it's not the years in your life that counted, rather, it is the life in your years." - President Abraham Lincoln

For my seventh and final Tune Tuesday of the year, I am going to choose a song that speaks so much to the possibilities in the upcoming new year of 2016, and one of my all-time favorite songs. I am choosing a song that we sang in my choir, in my senior year of high school, and that is James Taylor's "Shed A Little Light". 

What this song is all about is that we must heed the words of Martin Luther King, Jr. In the first verse. He says basically that first sentence I just wrote, and then follows it with, "and recognize that there are ties between us, all men and women, living on the Earth. Ties of hope and love, of sister and brotherhood. That we are bound together, in our desire to see the world become, a place in which our children can grow free and strong. That we are bound together, by the task that stands before us, and the road that lies ahead. We are bound, and we are bound." It is sung with a beautiful harmony, and just a piano. It doesn't rhyme, but it speaks a very beautiful and a very powerful message, doesn't it.

Then the second verse adds some bass and some drums, then the lyrics go, "There is a feeling like the clenching of a fist. There is a hunger in the center of the chest. There is a passage through the darkness and the mist. And though the body sleeps, the heart will never rest!" Again, beautiful words. These lyrics speak that there is a satisfying feeling to wanting to make a fist and hurt someone, and a deep feeling in the gut to do so sometimes, but there is a passage through those feelings of hate, and that although the mind might be okay with those feelings, the heart and soul are not. 

Then the chorus comes in with, "Shed a Little Light Oh Lord! (Shed a Little Light, Oh Lord!) So that we can see! (Oh now!) Just a Little Light Oh Lord! (Just A Little Light, Oh Lord!) Wanna stand it on up! (Stand on up, Oh Lord!) Stand it on up, Oh Lord! (Oh Now!) Wanna walk it on down! (Won't you Shed a Little Light!) Shed a Little Light Oh Lord!" It is a beautiful call and response chorus, between a harmony of men and women, and James Taylor.

That call and response feeling continues into the bridge section, in which its lyrics go, "Can't get no light from a dollar bill! Don't gimme no light from a TV Screen! (No, no, no, no, no!) When I open my eyes, I wanna drink my fill, from the well on the hill! (You know I know what I need!)" More lyrics that speak immensely, as what it is saying here, is that you can't buy this light, and you can't use the TV to get the job done, you need to open your eyes, and go make the change you want to see. 

It then goes back to the chorus, almost exactly the same as before, then it repeats the second verse, with a beautiful harmony now behind it, and then the first lines from the first verse, and the song then ends. 

This song is so powerful, and in a time when the new year of 2016 is going to come around, we need something to change our world, for the better. We need love. and hope, and security for our brothers and sisters, our husbands and wives, our aunts and uncles, our grandparents, our cousins, our sons and daughters, our mothers and fathers, our neighbors, our friends, our teachers, our colleagues, and our strangers as well. 

We NEED this to happen this year, or we are in some deep, deep trouble. All of the teenagers around my age, and some of the younger generations bitch and moan all day long, all week long, all month long, all year long, and all life long about who's in charge in our country, and who is doing what, and that they are doing a bad job. We need to take action! Go out and vote! Go do something! It is in our hands! We need to go and we need do something! Like this song says "We are bound together by the task that stands before us, and the road that lies ahead. We are bound, and we are bound!" If you aren't happy about something, go change it! Please listen to this song and make change in the world! (Ok, I'll get down off my soapbox now, and I'll stop sounding like Shia LaBeouf, but I mean it, just do it, and go make something happen!)

I hope that you listen to this song, and love it like I do, and try to follow and take heed to the advice given in this song every day!

Did you like this song? Does this song make you want to change something in your life? Does it inspire you?

Peace and Love,
DGS

Quotes of the Day: "Some men see things as they are, and say why? Others see things that never were, and say why not?" - Senators Robert and Ted Kennedy
"A Journey of a thousand miles, begins with a single step!" - President John F. Kennedy
"We must never negotiate out of fear, but also never, ever fear to negotiate." - President John F. Kennedy

(P.S., I know all these quotes were from the Kennedy Family. I like them, and they have good quotes! Shut Up! I'm just kidding, talk to you all tomorrow!)

