What Did You Get?
Santa treated me pretty well this year. I didn't get a Wii or a pony or anything, but I did get a few things I wanted and needed: New electric…
Movie Extravaganza
Even though I really love movies, I don't have much appreciation for the classics. Well, I have an appreciation for them, I just never took the time to sit down…
The Whole Enchilada
At one time, my family’s traditional Christmas Eve celebration featured a big dinner. As we all grew older and my siblings got married, we would all enjoy a dinner of steak and shrimp before sitting down to exchange presents.
However, those marriages produced children who didn’t want to sit still and be patient as their parents, aunts and uncles hunkered down with a good meal and pleasant conversation. Something had to change.
I don’t remember all of the specifics of how our current Christmas Eve tradition came to pass, but that doesn’t really matter. All I know is that we look forward to it every year with increasing anticipation.
Happy Festivus
Today is the traditional day to celebrate George Costanza's least-favorite holiday. Feel free to use the comments to air your grievances and may you emerge victorious from the feats of…
Outside My Comfort Zone
As I have said several times, the great thing about Beer Appreciation is that it allows me to try some styles I normally couldn't or wouldn't try without forcing me…
Wanna Bet?
As the new year approaches, people should have many reasons to get exicted. A new president will take office. The Baltimore Orioles will find new and interesting ways to ruin…
Only Five Christmas Specials Exist
A terrible, terrible thing happened on television last night. I didn’t see this tragedy when I wrote this, but I know it did not turn out well.
One of the cable networks presented a show called “A Miser Brothers’ Christmas” or something like that. They dedicated 60 minutes to this brand-new program which never should have seen the light of day.
How do I know this without watching the show? It’s simple. There are only five real animated Christmas specials for television.
I don’t know why the people running television don’t understand this, but I guess I should be used to it by now. They never listen to the other perfect ideas I have to enhance the experience for viewers across the nation.
We don’t need a show to tell us how the Miser Brothers – you know them, Heat and Snow – finally patch up their differences to help an injured Santa deliver all the presents for Christmas.
I know we don’t need a show to tell us that because Santa doesn’t get injured in any of the classic Christmas stories so why make up an injury for the old fella now? That’s just unnecessary.
We do know that Santa can be a bit of a jerk to a reindeer that looks a little different than the rest of the herd. We learned that in Rudolph, one of the Fab Five shows.
Care For a Smoke?
When I signed up for Beer Appreciation, I knew I would have some interesting experiences. I have no problem trying new beers, but I generally stick with the same styles…
ITEOTWAWKI: No Grammy Nods
I didn't expect R.E.M. to head the list of Grammy nominees this week. I gave up expecting the awards to truly reflect what's good in music a long time ago.…
Appreciating Beer
The first night I dug into my Beer Appreciation beers, I finished off two good beers - the Sierra Nevada Wet Hop Harvest Ale and the Budweiser American Ale. I…