Sean and Stefan say...

We were watching our new favorite show Pushing Daisies and couldn't hold back the laughter over this great homage to Tippi Hedron and Alfred Hitchcock's The Birds from Molly Shannon! Enjoy!

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Dear Santa

White Xmas Tree

Well another year has passed and Christmas has come around again!  This year has found me, Sean, in such happiness. If we flash back to last season, job woes had me down. But now love, life, family, and work is truly going well... knock on wood of course!  Please make note of my new address since I have moved in with Stefan. I believe I gave it to you last year so you could throw some gifts his way.  If you still need it just give me a jingle!  (tee hee) 

Stefan and I have selected a white Xmas tree this year to emphasize our mid-century obsessions and because it would look cool next to the purple-tone paint in the main room of our home!  So please ensure the presents have a wrapping paper, bow, and/or bag that shows off this new addition!  (cue raised right eyebrow) We don't want anything clashing now do we? New ornaments that look great on a white background would be fun too!

As I do every year, I am writing you an overly sweet and greedy letter asking for presents in a vague attempt to avoid actually directly asking/telling family what I would seriously enjoy for Xmas!  Being that Stefan and I started a blog this year, I thought what appropriate way to broadcast then through it!  And Santa, after all, I know you keep up with the latest technologies up at the North Pole. So here goes... (smirk)

...items are highlighted in blue so it will be easier to find through my prattle...

Home for Xmas

Ok, so I won't be AS greedy as I am usually this year.  Now don't shake your head now, Santa! I saw you!  I really mean it this year.  Stefan and I made some financial goals that I really want to stick to and so the only true thing I would want is for those to stay on track this year.  Yes, this is pretty much a prayer that nothing screw up our path toward a home and embracing a child to our hearts over the course of the next year and half.  Living together has been a wonderful, albeit crowded, time - but space is space and these legs gotta stretch!  So please grant me strength as the new work contract gets processed so money is secure with our household. And may we both stay healthy so God can truly bless us with our true desire, to love a child someone cared most about to entrust them to someone else. Xmas won't be Xmas I think until Stefan and I have that little hand to write Santa letters with in the future. 

Ok, so security to buy a new home, health, and a child of our very own... check!

Now for the avarice! 

What does this "boy" want on Xmas morning? Well I know that a High-def TV with 1080p resolution might be too big for the sleigh along with the accompanying Bose sound system and Toshiba HD DVD player... so best leave that for our first day in the new house's souped up media room (said with a dwindling mumble).  But Papa (the name I chose in leiu of Dad for when we get our bundle of joy) still collects the DVDs so bring them on! 

Here are the Top Ten DVDs (a good site to look for them on) on my goodie list (in no particular order):

Christmas Ornaments

1. Band of Brothers

2. Aliens - Collector's Edition 2 disc set

3. The Complete Thin Man Collection

4. The Lady Vanishes (Criterion Collection)

5. Once & Again: The Complete First Season

6. Seinfeld - Seasons 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and/or 9

7. The Tarzan Collection

8. Walt Disney Legacy Collection (Worlds of Wonder, Creatures of the Wild, & Nature's Mysteries [I already have Lands of Exploration])

9. Walt Disney Treasures Disney Rarities Celebrated Shorts 1920s - 1960s and/or Walt Disney Treasures More Silly Symphonies Volume 2

10. 2007 World Series Collection

I had to pare it down since you know how gluttoniness I can be about DVDs!  But someone has to have a hobby!  If you could squeeze in the new release of Flash Gordon (1980) that would be welcome too. I saw the film at my 10th birthday party and have loved the camp ever since!  I know Dad is proud that he took me to that. (hee hee) 

Now music wise, instead of compact discs (CDs) this year - an iTunes gift card is more than welcome! What a great way to find music - one song at a time!  I use my iPod almost every day on the MARC train to work and lord knows I need walking and room entrance music in my own head! Some Bose over the ear head phones would be nice...but not expected... Even an inventive medley on a self-made cd would be fun! A copy of Paul Robson in Showboat would be a fun twist though.

Christmas Balls

This Thanksgiving, Stefan and I did a lot of cooking as our part of a huge event with his family. It would be nice to have a small and large food processor so we could make it faster next year. A few Calphalon pots would be a nice addition as well. But otherwise, our kitchen is full so waiting until the new house kitchen or some other special event requiring gifts of kitchen items is probably a great idea!

Reading is fundemental as you know Santa, but sometimes I don't have a lot of time for it. It helps that Stefan is a librarian, but sometimes you just want to own a book. The Russell Quant gay detective mysteries would be fun to kick around in paperback. I already have Amuse Bouche (which I love to say as "Bushea" not "Boosh" as the French do because it makes me sound pretentious), so that leaves Flight of Aquavit, Tapas on The Ramblas, Stain of the Berry, and Sundowner Ubuntu.  Other ideas would be the books on Spanish Colonial design. A Bartlett's Quotations would be great since I love quoting things all the time... just ask my friends!

