Do you have a favorite Christmas movie? How about a favorite song, TV special, or food? Below is a list of my yuletide favorites.
Christmas movie: A Christmas Story (1984) – There have been a lot of great Christmas movies, but the story of Ralphie and his quest for a Red Ryder BB gun is at the top of my list. I never tire of seeing the triple-dog-dare at the frozen flagpole, the battle with Black Bart, the pink bunny suit, the leg lamp, the pummeling of Farkus, and dozens of other classic scenes. Funny, heartwarming, nostalgic.
Animated Christmas special: Do I have to choose just one? If so, then it’s A Charlie Brown Christmas (1965). A humorous and poignant reminder of the true meaning of Christmas, capped off by Linus’s memorable recitation at the end. Honorable mention to Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (remember the Abominable Snow Monster and the Island of Misfit Toys?) and The Year Without a Santa Claus. “They call me Heat Miser, whatever I touch, starts to melt in my clutch.”
Christmas song: “Reason for the Season” by Stryper (1986) – Red and green may be the traditional colors of Christmas, but for me it’s yellow and black. Yes, I know a song by an ’80s hair metal band is an unusual choice for a holiday favorite. But how can you beat a tune with razor-sharp guitar riffs, a catchy chorus, and lyrics that celebrate Jesus as the reason for the season?
Christmas episode on a television series: “It’s a Bundyful Life” on Married With Children (1987) – An homage/parody of the Jimmy Stewart classic, It’s a Wonderful Life. After an accident hanging Christmas lights, Al Bundy is paid a visit by his guardian angel (Sam Kinison). The angel shows Al how happy his family would be if he were never born. Hilarious.
Christmas food: peanut clusters – As tasty today as they were three decades ago when I was a kid. It’s almost impossible to eat just one, or two, or three …
Christmas book: The book of Matthew and the book of Luke in the New Testament cover the story pretty well!
Monday, December 21, 2009
Friday, December 11, 2009
Barnes & Noble Sale
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Book Sale
My publisher, iUniverse, just launched a holiday book sale. From now through Sunday, November 29, you can order any of their books, including The All-American King, for half price! Below is the email I just received with the sale details:
__________________________________________________________
The best deals of the holiday season are not all found at the last minute. In fact, this festive deal from iUniverse lets you save 50% off the Web site price of any paperback or hardcover book you purchase from the iUniverse Bookstore.
With thousands of titles available, from nonfiction business guides and memiors to historical and humorous novels, you can choose the perfect holiday gifts for yourself and all the booklovers on your shopping lists.
This weekend-only bookstore discount comes to an end at midnight Nov. 29, so use the code 50OFF1109 in the checkout process when you purchase your books. The iUniverse Holiday Sale ends Sunday! Order your books today.
__________________________________________________________
The best deals of the holiday season are not all found at the last minute. In fact, this festive deal from iUniverse lets you save 50% off the Web site price of any paperback or hardcover book you purchase from the iUniverse Bookstore.
With thousands of titles available, from nonfiction business guides and memiors to historical and humorous novels, you can choose the perfect holiday gifts for yourself and all the booklovers on your shopping lists.
This weekend-only bookstore discount comes to an end at midnight Nov. 29, so use the code 50OFF1109 in the checkout process when you purchase your books. The iUniverse Holiday Sale ends Sunday! Order your books today.
Thursday, November 19, 2009
It's Just a Fantasy
Do you have a favorite football team? When I was a kid I rooted for the St. Louis Cardinals. That was back in the days of Jim Hart, Dan Dierdorf, and Terry Metcalf. The Cards were my team until 1987, when they moved from St. Louis to Arizona. My allegiance then shifted to the Kansas City Chiefs. The Chiefs had some great teams in the ’90s with Christian Okoye, Joe Montana, and Derrick Thomas.
Today my favorite team is the Kardinals, a team that doesn’t actually exist. You see, the Kardinals are my fantasy football team. This is my second year of playing in a fantasy league. It’s a lot of fun, but beware, fantasy football can change the way you watch the NFL. Rather than caring about which teams win and which team lose, you tend to focus more on the performance of your players. A fantasy league can thus wreak havoc on former allegiances. Earlier this year, for example, I found myself rooting for Cowboys running back Tashard Choice to score a touchdown against Kansas City. That I’ve been a Chiefs fan for more than two decades did not matter. That I have rooted against the Cowboys since childhood did not matter. I started Tashard Choice that week and I wanted the fantasy points.
This past Monday night the Baltimore Ravens defense carried my team to victory. That brought the Kardinals record to 5-5. I am happy to be at .500, given the obstacles thrown at me this season by injuries to my star players, huge scores from my opponents, and my own boneheaded draft decisions (I’ve already cut my 4th and 5th round picks).
With my team still in the playoff hunt, I must now scan the waiver wire and check the injury reports. Then I’ll set my lineup for another battle on the fantasy gridiron. Go Kardinals!
Today my favorite team is the Kardinals, a team that doesn’t actually exist. You see, the Kardinals are my fantasy football team. This is my second year of playing in a fantasy league. It’s a lot of fun, but beware, fantasy football can change the way you watch the NFL. Rather than caring about which teams win and which team lose, you tend to focus more on the performance of your players. A fantasy league can thus wreak havoc on former allegiances. Earlier this year, for example, I found myself rooting for Cowboys running back Tashard Choice to score a touchdown against Kansas City. That I’ve been a Chiefs fan for more than two decades did not matter. That I have rooted against the Cowboys since childhood did not matter. I started Tashard Choice that week and I wanted the fantasy points.
This past Monday night the Baltimore Ravens defense carried my team to victory. That brought the Kardinals record to 5-5. I am happy to be at .500, given the obstacles thrown at me this season by injuries to my star players, huge scores from my opponents, and my own boneheaded draft decisions (I’ve already cut my 4th and 5th round picks).
With my team still in the playoff hunt, I must now scan the waiver wire and check the injury reports. Then I’ll set my lineup for another battle on the fantasy gridiron. Go Kardinals!
Monday, October 19, 2009
National Best Books 2009 Awards
Winners and finalists for the National Best Books 2009 Awards have been announced. The All-American King was selected as a finalist in the "Fiction & Literature: Religious Fiction" category.The complete list of winners and finalists is available at the USA Book News website:
Saturday, October 3, 2009
Book Signing
My first book signing for The All-American King is today!
Barnes & Noble at SouthPointe Pavilions
2910 Pine Lake Road
Lincoln, Nebraska
2:00 pm to 4:00 pm
Barnes & Noble at SouthPointe Pavilions
2910 Pine Lake Road
Lincoln, Nebraska
2:00 pm to 4:00 pm
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Book Tour
On Saturday, October 3, I will be signing The All-American King from 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm at Barnes & Noble at 2910 Pine Lake Road (SouthPointe Pavillions) in Lincoln, Nebraska.On Tuesday, October 6, I will be signing my book from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm at Barnes & Noble at 4550 University Avenue (The Shoppes at Three Fountains) in West Des Moines, Iowa.
The Web links for these events are:
Lincoln http://store-locator.barnesandnoble.com/event/3004738
Des Moines http://store-locator.barnesandnoble.com/event/3006149
Hope to see you there!
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