'Twas Christmas
Happy Boxing Day, everyone! I don't know about you, but I punched the first three people I saw today before someone explained to me what "Boxing Day" really meant. Whoops.
Here are the highlights of my Christmas experience this year, bullet-pointed and in more or less chronological order:
-Driving home to join the family on Saturday, I listened to John Denver and the Muppets: A Christmas Together and began crying. I couldn't control it. God, I miss John Denver...but seriously, it's no secret that I'm a soft touch. Hell, it was probably tears of joy, considering that I don't go back to work until 2008.
-We hosted the annual family Christmas party at our house on Saturday night. Though it's technically for my father's side of the family, only two of his five brothers attended; conversely, three of my mom's four siblings were there. The highlight was my sister's boyfriend Mark making fast friends by presenting my father with a bottle of Jameson Irish Whiskey. My dad is not much of a drinker, but his brother Phil (the 300+ pound Vietnam Vet) spotted the dark green bottle from across the room and barked, "Is that Jameson?". Before the night was over, we'd poured two rounds and toasted both of my dearly departed grandmothers. It was a nice touch.
-Mark also brought over his Wii, so I played a round of Mario Party 8 with my sister's friends. Like Mr. Burns choosing a box of Count Chocula cereal because the vampire spokescartoon looked like him, I selected Waluigi as my character. I spent the entire game mimicking his ridiculous "Wah-aaaahhh!" war cry. However, during a break from the action, Waluigi got his revenge. I slipped off to the little boys' room with the Wii-mote still strapped to my wrist. In mid-stream, that unmistakable "Wah-aaaahhh!" emanated from the Wii-mote. I'm lucky I didn't spray all over the bathroom walls.
-New holiday reflections from yours truly at Crunchable. Click home to check out the fevered Yuletide musings of Mikey as well.
-I've barely been to church all year, lapsed Catholic as I am, but Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve was a thoroughly pleasant experience. The mass began with the congregation lighting handheld candles to illuminate the church. The priest processed down the aisle by himself, singing a beautiful rendition of "O Holy Night" and placing the baby Jesus statue in the manger. His homily was also thoroughly entertaining, as he referenced holiday favorites like "A Charlie Brown Christmas" and even "Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer" (snicker). It's sad, but it's rare to find a priest that actually seems to enjoy what he does. When you do, it's pretty infectious.
-I spent the lion's share of December 24 and 25 tearing through FIVE old VHS tapes full of recorded holiday specials. In addition to my sentimental favorites (most of which I've mentioned here previously, save for the wildly obscure and under-appreciated Ziggy's Gift), I found my Mom's favorite incarnation of A Christmas Carol, 1970's Scrooge. Albert Finney plays the most pitiful Ebenezer Scrooge I've ever seen, while still managing to chill my blood with his sneers and snarls. There are musical elements to it as well, giving it a different spin. Check it out if you get the chance.
-The old commercials on these VHS tapes...my God. Most of these shows were taped between 1986 and 1989. Talk about feeling old. There are so many examples I could give...but let me just say that Teddy Ruxpin ruled with an iron fist, the Geo Prizm was apparently at the forefront of automotive technology, and Toys 'R Us had a slogan of "You'll Never Outgrow Us". Brilliant AND true.
-My Dad started making fun of the "Best of Badfinger" CD I gave him as soon as he'd unwrapped it. Oh well, it was worth a shot.
-My sister and I bought each other the same book: "Gone Baby Gone" by Dennis Lehane. Great minds think alike. She also bought me a pack of Garbage Pail Kids stickers. Awesome.
-The Secret Santa gift exchange with the extended family (Mom's side) ran smoother than it possibly ever has. For my part, I got the Simpsons Movie on DVD and a pack of card sleeve sheets for my baseball cards, so I'm pleased. My sister had drawn the name of Ethan, my cousin Chris's ridiculously adorable little boy. Chris had bought him a PSP for Christmas, so she'd suggested buying him a PSP game based on Disney's Cars. When he got the game, Ethan asked my sister how she knew that he was getting a PSP. Thinking quickly, she told him that she had been unsure of what to buy, so she asked Santa, who told her that he was bringing the PSP on Christmas. A moment later, Ethan sidled up to his mother and whispered, "She asked Santa." Ah, lies for the greater good.
