One of my favorite holiday traditions from my childhood was going to see the Christmas decorations at the Pflaumers' house in Drexel Hill, PA, known in my family as the "Christmas House." Every year, either my parents, my godmother, or my grandparents would take me over to the large Tudor-style home on Fairfax Road, where I'd stand, mesmerized, admiring the incredible variety of Christmas decorations on and around the property. The Pflaumers owned the Schmidt Brewing Company in Philadelphia, a beer distributorship that was fairly well-known in the area. Mr. Pflaumer wound up in the slammer for tax evasion and eventually had to declare bankruptcy in the 1980s, but that didn't stop him (or his family) from wowing the local residents every year with their Christmas display.

You could actually hear the Christmas House before you saw it, thanks to the holiday music that blared on an endless loop over a loudspeaker system. Often we had to park our car two or three blocks away from the house; there was always a crowd gathered around it, from Thanksgiving all the way up until New Year's, and understandably so: there were so many fantastic sights on the property that one's eyes could hardly rest. Here was a life-sized illuminated Santa's sleigh, complete with eight reindeer, suspended from a pulley system that wound around the side yard of the house. On the front lawn was an enormous Nativity scene, with real straw and a real stable and nearly life-sized figures gathered around the manger. Not to mention all kinds of flashing lights and holiday statuary scattered everywhere. From the peak of the roof, a huge lit-up Santa statue appeared on the verge of climbing into the chimney.

If I had to guess, I'd say that there were easily 50,000 lights in the display, but that may be a conservative estimate. I remember the adults standing around and speculating what the Pflaumers' electric bill must be. There was a hurricane fence erected around the property, and I was always curious if anyone actually lived in the house during the holiday season. I never saw any cars, interior lights, or other signs of life within the house when we went to look at it. Now, as an adult looking back on it, I wonder how the Pflaumers' neighbors tolerated this show year in and year out. As much as I loved going to see it, I can't imagine living next door to it!

I can't remember exactly when I stopped going to see the Christmas House; I suppose it was sometime around the advent of my teenage years, when I thought myself too "cool" to be transported by the extravagance and magic of the display. You know what teenagers are like--nothing impresses them. But now that December is upon us, I've found my thoughts turning back to the Christmas House, wondering if the Pflaumers still put on the display.

Labels: childhood, holidays, memories, nostalgia, Upper Darby

You know, I was ready to launch into a very angry post this afternoon about the idiocy of the uproar in Colorado over the woman who hung a wreath in the shape of a peace sign on the side of her house...but I'm just too disgusted to even get into it now.



Common sense--less common than you'd think!

Labels: bitching, holidays

Today I had the privilege of spending most of the morning and early afternoon at the Philadelphia Marathon. It was the most inspiring, affirming, positive experience I have had in a very, very long time. One of my friends was running in it, so two of my girlfriends and I headed downtown to cheer her on and offer her some moral support.

I've never been a spectator at a marathon, so I wasn't quite sure what to expect. It was a clear, sunny, crisp day (thankfully!), and Megan, PJ and I got down to the city around 10 a.m. We pushed our way through the crowds and found a place to stand at the halfway mark/finish line, which was just in front on the Philadelphia Museum of Art on the Ben Franklin Parkway.

At first, we just stood there and watched as the runners plodded their course past us. All around us, the crowds were cheering the runners on, but I felt very self-conscious; I didn't know any of these people, and I've never been much of a cheerleader anyway.

But soon enough, inspiration struck, and the three of us were hooting and screaming for everyone who ran past us. There were all types of people there--many races, nationalities, some very young people, some very, very old people--all with the same goal: just to keep putting one foot in front of the other and to cross the finish line. Because when you set out to run 26.2 miles, that's really your ultimate goal...to just finish the run.

About three and a half hours into the race, we moved further down Kelly Drive and stood in the middle of the street, about a quarter-mile from the finish line. The runners amazed me! A few who passed us were literally crying in pain. Others were limping along, trying to massage their calves or quadriceps and keep the pace at the same time. Some were smiling broadly and clapping for themselves and their competitors as we cheered them on. Many of them had their names written on homemade t-shirts, so we could yell out to them personally as they made their way to the finish line. Because we were standing right next to the course, I could stick my arm out as they passed us. I gave so many high-fives to runners today that I eventually lost count.

"Good job!"
"Keep it up, runners! You can do it!"
"Kick some ass, guys! You look great!"
"You're almost at the finish line...bring it home!"
"Come on, Lisa! You got it! Great run!"

The most incredibly moving thing about the event was how complete strangers came together to motivate and encourage the runners. There were many moments today in which I found my eyes welling up with tears. It was just so emotional to watch the runners slog along to the finish line, and even more emotional to watch and listen to the spectators screaming for them, giving them the little push they needed to get to the end of the race. Strangers cheering for strangers: what a lovely thing to witness. I felt so fortunate today to have had that experience, because it reaffirmed my faith in humanity, even if just in a small way.

