AEJ and I watched a few Christmas shows this week. First up was Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer — the stop-motion classic. We have it on DVD — complete and unedited (don’t get too excited; it’s not like there are extra booby scenes or anything) — but this year we watched it on CBS, who was claiming to have a remastered transfer. It did look better, but the editing was awful, with cuts in the middle of song verses. You suck, CBS.

I think of all of the Christmas specials, Rudolph is my favorite, and the songs by Johnny Marks are the biggest reason why. I can’t help but think, though, when I hear “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” and “Holly Jolly Christmas,” and I know he also wrote “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree” and “I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day,” I just think… Holy crap, those were some royalties.

Also when watching “Rudolph” each year, I wonder when Hermey is going to come out. Hermey says he’s a “misfit.” He doesn’t want to “make toys,” he’d rather be a “dentist” (wink, wink). I know what you’re saying, Hermey, and you don’t have to hide behind euphemisms. It’s 2008, buddy. We’re cool with it. Come on outta there.

Did you know that there are other stop-motion movies by the same team that made “Rudolph?” There are a few really good ones like “Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town” and “The Year Without a Santa Claus” (featuring the awesome Mr. Heat Miser / Mr. Snow Miser song, with the best trombone writing in any Christmas song ever – here’s the MP3). I think maybe Mr. Heat Miser should take Hermie under his wing.

There were also a few gawd-awful duds, though — like “Nestor, the Long-Eared Christmas Donkey.” Seriously.

We also watched “Holiday Inn” a few nights ago. I’d never seen it, but I knew it as the movie that introduced the classic song, “White Christmas.” This was the full, original version of “Holiday Inn,” watched via the cool new Netflix OnDemand streaming service. In most broadcasts for probably the past 25 years, the movie has been edited, cutting a truly off-key and bizarre number: “Abraham.” It seems the holidays at Holiday Inn really were all very, very white. So white that the song about Lincoln’s Birthday, celebrating Lincoln freeing the slaves, features two of the characters — one of them being Bing Crosby — singing the song in black face. I shit thee not. Bing F’ing Crosby — in black face.

Here we were watching a cheery Christmas movie, and then there’s this black face number. It somehow didn’t seem malicious — just incredibly dated and out-of-touch. Still, I was shocked. (This is an actual image of me, captured during the number.)

To close, due to popular demand (and because it’s become a tradition here on the blog), here is the recording of the Worst Nutcracker Ever. It’s the Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy, performed by an unknown ensemble, and emailed to me back in 2004 by John Corigliano. Happy holidays!

Steve & Verena gave Loki some Christmas presents this week, including this little reindeer hat. At first, he was curious.

So Verena tried to strap the little hat to Loki’s little head.

I have a pretty fast camera, but this was the best I could capture before Loki tore the thing off. Apparently, cats and hats don’t really mix.

Speaking of cats, we got a pair of ceramic Chinese lions yesterday. Because — why not?

They’re typically used outdoors — flanking a front door, for example, maybe at your Shanghai palace (is that the name of a Chinese restaurant?) — but AEJ had the awesome idea to use them inside, flanking the center speaker of the stereo. It’s like they’re guarding the electronics. Their mouths are open, so it sort of looks like they’re singing Christmas carols. (Kind of like a 40-pound version of Billy Bass.)

Note that these cats are willing to wear Christmas hats. That’s right, Loki, they’re throwing down.

The Christmas Spirit has started his attack on the Mackey household.  AEJ and I bought a bunch of cheery outdoor decorations at Target yesterday.  Sometime over the next few days, I need to figure out how to get a good photograph of the outdoor cheer.

AEJ has a bit of a thing for collecting Christmas trees. We have a huge white one with white lights (you can read about its arrival in this previous entry), a small blue one with no lights, a small gold one with lights, a small turquoise one with lights, and a 7.5 foot green tinsel tree with green lights.

Loki likes the turquoise one because it works well with his eyes.

I’ve had the Sirius Classical Pops Christmas channel on constant play when I’m in the car. Man alive, what a huge improvement over the gawd-awful Christmas Pop channel I’ve ranted about in the past.

The fireplace is being refaced, so for now our stockings are in the foyer. I kind of dig them there.

Lots and lots of work going on here at the house. Between that, getting ready for Midwest, and getting ready for Christmas, things are busy. Any of you going to Midwest? It’s only about 10 days away now…