For my seventh and final Memory Monday of this year, I am going to pick a memory that is still very fresh in my mind, but something that I consider one of my best memories ever. I am going to pick my graduation from Kellenberg Memorial High School.

I graduated from Kellenberg Memorial High School, this past June 7th. I got to the Arena at Hofstra around an hour before it began, like I was supposed to, and I met all of my old teachers on the way in, and I talked and hugged with almost all of my old classmates and friends.

My 'prom' was just three days before, and now we were really at the end of the line. I cried a wee bit, (not going to lie here!), and I did not want to let go of these wonderful people. We got into our lines, and about ten minutes later, the music started from the band, and we started to walk out. I got to my seat, and all together as one class, we sat down.

It was such a surreal experience, sitting there. I had become something like a brother to a lot of these people around me, and they became like brothers and sisters to me. I was on the floor of Hofstra's David S. Mack Arena, which would eventually become the main arena of my college. I was sitting with my homeroom, people that I had expressed all my feelings to, over the past four years.

As I watched my friends stand in front of me, get their name and accomplishments read, and then walk across the stage to Brother Kenneth to get their diploma and awards, and then sit back down, I was reminded of all the memories I had with each person. After each name was read, that persons family would make a little bit of noise, against the wishes of the announcement made by the President of the school, at the beginning of the ceremony. No one really cared in the end. 

As I got closer and closer to my name being called, there was a sense of nervousness. Not nerves that I would trip and fall, or throw up, or do something stupid. They were nerves of things like, "Wow, I am done with Kellenberg. Now what am I going to do? I can't go to school without all my friends?" I am not going to lie, I was scared of the future. It was an unknown feeling. I had orientation for Hofstra, two days later on Tuesday, (I wrote about this in Memory Monday IV, (December 7th, 2015)), and I was scared of going from a very familiar place with very familiar faces, to an unfamiliar place, with complete strangers. 

Then my row was standing up. We made our way as one, to the side of the stage. My friend Ryan was in front of me by a few of my friends from my homeroom, and we exchanged a handshake and I cracked a joke right before he stepped out onto the stage. Then next was the beginning of my homeroom. First was Brooke, then it was Paul, and then it was my turn to go. As they were finishing up reading Paul's achievements, Mr. Benintendi was at the top of the small set of stairs, behind the screen that was set up to 'hide' the students before they stepped onto the stage. He said "Dylan Graham Sandas?" I said "Yes", and he then said, "Congratulations! Dare to be Great Dylan!" I said no problem, smiled, shook his extended hand, and then walked out onto the stage. 

I had my achievements read off, and there I was, standing right in front of my family. After my name was read off, they erupted in cheering for me. A wee bit embarrassing, but at the same time, it made me laugh, and made me realize that I made my family really, really proud of me. I was also proud of them to do their normal Sandas and Graham things, and break things that they felt were really stupid rules. 

After the ceremony was over, the music started again, and we walked out of the Arena together as a class, one last time. As I was walking out, I waved towards my family, and then I looked up as I turned the corner and right above the doorway, about thirty feet up, was my Nana, waving at me, crying. I couldn't help but give the 'Paul McCartney getting off the plane in America Wave', blow a kiss like Paul McCartney does at his concerts to her, and began to tear up a bit myself... again.

I then embraced some of my friends again in the hallway down there, hugged my friends Eddie, Mark, and Willy in the stairwell walking up to the main floor, and then hugged a few others in the main lobby. I then saw my cousins, aunts, uncles, and my sister. I hugged them all so much, for so long, as they whispered words of congratulations to me. I then went inside the arena, and was met first with my Nana. We hugged it out for about a minute and a half. I wasn't going to cry, until she said that my grandfather would be so proud of me that day. I kinda lost it right there for a moment or two. Then I moved on to my crying mother, for another minute or so, and then my teary-eyed father for about two. He doesn't cry that much, and when he does, he makes this really emotional face, so when he saw me, he made that face, and we embraced as father and son, so beautifully. 

As we all walked outside, I saw a few more of my friends, and we took a bunch of photos together, with my family and friends. It was such a proud moment that I will never forget, no matter how much I try.

Do you remember your High School Graduation? Did you have a similar experience afterwards with your family, like I did? Would you want to?

