How Could I Have Forgotten These Songs?!?!?!

I realized I left off a few favorites from my top holiday songs list the other day:

• Father Christmas -- The Kinks
• White Christmas -- Bing Crosby
• Santa Baby -- Eartha Kitt

Shame on me.

I also heard Jack Johnson's version of Rudolph today. The verdict is still out, but I'm thinking I might dig it.

A Gift Only Davey Crockett Could Love

If you're still thinking of the perfect gift to give me, I need to make something clear:

As much as I love funky jewelry and accessories, (and I do! I do! HINT HINT)... I can live my whole life without these:

http://www.kaboodle.com/reviews/real-squirrel-feet-earrings-or-necklace-you-choose

I honestly don't think I'd dig the daily caress of little feet against my neck. Really. It's Ok ... even if the thought counts. Skeevy as it is.

I hope Regretsy (love, love, love that blog) has picked this particular gem up in its daily coverage of holiday gift ideas from Etsy.com.

Oh, and thanks to my coworker and friend Kate for sending me this link. She shared it with a number of us at the office, and it did illicit the expected chatter. As another coworker Becky asked, "Where's PETA?"

Deck the Halls with Christmas Music...

As we all know, 'tis the season for nauseating and/or irritating Christmas music.

I'm the first to admit that both Manheim Steamroller's and Transiberian Orchestra's performances set my nerves on edge, particularly The Carol of the Bells. Oh how I hate that song. If you wanted to drive me insane, perhaps permanently, lock me in a room and pipe in that song. The frenetic shriekiness of it, played over and over, would push me over the edge into the abyss of madness.

But, that said, I'm not a total Grinch at this time of the year. I always get a little misty eyed when I hear a good version of "O Holy Night." And I know all the words to the 12 Days of Christmas and might even perform it if I've had enough adult beverages.

And, there are plenty of Christmas and "seasonal" songs that I love to hear...and also sing along to while I'm cooking and going about my holiday preparation. In no particular order, here they are:

• Baby It's Cold Outside -- Dean Martin
• Christmas (Baby Please Come Home) -- U2
• Merry Christmas (I Don't Want to Fight) -- The Ramones
• (Everybody's Waitin' For) The Man with the Bag -- Kay Starr
• 'Zat You Santa Claus? -- Louis Armstrong
• Silent Night -- Ella Fitzgerald
• Santa Claus is Coming to Town -- Lou Rawls
• Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree -- Brenda Lee
• Jingle Bell Rock -- Jimmy Helms
• I've Got My Love to Keep Me Warm -- Dean Martin
• Christmas is the Time to Say I Love You -- Billy Squier

And yes, I'm just enough of a sap that I do enjoy the old standard by Nat King Cole...

"Chestnuts roasting on an open fire. Jack Frost, nipping at your nose..."

(You KNOW you'll be singing it for the rest of the day...)

I Know It's Disappointing, But...

I have nothing bizarre to report today.

No strange occurrences. No notable mishaps. No mayhem. No destruction.

I guess the fact I strung one extra bead on a necklace I made to wear to my office party on Friday and didn't notice until it was completely done counts as something.

So does the fact that the Angel Tree gift donation I forgot to take to church on Sunday is still in my car because I forgot (again) to drop it off after work today.

But none of that is a big deal. Or splashy enough to merit a funny diatribe.

Doesn't make for an entertaining blog entry, but it does make for an easy day.

I'm playing it safe by staying in and lounging tonight. Why mess with a good thing? :)

I Learned Something Useful Today

Did you know that it only takes a fraction of a second too long in the toaster oven for seemingly innocent toasting coconut to ignite into a little self-contained inferno?

I do now.

On the second cycle of toasting, I must have set the timer just a bit too long. I figured this out when I smelled something incinerating, (I was still standing in the kitchen, rolling truffles into other toppings). And saw a flicker of flame inside the oven.

I didn't panic. I've had combustion in there before (taco shells). If you move fast and keep the door closed (the most important thing to remember), you're golden.

I pulled on my trusty oven mitts and dashed out back with the minor calamity, yanked out the coconut flambe, and tossed the tray face down on the driveway. I enjoyed watching a few stray, flaming wads of coconut flicker then burn out on the asphalt.

No oven damage. The tray came clean. And, best, my house is still standing.

And I now have yet another classic moment to recount here for all of you fine people.

For the record, the second round of toasting went just fine. Mainly because I hovered with my nose to the oven door until it was done.

Ooops...

So, if you were driving north on Bunts Road between Franklin and Detroit avenues today, say around 4 p.m. and saw a hapless spaz parked on the street midway between the two cross streets with her coat half on and half caught in the locked car door... that would be me.

I don't know how these things happen to me.

They just do.

Something to Ponder...

If you are going to dye your dark hair hot pink, what's the ettiquette surrounding any facial hair matching your natural hair color?

No, I am not asking for myself. My 'stache and chin hairs aren't that thick YET, thank you very much.

I just saw some guy at Tower City today sporting wild fuschia locks with a mismatched dark beard. A disconcerting look to say the least. There was just no way the two could exist on the same head without looking odd.

So my question is this: Do you dye the beard to match or shave it off so you won't look completely unbalanced?