Seeking Recommendations...

Well Holiday Mind Rot has well taken over. We lived on the sofa. While we didn't really do much... we didn't watch much, if any Television (since last weekend), or DVDs for that matter... What we did do, is additively play with our Wii (NGB, stay out of the gutter please!)

At this point what I can tell you is that "Looney Toons ACME Arsenal" is FUN, and even more so is "ZELDA: The twilight Princess". On Tuesday we played Zelda for well over 6 hours, and yesterday from about noon to 9 pm!!! and we're about oh... 10% in! Also what I CAN tell you is that "AMF Bowling" sucks the big ol' wang! Oh My god! So bad... We really enjoy the Bowling with Wii Sports and so thought that a stand alone game of bowling would be more interesting, more options and so on. Holy Crap, we could not have been more wrong. And just to be sure we tried 3 different games with different requirements and challenges... and in all three it was a total craptacular snooze-a-drama... That said I still will look for "Brunswick Pro Bowling", since it's got the Brunswick name, it OUGHT to be good... right? I said, RIGHT?! Alas, AMF Bowling has already found a very cosy place in the bottom of the bottom drawer of our Entertainment Unit. heh Oh well, ya win some, ya loose some, and we still have another Golf game, and "Lego's Complete StarWars" game to try.. lol

...so it should now be clear that I'm in need of some more literary involvement... I need to READ... It's been more than 2 weeks since I picked up anything more intense than a Christmas Sale flyer... I've already ordered both the books I had placed on my Christmas List, but because I bought these with a 'web only' gift certificate I will only get them by the end of next week (at the earliest). And I'm already reading one of two books I received from my parents for Christmas, so I'd like to know if any of you fine faithful blog viewers might have any suggestions as to a good read or two. I'll leave it open as to the type of book, just to see what y'all might recommend... so lemmie know...

Any one?
Any one?
Bueller?

Christmas Lurv - fourteen

I think this one speaks all for it self...



Feliz Navidog!

Christmas Lurv - thirteen

This one's for TickleBear...

How 'bout THIS Partidge in a Pear Tree?

*EVIL GRIN*

Merry Christmas!

Christmas Lurv - twelve

All Kitty wants for Christmas is Didier. :-)

Merry Christmas Babe!
xo

From Kitty to youz...

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Joyeux Noël et Bonne année!

Feliz Navidad y Próspero Año Nuevo!

Nollaig Shona Dhuit or Nodlaig mhaith chugnat!

Mele Kalikimaka!

...

