Almost Skipping Christmas

One of these years I will get up the nerve to really skip Christmas. Maybe use the time to do some good deeds or something. But we all have to start somewhere right? So, this year I have come to this executive decision. No Christmas decorating. Actually, to say that I came to it might be stretching the truth a little bit. More like it was forced on me. Here is the scenario. After roughly two weeks of dodging and shifting Christmas boxes to make way for more urgent callings I have come to my senses and realized: one, these things are never going to make it out of the box, and two, Christmas is only a week away. Less than that if I count our Christmas with my husbands family. So back up to the attic they go. It's like a great weight has been lifted off my shoulders. It makes the after-Christmas clean so much easier to face as well. Now, before you go all bonkers on me, yes, we did get the tree up and decorated. So that's nice.

Now what do I do with all this time I just freed up? I know, Top Ten Christmas song list. Off the top of my head these are my top ten favorite Christmas songs with accompanying comments and if you are lucky, a link. I'm pretty sure they should be on your list too. And, in case you were wondering it does matter who the artist is. Very important.

Here they are in no particular order.

1. Ave Maria, Pavarotti - Maybe not technically a "Christmas" song but it's close enough for jazz. I like the Shubert version and it is heavenly when he sings it with the Vienna boys choir.

2. Little Drummer Boy, David Bowie and Bing Crosby - Oh brother. I remember seeing this as a kid and thinking, "Huh??" It was just cheesy enough to become a classic. Now David Bowie is the old one. Maybe he should do a remake with ummmm, Lil Wayne?

3. Still Still Still, Mannheim Steamroller - Of all the Mannheim Steamroller Christmas songs of all time this one, from A Fresh Aire Christmas, is my very favorite. The best way to listen to it is in a rocking chair (holding a small child or baby is optional) in a room lit only by candles or Christmas tree lights and a light snow falling outside. A fire in the fireplace is nice too but technically you shouldn't have a live tree in the same room as the fire. Then voila, for three minutes and forty three seconds you will be transported.

4. Wizards in Winter, Trans-Siberian Orchestra - Seriously, you should wake up to this every morning between Thanksgiving and Christmas.

5. The Christmas Song, Nat King Cole - It's not Christmas till I hear this song.

6. Santa Baby, Eartha Kitt - this song has been covered by EVERYone, and their dog too. Eartha Kitt is the only one really worth listening to. Also, be careful who you listen to this song with. It has magical superpowers on a certain gender.

7. Christmas Time is Here, Vince Guaraldi Trio - Again, not Christmas till I hear, or see, this song.

8. More, Bobby Darrin - Ok, this one for sure, is not a Christmas Song, but Kohl's used it several years ago in their Christmas ad campaign and I haven't been able to shake it. Love it baby. Grab a hairbrush and sing along. You'll be glad you did.

9. God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen, Barenaked Ladies with Sarah McLachlan - Barenaked for the Holidays is a fantastic album. I recommend the whole thing but this song in particular will dazzle you.

10 Last but not least is a little ditty called The Abominable O Holy Night. I don't know who sings this but there is a story behind it somewhere, a very strange and weird story. This is a song that has to be heard to be believed and I'm just twisted enough to give you the link. Scroll down and press play. Enjoy

So, probably I've missed a few. If you think I've made some glaring errors make me a Christmas mix and send it my way.

And if I don't see you before 2009, Have a Merry Christmas and a Happy Happy New Year!