Christmastide 2021/2022 - 7th Day of Christmas: Donna Summer

Friday, December 31, 2021

Today's the birthday of the great Donna Summer. I believe she would've been 73 today. 

The Donna Summer Musical is currently playing at the Ordway in St. Paul through the weekend. I'd love to go see it but I don't think it'l work out time wise. I'm gonna regret missing it. 

Hers is one of my all time favorite Christmas albums. I believe it came out just before Dale and I had our first Christmas together. I remember listening to it in our apartment on Fremont. 

Rest well. 

Holiday Season 2021 - Mike & Charisse

Thursday, December 23, 2021

We had Mike and Charisse over for dinner tonight. It was nice to see them and we had a wonderful time. Dale made chili and they brought over some Christmas cookies over that they made for us which we had for dessert. They're the first company we've had since we got Sylvester so I wasn't sure how he'd react. He was very outgoing and as we talked and ate cookies after dinner he jumped up on the couch and sat between them. He rolled over on his back and let them scratch his tummy. I think they really enjoyed his company and were impressed by how relaxed he was with them. 

Dale wrote the following on his blog earlier today:

"Tonight we’re having a high school buddy of Joe’s and his wife over for dinner.  I’ve made my signature chili and we’ve cleaned the house.  Joe is decorating the tree and we’re listening to Donna Summer’s Christmas album.  Sylvester the Cat is cuddled up next to me as I write this, so the scene is quite cozy and domestic.  Joe and I are both missing Athena mightily, but it has been almost two months since we lost her so the sadness has mellowed a bit.  We were so lucky to have had so many years with that wonderful dog."

Christmastide 2020: The 9th Day of Christmas - Listening Party

Saturday, January 2, 2021

Dale and I listened to a couple of our favorite Christmas albums during cocktail hour. We started with Christmas Cornucopia by Annie Lennox.  This album is amazing. Annie has taken traditional Christmas carols and added African  drumming and an African children's choir to many of the selections. My favorite Christmas carol is See Amid the Winter's Snow and the version of it which is contained here is gorgeous. 

Our other favorite is Christmas Spirit by Donna Summer. Her medley of What Child Is This/Do You Hear What I Hear/Joy to the World is glorious. I asked Dale what his favorite Christmas song is and he said O Holy Night. I love that one too and there is a version contained in Christmas Spirit. I first got this album on CD back in 1994. It reminds me of Christmases we spent in our apartment on Fremont Avenue. This one really has become an old favorite.

 

The Seventh Day of Christmas Part 2 - New Year's Eve

Tuesday, December 31, 2019

Laid back day. Dale and I got some cleaning done, a trip to Kowalski's,  and some nice walks in. Again, it is so good to see the sun. 

For cocktail hour we listened to some Christmas music from Bing Crosby, Donna Summer, and the Ultra Lounge.

I had a martini and Dale had wine. 

For dinner we had steak, Brussels sprouts, and a pasta salad.

And for dessert we had pumpkin pie. 

During dinner and dessert we watched The Bishop's Wife - one of our favorites.

I find New Year's Eve to be a kilt-worthy holiday. Note: Dry January starts tomorrow. 

Tonight turned out to be a wonderfully quiet night in. We were in bed by 9:30 p.m. Looking forward to 2020. 

Christmas Season 2015/2016 - Donna Summer

Tuesday, December 28, 2015

This one gets a listen every year. The album dates to 1994 and I remember listening to it with Dale in our first apartment together. One of my favorite holiday albums. All the selections are fantastic and  Christmas Medley  is especially powerful.