2017.9 Throwback Movies

Yes I know I missed a day yesterday.  I had plans on what I was going to post, and then I also needed to do laundry, and then there were two parties to go to, and some imbibing of grownup drinks and then I came home and, well, what is a polite term for passed out on the couch? In any case, I am a day behind and it is just December 10^th. Anyone betting on if I can get caught up?

As you may know my oldest son Paul works at Harkins Bricktown Theater here in Oklahoma.  Occasionally they show older movies, “throwback movies”.  Typically they show the vintage movies on Tuesday nights.  Through the end of this month however, every Tuesday and every Saturday they are screening some holiday classics.  I am disappointed that I have already missed Love Actually, Polar Express, and White Christmas, but I am looking forward to the rest of this month’s choices

              

• Tuesday December 12^th     Christmas Vacation
• Saturday December 16^th     Elf
• Tuesday December 19^th     Home Alone
• Saturday December 23^rd    It’s a Wonderful Life
• Tuesday December 26^th     Die Hard

The Tuesday night showings are usually at 7pm, and the Saturday shows are 10am. The best part? These special screenings are only $5. So if you are looking for something low key, but still festive to do during the holidays, this is a great choice.

2017.7 Hallmark channel

So here we are, December 7 and it is starting to feel like winter here in Oklahoma.  It is COLD.  To make matters more enjoyable I have been sick.  I thought I was just down for a day, but as I look at my phone I realize I missed 3 days of work.  Where has the time gone?  I have done a super human amount of sleeping.  Hours and hours of sleeping.  Last night I reached a point where I could not sleep anymore.

Like any red-blooded American male, I did the only logical thing, and I turned on the television.  I watched some NCIS, got bored, then deleted dozens of shows off of the dvr,  Why as we still recording series when we have seen all the episodes?  I tried some food network, but even the sight of food had a negative effect on my stomach.  So I channel surfed, and as much as I am reluctant to admit it, I settled on the hallmark channel with its specific non-stop heavy handed sentimental romantic Christmas movies.

I know, I know, I have been chiding, no, harassing Texas Jay for overdosing on hallmark Christmas movies starting back in November.  So go ahead, judge me. I admit it. I can see its heavy handed, and contrived and cute, but at the same time… Can I blame it on the cold medicine? 

Because I do not for a minute believe in all that Hollywood happy ending gingerbread and whipped cream.  I know deep down that the holidays can be hard.  Feel free to review last year’s blog entries for proof of that.  I know that no amount of hope is going to magically change that.  This whole year has been a very long climb out of a dark place.

So keep all of that in mind when I say forgive me if for just a little while I indulge in this Christmas nonsense? Besides I often wonder what happened to Dermot Mulroney, Danny Glover and Joan Cusack.   

Day Twenty Three 2016

My Paul worked Christmas Day from 5pm to close.  Kat and I took Matthew to see the Fantastic Beasts movie (again) and Paul passed us in.  When the movie was over we waited around till he got off work.  On the way home we stopped off at Devon Tower to take some holiday pictures with the big red holiday balls.

I had envisoned nice family holiday pictures.  What I got was... well this.

And a Partridge in a Pear Tree

Christmas Eve 2007 my family had been asked to light the advent candles for Christmas Eve Service and Kat had been asked to read the scripture. Since Christmas Eve fell on a weekday that year I had to work that morning. The plan was I would meet Kat and the family at church around 5pm.

When I left for work Kathleen already did not have a voice. So I was planning on pitch hitting the reading for her and she and the boys could light candles. Midmorning I got a text from Kat that Matthew did not feel so great and she was concerned about him being sick. We agreed to watch and see.

By 3pm he was full on sick and Paul was starting to feel puny as well. I called Kristin Rogers the childrens minister at the church and asked “what do I have to do to get my family off the hook for tonight?” because it was looking like I was going to be there by myself. She suggested I ask my in-laws to stand in for us since they were already participating in the service. Which of course they did.

When I got home both boys were bundled up and looking sick as they lay on the couches in the living room. Clearly this was not going to be our traditional Christmas eve. Matthew fell asleep around 6pm and was fast and hard asleep. I carried him to his room and put him to bed. Paul was feverish on the couch but not sleepy. We turned off the lights and watched Christmas in Connecticut on the TV. When the movie was ¾ the way over it started. The vomiting. And not just a little bit, or the running to the bathroom with his hands over his mouth kind either. I am talking full on projectile vomiting in vivid color. Let me say both of my boys usually are pretty good if they have to throw up. They are minimal mess, very little drama. But not this night. From the couch to half way across the living room rug.

So being the good papa I am, I cleaned the mess and got him comfortable again, and put the TV on Unaccompanied minors. Pretty soon he was sound asleep. Then Matthew woke up after a 5 hour nap. He was hungry so Kat made him some noodle soup and he watched the movie for a while with us. Then he took his turn with the scary vomiting. All over the couch, his Christmas pajamas and his mother. Did I mention that Kat really really hates the sight and smell of vomit?

So I cleaned up from that too. Finally we got him settled and he watched the rest of the movie and fell back to sleep on the couch. When you look at pictures of the boys on Christmas morning it is pathetic, they look awful. I told Kat that it would always be remembered as the year of projectile vomiting.

But lo and behold, when you ask the boys about Christmas Eve, they almost always say “remember the year we stayed home and watched movies and just had soup? That was a good time!”

My response to that is “who knew?” Kat just shakes her head, gives that look and says “BOYS!”