Christmas 2018

[Fresh Tendrils]

Re: Christmas 2018

We watched Christmas Vacation last night. I feel like I'm laughing at something completely different every year we watch it. Today I pulled out the rest of our Christmas movies and will have to figure out when to watch them in the next TWO WEEKS! I also ordered Planes Trains & Automobiles to add to the collection.

Another recent acquisition to get into the spirit(s) of the season.


Everything is officially wrapped and ready. We'll probably take presents over to the in-laws this weekend and I was going to drop presents off at my parents' house the Saturday before.

It really feels like this month has been going extremely slow. Hopefully this week picks up the pace a bit.

[PhilliesFan13]

Re: Christmas 2018



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[mike24forever]

Re: Christmas 2018

2 weeks gentlemen. 2 weeks. I hate how quickly it is flying by. My daughter is a lot of fun this year. Her favourite Christmas Songs are 1.) Santa Tell Me. 2.) Jingle Bells 3.) Jingle Bell Rock with Wonderful Christmastime having a soft spot for because I love it. Which she tells me about every time it is played on the radio.

Mary has her 3, what are yours?

[LowerWolf]

Re: Christmas 2018

Finally pulled out my Christmas tree last night. Found a spider dangling from it. Immediately went out and bought a new tree.

(The tree was old and falling apart and needed replacing anyway, but the spider pushed it over the edge)

[slickdtc]

Christmas 2018

Our humble basement apartment Christmas. It’s a small space, but I think putting it in front of the giant mirror really does the trick. The advent calendar was family-made by a relative, not even sure exactly who or the relation. But it is Christmas to me... putting up that mini ornament every day until Christmas. That was the magic of Christmas growing up.

IMG_4271.jpg

[Fresh Tendrils]

Re: Christmas 2018

2 weeks gentlemen. 2 weeks. I hate how quickly it is flying by. My daughter is a lot of fun this year. Her favourite Christmas Songs are 1.) Santa Tell Me. 2.) Jingle Bells 3.) Jingle Bell Rock with Wonderful Christmastime having a soft spot for because I love it. Which she tells me about every time it is played on the radio.

Mary has her 3, what are yours?

Limiting it to 3 songs is tough, but I'll do my best:

Straight No Chaser - 12 Days of Christmas

Spoiler

https://youtu.be/dee-N0Fomqo

Their album "Holiday Spirits" was a new addition to my Christmas collection this year and has gotten played quite a bit already. Their renditions make for a wonderful listen - both fun and wonderfully spiritual throughout.

Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings - Big Bulbs

Spoiler

https://youtu.be/uL19eKEa3CY

Trying to pick a favorite off of "It's A Holiday Soul Party" is nearly impossible so I went with the most boisterous and fun song of the bunch. The album itself is a top three favorite Christmas album. Their set on NPR's Tiny Desk promoting the album is amazing as well:
https://youtu.be/iRENaUQc5No

Bing Crosby - White Christmas

Spoiler

https://youtu.be/A9ibhWgMlso

Honestly I have resisted Bing for many years, but I finally warmed up to him this year. His voice is iconic and this song is both dated and timeless. It really transports you to a vivid scene that is carried on Bing's nearly flawless vocal tones.

[mike24forever]

Re: Christmas 2018

Limiting it to 3 songs is tough, but I'll do my best:

Straight No Chaser - 12 Days of Christmas

Spoiler

https://youtu.be/dee-N0Fomqo

Their album "Holiday Spirits" was a new addition to my Christmas collection this year and has gotten played quite a bit already. Their renditions make for a wonderful listen - both fun and wonderfully spiritual throughout.

Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings - Big Bulbs

Spoiler

https://youtu.be/uL19eKEa3CY

Trying to pick a favorite off of "It's A Holiday Soul Party" is nearly impossible so I went with the most boisterous and fun song of the bunch. The album itself is a top three favorite Christmas album. Their set on NPR's Tiny Desk promoting the album is amazing as well:
https://youtu.be/iRENaUQc5No

Bing Crosby - White Christmas

Spoiler

https://youtu.be/A9ibhWgMlso

Honestly I have resisted Bing for many years, but I finally warmed up to him this year. His voice is iconic and this song is both dated and timeless. It really transports you to a vivid scene that is carried on Bing's nearly flawless vocal tones.

White Christmas is a classic, No Chaser are very talented and the way they incorporated To-To in that song. Big Bulbs is new to me and I'll give it a listen.

