Stone Soup by Jan Eliot for December 11, 2016

they should come up with Christmas edition “American Idol” (who seriously plays Christmas music in September?)

Do it, own it, love it, and if you’re embarrassed, don’t show it!

I’ve often wondered – how do the owners/employees of those year round Christmas shops (collectible ornaments and such) keep their sanity? Do they play Christmas music all year, too? I’ve only been in one, once. I was following my mom, and I’ve pretty successfully blocked it from memory (although I do still wake screaming occasionally from nightmare, and can only recall the feeling of being lost in a maze of red ribbon and breakable stuff, while choking on fake sugar cookie smell).

I don’t mind the songs, particularly, but I get mighty annoyed when singers want to “personalize” a tune. Play it the way it was written, confound it, or write your own! Sheesh.

I refer to it as the CTMETSOCMWBCBPIE24/7 (Conspiracy to Make Everyone Thoroughly Sick of Christmas Music Well Before Christmas by Playing It Exclusively 24/7), and sadly it has been in full operation here since before Thanksgiving.

And as soon as New Year passes it will be Easter stuff. Or, as is has become, Christmas 2 (or pre-Christmas depending on how you look at the holidays since Easter is in the beginning of the year) – minus the music.

Bah humbug…..harumph.

We should start a collection to buy ear plugs for every poor retail assistant.

I go with Fairytale of New York every year, the best Christmas song ever.

It was Christmas Eve babe

In the drunk tank.

An old man said to me, won’t see another one.

And then he sang a song,

The Rare Old Mountain Dew.

I turned my face away

And dreamed about you.

—Shane MacGowan

I love Christmas music and I’m sad when it is over on Dec. 26.

Could be worse; could have been “I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas.” Or “The Little Drummer Boy.” Just saying.

You’re right, saleslady, she’s not “half bad,” she’s ALL bad! (LOL)

At some point she started singing it out loud. Oops!

I LIKE her spirit.

I been to a mall which sells Christmas trees and plays Christmas music during summer time. I felt bad for the workers.I wished there would be mob flashes that would spontaneous sing Christmas songs.

I like Christmas music, however, I, to worked retail. One year the chain I worked for played “The Little Drummer Boy” in about 100 different versions, one about every 6 or 8 minutes, all season long. To this day, I hate that song, in any version. The rest of the songs, I can listen to, occasionally, all year long.

… and its still not outta her head!

I play Mannheim Steamroller Christmas songs all year round!

She was drinking too much eggnog …

Oh my god… Now I have that bloody song stuck in my head too.

Hey, everybody – - – - – Have a Happy / Merry / Holly JollyHallowThanksChrisHanuKwanz.

That’s right. All of the holidays are now mushed together.