It’s funny the affect one person can have on kids, at least on my kids. I’m talking Santa. And don’t I use it for all it’s worth:

• You better clean your room. Santa doesn’t like messy rooms
• If you three don’t stop fighting and learn to share, Santa might have to skip this house

You get the idea. Now that the Christmas season is upon us (any time after the Santa Clause parade is the Christmas season in my book) one of the first things my kids do is write letters to Santa.

Now with my kids, a standard pen to paper type letter just won’t do. There has to be crayons, markers, scissors, glue, stickers and glitter. And let’s not forget the images cut out of magazines and flyers illustrating the exact toy each child wants (my kids are so considerate of Santa’s senility).

So with Christmas music playing through the iPod and hot chocolate from our Tassimo beverage system, the Christmas letter mayhem started:

My 5yo making a snow scene on the back of his letter to Santa

My 2yo writing her letter to Santa (big sister helped)

My 7yo making a picture for Rudolph

Everyone working together

The letters Santa and crew will be receiving from our house this year.

Have you sent your letters in yet?

Merrifield Garden Center in Falls Church, Virginia  (8132 Lee Highway, on the corner of Lee Highway and Gallows Road, across from Office Depot and Arby’s) presents an eye-widening array of Christmas decorations each year in its Christmas Shop.  This is the place to go for live and artificial trees, holly, pine roping, and all kinds of festive greenery, and exquisite ornaments.  But it is also one of my favorite destinations just to walk around and take in the beauty of the holiday decorations.

Holiday Open House November 28-29

On the weekend after Thanksgiving, November 28 and 29, the store holds its annual holiday open house, with refreshments and the arrival of “The Real Santa Claus.”  St. Nick holds court in a real sleigh in a special Santa Claus house.  The lines are often long, especially on the weekends, but there are trains, lights, displays, and plenty of things to look at inside Santa’s house.  (To avoid the longest lines, come early in December, on a weekday, right at 5 p.m. if you can manage it.)

Santa’s Schedule

You can visit Santa starting November 28 through December 23 from 12 noon to 5 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays, and from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.  Tuesdays- Fridays.  Santa takes a day off on Monday, except for December 21st.

Santa’s “Press Conferences”

Kids and adults of all ages will enjoy Santa’s press conference, which takes place on 12 noon on Saturdays and Sundays, and at 5 p.m. on .  Before each session, Santa takes questions from the children and leads some sing-a-longs.  He also recites poems and tells some jokes.  It is really enchanting, and even if you don’t have children, you should see this at least once.

By the way, there is also a bin there for new unwrapped toys for the less fortunate.  Please consider bringing a toy.

La verdad no sé, que desesperación es esa. Digo si estamos en una celebración tal y ponemos los accesorios de la siguiente inmediatamente después ¿no estaremos confundiendo al cliente con el significado de las celebraciones?

Sé que hay que ahorrar tiempo y todo eso pero se ve mal que todo sea tan rápido, es como cuando sales de una relación sentimental y al día siguiente de cortar ya andas con alguien más. Digo, no es sano, es mal visto por la “suciedad” y no le diste chanza al “momento del duelo” para sanar las heridas.

Ja, ya nos estamos yendo por otro lado, pero volviendo al tema, recuerdo una vez en Laredo,TX que en fuimos de sales-hunting a principios de enero y mi sorpresa fue no ver ni un mendigo pino, ya ni luces había ni siquiera en remate. Wall*Mart (como diría SouthPark) había aniquilado todo lo referente a Xmas para volver su tienda roja con corazones rojos, chocolates en cajas rojas y peluches cafés.

Eso fue hace tiempo pero ya en la actualidad esta metodología la volcamos al mexican style y aquí después de la onda de Halloween, que cada año se hace mas fuerte dejenme decirles, todas las tiendas se brincaron la revolución mexicana para poner pinos. Por cierto ya hay unos pinos en Serezas con las luces incluidas en sus ramas, y ¡cambian de color! tipo la fachada del Palacio de Fierro.

