friday's feast

Appetizer

What was the last game you purchased?

You've Got to be Kidding. No, that's the name of the game. It's a "would you rather..." game. very fun. It asks questions like would you rather have itchy scabs all over your body for the rest of your life or always have popcorn stuck in your teeth? Would you rather run across a hungry alligator's back or under an angry elephant's feet?

I bought it for Christmas last year. Since then the kids have gotten some video games and a Wii, even, but I didn't buy any of it.

Soup

Name something in which you don’t believe.

I don't believe most of what the scientific community comes out with regarding health. I love science, it was my best subject, but they come up with these conclusions only to contradict them two years later. They don't know what they're talking about.

Salad

If you could choose a celebrity to be your boss, who would you pick?

I don't know much about celebrities. I know there are some decent, kind ones. That's who I would want. Also, someone very creative and easy going. Someone who shares my values. No idea who that would be.

Main Course

What was a lesson you had to learn the hard way?

How to recognize an electric fence

Dessert

Describe your idea of the perfect relaxation room.

An old fashioned library type room. Walls lined with books. A big fireplace. Some tall windows overlooking a scenic view and letting in plenty of light. Deep colors and luscious fabrics. Big, soft overstuffed chairs with cashmere throws and plenty of ottomans. Window seats lined with pillows. Maybe a small fountain in the room or a stream outside that can be heard. Ahhhhhh.

more fun

If you liked the elf dancy thing, be sure to look at this, too. Especially if you are new to the blog. I posted it in July.

3rd post for today

This was too much fun to wait. Please, click here and watch my daughter and I bust a move! If you make one, let me know so I can see it.

why eat your veggies...

when you can play with them?
Watch this video that my daughter has called "Strange and disturbing."

what to watch

I know you've been wondering, so I'm going to tell you what my favorite Christmas movies are.

They are probably the same as most people, actually, because they are just downright good.

I really love Charlie Brown's Christmas. I don't know if that really qualifies as a movie or not, but I'm including it. It is my favorite of the Peanuts' specials. I love the dancing and Snoopy's attempts to win the house decorating contest. I love most of all that they get the real meaning of Christmas in there. And who doesn't love that tree?

A Wonderful Life is one I watch every year. I have it mostly memorized, I bet. I love it because it is about Hope. And it is about the beauty of life. I wish we all had the opportunity George had to see what life would be like if we didn't exist. And the beauty of friendship. People really caring for each other. I love that old show.

A Christmas Story is my favorite for a good laugh. It cracks me up every single time I watch it. When he imagines that the soap in his mouth will make him blind… and then… They'll Be Sorry. What kid hasn't had a similar thought? And I don't know how many times my mom has warned me that I would poke an eye out. How come we don't see one-eyed people running around everywhere if it's such a dangerous possibility? Tell me that.

As much as I love old movies, I could get through Miracle on 31^st Street. I'm not sure why.

I like the Santa Claus movies with Tim Allen. I like Elf. The Christmas Vacation movie is funny, but not as funny to me as A Christmas Story. I like to watch A Christmas Carol. But none of them top my three picks.

What are your very favorite Christmas movies/shows?

happy hanukkah

I hope I have this right. Feel free to correct me if I don't. This is not information I grew up knowing in my Gentile, Christian, non-Catholic home.

But the history of Hanukkah as I understand it is:

After Alexander the Great died, the Greek empire split into three dynasties; one of which was the Seleucid Dynasty. One of the rulers in this dynasty was called Antiochus IV Ephiphanes. He was so evil that the Bible, in the book of Daniel, uses him as an example of what the Anti-Christ will be like.

He desecrated the Temple of God. The Bible calls it the Abomination of Desolation. He made the Israelites stop their daily sacrifices and sacrifice to other god's instead.

One day when an Israelite made one of these sacrifices a godly man named Matthias killed him. He started a revolt in which the God-fearing Jews went throughout the land tearing down false idols and killing those who worshipped them. It was a time of purging for the land of Israel.

When Matthias died his son Judah took over. He is known as Judah Macabee. These Macabees went into the Temple to purify it after Antiochus had profaned it. They cleansed it and re-dedicated it to God.

The lamps in the Temple were to burn continually. But when they rededicated the Temple, there wasn't enough oil to last for more than a day. They miraculously continued to burn for eight days until more holy oil could be obtained.

There. I find some very significant stuff for all of us to think about. Purification. Rededication. We can't go wrong spending some time dwelling on that this Season.

And the Light will never go out.

mr. bean

A little British Christmas humour for your weekend.