On the Twelfth Day of iTunes...

"It's The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year" by Andy Williams. Besides Bing Crosby, is there any other singer better known for holiday music? The song is first found on 1963's The Andy Williams Christmas Album, and is one of the best holiday albums ever recorded. Even though you'll hear it at least 100 times on the radio (who listens to that anymore anyway?) at Christmas, this classic a must for you're holiday playlist.

On the Eleventh Day of iTunes...

"Home for the Holidays" by Perry Como. Yes, this is a familar classic, but it has become my second-favorite holiday song. The best version is found on his 1959 LP, Season's Greetings. Note to other singers: No need to pollute the airwaves with further attempts at this song ... it was done perfectly over 50 years ago.

On the Tenth Day of iTunes...

"Go Tell It On the Mountain" by James Taylor. Speaking of this song, (see Day Nine) this is a uniquely James Taylor rendition. Found on his only full-length holiday album, A Christmas Album, the tune's melody gets the perfect James Taylor makeover. Carrie's favorite version ... curl up by the fire and put this album on the iPod to elimate all signs of your holiday stress.

On the Ninth Day of iTunes...

"We Wish You The Merriest" by Frank Sinatra. In 1964, Frank teamed up with his idol Big Crosby to record this one. I discovered this boisterous tune on 2004's Frank Sinatra: The Christmas Collection, which also includes one of my favorite renditions of "Go Tell It On the Mountain," also with Crosby. A must-have for any fan of Sinatra and Christmas music, it's an excellent compilation of various holiday songs collected from his long career.

On the Eighth Day of iTunes...

"Sleigh Ride" by the Ventures. For a different spin on an old favorite, check this one out. From their aptly titled 1965 Christmas album, The Ventures Christmas Album. Perfect for the Christmas pool party and for those of you who like their holiday music with a vintage Rock n' Roll flavor and a whole lotta reverb.

On the Seventh Day of iTunes...

"Mele Kalikimaka" by Bing Crosby and the Andrews Sisters. You may remember this one from National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation (a holiday tradtion for Carrie's family.) Recorded in 1950, you can find this one on Crosby's essential Christmas album, Merry Christmas, which according to Wikipedia, has been continually in-print longer than any other album in the history of the United States. Note: the CD version, for no apparent reason, is now titled White Christmas.

On the Sixth Day of iTunes...

"I've Got My Love To Keep Me Warm" by Jo Stafford. I know, a zillion people have recorded this song, but I recently heard this version on Sirius and thought that it was a nice swingin' performance. Stafford was a talented female crooner that had a very successful career, peaking in the 40s and 50s.

On the Fifth Day of iTunes...

"Up on the House Top" by Gene Autry. My dad still has the original 1957 LP, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, which included this song. The album has the more famous title track, of course, but this was one of it's lesser-known favorites. Autry was known as "America's Favorite Singing Cowboy," so most of the songs on the record have a western swing feel. The album was recently released on CD.

On the Fourth Day of iTunes...

"Song of the Sleigh Bells" by June Hutton. This vintage treasure was recorded in 1952. You may have to be resourceful in finding this one - it's not on iTunes, but you can track it down on various compilations. It's the perfect musical sleigh ride, and it's always the first song we play on Christmas morning. If this classic doesn't get you in a wintry holiday mood, you must must be working for the ACLU.

On the Third Day of iTunes...

"The Man with the Bag" by Kay Starr. Recorded in 1950, this song has become quite popular in recent years - I believe Target used it for a Christmas campaign several years back. This was a bit of a "gateway" song for other Kay Starr recordings for me. She has had a very interesting and varied career, singing everything from western swing to jazz. She's actually still living and was peforming until recently. Another holiday tune of hers, "I've Got My Love Tt Keep Me Warm," was given a hip remix by Stuhr.

Jim's 'Go or Don't Go' - G.I. Joe: Rise of the Cobra

If you consider your time on this earth precious, stay away from G.I Joe: The Rise of Cobra. While watching a movie, I shouldn't find myself going through a list of other things I'd rather be doing. I was ready to bail on this mess at 1 hour and 15 minutes, but Carrie talked me into sticking with it - a painful 40 more minutes. She owes me.

Once again, we have another movie based on a toy, this time the beloved action figure from my childhood. However, this G.I. Joe bares little resemblance to the G.I. Joe that I remember. "Joe" is a now multi-national team that fights for, well, I really couldn't figure who exactly who they fight for, but they seem to be the good guys at least. I guess it's just not politically correct to have a macho dude fighting for the good old U.S. of A. anymore. It may offend the "international community." I digress.