Bo Sox Mike Lowell Jersey

Lately, I have become obessesed with Robert Sabuda and Matthew Reinhart pop up books and Marvel Comics Civil War series. Any of those would be nice additions to my ecclectic collection!  Books on the history of Fenway Park would be nice too.

Clothes as usual are always nice. Never bring me pants though! Santa, I know you don't have a return policy, but in this house noone asks someone's pants size!  However, extra large turtleneck sweaters, long sleeve henleys, light jackets, socks, and amusing underwear is always welcome. Please keep in mind that a Mike Lowell (Number 25) Boston Red Sox Replica jersey would be even more welcome!

In the end I already have my Xmas gift in Stefan of course. But a few more trinkets never hurt anyone right?

Sean and Santa 1973

Thanks Santa!

And have a Merry Xmas!!!

Your pal,

Sean

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Sean reports...

Well, I know you all are wondering how the McFreeds made out on Thanksgiving!  Well it was a large yet dramaless affair mainly... which is a great thing!  I mean there were pretty much 30 people there or more at Stefan's family feast, so the occasion was pregnant wiht possibilities.  All we know at this time (a Stefan idiom) is that we both need to start toning up this winter so we don't get too fat!  It was great seeing all of Stef's family and enjoying the hospitality his cousin Brian and his wife Sandy's home. We brought a bunch of things. It was fun cooking with Stef although I was a little stressed about getting there on time and getting the food in the door. However, the day was fun and it was a great time!

Here is what we brought for dinner: homemade orzo salad, sweet potatoes with a pecan/brown sugar topping, pumpkin pie with a cranberry/pecan/almond biscotti topping, berry Jello, green bean casserole, brussel sprouts, and Stef's grandmother's chip dip. We also store bought a mince meat pie, two loaves of cranberry walnut bread, and coconut dates. Two bottle of wine were bought but Stef's family rarely drinks so only one bottle really was opened.

Wish we caught some pictures of it all but even though we brought our camera we never used it... sigh.

So in the end it was all yummy and filling. Hope yours was too!

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Sean and Stefan say...

Pushing Daisies

As the television season has gone on your McFreeds have pruned most of our TV watching down to mainly healthy doses of Ugly Betty (of course!), Dancing With The Stars, Samantha Who?, and DVR tapings of BBC America's Torchwood (a Sean guilty pleasure) and Grey's Anatomy (when in the mood). But the one show that really has us excited is Pushing Daisies - Wednesdays at 8pm EST!!

Someone on a website said one time about the show, that they would love to hold hands and skip across a field of flowers with this show. We couldn't say it any better!!!

Pushing Daisies - Extended Preview

In case you haven't seen it, Pushing Daisies is a quixotic embellishment of a show that tells the tale of Ned, The Pie Maker, who has the power to bring the dead back to life.  Unfortunately, if anything dead that he has touched must be retouched within 1 minute or something else will die in its stead of an equal value. He learned this lesson when he saved his own mother from death by anurism only to have his childhood friend Chuck's father die instantly - causing Chuck to move away. Chuck was a little girl who he had his first kiss. After a few years of being alone and making pies, Ned came across private detective Emerson Cod. Emerson subsequently learns of Ned's "talent' and they employ it in earning rewards for solving crimes across the city.  One day they stumble across the body of his childhood crush Chuck while trying to solve her murder on a cruise ship to Tahiti!  They rekindle their love for each other only to the detriment of the funeral home director. And that ladies and gentleman is where the best show about love delayed began!

Anna Friel as Chuck

As the show has continued on we have learned that it is best watched cuddling together on the couch with big smiles on our faces. It is so inventive and fun to watch. The chemistry between Lee Pace as Ned and Anna Friel as Chuck is captivating. And Chi McBride's act as Emerson, breaks up the gooeiness of the show yet punctuates it with a giggle. The additional nuttiness of the narrator, Kristen Chenoweth as Olive - waitress at Ned's restaurant The Pie Hole, and Chuck's aunts played by Broadway veterans Swoozie Kurtz and Ellen Greene make this an appointment show weekly for us!

Lee Pace as Ned

The thing that best makes this show fun is how inventive they make the relationship between Ned and Chuck work. It truly is a statement about romance and abstinence really. They find so many ways to hold hands and kiss without actually touching it is just really sweet. The "Saranwrap Kiss" itself is truly on our list as one of the most romatic visuals ever (see below)!  Some might find it sickening but to us it is just a fun trip down the yellow brick road I guess.

