Top 10 Christmas movies (yes, I can name 10)

Honorable Mention: "Holiday Inn" It covers all of the holidays, not just Christmas. It has Fred Astaire tap dancing while playing with firecrackers. (News nugget about me -- I used to dance. Tap was my specialty. Fred Astaire is an icon.)










10. "Prancer" I remember being bored to tears during this movie, but I also remember watching it in the theater with my family. :)










9. "Santa Claus: The Movie" Gotta love the '80s. Also gotta love John Lithgow's evil plan to turn March 25 (my birthday) into a new holiday -- Christmas 2 -- to edge out the original Christmas. But mostly you gotta love how Lithgow meets his end: He eats too many tainted candy canes and floats off into space like an evil, rogue balloon. Awesome.








8. "The Grinch" I loved the animated tale when I was a kid and felt like a kid all over again when Jim Carrey brought it to life. I could have done without Cindy Lou Who's "Where Are You Christmas?" -- and also without Faith Hill's crappy version. Thankfully, the song didn't ruin the magic.





7. "A Christmas Story" I don't need to explain why this is on the list, but perhaps its location. Sorry, but it just doesn't get me all warm and fuzzy like the ones ranked higher. I can appreciate a leg lamp, pink bunny costume and tongue stuck to a pole, though.






6. "Miracle on 34th Street" I love old movies. I could watch Turner Classic Movies all day. Natalie Wood is perfect, Maureen O'Hara is perfect and everybody's hair is perfect. Why can't we all wear hats and gloves and have perfectly coiffed hair at all times? Oh... and the whole thing with the letters at the end? Love it.








5. "Home Alone" What kid hasn't fantasized about getting a chance to rule the roost, not to mention having free reign to booby-trap the whole place? And then there's this line: "Buzz, your girlfriend... woof!" Merry Christmas John Hughes, wherever you are.






4. "It's a Wonderful Life" George Bailey had a plan for his life. And it didn't work out. And all he can think of, most of the time, is how his life isn't what he wanted it to be. And then he has a REALLY bad day and contemplates ending it all by jumping off a bridge. Clarence saves him by jumping in first, and gives George a chance to see what the lives of his loved ones would be like if he'd never been born. In the end, George realizes his life is wonderful exactly how it is. If you don't appreciate the message and get a little emotional on this one, YOU HAVE NO SOUL.



3. "White Christmas" First of all, nobody beats Bing Crosby when singing the title tune. Secondly, the dancing makes my heart swell up with happiness. Third -- perfect outfits, perfect hair, perfect Rosemary Clooney. Perfection.






2. "Love Actually" This movie makes me really happy and really sad at the same time. It's funny, heartwarming, surprising, sad, and, most moving of all, hopeful. It makes even a snarky person like me believe that love really could be out there somewhere, and hopeful that I'll find it one of these Christmases.








1. "A Charlie Brown Christmas" I know it's not a movie, but I love it the most. What's better than a bunch of kids and Snoopy discovering what Christmas is all about? And, as some of you may have already guessed, I'm a big fan of scraggly trees with single red ornaments. :)

Random thoughts as of late

1. I really love the *hiss, pop, crack* sound of a can of soda being opened.

2. I also really love the sound of wrapping paper being torn.

3. Wouldn't it be awesome to have enough money to never have to do laundry? Just wear things and then go buy new things to wear.

4. I want to have a camp or a compound someday. Like you sometimes hear on CNN: "A spokesperson from the Stefanie compound said today..." "No word yet from the Stefanie camp on this latest information..."

5. Man, I wish I was brave enough to let people hear me sing. I'm awesome in my car.

6. Guys, no matter how old they are, are stupid. Guys are forever stupid. Stupid. Forever.

7. I'm really terrified of writing this book. I don't know why.

8. You know how some people romanticize the old days and say they were born in the wrong era? I don't do that. If I had been born in any other era, I would be working in a field somewhere.

9. Grandparents are the best things ever.

10. I hate Wal-Mart.

11. I love Harry Potter.

12. I really need to go get the oil changed in the car.

13. If it's true that all God's creatures serve a purpose, then Bill O'Reilly must be here specifically to piss me off.

14. I want to go to the movies.

15. Holiday lights should stay up at all times.

Christmas time is here!

More little things

I said earlier I'd do a post of the silly little things I'm thankful for, and here it is. It's nice to keep the little things that make us smile in mind. They help combat the big bad stuff.

1. The Muppets, especially when they're doing something awesome like this (once again Beaker steals the show):








2. Friends








3. Tamales









4. Christmas decorations





5. "All I Want for Christmas Is You"








6. Shiner











7. This bag (that I cannot afford).












8. The Longhorns.












9. Brisket (my dad's is the best; this is not a pic of his brisket).












10. Baking cookies.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday. I love the idea that loved ones come together for no other purpose than just to be together. There's no pretense of religious obligation, or gifts, or patriotism. It's all about evaluating the things in life that you are thankful for and taking a little extra time to appreciate them. It's positive, and, let's face it, the world could use more positivity.

