Countdown to Christmas: 8 Days

Tuesday, December 17, 2024

Eight Days Until Christmas

Cigar after work. Contemplated the last couple of days at school.  The kids are getting loopy and today was the day I realized that from here on out until the end of the week we're only going to get the very minimum done.  It's like they were there but they weren't there. Visions of sugarplums...

Listened to some music while out in the garage. These playlists I made number of years ago are really quite well curated. 

Dale had quite a day too. He's leaving for Arizona tomorrow. We wound down from the day by having cocktails and dinner at Northbound. Of all of our neighborhood spots this one is Dale's favorite. I'm quite fond of it too. 

                      

When we got home Rudolph was on TV. I fell asleep however. 

It's so dated yet still fun. 

Pre-Holiday Season 2024: Cigars and Music

 Wednesday, December 11, 2024

Looking forward to getting some rest during the upcoming holidays. 

                      

That said, I'm also taking time to relax in the present. 

                     

Lit up a cigar and poured the last of my vodka left over from Thanksgiving.

After coming in I listened to music. 

And more music.

Watched Frosty the Snowman on broadcast television tonight. 

Christmastide 2020: The 8th Day of Christmas - New Year's Day: The Little Drummer Boy (Rankin/Bass)

Friday, January 1st, 2021

It was a fixture throughout the 1970s at least but doesn't get as much airplay as it once did, possible due to the more overt religious nature of it but also more likely because some of the facial features of some of the puppets are as seen racially highly charicatured.

The titular character, Aaron, feels alienated from other human beings and his anger toward them is quite evident yet just as apparent is his love for his animal friends. 

The theme song is beautifully sung by the Vienna Choir Boys and the climax to the specially is actually very touching. I found it on YouTube. 

I haven't seen it in years. I remember having it on VHS cassette and showing it to my 4th grade class the day before winter break in the mid 1990s. This is one of my childhood favorites. 

By the way, as I wrote the date above I have to say it felt really good to write a year other than the previous one. 

Holiday Season 2020 - First Day of Christmas Vacation: The Year Without a Santa Claus

Saturday, December 19, 2020

First day of Christmas vacation today. Dale and I had a nice long talk this morning about this crazy year finally coming to an end. We also talked about how 2020 will be a before-and-after reference point for just about everyone on the planet for a while. I really began to feel the emotion behind all of it a couple days ago in a way that you only allow yourself to when the potential end is in sight. 

I watched The Year Without a Santa Claus this morning. The special dates from 1974 although I don't remember seeing it as a kid however everyone else I know seems to. I don't know where I was when it was first broadcast. 

I've seen it a couple of times as an adult, the first time being about 10 years ago. It's actually quite good and it was fun to see it again. Shirley Booth is the voice of Mrs. Santa Claus. I remember her from reruns of the old Hazel TV show which I always liked. Her distinctive voice was perfect casting for Santa's wife. Mickey Rooney provided the voice of Santa Claus, also a great choice for the role. 

What many peer remember most about the show are the characters of the Heat Miser and the Snow Miser. The only reason I'm 100% positive I never saw this program as a kid is that the characters are so memorable there's no way I could've forgotten them. Their musical numbers are trippy to say the least. 

Anyway, it was a load of fun watching it this morning. It's highly watchable and although I never saw it as a youngster it's so similar in look and style to other children's Christmas specials of the era it brought me right back to being a kid again. 

Also watched 'Twas the Night Before Christmas this morning. Although one of my favorites as a kid it really doesn't hold up to well. The title is taken from the famous poem by Clement C. Moore. Although the opening credits claim that it is narrated and sung by Joel Grey it's really told by George Gobel who plays Father Mouse. 

Santa takes issue with a letter that appears in the town's newspaper claiming that Santa doesn't exist. It's signed by "all of us." Turns out it's Father Mouse's eggheaded son, Albert, who wrote the letter. Santa decides to skip over the town on his midnight run which is rather passive aggressive if you ask me. If Santa knows who's naughty and nice you'd think he'd know who actually did it. 

Anyway, the rest of the show is about the town sorting out how they're going to solve the predicament they're in. 

Holiday Season 2017 - Last Day of School

Friday, December 21, 2017

Last day of school for 2017. The kids did pretty well although by the end of the day they had a glazed looked in their eyes with a slightly evil smile and were staring at me like I was a giant wrapped package ready to be ripped apart. I held them off by having them watch Frosty the Snowman and Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer.

Haven't seen Frosty for a few years so it was fun to watch. It seemed like many of the kids hadn't seen it before either so it held their attention.

Holiday Season 2014 - Cream Liquour and Rudolph

Dale and I caught Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer and Frosty the Snowman tonight during dinner. After dinner I sipped on some Fulton's Harvest Pumpkin Pie Cream Liqueur. Dig my fancy new cup?

According to the website Crown Wine and Spirits, Fulton's Harvest Pumpkin Pie Cream Liqueur "is the first-ever pumpkin pie cream liqueur and is immediately reminiscent of homemade pumpkin pie complete with the flavors [of] rich vanilla, brown sugar and spices. It is best served chilled or on ice, as well as in coffee and a variety of cream based cocktails."

Frosty the Snowman & Frosty Returns

The animated 1969 special Frosty the Snowman, which I haven't seen in years, was on network t.v. tonight. As a kid I remember looking forward to this being on and I loved the sappy but cute story. Frosty Returns was on tonight as well. It dates from 1992 but this is the first I've ever seen it. I was quite unimpressed.