Angel loooooves Christmas: "Grandma sent Mommy presents! In a box. Full of paper! What's this? What's this? What's this? "

"What?" 

Coming to police any Fun that might be happening Without Him, Griffin wants to makes sure Angel knows who's in charge, and insists on his turn in the paper. This does not go over too big. 

Griffin decides he's content to sit in the box for a bit, anyway. 

...And the bickering begins: "my box."" No, it's MY turn." " Get away, you little snot". " I'll take you down, old man!" Ah, the joys of the season come in all shapes and forms, including wrestling on the ground for a good hour and a half. Happy Holidays! 

Here we are at Burbank's foremost Christmas-lit home, just blocks away from my own. This guy does it up every year with a full on scene,music, fake snow, moving trains, ferris wheels, see-saws, you name it! In this town, it's nothing if there's not DRAMA involved, y'know?? 

Nora's in awe of the spectacle of lights, piped in music, and the possibility that Santa might arrive any second!!! ( He's scheduled to appear at this location every Saturday til Crhistmas. And the homeowners will be handing out free hot chocolate.) My gosh, it's too much to take in! 

Just to add class, however, there was a nativity scene. On the roof. I found it a bit confounding. He WAS the Son of God, though, so I guess anything's possible....

Ever the cowgirl sherriff, Nora has to take a turn on the reindeer to make sure the premises are up to fire code.  

Going along with all the excitement , Daddy Earl gives riding the reindeer a good go. I do say he may have enjoyed it a wee bit too much.

Mama Jeanna frantically trying to asses the actual days til Christmas. Better get on that shopping, missy!

For the second stop on our drive, we found Santa getting down with his bad self riding a motorcycle instead of a sleigh. Woohoo, Santa, he's a hottie, no doubt! 

Decapitated snowmen heads as walkway lights....hmm, does Calvin from "Calvin and Hobbes" live here? We like his style! 

Never one to miss out on the opportunity to get more crap I don't want or need, of COURSE I stopped at podium provided at House #2 to fill out my own list. " Dear Santa, I would like 1.) Keith Urban, and 2.) an IPod. Oh, and some Crest Whitestrips. Thank you, Julie at 1322 n. Hollywood Way."

Jeanna dropping our Christmas lists in the mailbox at the house shown in the photo below. Here's hopin'! 

Just down the road, someone was feeling a little competitive, I guess, because they had their own thing going here. This house was complete with music and moving parts. 

Another view of Crazy Christmas House #2. 

Not to be outdone, the neighbor had set up his own Santaland Madhouse, #3. I'll bet those guys hate each other's guts. "That bastard! Just wait...I KNOW can fit another string of lights in there! I'll show him!"

North Pole, I say! Forward, ON! 

"I am wishing for help on my power bill. If you would like to help, drop your donation in the wishing well pail." And in the spirit of Christmas, or at least pity, we did. Happy Holidays from La-La Land! 

Dec. 6, 2005: Jeanna gets me tickets and backstage to Keith Urban, and I drag her along with me. We had amazing seats and a really, really fun time. It was a fan-freaking-tastic show and a totally awesome thing to do on a random Tuesday night.... 

Actually, we were closer than this, my camera just minimizes the picture to get everything into the frame, and I couldn't get the zoom to work. Singing "Days Go By". Yes, Virginia, he looks even better than you could possibly imagine up close.Merry Christmas to me, heh, heh. 

Singing my favorite song, an old Radney Foster called "Raining on Sunday" (hence the lightning effects): "Pray that it's raining on Sunday/ Storming like crazy/We'll hide under the covers all afternoon/ And baby whatever comes Monday/ Can take care of itself/ 'Cause we've got better things that we can do...." 

Wish I could tell ya what he's singing here. I cannot for the life of me remember. 

I had forgotten how much of being backstage at concerts is just hanging around and waiting....and waiting. So, to amuse ourselves ......Keith's chips n' salsa? Jeanna: "you don't know! He could have licked every single one!"