Last night I watched Great American Christmas on USA Network. I thought I was settling in for a typical decorations n’ recipes holiday show. But soon I realized, nope.

They start off introducing the families they followed through last Christmas season. The Olympic hopeful and his irritating in laws who get in the way of his training. The guy traveling from New York to LA via a rented moving truck to move in with his girlfriend who gave him a “be here by Christmas or see ya!” ultimatum. The gay man bringing his boyfriend back home to the family who really doesn’t want him to. The suburban mom, dad, and two kids (including snarky daughter who I loved!) who are hosting nearly 100 relatives. The wealthy Los Angeles family who are typical of all the other wealthy LA families you see on TV (The OC, Laguna Beach…) except Dad is the pastor at the Crystal Cathedral. And the ex-con who’s trying as hard as he can to prove to his wife & kids that he’s a changed man. Each intro included conflict and hope and potential for disaster.

So, it was very promising!

Did it succeed? Well, except for host Howie Mandel’s insistence that everyone had a “perfect Christmas”, while in the same sentence he listed what hadn’t been perfect… the show worked. There were some scenes that worked so well- that made me squirm in my seat, made me laugh, made me teary. So, yeah, it worked. If you get a chance, try to catch a rerun (or let your Tivo find it for you.)

Before that I caught the end of A Charlie Brown Christmas on ABC. Ugh. It was on from 8-9, and I thought maybe they did some kind of thing at the beginning to stretch it into an hour, so I’d catch the end, the best part anyway. Instead I was assaulted with some new sketches they threw together based on old strips, in that time honored way Peanuts has always done. But it was… not good. The worst was the actress who voiced Sally- my ears!!! And the animation was too slick. Luckily I have the original on tape.

In fact, I have most of the classic holiday shows on tape, some from over 20 years ago (yes, they still play.) The quality of some shows is poor, but since I taped them off the TV, the commercials alone make them worth watching. Atari and Teddy Ruxpin, anyone?

Some I absolutely love, others I wonder what I was thinking when I bought them. Some are gifts that bring back memories, like the little Santa oil lamp that was my grandmother’s, which she gave to me the first Christmas I was married.

This year I’d love to get one of those big ornament trees, like this.

I have so many gorgeous ornaments, and they just get lost on the real tree. I do have a couple smaller ornament trees, but I’d like one at least 4 feet tall or so. But they’re so expensive! Maybe I can go get a couple branches, wire them together, and spray them silver or gold.

I have all these great crafty ideas. I never act on them.

Getting some little things done around the house today. Pat’s taking the big boys to see the new Bond movie, and I’m letting Tim play video games and watch OnDemand movies all day (Saving Shiloh 3 has been pronounced a “great movie!”) I’d like to get my gift list together, but it’s just not happening.

But it is Christmas season, my favorite time of year. It’s extra long this year, too! I’ve got my blog all decorated, and I’m seeking some new desktop wallpaper to replace the decidedly autumnal look I have now. I even got Firefox all pimped out with the Tinseltown theme. Maybe later I’ll dig out the boxes of holiday cheer from the attic (where they’re under a layer of sawdust from the new roof we had put on.) We’re hosting Christmas Eve this year (Pat’s family) and I’m trying to pull together something with friends, too. I can go either big or small. My friend Bluegrass Mama has a New Years Day open house every year and I’ve always wanted to attempt that, but figuring out the details always freaks me out. Who do I invite? Do I ask them to bring food? How long should the party last? I’m thinking a small-scale adults only cocktail party might be better. Guess I should decide before calendars fill up!

Best part- it wasn’t at my house, so I’m home with no cleanup duties. No leftovers either though.

Hope you all had a great day!