Beach Panorama from Manasota Key, FL

This is another panorama shot of the beach we went to today. It is near Englewood, FL, on Manasota Key. It is, more precisely, Blind Pass Beach, which is on the Sarasota County side of the key. This is the beach we go to most often when we are in Florida, though it is about 45 minutes from our house. You might be able to spot our two green umbrellas on the beach. The sun was quite bright over the water causing a large white spot in the photo. Also, you might see the dark clouds behind us that eventually caused us to leave the beach when it started to sprinkle. We were afraid it might start to pour. It was otherwise a beautiful beach day.

You can move around the panorama by clicking on the picture and mousing left or right.

Christmas Recap: Stash Includes Adele DVD

We had a really nice Christmas. On Christmas Eve, Shane and I went out to dinner at the River City Grill in Punta Gorda, FL. It was very nice-Shane had steak and I had blackened salmon.

They do a great job of decorating downtown Punta Gorda for the holidays.

Christmas tree in downtown Punta Gorda, FL.

After dinner, we went back to the house and exchanged gifts. Since we did the trip to New York City earlier in the month, we scaled back on the gifts. Shane got me a New Yorker Cartoon desk calendar and a book I wanted, You Are an Ironman. I got him an Italy calendar, a couple books and DVDs (I got some great deals by taking advantage of Borders going out of business). After gifts and dinner, we watched a Christmas episode of All Creatures Great and Small. It was a perfect evening.

We exchanged gifts with my family last weekend and among the stash I got was the Adele DVD of her performance at Royal Albert Hall on blu-ray. There is an excerpt above. Today, we went up to Shane's Mom's house and celebrated with his family. We did some Skyping with both his family and mine. His Mom made a delicious Christmas dinner. We got a beach cart and portable gas grill... along with other cool things.

Shane with his Mom and Grandmother

It was a very nice day--except Shane insisted on washing the car at one point. It was nice having a clean car though. It was filthy as can he noted in his comment of the video I posted of our dashboard lights flashing.

Our cleaned CR-V

I Want to Wish You a Merry Christmas!!

These clips are from Pee Wee Herman's Christmas Special (the whole show is available for free at www.peewee.com and it is worth the watch). Feliz Blah Blah Blah! 

Panoramic View from Our Dock in Punta Gorda, FL

This was taken with an iPhone app called 360 Panorama. As you can see, the software isn't perfect, as there are some fuzzy areas, but the effect is still pretty cool. This was taken today while standing on the dock behind our house in Punta Gorda, FL. You can move around by clicking and dragging on the photo.

President Obama Gets Best Christmas Gift Ever

The Republicans finally caved on their blocking of the payroll tax break 2-month extension, giving President Obama the best Christmas gift ever. Speaker of the House John Boehner looks like the dumbass he is after showing he has little or no control over the crazy tea party crowd that held the bill hostage. Obama and the Dems look like the sane, smart ones (which they are) and America will still get their tax break and unemployment benefits (for now). Boehner now truly has good reason to do some of that crying he is so famous for. What an idiot.

Top 10 Broadcast Television Shows of 2011

This is my top 10 list of my favorite shows on broadcast television in 2011. This list doesn't include my favorite show of the year, which is American Horror Story, because it is on cable television. I've restricted this list to broadcast television because I'm currently at my house in Punta Gorda, FL, and we don't have cable or satellite TV here. We use an over-the-air digital antenna. Interestingly, we can't get a CBS station here over-the-air. I did include one CBS show in this list, but it is not currently running.

One show that did not make this list, The Biggest Loser, is not on the list because, though I am addicted to the show, I have issues with it and how it works. I think it is a little sick that it uses temptations as part of a game of losing weight. Isn't it a little sick? I admit I do watch it sometimes, but I hate myself for it.

You also might notice that my list is heavy on the comedies and light on dramas. I guess that is just the way I roll. Here's my list of Top 10 Broadcast TV Shows:

10. Glee - I do have issues with this show not having any basis in reality, but you can't deny that it is fun to watch, even if it is to just roll your eyes at the outfits they put Kurt and Blaine in.

9. Raising Hope - There are two very good reasons to watch this show: Martha Plimpton and Cloris Leachman. They are both very funny. The writing is uneven, but has its moments and is often creative.

