The Elsa Kurt Show

Holiday Throwdown: Movies, Music, Mayhem

• Elsa Kurt

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Elsa Kurt: You may know her for her uncanny, viral Kamala Harris impressions & conservative comedy skits, but she’s also a lifelong Patriot & longtime Police Wife. She has channeled her fierce love and passion for God, family, country, and those who serve as the creator, Executive Producer & Host of the Elsa Kurt Show with Clay Novak. Her show discusses today’s topics & news from a middle class/blue collar family & conservative perspective. The vocal LEOW’s career began as a multi-genre author who has penned over 25 books, including twelve contemporary women’s novels.

Clay Novak: Clay Novak was commissioned in 1995 as a Second Lieutenant of Infantry and served as an officer for twenty four years in Mechanized Infantry, Airborne Infantry, and Cavalry units . He retired as a Lieutenant Colonel in 2019. Clay is a graduate of the U.S. Army Ranger School and is a Master Rated Parachutist, serving for more th...

SPEAKER_02:

It's the Alpha Kirk Show with Clay Nova, serving up friendly news and conservative view.

SPEAKER_01:

Brought to you by the Alpha Kirk Club and Artist Medical.

SPEAKER_02:

And now it's time for the show.

SPEAKER_05:

Oh well, hello there. How are you, my friend?

SPEAKER_02:

I'm good. How are you?

SPEAKER_05:

I am good. Are you uh you ready to brawl over here?

SPEAKER_02:

Yes, folks, it is that time of year again. It's uh our last show of 2025, crazy enough. And uh our our traditional holiday show that we've done, this is I think the third in a row, uh little uh little more controversial this time. Elsa's got some Elsa's got some plans and we're gonna debate some stuff.

SPEAKER_05:

Yeah, you know the problem is we always get along. This is a problem, Clay.

SPEAKER_02:

I have been told that uh we we need to have more arguments on the show.

SPEAKER_05:

Yeah, so I I am we're gonna throw down right right here today. It is on, but we set up some ground rules, right?

SPEAKER_03:

Yes.

SPEAKER_05:

All right, I'm gonna tell you rule number one, we're gonna go back and forth here. I'm telling you, rule number one, all opinions expressed are final, deeply personal, and completely correct.

SPEAKER_02:

It's an opinion. Uh, number two, uh, any argument may be supported by personal childhood memories, vague tradition, or the phrase everyone knows this with no further evidence required. So supporting documentation is not a thing.

SPEAKER_05:

Okay. Rule number three, the phrase that's not even a Christmas movie, maybe used once per topic. After that, it becomes harassment.

SPEAKER_02:

Fair enough. Rule number four, shouting, die hard counts automatically resets the debate and raises everyone's blood pressure because that is one of the great debates.

SPEAKER_05:

Okay. Rule number five: Christmas music arguments must not involve Mariah Carey lawsuits, restraining orders, or threats of exile. We're trying to keep this vested. I don't know. We'll see. We'll see.

SPEAKER_02:

Feeling spicy, but rule six fake trees are not to be judged morally, spiritually, or as a reflection of one's character publicly. You can do it.

SPEAKER_05:

Privately, right? You can't. We can snicker, I think. Number seven, anyone who starts decorating before Thanksgiving or decorated before Thanksgiving must swear that they waited at least until after the turkey.

SPEAKER_02:

Rule number eight, wrapping gifts in old grocery bags is technically allowed, but will silently be judged. I immediately thought of school books when I read that.

SPEAKER_05:

Yes. Oh yes. Rule number nine, at any point, one host may declare, I'm done with this conversation, which means absolutely nothing. And the debate will continue.

SPEAKER_02:

No smooth transitions guaranteed. Topic to topic. Rule 10. Uh, if this gets heated, uh, we will remind everyone that it's Christmas. Uh, we will take a breath and then immediately continue arguing.

SPEAKER_05:

Exactly. Just like just like at home with family. Uh let's see. And finally, rule number 11: no matter who wins, everyone agrees the real enemy is fruitcake.

SPEAKER_02:

It is fruitcake. It's always fake.

SPEAKER_05:

It is fruit cake. It's always fruitcake. I want to add one more. Can I add one more rule that I literally just thought of?

SPEAKER_02:

I I I I may veto, but go ahead.

SPEAKER_05:

Okay. Here's what here's what I think has to happen because I'm afraid that you and I are actually going to agree on a lot of these things. So I think that whether you agree or not, you have to get, we'll treat it like a true debate, like we're in high school or college, and you have to give the opposing argument, no matter what.

SPEAKER_02:

Play devil's advocate all day.

SPEAKER_05:

Okay. I'm I'm not good at it. So I'm I feel like I might lose, but I'm just gonna shout, I win at the end, anyhow. So it's all good.

SPEAKER_02:

Listen, folks, I will tell you, based on that rule number 12, um, do not take anything I say is my personal position because I am now just officially here to pick fights with Elsa.

SPEAKER_05:

All right, it's on, it's on. And it this would not be official unless we did this right here. You ready, guys?

SPEAKER_01:

Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the most anticipated showdown of the speed. There will be no judges, no referees. Absolutely, anyone in this corner.

SPEAKER_05:

It's making me break out a little bit of a sweat there. It's getting a little anxious with that chaotic music.

SPEAKER_02:

I gotta tell you, I don't know if I've ever, you've done some great stuff with AI. You did the babies of us when that was a thing. Um I don't think I've ever had a cartoon drawn of me, but that is probably the most accurate drawing I've ever seen.

SPEAKER_05:

How great was that? How I was a little perfect. I'm gonna be honest, I was a little insulted by it because I noticed that it gave me some crow's feet, and I feel like I just don't have those.

SPEAKER_02:

Don't. No, no. No, no. Would you care to uh send the first shot across the ballot?

SPEAKER_05:

I I will, I will. And uh I I'm going, I'm starting right at the top of my, you know, must discuss here. Uh, what is the best? We're gonna do a best and worst on this one. Um, what is the best Christmas movie and why is everyone else falling play?

SPEAKER_02:

Oh, the best Christmas movie is a Christmas story, period. Um there's no argument. There's a reason why they play it for 24 hours uh on Christmas. It starts on Christmas Eve and goes through Christmas Day because it is the greatest. Ralphie alone is uh plenty of reason not to mention his buddies Flick and his little brother who can't put his arms down. Uh the leg lamp, uh the bumpus' dogs next door, the Red Rider BB gun, and finally Fa rah-rah-rah-rah uh at the end as they're eating Chinese food uh on uh on Christmas Day. It's and a deranged Easter bunny costume to cap it all off. There's just there's no argument. It is a Christmas story period, no discussion.

