Each year the Curmudgeon eagerly awaits the day after Thanksgiving, because that starts the Christmas season. Now not everyone feels the same way. Most retailers seem to think that the Christmas season starts the day after the 4th of July, or at the very latest, the day after Labor Day. It is a shame that Thanksgiving, which to my mind has always been a perfectly good holiday, has been lost in the shuffle and madness to outsell the other guy. Starting on the Sunday before Thanksgiving we are literal bombarded from every angle with news of the coming "Black Friday". Retailers whip us into a frenzy of bargain hunting such that people are willing to trample each other to make sure they get the "best deal of the season". How sad it is that we have let ourselves get to this point.
But I don't allow Christmas to begin until after Thanksgiving. in addition to the other Christmas related activities, that is when the family is allowed to listen to Christmas music and watch Christmas movies. So since we are in that appropriate time, I thought I would share The Curmudgeon's Top 10 Christmas movies and CD's.
Top 10 Christmas Movies (In reverse order to keep you in suspense)
10. Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer/ How the Grinch Stole Christmas - It just isn't Christmas without a viewing of these two animated classics
9. A Christmas Story - Makes me remember all of my Christmas's past, as a little boy.
8. The Santa Clause - Tim Allen makes me believe in Santa again.
7. The Bishop's Wife - An angel, Cary Grant, helps a Bishop, David Niven, and his wife, Loretta Young, rediscover their love and the meaning of Christmas.
6. White Christmas - Two old Army buddies put on a show to help out and old Commander. a movie constructed around a song, but oh what a song. Bing Crosby is a little old to be a romantic lead, but he and Danny Kaye have great chemistry. This is a great movie to watch while wrapping Christmas presents and drinking hot chocolate, or if you prefer, while drinking buttermilk and eating liverwurst sandwiches!
5. National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation - Chevy Chase deconstructs the good old fashioned Christmas experience. Clark: "Its not big...its just full." Russ: "That thing wouldn't fit in our yard!" Clark: "Its not going in our yard Russ, its going in our living room."
4. The Three Godfathers - John Ford's Western tale of 3 outlaws who find redemption in saving a child they find in the desert on Christmas is a great change of pace at Christmas time. With good performances by John Wayne, Ward Bond, Harry Carrey, Jr. and Pedro Armandez.
3. A Christmas Carol (1951) - You know the story and no one has ever done Scrooge better than Alastair Sim. Enough said
2. Miracle on 34th Street (1947) - A Macy's Department Store Santa maintains that he is the real St. Nick and is put on trial to prove it. Every year I watch this film and every year I come away thinking maybe there really is a Santa Clause! Edmund Gwynn shines as Kris Kringle as do most of the rest of the cast. This movie also illustrates the fact that Maureen O'Hara is one of, if not the, most beautiful stars Hollywood ever produced.
1. It's a Wonderful Life - "Capracorn" at its best! The heartwarming tale of a man who finds out what the true meaning of life and Christmas are all about. With Jimmy Stewart and Donna Reed in the leads, supported by the stalwarts of the Frank Capra stable of players. I can always find something new in this film with every viewing.
Just a note, all of the films that were originally released in B/W should be viewed that way! Colorization is a sin.
Top 10 Christmas CD's
10. Bette Middler: Cool Yule
9. John Denver and the Muppets: A Christmas Together
8. Harry Connick, Jr.: When my Heart Finds Christmas
7. Peter, Paul and Mary: A Holiday Celebration
6. Amy Grant: Home for Christmas
5. Steve Vaus: When the Satrs Come out for Christmas
4. Dean Martin: Making Spirits Bright
3. Stormy Weather: Doo Wop, Yule Pop
2. The Sackville All Stars: The Christmas Record
1. Bing Crosby: White Christmas
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Thursday, December 11, 2008
The Apples Fell far from this Tree
The Curmudgeon is talentless, that's a fact. I can't sing, dance or do anything else that is halfway, let alone all the way creative. On the other hand, Mrs. Curmudgeon does possess talents far beyond those of mortal women. I am not referring to the fact that she is able to work, maintain a household and take care of the day to day needs of her idiot savant husband (I included savant to make it appear that I am smart at something but in reality just plain idiot is probably more appropriate). No, no, she is a musician of the first degree. Granted she has chosen to hide her talent for the last several years, much as Harry Chapin's "Mr. Tanner" did but someday I think she will once again lift that bushel basket and let her light shine for the rest of us to enjoy.
