While on the Subject

Here some more info on the movie "A Christmas Story." This being my all-time favorite Christmas movie.

Ralphie was in the quest for a Red Ryder air rifle.

Although set in Hammond, Indiana, the film's exteriors were shot in Cleveland, along with the store scenes at Higbee's department store.

Jack Nicholson was considered for the role of Ralphie's father. Now, that would have been really weird.

Movie fan Brian Jones bought the house used in the movie for $150,000 on e-Bay and invested another $250,000 in it before opening it to the public last year.

You can order your own major awards, the infamous leg lamp, including full-size ones at
http://www.achristmasstoryhouse.com/.

There is also a lot of other "A Christmas Story" information at this site, including information about Higbee's department store.

From December Midwest Living Magazine.

How Many Times Can You Watch "A Christmas Story" Before You Go Nuts

I watched it three times during TBS' 24-hour marathon starting at 6 PM Christmas Eve. To the best of my knowledge, I did not go crazy. Liz and Kora, however, thought I had lost it. Hey, I really LIKE this movie.

Not only do I like what transpires, but also, it was just in another time and era. I liked the old city, the overloaded electric sockets, old schools. Everything. The spoken lines were great too.

If you're a fanatic, you should be able to answer these questions with ease. Answers Below.

1. What is the ultimate dare for a kid?

2. What was the name of the bully?

3. Who had the Old Man's greatly-hated hounds?

4. What was the Old Man's "major prize?"

5. What happened to it?

6. Where did they end up having Christmas dinner? Why?

7. What did Ralphie want more than anything else?

8. What happened when Ralphie got his chance to ask Santa for the object of his desire?

9. After Ralphie used the "F" word, how did his mom punish him?

10. Ralphie lied to his mom about where he had head the "F" word. Who did he blame it on?

Three Times, and I Didn't Go Insane. --RoadDog

Answers
1. I Triple Dog Dare You

2. Farkus

3. Bumpus hounds

4. a leg lamp

5. it mysteriously got broken. Mom was the biggest suspect.

6. Chinese restaurant, Bumpus' hounds got in and ate the turkey.

7. bb gun

8. He forgot what to ask for.

9. soap in the mouth

10. Schwartz

Just Some Stuff-- More Snow--Day-After Shopping--Randhurst--NTN

Just Some Stuff--JSS:

1. Received about a half-inch of snow last night. That's not much, but after the mess from Dec. 1st, I'm out soon to clear even this little amount off. No more chopping ice for me, I'll leave it to the icebreakers.

Real bad news, Liz just told me, as did that confounded chirping Weather Bug, that we have 5-7 inches of that white stuff scheduled to arrive tomorrow. Dadburn snowmobilers. Hope they're happy. They should have to come over and clear off my driveway and sidewalk before they go out and have their fun.

2. Went out Day-After Christmas Shopping yesterday. I wasn't the only one. Big crowds, especially at Wal-Mart. Then there were the lines waiting to check out. Fortunately I found a check out back by the record/electronic department with no one in line.

Hard to beat those half-prices Christmas items. Bought some red and white rope lights for use on the pillars next year. Also bought some button lights for the Christmas village under the main tree.

Saw some other neat stuff, including those new Christmas trees with the white ball lights that change colors synchronized to music. Those were neat, but I managed to avoid buying them. We have way too much Christmas Stuff already.

3. We're getting ready to make one last visit to Randhurst Mall in Mt. Prospect, Illinois, later this afternoon. This mall was built in 1962, and was a major hang-out for Liz and myself during high school and college. That applied to most high schoolers and young folks in Chicago's Northwest Suburbs. It will be torn down after the start of the new year because of declining business.

4. I'm almost ready to crack the 3 million mark in NTN at Hello Folks with 2,998,500 points. I Play NTN Way Too Much, but enjoy it, so reckon I'll continue. I use the Roadog handle there as you can only get six letters in your handle. Meanwhile, at Donovan's Reef, in Twin Lakes, Wi, Parrot is getting close to ten million points. This was my very first of my many handles.

