FFF #10 (Santa Claus Stole My Weekend Edition)

1. Santa!
A sea of red and white as far as the eye could see. More than 200 Santas converged in San Francisco Saturday for the annual SantaCon and it was spectacular fun. Passersby, with looks of astonishment, didn't know what to make of the various Santas, who come in all shapes, sizes, sexes, and creeds. I don't think I'll ever forget seeing all those Santas rocking out in an alley in the Financial District stuffing their faces with corndogs and PBR while a DJ Santa spun tunes from the back of a truck. Or giving high fives to all the kids we saw, most of whom delighted in the Santa extravaganza. Then again, taking over the escalators at the San Francisco Shopping Center was pretty fun too. And so was using the Jack Kerouac alley next to Vesuvio's as a Santa fashion runway. I think the Beats would
have been proud -- or bewildered.

2. The Best Of Will Ferrell on SNL (DVD)
Just so damn funny. I wish it were like four hours. Definitely scrumtralacent. "I've got a fever and the only prescription...is more cowbell."

3. Goldfrapp Black Cherry (Mute)
I don't know why it took me more than six months to get into this album, but it did. No matter. Anyone expecting the lush, more orchestral elements of Goldfrapp's first one will be surprised by Black Cherry's darker, more sinister electro vibe. Yet, similar to Felt Mountain, this record is a audiophile's dream with pristine production, sounding especially good on headphones or a deluxe sound system.

4. John Denver "Rocky Mountain High" (RCA)
I vaguely recall seeing John Denver perform this song on TV in the '70s, walking in the woods on a large mountain while eagles soared over his head. Now sure, John Denver isn't exactly regarded as being cool (though his death was somewhat mysterious, helping the mystique a bit), but there's something uplifting about "Rocky Mountain High," a pull-at-your-heartstrings, puff-up-your-chest melody. It makes me want to go climb a mountain in my head (it would be too hard in real life).

5. Holiday Party Open Bars
The key is to get invited to as many holiday parties as humanly possible. Sure, it requires being nice to people you would normally never want to talk to (other than exchanging knowing nods of approval while passing in a hallway), but the unlimited supply of top shelf alcohol and free food makes the season just a little bit brighter (except when you ingest too much of that top shelf alcohol and forget to eat, but that hardly ever happens).


One love, one Santa,

timmmmmmmii