I’m feeling the pressure to list a “greatest hits” list of ’09 just like everybody else, and I’m busy enough to cave.

So, feel free to take a look back at the year that was here at Teeny Manolo.  Here’s a sampling of some of our most visited/most commented/most popular posts.

Oh, to be a man today.

A child molester is a child molester, period.

Sex toy or baby toy?

Raincoaster’s Five Fingers of Fug.

Teeny Manolo channels Samuel L. Jackson.

What 45,000 British Pounds will get you, which is not a lot…

Winner of the most digusting recipe EVAH.

Did Jesus start this way?

The debate on the evils of capri pants.  Who knew the topic was so heated?

Jackman versus Craig, a feast for the eyes!

What is McDonald’s thinking?

Now listen, before y’all go judgy-judgy on me for eating McDonald’s, I’ve got a two month old, a seven year old, and I’m moving residences next week. So yeah, we got some McDonald’s because I didn’t feel like cooking after spending a day wrapping up all my fragile glass items. Which happens to be a lot, which in turn makes me wonder how the hell I got so many fragile glass items.

Anyhoo, it seems that the new Happy Meals are Avatar-themed, to which I say, WTF?

If I’m not mistaken, Avatar is rated PG-13 and I have the feeling that there isn’t a large contingent of 13 year olds that still eat Happy Meals. So why is my kid receiving a toy from a movie in which he has at least five more years until he can even think of seeing it?

The figures have extremely limited play value, and they mean absolutely nothing to him because he doesn’t even know the movie exists. So why force the marketing onto a demographic the movie by all indications shouldn’t even be attempting to reach?

I’ve got lots of questions in this post, to which most of them only McDonald’s can answer. I say most because even though they are a rich, powerful company, I don’t expect them to know why I have so many lead crystal vases.

Last week I asked how you felt about those holiday newsletters, and a fifty-six percent majority of you felt that as long as they were done well, all is good.  But a significant chunk, almost thirty percent, tend to do an eye roll as they read about all the “accomplishments” of the writer and their family.  Only three percent of you are grinchy enough to toss them in the fireplace, though.

Now that the holidays are (mostly) over, what happens in the aftermath of gift giving?

To all those that celebrate Christmas, I hope you have a very merry one!

And for everyone, I wish you lots of love, joy, and happiness this day with your loved ones.

Courtesy of SketchySantas:

Seriously, where has all the time gone? It seems like just last week I gave birth to my daughter, and now she can hold her head up on her own and smile at everyone. 

Last week I wanted to know how you felt about reruns, and forty seven percent of you said that only certain things make the cut of acceptable things for you to watch more than once. Forty percent said that reruns don’t bother them in the least, and only a measly one percent loathe reruns. It seems my mom is definitely in the minority, which is kind of what I thought.

As for today, the deluge of Christmas cards has begun. It began with a trickle last week, and is turning into a full-fledged flood this week. But my question has more to do with those (in)famous newsletters…

As we wind our way out of the 80’s, it seems that Bruce Springsteen is a suprisingly strong CDF contestant.  Not only did he win against Bruce Willis, he triumphed against Jon Bon Jovi, he of the large 80’s hair and (IMHO) bad songs.  Yeah, yeah, I know they were popular and sold a lot of records, but so have Alvin and the Chipmunks.

Even though public opinon on him is currently divided, there was no question that this next contender practically ruled the 80’s movie screen.  Let’s not think of him as the “couch-jumper” but rather the dashing pilot with the cool motorcycle.  Oh, and the volleyball scene couldn’t hurt, either. Speaking as a former volleyball player and collegiate-level assistant coach, I can tell you that as much as I love Goose, it is obvious he cannot play volleyball to save his life.

VERSUS

With all the hoopla surrounding the whole sordid affair of supposed nice-guy Tiger Woods, I can’t help but wonder what the hell he was thinking.

But to be fair, I wonder that about anyone that cheats, especially those that have children. I have always told my husband that if you feel like dipping your ahem, pen, into someone else’s ink, then just please go ahead and divorce me first. Because in my mind, if you are that unhappy in a marriage that you feel the need to cheat, then why stay married at all? Why put your entire family through that?

When the story first broke, I told my husband about Tiger sleeping with a bunch of escorts and strippers and the like. He responded in a fairly typical male Cro-Magnon way of “Yeah, you go Tiger, get it where you can” or some such drivel.

After he regained consciousness, (I kid, I kid) I gave him a stare capable of withering even the staunchest member of the He-Man Women Haters Club. “Oh really,” I said, “Then I can’t wait to see your reaction when your daughter comes to you and tells you her husband cheated on her.” His face fell. “I’m sure you will be the first to call the guy and congratulate him on his success in getting some tail.”

Well of course, when put in that perspective, cheating sounded pretty horrible to him all of a sudden. But it underscores an unfortunate mindset, and my husband is actually one of the most enlightened guys around.  I will confess that I will never understand what makes people cheat on their partners, and I say that with the inclusion of women that have affairs as well.

I truly hope that Elin Woods gets half of the $548 million she’s reputed to be looking for. I think she deserves every penny of it.