But that said, both of the Curmudgeon's children have displayed much more talent than they should have been able to inherit from their mother alone. There is a line in a Harry Ruby song, Father's Day, which was oft performed by Groucho Marx, that goes, "But according to our mother your our father...and that's good enough for us!" now, were it not for the fact that my children look like me I might be suspicious, but they do so I'm not. But I still question where the little Cur's got their talent. I imagine that there must be a recessive gene on my side of the family, contributed by some creative Curmudgeon from the dark or middle ages. My mind immediately goes to the death scene in Braveheart where, right before the execution, there are some little people, frolicking around putting on a pantomime depicting the upcoming gruesome events. I imagine that there are some crazy buggers like these hanging in the Curmudgeon's family tree.
Be that as it may, both my children are blessed with talent and I couldn't be prouder of them. I am serving up an example from each of them as a demonstration of what I am talking about.
The first is a video of my daughter (the singer) at a senior concert in High School last year. The video quality is poor but the audio is very good. I will set the stage by saying that a very dear teacher and guidance counselor was retiring (She is in the middle in pink). She had touched the lives of almost every student who participated in the arts at the school. My daughter ( the second singer, with dark hair standing on the left) and another young woman were asked to sing a duet from the show Wicked, to sum up how most of these students felt about this terrific lady. Here is 'For Good"
My son is a filmmaker in training. In film he has found the one thing that truly motivates him. Last spring he and a group of classmates at Flashpoint Academy in Chicago, got together and entered the Forty-Eight Hour Film Competition. On a Friday night at 7PM, the team was given a character (Walter or Wilma Western), a prop (an urn with human remains), an occupation (repairman) and a line of dialogue ("What's the password?"). They also pulled a genre from a hat, and his team pulled comedy. the team was then set loose with 48 hours to write, cast, shoot, edit and score a 5-8 minute film. Everything had to be turned in at 7PM Sunday night. My son produced and co-authored the film among other things. The final product, the Urn Doctor, M.D., was nominated for awards in 12 of 13 possible categories and took home top honors in acting, editing, cinematography and also won as the Audience Choice Best Film. It is an awesome achievement for these young people all of whom at the time were first year film students! For more info on the film go to http://www.urndoctor.com/. Click here to enjoy the film.
http://vimeo.com/1366576
These are just two examples of the talents that my children have. As I said above I couldn't be prouder of all they have accomplished and all they continue to accomplish. Keep up the good work little Cur's!
But that said, both of the Curmudgeon's children have displayed much more talent than they should have been able to inherit from their mother alone. There is a line in a Harry Ruby song, Father's Day, which was oft performed by Groucho Marx, that goes, "But according to our mother your our father...and that's good enough for us!" now, were it not for the fact that my children look like me I might be suspicious, but they do so I'm not. But I still question where the little Cur's got their talent. I imagine that there must be a recessive gene on my side of the family, contributed by some creative Curmudgeon from the dark or middle ages. My mind immediately goes to the death scene in Braveheart where, right before the execution, there are some little people, frolicking around putting on a pantomime depicting the upcoming gruesome events. I imagine that there are some crazy buggers like these hanging in the Curmudgeon's family tree.
Be that as it may, both my children are blessed with talent and I couldn't be prouder of them. I am serving up an example from each of them as a demonstration of what I am talking about.
The first is a video of my daughter (the singer) at a senior concert in High School last year. The video quality is poor but the audio is very good. I will set the stage by saying that a very dear teacher and guidance counselor was retiring (She is in the middle in pink). She had touched the lives of almost every student who participated in the arts at the school. My daughter ( the second singer, with dark hair standing on the left) and another young woman were asked to sing a duet from the show Wicked, to sum up how most of these students felt about this terrific lady. Here is 'For Good"
My son is a filmmaker in training. In film he has found the one thing that truly motivates him. Last spring he and a group of classmates at Flashpoint Academy in Chicago, got together and entered the Forty-Eight Hour Film Competition. On a Friday night at 7PM, the team was given a character (Walter or Wilma Western), a prop (an urn with human remains), an occupation (repairman) and a line of dialogue ("What's the password?"). They also pulled a genre from a hat, and his team pulled comedy. the team was then set loose with 48 hours to write, cast, shoot, edit and score a 5-8 minute film. Everything had to be turned in at 7PM Sunday night. My son produced and co-authored the film among other things. The final product, the Urn Doctor, M.D., was nominated for awards in 12 of 13 possible categories and took home top honors in acting, editing, cinematography and also won as the Audience Choice Best Film. It is an awesome achievement for these young people all of whom at the time were first year film students! For more info on the film go to http://www.urndoctor.com/. Click here to enjoy the film.
http://vimeo.com/1366576
These are just two examples of the talents that my children have. As I said above I couldn't be prouder of all they have accomplished and all they continue to accomplish. Keep up the good work little Cur's!
