Caroling Caroling

Over the weekend I put my Christmas tree up, along with a few minor holiday decorations. Since no one is coming this year, I'm not going whole hog on the decorations - no evergreen garland on the porch, no bows and mini wreathes on the bannisters - just enough to be cosy for me.

The part of the season I enjoy the most are my Christmas CD's. Usually every year I favor one over the other. The last couple years though I've favored the same one - Dean Martin's "Making Spirits Bright" Who can resist "Baby It's Ccccold outside!" or the DeNiroesque, "Rudolph." It's the best CD to listen to by the lights of the Christmas tree and fireplace, sipping a martini and munching on a crudite plate or better yet - fondue!

Anyway, I was trying to think of what my top five Christmas songs are and I came up with this list:

5. O Little Town of Bethlehem
4. Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas, Judy Garland
3. White Christmas, Bing Crosby
2. Baby It's Cold Outside, Dean Martin
1. O Holy Night

I had to think carefully about all those, with exception of Baby It's Cold Outside and O Holy Night. Speaking of which, I'm going to see the Candlelight Processional at Epcot on December 23rd with some friends. Jim Caviezel, the actor who played Jesus in the Passion of the Christ, is the reader and he did an outstanding job last year. Maria is going to make me go line up very early so it's a good thing I have a half day off that day. As part of our ticket/dinner package, we're going to the restaurant that is clearly becoming a Christmas tradition for me - Epcot's German Biergarten. This place is a fun place to eat - it's essentially a big soundstage simulating outdoor Oktoberfest, complete with smorgasbord and big, big steins of bier. The food, I can testify, is very authentic to what you get in Germany. In fact, I can't find flaw with any of it except to say their brotchen could use a little help and the Rouladen is a tad tough. But, the salads are just incredible and very authentic.