8. The Middle - My favorite characters in this show are Sue and her ex-boyfriend Brad, the super-stereotypical gay that Sue doesn't have a clue is gay. Brad isn't on often, but when he is, he is fabulous. Even without Brad, the show is often funny.

7. Saturday Night Live - Although this show is a gazillion years old, it still can be water cooler fodder. Kristen Wiig doing Suze Orman and Fred Armisen doing Joy Behar are some recent highlights. It is often not funny, but it can be very funny... just like from day one. I remember loving it back in 1975 with Gilda Radner and the other Not Ready for Primetime Players. Even then, there were lots of duds.

6. The Office - This has been a year of big change on this show, and the verdict is still out if it can survive without Michael Scott. However, some of its best shows were the last ones of last season when Michael was leaving. When he and Holly finally got together on that rooftop, I was really moved. It was good.

5. Big Brother - I know this is a terrible show, but it is a train wreck I can't not watch. Don't judge me.

4. Dowton Abbey - From the ridiculous (Big Brother) to the sublime (this). This was such a good show on PBS and I'm VERY excited a second season is coming in January.

3. Modern Family - Everyone seems to love this show and I hear how great it is all the time. I would have expected with all the hype that it wouldn't be that good, but it really is very good. Though the Cam character is another over-the-top gay, there are people even more flamboyant in the world. You could have knock me over with a feather when I found out the actor  that plays him, Eric Stonestreet, is straight.

2. The New Girl - This is my favorite new broadcast show of the year and best new comedy. Zooey Deschanel is laugh-out-loud funny as the nerdy girl with a heart of gold. Me like.








and my #1 favorite broadcast television show is...

1. 30 Rock - You got to love Tina Fey's smart and funny show about the behind-the-scenes shenanigans of a network comedy show. I watch it over and over.

Breakfast of Champions-Headed for Florida

We started driving to Florida last night after work. We made it to a cheap motel in southern North Carolina that had a free breakfast. Nutrition goes out the window when we're on a road trip. We expect to get to Punta Gorda, FL, by early evening today if we don't run into any trouble.

UPDATE:  We arrived at our house in Punta Gorda a little after 6 this evening with no problems except a few traffic jam delays... nothing too bad though. So good to be back home in Florida!

North Korea Hysterical Over Kim Jong Il's Death

Who knew he was loved so much by the people? Even I'm getting a little vaklempt.

Trailer for Next December's The Hobbit Released

Hal-Le-Lu-Jah Chorus--Eskimo Style

This video from the small Yupiq Eskimo Village of Quinhagak, Alaska, was a school computer project intended for the other Yupiq villages in the area. Much to the villagers' shock, it is going viral on the Internet Machine. It is pretty cool.

More Holiday Music-"Chelsea Boys"

I saw this posted on Joe. My, God.'s blog. It is from Spottiswoode & His Enemies album, Salvation, which is available on iTunes. Enjoy!

Michael Buble' Sings Christmas Songs on SNL

Michael Buble' was on Saturday Night Live last night singing some Christmas standards. This is apparently the first time he has ever used a microphone or he's had a few glasses of Buble' to loosen up before the show.

Since Shane and I are heading to Florida for actual Christmas, we went up to see my family and exchanged presents with them today. One of the gifts I received was Buble's new Christmas CD. One Christmas down, two more to go. As always, sorry for the ads.
 

Finally Running Again-Training for Miami

I did a long run today. It was the first time I had run in over a week. I had a bit of a cold, so I took some time off. But I'm set to run the Miami Marathon at the end of January. I need to get some miles under my belt.

I could sure tell I hadn't run in a while. I only went about 11 miles, but my knees were aching. Also, it was freezing cold. I hate running in the cold. The wind was strong in my face on my run toward Georgetown, but I was even colder when the wind was at my back. I was planning on doing about 14 miles, but pooped out at 11.

I stopped and stretched at the Washington Monument and snapped this photo of myself. They still have the sidewalks closest to the monument closed, which happened after the August earthquake. I hope it doesn't fall over when I'm nearby.

I'm not liking that neck fat.