En fin, esta modalidad es para introducirte en el mundo de la festividad en marcha para que se te antoje realizar una compra pero necesito mi duelo después de cada fecha. Me gustaría que hubiera un lapso de al menos 15 días para llorarle al día de brujas, navidad, pascua o lo que sea que haya. Y en esos días podemos recobrar fuerzas y llenar el bolsillo para la siguiente fiesta en donde podamos vivirla y comprar al máximo.

In vista del Natale sarebbe carino rivedere il film “Chocolat” e soprattutto assaggiare la torta di Vianne, naturalmente al cioccolato. è buonissima, riporto qui la ricetta e il link dove si possono scovare quelle proposte e scovate negli altri film.

Torta di Vianne

A reader just commented on the search for finding his passion.  He says, “This has become so frustrating that I wish I had never read Dan’s books….how can he say ‘that even a 10 year old knows what they are passionate about’ when I have absolutely NO CLUE!! Apparently God doesn’t want me to know either because that prayer hasn’t been answered yet.”

Unfortunately we often make God our Santa Claus rather then our Creator. If we keep looking for candy canes to be dropped in our stocking I’m quite sure we’ll be disappointed. If we recognize we are “children of the King” we will see our gifts and put them to use.  I don’t want to heap guilt or anguish on anyone still struggling to find their gifts and passion.  But if we are looking outwardly for that insight we will be disappointed or misdirected.  Look at what God has already revealed to you – in trusting your sense of peace and joy as you recognize what you enjoy.  God is not holding anything back – don’t put Him in the position of having to make pigs fly to get your attention.

Santa flying in late November til’ early December, for the kids… Saturdays!
No more waiting in lines at the mall!
-November 28th
-December 5th, 12th & 19th
From 12-2PM
Family Holiday Portraits

-Complimentary Beverages
-Pets Welcome!!!

Book ahead or walk-ins welcome!
(303) 455-3870
3920 Tennyson Street
Denver, CO 80212

Home of The Photo Martini Club…
Go to PhotoMartiniClub.com to learn how to become a member!

En este 2009 hemos tenido una buena cantidad de juegos de calidad para todas las consolas del mercado, y esta época es la mejor para comprarse o regalar (o pedir que le regalen a uno, no?) una de las tantas opciones que hay. Y es que aunque todavía no empieza diciembre, es un buen momento para ir pensando qué juego regalar, e incluso irlo comprando antes de que todo mundo abarrote las tiendas y corramos el riesgo de que se agoten (o les suban el precio).

Por eso, aquí están los 5 mejores juegos para regalar esta Navidad 2009. No es precisamente un Top 5, aunque esté presentado como tal.

Debido a lo reducido de la lista, no abarca todas las consolas del mercado, pero sí las principales, además de diferentes clasificaciones (ya saben, por edades). Pueden leer la lista después del salto.

1. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 (Xbox 360/PS3/PC) Clasificación M. Éste es EL juego para esta Navidad. Es el que todos desean por la expectativa que generó y que ha logrado cumplir. Es un juego de disparos en primera persona, donde deberemos enfrentar a un grupo terrorista, lo que nos llevará a diferentes lugares del mundo, desde Rio de Janeiro hasta Siberia.
   Tiene un modo cooperativo para 2 jugadores, además de un modo multiplayer online que estará abarrotado por mucho tiempo.
   Si jugaste el primero, es obligatorio tener este segundo episodio. Si no, es hora de adentrarte en esta serie de muchísima calidad.
2. New Super Mario Bros. Wii (Wii) Clasificación E. El formato clásico de Mario Bros. regresa al Wii, pero ahora para que hasta cuatro amigos lo jueguen al mismo tiempo, recorriendo los niveles “a la antigüita” (ya saben, niveles en 2D). Podrán ayudarse mutuamente para llegar al final de los escenarios o hacerles las bromas pesadas a sus compañeros y llevarse solos el crédito. La historia es la misma de siempre: rescatar a la princesa Peach, pero ahora con la innovación de que se pueda jugar en grupo.
   Si eres nostálgico y esperabas que regresara un Mario Bros. digno de los clásicos de antaño, ésta es la mejor opción para jugar solo, con amigos y hasta en familia, pues todos aprenderán a manejarlo y a divertirse con él.
3. The Beatles: Rock Band (Xbx 360/PS3/Wii) Clasificación T. Si tú y tus amigos tienen alma de rockstars y les gustan los Beatles, ésta es la mejor opción. The Beatles: Rock Band te llevará a diferentes momentos de la carrera de este cuarteto, tocando con tus amigos la guitarra, batería, bajo, además de poder cantar.
   Es una de las mejores opciones en el mercado si a ti y tus amigos les gusta juntarse para disfrutar los videojuegos, más que jugar en línea.
   Si no te gustan los Beatles, hay otras alternativas, como la serie Guitar Hero o la misma de Rock Band, pero con variedad en sus artistas. Incluso puedes darle una oportunidad a DJ Hero, si es que prefieres la música electrónica.
4. Assassin’s Creed II (Xbox 360/PS3/PC) Clasificación M. Aunque el primer juego decepcionó a muchos, Ubisoft corrigió sus errores y ahora recorreremos las ciudad italianas del Renacimiento con Ezio, que usará nuevas armas, artefactos (como alas para planear por encima de los edificios).
   Las misiones son más variadas también, para evitar la monotonía del primero.
   Una de las mejores opciones actualmente para jugar solo.
5. FIFA 10/Pro Evolution Soccer 2010 (Todas las consolas del mercado) Clasificación E. Un juego de futbol siempre es bien recibido por los fanáticos, y este año la competencia entre FIFA 10 y PES 2010 está más cerrada, pues ambos son de excelente calidad, cada uno a su manera.
   Mientras que FIFA cuenta con las licencias oficiales de las principales ligas del mundo, con los uniformes y nombres reales, además de gráficos más realistas, PES 2010 busca más una experiencia buena en cuanto al manejo de los jugadores y el balón, además de contar con la Champions League y licencias oficiales de un par de ligas.

En el mercado existen muchas otras opciones para todas las consolas, pero estos 5 juegos son los que más se recomiendan, y que generalmente gustan a quienes los juegan.

Para Wii puede mencionarse Wii Sports Resort, para Xbox 360 Forza Motorsport 3, The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks para Nintendo DS, LocoRoco 2 para PSP u Uncharted 2: Among Thieves para PlayStation 3. Cada uno tiene lo suyo y está pensado para diferentes tipos de personas, por edades, gustos personales, costumbres de juego en línea o en grupo, etc…

Aquí en México pueden encontrar todos estos juegos en tiendas como Game Planet o Game Rush (las principales cadenas especializadas), donde generalmente se venden más baratos que en tiendas departamentales (Palacio de Hierro, Liverpool, etc…), así que es muy recomendable ir a esas tiendas para conocer todas las opciones que existen.

Espero que si les gustan los videojuegos, les hagan (o pidan) un muy buen regalo, o si no saben qué juego regalar, piensen en los aquí mencionados.

Que tengan unas muy buenas fiestas.

Double Sided Pole Banner Form

I’ve spent my fair share of time here at Georgia Printco taking customer artwork and trying to help explain (over the phone) how much space you actually need for a pole banner pocket to keep the banner from getting totally de-funked (technical term)… So I was thinking that I would use this blogging space to do some good for those of you that are interested in having access to our pole-banner cheat sheet… well its actually the form we use to make sure that whatever measurements the client gives us, that it visually matches the measurements on this sheet.  I’m going to go step by step and explain what the different measurement points are used to calculate, so that next time you order your double sided pole banners, you can do it like a well-weathered pro

A. This is your pole diameter which needs to be multiplied by two b/c you have to have enough banner to go up the front as well as the same distance to cover the back… now for those of you thinking about artwork- keep in mind that there is also 1″ for the closing of the pole pocket.

