I’ve been meaning to write this post since yesterday, you know, one of those “here’s what was good and not so good about last year, and here’s what’s on the to-do list for next” kind of posts, but to be honest, I’m just not feeling all that introspective at the moment. Introspection requires hard thinking, and I’m still enjoying the (relative) leisure of the holiday for what it’s worth.

I could go back and read last year’s New Year post (and I actually did read it yesterday), and think about the things that I wanted to do that went undone (and eventually got dropped altogether for various reasons), and try to figure out what all I want to accomplish this year, but I’m already down for that runaway train that is the quilt book publication and all the other projects that go along with that, and taking the time to list it all out task by task probably isn’t going to get me anywhere at the moment. That and all the rest of the more personal and family things will either get done or they won’t, as time allows.

I will say this: there’s sometimes a lot to be said for being too busy doing to think too much on what’s happening or not happening in life. Events often happen in a certain order and at a certain time because they’re meant to happen that way, despite the fervent massaging we often do trying to make things happen. And that’s about as far into deep introspection as I’m going to go right now.

More importantly, the point of this “New Year’s post that wasn’t” is that I want to tell you how much I appreciate you being here, reading, lurking, commenting, sharing. I enjoy knowing each of you through our conversations here and on your blogs. Thank you for inviting me to share your life at your blog; I’m glad I get to see the world through your eyes every now and again. Have a peaceful, prosperous and happy 2009, friends!

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Holiday Spirits,
by Straight No Chaser

I usually don’t rattle on about my musical selections, for the simple reason that most of what I listen to isn’t likely to appeal to the majority of you. Okay, so that’s a pretty broad assumption, but aside from the fact that this is not a music review blog, I like alternative and rock music like Nickelback, Theory of a Dead Man, Anberlin, Three Days Grace, and Breaking Benjamin, with occasional forays into pure popish goodness like Backstreet Boys and trips down memory lane with folks like Howard Jones, ABC, Thompson Twins, and Mr. Mister. If I’ve been wrong to keep all that musical goodness to myself, do let me know.

Yesterday though, I stumbled across something that completely blew me away and I think you might enjoy it too. Of course, for all I know, you already know all about it since the group has been on TV and touring the States this holiday season, and I’m usually the latecomer anyway. Thanks to iTunes, I found Straight No Chaser, listened to their 12 Days of Christmas song, and immediately had to download the entire Holiday Spirits CD. Within an hour, this CD claimed the top spot as my favorite holiday music, replacing my lifelong favorite, Andy Williams Christmas Deluxe. Now, a cappella is not something that’s normally on my playlist, but these guys are different. And their history is just fun and inspiring, considering they’ve rocketed from relative obscurity to the #1 spot on both Amazon and iTunes in just one holiday season.

Their rendition of 12 Days of Christmas is just plain hilarious, Carol of the Bells actually brought tears to my eyes and What Child is This (on the Bonus Track Version from iTunes) only missed the same response by a hair (those are my favorite Christmas carols, after all). I think the only song in the entire collection that didn’t strike a chord with me was Sweet Little Jesus Boy, but to be fair, I’ve never liked the song anyway. On the Bonus Track Version of the CD, there is also a cover of Africa, originally recorded by Toto years ago, and Straight No Chaser sings it beautifully. It’s a stroke of marketing genius to add it to their holiday album, to show that they’re not just about holiday music.

Two more things to say here: I hope they hurry with their next CD, which will be “an album designed for year-round listening pleasure,” and you should run, don’t walk, to the nearest music store to get this CD, despite the fact that the time for Christmas music has almost passed. It’s THAT good. Okay, one more thing: my CD player will probably sit on “Repeat” for quite a while, even well into January.

P.S. Quilt content coming soon, as soon as I recover from Christmas and the ongoing cat/surgery ordeal.

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