Chi McBride as Emerson Cod

But the romance may have hooked us, but what keeps us is the show's way of keeping us interested. It has the positive vibes Stefan craves. They always seem to pick large or unknown words in their dialogue that Sean loves! They thrown in an interesting yet easy mystery that always leads to a farce-like situation. They have a musical element at times which punctuates but doesn't over do the sweetness. And they manage to get some naughty bits in at the 8pm hour!

So if you haven't watched - START!  With the writer's strike, reruns aren't far away!  If you missed anything or wanted to know anything about this show check out this great website: The Pie Maker!

Pushing Daisies - Ned & Chuck Dance

Pushing Daisies - Saranwrap Kiss

Ellen Greene sings "Morning Has Broken"

Kristin Chenoweth, Ellen Greene: "Birdhouse in Your Soul"

Chi McBride, Kristen Chenoweth, Lee Pace

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The McFreeds say...

What's for dinner?

Happy Thanksgiving to all our family and our greater family of friends... especially the new ones! Hope you get a taste of some great food and have little drama this fully belly holiday!

We are headed over to Stefan's cousin Brian's home to spend Turkey Day with 30 or so relatives!

More Turkey Day tales later!

A Big Hug to you all! You will be in our hearts today!

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Sean and Stefan say...

The Ugly Betty quote of the week is a little late this time but before the new episode airs here it is!

Once again Wilhelmina wins with two quotes!

"Oh, Balls!"

Her response to the opening of a safe containing the will of her heart attack suffering fiance Bradford Meade and finding the safe empty. The inflection Vanessa Williams gave here has had us saying it all week!

"You're ordained not magical."

Her terse retort to her assistant Marc St James throwing rice on a nurse and doctor walking by them at the hospital and yelling "I now pronounce you man and wife!" Marc was ordained as a licensed minister online so that Willy could quickly marry Bradford before he died of his heart attack.

Runner Up: Marc St James himself!  Willy worries that Bradford might have left all his money to charity in his will instead of her. Marc evilly muses...

"We need to find this girl Charity and kill her!"

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Sean says...

Memories of family are one of the things Stefan and I revel in as time marches on.  Many of you might have heard some of the many stories I tell about Papa Ed and Nanny, my mother's parents. Eddie and Sarah were there every Thanksgiving and Xmas for nearly 20 years it seems.  When we get together today, it is assured that Holly, Mikelle or I will ramble on about some heart warming story about these two incredible people. They were so full of unconditional love for us when they were alive.

Papa Ed and The Grandkids

You could always count on a stoic Walter Matthau-ish Papa Ed suddenly turning mischievous on a snowy day, wearing his green knit cap with the yellow border, breaking into a hysterical mock giggle with our dog Mackie not far behind.  Papa Ed tried so hard after a particularly rough life to be our alternate father figure.  It's weird to think about him because he wasn't the star of the show like Nanny was. He was the silent one in the background who was always watching over us like a bald eagle with a great love of exploring the beautiful property we had growing up.  He was always helping Dad split wood, shovel snow, or shepherd us kids around the neighborhood. As I remember it now he was so energetic about walking and hiking outside that we didn't always appreciate the little journies he would take us on. But he loved wandering in the backyard's woods with me in particular on snowy days. 

Toward the end of Papa Ed's life, he faded quite a bit from the mischievous prankster he was. I find it hard to remember some of his stories over the memories of his final years when the scourage of Alzeimer's made him into someone he wasn't. But for me those snowy days with he and Mackie are what I want to keep in the front of my mind forever.

Nanny & Sean

Nanny, on the other hand, was the star of the show. She was an unassuming woman but the woman was truly the emodiement of what a grandmother is. She was always cooking, sewing, cleaning, and telling us silly stories of her 12 brothers and sisters on the farm. She made our Halloween costumes when we were little. But Xmas was her moment in the sun every year. Papa Ed and she were married on Xmas so I can't blame her. I recently read a letter she wrote to her new mother-in-law back in 1941 talking about the simple ceremony and wedding dinner they had with 4 other people that emulated the essence of her, simplicity. 

Nanny was Sarah, Plain and Tall. She could cook up what seemed to be the best confections and holiday food you ever had. Mom still today says she can never replicate what Nanny did. But she was always there for us, listening to our goofy stories. Her favorite saying was always "Well it was somehting different anyway..." so as to not say a bad or unkind word about anything. She always smelled of hand cream though, and talked with a subtle Texas lilt. But what is memorable about her was that spontaneous feminine giggle. Her laugh exploded open like a quick-motion camera shot of a blooming flower. You found youself laughing with her every time. Her end was tragic only because she forgot her memories she loved to share with us in her arm chair next to the fire. Dementia laid waste to her storytelling but we will always remember her.