B.  This is the LIVE art area in between the poles. It is always easier to keep artwork framed in this area because you don’t have to worry about the back and the front pocket artwork lining up perfectly.

C. This is the area from the VERY tip-top of the pole to the bottom of the pole. We want to make sure that the measurements in A+B= The necessary area for C.

D. Is an inquiry to determine if there needs to be any “give”. There need to be an allotted .5″ give if the poles are stationary… Also, speaking of stationary, you need to make sure to find out if your balls come off or if the pocket has to fit over the ball when being installed. If this is the case, you’ll need to consider A. as the diameter of the ball and not the pole. Yes, the pocket may appear a little large on the pole, but if you can’t screw off the ball, this is the only way you will be able to get the banner on the poles.

I will try to go over the artwork portion of Double-Sided Pole Banners within the next couple weeks… This is another key item that tends to perplex the best of us (in regards to DS – Pole Banners- even the artist get confused on the artwork size every once and a while!)   As a closer, I’d like to remind everyone that Georgia Printco has pre-printed FABULOUS Generic Banners that are only $12.50 each!!! 3×6′ + hemmed.  I hope everyone has a great Thanksgiving and I’ll be back on Monday!

Original Ilustración, Cuadro, Art, Sujete el arte
Gratis negocio ilustración y material de tejido
Ilustración, Material de Web 【Libro】
Thème　「Un niño, Santa Claus, Un árbol de Navidad, Un presente」

Haga clic en la uña del pulgar. El transmita la pantalla abre.

Libro
【Tamaño】　

Libro en rústica

Copyright（C）T-KONI . All Rights Reserved.

Gratis ilustración y material de tejido
Un cuadro de Navidad

Direcciones　・　Método de transmita

————————————

【Sitio oficial】
Ilustración comercial libre
Cuento de hadas y fantasía
Fantasía de ciencia ficción
Boceto a pluma y acuarela
Sitio oficial Japón

Original Abbildung, Bild, Art, Schneiden Sie Kunst
Frei von Gebühr Geschäfts abbildung und Netzmaterial
Abbildung, Weave material 【Buchcover】
Thema　「Ein Kind, Santa Claus, Ein Weihnachtsbaum, Ein Geschenk」

Klicken Sie den Daumennagel bitte.　Das laden Sie, Bildschirm öffnet sich.

Buchcover
【Taille】　

Taschenbuch

Copyright（C）T-KONI . All Rights Reserved.

Frei Abbildung und Netzmaterial
Ein Bild des Weihnachtens

Richtungen　・　Methode von laden Sie

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【Offizielle Stelle】
Freie Geschäftsabbildung
Märchen und Phantasie
Science-Fictionphantasie
Federskizze und Aquarell
Offiziell stationieren Sie Japan

(Anterioarele “episoade” le găsiţi aici)

Pe arșiță, furtuna se iscă, parcă,  din nimic. O pală de vânt fierbinte ridică hârtiile uscate și cateva pungi de neylon care închipuiră în aerul încins și compact o coadă de zmeu. Urmară, apoi, în trombă, vârtejuri împleticite ce năvăleau ca armiile spulberând cu săbii de aer gunoaiele. Resturile uscate dansau ca niște lăstuni cu traiectorii imprevizibile bucurându-se de această ultimă reprezentație fără spectatori. Ba! Aveau un spectator. Mai mult mort decât viu, cu coastele de fier înroșit, cu botul sângerând, un șoarece zdrențuit se uita cu un ochi parcă întemnițat în pleoapă la spectacolul acestor flenduri zburătoare.

”Așa am făcut și eu cu partidele… Le-am dinamitat și spulberat din interior! Zdrențe le-am făcut! Futu-i în gură de mizerabili! Auzi! Să mă conteste ei pe mine! Pe mine?! Care-s cel mai tare dintre zei! Zeus! Nu așa mi-au zis intelectualii mei? … Chiar! Cine l-a învins pe Zeus? … Că și ăla a fost vândut și trădat… Nu se poate să fie altfel… Să-l sun pe Cărtărăscu să-l întreb… Unde mi-oi fi pus telefonul?… Și unde-mi sunt gărzile?!  Gărzi! Găăărzi!” urlă șoricelul, în mintea lui, scoțând în fapt doar un chițăit anemic.