Peace and Love,
DGS

Quotes of the Day: "Wherever you go, go with all of your heart." - Confucius
"The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams." - First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt
"If you can imagine it, you can achieve it. If you can dream it, you can become it!" - William Arthur Ward

(This post was meant to come out yesterday at 12:00 P.M., but I got carried away yesterday night and early morning, when I normally write my blogs, watching The Joys of Painting with Bob Ross until about 4:45. Then I woke up and then went to Church, then went out to breaky with my family, and then we came home and I watched the Jets game with my father, and then we had an early dinner, then I watched both the Islanders game, then the Knicks game, and then Family Feud with my family, then whatever was left of Sunday Night Football with my dad. By the time I got back to my room, it was almost 12:00 A.M.! I wrote this post earlier this morning, and now I am putting it up thirty minutes before today's actual post for Memory Monday VII. I hope you forgive me for the oversight and enjoy this post!)

In this post, I am going to reflect a bit on everything that happened to me this past year. I am going to cover things that I have and have not talked about with the Memory Mondays. The photos I include are going to be under the month that I am currently remembering. I am going to talk about all aspects of my life. This post is going to be considerably long, so hold on, and let's take this trip down this year in review!

In January, at the turn of the year, I was looking forward to many things. Turning 18, Disney Trip, Graduation, College, and a few other things. I had my last pep rally for school, and had a blast playing and winning at a 2-on-2 basketball tourney. I was dressed up as Paul McCartney from Sgt. Pepper. Did I look like an idiot. Yes. Was I happy though. Absolutely! We won the first game but lost the second one. 

Nothing else really happened in January other than the winning streak of the century of my bowling team, going from 0-5 to 5-5, and beating really tough rivals too! We had my fathers birthday later into the month. We had a lot of snow near the end of January, and then at the beginning of February.

In February nothing really happened here either, other than my team making the playoffs, winning a Quarterfinal match against St. Dominics and then losing in a close match for my last game ever. (Very sad!) They made me so proud to be their Captain, like I have said before on this blog! I then also did the Long Island Polar Bear Club for the seventh straight year, and also went to a Florida-Georgia Line concert at Madison Square Garden, with my cousin Mack. 

Nothing else happened in February, and then we moved into March. In the beginning of March, I was named the Player of the Year for my team. I was also named as an All-Star, and as a Co-Captain of the Southern LI CHS All-Star Team. I was so honored for both of these awards. We had my sisters birthday, and then we moved onto April

April brought my last trimester exams of my Kellenberg career, it brought the beginning of one of the greatest Mets seasons ever. Who knew?! It brought my mothers birthday. It brought the end to "The Old Barn", the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum, as my Islanders couldn't get the job done against the Capitals. It brought the end to the worst season of Knicks basketball of all-time. 

May brought my eighteenth birthday, and it brought my long awaited return to Disney World, down in Florida. I was over there from April 30th, to May 3rd. I spent my eighteenth birthday in Epcot in the morning and afternoon, and then Animal Kingdom at night. I rode Everest twelve straight times. I rode the Rock'n Roller Coaster eight times, and the Hollywood Tower of Terror twice. Listen it was a long story why I rode it twice. I was a fool, plain English! Then I finished my finals in Kellenberg, and then got ready to graduate. In the photo below, I am in the front, near the middle, in the green shirt, that people made fun of that I looked like Steve from Blues Clues, and I am also wearing a Chinese Straw hat, and I have a bag, and a backpack on. This was taken on my eighteenth birthday too!

Next up was June, and that had my high school graduation in it. I had my Prom on a Boat around Manhattan on Thursday, graduated on Sunday, and had orientation for Hofstra with my newly found friends from Tuesday to Thursday. This was written about in two Memory Monday's, (December 7th, and today's). I then went to a few Mets games here and there, and started my summer job with my old friends. My sister was named MVP of the Long Island Championship Softball 12u Tournament, after hitting the walk-off base-hit. (Proud brother moment right here!)

Then it was July. We had me driving a golf cart around a golf course, (You don't say!), for a fireworks display. I then had my eighth straight Fourth of July Water Balloon Parade in Stewart Manor. (It's literally forty or so fire departments throwing hundreds of thousands of water balloons at the residents of this small little town, and the residents throwing them back at you. It's a war-zone literally!) Then we had a lot of fun with my summer job, as I went to more Mets games. I went to my Sisters softball nationals near the end of July, and had a blast with all of the other siblings, who all became my friends. (She had a walk-off hit, and they finished fifth in the whole thing.)

