Vacation is Fun

As you can see, I missed this week's blog.  I'm enjoying the holiday vacation and, well, I forgot.  I'll be back next week to ring in the New Year and get back to the weekly updates.

- Charlie

'Twas the NIght Before Christmas

'Twas the night before Christmas and not a creature was ... sleeping.  My Buddy Austin and I plan to wait up all night for Santa to arrive.  Although we plan to eat all of his cookies ourselves, we will leave him an icy cold Coca-Cola to quench his thirst.

Did you know that historically Santa Claus was depicted wearing all different colors of suits?  It's true, sometimes he would be depicted wearing a blue suit.  Sometimes a green one.  Sometimes a red one.  Believe it or not, the red suited Santa Claus didn't become a fixture until Coca-Cola started featuring Santa Claus in its yearly Christmas advertising.  In keeping with its logo colors, Coke settled on a red suit for Santa in all of its artwork and promotional materials.  The first Coca-Cola print advertisements featuring a red suited Santa started showing up as early as 1936.  Ever since, Santa Claus has exclusively been depicted in the familiar red suit.  Product saturation at its finest!

- Charlie

Stayin Alive!

Thirty-three years ago this week, on December 14, 1977, the movie Saturday Night Fever premiered in theaters throughout the country.  The movie ushered in the era of disco music, leisure suits, polyester, and bell bottom pants.  'Nuff said.

The movie also catapulted John Travolta from TV sitcom star to instant movie star.  Unfortunately, it also typecast him and he really didn't find meaningful movie roles again until 1994, when he starred in Pulp Fiction.

So, to celebrate this milestone, break out a little Bee Gees or KC and the Sunshine Band on your iPod and don't forget that I'm your boogie dog.

- Charlie

Bumbles Bounce

Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer premiered on television on December 6, 1964.  Hard to believe it was so long ago but isn't it nice that this great show endures as an entertaining part of our holiday season so many years later?  Pictured here are Yukon Cornelius, his team of mighty sled dogs, and Hermey, the elf who wanted to be a dentist.  You might recall that Yukon Cornelius and his team valiantly took on the Abominable Snowman (aka The Bumble) and nearly lost their lives when the whole crew went over a cliff during a nail biting on-screen fracas.  Fortunately, as we have learned since, Bumbles bounce!

Are you ready for the holidays?  Keep your eye out for Bumbles.

- Charlie