Top Five . . . Songs That Always Make Me Think of My Dad

My dad has a very eclectic taste in music (Read: everything from The Who to Enya).  Because we spent most summers trekking back and forth from Omaha, NE to Denver (one of the most boring rides in the world), we needed something to keep us sane.  Since it was pre-portable DVD players and it was my job to keep my dad company, I got to experience his extensive musical taste and it definitely influenced part of my own.

In honor of Father's Day, I give you the Top Five songs that always make me think of my dad:

5.  "Vincent (Starry Starry Night)" by Don McLean

"Starry Night" was my favorite painting as a kid.  I had a huge poster of it in my room and I was always fascinated by the one-eared Vincent Van Gogh.  My dad was the person that introduced me to this song and he remains the only person I know who is familiar with Don McLean songs other than "American Pie".

4.  "Paradise by the Dashboard Light" by Meat Loaf, featuring Karla DeVito

Dad thinks this song is hilarious and should be played at every wedding ever.  I have distinct memories of him cranking it while we ran errands on the weekend.

3.  Any song from Queen's "Night at the Opera" or "The Game"

We wore these tapes out on road trips.  Travel tip:  Any road trip can be made infinitely better by rolling down the windows, blasting Queen, and singing at the top of your voice.

2.  "Lullabye (Goodnight My Angel)" by Billy Joel

We danced to this song at my wedding.  I picked it because my dad's childhood nickname for me was "Angel" and he's a big Billy Joel fan.  (I also enjoy Billy Joel - I spent an entire summer in our basement listening to The Stranger over and over on our ancient record player.)

1. "Nostradamus" by Al Stewart

I associate this song completely with my father.  It was another tape we listened to on our road trips and it always got us talking about what the song meant, and by extension, about history.  I occasionally catch it on the radio and I always smile because it makes me think of my dad.

Happy Father's Day, Dad!

Dad reading to me (my favorite picture of us)

Getting ready for the Father-Daughter dance

Walking down the aisle at my wedding.

I Heart: The Father's Day Gift Guide Edition

 Father's Day (June 19th) is quickly approaching, but there's still time to get your dad a cool gift.  Here are my picks for awesome Father's Day gifts:

$20 and under:

Official Geek Dad bumper stickers - The dad in your life can advertise his geekiness to his fellow motorists with these hilarious bumper stickers.

Binary Dad T-shirt - If your dad is a computer guy, he'll appreciate this T-shirt with "Dad" written in binary on a blue background.


The Geek Dad's Guide to Weekend Fun and Geek Dad's Geeky Projects for Dads and Kids - These helpful guides can stave off boredom and encourage quality time together.

Barnes & Noble Leatherbound Classics - Barnes & Noble offers beautiful hardback editions of classic literature for $20 each.  For dads, I recommend the Sherlock Holmes collection, the Jules Verne collection, and the Ray Bradbury collection.

$50 and under:

Batman Money Clip - A mini folding batarang with a magnetized grip to keep Dad's cash (and your allowance) safe from super villains.

Star Trek Cufflinks - Beautiful silver plated cufflinks for Dad's geeky formal wear.

Night Sky Monopoly Edition - A space-themed Monopoly game that will both educate and entertain the whole family.

Case of Bawls - The gamer's energy drink of choice, it comes in 4 flavors: regular, cherry, sugar-free, and root beer.


$100 and under:

Neverlate Executive Alarm Clock - The perfect alarm clock for busy dads.  It has up to 42 alarm settings and is completely customizable.  There are 20 available radio presets and an MP3 player input.

Darth Vader Cookie Jar - The best part of the Dark Side?  They have cookies.

Stainless Steel Wallet - Made from tightly woven stainless steel fibers, this wallet is both durable and comfortable.  Perfect for the dad who is hard on wallets.

Razor Naga: MMO Gaming Mouse - An ergonomic mouse with 17 MMO-optimized buttons.  A must for hardcore gamers.

Last Minute Ideas:

If you're down to the wire and don't have time to have something shipped, consider these:

• For comic book fans:  Anything from his "pull file" at your local comic book shop
• Subscriptions to his favorite magazines
• Gift cards to frequently shopped stores (including webstores)
• Gift card to a favorite restaurant
• Gift of the month clubs (wine, beer, coffee, etc.)
• A paid year subscription to online games, Netflix, or Xbox Live

Happy Star Wars Day!

Happy Easter!

I hope the Easter Domo was as good to you as he was to us!

Kris (Monkey) - New swim trunks & caramel Cadbury eggs; Me (Robot) - The Last Unicorn & fuchsia Peeps

Happy V-Day!

I've had a love/hate relationship with Valentine's Day.  When I was a kid, I loved picking out paper Valentines to give to my friends, but by the time I hit high school, I loathed V-Day.  I think it had something to do with watching other girls get flowers and not having a boyfriend (but I'm not bitter!).  Now that I'm married, it's yet another excuse to get away with sending Kris to work with a note in his lunch and to get him a goofy gift.  I still think the best part about V-Day is sending cards to friends, though, so here are some Valentines for you, my awesome readers . . .

