Well, right now as I am typing this in Ohio with the temperature in the 50's it doesn't feel like it's a White Chirstmas outside, but it helps that since Christmas is getting closer to look at some of the Best Christmas Cartoons, Movies, and Specials to watch over the Holiday Season. Now in the last blog I listed the worst chirstmas movies, specials, and cartoons to watch. Well, here now is the best starting with cartoons.
CARTOONS
5.) A Garfield Christmas (1987)
-Garfield, Odie, and their owner Jon go to Jon's family for a down on the farm Christmas. Funny Garfield humor mixed in the message of spending time and importance of family at Christmas.
4. ) Bugs Bunny's Looney Christmas Tales (1979)
- Funny Looney Tunes Christmas related cartoons. You can watch them on YouTube.
3.) A Claymation Christmas Celebration (1987)
-Awesome christmas special that has 6 musical numbers with stop motion animation. It features The California Raisins, but everyone of those musical shorts are great especially this one. Giving you a sneak peak. Watch the rest on YouTube.
2. ) Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas!
- I bet everyone has read the book or has seen this TV special about the Grinch who is sick of the Whos celebrating Christmas and decides to dress as Santa and steal it from them. But, he learns that Christmas is more than gifts and decorations when he hears the Whos sing as they awake on Christmas!
and the best Christmas Cartoon of ALL TIME is of Course. Drum Roll............................
1.) A Charlie Brown Christmas (1965)
-An All-Time Classic. Charlie Brown isn't happy during Christmas with all the commercialism. Lucy gets him involved in directing the Christmas Play but everyone goofs off. They decide to get a Christmas tree. But, Charlie Brown gets the smallest and weakest tree in the Tree lot and everyone makes fun of him. He gives up hope until Linus reassures him by telling what Christmas is truly about.
Right there are those cartoons you must see at Christmas time if you watch any I highly recommend it.
As for Movies I could go on but I don't want to waste too much of the blog or free time so I just give you all a list of movies to watch around Christmas time.
- White Christmas (I showed the movie poster above in the blog) - A Christmas Story (Ralphie wants a gun) - Home Alone - Elf ( SANTA, I KNOW HIM) - National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation
- Die Hard (Ok not a christmas movie persay but the guy saves peoples lives during a christmas party in a L.A. building during Christmas season)
- and anything Muppets related, that would include A Muppets Christmas Carol, Emmet Otter's Jugband Christmas, and John Denver & The Muppets Special: A Christmas Together
Well I hope you have time to watch these all while spending time with your family, friends this holiday season. Wishing all of you a Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Happy Kwanzaa and of course Happy Festivus to all of you!!! More importantly Happy Holiday and New Year to all!!
Yep, Santa Claus Conquers the Martians is #1. Some other bad movies in there I agree with. Like Silent Night Deadly Night. A horror film about a kid who gets messed up when he witnesses a Santa imposter kill his family and he grows up messed up and kills people. Fandango should have listed its sequel on there as well which it's famous for this chessy clip
I disagree with Jingle All The Way being there, its not the best Christmas Movie but it showed a time when ARNOLD was ARNOLD and not the Governator!! Take a quick look.
PUT THAT COOKIE DOWN!!!!!!!!!!!
I defintely would not have included Ernest Saves Christmas. I thought that was funny. Everything else on that list most likely especially Hulk Hogan's movie at # 5, Santa with Muscles.
If we are including Holiday Specials on the list then The Star Wars Holiday Special is definitely a must!!
I'm not even putting a video up here because it is so awful. I watched in one day online when I had nothing to do and it is terrible. I'm a Star Wars Fanatic and it is just as bad as JAR JAR BINKS!!
I would also include any Disney Christmas cartoon besides the Goofy Skiing one. I don't like Disney Cartoons as much as Looney Tunes.
Now in the next blog I'll show you a list of Christmas Movies, Cartoons, and specials to watch during the holidays to either get you in the mood or watch with your family and friends!!!
I'm talking about Tim Tebow, MAN!!!!!!!!! But first here a funny video on youtube about him!
Pretty cool. Yeah, I know he played for Florida and was part of the 2006-07 National Championship Florida Gator team that took my beloved Ohio State Buckeyes to the woodsheld 41-14. But, I think I'm over that now that Urban Meyer is the new OSU head coach and Tebow is in the pros. Believe or not it's hard to hate Tebow in general.