Then we moved into August. Nothing really happened differently here, other than going over to my cousins house a lot, went to see Ray Navarette's number get retired by the Long Island Ducks, and then went to more Mets games. I worked and finished my summer job here in this month. I then was reunited with my friends from college, and was ready to start my college life. 

September came around and I started college. We remembered 9/11, and then I got into a fight a few days later with a guy talking trash about my sister at a softball tournament. (That is right. I stand up for my sister. That's what big brothers are for!) I then also went to two Subway Series games with my cousin Mack, and had a blast. The Mets won one, and lost one. They then clinched for the first time in nine years, and made me have heart palpitations. We then went into October.

In October we finished up Kellie's softball tournaments, and then there was the Mets. They beat the Dodgers in five, and then swept the Cubs. They choked in the World Series, but thats okay. We did excellent this year. Also my Islanders, Jets, and Knicks started up their so far successful campaigns. 

In November we hit Thanksgiving, and my bowling team started up their so far very successful campaign. I had a blast in college as the year started to wind down. The Jets became something, and my Islanders and Knicks are doing just fine. There was really nothing else that happened in November. Also something really big happened to me in November. This Blog! On November 10th, I wrote my first post on here, and it has blown up all because of you guys, and I am so thankful for you all. 

In December, we had me finishing my first semester of college, my sister making National Junior Honor Society, (like her older brother!), and having a wonderful and joyful Christmas. My Jets won and are probably going to the playoffs, the Islanders are in third place in the Metro, and my Knicks are right there too. 

So that is my quick year in review. There are many other things that I did that didn't make the cut. I know this makes my life look boring as all balls, but trust me, I am writing this at around 6:15 in the morning, and my brain isn't working on all cylinders right now. Literally you need to be happy that I got this far!

There are a lot of photos that go along with all of these events, that I don't have saved, and can't find a way to save them, to my computer, so that is why they aren't on here, (It has nothing to do with both, the time I am writing this blog at, and the fact that I am really lazy! Nothing at all!) If you care so much as to want to see them. You can click on my Instagram account link on the sidebar of this blog, and scroll through the past year. You can like the photos if you like, it's all good with me! (If you don't do it, there's two things. Firstly, I'll never find out, and secondly, it won't bother me either way.) 

Anyway thank you all so very much for reading this, if you did, and I hope you enjoyed it!

Did you enjoy this post? How was your year? Were you happy with the way that this year panned out for you? Are you optimistic about 2016?

Peace and Love,
DGS

Quotes of the Day: "The trouble is, if you don't risk anything, you risk more." - Unknown
"Forget what hurt you, but never forget what it taught you." - Unknown
"Try to be a Rainbow, in someone's cloud!" - Maya Angelou

For my final Seasonal Saturday of 2015, I am going to write about a version of a song that we all know to help ring in the new year. It's Auld Lang Syne by Kenny G.

What the normal song is about is to welcome the new year and the promises of the that said year. What this version of the song is that Kenny G is just playing the song on his Clarinet, but in front of the music, is all the big news issues from Edison in the 1880's all the way to the year 2000.

The things that he mentions are things like JFK, Oklahoma City, Pearl Harbor, RFK, WWI, the Gulf War, Columbine, and many other topics. There is another version of this song that has 9/11 in it. I couldn't find the whole song so I put the millennium mix down below.

What this song means is that we have come along way from 1880 and that we still have a long way to go. I love this song so much and hope you do to!

Have you ever hear this version of this song before? Did you like this song?

Peace and Love,
DGS

Quotes of the Day: "We don't make mistakes here, just happy accidents." - Bob Ross
"We must come together or we will fall separately" - Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Merry Christmas To All!

For my Fourth Film Friday, and the last one of 2015, I am going to be picking my all-time favorite Christmas movie. It is a movie that no matter how many times you watch it, it will make you laugh until you cry. The movie is 1989's, National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation. 