Vântul se întețise. Palele fierbinți și sprințare se trasformaseră într-o draperie grea și compactă care mătura pământul și ridica și obiecte mai grele.

”Să mă ascund dracului undeva! Acuș mă transform în șoarece zburător… Cum au făcut ăia, ticăloșii ăia, Elena și Guzganul Rozaliu? Parcă s-au dat de-a tumba… Ia să-ncerc.”

Își adună puterile și punându-și țeasta în pământ, încercă să se rostogolească. Un obiect mare și dur îl lovi, îl înhăță exact în poziția în care era – cu capul între picioarele din spate – și-l purtă cu el în înalturi. Când i se domoliră bătăile inimii, ținându-se cu toate puterile de marginile a ceva lucios, inspectă obiectul zburător în care se afla ostatic.  Era într-o pâlnie metalică care se îngusta înspre un valț cu spirale lucioase, de parcă ar fi fost din porțelan. Șterse cu dosul lăbuței praful sedimentat sub buza pâlniei și încercă să descifreze semnele încrustate în alamă. ”He… herm… sper că n-o fi Hermeneutica lu Heidegger… Mamă! De unde știu eu asemenea cuvinte?” se șocă șoricelul. ”O fi că de la Pleșu… se lăsă el purtat pe aripile înșelătoare ale amintirilor. ”Păcat c-a plecat și ăla… Mă mai învăța niște feluri de mâncare savante… privighetori și alte drăcovenii la țiglă. Auzi! Să mănânci privighetori! Ce barbarie! Ei se înfruptau cu bunătăți savante și eu făceam scorbut de la conserve!” se indignă brusc și se înroși să-i plesnească grumazul. ”Și eu să nu condamn comunismul?! Când ei stăteau ca niște boieri și le plesneau burdihanele, toți comuniștii ăștia, iar eu umblam pe mări și oceane, pradă furtunilor și piraților! Și eu să nu-i condamn? Dar m-am spălat ca Pillat din Pontul Euxin. Să văd acum pe unde scot cămașa… Unde aterizez cu hârzobul ăsta… De la ce-am plecat?”

Șoricelul Traian se aplecă peste marginea pâlniei și se uită în jos. Sub el se bulbuceau cârlionțați nouri cumulo-nimbus. Prin spărturile lor se zăreau crestele albite ale munților, așezările umane trasate parcă cu rigla și câmpurile la fel de geometric delimitate, în diferite nuanțe de verde. Se uită din nou la ideogramele săpate în metal.

- Herm… herman…, lustrui din nou cu lăbuța curățând praful și depunerile, hermannstadt! Ce p… mă-sii o fi însemnând hermannstadt? Daca aș avea telefonul l-aș suna pe Pareologu… Am cacarisit-o, vorba lui… Băăăi! Al cui ești și unde p… mea te duci? Hermannstadule! Dirijabil sau parașută, ce-oi fi?! bătu el cu lăbuțele posterioare în pereții de alamă. Parcă aș fi ăla care a zburat cu balonul cu heliu să prindă leptoape! … De pe lista mea neagră de bloggeri…

- Hermannstadt e numele unui oraș, se auzi o voce strunjită, gravă, cu accent germanic evident, de parcă ar fi râșnit consoanele. Și nu mai bate cu labele! continuă vocea cea gravă amplificată de vaporii norilor și devenind astfel și mai înfricoșătoare în tăcerea desăvârșită. Ne vom dezechilibra din cauza ta și ne vom zdrobi de stânci. Tu. Eu sunt rezistent.

Șoricelul era cu adevărat terifiat. După trasformarea sa, din una dintre personalitățile mondiale într-un biet șoricel, șirul traumelor îi șubrezise nervii și-i biciuise simțurile.

