Naughty Or Nice?

Cocaine Princess here.

On Sunday the Annual Cookie Exchange Party took place. I won’t bore you with all the details but I will give you a rundown. 15 little cookie monsters showed up dressed to the nines including one who wore a suit and bowtie. He proudly stated to me: "Mommy bought this for me out of the Sears Catalog." I high 5'ed him for looking sharp.

Even though I still think it’s a peculiar kind of party, my taste buds decided to participate in the action. Out of all the ones that were brought my favorite: Triple Chocolate Macadamia Nut Cookies. I ate 2 with a nice cold glass of chocolate moo juice. Total chocolate overload! I felt guilty afterward thinking how much fat the cookie was laced with. My sister’s cookie cake was quite popular. The little ones broke off the pieces and devoured it within minutes. The main topic of discussion: Christmas gifts. Most everyone asked Santa for a Zhu-Zhu. I had no idea what that was until I was given the 411. We next discussed movies. Most decided Alvin and the Chipmunks: The SqueakQuel is THE movie to see. Some of the older ones want to see Avatar.

While gobbling cookies we watched several holiday specials including “Merry Christmas, Mr. Bean.” It was a hit with the kids. They all laughed at the part when Mr. Bean gets the turkey stuck on his head.


THIS I MUST SHARE:

One of the parents heard straight from Poodle Lady’s cranky mouth she is going on an Alaskan Cruise for her winter holidays. Upon hearing this news one parent stated: “God help the other passengers.” Another parent said: “She IS crazy. What person goes from one cold climate to another for their winter holidays.” That I agree with! 

 

During the last couple of days I’ve been at the mall picking up some much needed last minute things. It’s interesting to see how many people are in panic mode as December 25th is quickly approaching. I’ve done all of my shopping and crossed everything off my list. Has everyone finished their shopping? What is on your wish list?

There are 2 common things that only occur this time of year.

1} You are asked: “Have you been Naughty Or Nice?”

So I ask, how have you behaved over the year my lovelies? Naughty or Nice? 

Me? 

Hmm.......

I’ve been naughty in a cheeky way. Oh let’s face it being naughty feels sooo nice. 

2} No matter where you go you hear Christmas music. Then again what other time of year will you hear it? August? We all have that favorite song, you know that one that puts us all in the holiday spirit, songs we just love to hum and tap our toes too. What are some of your holiday songs? I have always had 5 favorite songs but recently I heard another which brings the grand total to 6.

6} O’Come All Ye Faithful: Twisted Sister

  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=De47fjH6RKY   

Every every Sunday is referred to as “Lazy Sunday.” I hang around the house and hardly do a thing. I mostly lie on the couch with the remote in my hand. Sister makes and forces me to eat a big, fat, incredibly greasy but delicious breakie and we watch A&E Private Sessions, a show featuring sit down interviews and performances by musicians. {Depending on who the musical guest is we’ll watch it} A few Sundays ago the musical guest was “Twisted Sister. I’m not too much into heavy metal music but I decided to watch it anyways. Towards the end of the show lead singer Dee Snider and his band mates busted out “O’Come All Ye Faithful” live in the studio. I searched for the video and after watching it a couple of times it grew on me and made the list.

 5} Do They Know It's Christmas?: Band Aid

                                                          

  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8jEnTSQStGE        

I confess. My only reason for liking this song is due to the fact it features all original members of Duran Duran. In the video there is a nice close up shot of Simon Le Bon singing a solo before his duet with Sting.

4} All I Want For Christmas: Mariah Carey

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yXQViqx6GMY

Just a feel good song that not only puts you in a happy mood but makes you want to get up and dance.

3} What Child Is This: Vanessa Williams

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=thrGSTIG8Zo    

I like Vanessa Williams. Just like her voice her songs are mellow and calming. The video is shot in black and white and features the singer/actress in a cool jazz club.

2} Joseph, Better You Than Me: The Killers ft. Elton John & Neil Tennant

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uW8oEWfuEIg

 

If I could explain why I love-love this song so much I would but I don’t even know why, other than I just do. The video features footage from the1951 series “The Living Christ” while showing clips of the modern day world. My favorite moment of the song, the precise moment Pet Shop Boys Neill Tennant begins to sing. In my opinion, simply fantastic and so is the video.

1} 8 Days Of Christmas: Destiny's Child

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ikOWQ9YIb-A

Let’s just say the gifts are more enjoyable than the ones mentioned in the “12 Days Of Christmas.”

The city’s newspaper printed various holiday themed lists. Below are the 2 most popular that received the most amount of feedback from readers. Do you agree with the 1st list?