NTN stands for National Trivia Network. It also goes by the word Buzztime now.

Sure Gonna Miss Randhurst. --RoadDog

No Movies for Me

Well, I had hopes of seeing 40 movies at the theaters in 2007. Last Friday, I saw "I Am Legend." This will be my last one, because those that work for a living and go to school are flocking to the theaters this Christmas season.

Yesterday, I was planning on seeing the new "National Treasure" movie at the McHenry, Il, Indoor Theatre, but the line was out the door. Then I drove by the Fox Lake, Il, Theatre to see"Charlie Wilson's War" and the parking lot was full. Guess a lot of people must have taken this week off, and I'm sure parents are shuttling off their loved ones to the movies to get them out of the house.

Guess I will stay stuck at 38 for the year and wait until Jan. 7th to resume seeing the shows.

By the way, "I Am Legend" was a very good show.

It's kind of strange, but sometimes there will be a month or longer stretch where I don't have any movies I particularly want to see. Then, all of a sudden, there are a whole lot released at once.

Other movies I want to see now: Charlie Wilson's War, PS I Love You, Waterhorse, Golden Compass, National Treasure, and Walk Hard.

Hey, Let's Hurry Up and Get Back to Work and School So Us Old Retired Coots can Get Back to Normalcy. --RoadDog

Jimmy Buffett's Birthday Today

Egads, Jimmy Buffett had his 61st birthday today. Can we all be getting that old?

He is one of Liz and my all-time favorite performers. I have all of his studio albums and many of his live efforts. Many of them are actual LPs. We've also seen his show at least four times. Absolute bedlam and big-time party.

We named our home Key North after Key West and the downstairs bar is named Margaritaville for some reason.

Jimmy Buffett, the Patron Saint of Boaters. --RoadDog

A Good Christmas

Liz and I opened the gifts last night and had eggnog. Watched "Santa Clause 2" and I watched "A Christmas Story." Liz doesn't like this movie at all. I, on the other hand have now seen it three times on the TBS marathon.

We're going over to visit Frances at the nursing home in just a little while. We'll stop back by Kora's for some Christmas cheer before coming home for Christmas dinner.

A Mighty Good Christmas. --RoadDog

Took a Drive to Lake Geneva, Wi.-- Part 2

After playing NTN, we took a ride west to the town of Lake Geneva. It looked like a town right out of the early 1900s with all its pine garland, ribbons, and lights. We were a bit disappointed with the lack of home decorations in the residential section by the downtown. Those old homes would have looked great with decorations, but only a few homes had them.

A highlight was a drive through Grand Geneva Resort, which had its usual massive decorations up. The entry way was great with the barn outlined with lights and a giant wreath. Then there were lights all over the small evergreens and the three beautiful poinsettias over the entry arch.

The drive was lines with the Twelve Days of Christmas, a Garfield Goose castle, and various lighted animal;s and Santas. Always enjoy Santa playing golf.

The buildings at the resort were outlined in lights, plus the trees were completely wrapped in white bulbs.

We normally like to take a walk through the resort, which is also majorly decorated, but both of us are having foot, leg, and knee problems so just stayed in the car.

Stopped at Donovan's Reef in Twin Lakes to wish everybody a merry Christmas.

On the way home, we stopped at Wilmot Farms subdivision to look at the lights. I give my award for best-decorated subdivision to this place. Three of the homes have to be on my all-time list of sights. A majority of the others had also gone all out. Well worth a visit to this area.

The subdivision across the road was not very good.

Lastly, we drove through our home subdivision. It was average, but still have to say our street was the least decorated.

Bah-Humbug, Pine Street. --RoadDog

Top Christmas Movies

Two other sites I visited with top Christmas movies and rankings.

Yahoo top searched movies 2007.

#3 A Christmas Story

#15 It's a Wonderful Life

#16 National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation


Moviefone's top 25 all-time Christmas movies

#21 Gremlins-- forgot about this one. Definitely hilarious.

