Nothing was more cheesy than the Mormon Tabernacle Choir singing "O Tannenbaum" over the crackles of the Yule Log. While the Yule Log blazed away - it never actually stopped blazing and became an ember, or smoldered along like a real fire would - the carols merrily carried on. Soon we would open presents, my parents would have a few eggnogs and someone would change the channel.
Now I live in California and I have a fireplace, but I hadn't thought of the Yule Log in years. Until last night. That's when I found out that San Francisco and the entire Bay Area would be under a Spare the Air lockdown for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Suddenly I wanted a fire for the holidays and couldn't believe I couldn't light one. Suddenly, I recalled those Christmases in Connecticut and the Yule Log and thought - there must be an app for that!
There is - in fact, there are several. I logged onto the iTunes store and found the iYuleLog for my iPad. It was free. While the audio choices that promised me a crackling fire, babbling brook or some original music by someone named Amber Snider didn't work, the various fire selections did. When we get tired of the traditional fireplace Yule Log tomorrow we can switch to a Napa ranch campfire or a wood burning stove (also both banned in real-life under the Spare the Air regulations).
Seasons Greetings!
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