SPEAKER_05:

Okay. Well, this was easy for me. This is not a struggle for me to uh to say this um because I mean it with my whole heart, with my whole chest, I'm saying it. That's a saying lately. Um, I completely disagree with you. I hate that movie so much. I do. I listen, I don't know. Ralphie annoys the heck out of me. These people are miserable humans, they're mean, they're not yes, I know it's a movie, guys. Don't even come for me because I know you're gonna come for me in those comments. I never liked the movie. I only liked you'll shoot your eye out. That is the only thing I like about that movie.

unknown:

I know.

SPEAKER_05:

I totally, yeah. You didn't have any boys, right? No boys, no, no, you don't know.

SPEAKER_02:

You can't pass judgment on them. That's why you don't like them. They're Midwesterners, right? It's uh you don't like the sentiment of the entire thing, but that's that's uh that one hits close to home. I the F-word, like I mean, come on.

SPEAKER_05:

I mean, I I don't even remember, I would say 98% of the movie. Literally, I remember to put your eye out. I remember them arguing. I remember that dingy, miserable looking living room they had and that terrible Frigile lamp.

SPEAKER_02:

That's who you're making fun of.

SPEAKER_05:

I know, I think because here's what I think. So here's here is yeah, I'm gonna put a little sentimental thing on this here. Um, we grew up, I I grew up in like a 900 square foot apartment, and I which I loved, we it was a great childhood, everything. I actually have zero complaints about my childhood, but it was the 70s, and we always talk about you know, I people hear people say like the dirty, gritty 70s. That is what I think of every time I picture that era. And while my personal memories are good of that, I anytime I see any movie in that setting, in those dingy colors, it makes me feel instantly sad and depressed. So I think that is what my problem actually is. I like everything to be shiny, happy, pretty, glowy, nice. I'm sorry, it's just the way I'm designed, guys.

SPEAKER_02:

So my my family actually has a very weird connection with these. Did you know there's a sequel to a Christmas story?

SPEAKER_05:

Uh you know, I think now that you're saying it, I think I've got all years ago.

SPEAKER_02:

He's grown up, right? He has grown up, right? He's got his own family. They brought back literally every living actor from the first movie is is in the sequel. But the original Christmas story is a favorite of my dad's. Um, I actually bought him a Red Rider BB gun for Christmas one year when I was like in my late teens, I think. Um, but if you watch the sequel, they have a scene where the guys are hanging out in the bar and there's kind of a standard policy where if somebody's wife calls, they go, Hey, is Shell and Cell here? Nope, sorry, ma'am, so and so's not here, right? And the guy's clearly in the bar, you know, hanging out with the boys. They they call out my dad's name.

SPEAKER_05:

No, stop it.

SPEAKER_02:

Yep, like immediate relation um to my family. So, like it, yeah, like love the movie anyway, but that was the the strangest, funniest thing. Um, but uh yeah, Christmas story is the best, no arguments.

SPEAKER_05:

Okay, all right. I totally argue with that. I listen, um for me, for me, it's um it is The Bishop's Wife. It is an old black and white movie with I know, I know Cary Grant. It's a Cary Grant movie, and it is spectacular. It is everything, everything. I watch it every year, sometimes twice. I watched it just two nights ago, and I was in my absolute glory. It is spectacle. I mean, Cary Grant, David Niven, are you kidding me? That is paradise right there, right there. No arguments allowed.

SPEAKER_02:

I the only credit that I will give is that that is still the era of men looking and acting and dressing like men. I I will I will stipulate that, I will give that one away. However, snooze fest. Sorry, can't do it. Absolute snooze vest, not watching it.

SPEAKER_05:

Oh, oh, awful. You know, interestingly, I gotta say, I gotta say, I want to get your opinion on this. There are a few um other movies that people put on the list of um like most hated and most loved, and I was a little bit shocked at one in particular. Um, Love actually was put on the most hated. You've probably never even seen it. I can guarantee you.

SPEAKER_02:

I actually watched it for the first time in the last year.

SPEAKER_05:

Wow.

SPEAKER_02:

In my whole life, yes.

SPEAKER_05:

Love Love It or Hate It.

SPEAKER_02:

Um, surprisingly entertaining. Um, I don't see that it's some sort of like epic rom-com masterpiece. Not that any of those movies are masterpieces, um, but um, you know, there's there are elements of it that are entertaining, but I I it's not something that I would go, ooh, love actually's on and throw the remote control on the couch. That is certainly not it. Uh yeah, I'm sure. Now, here, so here, I will follow up your question with this question because I had a related one on my list. What is the worst Christmas movie remake? And I will give you, I will give you, and I they're all terrible to me. Okay. Um, but you gotta tell me which one you think is the worst. I have Scrooge with Bill Murray.

SPEAKER_04:

Oh right, okay. Oh, yeah.

SPEAKER_02:

The new version of Miracle on 34th Street with Richard Attenborough as as Santa Claus. Um, only it's terrible in comparison to the original. Um, and then lastly, is uh How the Grinch Stole Christmas with Jim Carrey, which is a remake of the cartoon.

SPEAKER_05:

Oh my! And I I think so. I've never seen the Miracle on 34th Street. I've never seen it. I don't know why. I know it's a really weird thing. I know it's super weird. I've never seen it. So, and I've also never seen the remake. Um, so I haven't I can't pass any judgment on that, but I have to be contrary no matter what. So I'm gonna say terrible. No, I'm gonna say great, love it. I have to say the opposite. I don't even remember what I was supposed to be doing.

SPEAKER_02:

See, I'll never I'd never wait what do you think is a terrible Christmas movie or Christmas movie remake? I'm talking remakes, but let's just broad it out and say terrible Christmas movie.

SPEAKER_05:

Okay, so let me preface this by saying that I am generally not a fan of remakes, period. I I I am a strong believer in leave the originals alone and create something new and different. So having said that, I will that's how I'm justifying saying this because I people will get mad at this. Um I I just told you that my favorite movie was uh uh The Bishop's Wife with Carrie Grant, uh Whitney Houston, and I don't know who the other actors, maybe Denzel Washington, I don't know who the the male lead in that was, but they remade that and it's called The Preacher's Wife. So it was a modernized version of it. Um I I've never seen it, so I can't I can't earnestly critique the movie itself. I'm only critiquing that it's a remake. So that's the one I'm picking. People are gonna get mad at that because somebody just said in the comments the other day that that was their favorite. So sorry, sorry, it is what it is, guys.

SPEAKER_02:

Whitney Houston's in one of those off-limits kind of categories.

SPEAKER_05:

She does, she does. So it's nothing personal against her. I actually have heard that it was a lovely, wonderful movie, and that her singing was obviously phenomenal. Um, so I'm only standing on that it's a remake. Okay. Calm down.

unknown:

Okay.

SPEAKER_05:

All right. Um, can we we're gonna stick with the movies just for a minute because we've got to have the diehard discussion. We have to have the diehard conversation. And I'm gonna I am gonna stand my ground on this and say, and I know Bruce Willis said otherwise, I say it's a Christmas movie. Sorry. Christmas movie.

