November Round-Up - 2010

I am quite anxious to kiss this crappy year to the curb, and I will do just that in a few short hours. But that doesn't mean I can't take a few minutes to remember November, which, frankly, feels like it was just yesterday..

Movies Seen: Thirteen, with none in a theater. And frankly, none were that great. I suppose the most interesting was a double feature of "The Expendables" and "JCVD," although I came away thinking the former could have used some Jean-Claude Van Damme, and the latter could have used some Expendables....

The worst was probably "Four Christmases." Yeah, what was I expecting, right? I think its taking place in San Francisco was one of the main reasons I decided to check it out; that and the fact that I am a sucker for many Christmas movies. I never understand why TV shows and movies decide to set a movie in S.F. when there really is no reason to, especially when they aren't actually filming the crux of the production here. The movie's S.F. location is just laughable. Both of the characters' families are supposed to live in the "Bay Area" but both are filled with family members with Southern accents, which just doesn't make any sense. Also, they manage to visit four different family homes in a single afternoon, lord knows where exactly, although it requires at least one trip over the Golden Gate Bridge.

I've already wasted too many words on that dumb movie. AVOID!

Books Read: One. Which is to say I only finished one, but actually spent most of the month reading a different book. So, that'll come next month. This month's book was "I Know I Am But What Are You?" by Samantha Bee, probably best known for her work on "The Daily Show." The first half is about her childhood, but I actually enjoyed the latter half of the book, in which she talks about her marriage and that time her cat had sex with her head.

Fancy Dinners Out: One, at--you guessed it--Town Hall, this time for Jess's birthday. I had steak. It was great.

Live Shows Seen: One! I actually went to a live show! Granted it was part of a benefit for a friend's film, so I can thank her for getting me out of the house to take in a show by the Meat Sluts. They were good. They were loud.

Shoes Bought: One pair. I wanted a go-to pair of heels that could be worn with vintage and modern clothes, that were also comfy enough to get me through an evening, and figured I should give dancing shoes a shot. And these fit the bill! They are very cute, and oh so comfortable as well. I highly recommend them to anyone looking for stylish + comfort.

Don't Stop the Pop! Or the Clock! Or the Pop, Some More!

I've been excited for this all month, and it is finally here! DJ Earworm's United States of Pop mash-up for 2010:



I never thought I could tolerate Ke$ha in any form, let alone Katy Perry, but this mash-up manages to make them listenable...

You can watch 2009's mashup here, and 2008's here, (that one's still my fave).

Here's DJ Earworm's post about the song, which includes a link to download the MP3.

Happy Festivus, Georgie!

"You couldn't smooth a silk sheet if you had a hot date with a babe...I lost my train of thought."

Happy Get a Life Day!

Here's the thing: I LOVED "Star Wars" when it came out in 1977. Loved. And I loved it in 1978. In fact, the movie must have still been showing in theaters then because I know I had a birthday party that was primarily an excuse to see "Star Wars" again with a bunch of friends, and that would have been in January of '78...

Which is why I find it so puzzling that I have absolutely no memory of watching the infamous "Star Wars Holiday Special" when it aired in 1978. Did I just not know about it? We had a TV, and I know I was watching a lot of it at that age, so it seems odd that I wouldn't have heard about it. Did I actually see it, and block it completely out of my memory because the awfulness of it was so traumatic? Did my parents keep its existence a secret because they knew if would be awful, or, more likely, because there was something else on at that time that they wanted to watch?

I may never know. But part of me is glad I missed it as a kid--or forgot about it completely--because I think it might have permanently tainted my "Star War" love had I seen it, and that was something that I'm grateful didn't happen until the prequels were released. (Well, OK, it kind of began to happen towards the end of "Return of the Jedi," but let's pretend it didn't.)

Regardless, I'm happy it's relatively easy to watch these days, even if the video quality is for crap. Happy Life Day, everyone!

Are There No Prisons? Are There No Workhouses?

I got laid off on Tuesday. I wasn't the only one. Perhaps you read about it? Yes, just in time for Christmas. Ironically, the last time I was laid off, from a different job, was also right before the holidays. What's up with that?

So, that has cast a little pall over the season, but I am doing my best to just appreciate the fact that I have some time off, and am not a few dollars away from living on the street.

Still, it's tough. I ain't gonna lie.

But enough about that! Here's some bitter Christmas fun!

All I Want For Christmas Is Paul Rudd

Just stuff him in my stocking, OK Santa?

SANTAH!

Marinate It Overnight In the Tears of a Heartbroken Leprechaun

"The Simpsons" aired its Christmas special this past Sunday. Some of it was good, and some of it was not so good. Below is my favorite bit, featuring guest star Martha Star.

And That's What the War On Christmas Is All About, Charlie Brown

Holiday special alert! "A Charlie Brown Christmas" is on ABC at 8 P.M. tonight! Do watch.

And here's a related Christmas clip from last night's "Daily Show." Do watch.

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart	Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c
The Gretch Who Saved the War on Christmas
www.thedailyshow.com
Daily Show Full Episodes Political Humor The Daily Show on Facebook

Little Boots!

Happy Sinterklass Day, the freakish Christmas tradition of my peoples! Actually, the big party was last night, Sinterklaasavond, but whatever.

If you haven't read David Sedaris's take on it, what the hell? Do it.

And, per usual...

I Love a Good Bunny Hunt

Maybe one of these years I'll have the energy to do a daily Christmas post kind of thing, like the Halloween countdown. But not this year! Alas...

Still, I'll try to provide SOME occasional merriment. Like this clip from the dearly departed "Bonnie Hunt Show," in which she interviews my Muppet boyfriend Pepe the King Prawn. I hope you like it okay.