Barka da Kirsimatikuma Barka da Sabuwar Shekara!
Bellas festas da nadal e bun onn!
Bikpela hamamas blong dispela Krismas na Nupela yia i go long yu!
Bo Nada!
Boas Festas e Feliz Ano Novo!
Bon Nadal i un Bon Any Nou!
Bon Pasco!
Bonu nadale e prosperu annu nou!
Buone Feste Natalizie!
Buorrit Juovllat!
Cestitamo Bozic!
Christmas Aao Ne-way Kaal Mo Mobarak Sha!
Christmas-e- Shoma Mobarak!
Chung Mung Giang Sinh!
Cristmas-e-shoma mobarak bashad!
E ku odun, e ku iye'dun!
Een Plesierige Kerfees!
En frehlicher Grischtdaag un en hallich Nei Yaahr!
Feliz Natal!
Feliz Navidad y un Venturoso Año Nuevo!
Froehliche Weihnachten!
Gajan Kristnaskon!
Gesëende Kersfees!
Gezur Krislinjden!
Glædelig Jul!
Gledhilig jol og eydnurikt nyggjar!
Gledileg Jol!
God Jul and (Och) Ett Gott Nytt År!
God Jul or Gledelig Jul!
Gun Tso Sun Tan'Gung Haw Sun!
Heughliche Winachten un 'n moi Nijaar!
Hristos se rodi!
Hyvaa joulua!
Idah Saidan Wa Sanah Jadidah!
IL-Milied It-tajjeb!
Jutdlime pivdluarit ukiortame pivdluaritlo!
Kala Christouyenna!
Kellemes Karacsonyi unnepeket!
Kung His Hsin Nien bing Chu Shen Tan!
La Maunia Le Kilisimasi Ma Le Tausaga Fou!
Legreivlas fiastas da Nadal e bien niev onn!
Linksmu Kaledu!
Maligayamg Pasko. Masaganang Bagong Taon!
Maligayan Pasko!
Mata-Ki-Te-Rangi. Te-Pito-O-Te-Henua!
Mele Kalikimaka ame Hauoli Makahiki Hou!
Meri Kirihimete!
Mithag Crithagsigathmithags!
Mitho Makosi Kesikansi!
Mo'adim Lesimkha. Chena tova!
Nadelik looan na looan blethen noweth!
Nadolig Llawen!
Natale hilare et Annum Faustum!
Nathar Puthu Varuda Valthukkal!
Naya Saal Mubarak Ho!
Nedeleg laouen na bloavezh mat!
Neekiriisimas annim oo iyer seefe feyiyeech!
Noeliniz Ve Yeni Yiliniz Kutlu Olsun!
Noflike Krystdagen en in protte Lok en Seine yn it Nije Jier!
Nollaig chridheil agus Bliadhna mhath ùr!
Nollaig chridheil huibh!
Nollick ghennal as blein vie noa!
Ojenyunyat Sungwiyadeson honungradon nagwutut. Ojenyunyat osrasay!
Pace e salute!
Pozdrevlyayu s prazdnikom Rozhdestva is Novim Godom!
Prejeme Vam Vesele Vanoce a stastny Novy Rok!
Priecigus Ziemassvetkus!
Prieci'gus Ziemsve'tkus un Laimi'gu Jauno Gadu!
Pulit nadal e bona annado!
Rehus-Beal-Ledeats!
Rot Yikji Dol La Roo!
Ruumsaid juuluphi!
Sarbatori vesele!
Sawadee Pee Mai!
Selamat Hari Natal!
Shenoraavor Nor Dari yev Pari Gaghand!
Shinnen omedeto. Kurisumasu Omedeto!
Shub Naya Baras!
Shub Naya Varsh!
Shuvo Naba Barsha!
Sreken Bozhik!
Sretam Bozic. Vesela Nova Godina!
Sretan Bozic!
Sretan Bozic or Vesele vianoce!
Srozhdestvom Kristovym!
Subha nath thalak Vewa. Subha Aluth Awrudhak Vewa!
Sung Tan Chuk Ha!
Tchestita Koleda; Tchestito Rojdestvo Hristovo!
Tezze Iliniz Yahsi Olsun!
Vesele Bozicne. Screcno Novo Leto!
Vesele Vanoce!
Vesele Vianoce. A stastlivy Novy Rok!
Vrolijk Kerstfeest en een Gelukkig Nieuwjaar!
Wesolych Swiat Bozego Narodzenia or Boze Narodzenie!
Wjesole hody a strowe nowe leto!
Yukpa, Nitak Hollo Chito!
Zalig Kerstfeast!
Zalig Kerstfeest en Gelukkig nieuw jaar!
Zorionak eta Urte Berri On!

...and a partridge in a Pear Tree!

Christmas Lurv - eleven

I want a Chihuahua for Christmas, but then there's no song about that... yet... so this will have to do...

Christmas Lurv - ten

Can this Christmas Lurv get any more, er, um, Festive...

...how 'bout Flamboyantly Festive...

Ooo eee ooo ah ah ting tang walla walla bing bang

Ok, well I'm not in the slightest bit embarrassed to say I just got home from seeing "Alvin and the Chipmunks" with Didier and two friends (and neighbours) Jason and Franco. And I'll tell you what else, it was fan-freakin'-tastic!

And to the lame-ass film critics that gave it one star, all I can say is pull that candy cane outta yer arse! It's an animated movie for CHILDREN... OK, I'm NOT a child any more, well on the outside at least, but here's the thing, I have a very well adjusted and very much alive inner child that adored the movie... it brought back many childhood memories of Christmas and otherwise (I had 3 LP's of Alvin and the Chipmunks as a kid, and my mom still has em at home) And I enjoyed it. So there! :-P

Sure this movie ain't gonna win and Oscars, but who cares. It was entertaining, and just as many adults were in the theatre as children, and ALL of us were laughing, AND singing and had a great time.

If you have kids, and even if you don't Go see it, it's cute, and enjoyable and 90 mins flies by faster than you can say "Allllllllllllllllllllllviiiiinnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn!"

Misster-Kitty gives "Alvin and the Chipmunks" 8 hairballs outta 10.

Christmas Lurv -nine

Merry Christmas Bobby Brown!
Er, I mean Charlie Brown.