SPEAKER_02:

I so Bruce Willis, you're right. Bruce Willis says it is not a Christmas movie. So here's the conundrum. Um, and here's why I'm gonna disagree with you, because there are four action movies that if you consider Die Hard a Christmas movie, you have to also consider these others, the other three, as Christmas movies. So you have Die Hard, you have Die Hard 2, which happens a year later, right? Right, and and is on Christmas, and is on Christmas Eve again. Um, the original Rambo movie First Blood occurs at Christmas time. The entire police station is decorated for Christmas. Okay. And and lastly, the original lethal weapon uh is also Christmas themed throughout the entire movie. So it to me it's an all or nothing, and and that puts it out of nothing. You can't say they're all Christmas movies uh simply because there's Christmas in the background, and that's why I say no.

SPEAKER_05:

Oh, oh, I'm gonna say, yes, they're all they're all Christmas movies. I will take them, I embrace them, I'll even watch them all. Yes, I I am sticking to it. Listen, uh, I have to ask you, I don't know if you know the answer to this, is um is Hans Gruber. Oh no, he died, so he couldn't be in it. No, he died, yeah. Die Hard one for me is like the only one because of him. So yeah, but no, kicking them off. They are all officially Christmas movies as far as I'm concerned.

SPEAKER_02:

Okay, so I so I guess that means like um so that means Christmas story is also an Easter movie because he got a deranged Easter bunny outfit as a Christmas gift. So because it's mentioned in the movie, no in the background of the movie. No way, I you it's a hollow argument. They're not, I mean, I just I don't buy the argument because that's only one scene.

SPEAKER_05:

That's one scene, one moment in the movie. The entire diehard movie is it's there's it's all on Christmas, it's all a Christmas party, they're all there. He writes in blood, uh, I have a machine gun now. Ho ho ho. Uh so you know, yeah, sticking to my guns here, Clay.

SPEAKER_02:

I I don't, I I disagree. I I and I'm a fan of all those movies, I love them all. Uh but uh no, not not Christmas movies. It is not the first thing that comes to mind uh when you mention those movies, except for the purpose of the argument, which always comes up at this time of year.

SPEAKER_05:

Always does. It's it's the law. We had to have the argument. And don't forget, guys, you should be chiming in in the comments.

SPEAKER_02:

Really? Let me ask you a question. So, do they show the bishop's wife at any other time of year besides Christmas? No, yeah, that's because it's a Christmas movie. Die Hard is shown year-round. You know why? Because it's not a Christmas movie, yeah.

SPEAKER_05:

But you know what? Nobody watches it year round, people only watch it at Christmas time. You watch it year-round.

SPEAKER_02:

Die hard is on TV. Yeah, remote control goes on the couch. I'm going to go.

SPEAKER_05:

I want I want proof that it's on that people play it year round. Like, that doesn't count for you putting it, throwing it in your D VR or like finding it on Netflix or whatever on, you know, on in March. That doesn't count. Like, I'm talking about like, you know, whatever uh in July?

SPEAKER_02:

Sure it is.

SPEAKER_05:

I'm gonna I'm gonna I'm gonna ask chat. I'm gonna ask chat. I want chat, so I'm gonna come back to that. I'll probably end up putting it in the comments because I'm gonna ask chat to look for maybe somebody else could do it for me right now and throw it in the comments. Um, I want to know like when Die Hard has been played on like mainstream networks that like people everybody gets like all the time. Like remember when we were kids, or maybe still the Wizard of Oz, they would always play it like in November. That's when you knew you know that Thanksgiving was coming. I mean, you knew any of it, you know what I mean. Are you looking it up right now?

SPEAKER_02:

What I'm looking at is the release date for the original diehard.

SPEAKER_05:

Okay. Oh no, oh no, no, what's the original release date?

SPEAKER_02:

Christmas movies on July 15th of 1988. I'm just saying.

SPEAKER_05:

I think they do. When all house fails, you just just deny, deny, deny. Just deny, deny, deny. Yeah. Well, that was probably because they were like celebrating Christmas in July, because like that's a thing. That's a thing's Christmas in July. It's a thing. Anyway, uh, your turn asked.

SPEAKER_02:

Okay. So I I will contend the best Christmas drink is eggnog. Period.

unknown:

Okay.

SPEAKER_02:

There I people say cocoa, people say cider, people say all kinds of things. It is eggnog and only eggnog.

SPEAKER_05:

You're you're killing me because I would have agreed with you, but I won't. I won't do it. Um, there is a drink, and I need my my Hispanics and Latinos to hop in here and um pronounce this properly for me. I I want to say it's coquito. Somebody's got to correct me on that, but it is a um uh my Chilean ex father-in-law used to make this, and it's got like rum and coconut, and I have no idea what else, like a whole bunch of stuff in it, and it is amazing, and you get lit like a Christmas tree on it. So somebody tell me the proper name in there, but that's the one I'm going with. Um, and yeah, I I gotta find somebody make that for me.

SPEAKER_02:

No, it's eggnog you can like I I know people drink cocoa whenever it's cold. Eggnog's only available in the grocery store for like six weeks. And it's it's really from Thanksgiving to like New Year's Day, and that's

SPEAKER_05:

I will give you that much. I I will cede to that, that that is factual. But I feel like the Coquito only comes out at that time of year, also. So I feel like it's a valid counter beverage.

SPEAKER_02:

I would pick you for like a cocoa and rum chata kind of crystal.

SPEAKER_05:

Yeah, yeah, I'd be cool with that. I like I like a I like a good like a chocolate martini, you know, maybe throw a couple marshmallows in it and a little peppermint stick. Yeah, I'm good with that. As a matter of fact, I really want that right now. Oh my goodness. So yeah, yeah, that's what I'm going with. A little, little, maybe a little bit outside of the box, but that's the one I'm going with. But secretly I do I do love a little bit of egg pad. Yeah. Um, let's see. Um real tree or fake tree?

SPEAKER_02:

Um my in practice, uh uh it's a plastic tree, but I am a fan, a bigger fan of the real tree. Um the plastic tree is just too it's way too practical for for everybody. Uh nowadays with the pre-lighting and and everything else, um, you know, you just put it together, the lights are already wired into the tree, all you do is plug it into the wall. There's no cleanup, there's no watering, there's no pets knocking it over, there's no none of that. Like the plastic tree is the most practical thing in the world, but it does take all of the season out of the season.

SPEAKER_05:

Um I don't know. I feel like you're playing the middle of the road here. I feel like you're not.

SPEAKER_02:

Preference is the real tree. I haven't had one in years, but my preference is the real tree.

