12 Days of Thankfulness…

In this shattering time of cutbacks, heart-rendering lay offs and total uncertainty, I am taking the time out to be a little thankful for all I already have. Instead of the 12 things I want this year, I am going to take some time out of the Union Square dash and pudding eating the 12 days before Christmas, for some ol’ fashioned gratitude.

Today, it’s a big thank you for the coolness of today’s Christmas Carols. From I-like-to-call-her-slutty Mariah Carey, Faith Hill, and the great Keisha Cole to the classic crooners of the Dean Martin and Bing Crosby era.

To some, the tinny carol music on the supermarket sound system illicits nothing but groans and complaints over retailer conspiracies to get us shopping before we’ve stored that barbeque in September. But I am a sensitive fish, and when I put those sweet tunes on, it’s like the Christmas spirit takes over. Troll-like, I find myself staring into a pot of sweetly, spicy mulled wine, and reaching up dangerously high to hang that tinsel. This year I put up my crazy tree my crazy sister gave me for my 30th Birthday. It’s psychadelic and schitzophrenic, switching madly from purple to green to pink. I think it must’ve been on sale at Target, cos she gave it to me in March. Alan made fun of its size, but I like to think it brings joy to the little kids in the apartment across the street. I have filled it with African artisanal trees made out of wire, foil and anything else the people of Africa could lay their hands on.

Tonight we are hosting a traditional boardgame night. Cherished friends will join us, bringing their festive spirit and holiday buzz, as I whip out Taboo, Pictionary and Apples to Apples. Of course, its mandatory to flip on a bit of Nat King Cole singing O Come All Ye Faithful. And this time I will be sampling my very cool mother-in-law’s favourite eggnog and bourbon recipe. According to the results of the taste test conducted by the crack team specialists at 7X7, the very best brand of the season is green. By that, I mean organic.

But we don’t have to be serious when we select our festive soundtracks, and so I’ll leave you today with the very sweet, funny carol that’s doing the roundabout in my head today:

 

 

I’m gettin’ nuttin’ for Christmas
Mommy and Daddy are mad.
I’m gettin’ nuttin’ for Christmas
‘Cause I ain’t been nuttin’ but bad.

I broke my bat on Johnny’s head;
Somebody snitched on me.
I hid a frog in sister’s bed;
Somebody snitched on me.

I spilled some ink on Mommy’s rug;
I made Tommy eat a bug;
Bought some gum with a penny slug;
Somebody snitched on me.

CHORUS
Oh, I’m gettin’ nuttin’ for Christmas
Mommy and Daddy are mad.
I’m gettin’ nuttin’ for Christmas
‘Cause I ain’t been nuttin’ but bad.

I put a tack on teacher’s chair;
Somebody snitched on me.
I tied a knot in Suzy’s hair;
Somebody snitched on me.
I did a dance on Mommy’s plant.
Climbed a tree and tore my pants.
Filled that sugar bowl with ants;
Somebody snitched on me.

My Favourite Tree This Year