In my family, each year at Christmas, we each have a name of someone else in the family that we focus our gift-giving attention to. Since there are nine of us, seven children, some married with their own families, and my parents, it would be insane to feel obligated to get even a very small something for each one. Thus the annual Christmas Rotation List. It makes it much easier. Likewise, we have an official family policy that all gift giving is optional, and should be based on each individual's circumstances (and those can vary greatly from year to year).

Well this year, my sister Janna has my name. She's been pestering me for a month now to give her an accurate Christmas wish list to help her out, and I've shirked and avoided as much as humanly possible. Now that it's down to a week, I think I'll actually start a list. So here it is. I'll be editing this list and adding/subtracting to it whenever I get the urge.

• The Andy Williams Christmas Album (remastered), and/or Andy Williams's Merry Christmas -- I grew up hearing Andy Williams sing each holiday season, and really enjoy the music on these CDs.
  
• And it wouldn't be Christmas without The Carpenters' Christmas Collection -- Karen's voice is dynamite, and Richard Carpenter's arrangements always delightful. This combo CD set combines the Christmas Portrait and An Old Fashioned Christmas into a single album. Perfect!
  
• While on the topic of Christmas music, I think I'll add Bing Crosby's White Christmas to the list. It's a true, timless classic, and Bing's rich, mellow voice is eminently listenable.