Monday Musings...
We're certainly starting off THIS week in fine style...well, I suppose that depends on one's point-of-view.
I'm running a bit behind, but I'm sure you'll feel it's all worth the wait...at least I hope so.
Here in the Midwest, we've been enjoying an almost steady bombardment of inclement weather, and today, we get to enjoy the cold temps that go with it. Add to that a 2-hour DELAY for the schools (that didn't close).
Farther north, they REALLY got plastered. We got off "lucky" with under 6 inches, but it's been more than enough to give our local ambulance crews, firefighters, police and road crews lots to concern themselves about.
I know I've shoveled the pavement at least THREE times so far (it's easier if you do it frequently...the snow is LIGHTER), and cleared the driveway TWICE, so Wifey can get out.
And, with perhaps one or two exceptions, we are the ONLY ones that do such (dumb) things...
We are what you call "a bit more self-reliant" than the vast majority of government-sponsored PAWNS (read welfare leeches).
All THEY do is stay in bed until at least 11AM, and then, after they fall out of the sack and annoy the normals until after midnight.
Yes, friends, the worst part of all this cold and snowy weather is the MORONS out there...the ones that barely clean their vehicle off, think the roads are every bit AS GOOD as when it's DRY out, and those too busy doing something else OTHER THAN DRIVING THE DAMN VEHICLE.
That alone is enough to give a normal person either a coronary, an aneurysm, or an ulcer.
We here in the ghettohood even have one "die-hard" boomcar idiot...and wouldn't you know it? He just HAS to drive through the area to another "crib" on our street...more than several times PER DAY.
Such a nice car, too...ROFLMAO!
(can you say P.O.S.?)
Still, we make the best of an otherwise suck-ass situation down here.
Case in point, I spent the better part of the weekend (aside from shoveling) keeping up with the "Joneses".
I watched all FOUR of the Indiana Jones movies on USA channel:
RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK
TEMPLE OF DOOM
THE LAST CRUSADE
KINGDOM OF THE CRYSTAL SKULL
(they actually showed the "Kingdom of the Crystal Skull" WITHOUT commercials, too).
That was a pretty decent movie. It wrapped up some loose ends nicely.




And, I also watched one of my favorite "fun" movies - The Rocketeer.
I saw this in the theater, and 19 years later (yeah, it's been that long), I still think it's great.
Smacks back to the old Saturday Afternoon matinees.
Now, I know that NONE of these movies pertain to Christmas...
But they are fun to watch, and for a time, I feel like a kid again.
Of course, they've been showing Christmas-related movies and shows for damn near a MONTH now. (that's rushing things a bit, don'cha think?)
I prefer MY Christmas flicks to be nearer to CHRISTMAS...call it a seasonal thing with me.
Now, I want all of you to get your thinking caps on, and set about wondering what YOUR favorite Christmas movies are.
I've got plenty, and most of them show my age.
In no particular order (because I'd be here ALL day re-doing the damn list):
WHITE CHRISTMAS (speaks to not forgetting those who looked after us...AND being charitable - PLUS singing & dancing and Kaye & Crosby)
CHRISTMAS VACATION (the one Christmas you're glad you DIDN'T have at your house, right?)
Here's my favorite sound bite from this movie...love it:
http://www.moviewavs.com/php/sounds/?id=gog&media=WAVS&type=Movies&movie=National_Lampoons_Christmas_Vacation&quote=youregoing.txt&file=youregoing.wav

SCROOGE: A CHRISTMAS CAROL (With the definitive Ebeneezer, Alistair Sim...with LOTS of outdoor filming in what looks to be Victorian era housing)
A CHRISTMAS CAROL (Either the Patrick Stewart version or with George C. Scott - BOTH are excellent tellings of the Dickens tale)
A CHARLIE BROWN CHRISTMAS (Marvelously NON-PC version of discovering the meaning of Christmas - they talk about GOD...)
GARFIELD'S CHRISTMAS (they don't show it on TV - ya gotta get the DVD, but another fine show about NOT being forgotten)
IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE (the quintessential Christmas movie about self discovery, charity, and what you mean to others)
DISNEY'S PREP & LANDING ( first shown last year...fantastic show about knowing the real importance of YOURSELF)
THE POLAR EXPRESS (Wonderful movie about rediscovering the "magic" of Christmas)
And not to forget those "honorably-mentioned"...
A CHRISTMAS STORY - (A cute tale about Christmas angst in the Midwest while growing up).
Is it just me, or do Ralphie and Glenn Beck look alike?
ELF ( This is one funny movie...only Will Ferrell could pull this off)
SANTA CLAUSE - THE MOVIE (One of the BEST movie Santas there ever was)
MIRACLE ON 34TH STREET (I like the original, Wifey likes the newer one - both are great because the judicial system WORKS for once)
AN AMERICAN CHRISTMAS CAROL (Little known version with Henry Winkler as Scrooge - very effective telling of the Dickens classic)
EBENEEZER (Jack Palance as the miser AND set in the American old west...a different take that WORKS very well)
HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS (I prefer the animated version with Boris Karloff...I grew up with it, But Jim Carrey does a good job in the live-action one)
RUDOLPH THE RED-NOSED REINDEER (Another one I grew up with...silver and gold and lost toys)
FROSTY THE SNOWMAN (The late Jackie Vernon did a good job with the voice..a true classic.)
THE IRON GIANT (takes place around Christmas, sort of... in New England... but it DOES have a good message about CARING)
And then there are some of the "newer" fare:
FUTURAMA (The "Merry XMAS" episodes are really funny)
FAMILY GUY (The first episode where Lois gets "tranqued" when she flips out was good, but the NEW episode shown LAST NIGHT - THE ROAD TO THE NORTH POLE was brilliant. It was marvelously irreverent, as could be expected, the animation was excellent, and the storyline was really decent - moral: Maybe we shouldn't ask for AS MUCH STUFF and cut Santa some slack). I give it two thumbs up.
AMERICAN DAD (The Christmas shows are funny, but the new one last night, although a bit "dark" .Steve killed a mall Santa who turned out to be the REAL one, was still humorous. Next year, Santa promised to kill the Smith family for being "naughty".)
SOUTH PARK (they have had some good Christmas shows, especially the "musical" ones that poke fun at ALL holidays).
I won't go into ALL the TV-movies they have on...you ladies probably have watched MOST of them, which means I haven't seen ANY of them...LOL.
And there are even a few movies I really cannot get into, such as:
BAD SANTA (I'd rather see Billy Bob Thornton in THE ASTRONAUT FARMER)
JINGLE ALL THE WAY ( I fight enough for toys...for ME)
SCROOGED (Buster Poindexter as the CABBIE is the only high point for me)
Now, I KNOW I missed a LOT of movies, and that's where YOU come in...
Feel free to post about any and all the movies that "help to make the season bright" for YOU, fair enough?
So, if it's bad weather where You are, don't go outside (or get engaged like Danny Kaye) unless "it's absolutely necessary"...pace yourself, and stay warm.
Be well, make a difference to someone, and...
Stay safe out there, America.

((Only 12 shopping days until Christmas))