Recent Christmas Photos 2015

Christmas Book #5 / 25 Days of Christmas #9, #10

Holidays on Ice by David Sedaris:  I listened to the audio version of this and I am glad I did. I think it translate much funnier in spoken form. This book is hilarious. I understand Sedaris has a different type of humor, sometimes it leans toward the macabre, but oh my, what a fun read/listen. 

I'm used to Christmas stories having a formula, but there is none here. It is just filled with reality checks and some things that make you go ooooh and ewwww.

I don't know if it is in the print version, but the audio version has a section where he does a little stand up. I thought that was the funniest thing I've heard in a long time. That story (section) is entitled 6 to 8 Black Men. 

I don't usually laugh at outright disregard for political correctness, but my goodness, this man is too funny.  4/5 Stars


The weather here has been pretty bad. We had a Noreaster, so I haven't been able to take any outdoor pictures.  So for the last 2 days, my pictures have been indoors.  

25 Days of Christmas

Day 9

Holiday Greetings

 Day 10

Lantern

Christmas Book #4 / 25 Days of Christmas 8

In How Mrs. Claus Saved Christmas, Jeff Guinn combines solid historical fact with glorious legend to deliver another heartwarming holiday book for the whole family.

It's 1620 and Mrs. Claus's dear husband is off in the New World planting the seeds of what will become a glorious Christmas tradition. Meanwhile, Mrs. Claus has chosen to stay in England, where the first signs of a dangerous threat to Yuletide cheer are in evidence. The Puritans have gained control of Parliament and appear determined to take all the fun out of Christmas. But Mrs. Claus knows that it's time for serious action when, in 1647, a law is passed by Parliament that actually punishes anyone who celebrates Christmas. Using as its springboard the actual events of a day in 1647 when ten thousand peasants marched through the streets of Canterbury demanding their right to celebrate a beloved holiday, How Mrs. Claus Saved Christmas is rich in historical detail, adventure, and plain ol' Christmas fun. (from Goodreads)

My Review:  I didn't enjoy this as much as the first book in the series The Autobiography of Santa Claus.  I felt the first few chapters of this book were a recap and since I just read it, I felt it was unnecessary.  It did pick up when the story actually turned to how she saved Christmas.  I found that history fascinating.  I gave this book 3/5 stars.  I will read more books by Guinn, although no more Christmas ones for now.

Day 8

The New York Public Library Lion at Christmas

Deck the Halls!

Christmas Books #1, #2, #3 and 25 Days of Christmas Day 4 and Day 5

Jacob T. Marley by R.William Bennett

Marley was dead to begin with . . . These chillingly familiar words begin the classic Christmas tale of remorse and redemption in A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens. Now R. William Bennett rewinds the story and focuses the spotlight on Scrooge s miserly business partner, Jacob T. Marley, who was allowed to return as a ghost to warn Scrooge away from his ill-fated path. Why was Marley allowed to return? And why hadn t he been given the same chance as Ebenezer Scrooge? Or had he? Written with a voice reminiscent of Dickens, Jacob T. Marley is to A Christmas Carol as the world-famous Wicked is to The Wizard of Oz as this masterfully crafted story teaches of choices, consequences, and of the power of accountability. It is sure to become a Christmas favorite.

My Review: Experience the journey of Rose, an orphan who teaches the meaning of hope to all those around her. Share a slice of Christmas sweetened with friendship in this poignant story based on a classic holiday tale.

3/5 stars



The Autobiography of Santa Claus by Jeff Guin

An enchanting holiday treasure, The Autobiography of Santa Claus combines solid historical fact with legend to deliver the definitive story of Santa Claus. And who better to lead us through seventeen centuries of Christmas magic than good ol' Saint Nick himself? Families will delight in each chapter of this new Christmas classic-one per each cold December night leading up to Christmas!

My Review: OK, you know what, I loved this book. I was trying not to, I was trying to be fair, but it grabbed me and hugged me and I just couldn't hate it. I love how the Saint meets the Secular. I love how Guinn explains everything with people from history, giving us a short history lesson (best for kids, most adults know who and what these people did).

5/5 Stars




The Last Holiday Concert by Andrew Clements

For Hart Evans, being the most popular kid in sixth grade has its advantages. Kids look up to him, and all the teachers let him get away with anything -- all the teachers except the chorus director, Mr. Meinert. When Hart's errant rubber band hits Mr. Meinert on the neck during chorus practice, it's the last straw for the chorus director, who's just learned he's about to lose his job due to budget cuts. So he tells the class they can produce the big holiday concert on their own. Or not. It's all up to them. And who gets elected to run the show? The popular Mr. Hart Evans.

Hart soon discovers there's a big difference between popularity and leadership, and to his surprise, discovers something else as well -- it's really important to him that this be the best holiday concert ever, and even more important, that it not be the last.

 4/5 Stars


My Review:  This was a quick read, it held my interest.  I've nothing bad to say about it, it was a typical Middle School read.

 

25 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS

 

4 / 25 

Prancer

5 /25

Nut Crackers

25 Days of Christmas - Day 2

2/25 Winter Trees

There are a bunch of these located in the lobby of my office building.  They are actually white, but I had some fun with photoshop.  And since I'm not supposed to photograph anything in the building, I had to take this one on the sly, as I was descending the escalator.  

25 Days of Christmas - Day 1

1/25 - Snowfaces

Cute aren't they?  They are ornaments.  They were in Toys R Us in Times Square.

Christmas Photography

 Christmas Window of Lord & Taylor, New York City.  Fairies in glass domes.  I took this with my iPad and jazzed it up with Photoshop and used HDR Processing.

Christmas Window of Lord & Taylor, New York City.  Blue Fairy. I used my iPad to take this photo.

Christmas Window of Lord & Taylor, New York City.  Follow the Yellow Brick Road.  This was one of the two Literature Displays that I really found interesting.  I used my iPad to take this photo and post processed in Photoshop using HDR processing.

Christmas Window of Lord & Taylor, New York City.  Deck the Halls with Boughs of Holly.  I used my iPad to take this and post processed in Photoshop.  Used HDR Processing.

Christmas Window of Lord & Taylor, New York City.  Paper Dolls.  This is the 2nd storybook window, I'm not sure what story this is though.  Took with my iPad and post processed in Photoshop and used HDR Processing.

 The Shops at Grand Central, New York City.  Glass Blown Snowmen.  These cute little guys were hanging there waiting to be bought.  I took this with my DSLR and post processed in Photoshop.