I already slapped this one up this year, but it is about Christmas Eve (in the drunk tank), so up it goes again. Can’t tell you how delighted I was to learn that Shane MacGowan has new teefers for the holidays. I wonder if they’ve changed his “singing” voice. …
Meanwhile, Herself, Herself the Elder, Mister Boo and I drove to Fort Fun for an early (and delicious) holiday meal with my sister and her husband. A wonderful time was had by all, and — ¡que milagro! — the trip there and back was completely without incident. Normally we see a half-dozen cars upside down in the median thanks to the usual palette of human stupidities, but this time around there wasn’t even any serious stop-and-go. We even beat the snow home.
A Christmas miracle, to be sure. Here’s hoping your holiday goes likewise.

I got one for everyone — Tim Minchin’s “White Wine in the Sun”. One of the great secularist anthems.
Background: he’s Australian.
Merry Christmas, Patrick and to all!
I like most Christmas music and especially enjoy it in the kitchen while I bustle or schlump/drag myself around. I’m not crazy about hearing it since November 1st but I do like hearing it right through the Twelve Days of Christmas.
Nina Simone’s version of “Little Girl Blue” is sung in counterpoint to the tune of “Good King Wenceslaus” to make a melancholy Christmas-y song. Not the usual fare.
Libby, that was beautiful. Nina Simone I know, of course, but I was not familiar with this song. What a wonderful work of art.
May your dog talk.
Leonard Cohen with Jennifer Warnes and Raffi Hakopian