Run Run Rudolph

I did not know, or pay attention to the real title of the Chuck Berry smash hit, 'Run Rudolph Run'...always thought it was Run Run Rudolph...ah, what was I thinking?...this goes back to me earlier days...as I was not much into lyrics...it was the melody, and the beat, I reckon'...could sing many songs in the first line or so, but that was it...there were so many of me amigos and amigas that could sing the tunes all the way thru...not moi...

It's not that I didn't care...as one of my fav parts of getting a new vinyl, was to look at the jacket and take out the words...and sing along...but, I didn't memorize nuttin'...kind of like reading real music sheets...ah, no way...the sharps and whatever...made no sense...

The covers of the many Xmas songs...who does them better than the original?...Burl Ives, 'Holly Jolly Christmas'...Elvis, 'Blue Christmas'...Bing, 'White Christmas'...nobody did those better...thinking more about this...there were singers that just owned the season...Johnny Mathis, Amy Grant, Andy Williams...the list is long, and I'm sure I'd leave your choice out...

If you are not in the mood, you GET in the mood...ah, isn't that a line from a movie?...not sure from where, but it sure popped into my mind...well, now, I am talking the Holiday Spirit...

Ugly Xmas Sweater parties or whatever...that is a misnomer...unique...bizarre...festive...fun...all better nomenclature...I think they are great...love to see them on the web net...and on the pixels...makes me feel warm....go figure...

This is the day that we and millions of others...hit Costco...for the needs of the Christmas week...the list is long and we have to take the SUV...

Did you see the finale of the Survivor?...what?...the wrong dude won...how can they vote for a guy who won NO competitions?...blasphemy...well, you could parallel that to the '16 election...I digress...

Look away...there were 2 bowl games yesterday...and I missed them both...not a good sign, kids...as I have said often...I know nuttin'...

Geez, the weather gal (aren't most of them female now?) forecasted a very wet Christmas down here is South SoCal...booo...

For you retirees, the am shows on the tele are a lifeline, right?...when I was a working, never saw them...my choice of choices are Good Morning America (always in good moods) and the Kelly and Ryan Show...for the same reason...how about you?...

No more lip-syncing!...Julianne Hough, repeated the act...on her own special...c'mon...let your talent shine...live...if it really is you...that goes for all...hear me Brit?....

Marsh got me a new 'winter coat'...it is a North Face...yes, I am name dropping...but, listen, kids...it is so well made...and warm, to boot...which brings me to a funny...that happened a couple of years ago...we were taking Sammi out for her late nite walk...M did not know that she had the same brand of coat...and as we were about to vacate the elevator, I said 'hey, you got a north face!'...which, for some reason, ticked the little lady off and retorted 'well, you got a butt face!'...I had to explain to her that my statement had to do with the name brand of her coat...she still said that I had a ____ face...

Grandma got ran over by a reindeer...on Christmas...what?...that made money?...

When is the last time that you emptied your mail?...talking smart phone now...just did, and the numbers were in the thousands...wooah...

Another set of bowl games today...the hot one is the SDSU and Central Michigan matchup (11 am)...first team to score 20 wins...the other is the Dawgs and Boise St, at 4:30 in Vegas... ( is Boise a state?)...

We aborted our 2,000 piece jigsaw puzzle...you want it?...and replaced it with a 500 one...that we completed in 2 days...too easy...the right number is 1,000...

2 decent NFL games today, too...Bills at the Pats...SF at LaLa...you care?...yea, me neither...

Finally, if you are still a searching to find the right gift...and are thinking a watch...I have like 10 great ones...but ONLY wear my iwatch...just a hint....

Go Aztecs!

The Final Debate of '19

The numbers have dwindled down to a sweet 7...in the Democratic side of the 2020 election...for Prez...lively?...yes it was...Mayor Pete seemed to get the most attacks...from both of the ladies, curiously...he handled the situation well...gosh, I can't really get a feel for the leader...YET!...there were times I thought that Amy K was dynamite!...then, thought otherwise...Yang, was a pure delight...Joe was solid...what?...yes, and of course, Bernie and Eliz were the same as always...not a bad thing...listen, all of these people would be a huge upgrade from the Impeached one...

So...do I have a feeling?...Joe...but, there is some excitement for Amy...she keeps getting better...I dunno...it still will get down to whom can handle the brass idiocy of Trump...that is, if he is there...makes me ponder, how did we get into this situation, anyway?....VOTE, people, VOTE!...