- Tu cine ești? Și chiar ești viu? Sau ești mic și te-ai nimerit și tu în râșnița zburătoare luată de vânt? șopti el cu atenția încordată și urechile ciulite să poată percepe de unde ar putea veni răspunsul.

- Sunt Klaus, cine să fiu? Merg la o întrunire în Alpi, râșni vocea. Șamanizam și eu și – independent de voința mea – ai nimerit și tu în vehicolul meu. Dar tu cine ești? Wer bist du? se miră Vocea.

- Parcă eu mai știu cine sunt…

- Du bist eine kleine mäuse, Ich sehe…

- Și ce faci în Alpi, adică … acolo unde te duci? Ai fost chemat să râșnești ceva?

- Asta-i doar maschinnen… Merg să stabilesc o echipă. Si să lămuresc niște capete pătrate că … endlich… Nu am dialog cu pasageri clandestini. Unde te las?

- Vin cu tine… îndrăzni Traian. Și … când te transformi în … cine ești? Santa Klaus parcă ai spus.

- Johannis Klaus, herr mäuse.

- Auzi! N-ai putea să bagi și PD-L-ul în guvernul tău? izbucni șoricelul cu disperare, din senin și fără nicio legătură.

- Nein. Kategorisch nein! A fost depășit momentul când se preconiza un astfel de …

- Aranjament? încercă să-l ajute șoricelul, plin de speranță.

- Eu nu fac aranjamente. Eu am principii.

- Dar … Totuși … Poate … În ultima clipă … Se poate reveni.

- Domnule  mäuse, până aici! și, cu o hurducătură, mașinăria de proveniență germană îi făcu un șfunc șoricelului. Acesta se bălăbăni și dispăru printre nori.

- Kleinen bastard! mormăi râșnița nemțească și își continuă, impasibilă, zborul.

(va urma ) Update pe care-l va solicita Cell61

So…it’s almost Thanksgiving. And about this time, for the last two years, it has also been pins and needles time as to whether or not the boyfriend will come to my mother’s house for dessert Thanksgiving night.

I understand he has to be at HIS mother’s house…needs to be there to help clean up, and serve, and play with his nephew, and all that. But this year, his mother is having dinner at 2-ish, and my mother is serving dinner at her house. That would put dessert around 6. So we were talking about it, and he said he would try, but his nephew comes first, so as long as he is needed he’ll stay at his mother’s.

Ok…so then I was talking to his mother. And she said that my boyfriend’s nephew will be going to the mountains in West Virginia with his father. Awesome, right? That should mean a 6:00 dessert would be fine, right?

No. Talked to him about it, said his nephew would be leaving soon after dinner. To which he replied his mother would probably need some time to talk and decompress after dinner.

So…I don’t want to chase him. He’s already told me that this isn’t a priority. But I’m not liking all the lame excuses. I’m very tempted to tell his mother that he’s invited to dessert at my house…because I KNOW she’ll respect my time and tell/let her son go in plenty of time. But him…what do I do when it matters to me and he can’t care less. Or worse…he cares to get OUT of it as best he can.

Ugh. I’m trying to be good this week. Trying to be super nice…keep him in a good mood, so that when the time comes he can’t say it’s my fault. That I’ve upset him…made him angry or frustrated with me so he didn’t WANT to come. It’s like a kid trying to be good for Santa Claus…trying to ‘earn’ this ‘gift’ from him. But it’s a relationship, isn’t it? And supporting each other and doing things together on holidays are part of that, aren’t they?

Do I want too much?

“Any fool can criticize, condemn, and complain, but it takes character and self control to understand and forgive.”

Dale Carnegie

As I’m finishing up the home stretch into Thanksgiving, I can’t help but think about an argument I had with one of my cousins a few weeks back, about why she doesn’t like Thanksgiving.  Since that argument resulted in her getting scolded for being ungrateful by another relative, I won’t name her here (and ALL my cousins are girls, so that doesn’t narrow it down for anyone).  So that I can refer to her as something other than “my cousin,” though, let’s call her “Z.”

