I got some great gifts this year, but sadly I did not receive a doll. Especially not a doll like this. Enjoy! (Adventurers Club again, of course. Aren't they great?!)
Merry Christmas!
Tuesday, December 25, 2007
Saturday, December 22, 2007
South Park Meets "Twas the Night Before Christmas"
Tuesday night my favorite Christmas special ever was on ABC Family. It is "Twas the Night Before Christmas" with Joel Grey. The one where Santa decides to take a year off in response to a letter written by a mouse that doesn't believe in him. The town clockmaker builds a clock that plays a song about Santa in the hopes that it will cheer Santa up. Of course something has to go wrong - the mouse breaks the clock and then he and his father have to scramble to repair it in time to save Christmas.
It's such a cute story, and I love the songs in it. Especially the song they sing as they are trying to repair the clock.
I also love South Park. I thought that I had seen pretty much all the episodes, but apparently not. Last night I saw an episode that somehow I had managed to miss until now. "A Very Crappy Christmas". At one point in the episode, after Cartman has stormed off, Kyle and Stan (and Kenny, until his unfortunate demise) are scrambling to try to finish a stop motion Christmas special. They start to sing a song that sounds strangely familiar. It's - almost - the clock repairing song! I was so surprised! At one point one of them (I can't remember which, maybe Kyle?) even changes his face for a second and looks like the animation from "Twas the Night . . ."
It's so funny. I"m always noticing references to things I like when I'm watching South Park, and it always surprises me since some of them are fairly obscure. I love that show. I won't let the Kidd watch it - possibly ever - but I really enjoy it.
It's such a cute story, and I love the songs in it. Especially the song they sing as they are trying to repair the clock.
I also love South Park. I thought that I had seen pretty much all the episodes, but apparently not. Last night I saw an episode that somehow I had managed to miss until now. "A Very Crappy Christmas". At one point in the episode, after Cartman has stormed off, Kyle and Stan (and Kenny, until his unfortunate demise) are scrambling to try to finish a stop motion Christmas special. They start to sing a song that sounds strangely familiar. It's - almost - the clock repairing song! I was so surprised! At one point one of them (I can't remember which, maybe Kyle?) even changes his face for a second and looks like the animation from "Twas the Night . . ."
It's so funny. I"m always noticing references to things I like when I'm watching South Park, and it always surprises me since some of them are fairly obscure. I love that show. I won't let the Kidd watch it - possibly ever - but I really enjoy it.
National Treasure 2: Book of Secrets
Excellent movie! I was disappointed that Sean Bean didn't make an appearance - I had hoped that maybe his character would have escaped from prison but no such luck. Still we greatly enjoyed the movie. And for me this is despite the fact that Nicolas Cage is in it, because I'm not a huge fan. He is in several movies that I love, but he is not a big draw for me.
NT2 was really good though. I will definately buy it when it comes out on dvd and I might even go see it in the theater again.
The best part of the movie was actually before it started though. I LOVED the Goofy short that aired beforehand. Hilarious! I know they are supposedly working on a few more of them. I'm looking forward to them!
The Wall-E trailer was great, too. I am very excited about that one. It looks like it will be really cute.
NT2 was really good though. I will definately buy it when it comes out on dvd and I might even go see it in the theater again.
The best part of the movie was actually before it started though. I LOVED the Goofy short that aired beforehand. Hilarious! I know they are supposedly working on a few more of them. I'm looking forward to them!
The Wall-E trailer was great, too. I am very excited about that one. It looks like it will be really cute.
Friday, December 21, 2007
Long Lost Twins?
I am a big fan of the Adventurers Club on Pleasure Island at Walt Disney World. The cast there is wonderful, and although I do have my particular favorites I really do like all of them. One of the newer cast members fascinates and yet repulses me, however.
The cast prefers that people not refer to them using their real names, as some of them have had problems with "overly enthusiastic fans" (AKA stalkers!) in the past. Instead, the fan community has come up with different names for them. The cast member that bothers me so much is called Mailman, after the song that he sings when he appears there.
He plays Emil Bleehall, a junior Adventurer from Ohio. Unlike the other cast members, he only plays one character so far. He isn't my favorite Emil - that would be Snoopy - but he does do a good job. I've seen him in person a couple of times and I've watched videos of him more often than that. When I see him I can't stop watching, usually with something akin to horror. His take on Emil is the most innuendo filled of any of the cast. That wouldn't bother me if he didn't look EXACTLY like one of my more religious college friends.
Chucky was DreadPirate's best friend when we met in college. We met through a religious organization on campus. I knew Chucky a bit before I met DreadPirate, but got to know him much better after DreadPirate and I were dating. He was (and still is, I assume) a great person: very likable, smart, great sense of humor.
And fairly religious. No innuendo for him. Mailman looks so much like him that it's uncanny - and to hear those words (and that song) coming out of Chucky's mouth just freaks me out to no end. It truly horrifies me.
