That was quite a hiatus...

"Pfaff is back after a long hiatus
And there is no doubt that he is the greatest!"

I once put that on a message machine of mine. And if I remember correctly, I followed that with about a minute of freelance rapping.

Just want to let everyone know I'm alive and well after the holiday with one left to go.

I will be updating soon.

I like this pic of us...

To me it just says Christmas. All we need is some snow on the ground.

Must see holiday movies...

I guess I should have done this one earlier. That way you could have watched them all.

White Christmas

This is a good old-fashioned corny musical with Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye, Rosemary Clooney an some other lady. Bing and Clooney were the singers. Kaye and the other lady were the dancers.

Bing and Danny were in the army in WWII and Danny saved Bing's life. Bing was a big star and Danny parlayed his injury sustained while saving Bing into forming a duet with Bing. They were a huge hit. They started to produce and became even bigger.

While in Florida, they went to see the sister act of an army buddy. Clooney and the other dame. After a mixup with their landlord and a warrant from the sheriff, the girls were perfectly innocent, the girls took the guys train tickets and headed off to Vermont where there next gig was. To stall the sheriff, Bing and Danny did the girls act lip-synching their song. Bing breaks character by laughing so much at Danny's antics but it is one of the highlights of the movie.

They all decide to go to Vermont and it turns out the owner of the Inn is Bing and Danny's old General. Well, no snow in Vermont made for a sparse guest list so the boys decide to bring up the whole show to practice in Vermont.

All the while there is an on-again off-again love thingy between Clooney and Bing. He thinks everyone has an angle. Doing something to get what they want. Clooney thinks he's cynical. They fall in love anyway. Until there is a miscommunication about why Bing wants to go on his buddies TV show. Bing wants all of the Generals old soldiers to come up to Vermont for the General. His buddy suggests bringing cameras up to film it all; a great human interest story. Bing says no way. All he wants to do is ask the guys to come up on the show. Well, Clooney only hears about all the cameras and doesn't hear the rejection and thinks Bing is doing it for the publicity.

Mayhem ensues.

Clooney leaves. Bing pleads. Danny leads.

The guys come up to surprise the General. Clooney realizes her mistake and surprises Bing on stage. It starts to snow.

All is right with the world.

Family Man

This movie tugs at my heart.

It's about a rich guy, Nicloas Cage, who 13 years prior had left his girlfriend, Tea Leoni, at the airport promising her he would be back then they could start their lives together. He didn't. They didn't. He is now very rich and successful.

But apparently he doesn't have everything he needs. Don Cheadle plays an angel who puts him in a life where he came back from London and they did start a life together. They live in Jersey with two kids.

His journey from rich single guy to family man is funny and insightful. All along his daughter knows he's not really her dad and helps him along the way. She thinks he's an alien but they did a good job making him look like her dad.

One morning he and his daughter are playing outside and she looks at Cage for a second and says "I knew you'd come back." Very heart-warming moment. He has grown into the role of father and she recognizes him know as such.

Earlier in the movie Cheadle gave Cage a bike bell. We never knew what it was for. He is in the garage and hears the bell. It is Annie, his daughter, she is ringing the bell for fun. Whew! Crisis averted!

Cage goes down to the local store to pick up some rock salt and there is Cheadle behind the counter. D'OH! Cage is adamant about staying n his new life but Cheadle reminds him the new life was just a glimpse until he figured out what he needed.

Cage falls asleep after saying goodbye to his family. Unimaginable. He wakes up in his old rich life. Miserable.

He tracks down Leoni. She is moving to Paris. He rushes to the airport to stop her. She assures him she has closure form 13 years ago and he can go. He begins to describe Josh and Annie, their kids, and their life together.

He asks for one cup of coffee. The movie credits start to roll with them drinking coffee.

Two more to come...

Amazing...

This, fellow Christians, is an amazing heart-warming Christmas story.

The Christmas Song...

I never thought I'd hear myself say this but Nat King Cole's rendition of this Christmas classic is not my favorite version.

It's Mel Torme's. He wrote the song after all so I'm just giving him his due.

I really started to understand the complexity of Mel a few years back. I knew of him before and had heard his music but did not begin to appreciate his genius until my father-in-law gave me a CD of his a few years ago for Christmas.

The CD was called Jazz 'Round Midnight. Mel singing classic jazz vocal tunes. Every time I hear it I can see Mel and I, both of us in tuxes about to end our last set. Bow ties undone. Leaning on our stools. Ice clinking in our glasses. Cigars smoking in the ashtray. Just singing these last few songs for ourselves. The band, knowing the end of the night is near, gets a second wind. We go through "A Sleepin' Bee", "Moonlight in Vermont" and "How Did She Look?" as prologue to "Hello Young Lover's". Our signature song.

Only during the Christmas Season are people treated to the joy that is "The Christmas Song" as only Mel and I can do it. He takes the beginning I do the ending and we harmonize in between. Nat is in the audience to hear how it's done. I'm kidding. He's here but only to jam with us after the joint closes.

Which is just what we do. Mel Torme, Nat King Cole and John Pfaffenberger together again.

