DreamWorks, Ultimate Santa Adventure; to pay or not? That is the Question

Recently, in the news, you might have heard that a visit with Santa now costs money!

Gasp! 

What is the world coming to now????

Calm right on down, now.

Untwist your under-drawers.

This is not your average, Pervy Mall Santa visit.

There are still multiple offerings around town for a free visit.

This, as the name implies, is the 

Ultimate Santa Adventure  

& for the bargain price of $35, believe me when I say

IT'S TOTALLY WORTH IT!

What? $35 to see Santa? NO!

We first noticed, what we have dubbed as the Shrek house

last month when we made our regular pilgrimage to the LEGO store, at the Mall.

Really, a 2 story, LED screened house, being decorated by Shrek & Friends, in the middle of the mall will cause even the biggest scrooge to take a 2nd look.

It's really impressive. 

Another difference, it's important to book your boarding pass to the North Pole, on-line.

For this to work right, like any flight, plan ahead & arrive at your assigned time.

As part of the booking process, you up-load pictures of your children & their Christmas lists.

What? I know. Not to worry, nothing malicious. 

When you go into Santa's parlor, he will attempt to greet each child by name & know exactly what they want.

Crazy pants- he did, & seriously the tiny jaws on the floor were worth the $$.

Included in this were a sled flight simulator (everyone receives a souvenir Pilot's License),

A ride on a real flying sled (take a bucket if you are prone to motion sickness!),

an adventure in 2D computerized gingerbread cookie decorating (order a 3D model on-line, later!),

Plus, the visit with the Man himself, 

& the pictures are even included in the package price (5x7, 2 4x6, 4 3.5x5)!

I don't about you, but if you are a regular Santa Picture Purchaser, you know, 

that you will spend about that much just on pictures.

Seriously, spend the money, if you can, it's worth it!

My 2, & only gripes-

that sled is really realistic! I was already green from a spin on the merry-go-round in the 

Tea Cups, with a child who hence forth will be referred to as Satan, which is a story for another day.

I seriously almost lost my Christmas Cookies, folks.

It is really, really well done.

& no, they don't have air-sickness bags in the seat backs, 

though after I left, they seriously considered adding some.

&#2, a small one- they had a barn area decorated with what I am guessing was supposed to be the reindeer barn/tack room. They made the unfortunate mistake of using Draft Horse sized halters, bridles, etc..... Maybe those fancy people out in Californy can't tell the difference,  but here in the mid-west, you should be ashamed if you can't.

& Now, what I know you all have been waiting for.....

Drum-roll, please.....

Your token, Friendly, Neighborhood Jews, meet Santa--->

As you can see, the children are a natural with Santa, & look well practiced....,.....

Happy Winter Holiday! 

Sisters Book Club, Edition #1: Skip the Book(s)

I was asked the other day, if I had a good childhood. For the most part I would say, yes, I had a fairly okay growing up period.

The asker took this to mean, that not only did I have both parents, but that they also resided with each other, on a continuous & regular basis, because that is an obvious dictator of a nice childhood, but it was for them.

Not so much, & it's a long story for another day, though it's safe to say we could be our own episode of Jerry Springer.

(Is he still on?)

Yes, I had both parents on a continuous basis, & usually in the same town, just not in the same house. Not that I would define my childhood by that.

It ranks more of a footnote in my book.

Dad wasn't always sure what to do with two daughters, & tried hard.

I like to think of Mom & us girls, as the 3 amigos.

We shared clothes, shoes, hairspray & kotex.

But, it was still an interesting dynamic of Mother & Daughters.

Much like the greatest movie of the 90's-

 MERMAIDS,

 Starring: Cher, Winona Rider, & believe it or not, young Christina Ricci

Apparently this movie, was a book first.
I know because I know own it.
Later, there was sequel, which I also own, but really it's just the first book over, plus a few more depressing details that really could have just been jotted down in a paragraph, & we could have skipped the 2nd book & just gotten on with our lives.
Instead, we picked it as our first book club selection, & now I will never have those hours of my life back.

It's a rare, rare day that the movie is better than the book.
Skip the book(s), & just go for the movie.


At the time, I felt like the movie was about us.
1 Single Mother, 2 gregarious children- one of whom is confused about religion.
In an interesting twist, THEY are Jewish, & said child is wanting to be a Catholic Nun.
She is anxiously awaiting a sign, & has the good fortune to have her liberal-loving Mother move them down the hill from a,
wait
for
it.....
A Convent!
(Do they still have those????)

So, it's a little backwards.


Halley & still break into this song sometimes, it's bonding,
even if our French is as good as our Father's, in junior high, when he was told he could pass, if he promised never to try speaking French, ever, ever again....

 PS-     The other day, I had a Fillet-o-Fish sign drop out of the heavens, on me, at work, hard enough that I needed to seek medical attention.
& The entire time, I cannot stop giggling, because this, this is the type of sign that would have excited Charlotte to no end.
Even the treating Physician made a religious reference to the fish sign falling on me, not during lent.


 A word about Mrs. Flax and food: the word is "hors d'oeurves." Fun Finger Foods is her main source book and it's all the woman cooks.


Cheeseball Pick me ups, which are apparently a real thing, the abounding recipes are  proof, though the lack of pictures is suspicious, & marshmallow kebabs.

My Mother grew up in a time when it was still socially acceptable & required to have Help.
I am not sure she has ever mastered boiling water, but she can make a mean can of
Frank-O American Spaghetti.
While all the  family recipes revolve around defrosting & setting a timer on a microwave.
As we are nearing this Thanksgiving season, we are all sad to miss the green bean casserole.
Tongue in cheek aside, she can make a wicked casserole.
& Mayonnaise on steamed broccoli, or plain lays chips with cottage cheese, the food of my people.


So, yes, my childhood was good. It was made into a movie, & my Hotty-McHotty-Hot pants Mother was played by Cher.
I am pretty certain that the screenwriter took some creative liberties.