Tuesday, December 27, 2011

The Story of Bob the Crumb: A Collaborative Work

Every once in a while, there comes a story that just needs to be told.  The following is one of those stories.  Written with siblings and young cousins with varying degrees of involvement from plot development to suggesting the word "butt" numerous times, this story follows a young crumb and his adventures in the world.

The Story of Bob the Crumb
By: E, C, K, J & B


Once upon a time there was a crumb named Bob.  Well, he wasn’t always a crumb.  He used to be part of a granola bar.  A little oatmeal, a little honey, a little granola.  Bob had all of these.  One day, as Timmy, the owner of the granola bar, tried to eat it as a snack, Bob got scared and jumped off.  He hoped for a better future on the floor.  Little did he know the trials that lay ahead…
            Bob decided to walk and try to find some other crumbs and a safe place to stay.  After what felt like hours and hours of travelling, Bob finally came across other crumbs.  But why were they running?
            “The mouse!  The mouse!” they screamed.  “The mouse is coming!”
            “The what?” Bob asked.
            “The MOUSE!”
            Although he didn’t know who or what this “mouse” was, he decided that it was best to run.  Bob ran cross the floor until he spotted a hiding place, a small hole in the wall.  He sped toward it, please with his discovery.
            “This will be the perfect place for me to hide from the mouse.”
            Bob scurried inside and wondered why none of the other crumbs were following him.  Once he looked at his surrounding, however, he realized his safe haven wasn’t so safe after all.  He saw terrified crumbs huddled in the corner, staring at him with hi worried eyes.  Some were old, and some were no more than baby crumblets, but all were terrified.  Before he could leave, he heard the pitter patter of footsteps making their way to the hole in the wall.  Bob headed into a small dark corner of the cave.
            No sooner was he out of sight then the owner of the footsteps arrived at the entrance of the hole.  Although he had never laid eyes on the creature before, he knew without a doubt who the creature of the door was: the mouse.
            “Hello my darlings,” the mouse said in a devilish British accent, “Glad to see you decided to stick around.”
            The crumbs quivered at the sound of his voice and huddled closer together.  The crumblets whimpered.
            “I have good news and bad news.  The good news is I won’t eat you now.”
            One crumb let out a sigh of relief.
            “The bad news is that you will all be in my stomach within the hour!”
            The mouse laughed an evil, maniacal laugh and exited as quickly as he had come.
            Bob knew it was only mater of minutes before the mouse returned to eat them all.  He approached the other crumbs.
            “Quick, we have to get out of here before the mouse takes a fork to us!”
            “We can’t leave,” Chester the crumb piped up, “or else the mouse will eat our king!”
            “He’s trapped the king under a cereal bowl!” another crumb whispered.
            “Well maybe we can escape and save the king!”  We’ll have to act fast,” Bob urged his fellow crumbs.  “I have a plan.”
            Bob explained his plan to the other crumbs and they put it into action immediately.
            When the mouse returned five minutes later with more little crumbs in his grasp, everything appeared the same.
            “Time for tea and crumb-pets!”
            The mouse cackled at his own lame pun.  As he moved toward the corner to gobble up the crumbs, there was a sudden SNAP!  The mouse found himself trapped in the mousetrap that the crave crumbs had found and dragged into position only moments before.
            “NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!” screamed the mouse.
            “YEEEEEEEESSSSSSSSSSSSSS!” screamed the crumbs.
            And off they went to go free the king from his cereal bowl prison.  And that’s just what they did.  When they found the cereal bowl, they all worked together to tip it over and free the king.
            “Who do I have to thank for my freedom?” the king asked his crumb subjects.
            ”That would be Bob, your honor,” Chester explained, pointing at the heroic crumb. “He saved all of us.”
            “Wow Bob!” said the king, “You are a true hero.  I hope that you will serve by my side and protect all the crumbs from dangers like that evil mouse.”
            As the king mentioned the mouse, Bob remembered that they had left the mouse in the trap.
            “Excuse me, I have one thing left to do.”
            Bob scurried back to the mouse’s hole.  Bob entered the hole and approached the trapped mouse cautiously.
            “What are you going to do now?” the mouse sighed sadly.
            “I’m going to free you.”
            “What?” said the mouse.
            “WHAT?” said the crumbs, who had followed Bob.
            “What?!” said the king, shocked and surprised.  “Why would you free the mouse?  He tried to hurt us all!”
            “Well,” said Bob, “That is true, but only because he was hungry.”
            “That is true,” said the mouse, “I don’t know what else to eat.”
            Bob had an idea.
            “Perhaps we can come up with a solution.  We can free the mouse if he promises to only eat cheese and leave the crumbs alone.”
            Everyone agreed to this plan, for cheese was not alive.  The crumbs were happy, the mouse was happy, and Bob was happy.  And because of Bob’s heroic, worthy and clever actions, the king awarded him the Brave and Honorable Crumb award, which came with a medal.  They placed the huge medal around Bob’s neck, but because of his small size and the medal’s large size, he was nearly crushed.
            “Take it off!  Take it off!” Bob squeaked from under the medal.  Once he was free, Bob laughed.
            “I think this will fit on my shelf better than around my neck!”
            Everyone joined in laughing.
            “And that’s why the mouse always eats cheese,” announced Chester.
            “What?” said everyone else.

