Fresh out The Oven: Holiday Picks!

Yeah, yeah, yeah! It's the week of the Christmas holiday! (and other holidays!) When stores are cleared out and restaurants showcase Holiday specials and people try to hide their presents in the closet (cough cough me cough). The houses are all trying to outdo each other with crazy lights and inflatable Santas (you know who you are) and OH, WHAT A WONDERFUL HOLIDAY SEASON THIS SHALL BE!!!

But before I give you some recommendations, I first have to acknowledge the death of really quite a brilliant man. Whether you agreed with his opinions or not (and trust me, I've disagreed with him, too) you cannot deny that his refusal to hide his opinions and argue his point was truly admirable. I used to watch his appearance on Realtime With Bill Maher, and his attitude always amused and intrigued me. He was a real character, and will be missed. Rest In Peace, Christopher Hitchens.

Now, I thought I'd quickly fill you in on what's been going on this week. I'm attending a nice get together with family and friends for Christmas, and I printed my own homemade cards for each family member. I even bought my final gift for my younger sister, who absolutely LOVES Mindless Behavior. DO you know of them? They're like B2K for 2011. They're four boys with nicknames like Prodigy, Princeton, Roc Royal, and Ray Ray. You can see their MJ influences in their videos (I did a little research when I found out about them). Personally, I find them to be cute lil' things, and if you like the really pop mainstream stuff, they're for you. But anyways, their first album is out, called "# 1 Girl," and my sister hasn't gotten around to buying it yet, so hey, I did it for her! Something tells me she's going to love it! If you know your younger sibling or relative likes boy groups, buy them this album. 

In other news, I want A Book by Desi Arnaz and Love, Lucy by Lucille Ball for Christmas. Yes, I'm still gushing over The Lucy-Desi Era. Or, in particular, DESI ARNAZ. 

Don't look at the screen like that, I'm serious.

Can you deny how amazing he was as a musician alone? Since he was a very young man, he led his own band and performed songs that he turned into hits, like "Babalu," and even on I Love Lucy, he made even more classics, like "Cuban Pete," and "The Lady In Red." And he was an exceptional actor. Sure, he couldn't contain his laughter at  times, but that was part of the charm for him. His expressions when he knew something was about to go down, his laugh (AHHH-HA-HA-HA), and of course, his accent, all made him one of the best TV husbands in TV history! And don't deny it; without the accent, it just wouldn't be the same.

What's more, he was the one who invented the anatomy of the sitcom: the three cameras, shot in front of a live audience. Yes, he was the reason we have our favorite form of comedy shows today. He ran Desilu Productions, directed a few episodes himself, made and performed music with his own band, starred with his wife, and then came home to play with his two children. The man was a real worker. And for that, we should applaud him, for he never got the kind of recognition he deserved until after his death. Which pretty much sucks. So I'm doing my part now. BRAVO, DESI ARNAZ, FOR YOUR LEGENDARY CONTRIBUTION TO ENTERTAINMENT!!!!!!

And now, for some good holiday entertainment you can indulge in!

Starting with books:

• Anna Karenina
• A book of betrayal, passion, romance, and insanity in nineteenth century Russia. Couldn't put it down once I picked it up.

• Harry Potter (yes, Harry Potter)
• First thing you must be thinking is, "What?" but these books, especially the first one, always gave me the desire to snuggle up in a comfy sweater on the couch near the window where the snow would fall outside, sipping some hot cocoa as I read. Maybe you will, too…..or is it just me?
• My Sister's Keeper
• Not really for those looking for a feel-good story. It's about two sisters, and one of them has cancer, so the other one (a designer baby) donates her organs to her. Until that designer baby decides to sue her parents. Riveting tale with a shocking twist at the end. 
• Sing You Home
• This is a little more light-hearted than the previous book, but it still touches of controversial issues. A woman who recently divorced her husband falls in love with a woman and wants to inseminate herself with the…er…donation that her husband gave (he never wanted children). But her husband, who is against gays, sees this an unacceptable and tries to legally get the….donation…back. I'm not doing it enough justice, so you'll have to read it yourself.
• House Of Silk (A Sherlock Holmes)
• This is actually a NEW book that came out recently. I am a huge fan of the Sherlock Holmes series, and when I saw this, my eyes bugged out. Turns out, the Arthur Conan Doyle Estate approved this ONE AUTHOR to write another Sherlock Holmes novel. I started reading it in a bookstore, but I didn't finish it. I assure you, I will, and by the time I do, I hope you have too, so you'll know what I'm gushing about in later posts.
• Alex Haley's Queen
• Ah, the glorious story of Alex Haley's family. I truly love this book. As long as it was, I finished it in one day and then went to read it all over again. It's too much to explain here, but knowing that it is all based on research Haley did himself is absolutely amazing! READ IT!

