Moderate Living

Hello, I'm Mike – I write every Tuesdays and Fridays

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Christmas Countdown

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photo by: moderatelivingblog.wordpress.com

Bought this Christmas countdown set from Amazon lol. My family has historically celebrated Christmas on the eve that’s why my count is one day less than the customary 25 days.

Christmas is really one of the greatest times of the year. Even if you have a different faith, I would encourage you to get into the Christmas spirit. It’s one of the few times when everyone is nice to each other and there’s an openness in people that you otherwise wouldn’t see.

Christmas is also the only time when – obviously – the Christmas based soundtracks can have their day. While I will tolerate – and the key word here is tolerate – Mariah Carey’s All I Want For Christmas, I can also understand why people like it. But there’s so much more great Christmas music out there and I’ve compiled my own soundtrack to the holiday season. So, if you ever get tired of the regular Christmas soundtrack in the coming days, you can head on over here – consider me your one stop shop for jazz-fusion Christmas music infused with the best of the regular songs 😂

Hope you guys are enjoying the start of the season!

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photo by: moderatelivingblog.wordpress.com

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38 responses to “Christmas Countdown”

  1. lyndhurstlaura Avatar
    lyndhurstlaura

    Lovely pics showcasing some of the good bits of Christmas. Leaving aside the over-commercialised side (about which I had a good moan in my Sunday blog) it’s still a time of year that I thoroughly. Enjoy your lead-up! 🙂

    Reply
    1. Michael Williams Avatar
      Michael Williams

      thanks Laura! oh, you reminded me about your post. i have thoughts on that! this time though i know to copy the comment before posting 😆

      Reply
      1. lyndhurstlaura Avatar
        lyndhurstlaura

        Looking forward to any ideas you have! 😊

        Reply
    2. Michael Williams Avatar
      Michael Williams

      btw Laura, I just posted the comment on your site. it’s not showing up again, let me know and I’ll post it here 😂

      Reply
      1. lyndhurstlaura Avatar
        lyndhurstlaura

        Let me check. 😐

        Reply
      2. lyndhurstlaura Avatar
        lyndhurstlaura

        Hi again Mike, I just looked and I can’t see it. So sorry, WordPress can be a pian. I just found that the book review blog I scheduled last night had an issue with the ‘Read more’ link, which wasn’t taking people to the review, so I’ve had to get up at 5am to get my laptop out and fix it! This stuff can be a pain! If you want to post your comment here, in answer to this message please do – maybe that way I’ll get to read and reply to it! 🙂

        Reply
        1. Michael Williams Avatar
          Michael Williams

          Hi Laura! here’s the comment:

          this is a well deserved critique of the modern Christmas Laura. Never have I seen such disparities in human behavior as when they are not shopping versus when they are.

          I suspect, although not to a high degree, that society’s population expansion is part of what has created this behavior. that and the general shift of becoming a high trust society to a low trust one has created social fault lines that intersect culture and religion. and then of course, you add in the scarcity of economics – both in products and money it takes to obtain them. now you have a powder keg of deep rooted grievances that come out in the open. and when the atmosphere is supposed to be joyous, the underlying hypocrisy becomes too much to contain.

          we are racing towards a world where the gap between the haves and have-nots will be too large to bridge and unless governments create ways for people to get to and enjoy middle class living, Christmas will become more than just the social critique you’ve eloquently described here, it will become a subconscious
          flashpoint for pernicious ideologies.

          But you know, if seeing it that way makes you, me and the others in the comments Grinches, then so be it. At least we have our own ways of celebrating Christmas. I may or may not do a post on it – but let’s just say, I revel in the illusion of the holiday with only one major aspect of it that I keep sacred; making it special for my mother who – bless her heart – did everything in my economically challenged childhood to make it special for me.
          Mike

          Reply
          1. lyndhurstlaura Avatar
            lyndhurstlaura

            Hi Mike, I read you loud and clear. What you say is so true, and I suspect that Christmas means little more than a shopping spree – often with a large credit card bill to be paid off, bit by bit, at the end of it – to those who subscribe to the capitalist/consumer model, with increasing resentment that they don’t have a larger slice of the pie to spend. Far better to keep Christmas in a more modest way, making it special for those we love, as in you and your mother. That is the true meaning of Christmas. And I haven’t done on the subject yet, so watch my blog space! Thanks for your comments. We’ll talk again beforehand, but I hope yours will be truly blessed. Laura.:) 🙂

            Reply
        2. Michael Williams Avatar
          Michael Williams

          also, yes i noticed your newest post and the link. I guess these bugs in wordpress css really take alot to fix! :/

          Reply
          1. lyndhurstlaura Avatar
            lyndhurstlaura

            It’s very annoying, but fixed now. I tried to reschedule, so that the link in the email will be fixed, but it is what it is. Anybody who’d really interested will know to click on the Book Reviews tab on the website. For me, it’s 6am and I’m freezing! Off back to bed! Good to talk, catch you again later. 🙂 🙂 🙂

            Reply
  2. CJ Antichow Avatar
    CJ Antichow

    Oh I love the nutcrackers Mike, I have my own collection…the only thing I collect on this earth…

    Reply
    1. Michael Williams Avatar
      Michael Williams

      thanks CJ 🙂 they do add a nice touch to the holiday! when I put them up I’ll make sure to take a pic! that’s so cool you collect them!