THE END.

Tuesday, December 13, 2011

Christma-Tele-Kwanz-Ukah-Vision Day 13: Community 3x10

Happy Christma-tele-kwanz-ukah-vision everybody!  This is my celebration of the holiday season through television- one holiday-themed episode a day all the way until Christmas (and for the most part the episodes will be Christmas based.  I've yet to see a kwanza television episode, but I'll keep my eyes and ears open).  Enjoy the spirit of the holidays through the medium of television- make yourself a cup of hot coco, snuggle up in a blanket and immerse yourself in the season.


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Britta, the mute tree!


Community “Regional Holiday Music” 3x10

Although this episode doesn’t focus entirely on the celebration of the holidays, it’s Christmas spirit manages to shine through in song.  Because it’s a gleeful time of year- yes, that’s right, this is Community’s Glee spoof episode.  And a joyful one it is at that.  You want to know why?  Because, as Troy says, glee literally means…glee!  The episode features a number of fantastic, albeit much too short, musical numbers.  Some favorites include the Christmas infiltration rap, “Glee,” “Happy Birthday Jesus” (sing it Shirley!), and Britta’s awkward song.  This episode takes a silly look at the seriousness of glee club, as well as the joy that can come from holiday music, and the pain it can cause.  Literally.  Be careful about the next bus you take- Mr. Rad seems a little off his rocker.  And although this episode is fantastic in the musical numbers and soul sucking ability of glee club, it poses a question that many of us would love to have answered: what are regionals anyway?...

*Available on Hulu.com

Monday, December 12, 2011

Christma-Tele-Kwanz-Ukah-Vision Day 12: Raising Hope 1x11


Happy Christma-tele-kwanz-ukah-vision everybody!  This is my celebration of the holiday season through television- one holiday-themed episode a day all the way until Christmas (and for the most part the episodes will be Christmas based.  I've yet to see a kwanza television episode, but I'll keep my eyes and ears open).  Enjoy the spirit of the holidays through the medium of television- make yourself a cup of hot coco, snuggle up in a blanket and immerse yourself in the season.

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Adorable baby Hope redefining her image as Baby Jesus
Raising Hope “Toy Story” 1x11

In this episode of Raising Hope, Jimmy and Burt try to make a little extra money selling the “it” toy of the year- “Baby Sneezes.”  This is a disgusting baby doll which produces snot (like I said, disgusting).  Virginia has her own Christmas plans, namely staring in the church live nativity as the Virgin Mary, with Hope playing baby Jesus.  Jimmy tries to save a Baby Sneezes doll for his daughter, but plans go awry.  The whole family put aside their own personal Christmas goals, however, in order to support Hope and erase the label she had been given in the community as a murderer’s daughter.  And as her grandmother says, Hope may be the best baby Jesus ever.  Except for baby Jesus… 

*Available on Netflix Instant

Sunday, December 11, 2011

Christma-Tele-Kwanz-Ukah-Vision Day 11: Community 2x11

Happy Christma-tele-kwanz-ukah-vision everybody!  This is my celebration of the holiday season through television- one holiday-themed episode a day all the way until Christmas (and for the most part the episodes will be Christmas based.  I've yet to see a kwanza television episode, but I'll keep my eyes and ears open).  Enjoy the spirit of the holidays through the medium of television- make yourself a cup of hot coco, snuggle up in a blanket and immerse yourself in the season.

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The study group- animated!

Community “Abed’s Uncontrollable Christmas” 2x11

This is one of my all-time favorite Christmas-themed television episodes.  The whole thing is stop-motion animation (an ode to the Rankin/Bass Christmas specials, one of which is mentioned in the episode), as the whole study group is transformed into Winter Wonderland characters like Baller-Annie, Britta-Bot and Troy Soldier.  Abed starts to see the world through this whole new medium, after a sad Christmas event leaves him stunned, and determined to find the meaning of Christmas.  The study group takes a journey through Winter Wonderland on a group therapy session, as Duncan tries to figure out the cause of Abed’s troubles and write a book on it.  Although the rest of the group sees the world in a totally different way, they are willing to stand by their friend and help him defeat the evil Christmas Warlock.  Thank goodness for remote controlled, self-destructible pterodactyls!  The revamped theme song is fantastic, as is Troy and Abed’s moment in the tag where they explore the fun elements of the stop-motion medium.  And after the (still stop-motion) gang watches Rudolph together, there's a wonderful moment reflected on the TV screen.  Overall, a fantastic Christmas episode that nicely juxtaposes the joys and troubles that can both be found in the season.


