carolinecrane: (misc: probably full of nargles)
Hanukkah begins tonight, and to celebrate I give you a new Hanukkah song from the Indigo Girls' Christmas album. It took some time for this album to grow on me, I admit, but it has, and hopefully those of you who collect Hanukkah songs will enjoy this new addition.

Indigo Girls -- Happy Joyous Hanukkah

I wanted to include the Hanukkah song from the Glee Christmas album, since they finally got their acts together and let Mark Salling record one, but it's not out yet. Lame! I'll try to work it in once it's available.
carolinecrane: (glee: santa beiste)
It's a cappella time again! This is the last day I have devoted specifically to a cappella, I believe, though there may still be a song or two floating around on the calendar.

If you were around last year you know that I approve of Justin Beiber's "Mistletoe". It's probably the most covered Christmas song of the season. In fact, I think it's on the forthcoming Glee Christmas album. But today we have the a cappella cover by everyone's favorite a cappella group, Pentatonix, and I have to say it's by far the best cover. Give it a listen; I think you'll agree.

Also included is a cover of the Beatles by the Dartmouth Aires. It's not a Christmas song, but it's stil lovely.

Pentatonix -- Mistletoe
Dartmouth Aires -- All You Need Is Love
carolinecrane: (misc: probably full of nargles)
Today's selection is a very haunting, melancholy acoustic version of "Wonderful Christmas Time" by Tom McRae. If you're not into the traditional upbeat mall carols, this one is for you.

Tom McRae -- Wonderful, Christmas Time
carolinecrane: (Default)
If you've been around here for any length of time, you probably know how I feel about Dolly Parton. She is a flawless human being and I adore everything she chooses to be. Today's selection, of course, is a new Christmas song from Dolly. It's a single she released a little while back, and I love it. I hope you will too.

Dolly Parton -- Comin' Home For Christmas
carolinecrane: (misc: ho ho ho)
Today we revisit the a cappella stylings of The Sing-Off alums. Below are three tracks, two popular Christmas songs, and one bonus song that I'm including just because it's fun. And it was on the Christmas album, so if it's good enough for The Sing-Off, it's good enough for me.

Urban Method -- You're A Mean One, Mr. Grinch
Nota, Committed & Pentatonix -- Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)
Jerry Lawson & the Sing-Off Contestants -- Sweet Soul Music
carolinecrane: (misc: in january it is nice)
Today we have two songs from The Smithereens' Christmas album. That's right, the Smithereens put out a Christmas album. Included on it is the classic 'Twas the Night Before Christmas, as well as a cover of the Ramones' Merry Christmas (I Don't Want to Fight Tonight). It's one of my favorites, and this is a good version. Then again, it's The Smithereens, so that's no surprise.

'Twas the Night Before Christmas
Merry Christmas (I Don't Want to Fight Tonight)
carolinecrane: (misc: ho ho ho)
There's a lot of Muppets on this year's calendar. I didn't think anyone would mind.

Today I give you a duet between Kermit the Frog and Tiffany Thornton. It's not a traditional song, but it's sweet all the same. Plus, Kermit.

I Believe -- Tiffany Thornton and Kermit
carolinecrane: (misc: probably full of nargles)
Hello and welcome to the Seventh Annual Musical Advent Calendar!

Damn, seven years. I cannot believe that.

But let's get on with it! This year I have 50 songs comprising roughly 2.5 hours of music for your listening enjoyment. As always, songs are posted on box.net so you can listen before you download, if you like. There's a mix of traditional and non-traditional, and I hope something for everyone. Enjoy!

On the first day I offer you two selections from the third and final Sing-Off Christmas album. I'm still really upset that NBC canceled that show. I looked forward to it all year, and now there will be no more a cappella Christmas albums for me to share with you. :sadface:

But let's enjoy this last one together, shall we? Today I offer you two tracks, one a Christmas song by Shawn Stockman (formerly of Boyz II Men, natch) featuring Nota, the season one winners. The second is not a Christmas song, but it's gorgeous and it's on the album so I'm sharing it.

