Day 131: The Best Movies You've Never Heard Of: Part 4 - Christmas Edition!

We've all seen the classic Home Alone, as well as The Grinch, but this Christmas I tried to expand my horizons by watching movies that I had never seen, and most of them, had never heard of. I put them in the order I watched them, some of them you might recognize, but I can guarantee there's at least one you've never heard of.

Jack Frost: I'm sure a lot of people have heard of this one, but I had never seen it. I watched it on Thanksgiving, because I wasn't sure if it was a Christmas movie, or just a winter movie. It is your typical 90's dramedy. Kid loses one of his parents, parent comes back as a magical creature, parent gets a second chance to make things right. There's a reason this theme is popular in movies, it usually doesn't fail to touch the heart. Also, it has Michael Keaton and Hanson songs. Welcome to the 90's, speaking of which...

 

All I Want For Christmas: I know there are a lot of movies out there with this title, this is the one that features a very young Thora Birch. Another tried and true movie recipe that would make Mrs. Doubtfire proud. Two kids plot to ask Santa to have their parents get back together, but have to take matters into their own hands, surprise. This is a good family one, not a lot of thought, and everything works out in the end.

I'll Be Home For Christmas: This is the movie that Jonathon Taylor Thomas did shortly after leaving Home Improvement. He has to learn the true meaning of Christmas after being estranged from his family after (surprise) his mom died. His girlfriend, who happens to be Jessica Biel in this movie, is so fed up with him she leaves him in the middle of Wisconsin in the snow. Ouch. Of course we all know how this ends, no spoiler alert needed, that's what makes Christmas movies predictable, they usually work out in the end.

Carried Away: Once you get past the hokey acting, this movie is actually pretty good. A young man comes home for the holidays and finds his grandma has been put away in a nursing home by his dad. So he steals her away to live with him in LA, figuring she will have a better life there. This one basically has the same plot as Rain Man, except that grandma is full of spunk and life that makes you smile.

The Heart of Christmas: This one is based on the true events of Dax Shephard, a young boy who died of leukemia at the age of three. Make sure you have a box of tissues. It is told through a blog site discovered by someone who has lost the true meaning of family, which happens to be Candace Cameron in one of the first roles I've seen her in since Full House. Since the boy probably won't make it to Christmas, they decided to celebrate in October. You will cry the last five minutes, and if you don't, you are a machine.

I plan to watch a couple more nontraditional Christmas movies, but these were the ones I have watched so far, and I think my favorite, as in the one that I will be watching next year would probably be The Heart of Christmas and I'll Be Home For Christmas. I can't decide, but I like comedy as well as drama. What is your favorite nontraditional Christmas movie?

Day 126: The Best and the Worst Christmas Songs You Will Ever Hear

This Christmas was different, because this year for the first time ever I worked all day. I was actually extremely tired from everything that had happened at work, but luckily everyone was in a good mood when I got there. That helped me cheer up a little. Since it's the last day that it's acceptable in America to listen to Christmas music, I decided to give my top ten list for my favorite, as well as least favorite, Christmas songs. I have never liked Christmas music too much, but there are a handful that I like. First, here is the list of songs that I never want to hear again:

10: Jingle Bells - I know this isn't an official Christmas song, think it's actually Thanksgiving, but people always sing it at Christmas. Part of the reason I don't like this one, though, is because I sing it all the time at work, all three verses, and then have to hear it in the stores after work when I'm shopping as well as on the radio on the way home.

9: What Child is This? - This is another one I think I'm just too tired of listening to, it has been overplayed to the point that I just don't care for it. I think it's a very pretty song, but not for me.

8: You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch - I like the jazzy Christmas songs, but for some reason I can't stand this one. I think maybe it's the voice, just can't stand it. It would maybe be a good instrumental.

7: White Christmas - I like The Drifters version, actually, but can't stand the Bing Crosby version. I know it's classic, but so overplayed. It's a great song, but when you have to hear it everywhere it gets old fast.

6: Winter Wonderland - This is yet another Christmas/winter song that is too overplayed. Also, have you ever walked through the snow? It's not a wonderland, it's a pain in the neck. Your toes freeze, your pants get wrecked from the salt on the sidewalks, and you run the risk of falling and breaking something.

5: Little Drummer Boy - I can't stand this song, especially the one version by...actually I don't know who it's by, it's the one they play every year though. The one with several voices in harmony singing. I can't really explain why I hate this song, it's just...annoying.

4: We Wish You a Merry Christmas - This is a good song...if you only sing it through once. Everybody that sings it usually wants to sing it over and over again, adding more verses. What is figgy pudding anyways?

3: Twelve Days of Christmas - This song is so long, and so annoying. I have heard that each gift represents something in the Catholic church, but in today's world it just sounds like a silly song. It's also annoying when people ask when the twelve days of Christmas are.If you don't know, you shouldn't be celebrating.

