Christmas Countdown

The countdown to Christmas has reached the single digits with just 9 days to go before one of the most celebrated holidays the world over.  Despite the over commercialism, the hectic pace and the crowded stores, I still love Christmas.  Christmas when I was growing up was always magical time of year filled with beautiful music, Christmas parties and the anticipation of Santa's visit.  As an adult, it has not always been so holly jolly a time.  For many years, the stress and strain of a family Christmas was almost too much to bear.  For several years, due to the estrangement from my family over my sexual orientation and/or financial hard times, I did not celebrate at all.  Even after the semi-reconciliation with my family, I still found it hard to get into the Christmas Spirit.  However, this year I find myself singing Carols to myself as I go about my daily routine.  I am trying really hard to get into the Spirit of the Season and most of the time I am pretty successful in my attempt.  I have some things up my sleeve to help Will and I enjoy the holiday and the anticipation is starting to build.  To help things along I will be featuring different Christmas themed wallpapers at the top of every post from now until the big day.  I also have some great Sounds of the Season planned for the for Christmas week beginning on Monday.  I hope we all take time out from all the hustle and bustle to share a little holiday cheer with our friends and families whether they be families by blood or families of choice. 

As and early Christmas gift to you all this special Sounds of the Season play list celebrates the beauty and joy of Christmas. Starting with the original 1942 version of Irving Berlin's White Christmas sung by Bing Crosby followed by Pentatonix singing The Carol of the Bells and Nat King Cole singing The Christmas Song. Then we have a perfect version of Silent Night gathering music superstars for a Christmas in Vienna concert sung in French, English, Italian, Spanish and German. Starring (in order of appearance): Helmut Lotti, Sarah Brightman, Luciano Pavarotti, Ricardo Cocciante, Vanessa Williams, Patricia Kaas, Plácido Domingo, Sissel Kyrkjebo, Charles Aznavour, Diana Ross, José Carreras, Ying Huang, Michael Bolton, Tony Bennett, and Charlotte Church. Turning again to Pentatonix with their interpretation of The Little Drummer Boy followed by O little Town of Bethlehem sung by the Vienna Boys Choir, Luciano Pavarottie and Trisha Yearwood singing Adeste Fidelis, the Washington National Cathedral Choir of Men and Boys and the Congregation singing Joy to the World, Angels We Have Heard On High performed by the Combined Choirs of Luther College & Symphony Orchestra, Sandra Peter, conductor, The King's College Cambridge singing The First Noel, It Came Upon a Midnight Clear sung by Josh Groban and Mariah Carey performing Hark! The Herald Angels Sing/Gloria (In Excelsis Deo). The finale of this Sounds of the Season play list features The Royal Choral Society and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra singing Handel's Hallelujah Chorus from The Messiah Oratorio, Carrie Underwood singing Do You Hear What Hear?, Josh Groban singing O Holy Night, Sissel Kyrkjebø singing What Child is this, Pentatonix performing O Come Emmanuel and closing with Franz Schubert's Ave Maria transcribed for Violin and Guitar performed by Gil Shaham on Violin and Göran Söllscher on Guitar.

Of course, Mondays would not be complete with out a few hunks and hotties strutting their stuff in their finest Monday's Undies for you to cruise and peruse below the play list.  Thanks for sharing a part of your Monday with me.  May the Blessings of the Spirits of the Season be upon you and grant you peace in the coming New Year, a very Merry Christmas to you all.  Until next time as always, Enjoy!