I was born in the wrong decade.

Of course, there is nothing wrong with Nat's version of "The Christmas Song". It was my favorite for many many years. It's just that when I heard Mel's I knew I was home.

I have both here to listen to and compare. You can make up your own mind.

Here With Us...

It's hard for me to put into words the way this song touched me the first time I heard it. I was driving home from work; I had just pulled off the freeway onto the access road when it started.

It's still a mystery to me
That the hands of God could be so small
How Tiny fingers reaching in the night
Are the very hands that measured the sky

In my minds eye, I saw the Christ child. Newly born. I also saw my children since they are my blessings from God. I saw their hands reaching out. I saw tiny fingers. I realized their motions were not unlike those of the child described in the song; as I'm sure they truly were on that night 2000 years ago. This baby, with fingers so small and fragile, is actually the one true God who, with those hands, measured the sky.

It's still a mystery to me
How his infant eyes have seen the dawn of time
How his ears have heard an angel symphony
But still Mary has to rock her savior to sleep

The omnipotent, omniscient, all-knowing, all-powerful, Wonderful Counselor, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace and Mighty God put himself in a position of ultimate vulnerability. The same God who has seen the dawn of time put himself in a position where he could not even feed himself. For me.

Humbling.

It is almost one of those subjects that when focused on too much begin to really un-nerve you. Mine is eternity. The thought of being in heaven forever and ever and ever is something I just can't think about too much. I realize it will be utter and complete bliss and time will probably mean nothing but, right now, I only see it through the prism of humanity and all its frailties. And looking through that lens, it freaks me out a little.

Jesus the Christ
Born in Bethlehem
A baby born to save
To save the souls of man

Hallelujah!
Hallelujah!
Heaven's love reaching down to save the world
Hallelujah!
Hallelujah!
Son of God, Servant King
Here With Us

Ultimate Love.
Ultimate Vulnerability.
Ultimate Sacrifice.

"That's what Christmas is all about, Charlie Brown."

Christmas Question...

What was the best Christmas present you ever received?

I'll start. The most memorable one was the 3 ft Yogi the Bear stuffed animal. I loved that thing. I had that guy all through high school.

Yes, I was a goof.

I had the same...

conversation yesterday with two different people so it must be fate, kismet, karma whatever you want to call it.

We were talking about the programs I just commented on and the frequency with which they are/were watched. Nowadays, DVD's make any show available 24/7. It can be viewed at the persons leisure. While back in the day, you had one shot at your favorite Christmas special and that was it.

That's what made them so memorable. When these shows were on they were on and there wasn't much you could do about it. No rewind. No pause. No nothin'. You watched with intense concentration and made the time last as long as it could.

Watching specials like Charlie Brown on TV is still a special thing though. Last night it was on ABC and we all sat down with milk and cookies and watched it and recited the lines and laughed and sang. Of course, that was after we paused the TV so the kids could take a bath and we could fast forward through the commercials.

I wonder what Madison, Ian and Reagan's stories will be about their childhood? We did without DVD's, DVR's, cable, satellite TV or iphones. I wonder what they will have done without?

1. A Charlie Brown Christmas

As if there was any doubt.

This reason this special tops the list is two-fold:

2. The music. I defy anyone to produce a better Christmas soundtrack then the masterpiece created by Vince Guaraldi and his trio. I have already mentioned two of the songs in previous posts, "Linus and Lucy" which is the epitome of Christmas special music and "Skating" which is my personal favorite.

Not to be outdone on the album is "The Christmas Song", "O Tannenbaum" and "What Child is This". All done in Vince's jazz piano style. I pretty much have the whole album downloaded over there on the music player. Spend some time and take a listen.

1. The top reason I put this as number one was it is the only special on this list that actually mentions the birth of Christ. Which as we all know is the reason we celebrate Christ-mas.

Linus' little soliloquy is one of the greatest speeches in TV history. The mood, the voice, the lighting, "Lights, please", the content, the writing, the passion, the innocence, the belief. Linus had it. And he gave it to Charlie Brown.

I can remember as a kid waiting for this special to come on TV. It was always on CBS and they always played a little song and graphic before the show to let you know special programming was coming up. It was the CBS logo going around in a circle with drums beating and the horns swelling to a climax...hold on...the power of the internet. I found this in about 45 seconds

This was as much a part of the holidays as Charlie Brown.

