Do You Hulu?

Happy, happy. Joy, joy.

I just discovered Hulu. Or should I say I finally got around to checking it out after someone hipped me to it.

Either way, this is what I'm doing on New Year's Eve. I just watched one of my favorite movies on Hulu. It's called The Man Who Never Was. It's a WWII drama, made in the '50s and based on a true story of how the British deceived the Germans into believing there would be an invasion of Greece, when in fact they invaded Sicily.

What is so great about this movie is that it's about the people behind the scenes in the war. The ones thinking and planning and - in this case - plotting. If you like smart movies, I think this is one for you.

A Christmas Story

Well, it's Christmas Eve and TBS is once again running its 24-hour marathon of "A Christmas Story." I love this movie. It's so sweet. Ralphie simply cracks me up.

For those who've seen it you know all the gags; the Leg Lamp, Ralphie getting "soap poisoning," the triple-dog dare and "You'll shoot your eye out!" If you haven't seen it, you really should watch it at least once. I'm sure you'll enjoy it.

So, tonight I'm wishing everyone a wonderful holiday season.

Merry Christmas!

Pie

I'm not a huge pie person. I usually prefer chocolate cake. But I occasionally enjoy a good pie - key lime, peach or apple, maybe blueberry. Today, I had an absolutely fantastic double crust peach pie with a cinnamon, sugar icing dribbled over it. So amazingly good.

This pie came from a great little shop called A Slice of Pie. The first restaurant opened in Rolla, Mo., which is on the original Route 66. It's been covered in various blogs and magazines. There's a location in Jefferson City as well, which is where I checked it out.

I visited the shop yesterday for the first time after getting a rave review while yacking with my manicurist. She swore that it was beyond good. So I took myself to the shop and bought a whole pie to share with the office. We cut into it at lunch today and ate every bit.

A Slice of Pie also offers quiche and pot pies and if those are anywhere near as good as the pie, it's gonna be phenomenal. I'll let you know.

We Need a Little Christmas

Earlier this month I posted that my mom wanted to go see the Radio City Christmas show in St. Louis at the Fabulous Fox Theater. I wrote that I'd learned the world-famous Rockettes started out in St. Louis before moving to New York.

So this past weekend we took a road-trip. This family-oriented show included rousing song and dance numbers, colorful costumes and set designs. As our group ranged from eight to eighty-plus (literally), it had something for everyone.

My favorite eight-year-old sat mesmerized through the first act, her finger in her mouth and her eyes wide. Scenes included a unique version of The Nutcracker; instead of people all the characters were wearing teddy bear costumes. It was really adorable.

And the Rockettes did their famous Parade of the Wooden Soldiers. They were precise and their formations were flawless. I was impressed.

The show definitely set the mood for Christmas. I've been humming the songs all week. As the song, "We Need a Little Christmas" ran through my head once again, I had to look it up to see where it came from. It's from Mame.

If the show comes your way, take your family. You'll enjoy it, I promise.

Knit one, purl two?

While we were traveling to St. Louis this past weekend to see the Rockettes at the Fabulous Fox Theater, my favorite eight- year-old pulled out her knitting needles. Like many kids, she didn’t focus on it for long before moving on to some of the other things she brought to entertain herself on the drive.

But seeing her attempting knitting got me to thinking about taking it up as a hobby. I’ve recently read a couple of books that were set in yarn shops (I really enjoyed the last one, Casting Spells by Barbara Bretton. Take one magical town ala Harry Potter, add a romantic subplot and set it in a yarn shop. There are also a couple of mystery series built around knitting and other needle work.)

But I digress. So the eight-year old and the books combined to remind me that my mother tried to teach me to knit. I probably wasn’t much older than eight or nine and it just didn’t take. Then a Twitter pal mentioned knitting.

Is this adding up to a cosmic hint?

I Googled “knitting in Jefferson City” to see what turned up. I didn’t find any classes in my town, but a couple of options exist in Columbia. I also discovered Ozark Handspun, “artisan -crafted homespun yarn,” that’s created right here in mid-Missouri. According to the company’s Web site, the owner began “washing, dyeing, carding and spinning,” after a visit to a yarn shop in California.

So I’m seriously considering stopping in one of those shops on my next trip to Columbia to get more information on the beginner’s classes and to check out all that soft fluffy yarn. Just what I need, another addiction. Ha!

TGIF

I have always loved Friday evenings. When I was a kid, Friday was often the day we’d get McDonald’s. That was a big deal back then, because fast food was a treat. Most days you ate home-cooking. (Which I now understand is so much better for you)

Friday night meant staying up late, 'til ten o’clock, even.

Friday nights brought the promise of Saturday morning cartoons, at a time before Cartoon Network and Nickelodean.

Friday nights meant the whole weekend was ahead and the possibilities were endless. There would be no school tomorrow (except one year when it snowed A LOT and they made us make up days on Saturdays. Boo).

And then when I got a little older, Friday night meant football games, movie nights with friends and pizza parties.

Of course in college Friday nights meant parties and after graduation Friday often meant happy hour after work.

Now, Friday evenings are the time to chill out after a long week.

The weekend still is ahead and possibilities include all sorts of adventures. Shopping, eating out, going to the theater or the movies, taking in sporting events or just relaxing with family and friends. You can do as little or as much as you want during the weekend.

So this weekend, be sure and give it a whirl. If you’re looking for something new, check out VisitMo.com for suggestions.

Eye-high Kicks

My mother informed me she wanted to see the Radio City Rockettes touring Christmas show. I went online to buy the tickets and learned a little tidbit that may interest only me – the Rockets started in St. Louis as the Missouri Rockets.

The creator, Russell Markert had seen the Ziegfield Follies and decided he wanted to “get a group of American girls who would be taller and have longer legs and could do really complicated tap routines and eye-high kicks…” He debuted his dream in 1925 and by the ‘30s the Rockettes were kicking it up in the Big Apple. The rest as they say, is history. The Rockettes are known for the kick line that still closes each show.Roc

So we’re headed to St. Louis in a couple of weeks to see the World Famous Radio City Rockettes, just not at Radio City.

It's December

So today is the day I officially stop complaining about the commercialization of Christmas. I have been fussing loudly about retailers putting stuff out in October and advertisements that begin mid-November for the past few weeks. In my not-so-humble opinion, Christmas does not come before Thanksgiving or Halloween.

Now that it is December, let the holiday celebrations begin. But let's not forget the reason for the season. Don't get so caught up in to-do lists and the holiday frenzy that you miss the important things.

This month there are all manner of activities that will delight. Go for a drive and take in the holiday lights, watch a parade, go caroling or have the neighbors over. Just enjoy this time of year with your family and friends.

No matter how you observe the holidays, I wish you peace, joy and prosperous new year.