This was a pretty damn good Christmas. I hope your Christmas/Hanukkah/Yule was just as relaxing and enjoyable. See you all soon!
Here are the highlights of my Christmas experience this year, bullet-pointed and in more or less chronological order:
-Driving home to join the family on Saturday, I listened to John Denver and the Muppets: A Christmas Together and began crying. I couldn't control it. God, I miss John Denver...but seriously, it's no secret that I'm a soft touch. Hell, it was probably tears of joy, considering that I don't go back to work until 2008.
-We hosted the annual family Christmas party at our house on Saturday night. Though it's technically for my father's side of the family, only two of his five brothers attended; conversely, three of my mom's four siblings were there. The highlight was my sister's boyfriend Mark making fast friends by presenting my father with a bottle of Jameson Irish Whiskey. My dad is not much of a drinker, but his brother Phil (the 300+ pound Vietnam Vet) spotted the dark green bottle from across the room and barked, "Is that Jameson?". Before the night was over, we'd poured two rounds and toasted both of my dearly departed grandmothers. It was a nice touch.
-Mark also brought over his Wii, so I played a round of Mario Party 8 with my sister's friends. Like Mr. Burns choosing a box of Count Chocula cereal because the vampire spokescartoon looked like him, I selected Waluigi as my character. I spent the entire game mimicking his ridiculous "Wah-aaaahhh!" war cry. However, during a break from the action, Waluigi got his revenge. I slipped off to the little boys' room with the Wii-mote still strapped to my wrist. In mid-stream, that unmistakable "Wah-aaaahhh!" emanated from the Wii-mote. I'm lucky I didn't spray all over the bathroom walls.
-New holiday reflections from yours truly at Crunchable. Click home to check out the fevered Yuletide musings of Mikey as well.
-I've barely been to church all year, lapsed Catholic as I am, but Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve was a thoroughly pleasant experience. The mass began with the congregation lighting handheld candles to illuminate the church. The priest processed down the aisle by himself, singing a beautiful rendition of "O Holy Night" and placing the baby Jesus statue in the manger. His homily was also thoroughly entertaining, as he referenced holiday favorites like "A Charlie Brown Christmas" and even "Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer" (snicker). It's sad, but it's rare to find a priest that actually seems to enjoy what he does. When you do, it's pretty infectious.
-I spent the lion's share of December 24 and 25 tearing through FIVE old VHS tapes full of recorded holiday specials. In addition to my sentimental favorites (most of which I've mentioned here previously, save for the wildly obscure and under-appreciated Ziggy's Gift), I found my Mom's favorite incarnation of A Christmas Carol, 1970's Scrooge. Albert Finney plays the most pitiful Ebenezer Scrooge I've ever seen, while still managing to chill my blood with his sneers and snarls. There are musical elements to it as well, giving it a different spin. Check it out if you get the chance.
-The old commercials on these VHS tapes...my God. Most of these shows were taped between 1986 and 1989. Talk about feeling old. There are so many examples I could give...but let me just say that Teddy Ruxpin ruled with an iron fist, the Geo Prizm was apparently at the forefront of automotive technology, and Toys 'R Us had a slogan of "You'll Never Outgrow Us". Brilliant AND true.
-My Dad started making fun of the "Best of Badfinger" CD I gave him as soon as he'd unwrapped it. Oh well, it was worth a shot.
-My sister and I bought each other the same book: "Gone Baby Gone" by Dennis Lehane. Great minds think alike. She also bought me a pack of Garbage Pail Kids stickers. Awesome.
-The Secret Santa gift exchange with the extended family (Mom's side) ran smoother than it possibly ever has. For my part, I got the Simpsons Movie on DVD and a pack of card sleeve sheets for my baseball cards, so I'm pleased. My sister had drawn the name of Ethan, my cousin Chris's ridiculously adorable little boy. Chris had bought him a PSP for Christmas, so she'd suggested buying him a PSP game based on Disney's Cars. When he got the game, Ethan asked my sister how she knew that he was getting a PSP. Thinking quickly, she told him that she had been unsure of what to buy, so she asked Santa, who told her that he was bringing the PSP on Christmas. A moment later, Ethan sidled up to his mother and whispered, "She asked Santa." Ah, lies for the greater good.
This was a pretty damn good Christmas. I hope your Christmas/Hanukkah/Yule was just as relaxing and enjoyable. See you all soon!