Monday, December 31, 2012
Sunday, December 30, 2012
Saturday, December 29, 2012
Friday, December 28, 2012
Thursday, December 27, 2012
Wednesday, December 26, 2012
The Day After Christmas...
Always a lazy day. The Wife was home and did some shopping, using the gift cards that appeared under the tree. The Playmaker's Sister worked her new iPhone 5 all day, while The Playmaker played with gifts before heading to BFF Raymond's house. We all had a great day yesterday. A recap will soon follow.
Tuesday, December 25, 2012
Monday, December 24, 2012
Sunday, December 23, 2012
Saturday, December 22, 2012
Christmas Present #5
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.
Friday, December 21, 2012
Thursday, December 20, 2012
Christmas Present #7
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.
Wednesday, December 19, 2012
Christmas Present #8
For the 23rd 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!
Tuesday, December 18, 2012
Monday, December 17, 2012
Sunday, December 16, 2012
Saturday, December 15, 2012
Friday, December 14, 2012
Christmas Present #12
Irish Christmas Music
It's all instrumental. And it's all fantastic.
Bought it at iTunes an hour ago!
Bought it at iTunes an hour ago!
Thursday, December 13, 2012
Wednesday, December 12, 2012
Tuesday, December 11, 2012
Monday, December 10, 2012
Christmas Present #16
Fantasy Update:
We somehow advanced into the semi-finals of our 16 team Play for Pay League with a one point victory, thanks to Aaron Hernandez getting 25 points. That offset the fact we sat Jeremy Maclin and his 28 points on the bench. We still need a second running back (Danny Woodhead gave us 5 points; we sat Bilal Powell's 13 points on the bench.), so we are hoping to sneak David Wilson through waivers this week. In our Family Fun League, we advanced to the finals where we will face The Playmaker's Sister (i.e. the computer).
Sunday, December 9, 2012
Saturday, December 8, 2012
Friday, December 7, 2012
Thursday, December 6, 2012
Wednesday, December 5, 2012
Tuesday, December 4, 2012
Christmas Present #22
A MacBook Air
Yes, we'd only really use it in
The Basement every August, but still...
Monday, December 3, 2012
Sunday, December 2, 2012
Christmas Present #24
A real Christmas tree
Picked out this bad boy
yesterday 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. Came down this morning and the entire downstairs smelled like pine. Good stuff.
Saturday, December 1, 2012
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.
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.