(Reposting from my own journal to see if anybody's out here)

Overdosing on cheesy Christmas movies of the 1980's and 90's today, a pattern is emerging. It seems that Santa keeps a special sack of gifts readily available for Tweenage (9 to 13) children that are on the verge of losing their faith in Santa. He'll start out with all the generics - Dolls, Catcher's Mitts, Toy Trains... and when the kid gets all "THAT'S not what I wanted! You're not real at all! I hate you! I hate you ALL!!!" But of course by the END of the movie, Santa has given the kid what they REALLY wanted all along - usually something sappy like undivided parental attention or a new home.

...But those are just the GLAMOROUS stories that get made in to movies. And so Crystal and I were discussing, what else is in Santa's Disenfranchised Tween Sack? Those gifts that PROVE beyond a shadow of doubt that Santa truly exists?

For our 80's films it's been pretty easy to fill the sack;
Hair Gel
Boom Boxes
Blank 90-Minute Cassette Tapes
Jelly Bracelets
Acid-Wash Jean Jackets With A Band Logo On The Back
Giant Hoop Earrings
A Cellular Phone The Size Of Your Forearm

But what about the kids of today? What does Santa have to carry around for when he meets up with that kid on the cusp of being "Too Old"?

We figure it's full of iTunes Gift Cards, Elf Cosmetics and Axe Body Spray. But what else???

Also, what did Santa have in his Disenfranchised Tween Sack for you? For me, he brought a Sears Stereo "Ghettoblaster" Boom Box and a book-and-cassette-tape version of Michael Jackson narrating the story of "E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial" for 10-year-old me :)

Hello, dear Christmas lovers. I come to you with an inquiry.

Every year on the first Saturday night in December, I host what I call "dinner with a Christmas tree." Meaning: I invite about 10 of my nearest and dearest friends to drive to my little tiny old creaky house in the country. We sit for about an hour enjoying appetizers and wine around the fire in the stove. Then we sit down and I serve a semi-formal dinner. Sometimes I follow a tradition such as a Hanukkah dinner with latkes and brisket. Other times I make a hearty wintertime meal like cassoulet or choucroute. I try to decorate the table accordingly. The Christmas tree twinkles in the corner of the room. It's festive without presents or obligations. This year is a combination of foods I like and that I think my guests will like too - advocaat (a Dutch eggnog made by me), garlicky roast beef with latkes, glazed carrots, panna cotta.

Once in a while I try to incorporate a small ritual or other element to make it memorable. When I had the Hanukkah dinner, I asked a friend to tell the story of the Festival of Lights; she went above and beyond by memorizing the prayer in Hebrew. I scattered gelt across the blue-and-silver table and we lit a sorta-menorah. Another year I handed out Christmas crackers and there was a lot of screeching and laughing as they exploded, and some of the prizes scattered all over the room.

My guest have known each other through good times (mostly) and some very bad times, where we have been there for each other. The list includes Christians, agnostics, gay, straight, single, married, Democrats, Republicans. We are our own inner circle. I would like to include a small, short... something. Maybe a Q&A. Maybe a small ritual that incorporates the holiday theme.

So I come to you this year and ask: what is a fun and simple tradition you might include in a non-denominational dinner to observe the season?

I used to work for Comcast Cable and, kind of like how people who used to be Bartenders don't go hang out in Bars, my family DOES NOT have cable. However, what we *do* have is a PC connected to our TV that we stream video with. So going back to the Bartender analogy; I don't go to bars, but I *do* make my own Microbrew beers to enjoy in the comfort of my own home :)

The PRIDE AND JOY of my digital collection is the half-Terabyte (500GB) of Christmas movies, specials, TV episodes and other rarities that I'm able to stream to our TV all November and December long :)

Yesterday we watched Elf (Wil Farrel), Santa Buddies (better than a Christmas movie about talking puppies has any right to be), The Laverne & Shirley Christmas Episode ("Christmas At The Booby Hatch", where they have to put on a Christmas Talent Show at a mental hospital), several old Christmas cartoons and The Frank Sinatra & Bing Crosby Christmas Special (which is just so wonderful I may have to watch again today)!

Local Seattle radio station WARM 106.9 switched over to non-stop Christmas Hits some time Friday afternoon, so we all know what THAT means right?

IT'S OFFICIALLY CHRISTMASTIME!!!

You may now freely put Peppermint in your mocha, blast those Christmas tunes from your car stereo, put up the tree and start watching your collection of Christmas Movies!

Tonight we are all snuggled on the couch watching our first Christmas Video of the year, a real family favorite for us, SANTA CLAUS CONQUERS THE MARTIANS.



Anybody care to share the movie or tv show that YOU'LL be starting, did start your Holiday season with?

Happy September, Christmas Lovers!

Who's getting excited? I sure am, because, my grandnephew will be 13 months old for this coming Christmas! Up and walking by then, grabbing everything in sight and delivering it to his mouth. He is the first baby of his generation in our family. We never baby-proofed a tree for past generations, but with this grabby little guy, I think it's important. I need ideas for safe tree decorations.

I'm thinking that wire ornament hangers will be a no-no. Soft ornaments that tie on with ribbon might be nice. I'm wondering how to get some safe sparkle on there, and other tips on a baby proof tree and other decorations. Ideas most gratefully welcome!

Has anyone here seen any Christmas movies lately? I've been watching them whenever they're on tv. Starz has been playing Christmas With the Kranks & Elf every week. Hallmark also had a Christmas movie marathon 2 weeks ago to celebrate Christmas In July. & right now, Home Alone 2 is on ABC Family. So I've been watching my fair share of holiday films. So excited! Only 128 days left - less than that till we're in the holiday season!! :)

Today was June 25th, the halfway point till Christmas. So Merry Half Christmas everyone! I can't wait until the actual Christmas season. Is anyone still around here?

Christmas morning I curled up on the couch under my red Claus-y blanket watching The Yule Log on Channel 11, waiting for my sweetie to wake up and open his presents.

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Wishing all of you here at christmaslovers a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Hope it was a good one for you!

This season seemed to fly by too fast!