Thursday, December 4, 2008
A Christmas Carol for Christmas
The Curmudgeon likes Christmas. There are a lot of great things about Christmas, but one of my favorites is Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol. The simple tale of Ebeneezer Scrooge's redemption on Christmas Eve evokes for me that warm glowing feeling that I always equate with the season. That and the fact that my family alternately compares me with either of Messrs. Scrooge or Marley at least once during every Christmas season. But be that as it may, I love A Christmas Carol.
With the latter point firmly established, the question becomes one of how best to enjoy this venerable classic. Of course the reading the story is the purist form of enjoying it. I try and do 
this once every Christmas. For a period of a couple of days the book can be found at my bedside or with me in the bathroom. Now what is always difficult is that the book is one of those that is best read aloud, as dickens prose sounds so good to the ear. This always causes me a problem because when I read the story aloud I use different voices for each character. This results in my wife knocking on the bathroom door wanting to know who I have in there with me. She is also none to thrilled when I decide to read it while she is trying to sleep. But somehow I always manage to get through it.
this once every Christmas. For a period of a couple of days the book can be found at my bedside or with me in the bathroom. Now what is always difficult is that the book is one of those that is best read aloud, as dickens prose sounds so good to the ear. This always causes me a problem because when I read the story aloud I use different voices for each character. This results in my wife knocking on the bathroom door wanting to know who I have in there with me. She is also none to thrilled when I decide to read it while she is trying to sleep. But somehow I always manage to get through it.It is always hard to read A Christmas Carol while driving, so there is an audio version of the 
story that I recommend. A mid to late 1940's broadcast narrated by Orson Wells and starring Lionel Barrymore is outstanding and can be listened to during one of the many trips to the hardware store to buy replacement bulbs for your outside lights. I have my version on my iPod.
story that I recommend. A mid to late 1940's broadcast narrated by Orson Wells and starring Lionel Barrymore is outstanding and can be listened to during one of the many trips to the hardware store to buy replacement bulbs for your outside lights. I have my version on my iPod.Finally, nothing is better than sitting down with a bowl of roasted chestnuts and watching this classic on T.V. I am only kidding about the chestnuts. Chestnuts may be on the list of joke foods that God made up when he created the world. I imagine him turning to one of the angels and laughing, saying "Let's tell them this is food and see if they'll eat it." The reaction I have to chestnuts is very similar to that expressed by Albert Brooks in Defending Your Life, when he is given a chance to taste the food that the Judgment City residents get to eat. But I digress. There are two versions of A Christmas Carol there bear watching repeatedly. Now I grew up watching the MGM version of the movie with Gene Lockhart and Reginald Owen and 
for many years I didn't know that other versions existed. But with age comes wisdom and somewhere in my 30's I discovered the 1951 Alistair Sim version of the classic and after my first viewing have never watched another live action version since. It, like Walt Disney's Mary Poppins, is a practically perfect movie. Give it a try, I think you'll like it.
for many years I didn't know that other versions existed. But with age comes wisdom and somewhere in my 30's I discovered the 1951 Alistair Sim version of the classic and after my first viewing have never watched another live action version since. It, like Walt Disney's Mary Poppins, is a practically perfect movie. Give it a try, I think you'll like it. For animated viewing, nothing can beat Mr. Magoo's Christmas Carol. 
Schmaltzy songs (which will stick in your head for days, if not weeks after) and crummy animation, but nothing brings back childhood memories with my family like this one.
Schmaltzy songs (which will stick in your head for days, if not weeks after) and crummy animation, but nothing brings back childhood memories with my family like this one.So the Curmudgeon hopes that you will enjoy one or all of the above mentioned versions of this classic this holiday season and that you get even a fraction of the satisfaction and joy they bring me.
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
Whirling Durbin and Curious George
I am posting twice today because I am perplexed. Now I am generally perplexed everyday but today it has risen to the level of annoying perplexity. For those of you who know the Curmudgeon only as a superhero and are not aware of his secret identity, in real life he is a conservative.
