I am not a McDonald's eater. My kids force me there now and then though. I will also admit I have been to one ,at least once a week for the last few. Why? Coca Cola Glasses.
I used to be a big Coke drinker. I have curved over the years as my waist line got tighter. I will have the occasional Coke Zero instead now. What I have always liked about Coke though - marketing. I am a sucker for a good Coke marketing gimmick. The Glasses at McD's have me hooked. I am missing a Green one though.
It had me thinking of Coke ads of the past. Coke and Christmas (sorry about the commercialism of it all Charlie Brown) kinda go together some for me. At least the ads. Yeah, growing up that Coke ad with the song, " I'd Like to Teach the World to Sing ..." had me. Our family even had an old 45 of the song.
Yet, here is one I miss from the 90's - "The Always Coca Cola" song and ad campaign. " The Stars will always shine, the birds will always sing; as long as there is thirst, there is always the real thing." Great lines and how could anyway be sad singing or thinking about that? Kinda like what Steve Martin says about playing the banjo. How could anyone be sad playing one.
So, anyway, I came across a YouTube clip of the original Always Coca Cola ad and song yesterday. My kids are hooked. My second oldest told me he just cannot get that song out of his head! Coke adds life!
Does anyone else have this 12 step recovery problem over Coke marketing as I do? Or, is there some other Holiday Ad or Ad in general that ever got ya?
Reading Colorado Runners Blog today I was struck with the thought of Holiday movies, songs, albums or CD's you might like? I have a big thing for the movie Love Actually anytime of the year, but especially this time of year. Christmas Vacation is a favorite as well. As I mentioned to Colorado Runner, I really miss John Candy. So, I will watch Home Alone and I know Planes, Trains and Automobiles is more of a Thanksgiving movie - it works for me this time of year. Hey! if Uncle Buck could be Yuletide viewing that would be number one! Well, at least number two. The original Christmas Carol and Musical of it called Scrooge with Albert Finney is a favorite as well.
Music - the classics. Nate King Cole, Elvis Presley, Johnny Mathis, Babs Streisand have me hooked. However, we also listen to Amy Grants, a Luciano Pavarotti one, Mormon Tab Choir of the Messiah and Mariah Carey's.
How about you? What gives you that yuletide feel this time of year?
Running. Okay just quick one. Because, well it was quick. A short 4.5 mile run early this AM. Cold at 31 degrees. It has also left me with a cough. Still not quite over that head Cold.
Happy Holidays! Cheers!
13 comments:
Movies:
1 - A Christmas Story
2 - Christmas Vacation
3 - Grinch (Jim Carey version)
Music:
1 - Amy Grant
2 - Michael W Smith
3 - Josh Groban
4 - Mercy Me
5 - Third Day
Merry Christmas Slomo!!!
Forgot - HUGE John Candy fans. Uncle Buck is awesome. Miss that guy because he was really funny and generally pretty clean - didn't need all the vulgar stuff.
Happy Trails - Nice Picks! I forgot one in music - Vince Guaraldi Charlie Brown Christmas Soundtrack. I have the Linus and Lucy track as my ringtone on my cell.
I love "A Christmas Story," "A Charlie Brown Christmas," "Rudloph," and "The Grinch." I love all holiday music but the oldies are my favorites, "White Christmas," being one of them. Guess what? I'm not feeling it yet! I must be too busy so perhaps after next Wednesday things will change...that's when we're out for vacation! Merry Christmas!
It's a Wonderful Life and Nat King Cole's The Christmas Song (the whole album). I honestly feel more christmasy living in a colder climate. Somehow the palm trees of Southern California and beach weather wasn't as conducive. ;-)
"Planes, Trains, and Automobiles" is a TG favorite around here. Very few films get everything right, this is one of them I think.
X-Mas films?
Scrooge (1951) with Alastair Sim gives me the willies, Holiday Inn and White Christmas are in the rotation and what year would not be complete without a Red Ryder carbine-action 200-shot range model air rifle? For some reason I just can't kick the old Rankin and Bass stuff either. Let's not forget "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" (Ah, that Boris Karloff . . .)
Music?
Vince Guaraldi tops the list here too (Dolly Madison Snack Cakes anyone?). Mannheim Steamroller's Christmas albums are now ripped to iTunes, and I am looking forward to "spinning" the 2008 "Christmas Remixed 2" (46bliss's remix of Mahalia Jackson singing Silent Night is pretty cool).
Looking forward to the period between X-Mas and New Years?
Singing in the Rain and Die Fledermaus!
Happy Holidays Slomo! (and everyone else)
I forgot about those Coke commercials. They were awesome. I used to love the ones with the polar bears in them. Cute.
I have heard a lot of people talking about Love Actually lately. I've never heard of it. I must go check it out!
Well you already know the movies that I like. I forgot to mention the Grinch! I love him. I just love the whole "feel" of Christmas. That time of year where giving is so prevalent in so many peoples lifes. I love that feeling of making people happy.
Meg Runs - After your last day with the kiddies plan a post work run wearing jingling bells around your ankles listening to Nate King Cole or Bing on your shuffle (if you use one). Then OD on Peanuts, Grinch and Rudolph with Sparkle Pants. If that doesn't do it, find some good Egg Nog? :) Merry Christmas Meg!!
rpd - yeah the last good one from Rankin/Bass is a family fav - Year without a Santa Claus. My oldest is usually Heat Miser for a few days while the second oldest goes for Freeze Miser. My wife likes Santa Claus is coming to Town, but I have always had thing for the First Rudolph. Man that Abominable Snowman creeped me when I was 4-6 years old! Linus spotlight, sad Christmas Tree Charlie Brown finds, The bopping dance to Schroder's piano, Dolly Madison, Coke ads, Peanuts Gang singin Hark the Hearld Angles Sing - along with Boris and Chuck Jones version of the Grinch are classics for me.
Puddle Thumper - my wife grew up in Orange County and we met in Seattle. She would say the same. However, now we are both sitting in the middle of the Mojave Desert (Vegas), but we manage to feel more than the Ho Ho/Yuletide Spirit here than she did in the OC. We both miss Seattle. Living in the Midwest was my fav place for Christmas though.
Tara - Merry Christmas! Watch out for poking sticks around your eyes though ;) Ho Ho Ho?
OK, I LOVE EGGNOG(w/out rum)but not so sure about
the jingle bells on the ankles...maybe on Daisy though!
About the Coke thing - you need to find Speedy Sasquatch out there on the web. He does some virtual coaching and his first requirement is to cut out the carbonated drinks. Now, I can't buy into that, but quite a few I know have!
Belive it or not, the thing that makes it seem like Christmas is the chill in the air and the lights on the houses!
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