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<p><span style="font-size: medium;"><strong><span style="color: #008000;">Here is my holiday gift to you.  Click the highlighted song and enjoy.  For those links that take you to Grooveshark.com, you'll need to press play on the song.  </span></strong></span></p>

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<p><span style="font-size: medium;"><strong><span style="color: #ff0000;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Late Bloomer's Holiday Playlist: </span></span></strong></span></p>

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<p>1.  <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kDkRvfo8jVE" target="_blank"><strong>Little St. Nick -- </strong><strong>John Denver &amp; the Muppet</strong><strong>s</strong></a></p>

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<p> <em>A Christmas Together</em> with John Denver &amp; the Muppets is my favorite Christmas album of all time.  I like this cover better than the orginal.  Yes, Beach Boys, the Muppets rock it better than you.  :-)</p>

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<p><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kDkRvfo8jVE" target="_blank"></a>2.  <a href="http://listen.grooveshark.com/#/search/song?q=santa%20lost%20a%20ho" target="_blank"><strong>Santa Lost a Ho -- </strong><strong>Christmas Jug Band</strong></a></p>

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<p>This was a happy discovery a few seasons back on iTunes.  This song is hysterical, and the rest of the album is top-notch.  A talented group of musicians with a hilariously warped sense of humor. </p>

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<p>3.  <a href="http://listen.grooveshark.com/#/search/song?q=chris%20isaak%20gotta%20be%20good" target="_blank"><strong>Gotta Be Good -- </strong><strong>Chris Isaak</strong></a></p>

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<p>Oh, my.  Chris Isaak makes my knees buckle. </p>

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<p>4.  <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Y09LZ5N42E" target="_blank"><strong>Little Drummer Boy -- Mercy Me </strong></a></p>

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<p>This is like no other Little Drummer Boy you have ever heard.  Off the charts Goosebump Factor at the "bridge".  You'll see.  Wow. </p>

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<p>5.  <strong><a href="http://listen.grooveshark.com/#/search/song?q=river%20robert%20downey" target="_blank">The River -- Robert Downey Jr. &amp; Vonda Shepard</a></strong></p>

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<p>You are so cool, RD Jr.  Is there anything you can't do? </p>

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<p>I love playing and singing this Joni Mitchell classic on the guitar. <br class="spacer_" /></p>

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<p>6.  <strong><a href="http://listen.grooveshark.com/#/search/song?q=better%20days%20goo" target="_blank">Better Days -- Goo Goo Dolls</a></strong></p>

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<p>I had to include Goo Goo Dolls or my sister would never speak to me again.  "The River" can be a bit depressing, so these lyrics restore hope. </p>

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<p>7.  <strong><a href="http://listen.grooveshark.com/#/search/song?q=zat%20you%20santa%20claus" target="_blank">'Zat You , Santa Claus?  -- Louis Armstrong  &amp; The Commanders</a></strong></p>

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<p>It's Louis Armstrong.  Enough said. </p>

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<p>8.  <strong><a href="http://listen.grooveshark.com/#/search/song?q=linus%20and%20lucy" target="_blank">Linus &amp; Lucy -- The Vince Guaraldi Trio</a></strong></p>

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<p>Please stand up, move away from your computer, and dance to this one like the Peanuts kids.  No one is watching, and you know you want to.</p>

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<p>9. <strong> </strong><a href="http://listen.grooveshark.com/#/search/song?q=god%20rest%20ye%20loreena%20mckennitt" target="_blank"><strong>God Rest Ye Merry Gentleman -- Loreena McKennitt</strong></a></p>

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<p>If you have never listened to Loreena Mckennitt, then you are in for more goosebumps. </p>

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<p>10.  <a href="http://listen.grooveshark.com/#/search/song?q=nutcracker%20brian%20setzer" target="_blank"><strong>The Nutcracker Suite -- Brian Setzer Orchestra</strong></a></p>

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<p>For you Gen Xers, yep.  Brian Setzer from The Stray Cats.  Another King of Cool. </p>

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<p>11.  <strong><a href="http://listen.grooveshark.com/#/search/song?q=up%20on%20the%20housetop%20jingle%20cats" target="_blank">Up on the Houstop -- Jingle Cats</a></strong></p>

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<p>Because I'm a dork.  My students used to beg me to play this for them.  Bella isn't sure what to make of it.  She just cocks her head and then runs away. </p>

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<p><strong><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #ff0000;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Ho, Ho, Ho, Everybody! </span> </span></span></strong></p>