The plot, as it were, invloves a double-dealing arms dealer selling nano-mites, a super-secret weapon that can eat metal. The G.I. Joe team is sent into action to keep these nano-mites out of the wrong hands and being unleashed to destroy various cities around the globe. There is a lot of fighting, shooting, explosions, flying bodies (a LOT of flying bodies), an endless supply of weapons that make the bodies fly, weak attempts a humor, girls in leather, ninjas, shirtless guys, a cheesy love story, predictable plot turns ... yada yada. Oh yes, and my favorite line, Dennis Quaid shouting, "Release the sharks!"

Actually, I could have plugged the title of this film into my review of the Transformers sequel. The more I think about this movie, the more I dislike it. And, as with Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen, we have a inappropriate film based on a toy that was marketed to young kids. How it got a PG-13 rating is beyond me. This film had way too much profanity and violence for any 13 year old that I would be supervising.

Stay at home at play with the action figure. I say don't "Don't Go."

Piano Progress...

Nearing the end of my first piano book... Here's a clip of "The Entertainer" (a very beginner version). Not without mistakes, but take a listen anyway.

On the Second Day of iTunes...

On the 2nd Day of iTunes ... I suggest "Jingle Bells" by Bing Crosby and the Andrews Sisters. During the 40's and 50's, Bing and the sisters recorded 6 Christmas songs for Decca records, which historically have become some of the most celebrated holiday recordings of all time. Jingle Bells is an excellent example of two acts blending pefectly - rarely do musical collaborations work this well. I suggest having all six songs in your collection, but this is a great tune to get your feet wet.

Jim's Twelve Days of iTunes...

Here's a new feature, just for the holiday season. If you're looking for some fresh Christmas music for your holiday collection, I thought that I would suggest one of our favorite songs every day for the next 12 days. Some will be familiar favorites, others will be lesser known gems. We hope you will find this list helpful!

On the First Day of iTunes... I suggest Frank Sinatra's version of the Christmas Waltz. I suppose there are other versions of this song, but if there are, they can't be as good as this one. We are big fans of Frank Sinatra, and, some of you may know, I secretly wish that I was Frank Sinatra. So it's no suprise that we have many Christmas selctions by him, but this is my top Sinatra pick.

The best version was recorded in 1957 for his Christmas album, "A Jolly Christmas from Frank Sinatra." To me it seems like an unusual song for a man to sing, but he pulls it off, and I can't imagine anyone else performing it. Many of my favorite Sinatra tunes were recorded around this time, when his voice was at it's best. It's just a beautiful rendition of a beautiful song.

I have a feeling Frank may be making multiple appearances on this list.

The Robot Lives...

by Jim

Lots of good stuff came together last Friday. Since last Thursday was my last day at UPMC, (I'm back with Children's Hospital now) I had planned to take Friday off. During the day, I drove around and gave out tokens of appreciation (which Carrie found online) to some of my best freelance clients, celebrating the launch of my new web site, http://www.redrobotcreative.com/. It was like being Santa Claus.

Friday evening, I had a show opening at the Zombo gallery in Lawrenceville of my Roadside Attractions photos. The show started at 6 pm and we had a great crowd all night. It was so busy that it was hard to stop and talk to everyone as much as I would have liked.

Carrie did an awesome job of helping out and she had a ton of ideas to make the show even more special. There was lots of great food and drink, and we even had a Giant Eagle cake with my new logo.

Many thanks to everyone that took the time to stop by and see the show - I really appreciate it. I wish I could have spent more time with you. If you couldn't make it, the show will be up until January 2. The gallery is located at 4900 Hatfield Street.

Be sure to check out my new site - http://www.redrobotcreative.com/

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas...

It's our favorite time of the year here at Our New Old House, and the holidays are in full swing. We got the decorations up over Thanksgiving and everything is looking festive. Bear and Bailey are even behaving themselves and leaving the tree alone. I guess they know Santa won't come if they aren't good.




We hope you're getting into the Spirit of the season and preparing to enjoy this wonderful time of year. Don't get so overwhelmed by the to-do lists that you forget to have fun!

Happy Thanksgiving...

This is the proclamation which set the precedent for America's national day of Thanksgiving.

By the President of the United States of America.

A Proclamation.

The year that is drawing towards its close, has been filled with the blessings of fruitful fields and healthful skies. To these bounties, which are so constantly enjoyed that we are prone to forget the source from which they come, others have been added, which are of so extraordinary a nature, that they cannot fail to penetrate and soften even the heart which is habitually insensible to the ever watchful providence of Almighty God.

In the midst of a civil war of unequaled magnitude and severity, which has sometimes seemed to foreign States to invite and to provoke their aggression, peace has been preserved with all nations, order has been maintained, the laws have been respected and obeyed, and harmony has prevailed everywhere except in the theatre of military conflict; while that theatre has been greatly contracted by the advancing armies and navies of the Union.

