Twisted Todd

Speaking of Christmas cheer and shopping, Tessa and I did plenty of both this past weekend.  I went by Best Buy to pick up some holiday films including the Peanuts Holiday Collection and Scrooged starring Bill Murray since Tessa had never seen it.  We also hit up the Roper Mountain Holiday Lights and actually parked and walked it this year before driving the rest of the way through.

 

 

On Sunday we visited Mauldin United Methodist Church for the first time and caught their Christmas Cantata service.  After the service we wrapped up a majority of our Christmas shopping then caught the last half of the game where her Saints were completely shutting my Bucs out.  We then squeezed in a viewing of Scrooged then went to catch an evening showing of The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey.  We watched it in the High Frame Rate 3D and I honestly don't know how I feel about it.  I think Tessa really enjoyed it but I thought it looked like a high budget soap opera instead of a piece of cinema.  It looked too polished and pristine and not like real life - at least, not how I see real life.  However, it was a great film and I can't wait for The Desolation of Smaug!  If the world is still here to see it, that is!

The next morning we got some free breakfast at the hotel (which included some bangin' make-it-yourself blueberry waffles) before heading back to downtown Charleston for a carriage tour and some shopping.  While waiting on our carriage, we spotted none other than part-time Charleston resident Bill Murray!  I didn't want to bother him since he was supposedly only there to pick up his son from a basketball game but I am now kicking myself for not at least shaking the man's hand.  One moment of inconvenience for Mr. Murray would have been one moment I would remember for the rest of my life!

After the carriage tour of the town, we did some shopping up and down Market St. including the Old City Market itself.  We even managed to eliminate a couple of names off of our Christmas list and even get a killer pic!
 

 

When we got back into town, we met up with Mimi and Cheryl for some fine dining....at MIMI'S!  After dinner, we resumed the Harry Potter marathon we had begun before our mini trip.

We managed to finish the last of the Harry Potter films just in time to run to Best Buy and pick up a copy of Ted, the hilarious new comedy from Family Guy creator Seth MacFarlane.  Unfortunately, this was my last day of vacation but now it's Friday already!  TGIF!!!!

Friday night was the return of the TRANS-SIBERIAN ORCHESTRA to the BI-LO Center!  This year was my sixth year straight and we took our real estate agent April and her husband Lee.  April had done such a great job fighting for us to get us into our house that we really got close with her so we took them to see TSO for their first time!

This year they switched up their setlist to revolve around their 2004 album The Lost Christmas Eve.  The story that encompassed the album and was told by their amazing narrator was different but all the more touching and heart-warming and had me choking back tears numerous times during the show.  The stage show was once again different but visually impressive as always!  Can't wait til next year already!

When we got home, we started to watch Men in Black 3 but ended up passing out within the first half of the film.  The next morning we got up rather early as my Uncle James Ray and Aunt Pat were coming over to put my grandmother's mirror above the fireplace in our living room.

Once the mirror was up, Tessa and I took Aunt Pat out shopping then picked up mom so the four of us could go scout out a potential venue for mine and Tessa's wedding next year.  When we got home, we finished MIB 3 then sacked out so Tessa could go to work the next morning.

The next day I got some rest and watched some football as manly men such as myself tend to do.  I also carved out my current manly moustache out of my manly No Shave November beard so that Diesel and I could start our 1st annual Manchu Monday!  And here's what we ended up with:


 

 

I never thought I would have been able to sport such a killer Captain Morgan look with my stache!  I might just have to keep it for a while!  Sorry Tessa!