Life On the Wicked Stage: Act 2

One Christmas Down More to Go

Well a part of Christmas is now behind us, but we’ve got more to go.

We’ve got several more performances this weekend of A Christmas Carol at Wayside Theatre before we close on Sunday.

We then hit the road for our annual Chicago pilgrimage to visit my wife’s large family. That’s always a round of great family gatherings and we always look forward to the trip. Here’s hoping the weather there eases up a bit before we hit town. We’ve been lucky the last few years.

At any rate, the brief Christmas with my mother, sisters, and their families was a great, but far too short time. We had a fabulous meal, decided to head out and do some bowling on Christmas night, got to watch Thomasin play Rock Band with our nephew Steven, and generally had a great time with the entire family.

One of our many little family traditions is that we exchange a gag or “special” gift with each of the sibling families. I think we won this year with a large nose that hangs in your shower and dispenses shower gel when you push on the nose.

If you have to ask, then just move on.

Enjoy some pictures after the jump and more at this Flickr feed.

Harold Pinter... R.I.P. ...

We lost a giant on Christmas Eve, when Harold Pinter passed away. He was an amazing playwright and challenged us all with his writings. The beautiful thing is that his plays will live on.

Via The New York Times

Our Story of the Christmas Pickle

The Christmas Pickle is one of those fun stories that supposedly isn’t claimed by its home country of Germany, but is indeed claimed by the town of Berrien, Michigan, where they have an annual celebration of the Christmas Pickle.

Supposedly, as the story goes, in Germany, the Christmas Pickle is an ornament, in fact the last ornament to be put on the tree and is hidden somewhere within the tree. The child who finds it receives one extra gift on Christmas morning.

Our Christmas Pickle story is slightly different and is running on three years now. It keeps growing and growing into its own legend.

Three years ago when we were performing the second installment of the Sanders Family Trilogy, Sanders Family Christmas at Wayside Theatre, one of the cast members, the lovely Liz Albert, gave each of the cast members a Christmas Pickle ornament as a gift. In the town where the musical is set there is a pickle factory, you see, so that all made sense.

Well, my lovely wife, Thomasin brought home her Christmas Pickle, only to have it break in her hands as she was trying to put in on the tree. She was devastated.

Not to be outdone, Liz, last year gave Thomasin another Christmas Pickle ornament as a gift.

Unfortunately the same fate befell that Christmas Pickle as well. It broke as Thomasin was attempting to place it on the tree, but not into as many pieces.

So, assuming the third time would be the charm, Liz, once again gifted us with a Christmas Pickle this year. But this time she gave it our friend and stage manager, Malia, with strict instructions for her not to allow Thomasin to touch it, but see that it got to the tree.

Malia performed her duty, (top picture above) and came upstairs and lovingly placed the pickle on our tree. (The first ornament, not the last, but oh, well.)

When we were later unpacking the ornaments, Thomasin came across last year’s Christmas Pickle in the box. We decided, since Malia and several of our actor friends, all of who have intimate knowledge of the Christmas Pickle saga so far, were coming to dinner on Christmas Eve, that we would place the broken Christmas Pickle prominently on a table, knowing they would see it. We knew they’d immediately have a moment of shock, and then a good laugh.

Well, on Christmas Eve morning, Thomasin was passing by the table where said broken Christmas Pickle was prominently displayed, and her robe proceeded to brush the pickle on to the floor and shatter it further, proving Liz’s point that Thomasin should never, ever go near a Christmas Pickle.

Not to be defeated, we picked up the broken glass pieces and displayed them, still aiming to punk our friends. The intended effect with our friends was indeed achieved. We all had a good laugh.

Malia and I are renting a safety deposit box at the bank next week to store the intact Christmas Pickle and the legend of our Christmas Pickle I’m sure will continue to grow.

Technorati Tags: Christmas Pickle

Merry Christmas from the Wicked Stage

May you find joy, peace, and love as you celebrate however you choose to do so this Christmas.

Christmas Eve Reading

Before I put on my cap and snuggle into bed for a long winter’s nap, I typically put together a short list of links to blogs and stories that for some reason moved me or tickled my fancy in the run up to Christmas Eve. But I’m going to break with tradition tonight and just offer one link.

If you stumble upon this on your travels, do yourself a favor and go read Karoli’s post Angels in Coke Glasses.

It is one of the most amazing reminders of the spirit of Christmas I’ve read in some time. Karoli, herself,  is an angel for sharing this.

Merry Christmas to all, whatever or however you may celebrate. May you find peace, love, a bit of rest, and the warmth and joy that family brings. 

Christmas Eve Listening: Jeff Buckley's Hallelujah

Jeff Buckley’s Hallelujah. Kick back. Take a sip of wine. Listen.

Enchanting.

Via Karoli on Friendfeed

Christmas Eve Listening: Merry Christmas from the Family

Go ahead, admit it. You’ve been there.

Scientists: Christmas Lights Harm the Planet

Let’s forget about harming anyone’s sense of taste or style, scientists are warning that Christmas lights can harm the planet due to electricity waste. They are urging folks to use energy efficient bulbs and timers.

I’m guessing these scientists work for companies that make the former. OK, that’s being overly cynical.

Maybe they need to tell that to this guy.

Flaming Snow Globes

Be careful out there all you snow globe fiends. Apparently there’s danger in those flying flakes. Or at least in the glass that incases them if they are set to close to a window. Apparently the glass can magnify the sun’s rays and start a fire.

So, Hallmark is recalling the snow globes. The product is called the Jumbo Snow Globe.

Via The Inquisitr

Christmas Fun: White Christmas on the Theremin

From my theremin playing friend Larry Dahlke, here’s a little White Christmas played on the theremin. Peter Pringle is the musician.