Monday's Meatloaf - some movie fruitcake

Yesterday the girls braved the icy grip that was NE Georgia to go shopping, so I was left alone. And since the NFL offerings were as thin as the turkey carcass in the trashcan, I decided to watch a movie. I grabbed a hunk of fruitcake, a favorable beverage and Clark Griswold's station wagon was the first thing to jump out of the Netflix queue.

FrahGeeLay! Must
be Italian.

Which got me thinking, what're my favorite Holiday movies? Google provided this list, which I quickly rearranged into this top three: A Christmas Story, Christmas Vacation and A Charlie Brown Christmas. Others receiving votes: The Polar Express and Elf.


Many will find the absence of classics like Miracle on 34th Street and It's a Wonderful Life appalling. But I'm just drawn to comedy. And for the fruit in my cake you just can't beat Ralphie in a rabbit suit...or the soft glow of electric sex, gleaming in the window.


And as far as that Frank Wilkins list linked above, I don't mind him intermixing some films that aren't about the Holidays but have them as a backdrop to the plot. But if you're going to include King Kong, how can you not do the same for John McClane's epic struggle against Hans Gruber in Die Hard?


Perhaps I'm overthinking things. But that's what we get when the wife leaves me Home Alone with Google and Netflix.

Today's Ingredients

• Weiszer confirms that Caleb King, along with AJ Harmon and Derek Owens will miss the Liberty Bowl game due to academic reasons.
• Gentry Estes fourth installment of his 2011 player preview was a bit of a surprise; some high praise for Michael Bennett. In related linkage, Weiszer also runs down the 2010 class' impact.
• Big Muddy is ready to welcome the Dawgs in Memphis. But also isn't above taking a shot at the engiNerds.
• T Kyle has a thorough walk through of the Liberty Bowl, and predicts a pretty close game.
• Speaking of bowls, for those of you participating in the Festivus Bowl Mania...the feats of strength is about to begin. Kruger...pass the flask.
• Groo constructs his own Dawgs of the Decade, and finds a talent rich pool to choose from.
• Nice throw yesterday by MoMass in Cleveland's loss to the Ravens.
• After already losing four players to academics for tonight's bowl game against Air Force, Tech will be without a few more who missed curfew.
• Could the Dread Pirate Leach end up just dusting his spurs...in Stillwater? What a let down that would be.
• Does Muschomp have his new DC in transit? If so, will James Willis bring his 116th ranked swerve with him?
• A guy named Tab really turned the Buckeyes' Christmas sideways Saturday with this <quote> article <unquote>.
• Mike Singletary was fired by the 49ers. I guess he really never was wearing the pants. 
• And lastly, if you're on the Twitter you can now follow Darren the Intern. And once Willard returns from his annual Tijuana Christmas Vacation...well, we'll see.

Feliz Navidad. Pase el PBR.

Maybe you're thinking a movie like A Christmas Story or Christmas Vacation isn't pious enough, or has too much color. I guess you're right in some way. But that doesn't mean they don't have a message fitting for the season. 

Christmas Wish List: a pool of egg nog

I mean, who hasn't had a Christmas wrought with work-related tension that is compounded by family dishevelment, eventually ending in an all out rant:

Hey! If any of you are looking for any last-minute gift ideas for me, I have one. I'd like Frank Shirley, my boss, right here tonight. I want him brought from his happy holiday slumber over there on Melody Lane with all the other rich people and I want him brought right here...with a big ribbon on his head. And I want to look him straight in the eye and I want to tell him what a cheap, lying, no-good, rotten, four-flushing, low-life, snake-licking, dirt-eating, inbred, overstuffed, ignorant, blood- (kicks box) sucking, dog-kissing, brainless, d**kless, hopeless, heartless, fat-ass, bug-eyed, stiff-legged, spotty-lipped, worm-headed sack of monkey s**t he is! 

Hallelujah! Holy s**t! Where's the Tylenol? 

In the end, we've all had a Christmas where we shot our eye out. And we all have a little Griswold in us. Here's your fork Reader. And the Tylenol's extra-strength.

Bernie