MERRY CHRISTMAS!! - 25 Days of Christmas #24 and #25 and other photos

 

25 Days of Christmas 

The Stockings Were Hung

#24

Merry Christmas

#25

Other Christmas Pictures

Me on my way to sing in the Christmas Eve Concert and Midnight Mass

The Priests during the service gather on the altar

After the service we, the choir, are invited back to the Rectory for a little nosh.

Clarissa's Favorite Gift

Playstation 4

And for all you book lovers...Yup! one of my gifts.

Christmas Reading Challenge Complete / 25 Days of Christmas #22

I have read 11 Christmas books for the challenge.  I will not read any more this season.  This is the most I've read in any year.  I read 2 prior to this, so that means I've read a total of 13 Christmas books this year.

Read Specifically For Challenge

1. The Autobiography of Santa Claus by Jeff Guinn
2. The Last Holiday Concert by Andrew Clements
3. Jacob T. Marley by R. William Bennett
4. How Mrs. Claus Saved Christmas by Jeff Guinn
5. Holidays on Ice by David Sedaris
6. 'Tis the Season by Ann M. Martin 
7. Let It Snow by John Green
8. The Mistletoe Promise by Richard Paul Evans 
9. The Ghost of Christmas Present: A Novel by Scott Abbott & Amy Maude Swinton
10. Christmas Poems by J.D. McClatchy (Editor)
11. The Christmas Candle by Richard Paul Evans


Read Earlier in the season

Santa Claus in Oz by Frank Baum
The Christmas Pearl by Dorothea Benton Frank

I'm still watching movies, although I haven't watched as many movies as I usually do, and I've been re-watching a lot of my favorites this year.

25 Days of Christmas

The Holy Family minus one

#22

Christmas Book #11 / Christmas Movie #13 & 14 / 25 Days of Christmas #20 & #21

Christmas Book #11

The Christmas Candle by Richard Paul Evans - On his way home for Christmas, Thomas needs a light for his lantern. He stops in an old candlemaker's shop and is dismissive of all of the old man's intricate and beautiful candles, buying an inexpensive one. However, as he continues his journey, this simple candle takes on some unbelievable power. By the light of the candle, he mistakes a beggar woman for his mother and gives her his cloak and he thinks a man lying in the streets with no place to go is his brother and gives everything he has to put him in an inn for the night. Though he loses all his material items, he finally arrives home with a new found sense of what family can be.

Very short picture book.  Though it seems like a children's book, it is rather dark, but the message is for all ages.  I am a Richard Paul Evan's fan, so I found enjoyment in this short story.  4 / 5 Stars.

Christmas Movie #13

Max Lucado's - The Christmas Candle (2013)

This movie is based on the book The Christmas Candle by Max Lucado.  

Deep in the heart of the English countryside lies the enchanting village of Gladbury. Legend has it every 25 years an angel visits the village candlemaker and touches a single candle. Whoever lights this candle receives a miracle on Christmas Eve. But in 1890, at the dawn of the electric age, this centuries old legend may come to an end. When David Richmond (Hans Matheson), a progressive young minister, arrives in Gladbury, the villagers discover a new formula for miracles: good deeds and acts of kindness. While David's quest to modernize Gladbury sets him at odds with the old world candlemaker, he finds an unlikely ally in the lovely skeptic, Emily Barstow (Samantha Barks). Now, the fiery candlemaker must fight to preserve the legacy of the Christmas Candle. But when the candle goes missing, the miraculous and human collide in the most astonishing Christmas the village of Gladbury has ever seen.

Though this didn't seem to get very many stars, I enjoyed it and the message behind it.  It is a very Christian movie.  This is the 2nd Lucado movie I watched this season and I've enjoyed them both.


Christmas Movie #14

Scrooge (1951) - This is the Alastair Sim's version, in my opinion the best of them all.  Of course no synopsis is needed and you don't need me to sing its praises either.

God Bless Us Everyone!

5 / 5 STARS!!

 25 Days of Christmas

On my Mantle

#20

Leaving Church During Advent

#21

Christmas Book #7 & #8, 25 Days of Christmas #15

Christmas Book #7

Let it Snow: Three Holiday Romances - John Green, Maureen Johnson and Lauren Myracle.  This book is a compilation novel comprising three separate stories that intertwine with one another. The stories are The Jubilee Express by Maureen Johnson,A Cheertastic Christmas Miracle by John Green, and The Patron Saint of Pigs by Lauren Myracle. The book follows three different teenagers as they experience a huge snow storm in the town of Gracetown during the Christmas season. (Wikepedia)

Though these stories intertwine, the story I enjoyed the most was Maureen Johnson's The Jubilee Express.  Like many people, I wanted to read this book because of John Green the author of The Fault in Our Stars.  But I felt his story was mediocre, as was Lauren Myracle's.  I am not sure if it was because Johnson's story is the lead story and she set the tone.  The other stories are not bad, I just personally didn't enjoy them as much.  3/5 stars.

Christmas Book #8

The Mistletoe Promise by Richard Paul Evans -

Elise Dutton does not like the Christmas season, she has been divorced for three years and it has left her broken.  A stranger comes along and asks her to be his “girlfriend” for the Christmas season.  She agrees and a contract is drawn up.  What will happen?

I discovered RPE through his Christmas books, and I’ve usually adored them.  Although this book was pretty good, I felt it lacked that special something his books usually have.  I think it was because I was not choked up or blurry eyed when reading this.  By the end of this book, I was saying to myself, “Oh isn’t that….” But it was not as satisfying as usual.  However, it is a good, solid story. 3 out of 5 stars.