Shawn Stockman f/Nota -- This Christmas
Committed and Afro Blue -- Ooh Child
carolinecrane: (misc: probably full of nargles)
It's Christmas Eve! Or, more accurately, Christmas Eve Day, since apparently Christmas Eve refers to the nighttime portion of the day only*. Anyway, usually by now we are all sick to death of Christmas music, so instead of any more traditional carols, on the last day of the calendar I offer you six songs about snow**.

Jeremy Messersmith -- Snow Day
The Leisure Society -- The Last Of the Melting Snow
Van Morrison -- Snow In San Anselmo
Pat Green f/Natalie Maines -- Snowing On Raton
Ella Fitzgerald -- Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!
The Cure -- Snow In Summer

Enjoy! I wish you all a very happy Christmas, whether you plan on sitting around a tree with family opening presents, or if it's just a regular old Saturday in your world. I hope either way it will be filled with good cheer and good food. The princess dress is nearly done, and I need to go finish that, but y'all, it is something to see. I can't wait to show you!

One last thing before I go:

Since it is Christmas Eve (Day), that means in less than 24 hours, Yuletide stories will be revealed. I promised [personal profile] jengeorge I'd let her know when the Yuletide Madness portion of Yuletide opens for last-minute stocking stuffers. I didn't forget! It just hasn't happened yet. It's their first year completely on AO3, and the girl who usually does that portion just had a baby, so it's not happening the usual way. More's the pity!

However! If any of you are at home and wondering what you could do with your day, check out this post for an explanation of Yuletide Madness and a link to posted prompts, so you can write treats. And if you want to wait until Madness opens, it'll give you something to do during those glumpy, post-Christmas days before the new year.

Personally, I will be in a cabin in Pigeon Forge with my family during those glumpy post-Christmas days, enduring forced activities such as Dollywood! And The Titanic Experience! But I have an iTouch, so I can probably write on the sly***.
___________________________________________________________
* My father is very particular about that. Seriously, he scolds me if he hears me using the term 'Christmas Eve' to refer to the entire day. I'm almost 40; I don't really enjoy being scolded by my father. So don't tell him I said it was Christmas Eve already.
** Really this is just an excuse to post some Van Morrison. Though he does mention Christmas. And pancake houses! Can't really go wrong there.
*** I'm not obsessed. It's a coping mechanism.
carolinecrane: (misc: probably full of nargles)
Today's songs were not originally on this year's calendar, but the other day the lovely and generous [profile] thunderemerald alerted me to the existence of Carbon Leaf's new Christmas album, then very kindly hooked me up with it. Thank you again, I love it!

There are nine original Christmas songs on the album, some of which are quite beautiful, some of which are just downright silly, all of which are totally fun. Today I give you the title song, as well as a New Year's song, because I like to include at least one on every calendar for the non-Christmas people who wander by:

Carbon Leaf -- Christmas Child
Carbon Leaf -- Toast to the New Year

Okay! It's the day before Christmas Eve, I am full of coffee and French toast, and I went out last night to do the last of my Christmas shopping, so the sewing marathon can begin! I believe I will break it up with short bursts of writing, just so I don't start crying at any random point during the day. Sewing has that effect on me sometimes!

At least I don't have to go anywhere today. It was bad enough last night at 10:00 when I was stuck in line at Joann behind some woman whose card was declined, and the employees all just wanted to go home, and who can blame them, Joann staying open until 10:00 is just not right, except it really helped me out with my interfacing emergency, so I was as nice and pleasant as I could be while I was there. It did not make up for the awful, unreasonable lady with the declined credit card.
carolinecrane: (misc: probably full of nargles)
Yesterday was the winter solstice, in case you missed it, which means that starting today, the days get longer again. Yaaaaaaaaaay.

Today's musical selections come to you from The Puppini Sisters, a swing-style retro vocal harmony act who are not actually sisters. Here they give us a fresh cover of "Step Into Christmas" and a fun rendition of "Mele Kalikimaka". Y'all know how I feel about "Mele Kalikimaka".

The Puppini Sisters -- Step Into Christmas
The Puppini Sisters -- Mele Kalikimaka

Last night, in addition to finishing as much of Zachary's costume as I could without going to the fabric store, I made treats for work. It's my last day until next year! That calls for treats. Mostly I just made Rice Krispy Treats because it's a tradition to bring them to my one coworker who loves them, but refuses to make the fresh ones for herself even though they are the easiest thing ever.