The movie has so many memorable moments, from Clark's falling in love with a lingerie saleswoman, to him imagining her in his pool that he is putting in after that Christmas with the money from his bonus check from work. From Aunt Bethany saying the Pledge of Allegiance for the Christmas Grace, to when there is a squirrel in the tree that he cuts down from the neighbors yard. From the 25,000 lights he has on his house, that makes the entire city of Chicago go on Nuclear Backup Power, to his cousin Eddie emptying his RV toilet in the storm drain. From Aunt Bethany ending the movie with the singing of the National Anthem, after her husband, Uncle Louis, blows up the fumes from Eddie's dumping of toxic human waste into the storm drain, sending the lawn ornaments of Santa and his reindeer into the sky on fire, to when they go get the Griswold Family Christmas Tree.

This movie is non-stop funny from beginning to end, with the feeling that this type of Christmas disaster can happen to anyone.

We watch this movie every year on Christmas Eve as a family, and it never disappoints. Again no matter how many times you watch this film, it will always be funny, and even though the jokes are old, and you know they are coming up, you still laugh very hard when they happen. I will put a few clips from the movie down below, and hopefully you feel the same way, about this timeless classic. 

Have you ever seen this film? Did you find it as funny as I did? What were your favorite parts of the film?

Peace and Love,
DGS

Quotes of the Day: "What dear, (Grace!) Grace, she passed away thirty years ago!" - Aunt Bethany
"And when Santa shoves his fat, white ass down the chimney tonight. He's going to see the craziest bunch of assholes this side of the nut house!" - Clark Griswold
"That cat had nine lives, and spent them all right there." - Cousin Eddie

Instead of my sixth Turnstile NYC Thursday, which will be on Times Square next week, (How appropriate!), I am going to do it on a bunch of my Favorite Christmas Songs, Movies, and TV Specials, that me and my family listen to and watch on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and also the day after Christmas now, with the birth of my cousin Isabella, last year on Christmas.

I will be doing this list just like I did with the Beatles song list, but what I am also going to do is put two of my all-time favorite songs down below in videos from YouTube. My other all-time favorite songs, such as Dean Martin's "Baby, It's Cold Outside", and Paul McCartney's "Wonderful Christmastime", can be listened to on my other Tune Tuesday and Seasonal Saturday posts from earlier this month. The song list of the 150 songs is in alphabetical order, and the movie and special lists are in my favorite order (There are some ties, but I didn't show them. All of these movies and specials are excellent!) 

Songs:

