little. yellow. different. A weblog by Ernie Hsiung

live blogging the all-christmas radio station

I am currently working from a coffee shop in Fremont - one of the few with free wi-fi that doesn’t have a menu in Chinese or sells pearl milk tea. The coffee shop is playing the light-rock-less-talk station which, to my horror, is now all-Christmas music, 24 hours a day. This is either an attempt by the coffee shop owners to either force some Christmas cheer down my throat, or to minimize my time here. Either way, it’s totally working.

3:18pm: They are playing “Hey Santa,” by Wilson Phillips. Holy Christ, this is such a horrible song. They take a completely forgettable pop song about missing their baby, and then with the magic word “SANTA,” guarantees themselves airplay at least once every year.

3:24pm: They are now playing a Frank Sinatra song about Christmas in San Francisco. The radio station managers are probably wetting their pants right now at their good luck that there’s a song that exists about Christmas AND the Bay Area. I expect to hear this song again in the next thirteen minutes.

3:40pm: “I’m Dreaming of a White Christmas.” This song would be infinitely better if it wasn’t being played the day before Thanksgiving. I suddenly imagine myself in black and white walking down a city street, a la Miracle on 34th Street. Then I imagine myself getting lynched.

5:15pm: They’re playing smooth jazz now. I think the worst of it is over. I think.

Uh, Ernie, I had a little trouble parsing that. Do they sell pearl milk tea or not?

Okay it’s November and they are playing Christmas songs already? I am not in the mood or spirit. I would have called in sick for the day.

Hang in there.

The worse part is that all the local Wal Marts around here had all their Christmas shit up about 3 weeks before Halloween. Wtf?? I like Christmas, I just hate all the money that has to be spent. Happy Thanksgiving to you, Luv. Many blessings to you and yours.

Wow. I too abhor “Hey Santa”… that’s probably just about the worst Christmas song out there. Having spent a few years in retail, I could tell you some scary stories. Guess how many versions of “Sleigh Ride” there are. Just try.

Ernie–which coffee shop? I’m tired of paying for access at S-bucks…

I go to Suju’s on Thorton, Uncle Mike. Pretty good place if you ever need to get work/studying done.

Not that this really has anything to do with your post (but I go off on Xmas coming too soon rants way too easy, so I’ll just lament something else), but I hate how Saint Arbucks has run so many little coffee shops out of business. Our favorite local one is gone now. And it’s not like St. Arbucks’ coffee is anything great!

I’ve tried Starbucks and to me it’s like drinking liquid acidic ash. I can’t even choke enough of it down to get my money’s worth. Such a waste. The best I can do is buy the bottled Starbucks Frapaccino from the store. Mocha. That stuffs good but that’s all I can stand with the Starbucks logo on it.

Interesting to note that two hours of constant Christmas cheer didn’t drive you out of there. If that is the minimized time frame, how long do you usually lounge around in a coffee shop (provided it has free wi-fi)?

Now that is nearing to that time again, any other exciting Christmas adventures in coffee shops?

Keep us updated!