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Dear People of the Web,
I’m falling into my hibernation period and snuffling around for something new to keep myself occupied in the cave until the world thaws and the crocus sprouts. So I’m wondering, how do you do Christmas? If you would be so kind, please pick a question or two and share your answer in the comments below:
What holiday songs do you have on repeat?
What Christmas movies are you binge-watching?
Are there fattening recipes you’re making that we need to know about?
What wish-list books are you gifting or re-reading or hoping Santa brings?
Δ My Answers Δ
Δ Music Δ
As for songs, I can’t help but love The Murdering Crow’s version of the Snow Miser Song:
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Δ Movies Δ
I haven’t made it through the movie The Year without a Santa Clause yet. Maybe this is the year.
The Nightmare before Christmas gets played nearly every year. Lines are quoted; songs are sung. “There Goes Christmas” is what we tend to say around here in a cartoonish voice at the slightest disappointment or provocation. It never loses its funny. I’ve also been known to mechanically chant, “Making Christmas. Making Christmas. Making Chriiiiiiiiiiiiiiistmas….” with a blank stare while wrapping presents.
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Δ Food Δ
I don’t cook as a general rule, but when I get a wild hair around this time of year I make my Kiki’s banana bread. When inspiration really strikes there could be pumpkin pie or banana pudding.
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Δ Books Δ
“It makes one’s mouth hurt to speak with such forced merriment.“
–David Sedaris
David Sedaris’ Crumpet the Elf from Santaland Diaries is fun and available on NPR.
Last December, my near-and-dear read me nightly bedtime stories from one of his childhood books, The Animals’ Merry Christmas. Published in 1972, its pages had a rich and musty scent and were embellished with drawings, dialogue, and musical notes from his 7-year-old hand. 
My favorite character was Pussy Cat Smart.
It was a super sweet gift.
I’m deviating from my norm here. Although I review a lot of books, I’m not usually inspired to write anything about movies. In fact I don’t think I’ve ever written a movie review. Last weekend though I saw Tree of Life starring Brad Pitt, Sean Penn, and Jessica Chastain and I can’t stop thinking about it. Tree of Life is a work of art with a beautiful message. The cinematography reminded me of documentaries I’ve seen on I-Max at the Pink Palace. The story – and there is one, but you have to work a bit to piece it together – unfurls through astronomical and biological images, scriptural quotes, fabulous music, and impressionistic, disjointed scenes of the life of a family who has lost a son. It’s beautiful. It’s one you’ll want to see on the big screen.
I haven’t seen Terrance Malick’s other films (Badlands, The Thin Red Line, Days of Heaven) but now I’m curious about his other works. I’ll have to check them out.
Have you seen Tree of Life or any of these other movies yet? Any you’d recommend?