SPEAKER_05:

Okay. Okay. Darn it. All right. So that means I gotta go with the fake tree, which we have done for quite a few years now, which I always swore we would never ever do. I wanted, you know, I was I was a diehard real tree person because the aforementioned apartment that I grew up with in, um, we weren't allowed to have a real tree. So the like the, I don't know, the management wouldn't let us have a real tree because uh fire hazard. So we always had to have a fake tree growing up. And anybody who grew up in our era uh remembers what those fake trees looked like. They're not like the ones they have now, which are just absolutely gorgeous and realistic. You can even get them scented, you know, pine scented now if you wanted. Um, so yeah, so we always had the the fake tree as a as a kid. So as I got older, I was like, I will never have a fake tree ever again. And here we are, full circle. Um having said all that, I am not somebody who should have a real tree. I water it on day one. That's it. That's it. I am the fire hazard. Uh, like so yeah, I have no business having a real tree.

SPEAKER_02:

Okay, but but let's we we have to discuss this part of a fake tree. Colored, um, snow painted tinsel trees, like the the silvery pipe cleaner, the ones with the snow painted on them, or like a pink Christmas tree. Like, can we agree none of that should happen like ever?

SPEAKER_05:

I will allow that agreement.

SPEAKER_02:

And listen, folks, this I'm I'm not saying this because I grew up, my uh grandparents on my mother's side, my grandmother um was 100% Italian. Um, their Christmas tree when I was growing up was a green artificial tree that was completely decorated in gold and yellow. All the ornaments were gold, the tinsel was gold, the lights were yellow, everything about it was gold and yellow, and it was perfect and beautiful every year. Um, so I'm not saying that. It was a green tree with very coordinated decoration. What I'm talking about is the pink Christmas tree or the fake snow on it, or the ones that are made out of tinsel pipe cleaners, like that stuff. We can't have that. That's terrible.

SPEAKER_05:

Yeah, I am uh I am I I we're pausing our rules just for a moment to be in agreement because I cannot bear the idea of it at all. It needs to look as realistic as humanly possible, like it needs to look so real that you have to go over and touch it to uh confirm its fakeness. And I and my mom loves, you know, my mom loves uh, she likes her white tree. She's got a white tree, and you know, and I and I humor her and say, oh no, it looks pretty, mom. Yeah, does she? She does. I just got caught up. I just I just threw myself one of those. She'll be commenting any moment now. Mom, don't don't don't comment, mom. Don't comment, don't say anything.

SPEAKER_02:

All right, who's up?

SPEAKER_05:

Oh, I think I'm up. Um, let's see. Oh, so since we're talking about the tree, let's talk about the lights. White lights or color lights.

SPEAKER_02:

Inside or outside.

SPEAKER_05:

Inside on the tree.

SPEAKER_02:

I I I inside the tree, I'm inside on the tree, I'm totally okay with colors.

unknown:

Okay.

SPEAKER_02:

On the outside of your house, white only. Like lights. Um, I hate inflatables in the yard. Like, I can't stand those things. Um, I think uh like not far from my house is one of those houses that has eight million dollars in lighting. That once you pull up next to the house, they have a sign that says tune your radio to this radio station, and their lights are in sync with the radio station. I can't imagine living across the street from them for even the month or so that it's decorated. Um, but I think outside decorations on your house should be very subtle. I think they should be, you know, the inflatables are terrible. Like, you know, the lit up reindeer in the yard I could do without inside on your tree, colored lights are completely okay.

SPEAKER_05:

I I am so tormented right now that I have to, by my own stupid rules, disagree with you. Remember, we're playing the opposite game right now. That is correct. Um yay for colored lights outside. They would look they look so amazing and classy and elegant. And yeah, I mean they're festive. I I will, I will, I will say that they're very festive. And and this is even worse for me to have to say than that. Um I love inflatables out in yards, they look so beautiful. Yeah, um, I'm just glad that my kids are are grown and these are not issues I have to deal with. Listen, God bless you if you if you're somebody who who does that. You are full of Christmas joy and spirit um and enthusiasm and excitement. So anyone who does love the things that we don't love, listen. I mean, we're in cancel culture now, so or have been for a while, but it's not a reason to unfollow, guys. So stay, stay with me.

SPEAKER_02:

Folks, we're all just have we're all just having a good time. Just a good time. We're all having a good time.

SPEAKER_05:

Somebody will take offense. I know it. I know it. Okay.

SPEAKER_02:

All right. On the decorations. And and we we kind of mentioned this on the front side. When, what is the earliest and what is the latest for decorations?

SPEAKER_05:

So uh in my very strongly held correct right opinion, uh, it would be the day after Thanksgiving, not a minute before. And then they must be taken down by I I will give some grace in say January 2nd. I prefer January 1st to make them gone. Um, but yeah, that is the soonest and the latest, in my opinion. How about you?

SPEAKER_02:

I have those exact same dates written. However, I will argue, especially on the back side. Um, you can go by, and and arguably by tradition, you should go by the 12 days of Christmas. So you should have until I guess that would make it the 5th of January. Uh, if you go by the 12 days of Christmas, that gets you from Christmas to the 5th of January, in which case that would be the end of Christmas celebration and therefore decorations in whites. Um I would tell you that decorating on Thanksgiving is a tradition for a lot of people. Um that evening after the meal is over with, I know there's a ton of people that put uh Christmas trees up. Um, I know that as you get older and you have kids that are in college and they're only home for a week, you want to utilize them as much as you possibly can. So that week of Thanksgiving while your kids are home, yeah, folks decorate.

SPEAKER_04:

Yeah, especially hanging the uh stuff outside.

SPEAKER_02:

You have forced labor. So if you got to do it on Tuesday before Thanksgiving, then so be it.

SPEAKER_05:

Absolutely. Yeah. Um, and there's and I always kind of have a little bit of appeal, I guess, to the whole getting the Christmas tree on Christmas Eve, because there's people that do the Christmas Eve tradition. Like they that's when they get their tree and they put it up, and then they do keep it up until, you know, whatever. Um, they keep it up a little longer. I I like the idea, you know, so I'm kind of torn too because we used to, I haven't I haven't hosted in years, you know, of course, with the family and the kids in Florida now, and you know, we always go there. Um, but when I used to host Thanksgiving, I used to have it like I used to like having it decorated somewhat for Christmas because it's just so pretty whenever it comes in and the lit tree and the fireplace and all the things. So um that was my exception to starting a little bit earlier. If we hosted that I wanted the whole shebang out, but I'll probably get slack for that too. Oh um, let's say, am I up? Yes, you are. Christmas music joyful traditional or seasonal psychological warfare.

SPEAKER_02:

Um, are you a satellite radio? Do you use satellite radio?

SPEAKER_05:

No, no, I don't. I just do like my streaming, like uh uh Amazon news that's yeah.

