• 14Dec 09

  Status Update Dec. 14

  Hi, Everybody. Just a quick hello. I'm swamped at work, but the boss is away at a meeting right now so I can slip in a quick update.
  
  We're meeting with my husband's family on Friday for our Christmas celebration. His sister that moved to Florida will be here. She hasn't been here for Christmas since she moved a few years ago.
  
  I wanted to show you this list: AOL's Best TV Shows of the 2000s. See if you agree.
  
  
  • Posted Dec 14, 2009 12:46 pm PT
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• 8Dec 09

  Who Said It? December 9 and a Movie Quiz

  Hi, everybody. Busy days around here. We had our first significant snowfall on Tuesday. I'm hoping I'll have to stay home from work, but I don't think it's likely. I'm part way done with my Christmas shopping. I bought for my family out west online on Cyber Monday. My husband's family has decided not to exchange gifts this year, so that just leaves my immediate family. I got something for my husband today. I'm not sure what to get my boys. They are all hard to buy for. Today's quote comes from another show that aired in the 1990s and 2000s. Who said:
  
  "He had a heart attack when he was out trimming ________'s elaborate hedge maze. The paramedics never had a chance."
  
  ? Obviously I left out a name so it's not too easy. If you have a guess you can send it to me in a PM or give it in your comment below. Thanks for leaving a comment.
  
  Congratulations to mccar29, chuckdreyfuski, AprilFox, BuskieBoy(!), and Carolee99 , who all knew that Joey of Friends said "These are my Thanksgiving pants!"
  
  It's from "The One with the Rumor". That's the Thanksgiving episode with and uncredited Brad Pitt appearance. Joey says this quote when he enters wearing Phoebe's maternity pants.
  
  Christmas Music: This time of year PBS airs a lot of musical specials, not all necessarily Christmas related. HERE is a list of specials airing on PBS stations this season. From Celtic Woman to the Rockettes, to Sinatra, you might find something that interests you.
  
  
  
  Straight No Chaser: A few nights ago I caught part of the Straight No Chaser Holiday special on PBS. You may remember this 10-member a cappella group from the YouTube video of them doing
  The 12 Days of Christmas. It was recorded in 1998 when they were students at Indiana University. One of them posted it a while back and it became a huge sensation. BuskieBoy sent it to me last year or the year before. It was so popular that the group got together again (with some personnel changes). Last Christmas I saw them on Christmas at the White House, ore something like that. They have released a new Christmas album for 2009. Here's one of the songs from that album, Christmas Can Can. I've watched it many times already.
  
  Christmas Movie Quiz: Match the actor with the Christmas movie they starred in. There is a variety of movies. Some are old cla$sics, others are newer or less well known. Be careful. Some people may have starred in more than one of these movies, but there is only one answer. I have posted pictures to help you out, but the pictures may not be from the era the movie is from.
  
  
  1. Arnold Schwarzenegger
  
  2. Michael Keaton
  
  3. Natalie Wood
  
  4. Bing Crosby
  
  5. Cary Grant (Has there ever been a more handsome man?)
  
  6. Barbara Stanwyck
  
  7. Peter Billingsley
  
  8. Jim Varney
  
  9. Fred Astaire
  
  10. Macaulay Culkin
  
  11. Jason Robards
  
  12. Jimmy Stewart
  
  13. Bill Murray
  
  14. Danny Kaye
  
  15. Chevy Chase
  
  a. Scrooged
  
  b. Jack Frost
  c. National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation
  d. A Christmas Story
  e. Jingle All the Way
  
  f. The Bells of St. Mary's
  g. The House Without A Christmas Tree
  h. It's a Wonderful Life
  i. White Christmas
  j. Ernest Saves Christmas
  k. Miracle on 34th Street
  l. Home Alone
  m. The Bishop's Wife
  n. Christmas in Connecticut
  o. Man in the Santa Claus Suit
  
  Hanging of the Greens: I told you last time that we had a "Hanging of the Greens" service at our church. We're glad there is no family named Green at our church. That could be awkward. Here are some pictures:
  
  
  We each bring ornaments, then near the end of the service we go up in family groups to hang the ornaments on the tree. The choir sits on the chairs to the left. The screen on the right is where the words to the songs are projected (plus videos, etc.)
  
  
  As part of the service some of the children each carried a piece of the nativity set and put it on the table. These are the fake poinsettias. By the Sunday before Christmas there will be many real ones on the platform.
  
  
  Here's the whole effect. This is the first year we've put garlands across the sanctuary. They are kind of in the way of the screen, but I guess it's OK. I'm always sitting at the piano or keyboard (under the large wreath) during the singing, so the garlands don't bother me.
  
  Level 52, 34%
  • Posted Dec 8, 2009 9:49 pm PT
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• 30Nov 09

  Status Update Dec. 1

  
  
  Hi everybody. I don't feel like doing a whole, involved, blog right now, so I'll just give you some random thoughts.
  
  We had a nice Thanksgiving. I really enjoyed the 4 days off. It worked out best for everybody to have our Thanksgiving on Friday, so we spent most of Thursday cleaning the house. Thankfully, my great family helped.
  
  The menu on Friday: turkey, stuffing, corn casserole, green bean casserole, mashed potatoes, gravy, pumpkin pie, cherry pie, brownies, and ice cream. I decided not to push myself. This was all pretty easy.
  
  On Sunday we had the annual Hanging of the Greens service at our church. It's one of my favorite special services. We're doing it different this year, and have lit garlands hanging from beams going across the sanctuary, instead of just along the side walls. It's very pretty. But now the garlands cover part of the screen if you sit in the back. We have the words to the songs on the screen. It's not too bad, and they can always move up.
  
  We watched a bunch of movies on TV over the weekend. I can't even remember what all we watched, that's how good they were. But, I wanted to let you know that one of my favorites is now available on hulu.com. Return to Me was available, at least over the weekend. I just looked and found that it expires in a few hours. Bummer. It's a romantic comedy made by Bonnie Hunt. I like her sense of humor. I wish her sitcoms had lasted longer. Of course, now she has a talk show, but I never see it, since it's on when I'm working.
  
  This Date in History: OK, I can't resist imparting a little knowledge. On December 1, 1955, Rosa Parks refused to move to the back of the bus, sparking the American Civil Rights movement. Who knew such a small act could change so much? Makes you think, doesn't it?
  
  World AIDS Day: Today is also World AIDS Day, designed to bring awareness to this horrible pandemic. The good news is that the number of new cases has decreased 17% since 2001. However, between 5 and 6 people die of AIDS every minute; 25 million people have died of AIDS since 1981; and there are 14 million AIDS orphans in Africa. Wear your red ribbons proudly.
  
  Just for Fun:
  
  
  I LOVE this picture of some of the NCIS cast
  
  
  Who is this celebrity?
  
  Level 52, 32%
  • Posted Nov 30, 2009 9:18 pm PT
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