Christmas Is the Time to Say I Love You

Cheeeeeeeeeeers Chuckleheads and a Happy Tuesday to you all.

Do you realize what day it is?  It’s exactly three weeks and one day prior to Christmas, and I always observe December 3rd as my…

What Do I Want for Christmas Day!!

Why do I observe such a day three weeks and one day prior to Christmas, you ask?

Well…

Three weeks may be plenty for a normal person to decide what they want for Christmas, but as I am one who procrastinates, that extra day provides me with a much needed buffer between Christmas joy and being left with an empty feeling when I receive nothing but leftover love from my son on Christmas, as Jay and I discussed on Sunday’s, IWS Radio broadcast.

Anyhoo…

If I really were to want something for Christmas, I would want a Grade A microphone/headset combination.  I mean, the one I have is okay, but it sounds “tinny” no matter what adjustments I make to it.  I have a whiny voice to begin with and the tinny sounding microphone doesn't help to improve my voice nor my rep.

New speakers for my computer would be nice as well.  The speakers that I currently have, are getting a little tired.  I think that perhaps, too many Stubby Stonehenge replays through their tiny tweeters and woofers have distorted their sound.  Yeah, new speakers would be nice.

There’s one last thing I would like…okay two actually.

A block of Velveeta “cheese”, and a Cassano’s pizza or sub.

I know…boring, right?

Perhaps to some of the younger hipsters, but I have discovered something as I type this two months shy of my 49th birthday.  As I get older, Christmas means something much different than it did when I was a kid or even ten years ago.

I’m not talking about having a liturgical type of religious experience or anything, but Christmas has become, in a way, a time of year and day, that as my age rears its ugly head, a time that I also recognize all of the old friendships that grace my life.

The first time that Christmas made me feel old was about ten years ago.  My mom called me and asked what I would like for Christmas.  I didn't ask for a cool and hip toy, game, or latest what have ya like I did when I was a kid.  Noooooooo…I said to Mom…

“I could really use some new socks, or maybe a new white dress shirt, or a tie.”

IKR?  That’s pretty sexy.  Nearly as sexy as wanting a block of Velveeta or a Cassano’s pizza, but here’s the thing.

As I get older, if someone asks me what I would like for Christmas, it is always something I need, because as for me, the excitement of Christmas has become not the gift, but the rekindling and reconnecting with people that I like and I love.

My favorite part of Christmas is going to my brother’s house on Christmas Eve and partying with my family, all the while exchanging gift cards that we would probably buy ourselves for ourselves, and then…

Spending Christmas Day with Schmoop as we play music, eat way too much, drink way too much, and laugh way too much (if that’s possible) all damn day.

I don’t believe that Christmas as observed is the actual day of the birth of Jesus, and I do believe that if Christ were alive today, he would be appalled by its celebration, but I do think one thing.

Be it a hoax, a religious event, a secularist party, or just another day on the calendar, Christmas is an excellent time and/or excuse to reconnect with, and drunk dial those you love.

And if that’s all Christmas truly is, I like that…a lot.

Cheers!!

Matt-Man

mattmaniws@ymail.com
@mattman_IWS
My Facebook Page    

The World's Best Pizza: It's in Your Heart and at Cassano's

Whenever I come across the following quote by, Kevin James, I think of the existential brilliance of Kierkegaard and Nietzsche…

“There’s no better feeling in the world than a warm pizza box on your lap.”

The former King of Queens actor sums life up quite well in the aforementioned quote…

Because while I, (and many others) find that orbiting the hot oven of life we call the sun, upon an oblique spheroid of a pizza pan we call Earth can be painful and difficult at times, the day to day trials and tribulations can be quickly sent into a decaying orbit by…eating a pizza.

I mean c’mon…

It’s warm dough, spicy tomato sauce, melted cheese, the occasional veggie to make you think it’s good for you, all served on one huge, edible, round, or rectangular “plate” piled with meat.

How could any breathing, thinking human being with half a taste bud in his or her mouth not like that? Uh-huh…they can’t…Word.

Pizza is a universal language.

For instance, Kierkegaard who was Danish, might have liked his pie topped with Havarti and Smelts. Nietzsche being German, may have preferred limburger, sausage, and angst. Kevin James?

Being the New Yorker that he is, probably likes the Big Apple style pie that you curl up in your hand as it drips in the bountiful beauty of pepperoni, extra mozzarella, and grease. Mmmmmmmmm.

Either way…Pizza brings a smile to peoples’ faces, because the people eating it, have personalized it. 

They choose what goes on it. Ordering a pizza allows the common folk to enjoy the wide array of ala carte topping options without incurring a Greek-sized debt. It’s no wonder the Greeks went under to the Romans.

Another great thing about pizza is that it’s like a quilt…an afghan of sorts, although I don’t think Afghans have pizza, and if they did, it would probably be poppy and yak pizza, which makes perfect sense.

The hallucinogenic effect of the poppies would mask the bitterness of the yak, but I digress…

Pizza brings folks of all cultures, race, class, etc. together. I’m serious, now dig it…

Sure, sometimes one may get a pizza for them self, but how often have you heard:

“Hey, WHO’S up for pizza?”

“Why don’t WE order some pizza?”

“If I spring for the pizza, THEY might like me.”

See?

Pizza is also, among it’s great qualities, good for something else.

It identifies where one is from; it help to define and nurture one’s roots.

I have grown up and been a lifelong resident of the Miami Valley, specifically the Dayton/Springfield, Ohio region, and in spite of all of the chain pizza places which are available, nothing says home more than Cassano’s Pizza.

Cassano’s Pizza has been making great pie for years, and those of us around here love ‘em.

And let me tell you…In addition to the quality of the pizza itself, the best thing about their pizza goes back to their name.

This local/regional chain was built by Vic Cassano. That my friends, is a great pizza name…and it has to be both names.

You can’t have a great pizza place named after Bob Cassano…that sounds like a used car salesman, and…

You can’t have a great pizza placed named after Vic Tayback, because that sounds like a dirty diner in Arizona.

The name, the dough, the sauce, the toppings…they all add up to comfort when you get them right, and pizza affords us all that, even if for only a few minutes a week.

Cheers!!

Matt-Man

neshobadude@yahoo.com

http://twitter.com/#!/MattManIWS