Interesting Saturday - the usual 13 hours Saturday that followed the 15 hour Friday. So, I'm a little beat down today. And I accomplished a first in 10 years of coaching yesterday - I got kicked out of a kid's basketball game. I wish it was a more interesting story but everyone agrees I didn't raise a voice or call the ref a name. I just questioned their knowledge of the rules - which was agreed upon by all present was non-existent. Needless to say - it was a loss again for Caleb. Today is a busy day for a tired guy - workout, The Hobbit, bills to pay, Survivor and maybe a little time out tonight. And not to mention, Caleb gets the Amazing Race pick for lunch since his team finished second and that's Applebee's. Until then I'm having some protein and looking over the HBO schedule for the week and listening to some tuneage . . .
SUNDAY MORNING TUNEAGE
PINK MARTINI - LILY. This little ditty is a clever song that's obviously about a tiny doggy. But it's also easy to think of it about a girl if you are in such a mood - "Lily leaves kiss on your collar." This is from the 2004 album, "Hang On, Little Tomato" which is ironically from a Hunts commercial and the album is on Heinz Records. I love this little eclectic orchestra. They are hard to define. This tune is pretty illustrative of what they have to offer.
BERLIN - THE METRO. This is from a 1982 album - "Pleasure Victim" - but I remember the single from the Summer of 1983. I'd heard their "Sex (I'm A . . )" song briefly but thought it was someone like Soft Cell. This song with Terri Nunn on vocals became one of my first MTV video crushes. And her voice was brilliant too. A perfect example of New Wave - weird lyrics, pop sensibilities with a rocking sequencer beat. Still one of my favorites.
TIMBALAND - APOLOGIZE (feat. One Republic) I actually kind of like this song now. It was one of those songs in 2007 that was everywhere - in stores, on radio, at sports arenas and on commercials. I was getting quite sick of it but now over 5 years later it is a nice reminder of those days. This is the Timbaland remix of that song - slightly better than the original with the added samples and beats. I think this will be a song to get some nice cover versions in the future.
IT WAS 30 YEARS AGO TODAY . . . Bill Parcells is hired as head coach of the New York Giants . . . Groo #1 by Sergio Aragones is published by PC Comics. . . top selling books - James Michener - Space and Robert Ludlum - The Parsifal Mosaic. . .
DEADLIGHTS OF 2012 . . . Norah Jones' dad had a bit of a musical career himself. Ravi Shankar was just a go-to sitar name for me for years. But seeing him in that George Harrison documentary gave me a new appreciation for his music. Then I remembered that his soundtrack was one of the best parts of the Apu Trilogy. Rock on, Ravi . . .
QUICK LIST (a random, uninformed list off the top of Shawn's head)
BEST CHRISTMAS FOODS OF AL-TIME
10. WHITE CHOCOLATE PEPPERMINT BARK. Anything that combines the fresh taste of peppermint with the great taste of chocolate is right up my alley.
9. PECAN PIE. We had one with Thanksgiving, but that doesn't mean there won't be one on the Christmas dessert table. It's always a Christmas pie in my mind.
8. GINGERBREAD COOKIES. Simple and tasty. With our without frosting.
7. PEANUT BRITTLE. Why don't more people make this anymore? Seems like a dying art. And taking the chance of breaking a tooth to eat this awesome treat is worth every bite.
6. SHINER CHEER. My favorite seasonal beer is Sam Adams' Octoberfest. But this is very close - it's got a nice tang to it. I like to just have some in the fridge - especially for the lazy afternoons just after Christmas Day. Good also for Bowl season in early January.
5. HOT CHOCOLATE. Good on any cold afternoon. But here in Texas - you have to take advantage of the few cold days as they appear. When the temps drop into the 30s - mostly in December or January - there's nothing like having a nice mug of Hot Cocoa - especially after dinner as a warming dessert.
4. MIXED NUTS IN THE SHELL. I don't always like having to work for my snacks. But a Christmas time it's nice to sit in front of the TV with a bowl of pecans, almonds, Brazil nut and walnuts and crack away and them with what seems like a broken knuckle tool waiting to draw blood. Oddly - I only get them this time of year although I don't think it's the season for any of those nuts.