SPEAKER_02:

So I I you know I satellite radio in the car had it for years. Um a huge fan. I was shocked the other day when Sirius went through the list of different Christmas stations that they have right now. Oh it's probably and I shouldn't say Christmas, it's holiday because they even have an all Hanukkah channel. Um, but they probably have seven or eight maybe uh different types of Christmas music stations. And I will tell you that I could get rid of all of it.

SPEAKER_04:

Oh all of it.

SPEAKER_02:

Yeah, I I don't, I don't, and I'm a music guy, I love listening to music, but Christmas music, uh to me, I could give or take, it really to me does it makes absolutely no difference whatsoever.

SPEAKER_05:

Okay, that's fair, that's fair. I like um much of it. There are just a couple that I don't love. Um, but my so I always, you know, I mean y'all know me, I always have to do everything a little bit odd, a little bit different than everybody else. And you know, I was gonna ask you as part of that, and I may have stole it from maybe stealing it from you, but maybe not if you don't care about Christmas music. Um, like your favorite and least favorite Christmas song. So we'll we'll roll that all in if that's okay to do that.

SPEAKER_02:

Right, Carrie is everyone's least favorite Christmas song.

SPEAKER_05:

Yeah, there's I mean, there's no argument there. There's no argument there. Although for me, a close second or a tie even would be um, I hate Santa Baby. I hate Santa Baby beyond words. I hate anything with a baby voice, I hate adults using baby voice.

SPEAKER_02:

So the Madonna, the Madonna Santa Baby.

SPEAKER_05:

It's like uh it's like uh an ice pick through my skull carrying that so I I despise Bruce Springsteen, so his like mate his Santa Claus is coming to town makes me that's very high on the despise list.

SPEAKER_02:

Um uh favorite? Well, Joy Reed told all of us that Jingle Bells is racist. Sorry to bring politics in the list immediately. I I I don't I don't have a favorite.

SPEAKER_05:

I just I have a few because I'm an 80s girl, so my absolute favorite is uh Billy Squire. Um, do I have it? I mean, yeah. Okay, I'll stop.

SPEAKER_02:

Yeah, so um that's the same guy that's sang the stroke.

SPEAKER_05:

I know, but I love him. I loved him then, I love him now, and nobody's gonna stop me. Darn it. Yes, I I am uh I was and am a Billy Squire fan. Some people are probably standing, you know, who the heck is Billy Squire? But yes, that and um my other favorite, which is actually on the top list of hated songs, is the waitress's Merry Christmas. You don't know that one? You probably you wouldn't. It's like they go, Merry Christmas, Merry Christmas. I think I'll miss this one this year.

SPEAKER_02:

I I think probably uh if it's it's horrible because it's actually a really sad song. But what was that? Uh what was the one uh feed Christmas time in Africa or what it was called?

SPEAKER_05:

Oh yeah, uh live aid.

SPEAKER_02:

Yeah, it was whoever that was. I mean, that was like uh it was it was almost like the live aid one that they did.

SPEAKER_04:

Like feed the yeah, that yeah, it's fun.

SPEAKER_02:

Great harmonies, it's a great song, but if you listen to the world the words and the message, it's like everybody's starving and dying. It's pleasant time.

SPEAKER_05:

It's it's not the song that you eat during uh Christmas dinner when you're shoveling in uh delicious food and you're like, oh, okay, I'm sorry. Yeah, yeah. Oh yeah, yeah, I'm a fan. I'm a fan.

SPEAKER_02:

Who's up? Am I up? You're up, you're up. Okay. What is your Christmas dinner?

SPEAKER_05:

Oh, yeah. So I don't know what it's gonna be this year because the kids are cooking, but traditionally there's um, let's see, I think there's usually like a a roast um or like prime rib or something. Um it it kind of depends on whose house we're we're at. So if we go to my ex-husband's house, he does a prime rib. Um my daughter and son-in-law, they do, oh gosh, he did a prime rib last time too. I think it's that's the one. Yeah, that's like the main thing. Now growing up, it was now uh remember, or if you're just learning this for the first time, I'm half Cuban and half German. And we would go Christmas Eve to the um uh to the German side where we would have sauer brotten. And uh that was like the the main thing. And then she would, my grandmother would make like a million other things too. So, but that was like the main thing, the sauerkraut and that gravy and dumplings. And I'm getting so hungry right now, just thinking about it. Yeah, yeah. Oh, I want all of it.

SPEAKER_02:

You want all of it?

SPEAKER_05:

I want all of it. So let me um be because it's such a great nostalgia. I will go with sauerkratten. That was our yeah.

SPEAKER_02:

I I that's good. Like I I am uh so I wrote down like basically there's like four options, right? You have an ethnic or heritage, right? Like you'll have Italians who will do seven fishes, no meat, right? They'll do the pasta thing. Um, you know, you'll have whatever pick your race, ethnicity, heritage, whatever you people have that. That's there's a lot of traditions around that. You've got prime rib, um, which you know is is very popular. Um, I think turkey should be banned on Christmas because turkey has its day. Like you don't do that twice. I I think you got Thanksgiving. I you don't do turkey again. I know there's a lot of people that do, um, mostly because it's easy to feed a bunch of people with a turkey, um, and it is a lot cheaper than a prime rib. Um, but I'm gonna go with a uh sideways choice and say ham. Big, I love a good spiral ham. Like right, you got the cloves on top, you got the the uh mustard brown sugar, pineapple juice, glaze on top. Like ham for me is the way to go on Christmas.

SPEAKER_05:

Yeah, I think a lot of times we'll have it as the secondary. Like my my older daughter is very like you must have the ham. Like, and she wants that for on Thanksgiving also because she doesn't like turkey. So we actually always have both, like both holidays. You know, it's like whatever the main thing is, then a second main, which is always the ham. So yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_02:

And it's the best cold. I'm sorry, I know people are gonna say things about turkey and blah blah. Ham, sliced ham is the best cold left over the next day. I'm sorry. It beats a turkey sandwich every time.

SPEAKER_05:

Yeah, I'm I know I'm supposed to disagree, but I can't disagree. That is I love that.

SPEAKER_02:

That's because you're Cuban. That's a Cuban thing.

SPEAKER_05:

That's it's so Cuban. Yeah, it's so Cuban. Absolutely, yeah. Oh, oh my goodness. I'm so hungry right now. Oh my gosh, I can't even take it. All right, let's see. Um opening gifts, Christmas Eve or Christmas morning.