As such, I have no love for the senior U.S. Senator from Illinois. Sen Durbin, to the best of my knowledge has never met a spending program or tax he didn't like, unless of course you count operations to keep America secure as spending programs. But in my mind, his most recent actions have gone from irritating liberalism to downright lunacy. I have searched in vain but find no cogent reason which would explain his advocating for the commutation and release of former Governor and current Convicted Felon, George Ryan.
According to Durbin, it is a compassionate request to allow the 74 year old to spend time with his wife who is in failing health. Big deal!!!! There is something more that I and most of the media are not seeing. There has to be. If there wasn't, then why wouldn't Durbin be advocating for the commutation of the sentences of all federal inmates 74 or older. I am sure that they all have families and that many have spouses who are not necessarily in the pink (that tends to happen as we get older). But you don't hear Mr. Durbin rallying for the cause of all of the other federally incarcerated septuagenarians.
Ryan is a criminal and is rightly being treated like one. He should serve all of his 74 month sentence. That is the minimum he owes the Willis family. There are many below him, who were only following orders from the top, who are wallowing away in one federal pen or another (the goofy underling Scott Fawell jumps immediately to mind) and no one is advocating for them to be released. Not that anyone should, by the way. So what makes Ryan so appealing to Durbin? Sure he gets publicity, but what does he care he was just re-elected to 6 more interminable (editorial comment) years. I do notice that he didn't spring the "Free George" campaign until after he was safely re-ensconced in the Senate. Has George promised him a lifetime of $4 generic prescription refills?
I don't know that anyone will ever know, but it doesn't give me much faith (not that I had much to begin with) in my Senator. You know, if Joey "The Clown" Lombardo plays his cards right maybe Sen. Durbin..... But that will be another story for another day.
As such, I have no love for the senior U.S. Senator from Illinois. Sen Durbin, to the best of my knowledge has never met a spending program or tax he didn't like, unless of course you count operations to keep America secure as spending programs. But in my mind, his most recent actions have gone from irritating liberalism to downright lunacy. I have searched in vain but find no cogent reason which would explain his advocating for the commutation and release of former Governor and current Convicted Felon, George Ryan.
According to Durbin, it is a compassionate request to allow the 74 year old to spend time with his wife who is in failing health. Big deal!!!! There is something more that I and most of the media are not seeing. There has to be. If there wasn't, then why wouldn't Durbin be advocating for the commutation of the sentences of all federal inmates 74 or older. I am sure that they all have families and that many have spouses who are not necessarily in the pink (that tends to happen as we get older). But you don't hear Mr. Durbin rallying for the cause of all of the other federally incarcerated septuagenarians.
Ryan is a criminal and is rightly being treated like one. He should serve all of his 74 month sentence. That is the minimum he owes the Willis family. There are many below him, who were only following orders from the top, who are wallowing away in one federal pen or another (the goofy underling Scott Fawell jumps immediately to mind) and no one is advocating for them to be released. Not that anyone should, by the way. So what makes Ryan so appealing to Durbin? Sure he gets publicity, but what does he care he was just re-elected to 6 more interminable (editorial comment) years. I do notice that he didn't spring the "Free George" campaign until after he was safely re-ensconced in the Senate. Has George promised him a lifetime of $4 generic prescription refills?
I don't know that anyone will ever know, but it doesn't give me much faith (not that I had much to begin with) in my Senator. You know, if Joey "The Clown" Lombardo plays his cards right maybe Sen. Durbin..... But that will be another story for another day.
Curmudgeon's Smoked Salmon Dip
Alright, since I don't have anything pithy to say at the moment and at least one loyal reader has urged me to post something, no matter how banal, I will post my newest recipe which I tried out over Thanksgiving.
I think that this appetizer/dip recipe turned out really well. I can't gauge how good it was from my family's reaction, or lack thereof (their idea of haute cuisine is "moons over my hammy" at Denny's) but I liked it and proceeded over the past week, much to my waistline's chagrin, to finish off the remainder.
The recipe makes an ample amount, enough for a party of 15 or more. With that said, here is the Curmudgeon's Smoked Salmon Dip Recipe. I am taking credit for this for two reasons. First I am a vain S.O.B. and why should I give credit to some schmoe on the internet (besides I know that once you take and try this you will slap your own moniker on it, so what's the difference.). Second, I made significant changes to the original recipe that I found so it truly is totally new.
Ingredients
4-6 oz of Smoked Salmon (I prefer the Costco, Kirkland brand)
16 oz of Whipped Cream Cheese
4Tbs of Sour Cream
4Tbs (at least, but more if you like) Horseradish
2-4 Tsp Dry Mustard (Coleman's)
3Tbs milk
1 bunch Green Onions
Capers
In a mixing bowl, place Cream Cheese, Sour Cream and milk. blend with a rubber spatula until smooth. Add Horseradish one Tbs at a time, mixing and tasting between each until it tastes good to you (Some people like horse radish more than others so this is really personal to your taste). Add Mustard and blend.