The LaLa teams both got whipped by the wannabes...the Bucks and the Rockets, and that name tag...should be taken off...NBA, kids...the Lakers are not good shooters...is LeBron a closer?...for the Clips, they were lackadaisical...not a good sign...the Bucks have the most versatile guy in the bigs...the Greek Freak...and the Rockets have the best scorer in the league, the Beard...throw in the human highlight reel, Westbrook...hmmm...they are for real...it's a looooong season...

The bowl season in college football takes off today...I have a head to head bet with Snooki...appears we have like 10 games that we differ on...hmmm, he took Iowa over USC...really...

On the personal scene...my hair is getting long...my goal?...a ponytail...man bun...color the damn thing?...Marsh says no...so, we have silver streaks throughout...not sure if I can get to fruition...the long hair buggeth moi...in the am, it looks like Kramer's...

I am so lost on the NFL...is it true that the Pats are falling apart?...do think that the Eagles/Cowboys game this weekend will be fun...

You watch the remake of the Good Times and All In The Family?...the live version...they really were a special presentation...as before, Marisa Tomei deserves an Emmy for her portrayal of Edith...that good...

CATS, the movie is been getting harsh reviews...sure sounds like it would be good...but, there are so many 'experts' who say, stay away....will wait for the DVD...er, livestream...

We are done shopping...yup...instead of the meal stuff for the week...which will be all Costco...even got the frozen turkey...Butterball...which you actually cook without defrosting...have done it before...and it was splendid...

Well, ya'll have a great Friday...

Impeached!

The third time this has occurred in the HISTORY of the United States of America...a President has been IMPEACHED!...Donald Trump...the day's vote, withstood a long, laborious, and near lunacy filled 6 hours of debates by the Reps...I suppose that it was needed by law, but, did you see it?...add bizarre to the adjectives...ah, our system at work...

The vote itself was a devastating one...with the 2 articles varying by just one vote...odd, however, even odder, was the lady who is running for Prez (Demo) from Hawaii, Tulsi Gabbard...cast her tally as 'present'...in lieu of yay or nay...more of that watching our government at work, stuff...

The impact of the Impeachment has more credence than Trump lets out...it has to be devastating to him...he lets out otherwise on his Tweets, and his latest revival in Michigan...all a smoke screen kids...he will spend the rest of the month, huddling with whomever will meet with him...to devise a shield to keep him in office...McConnell, Graham, and probably the Repub vocal 'stars' of the House, will be part of his entourage...good lord, might Rudy join in ?...

Whatever, it will be another act in the process...as you and I...continue...to watch the government work as it shall...

Other...

Have you filled out your bowl picks yet?...one of the elite 4 teams, Oklahoma...has just booted 3 blokes from their squad...might that affect their performance vs LSU?...that is, if you were one of those predicting an upset...so many teams in the mix...I have no idea who (m?) to select, often...as it were, I did pick most Pac 12 teams...but listen, kids...I know nuttin'...

The LaLa Lakers and the Milwaukee Bucks are to meet tonight in Wisconsin...the two best records in the league, vie...weird, as they both lost prior to this game...caught looking ahead maybe?...and the other goodun...the Houston Rockets at the LaLa Clip Joint...may just be the other 2 best teams in the NBA...both of these games are on TNT...meaning you are going to get lots of 'informative' banter by Shaq, Kenny, and Charles...

Perhaps lost in all of this in DC...is the final debate of the year of the Demos...also, in LaLa...there are 7 left standing...wonder what the hot topic might be?...ha ha...

For youse who have been following me plight of the weather station and it's alarm malfunction...rest now...as the mighty Horse reprogrammed it...VOILA!...it worketh correctly...and we all can sleep thru the night now...

Which brings me to the unraveling of presents from the upcoming Christmas...ah, do you open yours on the Eve or on the day of?...I digress...whenever you do...and ya'll get one that you have to hook up,  screw together, charge up, or just figure out...is it just me, but are the instructions way hard to either read, understand, or printed in another language?...Daffy Duck...

Presents...one of the thangs that happen here at the Zoo...is that there are countless numbers of them shipped and stored (temporarily) by the concierge...the boxes are spilling out of the enclosed area...think about that...35 floors of peoples...in the vertical city we live in...

That tells me more than ever...people are buying from the web net...yes, I lurve Amazon...they have most everything...ship it for free...and quickly...and this...a GREAT return policy...