[mike24forever]

Re: Christmas 2018

Our humble basement apartment Christmas. It’s a small space, but I think putting it in front of the giant mirror really does the trick. The advent calendar was family-made by a relative, not even sure exactly who or the relation. But it is Christmas to me... putting up that mini ornament every day until Christmas. That was the magic of Christmas growing up.

[ATTACH]159413[/ATTACH]

My wife and I had to great Christmases in a basement apartment. Christmas is what up make it. Beautiful tree.

[mike24forever]

Re: Christmas 2018

Finally pulled out my Christmas tree last night. Found a spider dangling from it. Immediately went out and bought a new tree.

(The tree was old and falling apart and needed replacing anyway, but the spider pushed it over the edge)

When I read this I imagined a guy walking away from a burning house with a smile on his face.

[Fresh Tendrils]

Re: Christmas 2018

White Christmas is a classic, No Chaser are very talented and the way they incorporated To-To in that song. Big Bulbs is new to me and I'll give it a listen.

I found a new album today you might enjoy. JD McPherson's "Socks" which was released in November. It's great. He really captures that Chuck Berry and Brenda Lee sound.

[SmashMan]

Re: Christmas 2018

2 weeks gentlemen. 2 weeks. I hate how quickly it is flying by. My daughter is a lot of fun this year. Her favourite Christmas Songs are 1.) Santa Tell Me. 2.) Jingle Bells 3.) Jingle Bell Rock with Wonderful Christmastime having a soft spot for because I love it. Which she tells me about every time it is played on the radio.

Mary has her 3, what are yours?

I don't know if I'd say these are my three favorites, because the classics are classics for a reason, so here are three somewhat modern Christmas songs I'd pick just to mix things up.

• Sarah McLachlan's version of Happy Xmas (War Is Over). I hate the original, which is apparently an unpopular opinion based on the reaction from everyone I've ever told.
  
  
• Christina Aguilera - Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas. As anyone who's ever heard her probably knows she has a tendency to oversing, and that's definitely true when she was younger and put this album out. I don't think it takes too much away from this version though.
  
  
• Michael Buble - It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas. Not much to say, this dude just has a great voice for Christmas songs.

Honorable Mention:

• William Shatner - Feliz Navidad. He just put out a Christmas album, and it's great as long as you know what you're getting from William Shatner singing.

[pietasterp]

Re: Christmas 2018

I think it begins and ends with Phil Spector's "A Christmas Gift for You".

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/6pVon5xDARc" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>

The Wall of Sound and the girl-group superstars hitting on all cylinders for 35 solid minutes and not a miss among them.

[Fresh Tendrils]

Re: Christmas 2018

I think it begins and ends with Phil Spector's "A Christmas Gift for You".

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/6pVon5xDARc" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>

The Wall of Sound and the girl-group superstars hitting on all cylinders for 35 solid minutes and not a miss among them.

I've been trying to the vinyl for the past couple of years. It sells out quick at Christmas time.

[Majingir]

Re: Christmas 2018

First time ever I watch a hallmark Christmas movie from start to finish. Definitely felt like a typical hallmark movie. Everything wrapped up in a bow(no pun intended), her personal and professional life are suddenly great and they all live happily ever after. Was a good movie and all though.

Unrelated question, do people prefer coloured or clear(white) lights on their tree? I've done it the exact same every year but had to change it up this year. It definitely gives things a different look and feel. Not in a bad or good way, just in a different way.

[pietasterp]

Re: Christmas 2018

First time ever I watch a hallmark Christmas movie from start to finish. Definitely felt like a typical hallmark movie. Everything wrapped up in a bow(no pun intended), her personal and professional life are suddenly great and they all live happily ever after. Was a good movie and all though.

I like that your wrap-up was that it was still a good movie, despite it being typical Hallmark treacle. I'm amazed you hung in there for an entire one from start-to-finish, though. The good news is: you've officially seen them all now.

Unrelated question, do people prefer coloured or clear(white) lights on their tree? I've done it the exact same every year but had to change it up this year. It definitely gives things a different look and feel. Not in a bad or good way, just in a different way.

I think as part of an overall planned "theme" tree, the clear/white lights are generally better, and in the right design, offer a cleaner / classier look overall. However, if you're doing a good old-fashioned "hang-every-ornament-we've-got-on-the-tree" controlled chaos decoration job, I think the colored lights are more festive.

I think for me, it breaks down like this: the adult me thinks from an aesthetic point of view, the white lights are cleaner. But the kid in me (which is who Christmas is really for, frankly...otherwise it's just a few days off of work) has always loved the multicolor lights. I like to change it up year-to-year, but for the past several years, it's been clear white.