SPEAKER_02:

Um let me talk through family tradition, right? How I grew up. So, because we had my my two sets of grandparents both alive and literally 10 minutes apart. Um, we had at my dad's family, we had Christmas Eve. So we would go over to the Novak house, my grandparents' house, uh, aunts and uncles, whoever, and I my dad had two sisters. They both moved to Dallas, but they would come home some years for Christmas. Anyway, Christmas Eve was always big grandma-grandpa Novak's, right? And it was go over there, it was uh, you know, dinner, and then it was presents. And we did the whole like start with the youngest. They open a present, then go to the next. We would open presents if everybody was there, we would open presents for hours, right? And then you got kids driving home, Christmas Eve, you know, it's like midnight, we're trying to look out the windows for Santa Claus. Um so, but then we would get up the next morning, Santa came to the house, we would do the Santa Claus presents, right? Then we would go over to my mom's parents, my other set of grandparents, do another big, you know, meal and Christmas. So, like Christmas for us was like a full 24 hours, and and it was like that for my entire childhood. Um, even when my, you know, we got a little bit older and grandparents were maybe a little less mobile, and we would try and consolidate a little bit, um, or we would maybe go to my aunt's, you know, my mom's sisters instead of going to my grandparents', whatever. Um, it was it was Christmas, Christmas, Christmas for 24 hours. So for me, Christmas Eve versus Christmas morning, honestly, my position is I don't care. I really, I we had it the whole time I was growing up, and I know that there are some people who are very strict about Christmas morning where they have a tradition of one on Christmas Eve. I know that's a thing. But for me, I I know by the way, I spent a bunch of Christmases being gone. So, right, doesn't really matter. Christmas, Christmas is whenever. So I I don't I don't care about gift opening. I really don't.

SPEAKER_05:

Yep, yeah. Um, very, very similar uh upbringing. Uh same, we did almost the same exact thing. We always went to my grandparents. Uh the the we went to the Germans on Christmas Eve, and uh we would actually sleep over so the whole the the full house, so everybody would sleep over for many, many years. That was the tradition. Yeah, everybody would sleep over my grandparents on uh Christmas Eve, and they you know they had the room for it all. You meet piled up over couches, you know, everything. And um, so we would have like that was the main that was like the main Christmas, and you know, so that they dinner, opening all the presents, same, all the same routine as you, pretty much, it sounds like. Um, and then we'd go home in the morning, open, did we ha yeah. So we would open, I think we had like our stockings that we would um open at home. I think that's like kind of all that was left because you know, we just wanted all of this stuff. Everybody loved having, you know, just just entire floor covered with presents, you know, for everybody. And we were savage animals. Every year we um every year, you know, somebody would be shouting, We're gonna do it right this year. We're gonna take turns. And everybody's, you know, we tried to act like civilized people like your family. Uh we never succeeded at that. It became a free-for-all. And it was insane for a solid 10 minutes, and then everybody would just like be looking around, the kids would be scrounging around hoping for that. Just one more present under something under all this wrapping paper. There must be one. And there was always somebody's present that you know got thrown in the garbage by accident. Because my grandmother was the was the absolute meat freak. So, yeah, uh, so while we were opening in papers, and I mean this quite literally flying through the air all over the place and chaos, and and my grandmother would be there with the garbage bag and like throwing things away as as we're throwing them down, and so something always got thrown away. So the next morning, everybody, you know, somebody was inadvertently having to go dig through all the garbage to find their gift, you know, always happened. Um, and then Christmas day, we'd we'd go home for a little bit and then go to the the the the Cubans and and do it all over again there. It was so awesome for us kids. Uh right, when you think, do you think back on your parents like how stressful and exactly?

SPEAKER_02:

Well, I like I said, we we would do the Christmas Eve thing, right? And then we'd be driving home from my grandparents and it would be super late, right? And then you've got the overnight Santa Claus kind of responsibility kind of stuff, right? And and I was the worst as far as like five o'clock in the morning, I'm Christmas morning, I'm that kid. Right. And I was downstairs and I did my recon and I knew what was there for who, and then I would pretend to be asleep, and then like you know, maybe 6:01, I'd be like, come on, and you know, I'd wake everybody up and we would be downstairs having no idea the impact on my parents. And and then, of course, like that's just the start of the day, right? And then they're going. And in fact, when I was very young, we actually would go to a second party on Christmas night for my dad's extended family, which I think stopped because it just got too big, like people, you know, another generation of kids, and it just got too big. But it was like, you know, and I can't if I thought back now to what my parents looked and felt like on Christmas night or on the 26th, like I'm sure they were just completely exhausted. Oh, no doubt. Because it was just it was a lot. Uh yeah, constant. Yeah.

SPEAKER_05:

Yeah, absolutely. And you remember, of course, with your with your own kids growing up and doing all the things that it's funny, you know. I know logic tells me that it was so stressful and all of those things, of course, and vague memories of that. But I, you know, those rose tinted glasses that you look back with uh on all of that. I still like I look back on it now with my own kids and everything, and oh my goodness. I I don't want to go back and do it all over again, but it really was so precious, like all of it, all of it staying up late, wrapping their presents, and you know, the cookies out for Santa and the carrots and everything out for the reindeer and doing all those things. Oh, sweet, sweet, sweet memories.

SPEAKER_02:

Okay, we're gonna go back just a little bit, and I know that you don't like this movie, but in a Christmas story, again, this is when I was a kid, I never understood it. There's the you know, Ralphie and his little brother, they're opening all their Christmas presents, and his brother's, you know, and a zeppelin, and that's mine, and this is mine, and he's claiming everything. And you know, Ralphie, all he's looking for is his is his uh, you know, Red Rider BB gun. Um, you know, dad gets a bowling ball, which mom drops right in his lap. Um very uncomfortably. But the funny, the like the funny undertone is mom and dad are sitting there first thing in the morning and they're drinking. Oh yeah. And as a kid, I'm like, maybe it's later in the day. Maybe they didn't start opening until after lunch. And then I get a little, you know, I get old enough to understand, I'm like, nope, they're drinking. They are drinking, they're starting, they are day drinking and they're start early. Good for that.

SPEAKER_05:

There's another, it just made me think of another movie that is so uh awful in every like literally no redeeming moments of character in it. Uh, have you ever seen Bad Santa with Billy Bob Thornton? Yeah, oh my goodness, and I I I do love Billy Bob Thornton. I I just enjoy his acting so much, but that was a rough movie for me to get through. So many talking food.

SPEAKER_02:

Okay, and we we've talked about like you know, big meal on Christmas, you know, and we talked about Christmas Eve meal, Christmas Day meal. Where are you on breakfast on Christmas morning?

SPEAKER_05:

Oh, it's gotta be a full, it has to be literally everything.

SPEAKER_02:

So you're not you're not pacing yourself for the day at all.

