Sunny Holidays

Began an early morning with the last chapter of A Christmas Carol and two American Girl holiday tales. In Josefina's Surprise, Josefina and her sisters and aunt have to repair their late mother's alter cloth that was damaged in a flood. Their aunt lends them a thimble that belonged to their mother, allowing them to share happy memories of her...and giving Josefina the strength to take the part of Maria in the town's Las Posadas procession.

Samantha Parkington is having a less painful holiday in Samantha's Surprise. She's upset when her Uncle Gard brings his girlfriend Aunt Cornelia for Christmas at first - she couldn't decorate the house with her own things or go to a party she'd been looking forward to - but changes her mind when she realizes how much fun and strong-willed Cornelia is and why her uncle loves her.

Put on The Monkees while I had breakfast and quickly got ready for work. "The Christmas Show" is from the mid-second season, just as the series was starting to get a little wackier. The guys think they're playing for a big party, but they end up babysitting a socialite's spoiled and cynical nephew. They try everything they can think of to instill some Christmas spirit in the boy...until Mike Nesmith realizes what he really wants.

Headed straight to work after the episode ended. It was the least-painful Christmas Eve work session I'd ever had. I was outside almost the entire day, rounding up carts and gathering the outside trash and recycling. It was too nice to be inside, anyway. The weather was drop-dead gorgeous for mid-December - sunny, blue skies, no wind, lower 50's. Even when I did end up inside during the last hour, I was just bagging. No problems whatsoever. I even found a huge pile of pennies in one of the corrals; filled my change cup with it.

There was a package for me in the mailbox when I got in. I wasn't expecting anything. It was a gift from Mom. She sent me a box of petits fours from Swiss Colony, mini-cakes covered in chocolate and vanilla candy coating. Boy, did those bring me back. Mom regularly ordered petits fours and meat and cheese boxes from Swiss Colony for Christmas in the 90s, when I was a teenager. She stopped buying from them by the early 2000's after they got too expensive, but I still loved looking at their tempting catalogs. Yum! They're just as sweet and rich and moist as I remember.

Rested for a little while after I got home and changed. Watched Mickey's Once Upon a Christmas while reading books on the holidays. This is an anthology of three shorts featuring the regular Disney characters, two of which are based after beloved holiday short stories. "Donald Duck: Stuck On Christmas" is supposed to be based after "Christmas Every Day," but it really owes more to Groundhog Day. Huey, Dewey, and Louie have so much fun on Christmas Day, they wish for the holiday to be every day....and regret their decision when their day keeps repeating itself. Goofy does everything he can to prove to Max that Santa exists in "A Very Goofy Christmas." "Mickey and Minnie's Gift of the Magi" have the two mice giving up what means the most to them in order for them to buy gifts for their sweethearts.

Went back to sitcoms while getting ready to head over to Dad and Jodie's house. "A Christmas Story" from the second season of Perfect Strangers has Larry Appleton getting ready to take his cousin Balki Bartokomous home to Madison with him for the holidays...until a blizzard strands them in Chicago. Balki tries to make the best of things, but Larry's not interested...until his friend gives him a gift that reminds him of what the holidays are really all about.

Did a couple of quick shorts as I got organized. "Season's Greetinks" is Popeye's Christmas offering. Olive's present of skates puts her on thin ice when Bluto tries to join her. "Snow Foolin'" is one of the later Famous Studios Screen Songs sing-a-long videos. It's basically animals having fun in the snow, to the tune of "Jingle Bells."

Went over to Dad's around quarter after 4. Several of Jodie's relatives were already there when I arrived, including an adorable little girl named Summer. She spent most of the early part of the night watching a Frozen Lego video on her mother's phone and acting it out. I was really kind of bored until Mark and Joya, and then Jessa and her puppy Midnight, finally showed up around 6-6:30. Dad watched White Christmas on The Sundance Channel while Summer chased Midnight and I chatted with the adults.

Dinner wasn't anywhere near as big as it has been on previous Christmas Eves, but it was still really good. There was a huge ham along with spicy meatballs and sausage, along with macaroni salad, potato salad, and Caesar salad. Though Rose didn't stay, she did bring a cookie tray for dessert, and I brought the candy.

Went for a bike ride after I left. It was too nice not to! The weather remained fairly warm, even after night fell. Oaklyn is now awash in festive "exterior illumination," from a rainbow of lights wrapped around columns to green icicles "dripping" off a house that looked like Spanish moss. My favorite inflatable had a penguin, a husky dog, and a polar bear enjoying their slide down a vinyl "iceberg."

Took a shower after I got in, then ran 'Twas the Night Before Christmas, The Year Without a Santa Claus, Nestor the Long-Eared Christmas Donkey, and A Garfield Christmas Special. I go into further details on the first two at my Musical Dreams Movie Reviews blog.

'Twas the Night Before Christmas & The Year Without a Santa Claus

I think Jiminy Cricket said it best the other night. From all of us to all of you, Merry Christmas, and the very happiest of holiday seasons!