*Showing on NBC Thurs, Dec 15, 8pm - check local listings.

Saturday, December 10, 2011

Christma-Tele-Kwanz-Ukah-Vision Day 10: Scrubs 1x11

Happy Christma-tele-kwanz-ukah-vision everybody!  This is my celebration of the holiday season through television- one holiday-themed episode a day all the way until Christmas (and for the most part the episodes will be Christmas based.  I've yet to see a kwanza television episode, but I'll keep my eyes and ears open).  Enjoy the spirit of the holidays through the medium of television- make yourself a cup of hot coco, snuggle up in a blanket and immerse yourself in the season.


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Preach it Turk!

Scrubs “My Own Personal Jesus” 1x11

The interns, residents and nurses at Sacred Heart are having a hard time getting into the holiday spirit.  J.D. keeps accidentally taking down the Janitor’s Christmas decorations, Turk loses his faith when he sees all the people in the hospital on Christmas Eve, Elliot feels she let down a young pregnant girl and desperately tries to find and help her, Dr. Kelso is rude (as always), as of course are Dr. Cox and Jordan.  Everyone is trying to solve their Christmas problems, and by the end everyone finds what they are looking for, joined together under the Star of Bethlehem…or under the town’s Christmas tree.  After all the struggles of the day, J.D. and gang end the celebration on a happy note, with a “God bless us, everyone.”  At which point J.D. is called cheesy and everyone leaves…


Also great in this episode?  Turk's gospel choir moment in one of J.D.'s imagination sequences.


*Available on Netflix Instant

Friday, December 9, 2011

Christma-Tele-Kwanz-Ukah-Vision Day 9: Bones 3x10

Happy Christma-tele-kwanz-ukah-vision everybody!  This is my celebration of the holiday season through television- one holiday-themed episode a day all the way until Christmas (and for the most part the episodes will be Christmas based.  I've yet to see a kwanza television episode, but I'll keep my eyes and ears open).  Enjoy the spirit of the holidays through the medium of television- make yourself a cup of hot coco, snuggle up in a blanket and immerse yourself in the season.


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...That's a lot of steamboats...

Bones “The Santa in the Slush” 3x9

This episode features a Christmas unlike any that Booth or Bones have seen before.  The case features a man named Kris Kringle who really seemed to believe he was Santa Claus, discovered dead by two elves.  The squints encounter a whole lot more Santas as they look for the killer, and the question soon becomes- was Kris Kringle killed by another Santa Claus? While trying to solve the case of who killed Santa Claus, both Booth and Bones run into trouble with their Christmas plans.  Booth doesn’t get custody of his son Parker for Christmas, and Brennan tries to organize a family Christmas celebration for her father and brother’s family.  And she will do anything to make that Christmas happen.  Even step under the mistletoe with an unsuspecting Booth.  And I sure hope that’s not how brothers and sisters kiss…  Anyway, Christmas works out in the end for everyone, and the episode ends with a very sweet gesture and a thoughtful Christmas tree.

Thursday, December 8, 2011

Christma-Tele-Kwanz-Ukah-Vision Day 8: Parks and Recreation 4x10

Happy Christma-tele-kwanz-ukah-vision everybody!  This is my celebration of the holiday season through television- one holiday-themed episode a day all the way until Christmas (and for the most part the episodes will be Christmas based.  I've yet to see a kwanza television episode, but I'll keep my eyes and ears open).  Enjoy the spirit of the holidays through the medium of television- make yourself a cup of hot coco, snuggle up in a blanket and immerse yourself in the season.


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Leslie fighting for PCP. 


Parks and Recreation “Citizen Knope” 4x10

This wonderful episode of Parks and Recreation shows just how awesome a gift-giver Leslie Knope is, as well as her inability to relax.  And knowing just how thoughtful and driven she is, neither comes as much of a surprise.  What does come as a nice surprise is the Parks and Recreation department’s (and Anne’s) gift to Leslie.  I won’t tell you what it is, but I will tell you that it’s awesome enough for Leslie to admit their win in the best gift-giver competition (she’s the only aware of this competition, btw).  While Leslie funnels her focus into PCP (don’t worry, it’s just Parks Committee of Pawnee), Ben tries to find a new job after he “resigned in disgrace.”  After some thought, and counseling from Jean-Ralphio (yes! He’s back!), Ben makes a surprising decision regarding his potential employment as an accountant at an accounting firm.  And Leslie moves on from PCP to LSD (again, it’s just Leslie’s Sorry Division, not drugs- this is Leslie Knope we’re talking about).  The episode ends on a wonderfully sweet note with Leslie’s friends presenting the aforementioned thoughtful gift, leaving Leslie in tears of joy.  Parks and Recreation can always be counted on to look at the little moments in life in an endearing way, and that’s just what happens in this sweet Christmas episode.  Also, don’t miss Jean-Ralphio’s circular walk-and-talk in the tag.  Oh Jean-Ralphio…

*Available on Hulu starting 12/09