Saturday, December 16, 2017

A Bit of Christmas Music - Lest You Think I Forgot What Christmas Is About...

...by way of my last two musical Christmas selections in my previous two posts. So, if you have got several hours you can listen to tall of these and if you are not in the Christmas mood by then - you are hopeless.
 













 












That last one was definitely not the best I have ever heard it sung but if did not bring a tear to your eyes and fill you with the true spirit of Christmas and the wonderful gift we received on the first one - well, you just might just be a combination of the Grinch and Ebenezer Scrooge before they reformed! Anyhow, I think there has got to be something there for you if you celebrate Christmas.

All the best,
Glenn B

If That Last One Did Not Work For You...

...this one can probably get you in the Christmas mood.



All the best,
Glenn B

Santa Baby



Gotta love this song, especially if you're Santa!!!

All the best,
Glenn B

Christmas Shopping Update

Christmas Shopping has been completed for: She who must be adored (at least at most times), the son, myself (a bottle of Schladerer Kirschwasser), the brothers-in-law and a couple of friends of mine.

That leaves my daughter, son-in-law, grandson, mother in law, my nephew (almost forgot I need to get him something) and another friend of mine. Working almost all this coming week week and little time to get it done except for Tuesday when I will be off because of other commitments. That should be all the time I need. of course, there is always the obligatory shopping at the last minute on Christmas Eve that I look forward to and enjoy each year and this year should be no exception.

All the best,
Glenn B

Total Wine Has Arrived Near Me

Back in 2009, I was on a 4 month detail in Tucson, AZ. Several times while driving in either direction on the highway south of the city, I noted a place called Total Wine. Stopped in there to see if they had my favorite wine (MD 20/20 - not really) and was amazed to find a huge warehouse type wine, booze and beer store. The next year I was again in AZ for 4 months and shopped there as needed. Their selection is huge and their prices were relatively low, lower than anywhere else I bought my booze out there.

About a year and a half ago, I found out there is Total Wine in CT. Never got the chance to stop there though I had wanted to do so. Then forgot all about it.

On Wednesday this week, I worked in Long Island City and took the LIRR to get there. There was a sign for Total Wine at the LIRR station. Yes, Total Wine has come to Nassau County, NY; it is located next to Walmart on Old Country Road in Westbury. I stopped there today after about a two to two and a half hour pain in mine arse shopping trip to the madhouse known as Costco. I got so carried away looking around trying to find this or that when I meant to be there only 10 or 15. I needed to get home and drop off the haul from Costco and then pick up a rifle to bring to UPS to ship to my son. That now has to wait until Tuesday because I must have been in there for well over an hour trying to find stuff - their system of stocking the shelves leaves something to be desired. Anyway, I wound up spending a tidy sum on some of my favorites and saved money over getting it where I normally buy it. For instance, a 750 ml bottle of Schladerer Kirschwasser (supposedly a cherry brandy but it tastes more like white lightning or moonshine than brandy). It normally costs me $49.99 where I buy it; at Total Wine, the same bottle was just under $35.99! The wife likes Nurnberger Gluhwein, a spiced wine from Germany. I normally pay $9.99 per bottle. I bought a case of 6 at $5.84 per bottle (individual bottles went for $6.49 each). They also had something I have not drunk in well over 35, maybe 40 years - Mellow Corn (100 proof corn whiskey). It was only $10.99 for a 750 ml bottle, quality stuff made in the US of A. I bought two - one for a gift for a guy who drank it with me way back when and one as snakebite medicine to put on the shelf until I get bitten. They also have a beer side (not allowed to sell liquor, wine and beer in the same store in mega-regulated NY state, so it was an attached but different store set-up of the same name where they sold the beer. That was emptier than the booze side but has a huge selection of beers and ales.

I could become an alcoholic shopping there although I must say it too was a madhouse with all the Christmas shoppers in there. I want to take about a three hour tour of the place after the holidays kind of like they were supposed to do on The Minnow. Who knows, I may buy enough booze to last a lifetime of being shipwrecked on a desert island just like Gilligan and the all rest. It has only been open about a month, or so I was told by an employee. Maybe that is why a couple of other workers there told me they did not have things I asked for but then I found them on my own. They have some bugs to work out but I am sure that will happen and it will be my go to liquor store when I am purchasing in quantity. My local mom and pop store (literally so) will still get my business for a bottle or three. Anyway, I highly recommend Total Wine - based on my prior experience and my shopping tonight - for somewhat large quantity purchases.


All the best,
Glenn B