2: Happy Holiday - Ick. I will break my fingers changing the station when this song comes on. It is a very PC friendly song for today's society, so I will give them points for that. Of course later in the song he makes reference to Santa Claus, but oh well.

1: It's The Most Wonderful Time of the Year - Why is Christmas considered to be the most wonderful time of the year? I think it's the worst. Before you call me a scrooge, hear me out. Everybody complains about being broke, people get mad if you spend more/less money on them than they spent on you, people are expected to use up vacation galore, rent is due, bills are due (it's the end of the month), and it's freezing cold. I could name the good stuff too, which there is plenty, but I can think of other times of the year where the pros outweigh the cons. For me the most wonderful time of the year is early summer, not at a time when the days are only eight hours long.

Ok, that turned into a little rant. I'm not a complete scrooge, I am actually embracing Christmas a little better this year. So here are my favorite Christmas songs. In case you can't tell, I go for the nontraditional usually.

10: Last Christmas - This song has been redone a couple times, can't decide which version I like best, but it is a catchy tune.

9: Mele Kalikimaka - This Hawaiian Christmas song is always just so much fun to sing. It's also the only Bing Crosby song that I can stand to listen to. It's also very short, no unneeded verses, just a fun little novelty song.

8: Hark the Herald Angels Sing - For some reason this Christmas hymn really sticks out in my mind. I love it, the message it has, the melody, everything about it.

7: All I Want for Christmas Is You - I know a lot of people are sick of this one, but I have always liked it. I like most of Mariah Carey's Christmas songs, such as Santa Claus is Coming to Town and Oh Santa. She just has a really good voice.

6: Christmas Lights - This is a newer one, released by Coldplay last year, that is really pretty. It starts out slow with a lite rock feel, then moves into a waltz pattern that sweeps me away every time.

5: Please Come Home for Christmas - I love blues, and this is one of the few Christmas songs that brings that blues rock feel that's just right. I like The Eagles version best, the free form of Don Henley's vocals over a steady blues rhythm.

4: Christmas Without You - This is another newer one, released by OneRepublic last year, it starts out with a simple piano melody, then the drums and bass bring in a steady blues rhythm. Add a little electric guitar, and it makes this modern Christmas song one of the best blues songs for the season. "Only one thing could kill me/Christmas without you."

3: Wizards in Winter - Although there's no words in this one, the title says it all. If you listen closely you can hear a little of the Sugarplum Fairy in there too.

2: What Christmas Means To Me - This song, sung by Stevie Wonder, is one of my favorites. He brings just the right amount of jazz that will get you off your feet dancing around the Christmas tree.

1: Jingle Bell Rock - This is without a doubt my favorite Christmas song. I like Bobby Helms version best, but also like the new version released by Rascal Flatts. And the version in Mean Girls. Who am I kidding, Justin Bieber could probably come out with a version of it and I would love it. It's just about having a good time and rocking out while doing it.

So there's my list of the best and worst. This is just my opinion, what is your favorite Christmas song? What is your least favorite Christmas song?

Day 125: My Favorite Christmas Movies

This the first year that I have had to work Christmas as well as Christmas Eve, which has kind of taken a little bit away from the holiday spirit. It is the only holiday I worked all year, though, so I guess I can be grateful for that. I have been doing all sorts of things to get into the Christmas spirit, because my free time is very limited. Part of that is watching Christmas movies. I decided to make a list of my favorite Christmas movies. I was going to make a Christmas song one too, but realized I don't like that much Christmas music, so I have to think harder for that one. Anyways, here is my top ten list for Christmas movies:

10: Elf - I have a love/hate relationship with this movie every year. I like it, but can't watch it more than once a year, otherwise it loses its appeal.

9: Scrooged - I have actually only seen this movie once, but I loved it! Bill Murray has always been a favorite actor of mine and he does great in this modern adaptation of A Christmas Carol.

8: The Santa Clause - This movie grows on me every time I watch it, the first time I saw it I hated it. Now I love watching it every year.

7: How the Grinch Stole Christmas - I apologize to all the purists, but I really like the live action version. I watch it every year and, like Elf, only once a year.

6: Love Actually - There is a lot going on in this movie, but it really is a feel good movie about love and the Christmas season.

5: A Charlie Brown Christmas - Must watch every year. I own a VHS copy and try to catch it on tv too when it's on. It's also so short that it's easy to sit down and watch during the busy times of the season.

4: Home Alone - I love this movie, and it's one I grew up with so I always watch it. I actually really like the 2nd one too, but there is something about this one that really gives people that holiday spirit.

3: The Family Stone - This movie didn't get nearly as much praise as it's worth. The story basically follows a young woman meeting her boyfriend's family for the first time. They hate her, of course, which makes this dysfunctional family Christmas movie funny as well as heartwarming.