But I saw these in the Red Envelope catalog a few weeks ago, and they were so tiny and adorable, so I was all, "I could make those". Last night I gave it a go. And what do you know, they're tiny and adorable! )
carolinecrane: (misc: probably full of nargles)
This morning we go back to Pink Martini for that classic favorite, the Ukrainian Bell Carol, or as you may know it, The Carol Of the Bells. They perform it here in the original Ukrainian. Vocals by the Pacific Youth Choir. Have "La Vergine degli Angeli" (from Verdi's "La Forza del Destino") as well, just because it's gorgeous.

Pink Martini -- Shchedryk (Ukrainian Bell Carol)
Pink Martini -- La Vergine Degli Angeli

Guess who got no sewing done last night? This girl! Alas, I have been spoiled for the finale of "The Sing-Off", which I usually watch on Tuesdays at my sister's house (in place of Glee) so I will skip that tonight and come home to sew instead. Possibly also make some treats for work. Tomorrow's my last day until next year! I think I've been so busy I haven't even mentioned that I'm on vacation next week. More on that later, I'm sure.

I am really tired! But I have too much to do, so that's just too bad for me. Whatever, only four more days and it won't matter anymore, regardless of what I did or did not get done, and then I will have a whole Yuletide archive to dive into and no time to read any stories, because I will be with family. (My netbook's tiny; surely I can sneak fic in while no one's looking.)
carolinecrane: (misc: probably full of nargles)
For today's selection we travel to a land of warm tropic breezes and suntanned children dreaming of a Santa who delivers their presents on a jetski pulled by eight chatty dolphins. Or something. Anyway, it's Jimmy Buffett:

Jimmy Buffett -- Christmas in the Caribbean

The knight costume is nearly done. All I have left to do is sew the hood and the little boots, and then attach the dragon crest* I made for the tunic once I find the time to run by Joann for some fusible webbing.

It's possible I fucked up the cape by virtue of forgetting to cut out a piece of it, but I'm hopeful that his scrawny little neck will still fit in it, because that kid is seriously tiny and I'm making a bigger size than he needs so he can grow into it. Also, the whole thing is made out of satin, which is the worst fabric to sew with ever OMG and I have to deal with it some more tonight. Much as I hate constantly ironing wrinkles out of cotton, at least it behaves itself while it's under the needle.

Regardless, I will finish that costume tonight after I swing by the grocery store, because the cupboards are seriously bare around here, then I'll come home and sew some more. I did actually write another Yuletide treat yesterday in my vast spare time, but that's it. I'm cutting myself off from the Yuletide fic now. Honest! If I waste any more time writing this week, it'll be DIWWCF-related***, because I really want to get through Christmas Day in that universe before next year in RL.****
________________________________________
* In place of the cross on the kid's chest in the picture; Zachary's crazy for dragons, so I freehanded one that I think came out pretty well, for a one-dimensional felt dragon.
** And it's not even the one I meant to have written! Well, it's not the one I thought would be easiest, at any rate. Actually I'm pretty nervous about it, but the person I wrote it for has two other fics posted already, so if it's awful hopefully she'll still get something she loves.
*** I have 4600 words, give or take, of the next part, so if all goes well and work continues to be dead, I will hopefully finish that at some point before 5:00 pm. Stranger things have happened!
**** Does that even make any sense?
carolinecrane: (misc: probably full of nargles)
So a few days ago there was a discussion in the comments section of one of the advent calendar posts, in which some of you expressed that you actually enjoy the traditional stuff. Usually I avoid it because again, this is not the mall, but occasionally I manage to sneak in a song or carol that's a traditional part of my Christmas experience, like "In the Bleak Midwinter", which is one of my favorite hymns, or "Children Go Where I Send Thee", which is, of course, about as traditional as it gets.

My point is that I do have a lot of traditional Christmas music, so I thought today I would offer you a baker's dozen of traditional Christmas songs. Some of them are Jesus-y, some of them are not. There's something for everyone! Unless, of course, you really hate all the traditional stuff, in which case I will have something for you tomorrow.