Christmas Lurv - eight

Coo-lu-coo-coo-coo-coo-coo-coo!



Merry Christmas, you Hosers!

Christmas Lurv - seven

My Christmas Vacation begins NOW!

Haul out the holly...

Secret Santa Lives!

I just read this on CTV's news site...

I swear to god I was tearing up... I'm just an old sentimental fool, but this is a great story.


Secret Santa rides again in Kansas City
Updated Fri. Dec. 21 2007 6:19 AM ET

The Associated Press

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Susan Dahl had spent four months homeless in Colorado and just been on a harrowing 10-hour bus trip through sleet and snow. Hungry and broke, all she wanted to do was get back to family in Minnesota.

That's when a tall man in a red coat and red hat sat next to her at the downtown bus station, talked to her quietly and then slipped her $100 on that recent December afternoon.

The man was doing the work of Larry Stewart, Kansas City's original Secret Santa who anonymously wandered city streets doling out $100 bills to anyone who looked like they needed it. Stewart died of cancer at age 58 earlier this year. But his legacy lives on.

"He said `Here's a $100 bill ... and this is in memory of Larry Stewart,'" said Dahl, 56.

Over about a quarter century, Stewart quietly gave out more than $1.3 million to people in laundromats, diners, bus stations, shelters and thrift stores, saying it was his way of giving back at Christmas for all the wealth and generosity he had received in his lifetime.

For years, Stewart did not want his name known or want thanks or applause, but last December he acknowledged who he was and used his last few months while battling cancer to press his message of kindness toward others. He even trained some friends in the ways of Secret Santa.

This Christmas, a friend who told Stewart in the hospital that he would carry on for him is out on the streets, handing out $100 bills, each one stamped with "Larry Stewart, Secret Santa."

Between Kansas City and several other cities this Christmas, the new Secret Santa will give away $75,000 of his own money, mostly in $100 bills.

"I didn't want to be a Secret Santa," said the man, a business consultant who lives in the Kansas City area. "I wanted to give Larry money. But last year, he said I had to hand it out myself. So I did, and I got hooked."

This new Secret Santa talks about Larry Stewart to just about everyone he encounters. "Have you ever heard of a man named Larry Stewart?" he asks before handing out $100 or more.

Depending on who he's talking to, the new Secret Santa might say Stewart was a man who believed in making people happy by giving them money they didn't have to ask for, apply for or wait in line for.

"There was this fella named Larry Stewart," he tells a man in the bus station. "He was an old friend of mine. He was called Secret Santa, and every year he would find a few people who might need a little money and he would ask that you pass on the kindness."

People respond differently to the gesture. Some cry. Some scream. A rare few even say "No thanks."

Others take the money and offer their own gifts. like Robert Young, who was homeless and had only 20 cents in his pocket. When Secret Santa gave him $200, Young, 50, took out an old notebook and ripped out a song he had written.

"It's yours now," he told Secret Santa, who thanked Young, and carefully tucked the pages into his pocket.

The new Secret Santa has also started a website, and is trying to recruit other Secret Santas across the country. "Larry's dream was for a Secret Santa in every city," Kansas City's Santa said.

There are now a couple apprentices, with more candidates turning up all the time. But, he says, you don't have to be willing to hand out money to be a Secret Santa.

"Anyone can be a Secret Santa," he says. "You don't have to give away $100. You can give away kindnes. Help someone."

Christmas Lurv - six

God how l Loved that Clamation Special...

Quasimodo 1, Bell 0.

Christmas Lurv - five

OK, this is a long one... over nine minutes, but it's sooooooooooooooo worth it! I actually have the SCTV Christmas DVD so I've already watched this about 5 times this month!

All I can say is sit back, relax and enjoy, and...

"Sexy Holidays to you..."

Christmas Lurv - four

Rudolf the Red-Nosed-Raisin?!
Yea Raisin...

I loved this Christmas Special (from back in the 80's... ) "A Claymation Christmas".

I dedicate this post to Jerome... Not only are these Raisins "Plump and Juicy" they're also Harmonic! ha-cha-cha-cha!

Christmas Lurv - three

Well it's snowing right now like a perfect Christmas Card photo (the kind that Milky takes) and I thought since it was a Winter Wonderland outside that we should be saranaded... and so, for your enjoyment... the Del Rubio Triplets!

I met the three of them back around 94 or 95. (the year not their age!) They were a frickin' hoot.

