In anticipation of the first Snow of this season, I set out late this morning to get some errands done before the snow began to fall. I got to Georgio’s Coffee Roasters a bit after noon and purchased some whole bean coffee for home, some ground coffee for a present, and a cup of their new Mexican Roast for the road, which turned out to be absolutely delicious (Coffee Without Equal)! From there I headed to Dick’s Sporting Goods to use up $20 in coupons on some additional Stocking Stuffers. There was a long line at the checkout, but it moved surprisingly quickly. I headed west and decided to take a chance, and try Trader Joe’s (always tough at midday, it has been impossible at any time during the pandemic). I figured it would put me in the neighborhood of The Butcher Place, hopefully, coinciding with my order being ready for pick up. The line to get in, was about 30 people. There was a time that I would have driven right past, but I had resolved that I would get on line (or is it “in” line?), regardless. I was inside within 15 minutes, and the kind of enjoyed the hustle and bustle, as it had a real Holiday Season feel. It didn’t take long to finish up, with every register open and all lines moving quickly (I do love that store). Back in the car, the Butcher informed that my order was ready – my plan had worked out. I was there within 5 minutes, picked up my order, and placed the all important Prime Rib order for dinner on Christmas Day (to be picked up next Wednesday).

By the time I got home, I had been in the car long enough to have listened to “A Very Special Christmas” and “A Very Special Christmas 2”. You know you are getting old, when the music you remember (and cherish) when it was new, is now considered “Classic”. I have them on CD’s! I guess even my car is kind of old now, since it has a CD Player. Alright, about the music. Since I lifted my self imposed moratorium on Christmas Music, last week, I have been listening to a whole lot of it. I have been impressed with some of the very new Christmas Music. Gwen Stefani and Blake Shelton, Dan and Shay, Kelly Clarkson and Brett Eldridge, Michael Buble (ehh), Sia (Candy Cane Lane) and Mariah Carey all have real good Christmas Music helping to fill up the air waves. BUT, both of those CD’s are still my favorite music for this time of year – and actually the only CD’s I still actually use (I found one of them in the car CD Player today – safely kept since last year).

As much as I love them both, there really is no comparing the two albums. There are only a couple of songs on the first one, that I ever look to skip. The 2nd volume has several, that I find it hard not to skip over. There is some original music (Run DMC’s “Christmas in Hollis”) but mostly it has great artists creating great versions of Christmas Classics. Take a look and you tell me, which one is better.

No Contest, really!

These were done in 1987 and 1992! Definitely Classics. There is certainly great Holiday Music that is not on either of these albums (The Waitresses, “Christmas Wrapping” and who doesn’t love Adam Sandler’s Hanukkah Songs), but these are the two that really get me there. If I had to choose only one Christmas Song to listen to, it would be the Grand Finale on “A Very Special Christmas”, Stevie Nicks singing “Silent Night”. If that song doesn’t put you in the Spirit, you didn’t listen well enough.

It did begin, and still is snowing!