G.R.i.D. (Get Rich in Dallas)

If you haven’t gotten your tix yet, they are still available at the box office for tonight’s Turtle Creek Chorale Christmas show. But tonight they have a special guest! That Nikki Blonsky is so cute but I imagine she’s gonna blow ‘em away tonight. Oh, you know her. She was plucked outta nowhere to star in a little movie called Hairspray.

I won’t be there.

Local nonprofit and do-gooders Hope for Peace and Justice (H4PJ) reminded me of their video posted last year at this time regarding our ladies and gents overseas. I guess with the holidays in full swing, the vid is getting revisited and increasing their number of hits. Yeah, it’s borderline schmaltz but still tugs at ya. Especially for those who have family overseas. Bring ‘em on back! Here’s the official word:

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“I’ll Be Home for Christmas” a YouTube Hit

It has been a full year since the release of H4PJ’s “I’ll Be Home for Christmas” YouTube video and it has now surpassed 31,333 views. There has been quite a bit of activity in the comments section, both positive and negative. Here is one heartfelt comment posted:

My brother is Sgt. Andrew R. Weiss and he was killed in action on May 3, 2007. Anyone who would have the audacity to criticize a video like this at this difficult time of year obviously does not have any personal investment in this war. Our pain is very, very raw and real. Sorry if it makes you uncomfortable. I’m glad this was made. It honors our loved ones. Sorry that you cannot understand that.

If you have never seen this video or it has been a while since you have, please take a few minutes to remember and honor the men and women who have given of, and with, their lives during the war in Iraq. Watch now…

This time of year is especially difficult for soldiers and their families. We pray for their well-being and peace this holiday season.

They also have some big plans for 2008. I already mentioned that they are bringing in Maya Angelou to Dallas. Turns out, that’s not all:

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• In July, Art for Peace & Justice will sponsor Sarah Hickman’s “Music for Life” concert here in Dallas, as she seeks to raise awareness of the injustices in how we use the death penalty in Texas. This event will be held at the Cathedral on July 20, 2008.

• We also will host Sister Helen Prejean next year. Sister Helen is the author and subject of the book and movie “Dead Man Walking.” She will be our guest on Hope for Peace & Justice Sunday at the Cathedral of Hope (September 21, 2008).

Pretty sweet.

I’m not sure what the Quick is doing but this past week of issues has been really good. The news content, albeit lifted, was sensible and their ancillary stuff wasn’t so bad. I especially dug their year in review in yesterday’s issue which was actually a special pull-out section. I liked the Quick when it first debuted a few years ago and then strayed from it for being in a word, dumb. So whether they just had a lucky week or some darn good editors, is hard to say.

Now just get rid of Leah’s idiotic column (in fact, just delete all the columns.), the random Fun with Lists and the pointless Hot Potato Salad, and I actually might make an effort to pick it up rather than just stumbling across it.

And while we’re on The Quick, does anybody else write for their Nightlife Blog? Tellez is fairly kicking some Hauk a$$ (and everybody else’s) with 99% of the postings. Great perspective guys but hey, does anybody really read it?

I love me some Cowboys. I really do and this season is just easy to love ‘em some more but this stadium biz has just gotten on my nerves. Especially the ticket issue of late.

OK, so the latest is, I pay a hundred bucks that’s nonrefundable for a chance (A CHANCE) at buying season tickets in 2009. Um, what?

According to the DMN, the idea is to help pay off the escalating costs of the stadium that have now hit $1.1 billiion. I’m all for a tricked out new stadium and I’m all for spending the dough on it but this idea has to be the dumbest thing ever. Could I maybe get a jersey out of it? Some freaking Cowboy coffee mugs or a knit cap?

But VP of S&M, Greg McElroy saysthat online forms will let the misled specify where they want to sit. That is, IF they make the cut.

Thank goodness for HDTV. Why go when you can just bust in on yer friend’s 60″ High Def screen and have cheap pizza and beer and no parking troubles either?

This month’s local Advocate magazine gives th top 18 Holiday Traditions You Don’t Want To Miss. Now, that’s a pretty big call. Some caught my eye. And…some didn’t.

Their number two slot went to the Scrooge Puppet Show at Northpark Center. Since I try my best to stay away from malls all year long, I won’t be checking this out but I have vague recollections of seeing it as a child. However, with this and other Northpark offerings (later in the list), parents can get away for CHEAP saving on kids entertainment going to Northpark and spending the extra cash on presents. Hmm…maybe not such a bad thing.

Number three gave an actual address of a house that will probably make Al Gore’s list of top ten energy wasters this holiday season. At 714 Newell, Liz Simmons graciously gives away her address and name to let Dallas know that she’s about to amp it up a heckuva lot more with her personal goal of hanging up a total of 100, 000 lights. Thanks, Liz! How many countries are suffering with your house alone? Well, at least Gore has your address. I won’t be stopping by to ooh and ahh at relative gaudiness by the looks of the picture. I’ll stick to my one strand of lights on my tiny tree.

To walk off the already extra pounds adding on since Halloween, the Dallas Trekkers are planning a six mile walk to view lights around the neighborhoods. So maybe, just maybe, the energy they are saving on gas, slightly makes up for Simmons’ house. Doubt it, but I like picking on her. They do warn that “spontaneous caroling” may occur. This comes in at number eight. I’d do this if I had a bike instead of walking.

Northpark comes it at number nine, 13 and 16 with neighborhood performers (read school performances), toy trains and the Real Santa Claus. Hey it’s all free. Go check it. Me? I’ll be at Big Lots.

Number 11 is a good deal over at HD’s clothing where they offer discounts on swag for canned food donations. The donations are collected for the AIDS Resource Center and West Dallas Mulitpurpose Center and the number of cans affects the amount of discount. Five cans = five percent discount and so forth. Sweet. They are taking donations until January 3. Get over there, donate and buy.

Now, to add irony to my picking on the lights lady above, Advocate recommends Cruising Swiss Avenue at number 18. I totally do this but mostly because the houses seem to know how to light up without looking like Viva Las Vegas. If the trekkers walk through here, I’d totally be there. But I’d be waiting for them in my warm car and then partake on that leg of the tour.

For the rest of the list, just go pick up an issue. They’re everywhere.