Kids skating and singing; Linus and Charlie contemplating Christmas; Charlie depressed; kids doing the whip; Snoopy flinging CB into the tree; CB not getting any Christmas cards; CB being sarcastic; CB making the rounds (Pig Pen and Snoopy); kids eating snowflakes if they're ripe enough; kids slinging snowballs with Linus' Davey-esque slingshot action the best; Lucy psychoanalyzing CB after his payment of cold hard cash; diagnosis: pantaphobia; "That's it!"; CB appointed director of the Christmas play; real estate mentioned as a good gift; Snoopy decorating his house for a lights and display contest to win money, money, money; Sally dictating her wants to big brother CB; all she wants is what's coming to her...all she wants is her fair share; first taste of Guaraldi's genius in Linus and Lucy; kid dancing, head side to side while pointing his fingers out form his side; introduction of CB as director; Snoopy boos; CB directs; more Vince and dancing; scripts handed out; Pig Pen the innkeeper, go figure; Shermy is a shepherd every Christmas; Snoopy is a sheep, cow and yes he's even a good penguin; Lucy diatribes; Snoopy mimics and kisses; Snoopy "Bleeeah"'s; Linus is given 5 good reasons to memorize the script; he's just an innocent shepherd; Schroeder jams to Vince again; too much dust for the curls; Sally thinks Linus is the cutest thing; lunch break; Christmas queen insults; Vince one more time; Charlie throws the director megaphone with a horn toot sound effect; CB goes to get a Christmas tree, a big shiny one; CB and Linus get a scrawny but real tree; Lucy disses Beethoven; Snoopy dances on piano then gets embarrassed when music stops; Jingle Bells; CB and Linus bring in the tree; kids laugh at poor old CB; CB depressed again;

"Isn't there anyone who knows what Christmas is all about"

"Sure Charlie Brown. I can tell you what Christmas is all about. Lights, please.

And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.
And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.
And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord.
And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.
And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,
Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men."

"That's what Christmas is all about, Charlie Brown."

No.2 Santa Claus is Comin' to Town

Fred Astaire is our narrator, S.D. Kluger. Mickey Rooney is Santa. This story tells us about the origin of all of the stories associated with the big man himself; how he got his laugh, the seals; how he got his red suit, the Kringles; how he got to hide the toys in stockings, so the Burgermeister Meisterburger (BMMB) wouldn't find them of course.

It starts out with a baby being left at the Burgermeisters residence. The No. 1 lawkeeper, Grimsly, picked him up and showed him to the BMMB who promptly sent him to the orphanage.

During delivery of the boy the wind picked him up and flew him away into the woods. The animals knew the baby needed a home so they took him to the famous toy making Kringles. I am amazed at how bright and altruistic animals are in these stories. There he was loved by the 5 Kringle brothers and their mother? or sister? I never knew what her relationship was to them. They sang about being the first toy makers to the king and Kris, as they named him, was a man now and took the toys to Sombertown.

On his way he met Topper, a penguin. Who was never in any of the stories I heard about Santa Claus and I consider myself somewhat of an expert. On their way to Sombertown, they run into The Winter Warlock (TWW) who very menacingly vows to get them for crossing his mountain but after the commercial break says eh maybe next time.

Well, little did Kris know that the BMMB has just declared toys to be illegal and immoral since he had a mishap with a toy duck on the stairs which caused him to break his funny bone. He was derided for his choice of attire a time or two but he gave the kids the toys anyway, but only after a song during which a scolding takes place, "I'm telling you why." Geez, Santa, lighten up.

"If you sit on my lap today, a kiss a toy is the price you'll pay. If you sit on my left knee, don't be stingy be prepared to pay." Great song. Great lyrics.

He then meets Miss Jessica, the future Mrs Claus and woos her with a doll.

The BMMB sees all the children playing with toys and is OK with it until the realizes they aren't supposed to be. He orders the children arrested. In walks Kris, to save the kids and take the blame. He also gives the BMMB a gift. "A yoyo!" The BMMB is told by the #1 lawkeeper he is breaking his own law and he realizes he's been bamboozled. Kris escapes on his running, jumping, and climbing abilities.

Not all is hunky dory yet. Back in the woods on the way back to the Kringle household, he gets captured by Willy Willow and Peter Pine two of TWW's henchmen. But their bark is worse than their bite and when Kris offers Winter a gift, with no tricks attached, Winter orders the trees to let Kris go and they oblige. Kris gives TWW a train and his icy exterior melts to show a warm gentle man of ages who just wants to be loved. He puts one foot in front of the other and their friendship is born. TWW even shows Kris a trick or two. But not only that the Kringles move to TWW mountain to be closer to Sombertown which makes Winter happy because now he;s not alone.

Kris makes his way back to Sombertown a few times thwarting BMMB's efforts to stop the kids from getting toys every time. First BMMB locks the doors; Kris goes down the chimney. Then he searches the houses for toys, they are hidden in the stockings. Finally though, BMMB stakes out a house and Kris is caught.

Not only is he caught but all of the Kringles as well.

Miss Jessica takes it upon herself to free the Kringles. She goes to TWW's house and learns he has a few magic beans left that make reindeer fly. They feed the reindeer, and fly in to save the Kringles. TWW is heard to say, "I'm not such a loser after all." No TWW, you are anything but a loser my wintry friend.

Seeing as the Kringle name is now dangerous he reverts back to the name he had when the Kringles found him, Claus. He marries Miss Jessica and TWW even lights a tree with his last magic. The first Christmas tree.

As time goes by, the BMMB's die out and the people realize their laws are dumb. Kris decides because of all the toy requests to limit his trip to once a year; the night of profound love. Christmas Eve.

The music and the supporting characters make this my No. 2.

TWW saying, "...a chance to be reborn" and "I'm not such a loser after all." is worth the price of admission.