You heard of a Pineapple Express storm?...supposedly a windy, wet, and snowy mess coming our way...by 'our', I mean the entire west coast...brace yourself, kids...wherever you are...

The Voice had its final...of course, there were upset peops, as the winner wasn't who some wanted...the bloody fan voting process...who knows...they never publish actual counts...which I can't understand why not...but, if you ask moi, I thought the final 4 were average at best...

Hmmm, I gave nothing throwback today...pardon me...

Impeach

The significance of the day...the vote by one third of the ruling and or, representative body of our government...the House of Representatives...as to whether or not, IMPEACH the President...is a direct derivative of how the country was set up...to exist...by the people, for the people, and to protect the people...the checks and balances of the Constitution...that no man (woman) can be too strong in the leadership position...and if, the abuse is there...to remove him (her) from the office...

That vote will come today...after yet another set of lively debates as to do so, or not...the verdict is then decided...in this case, there are 2 counts that will be voted on...if done, the results will be sent to the next body of the government...the Senate...to have a trial to address and finally, JUDGE as to remove him (her) from office...

As I have gone on the record saying, that the will of the people will be heard...in some form...in some matter...in today's vote, it may be the way of half of the Nation...perhaps...if there is representation by the people that are in the elected offices in DC...which is all that we can want...representation...NOT a party bias...not personal vendettas...not from a bullying pulpit...BUT, from the people of our land...

This is a culmination of countless days, months, gosh, even years, of decision making evaluations of what has been DONE in the President's chair of the White House...yes, we have a very grave situation on our hands...I hope that it is in OUR hands...however, this, too, will be the time...that you and I...just watch the way that our government SHALL work...

We shall see...

Number 1

It has taken 25 years for a single to hit number 1...on the pop charts...what?...ah, kids, 'tis the season...and we are all listening to Christmas Music...well, many of us...surely, one of the best of them all, is Mariah Carey's 'All I Want For Christmas Is You'...that's the one...er, number one...I have enjoyed many in the past couple of weeks...however...couple that song, with it's video...smashing success, a quarter of a century after it was made...truly...amazing...

The polls of what is happening in DC are all over the place...almost bewildering and bizarre at the same time...who believes what?...who wants Impeachment?...who would vote for whom?...on and on...I still go back to this...have you ever been contacted and been part of one of them polls?...right, me neither...

The reality is...that the Reps and Senators should be back in their states...talking to their constituents and finding what their thoughts are...to formulate how they SHOULD vote on the upcoming matters...one such Rep, from Jersey, described what she has been up to in the past couple of months...doing just that...attending over 13 town halls with her people, to advise her of their feelings...then, making the decision of her people and their precinct...think that happens much?...doubt it...

Today is, or may be, a very telling time for this regime...have you heard of this?...mass demonstrations are planned for the people to support the Impeachment of Trump...for cities throughout the country...I must tell you that I haven't heard a lot of info on the marches...wonder how this will unfurl?...like I have said so often lately, I am going to watch how all this plays out...

As tomorrow is the day of vote on Impeachment in the full House of Representatives...Two Articles there of...if it or they pass, then off the process goes to the Senate for a trial...if you would believe the leaders of the Senate, which are Republicans, it will be a swift acquittal of Trump...rumors abound that NO people will be called to testify...not sure how this is truly called a trial...but, again, kids...it's up to us to watch our government at work, as it shall...

If there was a poll that showed this...I would love it...how many of the voting people of the country are actually following all of this?...how many really know what is going on?...or, actually really care?...are some blindly supporting their party?...I think this is greater than one would think...thus, altering the reality of the polling...I am guessing...

What?...that whole last paragraph would have got me a 'D' in my sophomore English class (Mrs. Taubman)...maybe, even failure...ah, just read it back...it wasn't that bad...a 'C'...yea, she woulda flunked moi...

For some reason, this NFL season is seemingly long and laborious...how many games are they into it now?...cut it immediately, and start the playoffs...TOO many regular season frays...

I have this bloody weather station thanger...it's cool looking and all...shows the temps in and out...forecasts the upcoming days...all good stuff...terrific lighting and pictures...and also has the date and time...UNFORTUNATELY, it also has an alarm clock in it...what?...that goes off at 3 in the morning...the thang came with Japanese language instructions...so, to alter the alarm, is like a Perry Mason, who done it caper...gone on the Amazon site...to no avail...then, tried the You Tube...nope...so, the manipulator I have in me...decides to reprogram the damn thang...here's hoping...kind of reminds me of the Seinfeld episode with the handheld organizers that wouldn't stop chirping....'War, hooooh, what is it good for, absolutely nuttin...'...the Elaine character...