Z doesn’t like Thanksgiving for several reasons.  She doesn’t like Thanksgiving food, like turkey, stuffing, pumpkin pie, et cetera.  I can’t agree, but maybe that’s why I’m “husky.”  Z also feels that it’s a hypocritical time in America, when we congratulate ourselves about getting along with the Native Americans that helped the Pilgrims make it through that terrible first year, only to repay them with war, atrocity, and stealing their lands.  I can’t blame her for this one, and I definitely can’t blame her for the last reason, which basically boils down to family issues.  It doesn’t make sense to her that we need to use holidays as an excuse to have a family dinner, but I think Z is also uncomfortable with the veneer of happiness that holidays attempt to impose over even the most dysfunctional of families, of which ours is certainly one.

The food isn’t a big deal, or at least it won’t be once Z starts hosting her own Thanksgivings, if she chooses to.  Personally, I hope she does.  I’ve come to appreciate the holiday more since I’ve been out on my own, and she’ll be able to eat whatever food she wants then.  Hell, the Pilgrims probably didn’t even eat turkey at the first Thanksgiving, and they certainly would not have had the sugar and spices on hand to make pumpkin pie.

The revisionist history of Thanksgiving does annoy me a lot, so I can kind of understand her feelings on that matter.  Personally, I try to associate Thanksgiving less with the Pilgrims and more with another important historical context of the holiday, October 3^rd, 1863, when President Lincoln proclaimed the last Thursday of November to be a day of Thanksgiving.  It wasn’t the first time a President had proclaimed such a day—in fact, feasts of thanks had been pretty common over the years.  It was however, the middle of the Civil War, and maybe at no time since the first year of the Plymouth Colony did Americans need so greatly to be reminded of the good things they still had in their lives.

My cousin Z’s last objection isn’t really something I can help her with.  Our family is kind of broken.  Getting four of us under one roof is a major accomplishment anymore, and we’ve never been all that close, emotionally speaking.  I think she’ll come to welcome these times more and more as she get’s older, though.  I certainly did.  I now live almost 800 miles from my immediate family, and I’m lucky if I get to see them twice a year—usually it’s only at Christmas—and I can appreciate now how having a few days when everyone is off from work and school to get together is really a blessing, even with all the stress and negativity that often come with family gatherings.

There are a lot of people out there who agree with Z, though, and I think I know why.  It’s really easy to get overwhelmed by all the trappings of our major holidays, the costumes, the candy, the presents and the food, and when we rebel against those trappings we often ignore the important sentiments that underlie those holidays.

I think that’s a mistake.  Thanksgiving is not about gluttony, or patting ourselves on the back about the one time we were able to sit down with the Indians and not murder them—it’s about gratitude.  Christmas isn’t really about Santa Claus, or presents, or even Jesus—it’s about charity, and giving something to others when things are at their darkest.  Easter’s not about jelly beans, eggs, or chocolate bunnies, it’s about renewal and rebirth, about hope.  And call them what you will, but just about every culture has holidays that celebrate these concepts, and the crassness of the trappings aside, to ignore the deeper meanings of such days is to belittle our souls.  We all need to be reminded of the good things we have, and the good we can share with each other, because otherwise we’re just floating around on a rock without any purpose, and what’s the point of that? If they do nothing else, holidays remind us that we’re not alone, and that we can be good, if we try.

Image via Wikipedia

Here’s what happens when elected officials overthink things. In the annual holiday parade, held in our state capital of Raleigh, Mrs. Claus has been banned. Why? Because City Council member John Odom thinks that it will be “confusing” to children to have two people in the parade wearing red and white suits.

Because apparently, young children can’t tell the difference between men and women. And they don’t know Santa is married. (They don’t?)

To give the local newspaper credit, they presented a fair and balanced report on the issue, citing that it was unclear whether this confusion would actually occur and what harm, if any, it would cause. A pediatrician is quoted as saying that children as young as 3 can usually distinguish between the genders. I think the N&O has its tongue firmly planted in its cheek for once.

