The James Logan Courier

By Louis R. Carlozo
Chicago Tribune (MCT)

So you chug-a-lugged some spiked egg nog, passed out and had nightmares of hearing "Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer" for the gajillionth time. Then ... you got lost in a megamall, only to be mauled by a gaudy Mannheim Steamroller.

Afraid this could happen to you? Well, take heart — and don't leave your holiday music in the hands of deejays, in-laws and other evil elves who serve you the sonic equivalent of brick-hard fruitcake.

Here are 25 songs for a holiday playlist. Burn a mix of these tunes and consider wrapping up the CD as a thoughtful hostess gift or stocking stuffer.

1) "Monsters' Holiday," Bobby "Boris" Pickett
What's to love: This 1962 sequel to "Monster Mash" is a bit more sublime but even more fun. Song ends with Igor going ape over St. Nick: "Ooooooh, Santa GOOOOOOD!" Scary Christmas!

By Mia Tungol, Courier Staff Writer

This Friday, Logan's Improv team will be competing against another school at home for the very first time. They will be competing against Hollister's San Benito High School. To prepare for this, both Improv teams met on Saturday for a workshop in order to set the standards for Friday's competition, set to begin at 7 p.m. in the Little Theatre.

Improv is an after-school activity in which a group of diverse people come together in hopes of entertaining others and making the audience laugh. This year, the captain is Efren Gonsalez, the co-captain is Joseph Rodriguez, and the manager is Jamie Maxfield. There is no script, and everything is made up on the spot. The only times when their performance was not made up on the spot would be when the team would ask for suggestions.