Category: Christmas

Getting Things Straightened Out At Christmas

Getting Things Straightened Out At Christmas

by MichelleMcHatton

As it is Christmas, it’s bound to happen where someone decides that they know it all, that what they believe is it, and that’s just the way it is. And they’ll tell you so. It doesn’t matter what your opinion is, because, of course, their opinion is the only one that matters.

To that I say–WRONG-O!

The below image was posted on a Christmas page I belong to:

To this post I say get a fucking grip. You’re not going to tell me, of all people, what to believe. Let people believe what they want to.

You want to be offended by a song, you have a right. Many women, and men, take offense to “Baby It’s Cold Outside” and it’s understandable as to why. It’s an overplayed song anyway and based on that alone, it’s okay to be offended by it.

If I want to, I’m going to wish you Happy Holidays.

Who cares about candy canes? You either like them or hate them! And if someone wants to believe it’s a symbol of Jesus, let them believe it.

Most kids never decorated their classroom. The teachers did it. With their own supplies they paid for with their own money. And with coronavirus, hardly anyone is decorating a classroom!

Call the wise guys what you want. Jesus doesn’t care what you call him or the wise guys. He loves you anyway.

Who cares who Mommy was kissing. How do you know Santa is her husband? How do you know Santa is a MAN? Mommy may be a lesbian!

Rudy is a cartoon. Don’t take it so seriously. The bullies got it in the end anyway. Even Santa.

Letting other people have their own opinions isn’t them being mean. But you tossing what you think “should be” down everyone’s throat is not only being political, it’s being arrogant and is a great deal of what is wrong in the world today.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS! BECAUSE THIS TIME OF YEAR THERE’S MORE THAN JUST ONE HOLIDAY TO CELEBRATE!!!!

Somebody Had to Take the Little Green One

Somebody Had to Take the Little Green One

by MichelleMcHatton

Fifty-five years ago today “A Charlie Brown Christmas” debuted and Christmas specials, along with Christmas trees, would never be the same.

Charlie Brown may have always come across as being the underdog, but that was always the reason you cheered him on. Whether he was trying to kick the football or just trying to fit in, he always seemed to get the short end of the stick.

When Charlie Brown is made director of the Christmas play in “A Charlie Brown Christmas”, you feel that ol’ Chuck has finally come around. He’s finally made it. Being director of a Christmas play is a big deal. Even if your dog is playing all the animals and the script girl is a bitch.

So when Chuck and Linus are daunted with the task of getting a Christmas tree, the last thing you’re thinking is he’s going to fuck it up. And yet he does. Because of course. He’s Charlie Brown.

Somebody had to take the misfit tree. Just as someone had to take the misfit cat, the one that was the smallest in the litter. It was there for someone to take.

As Charlie Brown points out: “This little green one here seems to need a home”. Yes, and you’re the one who’s going to give it a home, Chuck. Even against Linus’s objection, Chuck lugs that little branch back to the theater and much to everyone’s chagrin, proudly places it on the stage. Of course we all know what happens next.

And in true Charlie Brown fashion, Chuck leaves with the tree, feeling bad for himself and his tree. But the tree doesn’t know any better. It’s just glad to finally have a home. Then when he attempts to decorate it, he causes it to wilt and declares, “I killed it. Everything I touch gets ruined.” At that point Chuck walks off, probably to go down a bag of chips or yell at Snoopy, just to make himself feel better. You just cannot help but feel for Chuck at this point in the show.

And because it’s Christmas and they all feel guilty for once again making Charlie Brown feel like a piece of shit, all the bratty kids come along, probably looking to taunt Chuck even more. Instead they come upon the tree and join together to decorate the little thing, miraculously turning it into a glorious sight.

As Linus points out: “I never thought it was such a bad little tree. It’s not bad at all, really. Maybe it just needs a little love.” Right, Linus. And thanks for giving up your blanket to wrap around the base of it.