Since taking over as the Denver Broncos starting QB when they were 1-4, they have gone 7-1 with him as the starter and they are 8-5 in first of the AFC West Division and are looking at the playoffs possibly. Now quite a bit of it has to do with the great defense the Broncos got. For instance in overtime this weekend against the Chicago Bears the D forced a fumble, they got the ball back and Tebow drove them down the field for the kicker to kick the field goal to win 13-10.
Of course he's got a good defense right behind him, but many would say and so would Tebow that Football is a team sport and everyone on that team is doing there part. It's all about right now. Even though there are those rumors that the Broncos may not include Tebow in their long term plans
From a football perspective I don't really know how long term or how long his career is going to last, but what I've seen and heard from him in the press conferences is that he tends to look at one game at a time. That's what as human beings we should do as well taking one work day at a time and not let anything bother us to much. Tebow says that he tries to be the best person God intended to be.
That brings me to another point. Many tend to go overboard with how big of a Christian he is, his faith and all. But we could all pretty much blame the media for that. I guess the way they see how he acts and practices his faith they would try to find some flaw and use it against him and try to bring it down. Even they try to link him to certain famous celebrities he has become friends with such as olympic skater Lindsey Vonn. Even a former QB from Denver Jake Plummer even thinks Tim Tebow shouldn't voice his faith too much. Read the article below. I love Tim Tebow's response to it.
Plummer would go on to apologize. Like I said I think the media is often to blame for trying to over expose Tebow and his relationship with Jesus. My advice to the media, LEAVE HIM ALONE!!! But, of course they won't he is a hot story right now with his winning. It's his business on who he dates and trying to save himself for marriage. I like the way he conducts himself in interviews but on the field he goes out there and bust his ASS to help his team win or do the best they can. From what I heard he is not the most out spoken Christian playing in the NFL. Pittsburgh Steelers Defensive Back Troy Polamalu has been know to cross himself before every play. He has been practing Greek Orthodox Christian for awhile. Good for the guy that also is known for his hair.
Back to Tebow, he would be the first to admit he is not perfect. Even as Christians we aren't. I'll be the one to admit that I get selfish and act silly. But we as Christians have to keep trying to do the best we can, act humble by not putting ourselves first and doing what is the right way to live and that's what Tim Tebow is doing dispite the media attention around him.
As a great of a competitor he is it shows on the field for his great leadership. I mean unlike many other NFL players we don't see him involved in a dog fighting scheme (Michael Vick). He hasn't gone to clubs with a gun and accidently shot himself in the leg (Plaxico Burress). Also, on the field he hasn't step on an opposing player when they are trying to get up (Ndamukong Suh).
The Broncos should keep Tebow as long as they can be winning or doing great. No matter what Tim Tebow will land on his feet whenever he has a great career or not. Because all he is doing is working hard but dispite it he is still keeping the faith, and that is something as believers or not we can do for everyone.
Well, its Thanksgiving time. Time to stuff yourself with Turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffiing and pie all while watching football with family and relatives. Also, its a time to reflect and be thankful for what's around you.
I am thankful for my family and friends who support me no matter what. I'm thankful for the god given ability to run. Also, I am thankful for my Columbus Running Company peeps, others at Motion running group, my small group Pelaton, and anyone else in my social life. You all help me stay sane when work gets crazy.
And, as an Ohio State Fan I am thankful that this Saturday will be the last Saturday that we as fans will see Jim Bollman (and he walrus face and mustache) run Ohio State's awful and predictable offense. So that we can be thankful that hopefully Urban Meyer can come be the new Head Coach and bring us National Championships. I am also thankful for the Ohio State Men's Basketball Team who right now as I am typing is kicking the crap out of VMI. Hopefully with a great team like this it will be a National Championship/Final Four season for them to help us cope with the Football team stinking it up this year.
I am thankful to be a Columbus Crew fan too. (That's for you DeLeon).
All in all we all have to be thankful for some things in our life.
To Leave you I'm going to post you a funny video thanksgiving related. It was from a hit show in late 70's/early 80's right around I was born but I watched reruns before and it is still funny today. WKRP in Cincinnati. Very underrated show. This clip below is from the Thanksgiving episode you have to see. Check it out and HAPPY THANKSGIVING EVERYONE!!!
