Every year, right around Christmastime, some new fad assumes a stranglehold on parents everywhere. They push, pull, stretch, and sometimes even kick and bite their way to the last Dancing Cabbage Patch Elmo Ruxpin doll on the shelf. It makes me wonder who the gift is really for. And I wonder how long it will take for that fad to fade into oblivion. The best things about Christmas are classic: the aroma of Mom baking cookies, the twinkling lights on the tree, and Bing Crosby crooning in the background. And the best toys? They're classic, too. …
Archives for December 2004
Cuckoo for Cocoa Puffs
I always figured that I couldn't possibly be the only one who had never outgrown my love of eating cereal. The more sugary, the better. I'm happy to report that my hunch was correct. Finally somebody has developed a place, (a piece of heaven on earth, if you will) where the primary item on the menu is...cereal. Cereality is a cereal bar and cafe where people in pajamas (I mean cerealogists) dish you up your favorite cereal with a topping of your choice (such as nuts, marshmallows, or malted milk balls), served in a container reminiscent of chinese takeout boxes. Jerry Shriver from USA Today …
Can You Spare A Cruise?
For the past few months, we've already begun making plans for the second annual Kim & Jason Benefit for the Make-A-Wish Foundation® of Wisconsin. Last year, we raised over $6,000, enough to fund two wishes for children with life-threatening medical conditions. We're back at it once again, hoping to do even better this year. …
Holiday Pitchman
It took about 75 million takes, but I put together a little holiday video message in which I reflect on the good old days of Kim & Jason Christmas Past (i.e. excruciatingly horrible holiday craft shows.) I also make a few shameless product plugs for your last minute holiday shopping. Is it a video blog? A commercial? An Academy award-winning piece of artistic filmmaking? I'll leave that for you to decide.I guarantee it's pretty short and marginally interesting. …
Corrupting Youth
I've been keeping busy corrupting the youth of America by teaching them how to draw better doodles during math class. In the interest of free press and because it's important for the public to really know what's going on inside their children's classrooms, we allowed a reporter to be imbedded in one of my recent operations. You can read all about it in a story by the Wisconsin State Journal. …
Introducing Shington
I've known Hal since he was five. I've seen him grow up – really up. I've kept up to date on his progress in school and have had some of his drawings on my fridge at home. I've read letters from him, telling me what he got for Christmas, and how he enjoys playing soccer. Hal has been a part of my life for over seven years now. But I've never met him. …