The Curious Case of Nixon Milking The Reader's Slumdog

OSCAR NIGHT!! We have a tradition in my family every year on Oscar night ~ dinner and the show! We print out our own ballots and mark our winners. Then we watch the entire show, marking each "actual" winner. (Keeping our individual choices secret until the end of the show.)

We started this tradition 3 years ago. I've always enjoyed watching the award shows, i.e. the Grammys, Emmy's, VMA's, NAACP, even the Country Music Awards and especially the Oscars! I got my family together to watch it and to make it fun I bought a big "gold" bag, full of gold things and the coveted "oscar." (Okay, the first year it was a silly, yellow, porcelain clown. We have upgraded since then, thank you Andee!) Whoever chooses the most correct winners, takes home the infamous golden prize bag. Then that winner is in charge of the next years prize. Andee found a fake Oscar wannabe at Zurchers last year and we've now passed it on again this year. We're actually hoping to get a replica of the ocsar at Universal Studios next month!

Andee's husband Kelly won it the first year '07, with 11 out of 24 correct. He actually won again last year '08, but passed it down to 2nd place Mike (sister Jessica's boyfriend) who got 10 of 24 correct. Now this year we were hoping for a "three-peat" by Kelly, but thanks to the worldwide web, reviews and lots of free time, my Dad beat everyone by getting 16 out of 24 correct! (Of course we call his "research" cheating, but oh well. He put thought into it!) So, congratulations Dad! You won the greatly desired prize that, thanks to Mike, included a golden "grill." see photo..hee hee.

This has been a great tradition that helps you enjoy the entire award show. Even the awards we know nothing about, like foreign films, animated shorts, documentaries, original score, screenplay and even sound mixing & editing. We mostly guess...nix Dad's "research," but it makes it exciting!! Thank you Dad & Nancy for hosting our wonderful party. Pizza, conversation and a little competitiveness always makes for a great evening!

Until next year...the 82nd Annual Academy Awards!!