Chop your onions. I chop the onions to a length of about 5 inches leaving both white and green, and then finely slice. At the same time, slice your Salmon into 2 x 1/8th" strips. I find that sticking the Salmon in the freezer for 20 minutes before I am going to work with it, makes slicing a lot easier. Gently fold the Salmon and onions into the Cream Cheese Mixture.
Add capers (A few or a lot, your choice. I like capers, so I go for a lot but I realize that there are some who react to these tiny pickled flower buds the same Way my dog did. While I was preparing the recipe, Bailey, our Westie, parked himself at my feet in that hope, that springs eternal in all dogs, that a tasty morsel would come flying off the counter and that he would be quicker than me, observing the 5 second rule, in retrieving it. Much to his delight something did fly off the counter, in this case a wayward caper. Rather than the normal "grab and gobble" that is his M.O., he sniffed for a moment and then proceeded to roll around on it, like he does with various odoriferous unmentionables in our back yard. So as I say, the choice is yours on this one.)
Place in the refrigerator for at least an hour to allow all the flavors to meld and the dip to stiffen up. Serve with crackers or cocktail rye.
Editor's note: The Curmudgeon was criticized by his loyal reader for not having a picture of the finished dish. Since I ate it all before I decided to blog about it that is an impossibility but in deference to my fan, when the dish is finished it should look like a bunch of cream cheese with salmon pieces, onions and capers suspended in it. I hope that this is sufficient to cater to your theater of the mind!
I think that this appetizer/dip recipe turned out really well. I can't gauge how good it was from my family's reaction, or lack thereof (their idea of haute cuisine is "moons over my hammy" at Denny's) but I liked it and proceeded over the past week, much to my waistline's chagrin, to finish off the remainder.
The recipe makes an ample amount, enough for a party of 15 or more. With that said, here is the Curmudgeon's Smoked Salmon Dip Recipe. I am taking credit for this for two reasons. First I am a vain S.O.B. and why should I give credit to some schmoe on the internet (besides I know that once you take and try this you will slap your own moniker on it, so what's the difference.). Second, I made significant changes to the original recipe that I found so it truly is totally new.
Ingredients
4-6 oz of Smoked Salmon (I prefer the Costco, Kirkland brand)
16 oz of Whipped Cream Cheese
4Tbs of Sour Cream
4Tbs (at least, but more if you like) Horseradish
2-4 Tsp Dry Mustard (Coleman's)
3Tbs milk
1 bunch Green Onions
Capers
In a mixing bowl, place Cream Cheese, Sour Cream and milk. blend with a rubber spatula until smooth. Add Horseradish one Tbs at a time, mixing and tasting between each until it tastes good to you (Some people like horse radish more than others so this is really personal to your taste). Add Mustard and blend.
Chop your onions. I chop the onions to a length of about 5 inches leaving both white and green, and then finely slice. At the same time, slice your Salmon into 2 x 1/8th" strips. I find that sticking the Salmon in the freezer for 20 minutes before I am going to work with it, makes slicing a lot easier. Gently fold the Salmon and onions into the Cream Cheese Mixture.
Add capers (A few or a lot, your choice. I like capers, so I go for a lot but I realize that there are some who react to these tiny pickled flower buds the same Way my dog did. While I was preparing the recipe, Bailey, our Westie, parked himself at my feet in that hope, that springs eternal in all dogs, that a tasty morsel would come flying off the counter and that he would be quicker than me, observing the 5 second rule, in retrieving it. Much to his delight something did fly off the counter, in this case a wayward caper. Rather than the normal "grab and gobble" that is his M.O., he sniffed for a moment and then proceeded to roll around on it, like he does with various odoriferous unmentionables in our back yard. So as I say, the choice is yours on this one.)
Place in the refrigerator for at least an hour to allow all the flavors to meld and the dip to stiffen up. Serve with crackers or cocktail rye.
Editor's note: The Curmudgeon was criticized by his loyal reader for not having a picture of the finished dish. Since I ate it all before I decided to blog about it that is an impossibility but in deference to my fan, when the dish is finished it should look like a bunch of cream cheese with salmon pieces, onions and capers suspended in it. I hope that this is sufficient to cater to your theater of the mind!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