25 Days of Christmas

Holly Planter in Bryant Park, New York City

#15

Christmas Movie #11 / 25 Days of Christmas #13

Christmas Movie #11

Max Lucado's: Christmas Child (2003)- Nine months after the death of his adoptive father, Jack Davenport, a Chicago journalist, obtains some of his possessions which lead Jack to discover his past. Jack receives an assignment to do a story in Dallas, Texas. Jack leaves days before Christmas Eve and decides to stay in Clearwater, Texas, his birthplace. One of the possessions left by his adoptive father was a mysterious photograph of Clearwater's oldest churches, taken in 1963.    My Thoughts:  Pretty good Christmas film, typical acting, but nice story.  Max Lucado is a Christian, but this movie isn't an overly knock you on the head Christian film.  Sort of an interesting mystery aspect as well.  3.5 / 5 stars.

WREATH  #13

25 Days of Christmas

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 Movie #7 & #8 / 25 Days of Christmas #6

Christmas Movie #7

Black Nativity (2013) - After his mother, Naima, is evicted from their Baltimore apartment, teenage Langston is sent to spend the holidays with his estranged relatives in New York City, where he embarks on a surprising and inspirational journey and along with his new friends, and a little divine intervention, he discovers the true meaning of faith, healing, and family.

Well...I'm not a huge R&B fan, so only a few songs grabbed me.  The story was predictable, but it was OK.  3/5 stars.







Christmas Movie #8

It's a Wonderful Life (1946) 
I'm not going to post the synopsis on this because this has to be the most famous Christmas Movie in the world.  I haven't watched it as of this posting, because it comes on at 8:00 and it is only 7:00.  BUT it is my favorite Christmas movie in the whole wide Wonderful world.  So I will watch it. 

I didn't first see this movie until I was 19 years old.  My boyfriend at the time said, 'You've never seen it...let's sit down and watch."  I was like "Yeah, OK".  Turned out, he knew what I liked.  I have watched it every year since that day, many years ago!  Thanks Charles.

500 / 5 stars.

Day 6

Santa's House!

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 3

NATIVITY - As seen in the window of the Seventh Day Adventist Center on 40th Street near 5th Avenue in Manhattan.

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.

...countdown to the holidays

It is never too early to start planning what I will watch for Christmas.  Thank goodness for It's a Wonderful Movie blog.

Although we are still in October, so it is all about horror. Unfortunatley, I've seen many of the stuff worth watching.

I prefer the older movies:

Though there have been new ones on my list.  I recently saw a great Netflix instant watch horror movie that I found to be pretty good:
The Awakening

I also saw Oculus which was OK, I was bracing for the worse, but it was not that bad.

On the box front, I've only finished one so far:
Bird Box by Josh Malerman
This is the kind of stuff I like to read, creepy, psychological mind F**ks with an ending that was decent, but could have been better, but it was the kind of ending that leaves it open for possible sequals. 

And one of the best movies (horror or otherwise) I"ve seen in a while.....

Very good retelling or expansion of the story.  Mixing Stoker's story with the whole Vlad the impaler thing.  Not to mention, the lead was pretty hot. 

Christmas links

I am sitting here waiting for Sandy to hit us. No work, no school, no transit. At least we have cable and electricity. So I have some time to actually surf the web. I thought I'd put up my favorite Christmas links.

As much as I like Christmas, I do think that it is too early for stores to have Christmas ornaments and trees on sale. And I'm not in to this years trend. Teal.  Nope.  I'm not to thrilled with the fuchsia either.  I either like the traditional red, green, gold and silver.  I like darker blue ornaments too.  My theme is pastels.  Other than that, I'm not feeling it.

OK so now on to books. I have my Christmas reading list ready. It is very long. I anticipate getting to about 5 of them.

I read every Christmas book Richard Paul Evans writes. This year is "A Winter Dream".  This is one I WILL read 100% this year.  Probably within the next 2 weeks as I am next in the library queue.

From Goodreads
Based on the story of Joseph and the coat of many colors. Joe is forced out of the family business by his jealous siblings. Moving on to another company, he soon becomes chief advisor to the CEO. But when the economy turns, Joe’s siblings need his help to save the family business.

      Based on the Old Testament story about Joseph and the coat of many colors and including a love story, A Winter Dream can be embraced for its message of forgiveness by believers and nonbelievers alike.

This is a book written by Father Andrew Greeley.  He is best known for a series of books about mystery-solving priest Blackie Ryan and the fey, amateur sleuth Nuala Anne McGrail.

But this book is not about either of those characters. 

From Goodreads
It's beginning to look a lot like an American Christmas: unpleasant relatives, miserable travel, a slobbering dog-and one "harmless American of Irish origins," Jack Flanigan, who is reluctantly falling in love with a young Russian woman studying at Harvard.

She's spending Christmas alone in a foreign country, so he invites the dark-eyed beauty home to Chicago for the holiday. Even though it isn't Christmas in the Russian Orthodox calendar, she accepts!

What happens when she gets to Chicago and caught in the maelstrom of commercialized Yuletide? Enough to say, there's a tree, and a feast, and midnight Mass, and a gaggle of contentious Flanigans of all ages-who have the merriest Christmas ever-and nothing will ever be quite the same for any of them.

Especially for Jack.

*  *  *

I'll post more of the books I may read later down the line.