#10 National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation--1989

#2 It's a Wonderful Life--1946

#1 A Christmas Story--1983

On my Third Viewing of A Christmas Story Now. --RoadDog

Didn't Want to Do It...

Well, I sure didn't want to do it, but, I just had to do it.

And that was to buy some more Christmas stuff. Liz and I are about to get Christmassed out of the house with our (well, my) ever-expanding collection. I fully intended not to buy anything this year, but, like I said....

1. Last week, I was forced to buy a house with lights that are synchronized to three different Christmas songs including "Carol of the Bells," " Deck the Halls," and the one that is used in the Miller Lite commercial this year and made the internet rounds last year. I bought it at Walgreens and it would have been worth the $20 they originally wanted, but at $13--too good of a deal to pass up.

2. This past Friday, I went to Big Lots in Round Lake Beach, and found an animated penguin with a chick in an egg that sand duets on "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" and "Baby, It's Cold Outside." That was just too cute to pass up. And a deal at $10 marked down from $20.

3. Also at Big Lots, I found a three piece lighted porcelain set that is just what any roadie needs. It has an old motel, gas station, and diner along with people and vehicles.

I Didn't Want to Have to Do It. --RoadDog

JSS-- Ice Gone--Windstorm Yesterday-- Bears Party-- Grape Crush

Just Some Stuff:

1. All that ice on the driveway and sidewalk is finally gone thanks to the warm weather Thursday to Saturday. I helped it along with a LOT of chopping, chopping, and chopping. Boy, are my wrists and hands ever sore.

2. Yesterday, we had ten friends over for a Bears-Packers party. And DaBears won!!! As horrible as this season is going, if you beat DaPack, things are good again. However, I'll be backing the Pack in the playoffs. I would like to point out to Kip that the Bears beat the Pack both games this year!!!!

3. We had major wind yesterday, with gusts up to 55 mph around Spring Grove, Il. We were lucky not to lose electricity as we usually do in any sort of inclement weather. It blew down my spiral Christmas tree, lost a red ribbon, and put out one strand of lights.

4. Grape Crush--Earlier last week, I bought a six pack each of Orange and Grape Crush in 12 ounce bottles. Getting a pop in a bottle anymore is rare, but I haven't had Grape Crush in a long, long time. It was as Good as I remembered it Being.  Wasn't that what Radar drank on "MASH?"

Life Just Goes On. --RoadDog

And, My Top Three Christmas Movies Are...

I generally like all of the Christmas movies, but I do have a Top Three.

#3 is "It's a Wonderful Life"-- that ending always gets to me.

#2 is "National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation"-- I can't help but thing of old Clark Griswald while trying to connect all those lights and then not having them go on.

And my all-time favorite Christmas movie is....

"A Christmas Story." I can just watch this over and over and over. Come to think of it, TBS has just started the 24-hour marathon!!!! I'll see it at least twice. And I won't put my eye out!!!

I Triple Dog Dare You... --RoadDog

Now, Here Are Some Folks Who REALLY Decorate

The December 16th American Profile Magazine had an article by Marta W. Aldrich about some REALLY DECORATED HOUSES with some really beautiful pictures.

Glenn and Christina Barber of Spring Hill, Tn, put up 35,000 lights on their home topped by an eight-foot lighted cross. "It's all about the kids. I love the look on their faces," said Glenn. He has become an amateur electrician and starts mapping out the next year's lighting in April, then spend a full month preparing for the Thanksgiving lighting. He uses more than a hundred extension cords and six circuit breakers.

He's happy to do all this despite the $300 jump in his December electric bill.

The article then goes on to say that outdoor lighting really came into vogue in the 1950s. Over the last 50 years, the displays have steadily grown, especially with the introduction of inexpensive lights. Today, some are even computer controlled.

Chuck Smith, an electrical engineer in Franklin, Tn., had massive lighting displays at his home for thirty years. At its peak, he had 130,000 miniature lights connected by seven miles of wire controlled by a computer and nearly 400 circuits.

