Remembering Halloween With McDonald's Candy Pails

 When I was a kid I remember when McDonald's came out with the Halloween Candy Pail in the mid-1980's.  I especially remember when the trio of McGoblin, McGhost, and McWitch came out.  Three pails looking like a ghost, a witch, and a pumpkin.  I loved the witch, she was my favorite.

I remember several Halloweens when I went out trick-or-treating with one of these pails.  I also have a memory of the handles not being terribly sturdy, much to my candy loving dismay.

This past week on a trip to McDonald's during a Big Mac craving spree I discovered this years Halloween pail theme: It's The Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown, in honor of its 50th anniversary.

They're so cute!!!

There's two pails, one with Charlie and Snoopy and the other with Linus and Snoopy.

 I love the handles.

And the handles are sturdy, too.

Each meal even comes with cute stickers.

Happy Halloween!!

I have candy duty tonight, as always.  -_-;;

The Peanuts Movie, mini movie review

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

I remember with great somberness holding the last published Peanuts comic in my hands on February 13, 2000, the day after Charles M. Schulz died.   It was a shock.  It was bittersweet reading his farewell so soon, months after he announced his retirement.  And I wondered if there would ever be another Peanuts anything with his passing, and if so, would I like it?  Would it be faithful?

There were some hits and misses since 2000.  I Want a Dog For Christmas, Charlie Brown, 2003, is adorable.  Happiness Is a Warm Blanket, Charlie Brown, 2011, was just depressing and completely missed the mark.

Then I heard there would be a computer generated Peanuts Movie released to theaters, and I was instantly nervous.  How could they do Charlie Brown and the gang in 3D?  It felt like such a departure from Schulz.  It felt like the Peanuts would be too modern.  And then I saw the teaser trailer the studio released last year and felt reassured that this new version might turn out well.

When I finally saw The Peanuts Movie a few weeks ago, I loved it!!

The style is cute, and still pays tribute to the characters original 2D selves.  And I love how the movie still found a way to show a classic Black and White comic segment.  A great tribute to Charles M. Schulz.  I love the cute humor which was balanced with Charlie Browniest moments.  I love the cute little visual gags on the screen's side.   I love how classic Peanut moments like Snoopy fighting the Red Barron and his love for Fifi were shown.

But overall I love the optimistic message of this movie, about not giving up and finding the courage to do hard things.

The Peanuts Movie is one of those rare kid movies that appeals equally to children and adults alike.

After all this praise, maybe I'm being biased, because I'm a lifelong Peanuts fan.  But honestly, because I'm such a fan I'm very picky. (I've only seen Happiness Is a Warm Blanket, Charlie Brown once, and vowed, after first seeing it, to never watch it again.)

This movie is now one of my brother Robbie's favorite top movies, and he can't wait to buy it.

I can't wait to see this movie again.

MPAA: G

Not Now, I'm Dancing

"Not Now, I'm Dancing"

I saw this little dancing Charlie Brown figurine at a Hallmark Golden Crown Store.

And when I saw this something came to mind: Big Band Swing.

Abstract, but not really, because I had Swing music blasting through the house one afternoon and realized something very important: It's impossible to be in a bad mood when you're listening to swing.

So the next time you're in a bad mood, or just having a bad day, put on some swing music and dance around.  You'll be happy in no time :0)

The Lull before the Valentine Storm

I always seem to go into a comatose state during Valentines and Mother's Day.

At least during Mother's Day week there's a bounteous amount of birthday festivities in my family to keep me distracted.  Lots of presents are handed out during that time.  3 birthdays in a 6 day period.  All that cake.  Cake and ice-cream.  Yum :0)

And then there's Valentines.

Back in Elementary I loved Valentines: Make a shoebox mailbox, paint it red and pink with hearts all over, slap my name on it, set it under the window with all the other boxes, make sure I bring enough Valentines for everyone, and everyone, in turn, must bring one for me.