      Reply
  3. Nancy Homlitas Avatar
    Nancy Homlitas

    I appreciate your encouragement for others to enjoy the season, and I like your Christmas prep pics. But that’s a mean-looking king! 🙂

    Reply
    1. Michael Williams Avatar
      Michael Williams

      thanks Nancy 🙂 it’s a wonderful season – the most wonderful time of the year as the song goes! i’ll post more pics as the holiday draws near!

      Reply
  4. The Creative Chic Avatar
    The Creative Chic

    I love your pictures, Michael or do you prefer Mike? I especially love the one with the lights on the stairs. I wish people were as nice all year as they seem to be when it’s Christmas time. I can tell the difference. Love your song choices too. One of my favorites is The First Noel. It’s so beautiful.

    Reply
    1. Michael Williams Avatar
      Michael Williams

      thank you Jennifer! 🙂 whatever you’re comfortable with calling me is fine. i just figure more people are used to Mike.

      yeah, i wish ppl were as nice all year round as they are on christmas. other people really need that warmth. The First Noel is a beautiful composition 🙂 i’ll have most of my decor up by the end of the week. how is your decorating going?

      Reply
      1. The Creative Chic Avatar
        The Creative Chic

        Perfect, I prefer Michael myself 🙂 glad that works for you too!

        I don’t think I can post pictures here in the comments, but I’ll post soon with my decorations. Can’t wait to see the rest of yours!

        Any snow up your way yet? I miss seeing snow.

        Reply
        1. Michael Williams Avatar
          Michael Williams

          🙂 by the way, do you have a preference or is Jennifer ok?

          no snow up here yet, but this is the coldest I remember NJ being in a long time so I’m expecting snow as we go into January. I’ll take pics for sure

          Hope you’re having a good evening there!

          Reply
          1. The Creative Chic Avatar
            The Creative Chic

            I prefer Jennifer, but I’m okay with Jenn. Everyone at work calls me Jenn, so like you, it’s whatever you’re comfortable with, really.

            I’m looking forward to your snow pictures. That’s the only way I’m seeing it is through everyone else’s pictures, haha.

            Happy Wednesday to you 🙂

            Reply
            1. Michael Williams Avatar
              Michael Williams

              cool! Happy Wednesday! 🙂

              Reply
  5. Ann Coleman Avatar
    Ann Coleman

    Peronsally, I prefer the traditional Christmas carols. But that’s not to say I don’t enjoy the occasional new song, such as “Grandma got run over by a reindeer” and Bob Seger’s “Little Drummer Boy.”

    Reply
    1. Michael Williams Avatar
      Michael Williams

      lol. that Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer song always brings a smile to my face. I also like the classics as they work very well with jazz interpretations. how are your decorations coming along? I’m looking forward to your next post!

      Reply
    2. Michael Williams Avatar
      Michael Williams

      Ann, it actually happened!

      Reply
      1. Ann Coleman Avatar
        Ann Coleman

        OMG! Who knew? Thanks for sharing this!! (And I do hope she was alright, unlike in the song….)

        Reply
  6. ibarynt Avatar
    ibarynt

    Lovely pictures. Are they taken from your new camera? I love those lights.

    I’ll get to your play list. I don’t much care for Mariah’s Christmas song too 🤭

    Reply
    1. Michael Williams Avatar
      Michael Williams

      hi Iba! thank you, they were taken with an older Nikon camera that I have 🙂 nice to find a kindred soul that doesn’t like that song hehe 😀

      Reply
  7. Hazel Avatar
    Hazel

    Papa has a new set of soundtracks. And it’s all Christmas songs. I love it. But, I joke to him. Savor this music all month long, as January comes, it will be unfit at all.🤭

    Reply
    1. Michael Williams Avatar
      Michael Williams

      😂😂😂😂 this is true!

      Reply
  8. AinaBalagtas Avatar
    AinaBalagtas

    Such a great post! I love the season too. And Xmas jazz fusion playlist? Wow! Two thumbs up Mike.

    Reply
    1. Michael Williams Avatar
      Michael Williams

      😁 thanks Aina! I figure it’s a change from regular Christmas music. I’ll post them in the days to come!

      Reply
  9. Darryl B Avatar
    Darryl B

    Mariah does a beautiful job on “O Holy Night” 😎

    Reply
    1. Michael Williams Avatar
      Michael Williams

      it is a great rendition!

      i also have Katie Melua’s rendition on the christmas playlist although I am not sure if there is an official video for it on youtube any longer.

      Reply
  10. justrojie Avatar
    justrojie

    I love Christmas!! And it is the best holiday!

    Reply
    1. Michael Williams Avatar
      Michael Williams

      it is totally the best, and it’s a blast to celebrate 😀

      Reply
  11. marvellousnightmare Avatar
    marvellousnightmare

    I absolutely love your photos, they’re very warm, and you can really feel the holiday spirit 🙂
    By the way, we also have black steps at home 😀
    I usually listen to “Driven by the Snow” – Sisters of Mercy and “Christmas Carols” – Blackmore’s Night on Christmas Eve, but I’m weird 😀

    Reply
    1. Michael Williams Avatar
      Michael Williams

      thank you! 🙂 i’ll give those tunes a listen as I’m doing more decorations and cleaning today! hope your holiday season is going well so far!

      Reply
  12. coolpeppermint Avatar
    coolpeppermint

    such pretty photos!

    Reply
    1. Michael Williams Avatar
      Michael Williams

      thanks Lu!

      Reply

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