Biggest party night of the year. Here are our plans...

Take-out pizza.  Continuing day long fire in fire place.  Bowl games on TV, along with a little 76er action, too.

Ronald Miller...

Snow on Christmas...

5-3-2-2-1

Yesterday's stat line for The Playmaker:  5 points, 3 assists, 2 rebounds, 2 steals, 1 block.  His free throw put his team up, 23-22 with 1:20 left in regulation.  Unfortunately, they lost by 3 in overtime.

A year ago today...

Last December 26/27, we got a blizzard that delivered 17+ inches of snow.  So far this winter we've had pu$$y weather.  Hopefully this picture will bring us some snow.  Soon.  A lot of it.

2 + 4 = Day after Christmas...

The Playmaker's Metro (travel team) team got its second win of the season today.  He scored 4 points, on 2-5 shooting.  He played the 1, 2 & 3.

Christmas Present #1

Another year of good health and happiness.

Merry Christmas!

Christmas Present #2

Stockings all hung by the fire...

Christmas Present #3

For the 22nd consecutive year, Mr. Brady hears his family singing Christmas carols and finds the strength to remove heavy pieces of a fallen building from his body!

Christmas Present #4

Johnny Mathis Merry Christmas

No lie.  When we think of Christmas, one of the first three things that come to mind is this Johnny Mathis CD.  When we were 6 or 7, we remember living in Buffalo and listening to the 8-track tape in our bedroom.  Then we moved and somehow 8 track got lost.  When we were 10, Our Dad came home on Christmas Eve day from Lechemere (RIP) with the album.  In high school we upgraded to the cassette tape, which we later took with us to college.  For the past 20 years we've been enjoying the CD.  It's the best Christmas music ever.  Ever.

Christmas Present #5

Christmas Present #6

Better receivers next season!

Our fantasy football season ended with a thud last night, as we bowed out of the playoffs to the tune of a 109-85 holiday beatdown.  Starting receivers Percy Harvin (Z-E-R-O), Mario Manningham (5) and Jordy Nelson (2) combined for ... wait for it ... seven points. Some tight end named Tony Scheffler gave us ZIPPO.  (We debated picking up Brent Celek on waivers when druggie Fred Davis got suspended, but, alas, decided against it.  Too bad, as Celek brought home 21 points -- more than his previous five games combined.
     

Christmas Present #7

Charlie Brown Christmas

The single greatest animated Christmas scene.  EVER.

Christmas Present #8

A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens

About 20 years ago, we were hanging out with HS friends during college Christmas break. El Deano announced, "Once the beer is gone, I'm gonna go to bed and read A Christmas Carol." As an English major and Christmas fanatic, we found this ultra interesting. The next year we bought a copy and read it during December. It's now a Christmas Tradition. Every year, we start it the week before Christmas.

Christmas Present #9

The Grinch

 

Christmas Present #10

Frosty the Snowman

Christmas Present #11

Snow roof rake

Last winter (when we got a snow storm every other week), the snow piled up on the roof and stayed there for weeks at a time.  We had to go borrow our neighbor's snow roof rake, like, 10 times.  This is a must-have for anyone living in the northeast.  We picked one up in October at Home Depot.  At $39, it was a bargain.

Christmas Present #12

Merry Cliffmas

Christmas Present #13

Alex Morgan

***Fantasy update With Steven Jackson's 18 points in last night's game, we have made the fantasy football playoffs for the third straight year.  We are playing in only one league this year -- it's what we referred to last year as the Play of Pride league (as in no money at stake).  It's made up of dads in town that we're friendly with.  We bowed out from the Play for Pay league at school.  Last year was the first year of the league, and since we won it (Bogarting $440) we wanted to retire as the inaugural champion. 

Christmas Present #14

Steven Jackson

We need Jackson to get us 10 or more points tonight.  If he does, we're in the fantasy football playoffs for the third straight year.  If not, season over.

Christmas Present #15

The 17 pound standing rib roast

The ultimate Christmas dinner starts with this.  We may even go for a 20 pounder this year.

Christmas Present #16

Christmas Present #17

A trio of basketball stocking stuffers...

1. Whore Stern will now be referred to as Eff Face Stern!  What a FRIGGING idiot.  A total tool.  The only thing that surpasses his ego his is stupidity.  We wish Dennis Rodman would take a baseball bat to his ribs.

2. Metro!  The Playmaker has played four Metro games this season.  He has started in three of them (twice at small forward, once at shooting guard).  Before Tuesday's practice, the coaches met with us behind closed doors to tell us they were going to let him play some point guard.  We resisted the urge to say, What the hell took you so long?!?

