Another snow picture from my Balcony

My Favorite Christmas Films

It's a Wonderful Life

Scrooge with Alastair Sim - 1951 version

Rudolph the Rednose Reindeer (1964 Claymation)

The Grinch Who Stole Christmas (Boris Karloff - there will never be a better narrarator)

National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation with Chevy Chase

Scrooged - Bill Murray - very funny film

The Bishops Wife with Cary Grant (he still makes my heart sing)

White Christmas or Holiday Inn with Bing Crosby

Love Actually - ONE OF MY FAVORITE ROMANTIC MOVIES!!!

Black Christmas (the old and new film) - Favorite scary movies

Elf

Dirty Old Men

A Christmas Story

I'm sure there are others I've missed but these are the films that jump right into my head.

It's a Wonderful Life - absolutely one of the best films ever made. Jimmy Stewart is perfect in this movie. A man with big dreams but gives it all up for the woman and the town that he loves but realizes this was better than his hopes and dreams (I still think they could have worked it in where they got to travel and I hope that once the kids grew up they got to travel around the world...). Anyway, such a sweet, sad and poignant film. It's always had that thought in my head that every time a bell rings an angel gets his wings...

Scrooge - 1951 Alastair Sim - This, in my opinion, is the best version of A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens. Alastair Sim is one of the best Scrooges I have ever seen. So believable in that role. This version is also one of the spookiest and saddest. You will not be disappointed.

Rudolph the rednosed Reindeer & How the Grinch Stole Christmas - two of my favorite childhood films - I loved the Island of Misfits and the Abominable Snowman. Who can forget the narration for Boris Karloff in Dr. Seuss' classic, I remember how happy I would get when I saw that teeny little heart get bigger and bigger...

National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation - Chevy Chase - this film has to be one of the funniest. It has a bit of a sick sense of humor, especially the part where the cat chews on the lights and becomes a bit of a crispy critter...the tree that's way too big, the rabid squirrel, Cousin Eddie...

Scrooged with Bill Murray - this is another funny classic movie. So cold he wants to staple antlers on little mice heads...anyway, a very cute movie.

The Bishops Wife is another Classic movie but has Cary Grant in it. They did a pretty cute remake of this with Whitney Houston and Denzel Washington a while ago, but the first is almost always the best.

Love Actually - this is one of my all time favorite romantic movies. Just a lot of really cute stories with Hugh Grant, Emma Thompson, Alan Rickman, etc. Just an excellent movie that really makes you feel great after you watch it!!

Black Christmas - so if you love horror movies like I do, here is a good little tradition. I am usually not one for remakes but this one was pretty good. It gives you a warm and fuzzy feeling until the killing starts...

A Christmas Story - basically a history of an old time American Christmas - Who can ever forget Ralphie and his Red Ryder BB gun (you'll shoot yer eye out kid).


Elf and Dirty old Men are both cute, funny movies too.

Anway, those are some movies that I really like to watch every December. It just makes things a little more festive!!!

Are you there God, It's Me Margaret - by Judy Blume

I was talking to a friend of mine on the phone the other day and she was telling me that her daughter who is 10 years old, is reading the above book. When I was 11 or 12 years old, this book was a girl's right of passage into woman-hood. It was about a young girl who was anxious to get her boobs, start her period, fall in love and just be a woman. I remember feeling so scandalous reading this because Judy Blume wrote about all kinds of things that I was feeling at that sensitive time in my life. She didn't leave any details out, even the sexual thoughts I had - which were still petty innocent. One of my favorite parts of the book that I remember was when she and her friend got together and they were doing their "exercises" - they would FLEX their chest muscles and say over and over - We Must, We Must, We Must Increase our Bust... I think almost every young girl in America has read this book.

Just reminiscing about it I guess. Also that was the same year the girls were shown the "film" about getting their period and the boys were shown their own film too. I can still remember that film, it was a little traumatic because it showed all the details of menstration and followed a young girl getting really bad cramps.

I had actually developed faster than any of my classmates, I was already a C Cup at age 11 and had just started my time of the month - THANK GOD I had seen that film becuase my mom sure didn't tell me about anything. I remember when I was really little, asking her what Maxi pads were, she said they were Micky Mouse Mattresses. So in my head I thought they were great little mouse beds or they would be great beds for my Barbie Dolls. Anyway, I didn't really learn anything about my body and definately not sex from her. Thank god for the soft porn books - Happy Hooker goes to Washington, Peyton Place, Emmanuel...yes, I know, great books for a 12 year old to read. I'm just glad I had a good head on my shoulders and didn't go out there and experiment like a lot of my poor friends did at the time. I was pretty reasonable and had a lot of common sense at the time. Although I was still pretty Niave still. I still have a teency bit of innocense to me...

Anyway, just a BIG Thank you to Judy Blume for writing those wonderful books of a young woman and all those HORRIBLE feelings we had to go through.