1. Dolly Parton -- O Little Town of Bethlehem
2. Kenny Rogers -- The Christmas Song
3. The Chieftains -- Ding Dong Merrily On High
4. Bee Gees -- The First Noel
5. Rickie Lee Jones -- Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas
6. Beach Boys -- Santa Claus Is Coming to Town
7. Blackmore's Night -- Emmanuel
8. Kristen Chenoweth -- I'll Be Home For Christmas
9. The Chieftains -- Oh Come All Ye Faithful
10. The Drifters -- Silent Night
11. Ella Fitzgerald -- White Christmas
12. The Drifters -- Oh Holy Night
13. Johnny Mathis -- It's Beginning to Look A Lot Like Christmas (Shoutout! You know who you are.)

Thanks to [personal profile] tao for the Blackmore's Night album, which he hooked me up with day before yesterday. The rest I have collected from lots of places over the years.

And now, if you need me, I will be chained to my sewing machine. Except for a small break to work out. The situation is getting dire, guys. It's a good thing I work best under pressure.
carolinecrane: (misc: probably full of nargles)
I love Joan Osborne. It's a guilty pleasure. Today's songs are from her Christmas album, "Christmas Means Love", which came out in 2007. The first, "Children Go Where I Send Thee", is a pretty faithful version of the traditional spiritual. The second is that most creepy of traditional carols, "The Cherry Tree Carol", aka the song wherein Joseph's kind of a hater, Mary's one of those pregnant chicks, and unborn baby Jesus is kind of creepy.

Joan Osborne -- Children Go Where I Send Thee
Joan Osborne -- Cherry Tree Carol

My sister and I had a pretty big fight last night. Then we made up via a series of text messages. I am exhausted this morning as a result of being up too late and yelling a lot. And I have to go back over there in an hour to watch her kids so she can work out, because her husband's still out of town. We have a very codependent relationship.

After that I need to get those costumes started, then I have an early dinner with the Weirdo Writers, then I go back to my sister's to help with the kids some more. I put in for next Thursday off work, because I am seriously never going to finish these costumes by Christmas. Though if I do, I will win Most Popular Present Of the Season, so I'm motivated. (What? It's totally a contest.)

Also this morning, I got to clean cat vomit off my couch. My couch. God. I'm so over the cat vomit, you guys.

A list of current writing projects that will require my attention once the costumes are done. Cut for your ignoring pleasure. )
carolinecrane: (misc: probably full of nargles)
OMG, Day seventeen? I will never be ready for Christmas.

Today's song: Ron Sexsmith -- Maybe This Christmas

I think it's supposed to remind me that I shouldn't be so worried about being ready for Christmas. (Ron Sexsmith probably didn't have to compete for the affections of a five- and three-year-old with approximately eleven billionty other relatives. Then again, he has kids, so maybe he does understand.)

Right. Tonight I promised my sister I'd come over and hang out, since her husband is out of town. Tomorrow night I have a Christmas do with the Weirdo Writers, and the rest of the weekend is mine to sew like a madwoman. More or less. I might get some writing done today at work; there's hardly anything going on there, so it's not like I'll have anything else to do.
carolinecrane: (misc: probably full of nargles)
Today's musical selection is another Tom Lehrer song, this time a cynical little number about the excesses of the Christmas season. (Tom Lehrer is Dan Radcliffe-approved, for those of you who care about that sort of thing.)

Anyway, it's a fun one, and I hope you enjoy it: Tom Lehrer -- A Christmas Carol

I'm pretty sure the library is closed today due to the ice storm we had overnight. I haven't gotten the official telephone tree call yet, but the TV claims the county's shut down, so that's good news. I will wait awhile before I call my own phone tree, since not everyone gets up before God the way I do.

Do you know why the county decided to shut down today? Because I spent last evening baking not only a sour cream coffee cake, but also a double batch of cranberry orange muffins. I sort of invented the recipe and they are quite good, if I do say so. Oh, well, they'll keep for a day, I suppose. The muffins won't be quite as good as they would be fresh, but there's nothing I can do about it.


I'd claim I was going to spend the whole day writing fic*, but the truth is that I should get cracking on my niece and nephew's Christmas gifts. I'm supposed to be sewing them both costumes and I haven't even started. I fail pretty hard at Christmas this year, you guys.