3. Rec B-ball! The Playmaker had his first rec game last Saturday.  He scored 18 points on 9-16 shooting, including a steal at half court and driving layup at the buzzer to send the game into a 60-second overtime.  Alas, we never even got a possession and lost 32-30.

Christmas Present #18

Chris Paul getting traded anywhere but to the Celtics

Looks like he's going to the Lakers for two aging Big Guys (Gasol and Odom).  Wow.  Ainge offered Rondo, Jeff Green and about 17 first round draft picks.  Classic. 

Christmas Present #19

Lincoln Foodservice cooking/baking pan

This is state of the art.  Anyone who's anyone in the cooking/restaurant business uses this.  We ordered one for ... wait for it ... OURSELVES for Christmas.  Ho!  Ho!  Ho!

Christmas Present #20

A kick-ass generator

We did not lose power during the October snow storm.  However, we did lose it for 2+ during the hurricane in August.  Not fun.  So we plan on getting this bad boy.  We can run our fridge, the 50 inch HDTV, several lights and more.  Every homeowner should have one.



Christmas Present #21

Advent calendar

The picture is from last Christmas, when all 24 ornament had been placed on the tree.  Every year the kids have a draft to see who gets what ornaments.  Yes, there is arguing.  All part of the holiday spirit.

Christmas Present #22

Any questions?!?

Christmas Present #23

A real Christmas tree

Picked out this bad boy this morning, which is our tradition -- getting the Christmas tree on the first Saturday in December.  More and more people seem to be going with fake trees.  Not us.  Never have.  Never will.  Tomorrow morning the entire downstairs will smell like pine.  Good stuff.

Christmas Present #24

A White Christmas. 

Seriously, who doesn't like snow for Christmas?!?  We're pretty sure we've had it for the past three years.  With the balmy fall weather we've had thus far, who knows about this year.  But a White Christmas is always a great thing.

Christmas Present #25

This is a reprint from

December 1, 2009

As we do every year, we will be posting a present to give/ask for every day between now and Christmas. Many are things you can actually go out and buy. Some are realistic in price. Alas, a few are financially unrealistic. (Last year an $8,000 Viking oven made the list.) This time of year truly is the best part of the calendar. People seem to be just a tad nicer. And if you have kids, how can you not relish the looks on their faces as they open presents in the early morning hours of December 25?!?

But we figured we would start this season off not with a gift that can be placed under the Christmas tree. Rather, we want to begin with something that all of us can give as well as receive. And it doesn't cost a penny.

It's called ... wait for it ... A Better Attitude.

And 99 percent of us can use one.

To bitch and moan is to be human. And we're not asking you stop bitching and moaning. Instead, we just ask that as a present to yourself, you bitch and moan less.

Think about it. A majority of us don't have much to truly bitch about. Feel tired and overworked?!? Tell that to someone who is terminally ill. Hate your boss?!? Tell that to someone on welfare. Think your house pales in comparison to others?!? We're guessing the father of a homeless family would love to call your house his own.

The Playmaker's Sister spent last Saturday night with her grandparents and aunt. When she came home from the sleepover, she did so with a new pair of UGGS -- complete with a price tag of $110. Unfortunately, she discovered a scuff mark on them. No worries, as her mom exchanged them the next day. This time, however, we discovered there was a small rip in one of the UGGS. The boots would be exchanged for flawless ones. But not until this coming weekend. Our daughter was devastated. She so wanted to wear the new kicks to school and was despondent that she would now have to wait a week. Later that same day, we took her to the grocery store to get some grub. In the front of the store was a Christmas tree that had angels on it that you could "adopt" for Christmas. The angels were local needy boys and girls. Adopting one means you give the gifts that are lifted on the angel card. We adopted a 15 year old girl and an 8 year old boy. (The girl wants a Target gift card. She will get one from us, plus a gift card to Aeropostale. The boy wants a gift card to GameStop. He will get that, plus one to the Gap.)

On the way home, we ripped into The Playmaker's Sister for being selfish and spoiled. We asked her if she thought anyone on that angel Christmas tree could afford UGGS. She, of course, knew the answer and where the conversation was headed. We told her just what we wrote above. That everyone complains -- even her father. But that none of us really have much to gripe about. It clearly resonated with her -- because within a minute or two she was back to her normal, cheerful self. And the UGGS have not been brought up since.

So we share that story not to thump our chest as father of the year. Instead, it's a simple lesson that most of us really, truly have nothing to bitch about. Let's all shut our mouths and improve our attitudes. (And if possible, try to help someone or some people who truly need it.)

And in the process, we will be giving ourselves and those around us a wonderful gift. And we will enjoy the Christmas season more than ever.