1. A Marshmallow World - Brenda Lee
2. A Marshmallow World - Dean Martin and Frank Sinatra
3. Adeste Fideles - Nat King Cole
4. All I Want For Christmas Is My Two Front Teeth - Nat King Cole
5. All I Want For Christmas Is You - Mariah Carey
6. All I Want For Christmas Is You - Vince Vance and The Vallants 
7. Alone On Christmas Day - Mike Love
8. Auld Lang Syne - Kenny G
9. Away In A Manager - Nat King Cole
10. Baby, It's Cold Outside - Carmel and Eddie Money
11. Baby, It's Cold Outside - Dean Martin and Martina McBride
12. Baby, It's Cold Outside - Michael Buble and Idina Menzel
13. Believe - Josh Groban
14. Blue Christmas - Elvis Presley
15. Carol Of The Bells - David Foster
16. Carol Of The Bells - Mannheim Steamroller
17. Caroling, Caroling - Nat King Cole
18. Caroling, Caroling - Natalie Cole
19. Celebrate Me Home - Kenny Loggins
20. The Chipmunks Song - Alvin and the Chipmunks
21. Christmas - Darlene Love
22. Christmas Canon - Trans-Siberian Orchestra
23. Christmas Of Love - Little Isidore and the Inquisitors (from The Grinch)
24. Christmas Sarajevo - Trans-Siberian Orchestra
25. The Christmas Song - Michael Buble
26. The Christmas Song - Nat King Cole
27. The Christmas Song - Paul McCartney
28. Christmas Time Is Here - Vince Guaraldi Trio
29. Christmas Time Is Here Again! - The Beatles
30. Christmas Through Your Eyes - Gloria Estefan
31. Deck The Halls - Nat King Cole
32. Do They Know It's Christmas Time? - Band Aid
33. Do You Hear What I Hear? - Bing Crosby
34. Do You Hear What I Hear? - Vanessa Williams
35. Do You Hear What I Hear? - Whitney Houston
36. Domenick The Donkey - Lou Monte
37. Feliz Navidad - Jose Feliciano 
38. The First Noel - Josh Groan / Faith Hill 
39. The First Noel - Nat King Cole
40. Frosty The Snowman - Jimmy Durante
41. Frosty The Snowman - Gene Autry
42. God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen - Mannheim Steamroller
43. God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen / We Three Kings - Barenaked Ladies and Sarah McLachlan 
44. Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer - Elmo and Patsy
45. Green Christmas - Barenaked Ladies (from The Grinch)
46. Happy X-Mas (War Is Over) - John Lennon
47. Happy X-Mas (War Is Over) - Sarah McLachlan 
48. Hark! The Herald Angels Sing - Nat King Cole 
49. Have A Holly Jolly Christmas - Burl Ives
50. Have A Holly Jolly Christmas - Johnny Mathis
51. Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas - Chicago
52. Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas - Frank Sinatra
53. Hanukah Song (1, 2, 3, and NOW 4!) - Adam Sandler
54. Happy Holiday - Andy Williams
55. Here Comes Santa Claus - Elvis Presley
56. Here Comes Santa Claus - Gene Autry
57. Hot Chocolate Song - Tom Hanks (from The Polar Express)
58. I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus - The Ronettes
59. I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus - The Jackson 5
60. I Want A Hippopotamus For Christmas - Gayla Peevey 
61. I Wish You A Merry Christmas - Bing Crosby
62. I'll Be Home - Meghan Trainor
63. I'll Be Home For Christmas - Bing Crosby
64. I'll Be Home For Christmas - Frank Sinatra
65. I'll Be Home For Christmas - Josh Groban
66. It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas - Bing Crosby
67. It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas - Johnny Mathis
68. It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas - Michael Buble
69. It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas - Perry Como with The Fontaine Sisters
70. It's That Time - Alternate Routes
71. It's The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year - Andy Williams
72. It's The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year - Johnny Mathis
73. Jingle Bells - Dean Martin
74. Jingle Bells - Frank Sinatra
75. Jingle Bells - Michael Buble
76. Jingle Bell Rock - Bobby Helms
77. Joy To The World - Nat King Cole
78. Joy To The World - Whitney Houston / Georgia Mass Choir
79. Last Christmas - Taylor Swift
80. Last Christmas - Wham!
81. Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow! - Andy Williams
82. Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow! - Chicago
83. Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow! - Dean Martin
84. Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow! - Frank Sinatra
85. The Light On Christmas Day - Allison Krauss and Robert Plant
86. The Little Drummer Boy - Bing Crosby and David Bowie
87. The Little Drummer Boy - Harry Simeone Chorale
88. The Little Drummer Boy - Ray Conniff
89. Linus And Lucy - Vince Guaraldi Trio
90. Little St. Nick - The Beach Boys
91. Mamasita Donde Esta Santa Claus - Augie Rios
92. Mary Did You Know? - Wynonna Judd and Kenny Rodgers
93. Mele Kalikimaka - Bing Crosby
94. Mele Kalikimaka - Jimmy Buffet
95. Merry Christmas Darling - The Carpenter
96. New York City Christmas - Rob Thomas
97. O Christmas Tree - Vince Guaraldi Trio
98. O Holy Night - Celine Dion
99. O Holy Night - Josh Groban
100. O Holy Night - Nat King Cole
101. Old Lang Syne - Dan Fogelberg
102. Please Be Home For Christmas - Eagles
103. Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree - Brenda Lee
104. Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer - Burl Ives
105. Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer - Dean Martin
106. Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer - Gene Autry
107. Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer - Harry Conick, Jr.
108. Run, Run Rudolph - Chuck Berry
109. Santa Baby - Eartha Kitt
110. Santa Baby - Madonna
111. Santa Baby - Taylor Swift
112. Santa Claus Is Coming To Town - Amy Grant
113. Santa Claus Is Coming To Town - The Beach Boys
114. Santa Claus Is Coming To Town - Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band (My First Favorite Christmas Song)
115. Santa Claus Is Coming To Town - Faith Hill
116. Santa Claus Is Coming To Town - Frank Sinatra and Cyndi Lauper
117. Santa Claus Is Coming To Town - The Jackson 5
118. Santa Claus Is Coming To Town - Michael Buble
119. Silver Bells - Andy Williams
120. Silver Bells - Elvis Presley
121. Silver Bells - Martina McBride
122. Silver Bells - Stevie Wonder
123. Sleigh Ride - Andy Williams 
124. Sleigh Ride - The Carpenters
125. Sleigh Ride - Johnny Mathis / Percy Faith and His Orchestra
126. Sleigh Ride - Leroy Anderson
127. Sleigh Ride - Ray Conniff
128. Sleigh Ride - The Ronettes 
129. Snoopy's Christmas - The Royal Guardsmen
130. (There's No Place Like) Home For The Holidays - The Carpenters 
131. (There's No Place Like) Home For The Holidays - Perry Como
132. Thinking About Christmas Time - Bryan Adams
133. The Twelve Pains of Christmas - Bob Rivers
134. Up On The Housetop - Gene Autry
135. We Need A Little Christmas - Johnny Mathis
136. We Need A Little Christmas - New Christy Minstrels 
137. We Need A Little Christmas - Percy Faith and His Orchestra
138. We Wish You The Merriest - Bing Crosby and Frank Sinatra
139. Where Are You Christmas - Faith Hill
140. White Christmas - Bing Crosby
141. White Christmas - Chicago
142. White Christmas - Dean Martin
143. White Christmas - The Drifters 
144. Winter Wonderland - Amy Grant
145. Winter Wonderland - Eurythmics
146. Winter Wonderland - Johnny Mathis 
147. Wonderful Christmastime - Paul McCartney
148. Wonderful Christmastime - Paul McCartney with Straight No Chaser
149. You're A Mean One Mr. Grinch - Jim Carrey (from The Grinch)
150. You're A Mean One Mr. Grinch - Thurl Ravenscroft 

