I am getting excited for the holidays!
I have been more and more enamored of Christmas over the last couple of years. Not because I’m religious whatsoever. In any way. I think it has to do with fewer trips home during the year (making me more excited to go over the holidays), more annual parties and things to look forward to (now that I’m managing two families’ worth – even though this is actually kind of nutty sometimes), and a growing inventory of Christmas music.
Okay, the last one is sort of made up. However, I did splurge a little while back on 3 Christmas CDs. And I’ve started listening to them. This is early for me, but I’m digging it. I’m also looking into a Christmas concert featuring a boys choir. I think boys (or at least all-male) choirs are my favorite way to hear Christmas carols. Bing Crosby and/or Frank Sinatra are an extremely close second. Also Louis Armstrong. In truth, I’m pretty open, provided it’s not a totally pop-rock-crap version of a carol.
I digress. I’m also getting pumped because we’re planning a big holiday party. I’ve already pre-bought some wine for the mulling (so as to spread out the expense of this party over a couple of pay checks), and we’ve made plans to bake cookies a week ahead. I also intend to pick up a wreath or some pine boughs or something for that pine-y Christmasy smell.
Good Christmas-y smell: stick a bunch of cloves into some oranges. And if you don’t have it, get the Ella Fitzgerald Christmas Album–the best. AND the local library probably has a bunch of christmas CDs.