Needful diversions of wealth and of strength from the fields of peaceful industry to the national defence, have not arrested the plough, the shuttle or the ship; the axe has enlarged the borders of our settlements, and the mines, as well of iron and coal as of the precious metals, have yielded even more abundantly than heretofore. Population has steadily increased, notwithstanding the waste that has been made in the camp, the siege and the battle-field; and the country, rejoicing in the consiousness of augmented strength and vigor, is permitted to expect continuance of years with large increase of freedom.

No human counsel hath devised nor hath any mortal hand worked out these great things. They are the gracious gifts of the Most High God, who, while dealing with us in anger for our sins, hath nevertheless remembered mercy. It has seemed to me fit and proper that they should be solemnly, reverently and gratefully acknowledged as with one heart and one voice by the whole American People.

I do therefore invite my fellow citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are at sea and those who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next, as a day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens. And I recommend to them that while offering up the ascriptions justly due to Him for such singular deliverances and blessings, they do also, with humble penitence for our national perverseness and disobedience, commend to His tender care all those who have become widows, orphans, mourners or sufferers in the lamentable civil strife in which we are unavoidably engaged, and fervently implore the interposition of the Almighty Hand to heal the wounds of the nation and to restore it as soon as may be consistent with the Divine purposes to the full enjoyment of peace, harmony, tranquillity and Union.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Seal of the United States to be affixed.

Done at the City of Washington, this Third day of October, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, and of the Independence of the Unites States the Eighty-eighth.

By the President: Abraham Lincoln

Meet the Robot...

In case you did not receive a postcard in the mail, I wanted to make you aware of Jim's upcoming gallery show, "American Artifacts". December 4th will also mark the debut of his re-branded freelance company, Red Robot Design and Illustration. Jim has been hard at work prepping for this show so we hope lots of you can make it. And of course, there will be food!

Yes, it's a funny cat video...

Item of the Week: Real Flame Fireplace Insert

I am a happy camper.

All the time we lived at our old house, I was disappointed that there was no fireplace, especially at the holidays. When we moved, things got better... We had a fireplace, but unfortunately it was not usable, as the chimney had been blocked off.

Enter the ventless gel-fueled ceramic fireplace insert. I originally saw this item in Plow & Hearth Catalog (they have lots of great stuff), but ended up getting it cheaper from Target.com. After some intial shipping confusion on their part, it has finally arrived and we set it up last night.

These ceramic logs have a holder under them for 2 cans of Real Flame gel-fuel (think of an over-sized sterno heater) However, there is something added to this fuel so that it crackles just like a wood fire. It also comes in a larger size that holds 3 fuel cans. We tested it out tonight and I am more than pleased. Now we can have, if not the heat, the look of a real fire all winter long.

I've included video here so you can see it in action...



Want one? Try here

Jim's "Go or Don't Go" - Transformers 2

Transformers 2: Revenge of the Fallen reminded me of Jurassic Park III. You would think that more and bigger dinosaurs, and more people being eaten by these same dinosaurs, would be better than any previous Jurassic Park movie, but no. It turns out that after a while it became tiresome and a bit numbing. That's how I felt by the end of Revenge of the Fallen, tired and numb.

You could divide the action up into two categories in this movie: Explosions, and the time in between said explosions. Oh, there is a flimsy plot that sort of connects the explosions, and many of the cast from the first Transformers movie are there to run away from these explosions, but I don't count that as a significant part of the movie.

For the record, I enjoyed the original movie. One thing that I didn't like about the first film was that I found the fight scenes between the Decepticons (bad guys) and Autobots (good guys) a bit disorienting and hard to follow. Problem not solved for me in this one, and at almost 2.5 hours, I have to say after hour 1.5, I didn't really care. Just get it over with already.

Shia LaBeouf and Megan Fox reprise their roles as Sam Witwicky and Mikaela Banes, and unfortunately, Kevin Dunn and Julie White are back as Sam's parents. Their "contribution" to the plot may been the most annoying part of the film for me.

The movie is rated PG-13, and for a film that is based on a line of toys, there was plenty of unnecessary profanity and crude humor. I never understand why filmmakers need to throw that stuff in in this type of film. Spiderman is a great example of a film that made billions of dollars by appealing to both kids and adults without stooping to that level.

If you want to rent a great action film that came out about the same time this year, see my review of Star Trek. If you like mindless pyrotechnics, this is your film. I say "Don't Go."

Jim's Beverage Corner...

An important update on the frappuccino front. While we were at the Monroeville Borders last week, we stopped in at the Seattle's Best Coffee located inside the bookstore. I tried one of their JavaKula blended drinks in the Chocolate Coffee Crunch flavor, and I have to say, it may be my new favorite mocha treat. It's flavor leans on the coffee side, which I prefer over chocolate. The crushed Oreos are what seals the deal for me. It's like a wonderful marriage of a frappuccino and a Blizzard! The guy that made mine even stuck a little chocolate stick in the whipped cream!If you enjoy frappuccinos, run, don't walk to your nearest Seattle's Best shop. You can thank me later.