I was reminded of this again today because Chucky and his Bride have recently adopted an adorable little girl from China, and DreadPirate sent me a link to the blog they have started about her. Included in the blog are a bunch of pictures of her - and a few of Chucky and his Bride. I was scrolling through looking at them, and when I came to the first picture of Chucky I was shocked - for a second I thought it was Mailman and I couldn't understand why he was on their blog. So now I've gone from thinking of Chucky each time I see Mailman to thinking of Mailman when I see Chucky.
I'm not including a picture of Chucky because I want to respect his privacy. BrideofChucky - and maybe even Chucky himself - might not think the resemblance is that strong. DreadPirate does see the resemblance but doesn't think they are identical. To me, it's just bizarre how much alike they seem. And now I am forever stuck with the image of Chucky singing "I don't care for keys or locks, I'll just stick it in your box . . . I'm your mailman!!!"
The cast prefers that people not refer to them using their real names, as some of them have had problems with "overly enthusiastic fans" (AKA stalkers!) in the past. Instead, the fan community has come up with different names for them. The cast member that bothers me so much is called Mailman, after the song that he sings when he appears there.
He plays Emil Bleehall, a junior Adventurer from Ohio. Unlike the other cast members, he only plays one character so far. He isn't my favorite Emil - that would be Snoopy - but he does do a good job. I've seen him in person a couple of times and I've watched videos of him more often than that. When I see him I can't stop watching, usually with something akin to horror. His take on Emil is the most innuendo filled of any of the cast. That wouldn't bother me if he didn't look EXACTLY like one of my more religious college friends.
Chucky was DreadPirate's best friend when we met in college. We met through a religious organization on campus. I knew Chucky a bit before I met DreadPirate, but got to know him much better after DreadPirate and I were dating. He was (and still is, I assume) a great person: very likable, smart, great sense of humor.
And fairly religious. No innuendo for him. Mailman looks so much like him that it's uncanny - and to hear those words (and that song) coming out of Chucky's mouth just freaks me out to no end. It truly horrifies me.
I was reminded of this again today because Chucky and his Bride have recently adopted an adorable little girl from China, and DreadPirate sent me a link to the blog they have started about her. Included in the blog are a bunch of pictures of her - and a few of Chucky and his Bride. I was scrolling through looking at them, and when I came to the first picture of Chucky I was shocked - for a second I thought it was Mailman and I couldn't understand why he was on their blog. So now I've gone from thinking of Chucky each time I see Mailman to thinking of Mailman when I see Chucky.
I'm not including a picture of Chucky because I want to respect his privacy. BrideofChucky - and maybe even Chucky himself - might not think the resemblance is that strong. DreadPirate does see the resemblance but doesn't think they are identical. To me, it's just bizarre how much alike they seem. And now I am forever stuck with the image of Chucky singing "I don't care for keys or locks, I'll just stick it in your box . . . I'm your mailman!!!"
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
Merry Commercial Christmas
I always used to love the commercials that ran at this time of year. Somewhere I have a video tape of a bunch of Christmas specials from the 80's, complete with commercials. I remember one with Ronald McDonald and some kids ice skating. There was a great one with E.T. that always starting airing right on Thanksgiving, during the parade. David Copperfield did one for Kodak or Polaroid. Then there was the coffee one - Folgers? Maxwell House? - where the college age son surprises his little sister and parents by showing up and making coffee on Christmas morning.
I don't remember now what all the commercials I used to love were even for, but I do remember the thing that they all had in common. They focused more on the "magic of the season" than on the actual product. It was more about how the product fit into the Christmas season than just a normal commercial with some Christmas theming.
Not anymore. These days the commercials are all about how Christmas will be a dismal failure if you don't buy whichever product they are pushing. It's ridiculous! I always hear people complaining about how Christmas has gotten so commercial, and usually I just shrug it off, but I'm starting to think that they might have a point!
I used to look forward to the Christmas commercials every year. They always starting airing during the Macys Parade, never before that. This year I think they started around Halloween. And they're been running constantly since then. What they lack in quality they make up for with quantity, I guess.
There was a cute Coke one that followed a little girl as she grew up and interacted with Santa each year that was very Christmassy and sweet. It seemed more like a "Merry Christmas from Cake" kind of thing than a "Buy Coke at Christmas" sort of ad. Other than that, though, it's been a parade of "You must buy this or Christmas will be ruined" commercials. The Verizon one with the pony is funny and creative, but still not at all "magical".
I think I'll dig out my old video and watch the specials on it instead of on TV or dvd. It's amazing what a difference those old commercials used to make in the whole feel of the season. The ads now just stress me out and make me feel like I ought to be buying more Right This Minute - (Buy our Stuff or Else!). I need a good dose of "Merry Christmas from the folks at Coke/the Budweiser Clydesdales/McDonalds/whoever, and by the way our products go great with Christmas."