Sarah & Eddie

One day, my sister Mikelle taped a conversation with Nanny. We did this a lot as kids. Mikelle announced that she was Connie Chung interviewing the richest woman in the world. Nanny was falling into dementia at that time so she really didn't get the gist of what was being asked, but her response was pure her. When asked what made her so rich, she answered that the love of her daughter and grandchildren was what made her so wealthy and never made a comment about money in any of her comments. It is so simple and sweet it is truly unbeleiveable this comment isn't self serving. But thing is she really meant it. Mom listened to this tape for many years after she passed away... it captures who Sarah really was.

The ultimate memory I will have of Sarah and Eddie is picking them up at the airport. It was always a treat to watch them get off the plane and into our waiting arms every year. Thanks to terrorism, many kids won't have this memory unfortunately.  I wish I had a picture or film of that moment in time.  It meant fun and Xmas was coming!  And what kid doesn't like that!  Sometimes I think Thanksgiving and Xmas will never be the same without them... and then I realize new memories are being made. I just wish the newest member of our family, Zachary, could have met the two most generous and loving people ever to walk the earth.

I miss them every day and love them so much...

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Sean says...

Well Jennie Garth (of Beverly Hills 90210 fame) got voted off Dancing With The Stars (always say Stars with a breathy explosion of excitement... as maybe Brenda Vaccaro might do or even Harvey Fierstein as Brenda!) last night, but Entertainment Weekly (aka EW.com) had this great picture of her with Mickey Mouse at Disneyland. They added the caption that makes up the title of this post... I almost peed my pants laughing so hard at this!

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Sean & Stefan say...

To many of our quote's of the week... well all of them... have been Ugly Betty quotes. So to stir up the competition more we are separating Ugly Betty from the rest and going to try and diversify. So what is this week's Ugly Betty quote of the week? "A Nice Day for A Posh Wedding" was great fun... but of course only one quote can win!

"Mama's weave can't be sweaty on her Big Day!"

Vanessa Williams' Wilhelmina Slater to bodyguard Dwayne (Williams' ex-husband and former NBA player Rick Fox) as he makes advances in bed while waking up on her wedding day at a fancy hotel.

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Sean says...

Red Sox Logo

My Boston Red Sox fan mania has gone out of control this year. 2004 was a great year and I celebrated hard like the rest of Red Sox Nation. Unfortunately, the memorabilia I had from that year was "gifted" away.  So this year something got under my skin and I have come back with a vengeance only seen on Antique Road Show!  eBay, MLB.com, and Beckett.com (a baseball card marketplace) are feeling my presence a lot lately.

I have picked up a lot of 2007 stuff (including ALL full tickets to the ALCS and World Series!!!) but sadly 2004 stuff is alluding me since it was a few years ago... but I will not be deterred and Stefan has been warned about a Red Sox wall in my new study in our new house (whenever that is bought... projection 2009)! 

I know I am nuts about this (and dvds of course) but it is what calms the voices. (smirk)

Please pray for Stefan as this hunger for baseball continues.

So far the bounty (or booty) collected is:

• 2004 and 2007 Boston Globe Newspapers celebrating both victories.
• Sports Illustrated Nov 5, 2007 edition celebrating the Red Sox 2007 World Series victory.
• 

  Waiting For Game 3 Ticket
  2007 World Series Tickets for Games 1 (with lanyard), 2, and 4 - Game 3 is elusive at the moment! UPDATE: GAME 3 WON ON eBAY NOV 11!!!!!
• 2007 American League Championship Series Tickets (ALCS) for Games 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 7 - Game 6 is elusive! UPDATE: GAME 6 WON On eBAY NOV 20!!!! 
• A 2007 American League Division Series ticket.
• Four professional photos of the 2007 World Series - Game 4 Team Celebration, Mike Lowell rounding the bases in Game 4, Jason Varitek warming up in Game 4, and the Jonathan Papelbon & Jason Varitek immediate celebration in Game 4.
• A matted presentation of two official photos (one signed) capturing Dave Roberts important stealing of 2nd base in Game 4 of the 2004 ALCS.
• All rookie baseball cards for the 25 men on the roster for the 2004 World Series.
• All but two rookie baseball cards for the 25 men on the roster for the 2007 World Series. Alex Cora and Julio Lugo are outstanding although I have a full pack from the Boston Globe commerative pack with their 2007 Upper Deck cards in it. Oh and yes I have a Jacoby Ellsbury rookie card!
• Rookie baseball card of Manager Terry Francona.
• 2004 and 2007 World Series programs.

 And my biggest prize?????

My Piece of Fenway Park's Green Monster

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