3. TOFFEE. Much like the Peanut Brittle - it used to be everywhere. Now not nearly enough people know how to make it with the almonds and the rich chocolate. Mmmm.
2. CANDY CANES. They are what candy corn is to Halloween or those Cadbury Eggs to Easter - a wonderful treat that tastes great in the month of the holiday but you don't want it all year around. I still favor the tiny bite size canes that come in their own tiny plastic bags.
1. GRANDMA MILLER'S SUGAR COOKIES. I can't even explain them correctly - they are soft and round and have sugar on top. My mom does a good job with them but I always associate them with the big batches that my Grandma made at her Allegan home - they were spread all over the house cooling on wax paper. I miss her and love these cookies.
The worst? I've made it no secret that I don't care for eggnog. Even if you put some alcohol in it. Closest I can come to enjoying it is in ice cream form at Braum's. And I'll eat a piece of fruitcake but it's not my favorite and I wouldn't seek it out. And I'm not sure I can identify the flavor of a mince pie - I always think I would like it but rarely does it taste good. Have I ever even had Fig pudding? Not making the list - but a guilty pleasure is the terribly stale but yummy popcorn in those big tins.
NETFLIX PLAY NOW OF THE WEEK . . . Steven Spielberg and Peter Jackson team up and made a hugely entertaining movie that I don't understand why it didn't get more love - watch THE ADENTURES OF TINTIN now . . .if you need some uncomfortable humor - IT'S ALWAYS SUNNY IN PHILADELPHIA has multiple seasons available . . . Netflix has tried to do something good - they've taken all of the DOCTOR WHO stories that were available in Instant Watch and collected them under one heading of CLASSIC DOCTOR WHO (as opposed to the ones collected under the DOCTOR WHO which are the new ones). But they've done this with a complete misunderstanding of how the show is constructed. There are very random Season numbers attached to episodes with Tom Baker ones coming before Troughton ones in some cases. This is a total mess and makes it impossible to find specific ones you are looking for. If you want random classic episodes - this is for you. If you want consistency - hold off until someone fixes this travesty.
Shawn's fave movies according to FLICKCHART
#166 - Kung Fu Panda
#249 - Bottle Rocket (seems like it should change places with the one above)
#755 - A Scanner Darkly
RANDOM PROJECT UPDATE - The ELMORE LEONARD project. Started up my 2nd Leonard Western novel and had a little time to get into it this week. I'm reading "Valdez Is Coming" - a novel written 17 years after the first Western I read. I can tell this is in the hands of a man writing his 8th novel. And it reflects the 1970 date of writing - much more cruel and intense action. The bad guys are more evil and the good guys are less good. This happens in a post-Leone period, unlike the earlier novel I read. Excited to see where it goes - I know there's a film adaptation from the 70s but I think this has potential if the Coen Bros wanted to try another Western.
SHAWN'S TOP ALBUMS OF ALL-TIME (a tribute to the art of the album)
#55 - The Doors - The Doors (1967)
Because of the title of this album - I spent much of my youth thinking this was their Greatest Hits album. For 44 minutes, this album marks a change in rock and roll. This is a non-stop assault on what was happening in pop music. It's hard to listen to this today and not fall under Jim Morrison's spell. This album has a definite American feel that opposes the British sound of The Who, Rolling Stones and Beatles. I think they shine in the long songs that show off their Blues influence - "Light My Fire" and "The End". But there's an awesome run of songs on Side One too - "Break On Through" leads into "Soul Kitchen" that leads into the drug induced "The Crystal Ship". I still take pleasure from listening to this album in order - something that you just don't get on newer albums.
"Some are born to endless night. Some are born to endless night."
Previous Rankings
#56 - Simon & Garfunkel - Bookends (1968)
#57 - REM - Automatic For The People (1992)
#58 - The Who - Who's Next (1971)
#59 - Paul Simon - There Goes Rhymin' Simon (1973)
#60 - Kool & The Gang - Wild & Peaceful (1973)
THIS WEEK IN TELEVISION
MONDAY
OLIVER STONE'S UNTOLD HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES (SHOW) Oliver takes a look at the JFK assassination. Well, to be fair, another look at the shooting. And an overall larger look at JFK in general.