Here is a little bit from her Website:

The story

"Are you there God? It's me, Margaret. I can't wait until two o'clock God. That's when our dance starts. Do you think I'll get Philip Leroy for a partner? It's not so much that I like him as a person God, but as a boy he's very handsome. And I'd love to dance with him... just once or twice. Thank you God."

A move from the city to the suburbs, sixth grade in a different school, a new group of friends. But Margaret handles it...in her own funny, endearing way.
Judy says
For the first time since I'd started writing, I let go and this story came pouring out. I felt as if I'd always known Margaret. When I was in sixth grade, I longed to develop physically like my classmates. I tried doing exercises, resorted to stuffing my bra, and lied about getting my period. And like Margaret, I had a very personal relationship with God that had little to do with organized religion. God was my friend and confidant. But Margaret's family is very different from mine, and her story grew from my imagination.
Margaret brought me my first and most loyal readers. I love her for that.

Title
When I finished writing I had no idea for a title so I took the first line in the book. If I'd known then how often I was going to have to say the title, I might just have called it Margaret.

Dedication
To my mother, who was a reader. She bought me the Betsy-Tacy series, which were my favorite books when I was young. A few years later, she handed me To Kill a Mockingbird and Anne Frank's Diary of a Young Girl, two books I've never forgotten.
"With sensitivity and humor Judy Blume has captured the joys, fears, and uncertainty that surround a young girl approaching adolescence."

Man vs. Food

In one way this is a pretty good show, it goes to different towns all over the country, talks about their history and the restaurants in the area. But can you think of the HEALTH problems this guy is going to have??? Talk about cholesterol, heart attacks, stomach stretching...ugh. But maybe for dieters like me, who have to watch everything they eat, this might be a little like FOOD PORN...oh yes baby, eat another scoop of ice cream, that's it...hee hee. Most of the time this man cannot eat the amounts these restaurants have to challenge him, but I really am worried about the people who can...whew.

About Man v. Food

Watch Travel Channel's "Man v. Food," Wednesdays at 10 p.m. ET

Every region has its own local culture and flavor. One of the best ways for a traveler to immerse him or herself in new destinations is to taste these unique dishes. This taste exploration allows even the strictest of dieters the freedom to indulge.

In the new series, Travel Channel's Man v. Food, host Adam Richman sets out to travel the country in search of the best places to do some serious indulging. Premiering Wednesday, December 3, at 10 p.m. ET, Adam begins his quest to find the best traditional food the nation can serve up.

With a lengthy resume of restaurant experience and a lifelong passion for food, Adam's culinary skills coupled with his seasoned palate provide a gastronomical compass to the best spots to taste America's iconic dishes. This season, Adam explores Atlanta, GA; Chicago, IL; Memphis, TN; Boston, MA; Austin and Amarillo, TX; Pittsburgh, PA; New York, NY; Columbus, OH; and New Orleans, LA, in search of the most mouthwatering meals the cities have to offer.

After hunting down the can't-miss flavors that make up each region's unique culinary history, Adam will take on the city's toughest food challenge. Whether he's devouring the Sasquatch Burger in Memphis, the Atomic Hot Wings platter in Pittsburgh, or a 13-pound pizza in Atlanta, Adam digs in with zeal becoming our ambassador to all things delicious.

Officially Had Enough of this Winter

Working at a hospital has it's advantages especially in this economy, people are bound to get sick so unfortunatly it's good job security in that aspect. BUT the one thing that is bad about working at a hospital, there are no such things as snow days. If the weather is bad, you are expected to put your life on the line and get your butt in to work, even if you aren't a nurse or some other life saving personnel. So, if you don't make it in because the weather is bad, you are treated like an outcast and you don't get paid for it. Well, since I am now living further NORTH, I am officially in really bad weather. It was horrible yesterday, I made it about half way to work and just kept sliding and then the traffic was so awful I just turned around to go back home, ONLY to land in a ditch by the Police Department in Shoreline. Thankfully two men helped give me a push out of the ditch and I slowly made my way back only to end up sliding down the hill where I live and not being able to get back up it again. I go out again this morning and still can't get out of here. I am stuck at the bottom of the hill and could barely walk up the hill to get back. This has NOT been fun.

I really don't mind driving in snow, I'm actually a pretty good driver when it's snowing, but ice is another story. The feeling of NOT being in control is an awful feeling. This morning my car actually started sliding sideways back down the hill - NOT a good feeling. I also got my final papers back the other day to go and change my name BUT since the weather has been so crappy, I have not been able to do that yet. Grrrrrrr.

IT's really pretty out here when it snows, just a winter wonderland, but I am so over it now...

