Thanks, John, as my wife and son out did themselves this year: 4 Beatles Remasters as I already bought Revolver; 2 Norah Jones cds; Miles Davis in concert cd; Robyn Rord in concert cd; but really special is An Evening with Nat King Cole DVD, Rediscovering Dave Brubeck DVD, and a DVD of The Making of a Steinway (to some of you that might be a little weird, but I have been told that all too many times...stand in line. lol) Nat King cole has to be one of the best self accompanist of all time. So smooth.

Nick is having a great time with the PS3 of the Beatles Rock Band and his new 32" HD TV.

With my lovely wife feeling great and beating colon cancer from last Christmas(finished Chemo in August and blood came back great a weeks ago, I can tell you life is great. I hope the same for all the Phile staff and forum members.

The SME 20/12 will have to wait.

You can see my sweet wife on facebook as Diane Tavegia.

Merry Christmas John, Gentleman Jim and all the Stereophile faithful. Good news about your wife, Jim. My sister's been beating her breast cancer for 15 years now, thank God. Time for gratitude and humility, which always informs your welcome opinions, Jim, and sets a standard of behavior for the rest of us.

My 87 year old mother sent me a double vinyl of one of my wish list albums. Can't wait to open it. We have a houseful of aggressively hungry visitors for the week (9 of my girlfriend's kids and attendant family), so this is always a real test of my Christmas spirit. Stacked like cordwood, but generally congenial. I thought we would have more space when her kids grew up, but now they bring children and spouses... And some stay for years, LOL.

God Bless Us, Everyone!

That is what Chrsitmas is about: family, friends, some good food and conversation with some great music in the background...like JMR's 3 Rejoice CDs that are in the changer in the living room off the kitchen/dining area. That is the best holiday music for dinner I have in my collection. And, no, I am not earning a commission...just buy them anyway.

Salute!

Hi Jim, Right now we're listening to a Mercury 3 channel SACD of Dorati's Nutcracker. Later I hope to break out the vinyl copy of Open by Julie Driscoll and Brian Auger that my dear mum sent. I don't think "Season of the Witch" is very Christmas-y, but it might get a listen, anyway.

The spouse is very happy surrounded by her voracious family, so that's what's important. ;>)

Last night we dined (my wife and I, our two college age kids and our brother and sister-in-law) to one of the Christmas channels on SiriusXM, by way of the Squeezebox in my family room.

After, my son and daughter took turns dj'ing and - nerds we are - we laughed and danced around the dining room table. Marvin Gaye is probably spinning in his grave...

Today, Christmas music off and on, starting with 'Carla 's Christmas Carols.' Then the first cd of the Bing Crosby radio transcriptions on Mosaic, and the Roy Hargrove big band thing from a few months back.

If the kids bring their new music in, we'll add the "extreme blackened metal" of Cobalt, plus the new Mos Def and Finale.

Speaking of Cobalt, I know less than zero about metal, so I relied on the 'PopMatters' year end best of to find metal for my daughter.

So I'm standing in front of the cash register at the record store and I start reading the blurb on the Cobalt album out loud. It goes something like "The year's best release of blackened, extreme metal - the soundtrack to the strong inheriting the earth."

The old guy (my age) behind the counter looks up and deadpans "Yep, that really says Christmas." The two of us fell over laughing.

s.

satknsn, That's a great story. Is there a soft, blackened metal group called Graphite? Sorry. It's late and the holiday festivities have taken their toll. Merry Noel to you and yours.