“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… on Earth peace, and good will toward men.
That’s what Christmas is all about, Charlie Brown.”
Yes, I know I’m a couple of days early for the 50th anniversary of this special, and if you don’t know what I’m talking about- shame on you.
I remember the first time I heard about Hanukkah, I was in elementary school, around third grade. For an agnostic suburban kid I was shocked, I tell you shocked, that not everyone celebrated Christmas! How was the economy going to keep going? Those poor kids didn’t get any presents! don’t even get me started on Santa. Then I heard the rumor that instead of having one day for presents, these kids got eight… at that point my elementary kid mind considered converting. Frankly, as with any holiday (whether I celebrate it or not) I hope everyone has a wonderful time. For the next eight nights: Happy Hanukkah!
You know MINIon #0025, #1904, #2553, and #1602… #5467, #4238, and #9053, and #4987… but do you recall? The most famous MINIon of all?
Fortunately, as I close down the year the month of the December- there are so many things to pull from. I really am starting to think that some crazy person who challenged themselves for a year, moved a few really massive pop culture images to December… and I thank them for their foresight.
When I was growing up my dad worked for a bank in the international shipping department. I had no clue what he did, but I knew he talked to people all around the world and worked in a very tall building near FAO Schwarz. I recall one year someone who he worked with who was from England came to visit California with his family… he had a bunch of teenage daughters, I was in elementary school. I had no idea about teenagers, I was worried about riding my Big Wheel. They were into the “Rock Stars” popular at that time in England. At that time one of them was David Cassidy… At the time I just couldn’t understand anything about their geekiness. All I remember was going to record stores looking for posters and records from someone, for me was a part of reruns. I still don’t understand a lot about teenagers, or girls…
You will be visited by three monkeys tonight…
As we close in on the last month of MINIons I remember that this is also the start of the Holidaze. I hope, if you have a tree, it’s festive (No tree this year for us- Hemi is depressed) and that your holiday shopping is almost done. Just remember to plan ahead for that extra large electricity bill after you get your house ready for the season.
Okay- so I know that in Star Wars VII that Threepio has a red arm… so what?!?! Who cares if the LEGO minifig now also has a red arm? After the prequels I’m going to reserve the right to draw my cybernetic monkeys the way they looked in 1977. If I actually like the new film I can always go back and “correct” this drawing, just like George “corrected” the first three films… ugh.
The big question usually asked of any “geek” is “Star Trek or Star Wars?” I believe I have said before, I’m torn on this topic. Both franchises are a part of my youth. I have fond memories of things related to each. Star Trek- I remember taking one Labor Day (or maybe Memorial Day) weekend and moving my TV outside so I could “catch some rays” without missing the massive Star Trek marathon- resulting in 2nd degree burns. Yes, it hurt. Yes I have scars to prove it. Would I do it again? Watch the marathon? Yes. Try to look like I actually lived in Southern California? Not so much. As for Star Wars- for those of us who saw it when it first was released… it was amazing. before that, science fiction and fantasy films had been kind of two dimensional- this just kind of made your mind go “Ka-Boom!” I was too old to get into the toys, but Star Wars was probably my first time attempting cosplay. Then, changes happened to both and while I still love them- each has had their set backs. Only time will tell if I will embrace either universe as I once had done. To quote Threepio- “This is madness!”
Have you ever opened a drawer and looked down and think “Which t-shirt should I wear today?” I’ll admit during the week this isn’t a problem (the question becomes “Which bowtie should I wear today?”), on the weekend it can be difficult. MINI? Doctor Who? Mini? Superhero? Just plain weird? So many choices and with so many limited run t-shirt companies on the web, more every day. Today marks the beginning of the 5th Annual Geeky T-Shirt Week. (It’s an internet/Facebook thing) So today I’m wearing a nice grey shirt with the TARDIS on it that I picked up in South Carolina on Free Comic Book Day a couple years ago. Pretty mild when it comes to geek level, most people now recognize the reference and the design makes it pretty easy to cover up. On a scale from 1 (a common logo) to 5 (The ROTJ characters: Klaatu Birrada & Nicto disco dancing with Gort – no, it doesn’t exist, I guess I have some drawing to do) I’d give this one around a 2.
Yes, I do have an entire box of MINI Cooper related t-shirts that I bring out for MTTS, because if your going where 15 straight days of MINI Cooper t-shirts you need to be prepared.
For the record I do won a “geek.” t-shirt. I picked it up on my birthday a while ago from ThinkGeek.com. I liked it so much I actually bought another one when the first one wore out. So what is your geekiest t-shirt? You know the one, you wear it and people scratch their heads trying to figure out the meaning. Only a very few smile because they are from your geek tribe and get the significance of your choice.
My parents tried to be fair, and initially fairness, meant if one kid did something, the other kid kinda had to do it too. This was an advantage in some ways and a disadvantage in others (as the second kid there were advantages and disadvantages). You see, my older brother was an athlete, I am not. Sometime in my young life I decided to stop competing and enjoy life. Before that decision came SCUBA lessons- maybe this was the moment where it sunk in. You see my older brother, besides being athletic, was really interested in Marine Biology. At some point my parents had him take SCUBA lessons. He was young for the class, but committed to succeeding because he like the ocean, and wanted to be swimming with sharks. Whether I asked to be included or not, I don’t remember, but one day I was taken to SCUBA lessons, so I too could learn. I still feel sorry for our instructor. I think I got most the classroom stuff- it was Math and Science, it was the application portion that wasn’t my cup of tea. In a swimming pool, practicing wasn’t too bad, but…
The class went to a cove/beach near where we lived to get some real life experience, before venturing out further. This was also our test to make sure we could accomplish some safety things. We all got out there and each took turns with the instructor going down (maybe 10 feet, could have been twenty, felt like a mile) to the bottom and clearing our regulator, and mask using various methods. When my turn came up, I went down fine, and got through the first part clearing my regulator. It wasn’t that bad, so now I needed to flood my mask and clear it… sounds easy. I go to flood my mask and in the process knock the regulator out of my mouth. I can’t see, I can’t breathe, and I’m underwater. All I want to do is get to the surface (note: you should never attempt a rapid ascent, bad things can happen). My poor instructor tried to stop me, and gets kicked by my flippers a few times. Ummm… I survived (I think) the instructor wrote it off to immaturity. I was able to go on other field trips, but not allowed to submerge until I could pass. (I never passed, I never tried again.) The next trip was to Catalina Island. Did I mention that as a kid, I suffered from motion sickness… after that trip I don’t remember going back for any more lessons.