Included: Clips from "A Christmas Story", "It's A Wonderful Life", Mariah Carey LIVE in Tokyo singing "All I Want For Chistmas Is You", "Miracle on 34th Street" and Elvis's "Blue Christmas" serenade. Merry Christmas, Everyone!

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

At the time of this Hub's publication (July 2, 2008 at 10:08am), in central standard time, the Countdown To Christmas is 175 Days, 13 Hours and 53 Minutes. Only 174 days left to shop? Oh No!

Soon, the "A Christmas Story" Marathon will be on, Michigan Avenue's store-front windows will be fesivley decorated, the kids' 100 item Christmas lists for "Santa" will be posted to your email, and the kitchen will be bombed with flour from baking your annual toffee bars and sugar cookies.

As 100 degree days approach and the 4th of July hits, we long for "cuddle weather". Here is a tribute to great contemporary and classic Christmas delights to get you in the holiday mood. Merry Christmas, everyone!

All Ralphie wants for Christmas is an official Red Ryder carbine-action 200-shot range model BB gun with a compass in the stock. Between dodging Scott Farkus, the neighborhood bully with "yellow eyes" and getting a C+ on his "What I want for Christmas" essay, Ralphie reminds us of the perils of being a school-aged, somewhat dorky, kid.

This classic airs in an annual marathon on Turner Network Television (TNT). I find I watch this movie, in parts, probably 6 times over the course of the 24 hour marathon starting on the evening of Christmas Eve and ending on Christmas Day... A forever classic. (Credit: witchitaorpheum)

Before "The Emancipation of Mimi" (2005), Mariah Carey was a '90's pop icon. She is credited with having a 5 octave vocal range. Here, Mariah serenades us in this live concert from Tokyo with her Christmas to-be-classic, "All I Want For Christmas Is You". (Credit: visionsofmariah1)

In 1946, "It's A Wonderful Life" was released starring the late-great Jimmy Stewart as George Bailey and Donna Reed as his wife, Mary Bailey. Clarence the Angel is my favorite character and this movie always makes me cry. A Christmas Classic I hope everyone has seen.

Natalie Wood stars in the original "Miracle on 34th Street" released in 1947. I have not seen this movie, but have heard great things about it. Here is the original tv spot for "Miracle on 34th Street". (Credit: cubby1031)

I wish I had been alive to see Elvis Presley in person. What a great performer and icon. Here he is singing in a live concert, "Blue Christmas" in 1965. (Credit: sadistickid)

Merry Christmas everyone! Yes, I know it is only July but snowy days and festive parties will be back before you know it. Christmas cookies, trimming the tree and the early 6 am rush and tumble down the steps comes to mind. My little legs wouldn't move fast enough as I would run down the hallway from my bedroom, dodging my sister emerging from her room, and racing each other down the steps to see what Santa brought us. Then we would anxiously wait for our parents to wake. Angie and I would chatter about which presents we had asked Santa for and waited some more. A strict rule in our house was not to wake Mommy and Daddy on Christmas morning. Presents were not to be passed out until the coffee was made and everyone was present in the living room. Gosh! My sister and I would be sure to make plenty of ruckus on our trek downstairs to be sure to wake Mom and Dad. Sneaky...

In the Christmas mood? I hope so. There isn't a feeling like it. Merry Christmas!