Something Old, Something New

My Dad is a very interesting fellow, one-of-a-kind, for sure. He’s hilarious most of the time, he is very smart with more common sense than most, and he makes the best prime rib you would EVER taste, as evidenced by the fact that he made that for us for dinner on Friday night and I still can’t get it out of my head.

He’s not without faults, though. His intense dislike for anything Will Ferrell has ever done–especially “Elf”–is something he talks about enough to make me wonder if he really likes “Elf” deep down but has talked so much trash about it that he would never admit it. (Not.)

Dad used to eat Milk Bones when I, as a teenager, brought friends over. To be funny, you know. Actually, he told me several months ago that he still eats Milk Bones on occasion when a guest of the hotel he manages is checking in with their dog. To be funny, you know.

My Dad is both traditional and open to new things (except Will Ferrell movies). One of his traditions is his love of Canfield’s Diet Chocolate Fudge Soda. (It’s not MY tradition. Icky!) This soda originated in 1972 and was produced by A. J. Canfield Beverages, in the Chicago area. It is basically a can full of chemicals that work together to taste like fizzy chocolate. Dad adores it. That’s why I stop at the one grocery store in the area where I know I can still get it, and buy every six-pack on the shelf to deliver to Dad in Tennessee whenever we visit.

Canfields

Somewhat less traditional is Dad’s taste in music. He loves techno, trance, and other forms of electronica. This revelation came a few years ago when I was creating a new playlist for my spin class and he heard the music I was using, exclaiming “WOW. What IS that? I love it!”

I made him a copy of the playlist on a CD so he could play it in the electric blue MINI Cooper he drives (it replaced his “The Italian Job” soundtrack for a while), and after that he started looking for radio stations that played club music.

This past weekend, J–who is a huge fan of the new-ish music genre “Dubstep“–was planning to give Grandpa a listen, to see if he liked it. J expected that his Grandpa would not like it one bit, but when he played this, Dad’s eyes lit up.

“WOW. That’s really good!”

And as J gave him some more music samplings, I sat there, smiling as they bonded over bass drops and wobblers, and then wondering how I could get him to change his mind about Will Ferrell. He’s truly a comedic genius.

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12 Comments

  • Michelle

    Uh-huh. I can’t wait until the wee ones are into some music I totally don’t get. I know it’s coming…. I kept waiting for that music to do something, anything. I’m so getting old. And not only because I don’t think Will Ferrell is funny at all.

  • Ally Bean

    I remember that Canfield soda! It was awful. But now that I think about it I remember that my mom liked it, too. Maybe it was an age thing.

    As for Will Ferrell I know as many ppl who like him as who hate him. He has a rather divisive personality. Me? Not so much of a fan, but can tolerate him in small doses.

  • Cy

    I’m sure your dad is an awesome guy (and I kinda get where he’s coming from with Will Ferrell–I truly do not get ‘Anchorman’) but Canfield’s Diet Chocolate Fudge Soda only reminds me of that obnoxious blowhard, writer Bob Greene. Ick.

  • Tara R.

    Canfield’s sounds like Yoo-hoo. Carbonated chocolate? I don’t know about that, but Ferrell can make me laugh even if he is just standing still. The ‘More Cowbell” SNL skit is a classic.

    • Melisa

      He TOTALLY drives a MINI, and wears a cute little driving hat too. It’s adorable. Just don’t tell him I said so.

  • Patty at A Day in My NYC

    I’m with your dad on Elf…I can’t get through that movie. I do like Will Ferrell – just not in that movie. What is in those milk bones that men just have to taste them. So has my dad, uncles and every other male I know who’s had a dog! LOL! 🙂 I love your dad’s taste in music!