A Cow-less Christmas

This year, as the first in quite some time that we have had music playing in our store, I have been making an effort to get in some good Christmas music (yes, before Thanksgiving, I know). My first shot of course was to go to the music I have been listening to for years, the music I've grown up with, including Mannheim Steamroller, Elmo and Patsy's Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer, and more. I've tried to make sure that they are both kid-friendly and not staff-inciting (hence no Chipmunks, even I couln't listen to that one more than once or twice a season, let alone once or twice a day).

One cd I thought perfectly fit the bill is one our family has listened to for years: It's a Cow Christmas, featuring such songs as Deck the Stalls, We Three Cows, Angus We Have Heard on High, and God Rest Ye Merry Cattlemen to name a few. One of my favorites is The Twelve Days of Christmas listing gifts such as Five Brass Nose Rings and alfalfa as far as you can see.... So having enjoyed this cd for much of my life, I merrily brought it in.

Much to my dismay, I have replaced the cd at the request of my staff. Sigh. Such an uncultured lot, but what can a gal do. Fortunately for me I have coworkers at the zoo that will now be able to benefit from it :) This year though, alas, I shall have a cow-less, or rather a "less-cow" Christmas.

Christmas Concerts in the Rain

So it has been over 2 months since I last updated my blog. For good reason, I like to think, though a small part of me confesses it's from laziness. I have been working at least 60 hours a week for so long that I get home, spend a bit of time with the family, and get to bed just in time to gear up for the next day.

Finally, though, I have something blog worthy! One of the advantages of working at the Gateway Mall is having advance notice of events. Tonight was the 9th annual Light Up the Night event, where the Christmas Tree is lit and Santa arrives. I have never attended one before now (though this is actually my 3rd year at the mall) and wasn't planning on it this year until I learned that Peter Breinholt would be performing. Yay!

I woke this morning with the beginnings of a migraine and almost didn't make it in, but I geared up, took some meds and got a bottle of coke and headed in to work, and fortunately it cleared off a couple hours later. As I have only had 2 days off in a really really long time I decided I could skip out for a bit, grabbed my sweatshirt (having forgotten my coat at home), and headed outside. Yes, the performance was outdoors, and anyone who has seen anything of the news knows there is a big storm coming in, and we have had mixed rain and snow all evening. Undaunted, I made it through his entire performance, believing it was most definitely worth it. And yes, it was indeed definitely most worth it. He sang one song I hadn't heard before that I intend to find, and one of my favorites, Edwin's Tale. I also loved feeling the music of Jerusalem, his last song. What a powerful performance!

He performed for about 45 minutes, during which time I got soaked through. I made it through--courtesy both his awesome music and the promise to myself of a venti hot chocolate afterwards. I picked up the hot chocolate (with cinnamon dolce, very warming!) on my way back to my office and sit even now right next to a space heater at full blast. Yay again!

Overall, I most definitely enjoyed the event, and am definitely more in the Christmas spirit than I have been in some time :)