I don't remember now what all the commercials I used to love were even for, but I do remember the thing that they all had in common. They focused more on the "magic of the season" than on the actual product. It was more about how the product fit into the Christmas season than just a normal commercial with some Christmas theming.
Not anymore. These days the commercials are all about how Christmas will be a dismal failure if you don't buy whichever product they are pushing. It's ridiculous! I always hear people complaining about how Christmas has gotten so commercial, and usually I just shrug it off, but I'm starting to think that they might have a point!
I used to look forward to the Christmas commercials every year. They always starting airing during the Macys Parade, never before that. This year I think they started around Halloween. And they're been running constantly since then. What they lack in quality they make up for with quantity, I guess.
There was a cute Coke one that followed a little girl as she grew up and interacted with Santa each year that was very Christmassy and sweet. It seemed more like a "Merry Christmas from Cake" kind of thing than a "Buy Coke at Christmas" sort of ad. Other than that, though, it's been a parade of "You must buy this or Christmas will be ruined" commercials. The Verizon one with the pony is funny and creative, but still not at all "magical".
I think I'll dig out my old video and watch the specials on it instead of on TV or dvd. It's amazing what a difference those old commercials used to make in the whole feel of the season. The ads now just stress me out and make me feel like I ought to be buying more Right This Minute - (Buy our Stuff or Else!). I need a good dose of "Merry Christmas from the folks at Coke/the Budweiser Clydesdales/McDonalds/whoever, and by the way our products go great with Christmas."
Friday, December 14, 2007
It's a Wonderful Play
DreadPirate, The Kidd and I went to Orlando for my birthday last weekend. I'm a total Disney addict so the perfect birthday for me means Disney World. This time, instead of just doing the things we always do - the parks and Disney Quest - we decided to go to a play. My favorite cast member from the Adventurers Club at Pleasure Island is currently starring as George Bailey in "It's a Wonderful Life" and we decided to go see it.
I've never seen the movie, though I've always felt vaguely like I OUGHT to. I love most of the classic Christmas movies and specials. Peanuts, Rudolph, Frosty, Nestor, "Miracle on 34th Street". . . I love them all. I still quote the Ziggy special from years ago (Shut up you Turkeys!) and every year I'm thrilled when that cute animated "Twas the Night Before Christmas" with the mice and the clock is on. Pretty much, if it involves Christmas I love it.
"It's a Wonderful Life", on the other hand . . . I just haven't been able to make myself watch it. I don't know why, really. The more people raved about it the less I wanted to see it. I'm a little contrary that way, I guess. Plus, from all the clips I've seen of it over the years I somehow managed to misunderstand a couple of fairly important plot points - and the end result was that George Bailey went from a beloved character to someone that I could not understand anyone liking. Still, I kept feeling that I should see it sometime. It's such a part of our culture this time of year.
Once I saw that the Adventurer was going to be in the play I decided that would be the perfect compromise. I figured even if I hated the story at least I would enjoy watching him. He plays several different characters at the Club and I love all of them. We never would have gone to the play if he hadn't been in it, but we still would have enjoyed it if we had seen it without him as George. The story was better than I expected. I got teary several times, even though I knew to expect a happy ending. Our Favorite Adventurer was the best part of the play, of course, but the rest of the cast was quite good as well.
If you're going to be in the Orlando area this weekend or next weekend I highly recommend seeing "It's a Wonderful Life". I'm sorry that we're back home now or I would go see it again this weekend!
I've never seen the movie, though I've always felt vaguely like I OUGHT to. I love most of the classic Christmas movies and specials. Peanuts, Rudolph, Frosty, Nestor, "Miracle on 34th Street". . . I love them all. I still quote the Ziggy special from years ago (Shut up you Turkeys!) and every year I'm thrilled when that cute animated "Twas the Night Before Christmas" with the mice and the clock is on. Pretty much, if it involves Christmas I love it.
"It's a Wonderful Life", on the other hand . . . I just haven't been able to make myself watch it. I don't know why, really. The more people raved about it the less I wanted to see it. I'm a little contrary that way, I guess. Plus, from all the clips I've seen of it over the years I somehow managed to misunderstand a couple of fairly important plot points - and the end result was that George Bailey went from a beloved character to someone that I could not understand anyone liking. Still, I kept feeling that I should see it sometime. It's such a part of our culture this time of year.
Once I saw that the Adventurer was going to be in the play I decided that would be the perfect compromise. I figured even if I hated the story at least I would enjoy watching him. He plays several different characters at the Club and I love all of them. We never would have gone to the play if he hadn't been in it, but we still would have enjoyed it if we had seen it without him as George. The story was better than I expected. I got teary several times, even though I knew to expect a happy ending. Our Favorite Adventurer was the best part of the play, of course, but the rest of the cast was quite good as well.
If you're going to be in the Orlando area this weekend or next weekend I highly recommend seeing "It's a Wonderful Life". I'm sorry that we're back home now or I would go see it again this weekend!
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