Unless you've been living under a rock for the last 2 weeks you may have not know about what has been going on at Penn State. Head Coach Joe Paterno and many other university officials were fired while the Athletic Director and Director of Finance at Penn State resigned over the fact that they covered up child molestation accusations of one the ex assistant coaches Jerry Sandusky that he had sexually abused young boys in the facilities of Penn State.
Apparently, this all broke out from 2002 when then-graduate assistant Mike McQueary witnessed Jerry Sandusky forcing himself on a young boy in the Penn State locker room. He didn't go to the police but went to Joe Paterno, Paterno went to his higher ups in the athletic department. This raises the question of why didn't they go to the authorities or the police and why didn't they follow up on it. Sandusky's behavior was in big question before as to why did he retire early in 1999, and was still allowed to use the Penn State facilities even after the 2002 incident.
It's a sad story all around and for a moment the people at Penn State forgot who were the true victims of this the abused children whom now stories have came out about Jerry Sandusky. All in all this has destroyed the reputation of a famous football coach in Paterno, university officals being charged with purgery, and put the program and the school in Jeopardy all because nobody followed up and didn't go to the authorities, the police in the first place.
Here's a story of the past incidents that impicated Jerry Sandusky
More twists to the whole story is the lawyer that is defending Sandusky had a sexual encounter 15 years ago when he was 49 with a 17 year old girl that became his wife, however the legal age of consent in Pennsylvania is 16 but I still think it's really weird.
Everybody's easy to cast their stones at Jerry Sandusky, and rightfully so even though he hasn't been brought to trial and hasn't been found guilty by a court of law. Yet, the evidence, stories, and other victims that are now coming out pretty much say it all for him. The phone in interview he did with Bob Costas this past Monday with Sandusky's lawyer present in the studio with Bob Costas doesn't make him less guilty either. We should remember God is the one true judge and he will judge Jerry Sandusky for what he had done, but I hope Sandusky spends the rest of his miserable life in jail.
The pastor at my church blogged about the incident and how it's tragic and how it also damages the social capital in our society
I mean I agree that this could be one thing that is leading to the fact the public puts less and less trust into social organizations or the government. Trust me I work for the Department of Defense I know all about the politics that go on where I work. However, this whole Penn State thing had shown me 2 things. One of course is something as serious as child abuse should be reported to child and protection services and the law authorities. There simply no question about that. How do we teach our children as young adults, full grown adults or our elders about what the right and morally thing to do if we ourselves don't do it? Taking responsiblity is human. I bet right now Joe Pa, Mike McQueary the assistant who witnessed Jerry Sandusky and the boy in the showers in 2002, Penn State's now ex-school president, the former athletic director and those others who had to resign or let go or learning that they had to be acountable for their actions and what they did not do.
Another thing we should learn from the Penn State situation is a way to improve social capital among our leaders and authorities. I know that there are those few in our government, community, and churches that try to hide things from the public. We should all be humble, trusting, but still aware of what is going on because it can only be the best way we can teach our children so society can grow overtime. Hopefully everyone tries to get what I'm saying.
I'm D-Money, that's my two cents and I'll leave you with a letter that an OSU fan wrote to Penn State fans as a sign of good faith
Yes, the title of this blog comes from a Guns N' Roses songs. They are one my favorite bands of all time. I'm talking about the originally lineup with Axl, Slash, Duff, Izzy, and Stephen Alder(the drummer). Sorry, but Stephen needed a cool name or he just didn't want to stand out like his other bandmates. Of course sadly due to Axl's behavior led to the downfall of the orginally lineup and now he tours and records with different guys under the Guns N' Roses name. So it's basically not the same.
The song and the video November Rain is defintely popular, especially if in the month of November if you hear it on the radio. You see what goes on in your life around you as you try to get through the month. Kind of like the worst part of a storm happening before it dies down. The dieing down part of the year being the month of December with the excitement of the holidays and the worst part of the storm or year being the month of November. Hence the name of the song November Rain. Though if you listen to the lyrics of song it's about unrequited love.
