Despite a less-than-stellar ending, I still consider 2007 to be one of the greatest years ever, just based on the fact that my baby girl Eleanor was born healthy in September.
She has been more fun than expected. Not ever having an infant around (my twins were adopted when they were almost 4), I didn’t know what to expect. I had heard all the horror stories of the lack of sleep (true some days, but not all), the spit-ups (not my favorite) and all of the other baby fun (term used very loosely). But she’s so much fun now, in that gabbing stage where I am just convinced she is going to say “Da-Da” any day now.
I was worried when my wife went back to work in November because it would just be Ellie, the twins and me by ourselves for nine hours. While we have had our moments (Mommy has only had to come home once), I really enjoy the time alone with my kids.
I am far more at ease when Angi is home on her days off (I wish she could be off everyday), but there is a special feeling when the twins go to bed and I sit and rock my baby girl to sleep. Special sometimes means painful - she fights sleep by flailing her arms and Daddy has taken more than one right-cross to the chin.
But the greatest feeling right now is hearing her cry (even at 3 a.m.) and walking over to her and having that cry stop and a big smile form when she sees me at her bed side. I think I could win the lottery and still not be happier than when that happens.
A very Happy New Year to all of my readers. I hope for good things for all of you in 2008.
Before we get into the top 5, I want to wish all Tim-bits readers a very Merry Christmas. I appreciate all of the comments and all of the hits I have received since my humble blog beginnings as Idol Chatter.
Lately, I have been debating whether to keep the blog going, mainly because of all of the other work my Sports editor job has brought and will continue to bring. But I truly enjoy doing it, so I guess we’ll keep it going.
Now on to the top 5:
I expect great debate because I know Jaclyn disagrees mildly with my No. 1 pick.
5) The Year Without a Santa Clause - The Miser brothers are the highlight and the story had confusing elements, but how can you not like Santa being won over by “Blue Christmas?” One note, avoid the 2006 NBC movie at all costs.
4) Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town - This one does a great job explaining why Santa does what he does. And I am a big fan of the Ed Asner-inspired Burgermeister Meisterburger, Jaclyn’s favorite guy.
3) How the Grinch Stole Christmas - “He puzzled and puzzled till his puzzler was sore. Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn’t before! Maybe Christmas, he thought, doesn’t come from a store. Maybe Christmas… perhaps… means a little bit more! And what happened then? Well, in Whoville they say that the Grinch’s small heart grew three sizes that day. And then the true meaning of Christmas came through, and the Grinch found the strength of ten Grinches plus two. “
That’s all that needs to be said about this.
2) Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer — Even Santa is mean to Rudolph, but who do they come looking for when the going gets tough? That’s right, Rudy! I could never understand why Rudolph received so much ridicule for his nose, but I guess it makes for a better story if the entire North Pole community looks down on him. Best line — “Bumbles bounce!” - Yukon Cornelius
1) A Charlie Brown Christmas — A near masterpiece! Oh heck with it, it is a masterpiece. It’s hard to believe the Peanuts producers thought they actually screwed it up. Its commentary still rings true, 32 years later. Commercialism, holiday depression, searching for the true meaning of Christmas - all these topics are still valid topics today. I have always wonder how the Christmas play turned out. My guess is that if all the kids did was dance those goofy dances, it was a failure.
Regardless, the show has worked its way into the tradition of Christmas so deeply that if it were taken away, Christmas wouldn’t be the same.
You’ll have to come back Monday for the best of the best.
10) Emmet Otter’s Jug Band Christmas - Hokey, yes, but name one of these that isn’t. I really like that River Bottom Gang song.
9) A Muppet Family Christmas - It’s no longer made on DVD but you can buy it for $140 on eBay. I opted to keep my VCR tape of it. Muppets, Sesame Street and Fraggle Rock, what more can you ask for?
Twas the Night Before Christmas — This is the one with the little mouse that calls Santa a fraud. I always thought people didn’t want mice in their house but these people seem to embrace the critters. Get a cat, for cripes’ sake.
7) Nestor, the Long-Eared Christmas Donkey — A nice story, although when Nestor’s mom gives up her life for her long-eared boy, I admit a lump forms in my throat.
6) Frosty the Snowman — Here, we start the big guns. the original spun off others far inferior sequels. This is by far the best. When I was 5 and got to the part when Frosty melts, I bawled for 10 minutes, even after Santa brought him back to life. Complaints — I have a few. The time factor is all distorted, kids go to school on Christmas Eve and Santa drops Karen off on the roof. Still, a classic show, but I need answers.
On Sunday, I am fairly certain I caught my three-month’s old first word, but I am not really sure I want to share it.
Ellie was in her bassinet just after a diaper change and she very plainly said “Hitler.”
Babies do make sounds that you compare to actual words - Da for daddy, mum for mom, etc. But this was plainly Hitler. I asked her to repeat it, but she just laughed. I laughed then, which made my twins wonder what was going on. I tried to explain but failed miserably.
Leave it to my child to say “Hitler” as her first word.
I am not really sure why she said it. I am of German heritage, but I haven’t taught her early 20th century history yet. We also are not aligned with the Nazi party.
I am not going to worry about it, unless I go home and she says “Mussolini.”
With the recent passing of my childhood friend Randy Seggebruch , I have been down in the dumps.
Add to that, my wife’s cousin’s 19-month baby girl passed away last Thursday so this holiday season has been far from festive.
My sympathies go to Keira’s mother, Megan Nephew, and her parents, Bruce and Debbie, as well as her father, Josh Gifford.
You just don’t expect babies to pass away, but her passing shows us the dangers of asthma. It can be a dangerous disease, especially in babies.
The family very wisely donated Keika’s organs. Hopefully, other lives can be saved, thanks to their generous decision.
Please keep the family in your thoughts through this very difficult time.
Jaclyn from Diet Pop Culture tells me we are experiencing some technical difficulties with our spam blockers.
Any longer comment will be deleted, or something like that.
I am still getting short comments. And, of course, the troll’s comments are still getting to me and I am deleting them.
I have not deleted anyone else’s comments. Bear with us and I hope to hear from most of you soon.
~ Tim-bits
It is not theft if you steal from yourself. Here is a bit I wrote for The Daily Journal a few years ago.
10 ways to make this Christmas different from last year
10) Find a great parking spot at the mall and just sit there in your car and count the number of people who ask you if you are leaving.
9) Rather than smiling and saying thank you, show your crazy aunt where she can put her fruitcake.
Rather than secretly cheering for the Grinch, make your feelings known to everyone.
7) Wear a Santa hat to work – that’s all, just a Santa hat.
6) Buy yourself a lot of cool presents, wrap them, then go to a hypnotist and have him block that memory so you’ll be surprised when you unwrap them Christmas morning.
5) Address all of Christmas cards to yourself but don’t put a stamp on any of them. Put the family you want to send them to in the return address spot and the post office will “return” it to them. Save on postage!
4) Use postage savings from No. 5 to post bail for deceptive practice charge.
3) For Doctors only – give all of your patients a six-month calendar. They’ll worry for days.
2) Bake Ex-lax chocolate chip cookies for Santa and see if the old man can still make it around the world in one night with 113 pits stops.
1) Instead of just singing about it, this year actually don some gay apparel.