Unfortunately, he had to stop in 2003 after traffic in his neighborhood got to be too big of a problem. He now puts up his display at a local shopping center.

He has a website devoted to people who light up their homes http://www.planetchristmas.com/ . If you like majorly-decorated Christmas houses, you've got to check out this site.

The article closes with two other big-time decorators. Anthony Volpe who put up 90,000 lights last year in Monroe, NY.

In Scottsdale, Az, Michael Anderson has 35,000 lights synchronized to "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree, "The Chipmunk Song" and eight other Christmas songs.

"Let it glow!" by Marta W. Aldrich.

Now These Are Some People with Big Christmas Hearts. --RoadDog

The RoadDog's Guide to Outdoor Christmas Decorating

I've been able to cut decorating down considerably from the early days.

I keep the lights, garland, and wreaths in specific labeled boxes. This makes it easy to get the lights out.

I usually start with the deck and sunroom. White icicle lights go up along the eaves. Then I drape green pine bough garland all along the deck and place two strings of white lights run along the garland. Then two strings of C9 multi-colored lights run straight across. A lighted wreath hangs in the middle. Red bows provide color for the daylight.

I also decorate the gazebo with green garland and red bows along the side. I run white swag lights along the garland. I trim in red and green miniature lights. Inside the gazebo, I have a cascading lights.

The front has two small wreaths by the garage, a huge lighted green wreath between the bedroom windows. This has an eight-way lighting system set on continuous for different lighting. The brick pillars are wrapped in green garland and lighted. A green pine garland also is around the doorway. All of these are also lighted and have red bows as well.

Then I have lights in the bushes all the way across the front. I have multi-blinking lights in the crab apple trees at either end.

There is color from the garland and red bows during the day, and then the lights for the color at night.

I figure that I put up about 4000 lights, probably down from 10,000 at one time.

Even if I do say so, it looks good, and is by far the most decorated house on Pine at night and one of the top ones in the subdivision.

So, let's bring on Chevy Chase and Tim the Toolman.

Gettin' the Christmas Spirit. --RoadDog

Bah Humbug Here on Pine Street

I don't know exactly what happened to the Christmas spirit here on my street, or at least what happened to the outside decorations. At one time, just about every house was ablaze from one end to another as well as all over the yards.

This especially applied to my neighbor Juan who moved in the year after us. That first year, I held my own with him decorating. It got to be sort of like Home Improvement's Tim Taylor and his competition. But, by the second Christmas season, he buried me. I surrendered and let him have the decorating crown for the block and was content to be second best.

However, the last three years he has put less and less up. And this year I see nothing.

My neighbor Dan across the street also had lights all over as well as reindeer and a sled on his roof. But, Not No More. He has a Christmas tree in the window, but that's it.

Perhaps, it is advancing age. I notice that ladder climbing isn't as easy anymore. Maybe, it's the increased electric rates? Maybe the spirit just isn't there anymore?

Anyway, old Pine just isn't as colorful anymore. However, the next street over to the south, Elm, is a Christmas wonderland.

My Stocking Hat is Off to Elm, No Longer a Nightmare. --RoadDog

Sad Mystery in Johnsburg, Illinois

Johnsburg is just south of Spring Grove, where I live. I do the majority of my grocery shopping at Val's Grocery store, so this story hits home.

Five years ago, Dec. 20, 2007, 17 year-old store employee Brian Carrick disappeared. To this day, no knows for sure what happened, but foul play is suspected by Johnsburg police.

Brian was one of 14 brothers and sisters and a junior at the time of his disappearance. He left his home and walked across Johnsburg Road to Val's to pick up a $150 paycheck. He bought a pizza and was going to walk over to a nearby video store and rent a movie.

He never arrived at the video store or returned home.

The next morning, his parents found out he did not report to his job which alarmed them because he never missed work. His mother went to the Johnsburg police department and urged them to start looking for Brian.