Click the photo to find a store near you...

Halloween Recap...

Our Halloween festivities were spread over 2 weekends this year. This was the first time in a long time that we had a good excuse to dress up. We were invited to the annual Edgewood Acres Halloween party, a neighborhood gathering held down the street from our house. It featured a very elaborate haunted house in the basement. The homeowners told us it takes them 2 months to set up the scenes. Here are a few snapshots...

If you read Jim's recent movie review, you probably know that we both really liked the 2009 Star Trek flick. We couldn't pass up these costumes, especially since Jim got to carry a cool phaser.

On Halloween night, we got dressed up again and waited for the Trick-or-Treaters to arrive. One hour into the designated 2-hour time period, we had not had any kids (except for our friends the Moons who brought their adorable girls by in matching princess costumes). So at 7pm, we packed up our candy and headed over to church to participate in their Trunk-or-Treat event. Luckily, we found plenty of kids who were more than happy to take the candy off our hands. We finished off the evening with a screening of "It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown," followed by "Young Frankenstein." It was a fun night and I'm already brainstorming costume ideas for next year.

Website of the Week: SmartVoter.Org

This is a re-post from last November, but it applies again!

You MUST take a look at this non-partisan site before election day. http://www.smartvoter.org

Under the section that says "Find My Ballot," type in your street address and zip code and it will show you exactly what will be on your particular ballot on November 3rd. If you're like me, you'd like to know exactly which races you will be voting on before you show up to cast your ballot. The site even has links to candidate's websites where available.

I highly recommend this site for anyone who wants to be prepared when they walk into the voting booth next Tuesday. Happy voting!!

California Dreamin'...

Last Thursday, we departed Pittsburgh just in time for some very cold weather to blow into town. Good thing we were headed to one of our favorite warm destinations, Southern California. Our itinerary was as follows:

Friday: Disneyland
Saturday: Visit the Kasdans in Orange County
Sunday & Monday: Visit Grandparents in Palm Springs
Tuesday: Fly home

We arrived at John Wayne Airport at 11pm on Thursday night (after working all day) and headed straight to the Alpine Inn, a kitschy but cheap and clean motel within walking distance from Disneyland. After a very short night's sleep, we left to walk to the park at 7:15am. By 7:30 we were in line at the front gates.

Disneyland Railroad, Main Street Station...
The reason we love this place...
First thing in the morning- ready for a big day!
Sleeping Beauty Castle...

By the time we got to the Astro Orbitor (below) at 8:45am, we had ridden Space Mountain once and Buzz Lightyear twice. Our ride schedule was again planned by Ridemax, our favorite Disney Park planning software. We highly recommend it.

An artsy shot of the Orbitor...

The Haunted Mansion decked out Tim Burton style...

Boarding area for the Haunted Mansion...

Obligatory castle shot...

Up Close...

By 10am, we headed over to California Adventure for our first ever look at that park. In the background below, California Screamin'- a great roller coaster that goes upside down!

First Stop... Toy Story Mania!

After riding Soarin' over California, it was time for a mid-morning break... Jim found a giant Disney-style frappucino....

Mickey's Fun Wheel...Looking Up...

Riding the Wheel...

Along the Midway...

The Golden Zephyr. Not so exciting, but a ride too cool looking to pass up...Walking the streets of Hollywood (this part of the park is similar to Hollywood Studios in Florida)...
Loved this restaurant name...

One of Jim's favorites- Carrie is too chicken to ride this...

We found the Mouse...

By 3:30pm, it was back over to Disneyland to find a Pineapple Whip before heading over to the Indiana Jones ride...

We took a short break in Frontierland to enjoy this bluegrass band...

After the Jungle Cruise and another spin on Space Mountain, it was time for our traditional Disney dinner... Veggie Burgers at the Tomorrowland Terrace...

Our favorite landmark in Tomorrowland...

Evening sky over Matterhorn Mountain...

The park is even more magical at night...

Not too late for a spin on Autopia...

Another must ride... King Arthur's Carousel...
Before heading out, we had to find the infamous Club 33. Maybe some day, we'll get to go in...

Two tired, but very happy people...
Traditional last stop of the night (12:30am)... Blue Ribbon Bakery on Main Street for mochas and cookies... Until we meet again...
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Saturday: Jim's first visit to In 'N Out Burger! He was not disappointed...

Hanging with baby Mitchell... what a cutie!

Cuddle time! We had a great day with Ben and Marissa and Mitchell and were sad to say goodbye after such a short time.

Sunday & Monday: Palm Springs...

Grandparent's house & street...

Downtown shopping...

Love the architecture...Out with Grandma & Grandpa...
What a wonderful vacation. Can't wait to do it again!