Christmas Lurv - two

No aside from JB I'm not sure who's gonna get the true, deep and terribly realistic beauty of this clip from Codco. But as much as it's sad, it's friggin' hilarious... and I can so see my relatives in every sketch they ever did.

It's not your typical Christmas clip, but in my mind it's a Classic!

Christmas Lurv - one

I lurv this animation... and song. It's been around a year or so, but in case you've never seen it...

ENJOY!

I think I'll be posting me some more of my fav mini christmas vids 'n animations in the days before Chistmas...

But now... off to work. (yippee)

Oh Kitty. Where art thou?

Sorry for my absence the past week... I got two words:

Christmas.
and...
Work.

Trying to get everything I need done in time, especially all that is going to the east coast, I've not gotten to bed before 2 am the past 3 nights. And there was buying the Tree Last Friday and decorating it on Sat... (it only took 6 hours) and then shopping, a little more decorating, backing (12 dz cookies... so far) and decorating them, and preparing my annual Christmas CD, and wrapping presents and and and...

and... WORK!

Well work has been crazy-ass busy. I've not taken my lunch break in two weeks and most days not had a chance to even eat at my desk. I've accrued over 15 hours of overtime since the beginning of Dec. We've been so overwhelmed with the Reactor shut-down at Chalk Lake and the lack of isotope for our products for our clients. And just a little FYI... you'd think that the Government forcing the Reactor back on line is a good thing, well so far from many of the clients I spoke to... and that's Hospitals and Clinics all over Ontario... they think it's a bad idea. They should have left it down for two more weeks (including the week of Christmas when there is next to noooooooooooo activity in the Nuc Med depts. and use these next two weeks to finish up. Instead now we have to look forward to likely two more weeks of it shut down ... some time in 2-3 months ... when? don't know. Anyway I really ought not complain because I've not had any of my appointments cancelled...

So in a nut shell, I've been barely in front of the computer, outside of work... but that will change... :-)

News from the Homefront.

After yet another shit day at work due to the off-line Nuclear Reactor (story here) and stressing non-stop pressure at work... I received a wonderful phone call tonight from my folks...

Dad had his 5th chemo treatment yesterday and at that time received the results of a C.A.T. Scan he had a week ago. And the news was excellent. Very promising indeed.

It seems that his lymph-node's swelling is reducing and they are going back to 'normal' size. The Doctors are pleased with his progress, especially the lack of serious adverse side effects... so far only fever, some minor rash, loss of hair (not like he had much to lose) and some mild neuropathy in his hands. They said that he is in Partial Remission at this point and they will continue his treatments to the end of the eight cycles (this was week one of the fifth 3-week cycle).

Both my parents could not have been happier, and I know from hearing my Father's voice that this report has thrust his spirits higher and higher. Didier and I could not be more pleased.

It's not over yet but he's well on his way on this challenge of his life... and a positive resolution.

Thanks again to everyone for their continued positive support. We all appreciate it so much!

Get a clue, got a clue.

Get a clue.
- Chiquita 'walking' in front of me, on the way to the metro. Now I'm sure those 3 inch stiletto heel boots you had on are totally hawt, but one thing they are not is appropriate winter apparel. Especially during... a snow storm. And yet you wonder why your sorry ass practically flipped over your head (no hat I might add. I can only imagine what all that snow did to the product in your hair!) as you wiped out at the corner.

Got a clue.
- The mommy pulling her kid in a red wagon with runners, outside of Cremazie Metro.

Get a clue.
- The guy at Cremazie Metro wearing cut off track pants. Catch pneumonia and die already. Idiot!

Got a clue.
- Someone stocked the office kitchenette with hot chocolate. And this morning was SO the perfect Hot Chocolate day!

Get a clue.
- The countless yahoos either attempting to drive the speed limit on poorly ploughed roads and or those with no snow tires. Seriously? Is this your first day of winter driving ever?

Got a clue.
- The bus-driver of Route 460 that stopped for me tonight on Cote-de-Liesse, even though it was not a stop on his route, to pick me up. seeing as there had not been a Route 100 buss stop by in over 30 mins (when 3 should have passed) Thank you Mr Bus-Driver.

Ste-Catherine Est, 7:30 am.

Snow.

So today was PURE MAGIC for me! I don't apologize for absolutely LURVING snow! The more the merrier.