For my anti-Valentine's Day friends:

Be my Anti-Valentine

And for my geeky friends:

Be my Robot Valentine

And for my zombie loving friends:

Be my Zombie Valentine

And for my horror fan friends:

Be my Bloody Valentine

And finally for my lovely traditional friends (and family!):

Be my Corny Valentine

Whatever your stance on V-Day, I hope you have a great one!

Geek Love

As I flip through my most recent previous posts, I'm noticing a lot of touchy-feely introspection.  That's the benefit of having few readers - I can get sidetracked and no one is like, "Hey I thought this was supposed to be about geeky stuff!"  For those of you who are silently saying that, I promise a return to all that is geek. 

I've been dying to play with Polyvore for awhile and finally took the leap after admiring others' sets.  Submitted for your approval is my first (amaturish) Polyvore set - a Valentines' geek gift guide entitled "Geek Love".  Behold:

Geek Love by tabcarson featuring a tshirt tee

ThinkGeek :: Geek Love Poem T-shirt
$16 - thinkgeek.com
Tshirt tee »

ThinkGeek :: I Love My Geek Babydoll Tee
$19 - thinkgeek.com
Tshirt tee »

ThinkGeek :: Love Energy Potion
$3.99 - thinkgeek.com

ThinkGeek :: Power Ring
$40 - thinkgeek.com
Rings »

PLASTICLAND - Rose Bird's Eye Tee by Ames Bros
$26 - shopplasticland.com
Ames Bros earrings »

ThinkGeek :: Portal Weighted Companion Cube Plush
$30 - thinkgeek.com

ThinkGeek :: Snarky Valentine's Day Cards
$9.99 - thinkgeek.com

Domo in love plush
$14 - fredflare.com

PLASTICLAND - Darling Piou-Chou Adolie Day Momiji Doll
$12 - shopplasticland.com

ThinkGeek :: Shower Shock Caffeinated Bubble Bath
$15 - thinkgeek.com

weapons of mass consumption
xkcd.com

Toast and Mimosa: Food for the heart...
toastandmimosa.blogspot.com

Just Call Me Charlie Brown

I have a confession: I haven't really been in the Christmas spirit this year. It's shocking, I know. Most of my friends know I'm a huge Christmas fan, but this year I feel like I've just been going through the motions. I could blame it on (until very recently) unseasonably warm weather, or the prospect of facing that one gift receipent who inevitably looks at their present with disdain, but truthfully it all comes down to cold, hard cash.

Last year, with two full-time incomes, we had a pretty lavish (for us, anyway) Christmas. Not this year. I've done the bare minimum of Christmas shopping due to a severe lack of funds. My favorite part of Christmas has always been finding that perfect gift for each person on my list, but I feel like I can't do enough for the people I love this Christmas.

Now, obviously this kind of thinking misses the true meaning of Christmas. Christmas is, at the very least, about the love of your friends and family and coming together to spend the holiday with them. The gifts are incidental - or they're supposed to be. Yet, working in retail, especially at a high-end store, I'm reminded of how little we're giving this year.

In spite of this though, as I sit here looking at the Christmas tree, I am suddenly and pleasantly surprised by the number of gifts under it. Even though I wasn't able to purchase everything I wanted to give this year, each item was selected carefully for the person for whom it was intended and I'm sure that everyone (with the exception of that one difficult to please recipient) will enjoy their gifts.

Better still, I have many gifts of my own - wonderful husband, a loving family, awesome friends, and two adorable kitties. Instead of moping about money (or lack thereof), I'll be following Bing Crosby's advice during this last week before Christmas.

Tricks 'n' Treats

Happy Halloween!

Here's the Mad Scientist with his latest creation . . . the Chicken-Cat!!!
(Kris with our beautiful cat, Sullivan)

Photo by Erica Clark

"Where the Hell is My Flying Car?"

Whoo! It's been a long time since I posted last! I hope everyone had a very geeky Christmas and a nerdy New Year.

I saw the quote in my title on a tweet by Simon Pegg, and I have to agree. All the 1950s sci-fi movies promised awesome stuff in the 2000s . . . and nothing has come of it!

Even so, the new year has got off to a pretty awesome start. As always, the previous year ended with Sci-Fi's "Twilight Zone" marathon. A sign that I am a true geek - the marathon is the most exciting part of my New Year's Eve celebration. (In fact, I'm usually annoyed that Kris insists on turning the channel to Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve, even for a few minutes.)

The best part so far? A much-needed three day weekend! I intend to make the most of it. Today, we saw Sherlock Holmes with my dad, got ice cream at Coldstone Creamery, visited the kitties at the pet store, got a new MST3K box set, and had my favorite stir-fry for dinner! Not bad for the first weekend of the year.

Tomorrow will be spent putting away Christmas decorations, doing laundry, and watching mass quantities of television and movies.