“Top 5 Yule Villains”

1. EBENEZER SCROOGE 

 The most loathed Christmas villain has to be Ebenezer Scrooge. Currently portrayed onscreen by Jim Carrey, but still etched in all our minds in the chilling performance of Alistair Sim in the original 1951 “A Christmas Carol.” Reminiscent of the lovely folks who are trying to shove harmonized taxes.....there’s an oxymoron....down our throats.

2. HENRY F. POTTER

A close second is Lionel Barrymore’s portrayal of Henry F. Potter in the Jimmy Stewart film “It’s A Wonderful Life.” He became the richest man in Bedford Falls by his maneuverings as an evil slum baron. Potter was an even willing top let a rival financial institution fail....good thing the public rushed in with the bail-out money. Only in the movies!  

3. BAD SANTA

He may not be a villain to anyone to other than Jian Ghomeshi, where he dished out *radio abuse in the history of the CBC, but Billy Bob Thorton gets the vote for his creation of one the funniest {in the darkest of ways} Saint Nicks in the title role “Bad Santa.”

*The interview is here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IJWS6qyy7bw

4. DISTRICT ATTORNEY

Another baddie is the district attorney in “A Miracle On 34th Street.” Christmas is the time of year when people should love one another unconditionally. You’d think lawyers would welcome any chance to be liked, yet this lawyer tries to institutionalize Santa Claus. Was he not feeling unpopular enough the rest of the year?

5. THE OTHER REINDEER
My final vote goes to the “other reindeer” in the song “Rudolph The Red Nose Reindeer.” I’ve always wondered what games reindeer play: do they borrow toys from Santa’s workshop? It’s simply shameful to exclude someone from reindeer games just because his nose flashes red more often than the Maple Leaf’s goal light!

                   

“9 New Year’s Rituals Around The World”

1. MEXICO
At midnight it’s customary to quickly eat 12 grapes, one at each stroke of the clock. Each one signifies good luck for one month of the coming year.

{If you remember last year I was in Mexico for New Year’s and I participated in this ritual}

2. FINLAND

Folks predict their fortunes for the coming year by casting molten tin into a container of water and interpreting the shape the metal takes after it hardens. A heart means love, a ship signifies travel, a pig means lots of good food.

3. PHILIPPINES

Round shapes, which represent coins, symbolize prosperity. There are heaps of round fruits on dining tables. Some folks eat precisely a dozen fruit at midnight. Polka dots also are thought to bring good luck, being round and all, and are quite prominent.

4. DENMARK
People stand on chairs and jump off at them at the same time to banish good spirits and bring good luck.

5.SCOTLAND
On what they call Hogmanany, the first person to cross the threshold of a home in the New Year should bring a gift for good luck. In the village of Stonehaven, folks parade around while swinging giant fireballs on poles.

6. JAPAN                                        
Since 1951, they’ve shown a TV music show called Kohaku Uta Gassen which means “Red and White Song Battle” and features celebrity music stars in sing-offs, where audience votes whether white team {men} or red team {women} win. Paul Simon and Cyndi Lauper have recently appeared.

7. PANAMA

Effigies of well known people- called munecos - are burned in new year’s bonfires. The effigies represent the old year and burning them drives away evil spirits.

8. ESTONIA
They use to try to eat 7x on New’s Year’s Day to ensure there would be abundant food, which seems counterproductive. Nowadays, it’s a Euro party capital and folks gorge on alcohol instead.

9. CENTRAL AND SOUTH AMERICA
Folks wear special underwear. Red means love, yellow means money.

Ahh.....it’s that time of year again where I will be leaving shortly for my winter vaycay. My leopard printed suitcases are all packed and no I didn’t forget to pack my special brand new red lace panties. I’ll be celebrating Christmas and New Year’s in a place where there is blinding white sand, aqua blue water and palm trees that sweep you up their warm breeze. A place where Santa wears tropical printed shirts, shorts and flip flops. New Year’s will mark me having a drinkie. I haven’t had a drop of alcohol since August despite being tempted left, right and center. Hopefully that alone will put me on Santa's Nice List. My drink of choice I’ve decided will be a......Margarita!

To all my loyal and dear readers I wish you a loving and joyful Merry Christmas/Holiday Season and a Glittering and Successful New Year......Oh I nearly forgot: A full moon is in the forecast on December 31st. If the night is clear and if you happen to see any of those you know what twinkling high in the sky, remember to make your New Year’s wish. If there is ever a time for wishes and dreams to come true it’s definitely this magical time of year.

May You All Find Your Light in 2010.

XOXOXOXO,
Cocaine Princess

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