2: It's a Wonderful Life - I know this movie is overrated, but I actually really like it, despite all that. I've only seen it once, about six months ago. Yep, watched it in the middle of summer. This movie made me want to set up my tree and go shopping though by the end. You wouldn't think a movie about a suicidal man would be so heartwarming.

1: National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation - I could watch this movie a million times. If you haven't guessed from my lists I love dark comedy. This isn't exactly a dark comedy, but it displays exactly what Christmas is like, not all that sappy stuff that comes from a lot of the holiday movies out there. This movie is real from start to finish, well maybe a little off the wall, but definitely how most people experience Christmas.

So there it is, my list of favorites. Hope you all have a wonderful Christmas, I have to go to bed soon, to get up early, clean the snow off my car, and go to work. Christmas song list to come...

Day 124: Not a Creature Was Stirring

Wow! It has been way too long since my last post. There has been so much going on, which includes nearly getting hit by a drunk driver, breaking my chair/pants in the same day (I'm not that fat...), and, most recently, seeing a mouse in my apartment. I've always heard that mice are always around, in the walls, maybe in your basement, but there's only a problem if you start to see them. Kind of the same theory I use with spiders. It was just last Saturday night, I had just finished a wine and cheese party, which turned into just me and my friend, who said she would help me host it, sitting around eating ourselves silly and watching hokey 80's tv shows. With all that cheese a mouse was bound to show up I guess.

The "party" ended at 8:00 when my friend said she had to go home, so I ended up doing a bunch of other stuff, such as going out shopping and going to my first synchronized Christmas light show. If you don't know what they are, look it up on youtube, they are really cool. I got home and decided to relax with a healthy dose of Netflix. Around 1:00am I noticed a movement on my dining room floor. I thought maybe it was a spider or centipede, but it was way too big. It was a mouse! I've never really seen a mouse in my apartment so I had no idea what to do. I was barefoot, and couldn't bring myself to smash it with my boot, thinking of the aftermath and how gross it would be. Instead I let him run off behind my freezer, and spent the rest of the night freaking out, putting my feet up and not letting my blankets touch the floor. No sign of the mouse yet, but I have two snap traps and two glue traps. One of those is bound to get him. More on that later..

I have been trying to lose weight ever since I graduated college. I didn't get the freshman fifteen, I got the senior sixty. Yep, I have gained sixty pounds since college, not exactly the easiest thing to admit. I have gained over sixty pounds and at least 8 pants sizes. I have tried many things, joining a gym, buying exercise video games, juicing, and one time eating nothing but vegetables for a whole week. By the way, that last one is not a good idea, my stomach was plotting against me by the end of the week. This was just last Friday, I was going back to my office to relax, sat down on my chair, and then fell forward. The metal washer holding the screws in place had bent! Talk about a hit to the ego. I was so embarrassed I just put some boxes on top of it and rolled it into the corner. Later that same day my zipper went off the track, and so I couldn't zip my pants. This of course, happened at lunch. All day I was self conscious, trying to pull my shirt over it and trying to find a safety pin, with no success. I know I said this last year to myself, but I really need to get back on track, and soon!

This last story is about how all the stuff above doesn't matter. Something that happens in a split second can make you feel humbled and grateful for everything you have. I was heading home after getting myself dinner from a local fast food establishment, which had left me really mad because the lady at the counter handed me everything so quick, didn't wait for me, then proceeded to set my bag on top of my car, mind you it's only about 5 degrees outside. So I was already in a fairly bad mood.

I was waiting to turn left onto a busy street, with a guy next to me turning left too. I've never liked these kind of turn lanes, especially when it's ice out, always afraid the person next to me is going to pull a farmer's turn and run me off the road. The light turned green, and the guy next to me floored it and sped down the street as fast as his car would take him on the ice. I've seen a lot of crazy drivers, so thought nothing of it. He slowed down a bit, and I passed him. This is where I believe my guardian angel intervened. There is no way there wasn't divine intervention. The guy sped past me again, and for a split second I thought about speeding up to get past him, it's what we Minnesotaans do best, mess with other's heads, and I was already in a bad mood so why not cut someone else off to make myself feel better. Instead I thought, wow, well if he wants to be first, whatever...then he made a wide turn, but he was going at least 50, and there was no intersection there. He was going so fast that when he slammed his brakes he spun around twice and then went backwards over the median into the oncoming traffic lane. Luckily no one was coming, so no one got hurt, but if he would have turned twenty feet sooner, or if I would have sped up, I would not have been able to stop on the ice and snow to prevent myself from hitting him.

In that moment I said a prayer, and then called the police to report him. Whether this guy was drinking or not, I don't know, but it definitely got my attention. I may be heavy and my apartment may suck, but I have it better than probably 75% of the population. That is something to be grateful for.