I just like the song cause it fits to what is going on this month of November. I have a couple friends running marathons this weekend in either Indianapolis or New York. This in a sense is their November Rain. Our running club trying to get individuals together to get ready to possible go to Seattle next month to run USATF Club Cross Country Nationals. There are people getting ready for the holidays especially this early. Some Light Rock radio stations even play Christmas Music after Halloween. I'm not in the Christmas mood until maybe 2 weeks before after or if I decide to run at USATF Club Nats. I also in the mood to get through work because I have a lot of time off next month to celebrate the holidays with family and friends.
College Football teams are going through the month of November hoping to win out and get a great bowl game in the post season. I didn't think Ohio State would be in the spot to possible get to the Big Ten Championship game until last Saturday Night's win over Wisconsin now they still have a shot to win the Big Ten but they can't slip up on the way and all they have to do is get through the games in the month of November which includes Indiana, at Purdue, home against Penn State, and the finally against the evil empire up north Michigan!! They get through that and they'll have a chance to go to the Big Ten game to have a chance to win the Big Ten and go to the Rose Bowl.
I dunno what is the point of this blog. I just wanted to tie in the song November Rain into it since if you think about it rain in November in itself is cold unlike the wet rain we get in the late spring and summer but the weather is much warmer where in November it still has some 50's and 60's but if it gets cold and if it rains it's much colder. Makes it miserable to run through. Try running in the snow the next months of winter. But, all have our November Rain to get through sometimes. Getting through the worst part of a storm and seeing light and the end which is the holidays and a start of the new year for a new beginning.
I'm D-Money, that's my 2 cents and for your enjoyment since it's a great song here in the video to Guns N' Roses November Rain
Well, my parents didn't want me to write this but I feel as if I had to. But, don't worry. I'm not going to do what everybody thinks I'm going to do in go off in a profanity raid, or have a pity party of what is going on in my life right now. That is just what I'm telling you. I'm dealing with some real personal struggles right now. A little bit of it has been effectiving my running, and don't want it to effect my work, spiritual, or social life. On, Sunday after doing some thinking, drinking, eating Five Guys Burgers and Fries and things I feel ashamed of I realize I don't like the person that my mind or devil is forcing me to become.
Don't get me wrong on Sunday I enjoyed seeing the faces of people down at the 26 mile mark cheering on those about to finish their marathon and the encouragement everyone gave or even those finishing the half marathon as well. It makes me happy and blessed to be in this sport. However, I felt sad that I could have been a part of it. If I wasn't running it may be a different story because I would still go down and watch and cheer everybody. So for everybody that I didn't congragulate or seemed a little fake in the tone of my voice when I did congragulate, I sincerly apologize. A lot of you are trying to give me some encouragement, hugs, and prayers and for that I thank you. Talking to those I've been close to and realizing what I do have and focusing realizing what I DON'T have has made me realize I'm a very selfish human being. I mean we all are at times. I guess for my male testosterones that get in the way and I try to be aggressive or set myself high in everything I try to do. Because I don't want to fail or let anybody down.
However, after talking to a friend in my church this week I should remember it's not what I want for myself or what everybody wants for me or even themselves, it's about what God wants for us. I believe he does want good things for me and wants me to achieve my goals in running but especially those goals I have for myself outside of it as well. I think that he is trying to tell me something that maybe I should still be patient and trust him. I mean it took me years and hard work to get where I'm at in running and also right here in Columbus. It just may be the same for everything else. I just need to be patient and he'll let me know when I find what I'm looking for. We are all guilty of forgetting what we got and become selfish to try to satisfy our needs one way or another.
Although, I may have been physically able to finish that race on Sunday I defintely wasn't able to finish it mentally with what has been on my heart, recovering from sore hips and still unsure of my physical fitness. I've lost a little bit of confidence after I ran pretty gutsy at Boston this past Spring and I'm just trying to find my way back. Maybe, this could be a blessing. We can't be on top of our game all the time. I still have goals for myself in running and need to use it as a reliever and try to not let everything else get in the way. It becomes a safety net sometimes and there are times where things may not go as planned.
To conclude, I'm tired of bitching and feeling sorry for myself. I appreciate all of your encouragement and I hope you all know I would do the same for you all too. I want to move forward and run with the same passion but be patient, mindful, and trust what God plans are for me in all areas and just let go. I mean I not the only one with problems and the best way to go is to look up. :)
