SHAKING MY BRAIN OUT

 Every once in a while, I have to empty my skull of all the random thoughts rolling around so please indulge me as we enter December.

I love Christmas songs and sing them all the time--sometimes even in the summer.

I hate that commercial, 1-877-Kars for Kids. Hate the song and the kids singing it and the guy who wrote the original commercial.

I love when people decorate outside for the holidays.

I do not like it when the Bears lose or have a sucky team. Both this year.

Why are ALL the Chicago sports teams bad at the same time? 

Gaza and Ukraine now have the same problem. Rebuilding will take decades and it's not done yet in either place.

I totally understand the anger of Israel.

Where are the American hostages?

I think pumpkin pie is still the best at Thanksgiving but pecan is a close second.

NO SUCH THING as good stuffing. Close behind are green bean casseroles and cheesy potatoes. Even the dog leaves the area when he smells those god-awful creations.

How lucky have we been with the weather?

Give me 3 inches of snow on the 23rd and 50 degrees and sunny for a couple of days right after Christmas and the roads and sidewalks are clear for New Year's Eve. Perfect.

Remember how exciting Christmas Eve was as a kid?

My father making split pea soup with a large hambone in a huge pot and the flame on 'low' all day long until he got home. I hated that too.

Small towns still do it best for major holidays.

Everything, and I mean EVERYTHING, should be closed on Christmas Day.

Smelling the pasta and gravy being cooked at Mrs. Cervone's house. Almost every day.

Being invited to eat at the Cervone house. A kid's delight.

Climbing on top of Whittier School to collect tennis and rubber balls that went up there while playing 'up against the wall' and fouling a pitch up on the roof.

Being greeted by one of Northlake's finest when I was climbing down. A stiff warning and he let me keep the bag of balls. And no call to my parents.

Catching my sister coming home from a date past curfew.

Babysitting for 50 cents an hour. Not a lot of pay but unlimited Pepsi and chips.

My first car. 1956 Ford Fairlane. Paid $100 and it lasted almost two years. fair deal.

Failing miserably at learning the guitar.

ditto for the keyboard.

ditto again for reading music. But I can sing and carry a tune with no problem.

"THRILLER" was 40 freaking years ago.

"ROCKY" was 46 years ago.

Why are pears always so hard?

Medicare appears to be a pretty good deal.

Toasted coconut ice cream bars.

Jerry Reinsdorf should sell. Everything.

The White Sox will lose 100 games again.

It's almost impossible to buy a good Christmas present for a man over the age of 50.

I love my electric palm tree because it signals warm weather is here.

Women, no matter the age, are much easier for which to buy a present.

I really like torches on a warm summer night.

I miss the voice of VIN SCULLY on a summer night.

Thom Mcan shoes.

Robert Hall clothes.

My surgeon is the grandson of Robert Hall.

My great niece playing hockey at the age of 10. What?

Cats have interesting personalities.

My Dad hated cats. Said they were sneaky. How else do you catch a mouse?

Sitting right behind home plate on a summer day. Cold beverage. Hot dog.

The price of tickets.....to anything.

I like picnics but nobody has them anymore.

The old Chicago Stadium.

Ok, I think that's enough for today but I only emptied about half of what's running around up there. Stay warm and stay out of Chicago.