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| 'Scrooge' quotes on the back of my bedroom door. |
WELCOME to my Christmas edition of Battle Of The Bands' Battle Of The Booze! From my very earliest memories up to this present day, I have always loved everything about CHRISTMAS! In fact, I consider Christmas to be Winter's only redeeming quality. I adored Christmas even before I knew "the Reason for the season" .
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Christmas -- I love the music, the lights, the candy & cards, the trees & decorations, the egg nog ekker nog, hot buttered rum, excited kids & harried adults. Believe it or not, I even love the "commercialism" and the stockings hung behind the bar with care. I'm crazy about the old school Xmas movies and the animated children's TV specials. Helck, I even love fruitcake and the dogs barking 'Jingle Bells'.
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I have a soft spot in my heart for Santa Claus riding a No(r)elco razor through the fake snow; and this is still the greatest version of 'Carol Of The Bells' that I've ever seen:
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In 1987, I worked for U.C.L.A.'s Parking Service Department. One night in December, I walked into base and found two of my best friends, [link> Lonnie & Kathleen (later known as "The Countess"), loudly singing some song...
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"Thank you very much!
Thank you very much!
That's the nicest thing that anyone's
ever done for me!"
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| The Fabulous Countess & The Famous Cartoonist (Lonnie) |
I waited until they were finished singing and then I asked, "What's that from?" Their mouths hung open a minute or two, while they looked at me as if I had lobsters crawling out of my ears. And then, simultaneously, they both shouted, "SCROOGE!!" I had seen versions of 'A Christmas Carol', but I had never seen 'Scrooge' (1970) starring Albert Finney. It was a musical and, at that time, I was unknowingly burdened by the astoundingly incorrect belief that I disliked musicals.
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Well, Kathleen (The Countess) made certain that I saw 'Scrooge' that month and I was bowled over by how much I enjoyed it! (Some great acting; fantastic sets; terrific music; Holiday humor, and probably the most joyful ending of any film I've ever seen!)
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Every December I watch 'Scrooge' and 'It's A Wonderful Life' (the colorized version, "thank you very much!"). Both of them are amongst my all-time Top 10 Favorite Movies. Which one do I love the most? The one I happen to be watching when the question is asked is the one I love the most!
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It's now officially the Christmas season - a time that relates to Love & Miracles - so let's listen to a couple of songs that mention miracle water wine.
Yeah, wine not?
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MISTLETOE & WINE
by Cliff Richard
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| My Italian "Major Award" Christmas sweater. |
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I LIKE LIFE
by Scrooge & The Ghost Of Christmas Present
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Please vote for which song you preferred (regardless of the videos), and then please visit all of the other BOTBers and cast your two cents in their Battles.
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I intend to return here with the Final Tally on or about December 8th. (When I will also reveal my two Tiny Tim Christmas traditions!!)
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~ Stephen T. McCarthy