One of my favourite songs about one of my favourite things...

White are the far-off plains, and white
The fading forests grow;
The wind dies out along the height,
And denser still the snow,
A gathering weight on roof and tree,
Falls down scarce audibly.

The road before me smooths and fills
Apace, and all about
The fences dwindle, and the hills
Are blotted slowly out;
The naked trees loom spectrally
Into the dim white sky.

The meadows and far-sheeted streams
Lie still without a sound;
Like some soft minister of dreams
The snow-fall hoods me round;
In wood and water, earth and air,
A silence everywhere.

Save when at lonely intervals
Some farmer's sleigh, urged on,
With rustling runners and sharp bells,
Swings by me and is gone;
Or from the empty waste I hear
A sound remote and clear;

The barking of a dog, or call
To cattle, sharply pealed,
Borne echoing from some wayside stall
Or barnyard far afield;

Then all is silent and the snow falls
Settling soft and slow
The evening deepens and the grey
Folds closer earth and sky
The world seems shrouded, far away.

Its noises sleep, and I secret as
Yon buried streams plod dumbly on and dream.

~ Loreena McKennitt

Deck the halls... part 3

The Interior.
(part 1)

Knock-Knock.


C'mon in...

Here's where the North Pole exploded... The living room.

My motto is "More is More!"

A close up of the entertainmment center.

The front Window...

The sofa and book-case...

A close up of our Nativity Scene... Well one of em anyway...

...and the Dining Room / Kitchen.

More pics to come tomorrow....

And the Tree goes up next Saturday... YAY!

iNog v1.4

EggNog Ice Cream.

Well I have only tasted a sample, (It's still gotta firm up for about 6 hrs at least) but it's another hit!

Now I gotta make some gingerbread to servie the Ice Cream on...

YUM!

Deck the halls... part 2

The Exterior.

For a five hundred points, try and find which condo is ours...




For a thousand points, and the win, pick out which balcony is ours.

We put up the exterior lights LAST Sunday -(November 25th. And thank god, because the high today was -10 with -14 wind-chill! and NOW they are calling for a wicked snow storm tonight into tomorrow... and I quote (from the Weather Network website) ..."From Sunday Overnight to Monday Evening we expect 25-30cm of snow."

...one word...

YAY!

Deck the halls... part 1

The Office.

TECHNICALLY I don't decorate until Dec 1st, but since that fell on a Saturday I decorated my desk, and that of the co-worker next to me. Kelli. She's a crotchety old grump (heh. gotcha Kel!) So I take it as my responsibility to Christmas-Up her work environment.

Here's what I did this year...

My desk is in the foreground, Kelli's in the back.

And a closer pic of my desk.

Ho Ho Ho !

Dear Santa...

Dear Santa,

Hi. How are you doing? I know it's been a while since I wrote you... sorry 'bout that, it's be a cra-zay-zee year.

Right off, I'm going to confess, I was not a good boy every day this year, but in my defence there's lots of temptations out there; I'm only human.

In the hopes that you agree that I ought to remain on the "Naughty but oh so Nice" list, here's a short list of things that I would like for Christmas...

-First and foremost I want my Dad's Lymphoma to go into remission. Thanks in advance for that one big guy. (I'll owe ya HUGE for that!)

...and if there's room for anything else...

-a leopard kitten (genetically altered to always remain a kitten) named Guillermo
-a Pony named Günther
-a plush faux fur leopard print winter coat
-a long haired, piebald, male chihuahua named Atilla
-the complete 'X-Files', 'Six Feet Under' and seasons 1-3 of 'The 4400' on DVD
-a cruise for two around the world (2-3 months... you decide)
-a fully loaded burgundy VW beetle Convertible with Leopard print interior
-an iPhone
-Game Party (Wii)
-Ultimate Game Board Collection (Wii)
-Brunswick Pro Bowling (Wii)
-Tiger Wood PGA tour 2007 or 2008 (Wii)
-Dragon Blade. Wrath Of Fire (Wii)
-Book: Sex with Kings (Elanor Herman)
-Book: Much Depends on Dinner (Margaret Visser)
-An HP laptop with Leopard Print skin. HAWT!
-oh yea, and peace on Earth, goodwill toward men.

Love ya, mean it.

Shawn

Festive White Rabbits!

WHITE RABBITS !

WHITE RABBITS !!

WHITE RABBITS !!!

+

HO !

HO !!

HO !!!