Eviction in Long Island

I was reading a story yesterday about a woman, Angelina Darrego, 70 years old, same age as my mom, who lives in Long Island, New York in an apartment complex that is subsidized by the Government, so she basically just pays only what she can afford. Well, a new owner comes in and buys the apartment complex and tells her they are not running a charity anymore (basically) and she needs to get out. The poor woman is half blind and can barely walk and it sounds like she doesn't have any family. So, she is pretty upset, doesn't know where to go, what to do, all she thinks is that she is going to be a bag lady living on the street. Now this is sad just that part of the story, it's winter time and right before the holidays - BUT the kicker here is the new owners of the apartment complex saw that she wasn't getting her stuff to move out in a few days, they turned off her HEAT and her HOT WATER. What kind of greedy, heartless bastards would do that to an elderly woman, especially one with severe health problems. All just another part of the human condition. I know that sometimes I get really jaded and start to look at people as uncaring, soulless creatures that are only out for themselves, this story reinforces that, unfortunately. Thank god the news covered this story and got in touch with the right people so
The Director of Housing and Heating promised her that for now she would be safe and they got her heating and water turned back on, but after the 1st of the year she had to find a new place.

I really do believe in Karma and have seen greedy stupid evil people get what they deserve and I really hope these new owners get what they deserve...this woman could have been my mom or any ones mom. What a nightmare for this poor woman, this probably even took a bigger toll on her health. Anyway, it just made me sad when I saw this story and like I said, just reinforced that the uncaring and greedy jerks of this country are just getting more and more prevalent.

More Snow from last year

Seattle Snow

It is snowing tonight. It looks so pretty out here in the Northwest with the tall pine trees in the distance. Here is a picture off of my balcony of the snow falling tonight. I'm glad I don't have any where to go tomorrow. I think it's a good inside cleaning day...

Controversy in the State Capital

Okay, it all started with a little Manger scene - Mary and Joseph looking up to heaven in gratitude as the little baby Jesus lays in the manger smiling and looking serene. Such a sweet little Christmas display. THEN the atheists saw the Manger scene and said, We've had enough of this Christian crap, we are going to put a sign up that tells everyone There is no Heaven or Hell, no Devils or Angels etc etc Only logic and reason (Like this is going to change anyones minds about believing in Christmas). SO this sparked all the Christian churches to come out and protest the sign saying that this is the Christmas season and don't let the atheists rain on their parade. Well, after that the CRAZY Christians decided to take this time to put their sign up with a picture of Santa Clause turning into a Demon that says - Santa Clause will take you to Hell. This has also led another man putting up a Festivus pole to celebrate ALL holidays and faiths. I think I might have missed a Kwanza display as well as the Chanuka display. What a fiasco.

Now as you know I don't have any religious beliefs anymore but come on people. My standard in life is, if you don't like it, just don't look at it or pay attention to it. I am so sick of being politically correct, especially this time of year. So many people are walking on egg shells, not wanting to offend anyone. Oh let's don't call it a Christmas Tree, let's call it a Holiday Tree - It's a frigging Christmas Tree. Actually, it's not a "Christmas" Tree, technically it's more of a pagan tradition, but I won't get into that. What I am trying to say is - WHY can't everyone just let everyone believe what they want to believe and leave the rest of us alone. I hate this time of the year - not only the weather which is cold, rainy, snowy, icy, windy - it's also the crazy people that get offended over everything. There was a lady at work who made cookies and she was afraid to call them Christmas cookies just in case someone might get upset. Oh well, I think I'm getting old and cranky but I think it's important to just believe what you want to believe and even though I don't have the same beliefs as you do, we can respect each other and live together peacefully and not with protest signs...

A Season of Uncaring

Well, as you can tell I have not been in the mood to blog for a while. There are so many things I'd love to complain about or whine about or get angry about that sometimes it's hard to put it down in words.

The other day I just about got myself killed stopping traffic so idiot people wouldn't run over this tiny little Yorkshire terrier, now that I think about what I did, I can't believe the dog or myself didn't get hit by a car. These people amaze me. I can't believe all the cars that swerved around this tiny little creature and no one even gave a second look. If I hadn't rescued this little dog she would have been killed OR she would have frozen to death that night. People who are so uncaring just piss me off to no end. If you don't want to get involved, at least call animal control and tell someone what you saw. I know I saw a PitBull one day wandering around and I called Animal Control, I wasn't going to get out of my car to rescue that one, but at least I alerted someone. Especially with a Pitbull running around loose...

Anyway, it seems that this time of year it makes people even more grumpy and grouchy and uncaring. I thought these "christians" were suppose to be loving and caring ALL year long. When I had faith I always remembered this saying that said - Be careful how you live because you may be the only Bible people read. I really believed that and lived my life that way. But when I look around at these "christian" churches carrying hateful signs about people, judging everyone, being mean and spiteful, having a Better than THou attitude. NO WONDER so many people have lost their faith and don't want anything to do with any religions. I have seen the worst in religions and cults and don't want any part of it. But I still live my life with Kindness and love as much as possible. If these people want to prove to the world that their God is loving and forgiving, maybe they need to stop talking about it and start living that life.