Not In the Christmas Spirit YET? I'm Here to Help.

First, an adorable picture of my cat, Darby, in a gigantic Christmas gift bag.

And now . . . "The Carol of the Bells, Muppet Style

That is all.

I Heart Christmas

Since I work in retail, it would be logical to assume that I am less than fond of Christmas. Nothing could be farther from the truth, however. While working retail during the Christmas season is less than wonderful, I still love the holiday season. I have so many wonderful memories of holiday traditions and fun times around Christmas and New Years!

Part of these memories involve classic Christmas specials, movies, and books. So here are my top five favorite lists for Christmas. Check 'em twice!

Top Five Christmas Movies:

5. Muppet Christmas Carol (1992)
This film combines two of my favorite things: Muppets and Dicken's A Christmas Carol. Michael Caine makes a great Ebeneezer Scrooge and all of the classic Muppets make appearances. The film is surprising faithful to the story and is made all the better by the sharp wit of the Jim Henson team.

4. It's a Wonderful Life (1946)
This classic story has a beautiful message: "No man is poor who has friends." Beautifully acted by Jimmy Stewart, Donna Reed, and Henry Travers, it is truly what Christmas is all about . . . friends, family, and giving to others.

3. A Christmas Carol (1984)
Although the Alastir Sim version is traditionally viewed to be the definitive adaptation, I prefer the 1984 version starring George C. Scott. Exceptionally true to the original story, this version has some of my favorite moments, including the introduction of Ignorance and Want (a chilling moment befitting a good ghost story) and Marley showing Scrooge the destitute woman and child outside his home. Scott is excellent as a gruff and unforgiving Scrooge and Frank Finlay makes for a truly terrifying Marley. If you adore the original text as I do, you will love this version.

2. Love Actually (2003)
Though most view this as a non-holiday movie, it is set mostly at Christmastime and it is one of my favorites. It never fails to put me in a good mood!

1. Scrooged (1988)
Yet another version of Dicken's immortal classic. While it is the least faithful of the adaptations I have listed, it's one of the best. It's hilarious, moving, and full of memorable (and quotable!) moments. Bill Murray, Bobcat Goldthwait, Carol Kane, and David Johansen make this 1988 film a classic.

Top Five Favorite Christmas Specials:

5. Mickey's Christmas Carol (1983)
Like the Muppet Christmas Carol, the fun of Mickey's Christmas Carol is seeing many classic Disney characters (Goofy as Marley, Jiminy Cricket as the Ghost of Christmas Past, and Willie the Giant as the Ghost of Christmas Present, just to name a few) as characters in the story. One of my childhood favorites!

4. Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (1964)
Although the Rankin-Bass stop-motion features can be a little unnerving at times, they are still classics. What makes Rudolph so special are the memorable songs ("Holly Jolly Christmas", "Silver and Gold", etc.), especially "We're a Couple of Misfits" (which I identified with even as a child), and . . . the Bumble!

3. The Snowman (1982)
With no dialouge, The Snowman is amazing in its effectiveness. The music is beautiful, as is the the imagery of a boy and his magic snowman!

2. How the Grinch Stole Christmas (1966)
This special is dear to my heart. It was a part of every Christmas since I was born and relatives called me Cindy Lou Who because I resembled the small Who in the cartoon. Like It's a Wonderful Life, this one is all about the Christmas spirit.

1. A Charlie Brown Christmas (1965)
I have always felt a kinship with Charlie Brown, from his disastrous Halloween costume ("I got a rock.") to the sad little tree he picks out in this Christmas special. When I think of Christmas I always think of the Peanuts singing, their faces raised to the sky and their mouths in perfect Os.

Top Five Holiday Books:

5. Twas the Night Before Christmas (2002)
Clement C. Moore's classic poem is brought vividly to life by the beautifully detailed illustrations by Mary Engelbreit. It is a lovely Christmas keepsake that subsequent generations can enjoy.

4. The Little Match Girl (1987)
One of my favorite Hans Christian Anderson tales, with beautiful illustratrions by Rachel Isadora. A poingant and lovely holiday tale.

3. Bialosky's Christmas (1984)
A childhood favorite showing Bialosky Bear getting ready for his Christmas party. I loved this one because Bialosky had many of the same traditions that my family did.

2. The Best Christmas Pagent Ever (1988)

Barbara Robinson's amusing tale of a group of wild, underprivilege children learning the story of Christmas. This one was so great because it was realistic. Definitely a break from the more sickeningly sweet Christmas fare.

1. A Christmas Carol (1843)
You've probably noticed a theme in my favorites. I have loved Dicken's A Christmas Carol for as long as I can remember. We read the book every year at Christmas and for several years in a row saw wonderful productions performed by the Omaha Community Playhouse. I have seen almost all the versions of this classic tale, but the original text still remains my favorite. Dickens is a wonderful writer with many classics to his name, but this is one of his best beloved. If you have not read it, I highly suggest you do so as soon as possible. Make it one of your new Christmas traditions!