Happy Holidays – Like It Or Not

Posted inColumns, Holidays

As each day gets us closer to Christmas, I enjoy this season more and more. Not the season of giving or the season of celebrating. The season of annoying people who don’t like Christmas or things associated with this time of year.

Now I know some people may have real and legitimate reasons for dreading this time of year. Maybe they have real turmoil in their family or are reminded of a death of a close relative. They have every reason in the world to take a pass on Christmas cheer.

But then there are the rest. Boy, do I love letting them know how awesome Christmas really is. I mean, do I love letting them know how awesome the holiday season is because I know how not calling it Christmas drives them nuts.

A Really Big Nightlight

Posted inColumns, Holidays

I come from a long line of couch sleepers. Like my father before me, I appreciate the bliss of sawing logs on the living room sofa.

Sometimes it’s because I can’t fall asleep in bed for some reason or another. Other times, it’s because I just feel like drifting off while watching a game on the television.

Either way, I can’t resist the temptation of lying on the couch and letting the hum and glow of the TV lull me into slumber.

I especially enjoy my couch time during the Christmas season because I can turn on the Christmas tree lights to serve as a sort of nightlight. They just make sleeping in the living room a little more special.

As the holidays started to wind down, I had what I thought was a wonderful idea. Why don’t we keep the tree up all year?

What Did You Get?

Posted inHolidays
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…

The Whole Enchilada

Posted inColumns, Family, Holidays

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

Posted inFestivus, Holidays, TV
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…

Only Five Christmas Specials Exist

Posted inAmerica, Columns, Holidays, TV

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.