Monthly Archives: December 2011

Stream Weaver

Posted on December 31, 2011 by Frank Murphy

Three of the items purchased with an Amazon.com gift certificate that I got for Christmas were Instant Videos. Two were movies that were on my wish list for a long time: “Shaun of the Dead” and “Stormy Weather.” The third … Continue reading →

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The Brew Crew

Posted on December 30, 2011 by Frank Murphy

Kim Leslie came down the stairs as soon as I arrived at the Smoky Mountain Brewery. Lauren, the manager on duty, smiled and said she had given Kim one of the same buzzers used to tell patrons their table was … Continue reading →

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Christmas Rush

Posted on December 29, 2011 by Frank Murphy

Now that I’ve completed my quest to visit all fifty states, I suppose I won’t be buying many more souvenir Christmas ornaments. There isn’t room on our tree for all the ones I’ve collected so far. One of the last … Continue reading →

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Holmes for the Holidays

Posted on December 28, 2011 by Frank Murphy

Before going to see “Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows,” I wanted to see the previous Robert Downey, Jr. film in the series. My family saw “Sherlock Holmes” in the theatre without me. I hadn’t gotten around to seeing it, … Continue reading →

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This Bud’s for You

Posted on December 27, 2011 by Frank Murphy

One of the best free things to do in St. Louis is to take the Budweiser Brewery Tour. My family and I finally took the tour last week. It is infinitely better than the Ben & Jerry’s factory tour in … Continue reading →

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The Second Day of Christmas

Posted on December 26, 2011 by Frank Murphy

One of the churches we visited in St. Louis last week has a work of art that grabbed my attention. It’s a paper-cut Nativity scene in a reverse silhouette by artist Paul Lodes. The representation of the manger was great, … Continue reading →

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Incarnation Conversation

Posted on December 25, 2011 by Frank Murphy

Christmas is for giving. Christianity is for forgiving. I brought up the topic of forgiveness with Cardinal Justin Rigali during a radio interview that we recorded last month for broadcast today. Rigali worked for Pope John Paul II and was … Continue reading →

Frank Murphy Interviews Cardinal Justin Rigali Play Now | Play in Popup | Download
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Belleville Ringer

Posted on December 24, 2011 by Frank Murphy

On the way to pick up our son from college, my wife and I listened to a recording of Frank Jr. at age 3, reciting “A Visit from St. Nicholas.” It is amazing to us that the same little boy … Continue reading →

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Frosting the Snowman

Posted on December 23, 2011 by Frank Murphy

In a very thoughtful gesture, my wife used her phone to take pictures of the cupcakes that were delivered to her office on Monday. The lady who delivered them said they were from Lulu’s, which doesn’t appear to have a … Continue reading →

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Playing Kitsch-up

Posted on December 22, 2011 by Frank Murphy

The Oscar Mayer Wienermobile visited some of my old haunts in Burbank and North Hollywood this week. My friend Susan Olsen was an honored guest along with songwriter Allee Willis and Americana archivist Charles Phoenix. For starters, the three friends … Continue reading →

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Bread and Butter

Posted on December 21, 2011 by Frank Murphy

One of my wife’s co-workers gave loaves of homemade bread to the rest of the staff for Christmas. Instead of being wrapped in cellophane or a Ziploc bag, the bread was in a cardboard box that fit it perfectly. The … Continue reading →

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Deb, You See

Posted on December 20, 2011 by Frank Murphy

“Dexter” continues to be one of my all-time favorite TV shows. The Season 6 finale aired on Sunday night. If you haven’t seen it, stop reading now. The season ends with a revelation that has been a long time coming. … Continue reading →

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According to Tim

Posted on December 19, 2011 by Frank Murphy

Accordionist Tim Padilla emailed me with the good news that his Christmas album is now available on iTunes and Amazon.com. “Spirit of Christmas” includes one of his favorites, “Oh Christmas Tree Polka.” I’ve known Tim since before he had an … Continue reading →

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Take a Bow

Posted on December 18, 2011 by Frank Murphy

Nancy Middlemas presented Christopher Sanders with a toy bow during the dinner break between two of the Clayton Holiday Concerts on Saturday. My wife had to explain the joke to me. Each year, the members of the Knoxville Choral Society … Continue reading →

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