Holidaze 12/25/19

Grumpy Cat wishes you a very merry...wait...who are we kidding here? This is Grumpy Cat. She doesn't wish anything of the sort. She wishes you a hairball, if nothing else.

Suck it up and deal, kids.

(No, seriously: Merry Christmas, one and all.)

Holidaze 12/24/19

Holidaze 12/23/19

Holidaze 12/20/19

The Beach Boys released their original Christmas album the year I was born--1964, for those who care--and, like every other album they'd recorded to that point, it was a hit, rising to number 6 on the Billboard music chart. The album itself was schizophrenic, though, split evenly between original songs ("Little Saint Nick," "The Man with All the Toys," "Merry Christmas Baby") and more traditional holiday fare ("Frosty the Snowman," "White Christmas"). Throughout, though, the harmonizing the Boys had become famous for.

In 1977, in an effort to satisfy their contract to Warner Bros., the Beach Boys recorded a second Christmas album, only to have it rejected (and shelved) by the studio. It sat in the vault for a couple of decades, until The Beach Boys Ultimate Christmas was released in 1997, with some of the tracks from the aborted 1977 effort included.

I lost my copy of Ultimate Christmas--along with every other CD I owned--when I had to abandon La Casa del Terror back in 2016. However, through the magic of Amazon.com, I landed a copy of the CD last year.

And? I love it to pieces.

Holidaze 12/19/19

Speaking of odd combo platters, you wouldn't expect a Christmas album by the surf rockers behind "Walk, Don't Run" to be as much fun as it is, yet The Ventures' Christmas Album is just that--fun.

From the up-tempo rendition of "Frosty the Snowman" to the delicate turn on "Silver Bells," the Ventures clearly enjoyed making this record. They even followed up with a couple more holiday-themed discs, but I haven't listened to those...yet.

Holidaze 12/18/19

You may think that the holiday combo platter of Art Garfunkel (of "Simon and..." fame) and Christian singer Amy Grant would be an odd pairing for a Christmas album--especially one as "high concept" as The Animals' Christmas by Jimmy Webb. And you'd be right. It is an odd combination.

But you know what? It works. Beautifully.

The concept of the album is simple: It's the story of Mary and Joseph's journey to Bethlehem and the birth of their son, Jesus, but it's told from the perspective of the animals they encounter along the way. Mary is shocked at her pregnancy ("How can this be/I've known no man," Mary sings), but Joseph is tender, warm and determined to find lodging for his wife and child-to-be. All the while, they are pursued by Herod's centurions, who are determined to end the life of "the newborn king"--at all costs.

The animals, though--donkeys and doves and frogs alike--are just as determined to find the family lodging and, ultimately, the way to safety.

Holidaze 12/17/19

Yvonne Craig played Batgirl in the third (and last) season of the Batman TV series in the 1960s. She added extra flair and camp to a series already overflowing with camp. There was even talk of spinning Batgirl off into her own series (a pilot was apparently even shot). Unfortunately, that wasn't enough to save Batman, which was cancelled in 1968.

Fans have never forgotten Craig's Batgirl, though, and obviously somebody at Hallmark had a sweet spot for her: This year, they issued the ornament pictured above, which is a dead ringer for Craig.

Holidaze 12/16/19

Holiday Bear is brightening up my cube at work.

Holidaze 12/13/19

And now, ROBOSANTA! Raining death and ter...um...I mean, joy and happiness on all the world.

Holidaze 12/12/19

I don't just put out vintage Holidaze decorations--this reindeer was bought at Target this past weekend. He'll hang on a tree one day. When I have someplace to put a tree. Yes.

Holidaze 12/11/19

Found this old snowman at Village Discount Outlet a couple of weeks ago. He lights up, too.

Holidaze 12/10/19

A festive porcelain Santa Claus ornament--still in its original box!--that I found recently at Village Discount Outlet.

Holidaze 12/9/19

Holidaze 12/6/19

One more Santa to round out the week--this one in a neighbor's front yard.

Holidaze 12/5/29

A third Santa standing at the work station.

Holidaze 12/4/19

A Victorian-style Santa (or so the label on his base claims) inhabiting the workplace for the season.

Holidaze 12/3/19

An old friend: Santa, hand-painted by me back in the '80s, standing at my work station today.

Holidaze 12/2/19

A wreath around a lamp post in Lincoln Square.