There's also delicious food involved, which is a big bonus. (Shout out to my aunt D's mashed potatoes and both grandmothers' stuffings.)

When I start to feel down, or restless, or just generally dissatisfied, I try to think of the things that I'm grateful for. Thanksgiving came at an opportune time this year, as I had been feeling blue for a couple of weeks prior. So in honor of the holiday, and as a reminder to myself that I am truly blessed, here is what I am thankful for:

1. My family, who love and support me even when I'm a brat and don't deserve it.
2. My friends, who are my family.
3. My health, of which I need to stop taking advantage.
4. My talent, of which I need to take advantage.
5. My independence.

That pretty much covers it. I could be silly and also give thanks for white chocolate mochas, National Cookie Day, "Bad Romance" and the grocery store express lane, but I'll save (the rest) of that for another post.

For now, I'll leave you with this:

"As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them." ~John Fitzgerald Kennedy

Book Review: "The Help"

My book club's selection this month was "The Help" by Kathryn Stockett. It's a story about the lives of white women in 1960's Jackson, Mississippi and the black women who work for them. It's a story about racism, sexism, social heirarchy and violence. But mostly, it's a story about telling a story.

(Before I get any further -- special shout out to our hostess with the mostess for her delicious vegetarian Dilly Chili and caramel cake.)

I won't throw around our English class observations of symbolism, or our discussion of the relationships between female friends and mothers and their daughters. I also won't talk about individualism versus conformity, risk versus reward or the terms of the Southern class system. If you read the book, you'll get into all that yourself.

I will call out a friend of mine, who requested I write fewer book reviews and stick with the funny stuff. To that I offer a compromise (just this one time, though, because I can make it work. After this, buddy, you're S.O.L.)

If you want funny, here are the reasons you should read this book (no set up; no context):

1. He jiggles his hand between his legs, hitching up his knees. "Come on, get you some pecker pie!"

2. I saw that dress four days ago and I knew it looked hussified -- of course she had to pick the one with the low neckline -- but I had no idea what would happen when she stuffed herself inside it. She's popping out like a corn cob in Crisco.

3. "What? He's not supposed to know that I know that he knows about you."

4. Along the bottom of the check, in the little space for the notes, Miss Celia's written the words in pretty cursive handwriting: For Two-Slice Hilly.

5. "I'm sorry, but were you dropped on your head as an infant?"

6. "Mama, God doesn't care what day of the week it is," I say and make for the car before she can ask any more questions.

7. I have never in my life seen a thing like this. Three dozen of em. Pots. Right smack on Miss Hilly's lawn. Almost look like a crowd a people the way some got they lids open talking, some with they lids closed listening.

8. Either you quit beating on me, or I'm gone. And I'm not taking the kids either. Which ain't true, about the kids, but that ought to scare him more than anything.

9. Mother is shaking her head. "Hilly, darling. No young husband wants to come home and see this. Look at your hair. And that..." Mother frowns, peering closer at the cold sore. "That is not attractive, dear."

10. "I tell her to eat my shit."

Whether for the subject matter at the top or the list of funny parts, this is a book worth reading... and best enjoyed with a slice of caramel cake.

Movie Review: "This Is It"

Sorry these posts have been a bit sporadic lately. I'm headed out of town later this week and have been busy as hell trying to get stuff done beforehand. One thing I realized, though, was that I never wrote a movie review for the Michael Jackson's "This Is It," which I saw a couple of weeks ago.


Here's a bit of information for those who don't know me: I'm a HUGE Michael Jackson fan. So much so that when I used to teach at a dance studio (there's another tidbit for you) I would choreograph a recital routine to an MJ song every year without fail. One year I had my little girls do a tap dance to his version of "Rockin' Robin." I also used "Shake Your Body," "Scream," "Smooth Criminal," "Why You Wanna Trip on Me?" and I know I'm forgetting a few others.


So, this review will be in no way unbiased, nuetral or fair. The movie kicks ass because Michael kicks ass and will always be the greatest entertainer who ever lived. The End.

No, not the end.


This documentary is really interesting, regardless of your level of Michael fandom. Of course, I'm speaking as the movie nerd who really loves to watch DVDs with the commentary on so I can retain a whole bunch of information that may or may not come in handy during a game of Trivial Pursuit or Scene It. But I really think everyone will appreciate seeing MJ in his element: on stage.


The man was a freakin' genius. He had so many amazing ideas for these London shows, I'm convinced that the audiences would have been blown away. And the funny thing is, he didn't need any of it. He could have gone on to an empty stage and brought the house down. But that's not how Michael rolled. He was all about the spectacle, and that's definitely what he was going to deliver.


I'm not going to say that MJ was just a regular guy. The dude had issues. But he was an amazing artist and you see it in every second of this film. It's the dancers at the beginning who break down in tears (every single one) when they talk about having the chance to work with him. It's the musicians who change arrangements on a whim for him. It's special effects people, choreographers, producers, technicians, directors and even caterers who are happy to say "how high?" when they're asked to jump... because it's Michael.


Because he kicks ass and will always be the greatest entertainer who ever lived. The End.