GOSSIP GIRL (CW) They are promising this will be the last episode ever. I've seen the 1st episode. None in-between. But I won't be watching this one just yet.
MONDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL (ESPN) Remember when this game used to be entertaining or at least matter? Are you excited about Jets vs Titans? Me neither.
TUESDAY
IT'S A VERY MERRY MUPPET CHRISTMAS MOVIE (CW) I like this 2002 TV movie with Kermit discovering he has had "a wonderful life".
MEET ME IN ST. LOUIS (TCM) The 1944 is an underrated Holiday film with the most touching Judy Garland version of Christmas favorites.
RAMSAY'S CHRISTMAS COOKALONG (BBC) Chef Gordon teaches how to make some Yuletide classic dishes. And probably peppers in some salty language to boot.
WEDNESDAY
THE SOUP: END OF THE WORLD - WE TOLD YOU SO (E!) We've still got a few days left on the Mayan calendar - hope you have plans to enjoy them. This serves as an 8 year retrospective of the show including some poop from "Flavor Of Love" and lots of Tila Tequila, I'm guessing.
INVENTION USA (HIST) I always mean to watch this show. It seems like a bit of "Mythbusters" for the History Channel crowd.
WHITE CHRISTMAS (AMC) The 1954 version with Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye is great entertainment. Not my favorite Holiday film but it will help get you in the mood for the next week of goodness.
THURSDAY
NATIONAL LAMPOON'S CHRISTMAS VACATION (ABC FAM) It's only a handful of days until the big day - this is as much a tradition for my kids as any other film or special. Tonight's as good a night as any. Hopefully cold and Dee will fix up some hot chocolate.
HOLIDAY AFFAIR (TCM) I like discovering old holiday classics that I've never seen. Caught part of this before - it's a clever 1949 love story with Robert Mitchum and the awesome Janet Leigh (I'm smitten with her).
FRIDAY
CHRISTMAS IN WASHINGTON (TNT) The only thing going for this is Conon O'Brien hosting. The Obamas shouldn't settle for TNT - or any of the Turner family of channels. Nothing says quality Christmas show like Korean rapper PSY and American Idol's Scotty McCreery. I fear the First Family will outlive Libya before they outlive this regrettable show.
A WHITE HOUSE CHRISTMAS: FIRST FAMILIES REMEMBER (NBC) Wait??? On two channels at once? At least it isn't basic cable. Will George W remember his Christmases in the White House?
SATURDAY
ODDITIES: CHRISTMAS SPECIAL (SCI) This show combines things I love - Christmas and odd things. Elf hats made of human hair? I need to know more.
MR MAGOO'S CHRISTMAS CAROL (NBC) I'm so glad to see this special make it back to network TV and so close to Christmas. It was a favorite of mine for years. But then for decades it was off the radar and hard to find. No video releases - old out of print copies even hard to find. But now it's back and hopefully a new audience will find the brilliance of Jim Backus and Mr Magoo.
SUNDAY
STORAGE WARS (A&E) Another Sunday night marathon. For a couple weeks to end this year, there will be nothing on what is usually the best night of TV. No reality, no HBO, no Showtime, no Animation Domination. Nothing good. So catch up with a pizza, a drink and a few hours of buying storage units.
THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE RETURN OF THE KING (TNT) Hopefully by this point, I've watched THE HOBBIT and I'll have the inkling to watch the series again. Or even if I haven't, I'll still want to watch again. It's never a bad choice.
AND NOW A WORD FROM OUR SPONSOR . . I don't see what the deal is with people getting panties in a bunch over Ellen and JCP. Seems pretty routine to me. A little funny . . .
Have you seen the collection of Griswold reunion ads? Still a huge fan of the movie but temporarily a little down on Chevy after some of his "Community" quotes. Here's the set . . .
Including ALL the kids (clever, clever) . . .
And soft sweaters . . .
"We chased our pleasures here
Dug our treasures there
But can you still recall
The time we cried." - The Doors
Everybody loves my baby. Break on through. Stay hard.
sb
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