Vanessa Carlton's "I Don't Want to Be a Bride"

We saw Vanessa sing this song live at the Cyndi Lauper benefit a few weeks ago. It was one of the best performances of the show. Shane has become obsessed with this song. He likes this version better than the studio version, but I think the guitar sounds terrible in this version (Is it in tune?).  It was much better when she performed it solo on the piano (as she did when we saw her live). Feel free to skip over the first part, which is a bit too talky (the first minute and 27 seconds).

Another Government Shutdown? Here We Go Again

Tomorrow at midnight, I could be one of 600,000 Federal employees out of a job. The Federal Government can't get its act together to fund itself. If an agreement isn't reached by Monday morning, I will be sent home. With the holidays coming, a HUGE dentist bill I just had to pay ($600+ for a crown), and lord knows how much it is going to cost to repair our CR-V's computer problem, this is not the best time to be out of a job. Hopefully, they will get a temporary spending bill accomplished at the very last minute, if not a few minutes too late. Merry Christmas!

The Top 10 Christmas Movies of All Time

10. Bad Santa - Yes, this is juvenile, but I thought it was funny.

9. Love, Actually - Yes, this was sentimental, but I liked it. Emma Thompson is awesome as a wife finding out about her husband's office affair. It has lots of characters and plots, and is fun.


8. The Gathering (TV movie from 1977 starring Ed Asner) - Here's the story: When Adam Thornton (Asner) learns that he is dying, he decides that he wants to make peace with his family. Only problem is that most of his family are not exactly fond of him. His ex-wife suggests that they invite the family for Christmas. It is schmaltzy, but it got to me.

7. Miracle on 34th Street - Of course you have to see the Natalie Wood version.

6. National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation - This may have been the pinnacle of Chevy Chase's career. It certainly was the best of the Vacation movies.

5. Scrooge aka A Christmas Carol (1951) - Not to be confused with Scrooged, starring Bill Murray, this is based on Dickens' A Christmas Carol and a million times better than the recent Disney animated 3-D version with Jim Carey. The Mr. Magoo version also rocks, but not exactly what Dickens had in mind I imagine.

4. A Christmas Story - My favorite part is the Christmas dinner in the Chinese restaurant. I love the waiters singing them carols, though it is a bit racist.

3. Elf - The funny story of Buddy the Elf who goes to New York City to find his biological father. Will Ferrell dives in with his usual verve to create an endearing character. It features Zooey Deschanel (now in the awesome show The New Girl) and Bob Newhart as Papa Elf. Also, Ed Asner makes a perfect Santa.

2. It's A Wonderful Life - Who doesn't love this sentimental holiday movie? My only question is why they would name a kid Zuzu. According to an interview with Karolyn Grimes, the actress that played Zuzu, the name comes from Zu Zu Ginger Snaps. Jimmy Stewart calls her "Zuzu, my little Ginger Snap," in the movie.




and the Number 1 Christmas Movie of all time is...

The Waltons: A Homecoming - This isn't a surprise to anyone that follows my blog. I have posted clips of the entire movie on here before. Shane and I virtually quote the whole script to each other throughout the year. We looooooovvvveeeee this movie. Patricia Neal is the only Olivia Walton in my book (sorry Michael Learned).

I Love a Good Old-Fashion Boycott--Lowe's

I saw this on the Just a Jeep Guy blog posted by Sean, which he saw on Joe.My.God. It is about Lowe's pulling it's advertising from TLC's All-American Muslim. I think a boycott is in order. I sent the following to Lowe's:

Goodbye Lowe's--Hello Home Depot... I'm a Gay American of Irish/English/Welsh/Scottish descent and I object to you pulling your advertising from TLC's All-American Muslim because a few bigots complained so I am boycotting Lowe's. I am not a bigot/racist or prejudiced and I will not support a company that is. I will be requesting my friends, family and people I meet to do the same. If you cave to the prejudiced views of one group, who will be next?

Here's the not-so-easy to find link and if you blog and support complaining to Lowe's, please post and write to Lowe's to spread the word: Lowe's Corporate.  Thanks Sean!

Ron Paul Ad Trashes Newt--Don't Ya Love It?

New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest #315

Never ever make a joke about his baby carrot.  

This is my idea for the New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest #315.  Let me know if you have any ideas for a caption too.

New Three Stooges Movie Looks Funny