kattitudes

I have read the story eleventy thousand times. Seen the movie eleventy dozen times, both black and white and colorized. It is only fair to include the cartoon.

I. Am. In. Love.

Just. In. Love.

This video is small movie of the reading of a book written by Mr. Mears entitled Saint Nick and the Space Nicks. It is a children’s book about … you know what? I am not going to spoil this. But I will say that it takes but six minutes and it is WONDERFUL.

Preview it first so you know what you are showing, but then, you will have an utterly FANTASTIC story that you can show your kids over and over and over when things get busy during the holiday season. Oh my goodness. I am so thrilled I found this book. I know just what I am getting for one of my dear nephews (the other family would most likely find it sacrilegious, but pooh on that because the story is just too precious for words).

This is one of the times that I am not going to include a direct link to his website because the video certainly takes care of that for me (I am inserting a small eye roll here for the obligatory advertisement that obviously must be done, but did it have to be done over all the entire video?! I guess if I were in his shoes, I would probably have done the same…but still).

Nonetheless, fantastic story! Bravo!

I feel like a Christmas cartoon. And this certainly fits the bill.

A 1987 special, it makes those of us from the 80s glow with remembered Christmas joys. If you were not there in the 80s, you will really enjoy the schmaltz. It is definitely a feel good, especially without the emphasis on buying!

The Snowman is one of my absolute favorite Christmas movies, done by Raymond Briggs. It is beautiful. Coupled with his other Christmas movie about Santa’s vacation (entitled Father Christmas which, while I own, I must transfer online and, in typical fashion, am procrastinating reaching the conclusion of said job), the two movies together constitute a double-header of my favorite quiet-time Christmas anticipation.

Have I mentioned lately how much I miss living in England? Watching this just brings it all back. I am going back one day. To stay.

Of course, I say that now, but when I was there, I was homesick for the South. I guess that is what you get for moving so much as a kid. Never satisfied settling down. But still, I would like to go back to England for a substantial amount of time.

First of all, I love me some Dawn French. You might know her better as half of French and Saunders (Saunders being the half of AbFab. Now if the AbFab reference lost you, well, I’m just going to go back to bed and cry at this point because I am obviously way too old).

In the Vicar of Dibley, Dawn French is an English vicar in a very small village in the middle of England. She deals with all the usual issues at Christmas that we all do along with that pesky little sole responsibility of the Christmas sermon, but with a grace and flair that only Dawn French can bring to a character. Gosh I love her.

In this episode, the Vicar makes plans for Christmas day. Goodness, does she make plans.

But the lesson of which I speak in this particular video.is what happens when we overextend ourselves during the holidays. It is utterly hilarious but also a very valuable lesson hopefully shown long enough before the season begins to really take the lesson to heart.

Do you try too hard to make everyone happy, saying yes to everyone and everything at the expense of your own health and happiness? Are you sacrificing the peace and joy of your own Christmas because you are trying hard to create a picture perfect Christmas? Believe me when I say that it would be OK to say no occasionally.

Just ask the Vicar.

It must be done. One) it is a cartoon, two) it is from the 70’s (so cheesetastic) and three) it is a Christmas cartoon. So funny!

You know the drill.

Frightday night. Movie night at the house. Dogs, Mister, takeout, Boogyman du Jour. Creepy movies. Bad movies. Oh so bad movies. Illegal in 17 states. If you haven’t heard the shpiel, search Frightday Night and you’ll see the explanation.

Good grief I love this tradition!

Tonight’s contender has been waiting for so long. You don’t know how long I have had this in my back pocket, waiting to straddle the seasons. I almost posted it during Halloween season, but decided to wait until now, when we are fresh off Halloween and people probably still have some decorations up, but you are thinking about Christmas, even though you still have to plan for Thanksgiving dinner yet.

Oh, this is a classic. Not only is this movie so poorly filmed (oh lordy is it poorly filmed) but it has Santa in it. And Santa fights a boogyman. And of all the boogymen that Santa could fight, who does the director pick? Yes, peoples, Santa fights (insert evil yet dramatic music here) the Devil!

No. Freaking. Lie.

This is Mystery Science Theater 3000 reviewing a movie that is actually about Santa Claus fighting the Devil.

Does the world get any better than that?

I doubt it.

This is such a pretty cartoon. A little on the old side. Definitely something the older amongst us could enjoy. Watch it whilst you are putting together your Christmas list.

It’s only about eight minutes long anyway, so it is a wonderful “keep the kids entertained for a few minutes” short whilst you run off to hide your finished handiwork, if you know what I mean.

And I know it seems so early, but truth of the matter is that there are less than ten short weeks to Christmas, which means that if you want to get presents made before then, you need to be well on your way. I hope you are already.

Since we have a finger puppet nativity set up today, I am going to go ahead and jump the gun and finish posting these movies (most of the others have been posted. Not all, but most).

If you decide you want to make more characters for your nativity finger puppet set, this movie will not only give you the inspiration, but give you something wonderful to watch whilst you make the puppets.

And also, it’s Rankin Bass. Rankin Bass, people. Rankin Bass. These are the quintessential Christmas movies. I would say it doesn’t get better than this, but there is another in my pocket. Actually a few more that I’m saving.

But still. Rankin Bass.

I do not know if this is the real original film school clip by the boys responsible for the South Park menace, or if the other pretenders to the throne that I have seen out there are the real film school clip made by the boys responsible for the South Park menace.

Either way, this is just naughty. Just evil and naughty.

I do know that it is wrong. And it pleases me in the depths of my twisted evil little soul.

Enjoy!