November Round-Up

Unsurprisingly, Christmas this month has taken priority over much in my life, including this blog, and my monthly round-ups. But I've got two days left, so here goes. November. Remember November? With the food? Yum.

Movies Seen: Eleven, with one a theater. That one was "No Country for Old Men," which was probably the best movie I saw that month. Unfortunately I had recently read the book, so the film was completely devoid of any real suspense, which I am suspecting is one of the film's best aspects. It's also a lot like some other Coen brothers movie, most notably "Fargo," with a little bit of "Raising Arizona" thrown in. (Was I the only one who kept waiting for Chigurh to ask that store clerk if he had any balloons that turn into funny shapes?)

As for bad movies, I'd have to say the "Hairspray" musical annoyed me the most. It was completely unnecessary. And the worst part of all--aside from all the embarrassingly earnest race relations stuff--was they didn't let the fat girl kiss the cute boy until the final scene in the movie. Those who know the original know that Tracy and Link were all over each other through most of the film. After seeing the remake I immediately put the original in my Netflix queue so I could get erase the memory of the remake from my mind.

Books Read: Only one, and it was appropriately called "How To Be Idle."

Fancy Dinners Out: Aside from Thanksgiving, which should totally count, three. First was at Luella, which was good, although the steak I got came with a much too sweet sauce. I have a thing about my savory dinners including sweetness. Don't like it. The second was at RNM, which is just a stupid name for a restaurant. How can you remember that? The food was good though. I opted for fish, which is good since at the third place I went, The Brazen Head, I opted for red meat again. How could I resist some excellent prime rib?

Live Shows Seen: None

Shoes Bought: None.

Coming soon: December!

I'm Already Counting Down the Days 'Til Next Christmas

Christmas is over. Kinda sad, isn't it?

I had a great holiday, and am living in a post-Christmas haze at the moment. I can't seem to get back into the usual, every day routine when there's another holiday a few days away. So, until January 2nd, I am going to just do everything half-assed. Like this here blog post.

You can see all my Christmas photos here. (Or on my new IPOD TOUCH!)

Here's another video of a pet finding a Christmas present, in this case my parents' dog, Dimey. He loves Christmas.

Twas the Day of the Night Before Christmas

Merry Christmas everybody! I've got a cake in the oven (and I don't mean that in any other sense than I really do have an actual CAKE in an actual OVEN) and I will follow that with the preparation of my 40 dollar crab dip (I find people enjoy it more when they know how bleedin' much it costs to make) and then I will be off to the parents' to eat and make merry with the familia.

Hope everyone has a tremendous Christmas. Here's a thrilling video of my cat discovering her present under the tree. 'Tis my present to you.

Festivus Yes! Bagels No.

Yesterday, as I was raining blows upon people who were trying to grab the 60% off wrapping paper I had my eye on at Macy's, I remembered that Festivus was a mere day away. Which is to say, today is Festivus! Who's up for some Feats of Strength?

Once again, whoever programs the various "Seinfeld" re-run schedules has neglected to air the Festivus episode ("The Strike") today, so here's a best of compilation from the show.

Yule Love It

Pardon the lack of blogging, but I am officially on Christmas vacation. Have been since yesterday. Doesn't mean I haven't been doing anything, though, as I spent the whole day yesterday Christmas shopping, and will spend most of today doing the same. Why is shopping so insanely exhausting? After about an hour of it I feel like I'm on a Bataan death march, completely brain dead with a glazed look on my face. At first I thought I was just imagining that, but I ran into a friend at the Westfield Mall yesterday and the first thing he said to me was, "You look kind of dazed."

But it's worth it. It's tiring and soul crushing at times, but it's worth it come Christmas. I really believe that. Some criticize the commercialism of Christmas, and I get that, but I really like being able to pick out things for the people I care about and gather around at Christmas watching them open up little wrapped packages of love. I really do.

Speaking of Christmas, for those of you who aren't blessed with a fireplace, channel 36 (cable channel 6) will be running the annual "Holiday Log" on Christmas morning from 9am to noon. Although starting it at 9am seems kind of lame. Don't most kids wake up at the crack of dawn to run to the Christmas tree and see what Santa brung 'em? Or is that just me?

For those who don't have a fireplace OR a TV, I sure hope you've asked Santa to bring you at least one of those, but here's a video of a fireplace you can just run over and over in case he doesn't.

I Wonder If It Snows In San Fauxcisco?

This week's (well, really, last week's) San Fauxcisco post is now up on the SFGate Culture Blog!