SPEAKER_05:

Oh no, oh no, no, no, no, no, there is no pacing, no pacing whatsoever. Absolute psychotic food coma best. Like we so again, my grandmother would, you know, my grandmother did everything. She um so we stayed over that night, and my grandmother would make a full spread for breakfast. And I and I'm talking um the obvious uh bacon, eggs, sausage, toast. Um, we did we I grew up with um as a breakfast staple. Um it's gonna sound weird to some people, but she would make stewed tomatoes um and and like a lot of pepper and salt, and we would dip our toast in that. So that was part of that whole thing. And then especially for me and my brother, I mean, but me, it's really all about me. Um, she would make these very paper thin blueberry pancakes, and um the blueberries, so there's a trick to them, and I don't know if this was a German thing or or just a my grandmother thing, but the blueberries would sit on the on top of the the very thin pancake. So, and then she would sprinkle sugar on them. So that was, and they were huge, they were like, first my hands go there, uh were just monstrously huge, uh, the size of my face basically. And um, so that was a must all the time. So yeah, big, huge breakfast.

SPEAKER_02:

It was a day of it, just you just eat not pigging out, not pacing yourself for the 36 hours, whatever. You're just so we yeah, I I would die. Um we were the opposite. We were we got into this uh family tradition of blueberry muffins. My mom would make she'd make blueberry muffins every year, and literally, because we knew we we hit it off on Christmas Eve, we knew we were gonna hit it off again later that day. So we did blueberry muffins, they were always so great, hot out of the oven, uh butter, and and and they were the big ones, like they weren't like little tiny things, they were the big ones. Um, and like one, maybe when I was a teenager, two, you know, you get two of those in your belly with some fresh hot butter on it, and that was plenty for the day. I I couldn't do, I don't think, a full-blown breakfast on top of everything else.

SPEAKER_05:

There's there's I I don't know how we didn't all weigh like um five hundred pounds because that that's a very that is a very German thing to do. Like the Germans eat uh it's like five meals a day, basically. And they're not big meals. Like I know those those were those were unique for because they were holiday, but typically there's like, you know, you have like a very light breakfast, you know, just like a little something to start to like a like a hard-boiled egg and a piece of toast, you know, and that's how you would like start the day, and then you'd have like a little bit of a later, like real breakfast, and then you'd have, you know, or like a brunch, and then you'd have early dinner, and then you'd have, you know, yeah, it was crazy. It was crazy. We we spent, I think about more than anything right now. I think about my grandparents' grocery bill. I mean, because there were, you know, there was uh probably about a dozen of us staying over, eating, you know, breakfast, lunch, dinner, and those all those and dessert and all those in-between things that you would have. And I can't even imagine. They never said a word. They loved every minute of it. They loved it. They didn't care, they would, they would have rather um, you know, gone into extreme debt than to not have everybody there for, you know. So yeah, yep, good stuff. I I've completely lost where we're at. Oh my gosh, we're we've been doing this for almost an hour. What? Yeah, that's what we're oh let's see. Um, oh, that one was kind of redundant. Let me see. I asked that. Oh, you I think you touched on this when we started off. I feel like wrapping paper. Um, does it matter or not matter? Like, does it have to be fancy and nice and neat and perfect, or is it like thrown in a bag and whatever?

SPEAKER_02:

What it needs to be is organized. And this is a lesson learned from uh my mom and really I think my grandparents. So Christmas morning, and really even like family Christmas, um, we each got our own wrapping paper. You knew what was yours by the wrapping paper, right? So it she didn't, you know, like they didn't even extend. It was like, play, you got blue candy canes, you know, my sister would get a green and my other sister would get a red or whatever. So organized now, big. I think the only there's only two exceptions. One is a big gift that, like, if the kid gets a bike, right? Or something like big like that. Um, by the way, this is the 40th anniversary of me not getting the G.I. Joe aircraft carrier for Christmas. 40th year in a row, I haven't gotten it, and I'm still upset. Um, but something like that, like big, um, no ness wrapping paper is not necessary. Um, the other one is, and we can talk about stockings in a minute, is gifts in stockings do not require wrapping paper.

unknown:

Okay.

SPEAKER_02:

Every everything else, wrapping paper.

SPEAKER_05:

I so I slightly disagree. Surprise, surprise. We I wrap for the stockings, I wrap every single thing from the tube of chapstick to like the more things that they have to unwrap, the more joy I feel in my heart. Um, my my one sticky point is no gift bags. Everything must be wrapped, no gift bags allowed.

SPEAKER_02:

That's interesting. Uh I know it's kind of weird, right? I would disagree with you on that.

SPEAKER_04:

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02:

I don't have any problem with gift bags, mostly because I'm a man and I can't wrap presents. They're fully acceptable. Yeah, but no, I want the work, I want the work put in.

SPEAKER_05:

Put in that work, man.

SPEAKER_02:

Interesting. They're reusable though. Like, come on, stick with the environment here, Elsa.

SPEAKER_05:

Come on. No, no. I want to create more mess, more chaos, more.

SPEAKER_02:

Have you ever done the uh box inside a box inside a box inside a box?

SPEAKER_05:

Yeah, I mean, probably like when the yeah, I don't I don't care for that. I don't like trippery.

SPEAKER_02:

Yeah, that's it's uh listen. If you're gonna do that, there better be like a uh American Express black card in the smallest box. Like I should have like there should be something.

SPEAKER_05:

I don't know. Yeah, yeah. My um, I I do have a favorite gift I've ever gotten on Christmas, well, Christmas Eve for us. And that would be my engagement ring from my husband. He proposed on Christmas Eve. Yeah, it was very sweet, very sweet in front of the whole family, which was really great. Yes, and I did not know he was doing it that night. Um, that poor guy, I'll tell you guys, we got him in it. I'm gonna tell you a really quick story.

SPEAKER_02:

So it's like, wait, wait, wait. That's like Botron crazy. Like your family, and you didn't know it was coming at all.

SPEAKER_05:

I I did not, and they all knew. They all knew. Nobody told me.

SPEAKER_02:

Wow, that's risky. I give him I listen, I know the guy's brave, one because he's a cop, two because he's marine, and three because he's married to you. But um, that was that was gutsy. That was a that was a gutsy call on his part.

SPEAKER_05:

It was, it was. Listen, it was, you know, he had he kind of sort of had to in a way. He had to do, he had to go big or go home, basically. We um so we have been together at that point for like four years. And my brother and his wife, his now wife, um, had been together for about two years. And uh one night in I think it was like it had to be had to be November, late November. And uh we were driving home from a party, my husband and I, and uh I took my phone out of a person's side, missed a call, and uh there was a voice balance from my brother who had been dating his girlfriend, a wife, for two years. We've been together for four years, just making sure you remember this. And uh he says, uh, he leaves a message and I listen to the message, and it's my brother telling me that he and his girlfriend are engaged. So exciting! Just want to let you know on the good news. Oh, so I play the message for my boyfriend, not my fiance even yet. He's my boyfriend at this point of four years. And uh, play the message, and he hears and he's driving. And and I said, Well, that's exciting. I'll I'll have to give him a call back when we get back home. And he says, Yeah, that's great, very exciting. And then it's dead silent in the car.