Movies

1. National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation
2. The Polar Express
3. Dr. Seuss' How The Grinch Stole Christmas
4. It's A Wonderful Life
5. Home Alone 2: Lost In New York
6. White Christmas
7. Deck the Halls
8. Elf
9. Home Alone
10. The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause
11. The Santa Clause 2
12. Unaccompanied Minors
13. Christmas with the Kranks
14. A Christmas Carol
15. Miracle on 34th Street
16. The Santa Clause
17. A Christmas Story

Specials:

1. The Dean Martin Variety Show Christmas Special
2. The I Love Lucy Christmas Special
3. The SNL Christmas Special
4. The Animated Grinch Special

I hope that you enjoyed these lists, and I wish all of you guys a very Merry Christmas from me and my family, to you and yours!

Peace and Love,
DGS

Quotes of the Day: "The best way to spread Christmas cheer, is to sing loud for All to hear!" - Buddy the Elf 
"The best of all Christmas gifts around any Christmas tree: The presence of a happy family all wrapped up in each other." - Burton Hillis 
​

For my sixth Wisdom Wednesday, I want to use something that I learned from one of the greatest Christmas movies ever made. It is from the 1946 film, 'It's a Wonderful Life', and what it is, is that "You Matter!" 

Now you're probably saying, Dylan, thats stupid, and that everyone matters, and you're right, but the problem is, not everyone thinks that about themselves, which is the saddest thing you can ever hear. That is exactly what this old movie tackles. It might seem old and out of date, almost seventy years after it debuted, but what it talks about is so relevant to this day, that it truly shows it was ahead of its time. 

Where this comes from is the feeling that George Bailey has in the middle of the film. He has lost his building and loan company to the evil Mr. Potter, lost touch with his wife and kids, lost his friends, lost all the money for the people, and because of that, Mr. Potter is sending the cops to arrest him, and also has nothing else to live for. He tries to commit suicide by jumping off of a bridge on Christmas Eve. His guardian angel, Clarence, stops him from jumping and brings him into a house. George then tells the Clarence that he feels that life would be better off without him, and he wishes that he would have never been born. Clarence then shows George what it would be like if he had never been born. What he was thinking was that he would never have disappointed the townspeople for losing his business, lost their money, and most importantly, would not have disappointed his family.

But what he really sees is that every little thing he did has a consequence now. He didn't save his brother from drowning when they were little, so he died, and didn't go on to save many people in the army, and become a war hero. All those he saved died, and now their families and friends were affected. His wife was beaten by a new husband. The houses he built on an old plot of land for poor people were never built, and those people died from starvation. Even simple things like when he held a door open for people had dramatic affects on other people's lives. 