French Whores and French Maids

This week's reality TV locals post is now up on SFist!

Warning: Christmas miracle ahead!

If He Was Alive Now, Making This Now, He Would Make It Now, As If He Made It Back Then

I guess I can't fault Martin Scorsese for cashing in on some commercial opportunities; he's past retirement age, and he's got a young child to feed.

Here's another short film/long commercial by Scorsese, this one for Freixenet champagne, in which he does his take on a Hitchcock scene. YouTube clip below, or for a better version, click here...

I Wanna Do What I Wanna Do!

Tonight is the first of two chances to see "It's a Wonderful Life" this Christmastime, since NBC now owns the movie and is the only station that runs it. It's on at 8 tonight and again at 8 on Christmas Eve.

It isn't Christmas until I've sobbed my eyes out about five different times while watching this movie. Especially during this scene.

Christmas Evil

I helped my parents trim their tree this evening, which was as fun as always, and wanted to share this photo of one of the best Christmas tree ornaments ever. It was created by Roger L. Jackson, an awesome voice actor who used to work with my father. I guess my dad told him about a nightmare I had had as a child wherein I woke up and insisted there were little clowns under the bed with knives. Yikes! Scary, but it inspired this awesome ornament, so I guess the childhood terror was worth it. Click on the photo for a larger, even more terrifying view.

It looks like the tip of the clown's knife has broken off; perhaps during one of the his nocturnal adventures off the Christmas tree?

Beige Is NOT the New Black

This week's reality TV locals post is now up on SFist!

Warning: Bitter disappointment ahead.

A Blur

High Angle with Flash
Originally uploaded by Rain Rain Rain

This weekend I boxed food for the PAWS food bank and delivered Christmas stockings to their clients; celebrated my mom's birthday by driving down the coast to a Christmas tree farm that yielded no trees which meant we bought our trees at the usual Delancey Street lot in the city; decorated my tree, which included the always tedious task of stringing up about 600+ lights; and wrote the final paper for my class. I am completely beat. But it's all worth it because my apartment is awash with the smell of pine and the glow of candy colored lights.

Now all I have to do is some actual Christmas shopping; my requisite weekly blog posts for other sites; help my parents decorate their tree; write all my Christmas cards; and study for my final exam!

Is it Christmas yet?

May Your Christmas Be Animated

I prefer my animated Christmas specials to be of the puppetoon variety, but every now and then a dose of "Frosty the Snowman" does me good. It's on CBS tonight at 8pm.



Thankfully, the ABC Family channel is there to satisfy all my puppetoon needs this Christmas. You can see their full schedule here. Tonight they're running "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town" at 7pm.

You Know What? Perhaps Staying Gold Is Just Not For You

Remember Brian Atene, the "Good day Mr. Kubrick" guy? Of course you do. Well, he's posted a new video on YouTube, and it's....awful.

I have no idea what he's trying to achieve here, but maybe that's because I was only able to sit through about half of it. Does he actually think he's funny? Did he realize it's been over a year since his rise to Internet fame, and thought putting up something, no matter how bad, would help prolong his 15 minutes? And is he totally naked in it, or just shirtless?

Oh, Good Gods

On today's episode of "The View," (yes, I watch "The View." So suck it!) Sherri "I Don't Know If the World Is Flat" Shepherd insisted that the Christians predated the Greek philosophers. I think she's under the impression Jesus existed before ANYONE ELSE IN THE WORLD.

Here's the clip:



Look. I know she's an idiot (she's also said she doesn't believe in evolution, and would never teach that to her child, and again, that whole earth is flat thing) but I don't understand why these other women on "The View" don't just take her away on a nice long weekend, and try to re-educate her on some of the basic facts of history. This isn't a matter of religion. It's a matter of education. Tell the damn girl what "B.C." means!

I Still Think He's Cuuuuude!

The classic Rankin-Bass "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" is airing tonight on CBS at 8pm. Christmastime can officially begin!

Much has been written and said about how big of a douchebag Santa is in the movie, but this video from Camp Jinx is one of the funnier bits I've seen.

They Put Their Sleeves On One Leg at a Time, Just Like Us

This week's reality TV locals post is now up on SFist!

Warning: David Beckham bashing ahead!

He Didn't Come Anywhere Near My Tabloids

One of my favorite Christmas movies is not really considered a Christmas movie at all. It's "The Thin Man," and yes, it does, indeed, take place during Christmas. It's on TCM today at 3pm.

Here are some of the movie's funniest moments, (to be viewed only by those who have already seen the movie, of course!)