Speaking of the weather...down here in South SoCal, there is a prognostication of rain for the week of Xmas...how much, and how often, still in doubt...and a major concern...

I think I am done with my Christmas shopping...thank goodness for Amazon...the Q is this...if you have the present in the Amazon box, do you have to unwrap it and put it in pretty paper?...or, just put the package as is, under the tree?...I mean, who doesn't like the brown paper, with the funky mail stamps adoring the package?...seems to work for Tom Terrific...

'It's a marshmallow world in the city...'...what on earth does that mean?...written in '49...Bing sang it first, but like so many of the Xmas tunes...there are hundreds of covers it...Darlene Love's version is great...and who can fuggit the collaboration of Regis Philbin and Steve Tyrell on that song...ah, BTW, it was about snow and NOT Xmas...whatever, you can think what you want...I think of Christmas when I hear it...

Army Navy Game

For as long as I can recall, I have watched the battle of the service academies play their rival football game...pulled for the Cadets, as that is where my eldest brother went to college...United States Military Academy...there is more to the story, but suffice to say, that is enough for the blog...the level of play, probably not as high as the very good teams in the country...but, really, who cares...as there is so much passion, honor, and tradition on display...not only on the field, but in the stands, and the power of the 2 schools alumni, throughout the World...either retired, or on duty, representing the USA wherever they are stationed...in protection of us...

Their cries of 'Beat Army' or 'Beat Navy' is but a brief respite in their everyday job...the result of this season's game?...Navy dominated...with a terrific performance by their QB slash running back...did so for over 300 yds...and it was as one sided as the score...31-7...still, the pomp and circumstance, made me watch 'til the end...the singing of their anthems...

Over, er down under...there, in Australia...the Americans pulled off a quaint little rally and beat the International Team...16-14...ah, doesn't get closer, unless they tie...I suppose there are some who get into the us against them stuff...I like parts...but, enjoy more...the quality of play...how these Pros can manipulate the little golf ball around...and into the hole...under pressure...Tiger is STILL at another level of golf...truly is amazing to gander at the best dude EVER to play the game, continue his talent...at his age...way coo...

You maybe know my penchant for the misnaming of the best player in the collegiate ranks...the Heisman Trophy...not who wins, but, who it is named after...which I have covered before...check it out...anyhoo, notwithstanding, the winner this season was the QB out of LSU...for moi, I would wait until the bowl games and playoffs have concluded...THEN, have the vote...

Maybe this is a bit much...but Teerump was in attendance at the Army/Navy game...and...stood out like a sore thumb...did you see this?...it was NOT, where's Waldo?...more, like what doesn't belong here?...I digress...

How is your present hunting going?...ah, Jr, I didn't say pheasant hunting...with or without a tag...the completion of said tasks, become quite laborious at times...finding the perfect gift...then, hoping it really is...will it fit?...the right color?...did you save the sales slip?...c'mon, these are the real Q's that must be answered...we are using our upcoming Vegas trip as our duo gift...yet, something must go under the tree...so...

Later on last eve...I was watching some highlights of the college hoops...on ESPN, I think...the Ducks beating Michigan was one...nice W...but, here we go...the other part of the presentation...was showing the Duck Ladies in their win...what?...must say, that was a first that I have seen...was it because right after the win, this old NBA Pro, wanted to get into the winner's photo?....one Kobe Bryant, who is a big fan of the Ducks...listen, kids, these gals are good....really good...it's just not UConn anymore...

This week will be monumental for the House of Reps...as they will vote in total, as to whether or not...Impeach Trump...the fact that it will happen, is one more significant measure of how this government shall work...there will be side stories...there will be acts that will confuse us all...before I pass on added comments, let's just take this one step at a time...maybe, one could count the number of Tweets coming from the White House as a measuring stick...his cry of 'the do nothing Democrats'...will be first and foremost...maybe...they will do at least one thing...maybe...Impeach him...

Time for some Red Zone...I tell ya, cuz, I got no fantasy team, I am not looking at who is playing whom...just sit back and enjoy the games...


Finally, on this day back in 1980...our lives were changed forever, as our son Cristopher Allan Joseph, was born....then, this past year...he and his wife, Leila, had their first son...Cyrus Allan Joseph....it has been another good year...