ETA: We are not closed, but we don't have to turn up until 11:00. Just enough time to get my costumes cut out, I suppose. I am not going to waste my free morning refreshing my friends list. Honest.

ETA2: Now we're opening at noon. THE ROADS ARE ALL FROZEN, PEOPLE. NO ONE NEEDS TO GO TO THE LIBRARY TODAY. One of my coworkers broke his pelvis falling on ice earlier this week, yet they are still determined to open at some point. What. The. Hell. (Also, I can't cut out costumes because all my straight pins are in a box in my sister's garage. I SO fail at Christmas this year.)
______________________________________
* I have been writing stuff! I just can't show you any of it yet.
carolinecrane: (misc: probably full of nargles)
Just because it's been stuck in my head for a couple days now, this morning I offer three versions of "Christmas Time Is Here", aka the Charlie Brown Christmas song:

Tony Bennett -- Christmas Time Is Here
Gatsby's American Dream -- Christmas Time Is Here
Ivy -- Christmas Time Is Here

Yesterday I had a lunch date with someone who turns out to be a total Deadliest Catch fanboy. I wasn't expecting to have a good time, but I got to talk about fandom (no I didn't tell him about the Jake/Josh slash) so it was really fun. Which almost made up for the rest of my work week being a gigantic pain in the shorts, but not quite. I can only hope a certain someone calls in sick today, because my head is killing me and I just do not have the patience to deal with more of his attitude.

2000 words into this pinch hit and I'm still not sure I'm selling it. I will get a second opinion after I fill in a little more around the dialogue I wrote on my iTouch at my sister's house last night.
carolinecrane: (misc: probably full of nargles)
Today's song:

Copeland -- Do You Hear What I Hear

Copeland is lovely, and so is this song. They're well-suited. I hope you will enjoy.

In the end I did not make it to work yesterday. I was still waffling when [profile] novellover called to tell me they'd decided to close at 2:00 anyway, so it would have being pointless to go in after all. Typical, really.

This morning I have no excuses, though I reckon the roads are slick since it froze pretty hard last night, so I'll be careful. It's ridic cold out there (15 degrees) for this area, too. Ugh. DNW. (CRY MOAR, I know. Much like Kurt and Puck in the DIWWCF series, living in warm climes for too long has turned me into a wuss when it comes to winter weather.)

Speaking of which, I have taken a break from regularly scheduled writing projects to write a Yuletide treat which actually came in at over 3000 words, oops, and now I'm working on a pinch hit for a fic exchange of which I was not originally a part. I just started it yesterday and I still have some time before it's due, but I'm not really in love with it. It's longer than the minimum word count already, but this morning my brain's all, "Wouldn't this be better if we rewrote the whole thing to be this instead?" And I'm all..."Uh."

I want it to be the best fic it can be for the person who's expecting an awesome gift, I do. I'm just not sure I want it bad enough to rewrite what's already written.
carolinecrane: (misc: probably full of nargles)
Three songs today:

Robin Gibb -- In the Bleak Midwinter
Bee Gees -- Mary's Boy Child Medley
Andy Gibb -- Come Home For the Winter

All of these tracks are fairly rare, if you are into that sort of thing. I know not everyone loves the Bee Gees the way I do, but you should.

You guys! I can't get out of my neighborhood this morning. Of course the county offices aren't even on delayed opening, despite the fact that we got a few inches of snow last night and the schools are closed and they don't even bother running a plow over the secondary streets, never mind sanding or anything. One would think, given that it's impossible to get out of my neighborhood without going up (and then back down) a large hill, that they would think of these sorts of things and maybe close the fucking library so I don't have to use vacation time to spend the day trapped in my house.

I keep thinking that I should really just try to go in, because it's just a little snow, after all, and if I go waaaaay out of my way I can mostly avoid the worst of the hills. But then I remember what happened to my car during that storm last year, and that was on the way home. So I don't really want to go out in this mess, even though I know if I lived further north I wouldn't have a choice. (If I lived further north the secondary streets would at least get plowed, even if the neighborhoods didn't, so it's a moot point, but still.)

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