Shortly after the five hour mark, we saw our friend Colleen coming up Kelly Drive. PJ started screaming and waving the neon-green poster she'd made for Colleen. Megan and I looked at each other and decided that we would run the last quarter-mile with Colleen. We jumped onto the course and flanked her, falling into pace with her as she ran, screaming, "You can do it, Colleen! You're almost there...good job! Let's do it!" It was such a surreal moment, running next to her while people on the sidelines yelled and cheered her on. She was hurting--as soon as we fell in next to her, she panted, "I fucking hate this! I'm fucking done right now!" but we kept her going to the end, yelling for her until we went hoarse. I've never tried running and screaming at the top of my lungs at the same time before--it was quite the challenge!

We ran with Colleen until just short of the finish line, at which point we fell back and let her finish alone.

I pulled PJ's camera out of my coat pocket and snapped a photo of Colleen crossing the line. Five hours and ten minutes.

Good run, Colleen!

Labels: friends, Philadelphia, sports

So today the first slots casino opened in PA: Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs, located in Wilkes-Barre, which is about 2 hours from where I live. Shoot, that means we might have to stop there and give the old one-armed bandit a pull on the ride up to Rochester next week.

What do you think?

Labels: local news, travel

One of my dearest, wisest, oldest friends bought six copies of the novel in which my essay on friendship is published. She has asked me to autograph them, as she will be giving them to a bunch of her other friends as Christmas gifts.

???

Labels: friends, funny stuff, holidays, writing

If you are a Foo fan, you must buy this. It was just released last week, and it's a live performance CD from this past year's "Afoostic" tour.



It is amazing. I have been sitting here, eyes closed, listening to it, and I am covered with goosebumps. This was by far the best concert of 2006, and as most of you know, I went to many concerts this year.

The only thing that disappoints me a bit is that it excludes most of the banter between Dave and the guys that Foo fans love so much.

A live performance DVD will follow next month.

Labels: concerts, Foo Fighters, music

Have a few Friday laughs here.

My favorites are Titanic, Office Space, The Shining, and Jaws.

Labels: funny stuff, technology

I love the ability to post videos from YouTube here.

This is probably my favorite video OF ALL TIME. So fucking funny.

Can you understand why I love Dave Grohl? He's hilarious! Not to mention the lyrics to some of his songs are the most romantic I've ever heard (see: Everlong; Burn Away; Disenchanted Lullaby; Miracle).

Sigh.

Labels: Foo Fighters, funny stuff, music, technology

Britney files for divorce.

The mystery is, why didn't she do it sooner?

Labels: celebrities, deep thoughts

Do you think it's maybe just a wee bit premature to have Christmas decorations littering your front lawn right now?

I took my regular walk last night and saw that one of our neighbors had every imaginable Christmas monstrosity already out and LIT UP on his property. You know what I mean...the huge, inflatable Christmas snowglobe, the illuminated, animatronic reindeer (creepy!), and icicle lights hanging from every eave of the house.

I was most amused by the fact that the house directly across the street still has its huge, inflatable Halloween jack-o'lantern on the front lawn.

It's almost as though they're competing to see whose front lawn can look the tackiest.

Labels: deep thoughts, holidays

Taken from If3 by Evelyn Macfarlane and James Sayer:

What is the single most sexy word in the English language?

Leave your response in the comment section.

Happy Friday!

Labels: deep thoughts

If you had to pick one album to sum up your college years, what would it be?

(If you didn't go to college, answer it anyway, applying the standard college age range of 18-21).

This morning I'm burning some of my CDs into iTunes on my PC at work. Right now I'm listening to Ben Folds' Five's "Whatever and Ever, Amen." This entire album is so evocative of my college years. I got it as a birthday gift when I turned twenty from one of my friends, Big Jon, who attended Widener University.

I partied more at Widener than I did at my own school (which is amazing, considering that West Chester University has a nearly legendary reputation as a huge party school). I even had more friends at Widener and UDel than I did at West Chester! I don't think I could name a single person from West Chester. Oh well. I guess that's what happens when you're NEVER in class. Hee.

Anyway, whenever I hear any song from this album, I am sent back to that time in my life. I remember the good times: sneaking into The Bent Elbo, Abilene and Manny Brown's on South Street, and Walio's Frog Pond (Widener's campus bar) to celebrate their 21st birthdays while I was still underage; smoking bongs in the absolutely decrepit bathroom of the off-campus rowhouse where Jon lived with his two roommates, Pat and Bob; playing Beirut and "Think While You Drink" with them, going to strip bars with them (yes, I did!); going glo-bowling at midnight at Conchester Lanes in Aston.

I also remember the not-so-good times: being in love with David, my ex-boyfriend with the serious drug problem, who never wanted to hang out with my other friends; the handful of one-night stands I had with guys I really liked but who wouldn't commit; watching all my Widener friends graduate (they were a year ahead of me, remember?) and move on with their lives while I was still unhappily stuck at West Chester; and oh yeah--failing out of college. How could I forget that one?

Still, this album never fails to put a smile on my face. All those experiences made me who I am today, and I will always look back fondly on those days.

So tell me about your musical memories from college.

Labels: college, friends, memories, music, nostalgia

I am so fucking tired of these damn political campaign commercials. It's like one big smear-fest. Why doesn't anyone stick to the issues? Gah.

That is all.

Labels: bitching, politics, TV