Who can possibly forget the movie list?? Before I give you the list of classics, you have to get two movies out now that are holiday-friendly! Sort of!

First off is the new SHERLOCK HOLMES movie. Yes, the Sherlock Holmes movie. Robert Downey Jr? Jude Law? That girl from the original "Dragon Tattoo" movie series? Do this help you remember?

Good.

All three of them star in this sequel to the first one. Sherlock is as clever and paranoid as ever, and Watson, who is trying to enjoy a honeymoon but instead gets sucked into Sherlock's investigations, has had it up to HERE! Holmes is after a professor who has cleverly murdered many without leaving a single trail of evidence behind him. Sherlock is the only one to see through his games, but his issue now is proving it to the public. Also on the scene is Sherlock's brother, Mycroft, who is played by...wait for it....STEPHEN FRY! Oh, how I lot that man! Such a hilarious actor!
For more information, watch the trailer here:

Second off is the new Charlize Theron movie, "Young Adult."

Same writers as Juno, same director as Up In The Air...nuff said. I had to go. But it was even better than I expected. Theron plays mavis Gary, that "girl you hated in high school," who is a successful teen fiction writer who recently divorced from her husband Alan, who never shows up except in ONE PICTURE. While drinking and gobbling junk and watching reality TV and trying to finish the last novel in her teen series, she decides that the key to getting her life back together is going back to her hometown in Mercury and getting back her high school sweetheart (Patrick Wilson) from his new wife and NEW BABY. Yes, this woman is psychotic. But you feel for her in some way, because I'm sure many of us have felt a desire to relive what we may see as our glory days. Also in this movie is Patton Oswalt, who plays the nerd friend, the only source of logic and sanity in Mavis's life right now. Their dynamic is delicious on screen. When I left the theater, I was surprised. The ending didn't give some happy-go-lucky ending. it gave an unusual, understandable, realistic ending--some people just never change. A very well-done thought provoker for the holidays.
Again, check out the trailer if you need more convincing:

And now, the list of classics I think you will surely enjoy this week. Forgive my lack of description.

• A Charlie Brown Christmas
• How The Grinch Stole Christmas 
• The Holiday
•  Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber Of Fleet Street
• Harry Potter And The Sorcerer's Stone
• Kate And Leopold
• Edward Scissorhands
• Parenthood
• Home Alone
• Roxanne
• The Best Man
• Two Weeks Notice
• The Duchess

Finally, a list of songs and albums for the holidays as well!

(The ALBUMS are in Italics and the SONGS are in quotations.)

• Brown Sugar from D'Angelo
• All I Can Provide from Clara Hill
• "Thinkin Bout U" Diggy Simmons
• "Whispers In Bed" New Edition
• "Invention No. 13 in A Minor, BWC 784" Janos Sebestyen
• "Everything In Its Right Place" Radiohead
• "15 Step" Radiohead
• "Idioteque" Radiohead
• King Of Limbs From Radiohead
• "Tapes" Alanis Morissette
• "What Now" Aloe Blacc
• "Girlfriend" Bobby Brown
• "Before We Begin" Broadcast
• Kind Of Blue from Miles Davis
• After Hours from Jeanna Lee
• Take Care from Drake
• "Love Hangover" Diana Ross
• "Your Ex-lover Is Dead" Stars
• Simple Things Zero 7
• "I'm Ready" Tevin Campbell
• "Alone With You" Tevin Campbell
• "Don't Disturb This Groove" The System
• "Falling For Your Love" The Sylvers
• "Forever Yours" The Sylvers
• "Caramel" Suzanna Vega
• "Luka" Suzanne Vega
• Brand New Day Sting
• Stevie Wonder. Period.
• "Chasing Cars" Snow Patrol
• "You Could Be Happy" Snow Patrol
• "Somewhere A Clock Is Ticking" Snow Patrol
• "Kiss Me" Sixpence None The Richer
• "Red umbrella" Kostars
• Living With Owusu And Hannibal From Owusu And Hannibal
• Wounded Rhymes Lykke Li
• Sideways from Clara Hill
• Jose Gonzalez. Period.
• How To Save A Life The Fray

This will most likely be my last post of 2011 unless I can push out a quick pre-New Year post and.or a XMAS eve post, but there is a slim chance of that. So I'll do the well wishes now: Have a HAPPY HOLIDAYS and an even HAPPIER NEW YEAR!

Peace Out 2011!

-CDM