What does all of this mean? It means that even if your life isn't going that great, and if you're feeling sad, don't worry, it will get a lot better. If you wish you were never born, you would realize how different the world would be. That is why each and every single person that you meet, each and every single action that you do, and each and every single second that you live MATTER! This world is better off with all of you guys in it, then without you guys. 

In my junior year of Kellenberg, we had a speaker come in, named Bobby Petrocelli, and he has a book that I bought from him that's title reads, "Ten Seconds That Will Change Your Life Forever". It is about his struggle with life after the passing of his wife, and it is a very beautiful book. He talks about his faith in God, but he also talks about mattering. He said that the people that tried to save his wife mattered, the guy who was driving the care that killed him wife, he matters, EVERYONE MATTERS! I got the book signed by him in my lunch period, and he wrote 'To Dylan, YOU MATTER!, From Bobby'. It was a really cool feeling in the moment, and I'm glad that I had him sign it. It became almost like the motto of my class from that point on, until graduation.

So what I say to this is, every day that you live, whether it is fun or it isn't, matters! Everything that you say to anyone and everyone matters. Every action that you do big or small, will have big meaning behind it latter on. Like in the movie, he held the door open for someone who was down on his luck, and he felt better afterwards and lived life. When he wasn't born, he didn't hold the door open for him, and that guy killed himself. Now I know that is a very dramatic scenario, but that can happen. Simple acts of kindness can go a long way.

You have to live and enjoy it. Don't wait for something to happen, go get after it, and do it. Because it is your life, and you need to make the best of it! I ask you to tell people during not just this week, but all weeks, of all years, that they matter. Trust me, it will make a huge difference in somebody's day and life, and then you will live a Wonderful Life!

Was this advice helpful? Would you want to live your life according to the fact that you matter?

Peace and Love,
DGS

Quotes of the Day: "Strange isn't? Each man's life touches so many other lives. When he isn't around, he leaves an awful hole. Doesn't he?" - Clarence the Angel
"Remember, No Man is a Failure, if He has Friends!" - Clarence the Angel
"What is it that you want, Mary? What do you want? You want the Moon? Just say the word and I'll throw a lasso around it and pull it down. Hey, that's a pretty good idea. I'll give you the Moon, Mary!" - George Bailey 

For my sixth Tune Tuesday, and my last Christmas flavored one for this year, I will be doing a song that I always sing and harmonize with my dad, whenever it comes on the radio. It is a song by one of my favorite bands, but his all-time favorite band, and it's "Little St. Nick", by The Beach Boys.

I love this song because it is just so 'bouncy', and is so much fun to sing. The high parts in the beginning, middle, and end, are so much fun. The verse and chorus lines are such cool lines. The song opens with Ooh, Merry Christmas dear, (Christmas comes this time each year). Ooh, Oh, Then the first verse goes, "Well way up North where the air gets cold, there's a tale about Christmas that you've all been told, and a real famous cat all dressed up in red, and he spends the whole year workin' out on his sled." Then the chorus comes in with, "It's the Little St. Nick, (Little St. Nick). It's the Little St. Nick, (Little St. Nick)." Then the second verse comes in with, "Just an old bobsled we call the Old St. Nick, well she'll walk a toboggan with the four speed stick. She's candy apple red with a ski for a wheel, and when Santa hits the gas man just watch her peel."

Then the chorus comes back again, and then my favorite part comes in, the bridge. It goes "A run, run reindeer. A run, run reindeer, ah. A run, run reindeer, A run, run reindeer, (In a low voice: He don't miss no one.) Then the third and final verse goes, "And hauling' through the snow at a frightening speed, with a half a dozen reindeer, with a Rudy to lead. He's got to wear his goggles cause the snow really flies, and he's cruisin' every path with a little surprise. Then the chorus start again, and then the beginning chorus part comes in again, to close out and fade out the song.

Like I have said with the nine songs, including this one, that I have done on this blog so far, It is impossible to sing or at least listen to this song, without a huge smile on your face. This song is sung almost like in the point of view of a child, explaining the Christmas tale to some of his younger friends, or his younger siblings. This song is so much fun, and I hope that you enjoy it down below.

Have you ever heard this song before? Do you like this song? What do you think about when you hear this song?

Peace and Love,
DGS

Quotes of the Day: "Music is the harmony of life." - Walt Disney
"A world without music, is not a world that I want to be a part of." - Unknown