Oh, and in other news, just spoke to an education specialist about Frances and about maybe getting her assessed finally. Part of me feels like I'm now officially one of those special snowflake moms, and part of me thinks "shut up, judgey me!" I have long suspected she has a few learning deficits and while she's smart enough to compensate, I figure it's worth our while to see if there are ways to help her overcome those deficits.

One of the advantages of hitting my 40s is the "when are you having kids" question being put to rest forever.

I had mine at 56, so there is still a slim hope for your questioners.

I like "Wonderful Christmastime", I sang LDB too many times in church choir and it's just such a draggy melody. I don't get to hear the Kink's "Father Christmas, Give Us Some Money" or Emerson Lake and Palmer's "I Believe in Father Christmas" much--not surprising, "Father Christmas" is beautiful but very sobering. One of the last time's I heard it, they'd edited out one of the verses.

I was in Target last night, in the bathroom, and in one of the stalls there was a young girl singing the first bit of "O Holy Night" over and over and mangling the words.

"The Lord of the Dance"

Ha! I never knew it was associated with Xmas. This is a song I associate with funerals. I have heard it sung at a couple.

I really like In the Deep Midwinter, which I had never heard until I went to university. I guess because it's very English and we are not.

I'm not a big fan of x-mas music. But I love "A Christmas Card From a Hooker in Minneapolis."

I have never heard the song "Lord of the Dance" so I am picturing Michael Flately.

I really like Britten's This Little Babe-- we sang it in choir in school and it was so much fun to sing.

Sophia, Lord of the Dance: [link]

Salmon and goat cheese pizza made me queasy, which was a surprise since I'm really fond of all the individual ingredients.

For your consideration, the best Christmas song ever: [link]

"Once in Royal David's City"

I've spent the last however many years hating that song, since we sing all six verses every Christmas Eve, but somehow last night I didn't hate it so much? Must be some kind of Stockholm syndrome.

But I think my favorite Christmas song is "The Lord of the Dance" from The Christmas Revels, which is quite defiantly un-mournful.

And not at all Christmas! But yes. (I'm going to Revels next week!!)

I'm inordinately fond of Mariah Carey's "All I Want for Christmas Is You," especially the version with Jimmy Fallon and the Roots.

There is no inordinately! That song is the best.

And now this shows up on my FB via non-Buffista channels:

Goats Singing Christmas Carols Is The Holiday Album You Didn't Know You Needed

[link]