And then Charlie Brown comes back, because he’s a glutton for punishment, and in his astonishment he doesn’t know what to say and everyone feels really awkward so all the punky kids just shout out “MERRY CHRISTMAS, CHARLIE BROWN!” and break into “Hark The Herald Angels Sing”. As if that’s really what Chuck wants to hear in the very sentimental and shocking moment.

So however you can watch “A Charlie Brown Christmas” this year, on DVD, Apple, PBS, YouTube, whatever, be sure you watch it, enjoy it and cherish the moments that have entertained us for the past fifty-five years and will live on to entertain many more generations to come. No matter what the tree looks like.

From Peanuts to Apple

From Peanuts to Apple

by MichelleMcHatton

After fifty-plus years network TV has decided they are through with airing Charlie Brown and have passed the iconic cartoons off to Apple TV.

I can understand the frustrations of many. It’s a yearly tradition to be able to turn on the tube in October, November and December and watch “It’s The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown”, “A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving” and “A Charlie Brown Christmas” at least once. When I was a kid it was shown only once and if you missed it, that was it for the year. In more recent years they have shown it more than once during the season. And it’s cool to be able to pass the cartoon on to your kids.

That’s why they have all the Peanuts cartoons on DVD. So you can purchase them and watch them all year long. Like I do.

So I can hear Charlie Brown complain about getting another rock in his Halloween bag. And laugh as Snoopy battles the table and chairs at Thanksgiving. And feel bittersweet at the final scene in “A Charlie Brown Christmas”. Anytime I like.

So stop bitching and complaining that network TV has moved Chuck to Apple. They were probably losing revenue on the series and now it can be Apple’s problem. Buy the DVDs and you won’t have to worry about it.

Now if they move Rudolph….then we’ll have a real problem on our hands. Just kidding. I have that on DVD also.

Making Spirits Brighter One Card at a Time

Making Spirits Brighter One Card at a Time

by MichelleMcHatton

Christmas, as we know, is often a time to spread cheer.  And sometimes there are people out there who need more cheer than others.  That’s where the Angel Card Project comes in.

You can read about it here:

https://www.theangelcardproject.com/

Basically, you sign up and you receive a list of names (and there are A LOT of names!) of individuals who could use a boost of the Christmas spirit in the form of a simple Christmas card.  That’s it.  Just a card is all that is needed.  It could be a boxed card, homemade, an emotional Hallmark card, any kind of a Christmas greeting card.  And there is no minimum or maximum of how many people you send cards to.  You could send one.  You could send one hundred.  For these folks just getting a Christmas card would mean the world.  Many of them have very little, if anything.  Some are shut-ins.  Many have medical issues or disabilities.  Some are imprisoned.  But they all have one thing in common:  they could all use a little extra joy this Christmas, even if it’s from a stranger.  For many of them, that may be all the happiness they receive this holiday season.

Consider volunteering to send out a card or cards to some people who need it this year.  Your heart will thank you for it.

What’s in a Christmas Song?

What’s in a Christmas Song?

by MichelleMcHatton

Once again the airwaves are filling up with the sounds of Christmas.  Which is fine with me, since I love Christmas and actually listen to the music all year long.

There is one song, however, that I have grown immensely tired of hearing.  No, it’s not Mariah’s song.  Yet.  It’s “Baby, It’s Cold Outside”.  Controversy aside, I’m simply bored with it.  I don’t care who sings it, I’m done with it.  And it has nothing to do with its “controversy”.

No disrespect to John Legend and Kelly Clarkson’s lyrical remake this year, which I won’t get into because that topic has grown tiresome also.  But whether you change the lyrics or not, it’s still a 70-year-old worn out song.  You can argue over the meaning of the lyrics until the end of time, it’s not going to change the fact that, in the end, it’s just another classic Christmas song.  One that has grown old with the ages.  Take it or leave it.

For me, “Baby, It’s Cold Outside” has gone out to pasture.