The next day, police found blood inside Val's produce-storage space and on a trash compactor. It was later determined to be Brian's blood. An extensive search did not turn him up.

This past June, Mario A. Casciaro, 24, who worked with Brian, was arrested on nine counts of perjury for lying 9 times to a grand jury about the disappearance. He is out on $5,000 bail and is scheduled to appear in court Jan. 24, 2008.

Dec. 21st Chicago Tribune "Another Christmas without answers" by Amanda Marazzo.

Let's hope that something comes of this. You just don't expect stuff like this to happen out here. I usually even leave my garage doors open when I'm working out in the yard.

A Real Mystery Out Here in Eastern McHenry County. --RoadDog

Caught Them!!!!

On December 8th, I wrote about the boys who destroyed a man's Christmas decorations and then tried to run him over while fleeing. See "These Boys Should Get Coal in Their Stockings."

I'm happy to report that they have been caught. I'm unhappy to say that three were from my old alma mater, Palatine High School in Illinois. The other three were from Fremd, also in Palatine and our arch rival.

However, the homeowner, Phil OBrill DECLINED to press charges saying that he was convinced of their remorse. He said that they hadn't been in trouble before and that "Kids make stupid mistakes."

OBrill gave a description of one of the vehicles and it was found in the Palatine High School parking lot. The tags were traced and the boy was interviewed and gave the names of the others.

About $1000 worth of damage was done, but everything was replaced and repaired within a few days thanks to help from the neighbors. The parents said that the teens would face discipline at
home.

Dec. 21st Chicago Tribune "Charges dropped in lights prank" by Jeff Long and Mark Shuman.

Hopefully, these kids learned their lesson and are truly remorseful, and not just sorry that they were caught. I say they should have to do at least 100 hours of community service. A great thing would be to have them put up Christmas decorations for elderly who can not do it themselves.

Teens Getting a Big Break. --RoadDog

Took a Drive Up to Lake Geneva, Wisconsin-- Part 1

Yesterday, Liz and I took a trip to Lake Geneva to see those beautiful lights at Grand Geneva, close by Wisconsin 50/US-12. We like to do this every year, and it is a magnificent display with over a million lights.

In keeping with our 40th Anniversary "Trip Down Memory Lane," we stopped at Dilar's in Richmond for lunch. We stopped at this place many times while dating in high school and college. At that time, and, until about seven years ago, it was Mr. Sitka's. They had some excellent pizza and very reasonably prices for modest high school and college budgets.

At the time, we were living in Palatine and it never would have entered our minds that one day we would be living only about six miles from it. That drive north on US-12 seemed to go on forever.

Still has excellent food, especially their broasted chicken, and a whole meal with chicken, potatoes, vegetables, rolls, and salad came to $8.25.

We then drove past the Wisconsin border on the four lane US-12 speedway. Speed limit is 65, but you'll get run over if you adhere to it. My favorite place along this stretch of road is where they have signs for "Airplane Crossing" and "Watch for Low-Flying Planes." This is not what you'd expect to see on a road. There is a subdivision at this point where one of the roads is a landing strip. These folks fly to their jobs.

It was still light, so we stopped at the Lake Geneva Lanes on Wi-50 and played NTN. It has 12 lanes and a great little lounge done up north-woods style with exposed timbers.

More Tomorrow. --RoadDog

Been Ice Breaking

I spent some time Tuesday and a lot of time yesterday breaking up ice and snow on the driveway. It finally got over freezing, the first time since Dec. 2nd.

Usually, you can count on above freezing enough days to help, but not this go around.

December 1st, we had three inches of snow and then rain as it got up to the upper 30s on Sunday. Then we had the deep freeze and it all became ice. Then we had 6-8 inches of snow on two different occasions and several other days of multi-inch accumulation.

I decided not to use the snow blower Dec. 2nd and, judging by sore muscles today, surely regret that decision.

I'll be heading out shortly to break up some more ice. I try to make holes and that helps speed up the melting.

Aching Back Fun and Times Here in Illinois. --RoadDog