SPEAKER_02:

Yeah, uncomfortable.

SPEAKER_05:

Oh yes, and and every woman watching and listening right now should know exactly what I said.

SPEAKER_02:

Every guy who's ever even been in the realm of getting married knows exactly the feeling in that truck at that very moment. And shame on you.

SPEAKER_05:

Yes, and I said, I just think it's funny. I just think it's funny that they've been together for two years, they just know, they just know, and here we are, honey, four years in. And nope, I guess not. That's all I'm gonna say. I just think it's funny. And he had to take it on the chin. And of unbeknownst to me, he already had the ring. He had the ring that he was planning on proposing, and he didn't have like a set plan, and that just kind of accelerated everything.

SPEAKER_02:

So you were mean for no reason.

SPEAKER_05:

I was so I was livid, guys. Four years, I mean, and we were very happy. Everything is wonderful. Like we have never in in all of our years and and all of those dating years, being specific, um, we never even had like a momentary pause. You know what I mean? Like there was no like, we need time to cool up and and see if this is what we really want. You know, there was never one of those moments. It was as rock solid and happy and good as you could possibly humanly get. So in my mind, it's like, are you kidding me right now? So yeah, that's the story. And um, yeah. I won. I don't care. So yes, yeah. Um, yeah, that's I mean, that's my story. So that's my there's my there's my ultimate Christmas story, I guess.

SPEAKER_02:

Okay, I'm gonna ask one more.

SPEAKER_05:

Okay.

SPEAKER_02:

I have a feeling that we are aligned on this, but I'm gonna ask anyway. Money slash gift cards, acceptable for Christmas as Christmas presents or not?

SPEAKER_05:

Oh, I mean, I really hate them. I really prefer gift giving and things to unwrap. However, when you have adult children, that is what they prefer from you. So I do not like them. I do not agree with them. I will accept them as a form of gift giving out of you know, necessity, out of giving them what they actually want or getting, you know, getting the opportunity to get what they really want. So, yeah, where are you at on it?

SPEAKER_02:

Um, so I think the only exception is when you've got uh adults, like you said. Uh well, there's two one, and I have a daughter who lives overseas, so thing in the world is to send money, right? Um it's you know, PayPal, Venmo, whatever. Like it's the that is the easiest way to do things. The other exception is when you've got adults, and I'm talking adults like our age and older, who are literally at the point in our lives where it's like, oh, I want that, I'm just gonna buy it. And we do it all year, right? So when Christmas rolls around, it's like, what do you want for Christmas? And it's like, well, I don't um I I kind of have right, so you don't know, they don't even know what they want, you don't know what to get them. So unless something jumps out, uh I'm okay, not with money, but with gift cards. Yeah, but but uh that's that's it. Now I will tell you that my mother, with all of the grandchildren, she gives them, they owe her a Christmas list and she puts stipulations on it. It's like something to read. She actually does it with all of us, uh, but something to read, something to wear, something you want, something you need. There's like four or five categories that she sends out, and you owe her something in those categories. One thing, and she tells us all, like, hey, here's my budgetary limit per person because she's buying for a bunch of people. Sure. But she's got a she's got a cap, and then she's got categories, and you got filled with categories, and she will pick out of what you send her uh to get you for Christmas.

SPEAKER_05:

So that is so brilliant.

SPEAKER_02:

Yeah, it's it takes the pressure off of everybody, especially her. And and nowadays, like the grandkids, wherever they are, strewn all over the country, they text her links like hey grandma, it's on Amazon. Here's the link, and that's yeah, and and it works great.

SPEAKER_05:

I love that, and I will be stealing that. Yeah, I think that's absolutely brilliant. Tell your mom.

SPEAKER_02:

Uh don't get the details. We will send it to Elsa.

SPEAKER_05:

Yes, please, and thank you. Yes, that is so awesome. Oh, see, I mean, we we did not we didn't have to duke it out. We we had some heated moments, very intense moments.

SPEAKER_04:

We have a great story.

SPEAKER_05:

Totally is uh oh, yep, that's gonna be our our one solid beef over the years, I think. Oh my goodness. Well, guys, I don't know about you all, but uh for me that was tremendous fun. I hope it was fun for you, play too.

SPEAKER_02:

Yeah, listen, folks. Uh you guys kind of know our rhythm. If you listen and watch a show every week, you know, Tuesday morning, I come up with some topics, I send them to Elsa. We agree on whatever time, which is usually about you know 3:30 uh or 4:30 East Coast on Wednesdays when we record, and then it comes out on Thursday night. And, you know, truthfully, um, you know, I'm I I pay attention to things on Monday, I pick my topics on Tuesday, I send them to Elsa. She gives me a thumbs up sometime in the middle of the day on Tuesday, and we roll into Wednesday. Um this week, Elsa was like, okay, here's what we're doing. She came up with the intro, she did all kinds of pre-advertising all over social media. Like she, the the rules I read at the beginning, all Elsa, she was super excited for this. And I know uh one, you're a Christmas person, I can tell. Uh, but also we both, and I think all of you probably need a break uh from all the crazy politics and everything going on in the world right now. So every year we do this, and we will continue to do that for the life span of the Elsa Kurt Show with Clay Novak.

SPEAKER_05:

Yes, this is our tradition. We get and we get to say that because, like you said, this is like third year in of this is our tradition. This is what we do. It's so sweet. I love it. Our annual Christmas, pre-Christmas show. So yeah. Two-week vacation. Yes, yes, two weeks. Um, and you know, and it's not to say that we won't miss you guys. Uh we do miss each other. We love doing this. Um, this is never ever a chore. This is never something I ever go, oh, I'm gonna do the podcast today. I have never felt like that. So I appreciate you, Clay. Thank you for making it such a joy and and easy for me and and just giving me someone to talk to all the time instead of my silly self.

SPEAKER_02:

Well, folks, thanks for tuning in once again. This is our last show for 2025, and we are thankful for all of you. And we will see you after New Year's in 2026. And for me, as always, keep moving, keep tuning.

SPEAKER_05:

Take care, guys. We'll see you when we get back. Bye.

SPEAKER_01:

Terry Davis wanted a quiet life. The Midwest, a rifle, a little peace, a turn. Keeps finding him on every inch of American soil. From cornfields to the Capitol, the enemy hides in the shadows. And when the country needs one man to stand up, Terry does what he's always done. He keeps moving, he keeps shooting. The Fight for America has a new battlefield. And he's already in it. The Terry Davis series available now.

SPEAKER_00:

From small town love stories to battles of truth and loyalty, Elsa Kurt's books follow the same heartbeat. Ordinary people facing extraordinary moments. You'll find romance, drama, second chances, even a peek behind the microphone in her newest release. Multiple genres, different worlds, same thread. Bold truth, real faith, no apologies.

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Clay Novak

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