As a kid Valentines was awesome.

As an Adult you must actually be loved to receive a Valentine.

This day is either wonderful or a painful reminder of your day-to-day loneliness.

Unless you like being lonely and single, and thus find this day filled with empowerment, first pump in the air, celebrating singlehood in a sea of kissing couples and hand holding.

As for me?

I feel like Charlie Brown, opening the mailbox only to find a beagle sticking his nose out at me.

(Actually, I would really like to see that.  It would be pretty amusing.)

This is the week New Years resolutions truly go down the drain, if they haven't already.  Stores put Valentine candy out right after Christmas, a month + reminder of upcoming festivities of the red/pink/cupid variety.

Loneliness and Chocolate seem to go hand and hand, so shelves filled with heart shaped boxes, row after row of chocolate morsels, mocking the unloved, serve as constant taunting.

I haven't bought myself a box of chocolate, mainly because there's a bag of sea-salt chocolate covered almonds sitting on the counter and they're amazing, but on Monday,

Monday!

All those unloved boxes of Chocolate will be on sale, 50% off, and I shell claim one.

"Forget love — I'd rather fall in chocolate!"

~Sandra J. Dykes

Linus van Pelt Shares a Christmas Message

Luke 2: 8-14 KJV

 Lights Please!

 "And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.  And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.  For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.  And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,  Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men."

That's what Christmas is all about, Charlie Brown. 

Merry Christmas

My Favorite Christmas Show

 

"I Want a Dog for Christmas, Charlie Brown" isn't your traditional Christmas fare; it's not just for the Holidays, but all-year long.

Honestly, this is my favorite of all The Peanut gang shows, which says a lot, because there's some really great ones.  "You're a Good Man Charlie Brown," which is based off of the musical, and "What Have We Learned Charlie Brown" are forever etched within.

The Peanuts is a comic strip by the amazing Charles M. Schulz, and comics are supposed to be funny.  That's what's so great about The Peanuts strip; Schulz is able masterfully blend the funny and poignant at the same time.  

"I Want a Dog for Christmas, Charlie Brown" is the funniest of the lot.  Every time I see it I start giggling like crazy.  See, the show features Rerun, the third Van Pelt, and having a bossy/crabby big sis along with a genius older brother, Rerun feels the weight of being the youngest, and that's made him quite precocious.  He says the funniest things that have me gaping at times.  My Dad, who I showed it to last year, declared, "This isn't a kids show.  Kids wont get these jokes!" I laughed at that and responded, "I know, right?"  A lot of the earlier jokes will go over the kids heads, but they will still love the show just the same.

What kid doesn't want a dog?  And what kid, who wants a dog, understands the responsibilities of owning one?  Rerun does get a taste of what it's like to take care of a pet, and it's not Snoopy, but Snoopy's brother Spike from Needles.  The independent dog who lives in a cactus.  He, too, gets to learn what it's like living in a family, which may or may not be to his liking.

This special, which sometimes runs on ABC and can also be purchased on DVD, came out in 2003, so it's one of the newer shows.  But don't fret, even though this special came out after Schulz passed away, this show is based entirely on the comic, so it's all Schulz, and is very true to the strip.

As much as I love Charlie Brown, I'm the most like him, Rerun is my favorite Peanut character.  He says the darndest things!

Sarah

Oh, and one last thing.  Charlie Brown brakes the "Fourth Wall" at the end of the show.  My brothers and I talk all the time about the fourth wall and how it needs to be broken more often.  When Charlie Brown says what he says, let's just say I was stunned.  It's short, but funny.  So, so, so awesome.   

Christmas Time is Here

My Christmas tree is now up.  Simple is best :0). And it's not commercial, so Charlie Brown would be proud.

This is also my first time posting a blog post with my phone.  I'm not sure yet how I feel about the blogger app.  We'll see.  It wont let me control where the picture goes.