The story has been picked up by national news outlets and garnered “Outrage of the Week” on Free Range Kids, where some commenters have taken the opportunity to denigrate all North Carolinians based on Mr. Odom’s example. I assure you that most of us in the general public do know and respect the esteemed Mrs. Claus, and do not share Mr. Odom’s view that her presence in the Christmas parade is confusing, as can be seen from the comments in support of Mrs. Claus here. I myself will be boycotting the parade in protest (although I wasn’t planning to go, anyway).

P.S. Thanks, Mr. Odom, for making North Carolinians look like ultra-politically correct idiots.

17 November 2009 NEW YORK: A US court has handed 19-and-a-half years in prison to an actor convicted of abusing children as young as six on trips to Thailand and posting the images on the Internet.

Wayne Nelson Corliss, 60, was also ordered to pay a 5,000-dollar fine. The federal court in Newark, New Jersey said on Monday Corliss – who reportedly played Santa Claus for children – would be under supervision for life.

Corliss was arrested in May last year in Union City, just outside New York, after a two-day global manhunt called by Interpol after Norwegian police spotted online images of his sex acts with children as young as six.

Interpol had sent a cropped photo of Corliss from the pornographic images to police around the world.

“Wayne Corliss is a determined sexual predator who travelled the world to engage in horrible conduct with helpless young victims,” Paul Fishman, the US attorney for New Jersey, said in a statement.

“The length of the sentence will ensure – as it should – that Corliss will never have the opportunity to prey on anyone else,” he said.

Corliss pleaded guilty to travelling to Thailand annually from 2000 to 2002 with an intent to abuse children and to storing images of child pornography on his home computer, prosecutors said.

Corliss allegedly gained access to the young boys at the home in Thailand of Canadian John Wrenshall, who was extradited last year from Britain to the United States and awaits a separate trial in New Jersey.

The Newark-based Star-Ledger newspaper said Corliss played roles in small theatre productions in Manhattan and at least three movies including the 1982 comedy “Waitress”.

More recently, he made a living playing Santa Claus at children’s birthday parties and fairs, the newspaper said.

It was Interpol’s second public appeal for a suspected paedophile, a year after a high-profile operation that reconstructed computer images to track down suspected Canadian paedophile Christopher Paul Neil in Thailand.

Short Christmas Stories

Let these short Christmas stories, with the simplicity and purity of freshly fallen snow, transport you to a place of magic and joy.

Think of the sweetness of cinnamon and candy canes, bright sparkly colors and the excitement of knowing Santa is on his way.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AOiY5K7F2sM

These stories will awaken the joy and excitement of Christmas in every generation.Get Your Free Preview Story in Full Color

Just tell us where to send it

@http://www.santalivenow.com

These new Classic Stories will become a standard for generations to come. The stories weave together adding to the wonder of the spirit of Christmas. The lessons in these stories are life’s truth. When Santa crashes the sleigh into the Moon he thinks,” Even though it’s a small step for Santa to get out of the sleigh, it’s a giant leap for the Elves.” Don’t just download these Christmas Classic Stories to your computer, but, invest in every Christmas to come for generations and order the Collector Edition and make it a Family Tradition.

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Bob Rohal pauses with "Flash," which was decked out in Christmas gear, in December 2008. Rohal will once again bring Santa Claus to Kent this year. (Photograph by Craig Sanders)

If you haven’t been naughty, but have been nice, then be at the Main Street crossing with the former Erie Railroad tracks in Kent on December 5  ’cause Santa Claus is coming to town.

Akron Railroad Club member Bob Rohal will once against escort Santa into Kent in the cab of the Shelly Materials SD18 No. 321. Santa will arrive at Main Street at 6 p.m.

Santa will board “Flash,” the nickname for the unit because it is clad in the blue and gold and lightning stripes in honor of  Kent State University, at the Shelly plant west of town where Rohal works.

During the short trip into town, Rohal said he will “play” Jingle Bells on the locomotive’s horn. “I’ll bet my old music teacher would love to hear it,” Rohal said. Well, maybe not. But we will.