We have London London Mums Christmas party at Eddie Catz Putney photos online now CLICK HERE TO VIEW

For those of you who ordered pictures with Santa they will be ready to pick up from Eddie Catz Putney next week.

It seems that the Christmas season has officially begun.

I know that most people don’t start their Christmas countdown until December officially starts, but I always start getting excited just after my birthday – it’s one of the things I love about having a birthday at the end of the year.  I can go straight out of birthday celebrations and head first into Christmas.  What can I say, I absolutely love this time of year and the sooner I can start being excited about it, the better.

Anyways, I went shopping the other day to find that the Christmas trees and decorations had been put up, and Christmas carols were blasting over the sound systems.  Ah, how I love the holidays.  I took the kids to see Santa, which is always an absolute blast, and also means that I can sneakily find out what the kids want for my Christmas mummy duties as Santa.

Now, what makes this year the most exciting of all, is that the kids are now old enough to hear all of the Christmas stories, understand who Santa is, and get as excited as I do.  Not that I haven’t tried to explain it to them every other year, but they just really didn’t understand anything past “wow, we’re getting lots of presents for no good reason! Cool!”

Finally I have them jumping around going “Santa is coming! He brings us presents for Christmas! Christmas is coming!”

However, along with understanding Santa and Christmas and everything else, come the many millions of questions.  With kids, there are always questions.

It wasn’t until now that I realise just how hard it is to come up with a Santa story that 4 year old boys will believe.  Young children are a lot harder to convince than people would have you believe.  So, here is a little snapshot into

• So, Santa lives in the North Pole with his reindeer and his elves.  The elves help Santa all year long, making toys for all the kids in the world. Just before Christmas, all the boys and girls go to see Santa to tell him what they really want for Christmas, so he knows which presents to give to which children.   On Christmas Eve, Santa packs up his sleigh with all the toys, and his reindeer fly him around to all of the houses so he can leave the presents for all of the children.  He lands the sleigh on each rooftop, and climbs down the chimney to leave all the presents under the Christmas tree and in the stockings.
• “His reindeer fly?” *insert raised eyebrow here*
• Yup, that’s right.  Santa has magic reindeer that can fly him around the world to deliver all the presents. *insert DVD of the movie Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer here*
• “How does he get around the world in one night?”
• Ah, I thought you would ask that.  You see, it’s not the same time all around the world.  When it’s night time here, it’s actually day time on the other side of the world.  So, he has plenty of time to get around to all of the houses. (See what I did there?  I used fact, and coupled it with the idea that my children have no real concept of time.  Awesome, right?)
• “Oh ok….But how does he get in to all the houses?”
• He climbs down the chimney honey.
• “But what if you don’t have a chimney?”
• Well…Santa is magic, remember?  He can make a chimney even if you don’t have one. *insert DVD of The Santa Clause here*

If you’re thinking “oh, is that all?  That isn’t so bad…” oh there was more.  There were hours of questions and explanations and movies.  In the end, the children were satisfied, and I walked away wondering how on earth I ever believed the stories my parents used to feed to me.  As an adult it all seems a bit absurd.  But, then again, my kids think that Sesame Street is an actual street, and Ben 10 is a real person.  If there is going to be any story they believe, I’m glad it’s the Santa story.

Needless to say my children are now massive Santa fanatics, asking everyone they meet what they want Santa to bring for Christmas, and their new favourite movies are Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer and The Santa Clause.

I truly can’t wait for this Christmas.  It’s going to be the best one yet.

… HOY NO MADRUGA!!!

Es la patrona de los barberos, carreteros, cordeleros, traperos, escolares y estudiantes, hilanderas, molineros, notarios, nodrizas, oradores, filósofos, fontaneros, alfareros, predicadores, afiladores, sastres, teólogos, torneros… y de las solteras, día de las Catalinadas.

(Wikipedia)

Kooza Cirque du Soleil

Enjoy an evening of thrilling live performance! Your experience starts with tea at the American Girl Café at The Grove. Then take your seats in the Big Top at Santa Monica Pier for the acrobatics and artistry of the world renowned KOOZA by Cirque du Soleil. Transportation not included. Tickets $80 per person (gratuity not included). Reservations required. For girls ages 8 and up.

American Girl Café 4pm
Show at Santa Monica Pier 8pm
American Riviera Tours, http://www.LaTravelTours.com

Watch KOOZA Trailer

On Sunday night I literally got the shock of my life! This year for the first time in years, we have put up Christmas lights on some bushes outside of our front door. Every night I have to plug in the lights around 6pm, and then unplug them before I go to bed. I don’t mind doing it, seeing as I was the one who decided to put up the lights in the first place (plus I am also exempted from all dog-feeding duties for the rest of the year!). As I was saying, on Sunday, at midnight I went outside to unplug the lights as usual. I approached the bushes and jumped back a bit when I saw a little frog hop away. Frogs have always been a fear of mine. After recovering from this minor astonishment I fumbled around in the bush until I found the connection between the light strand and the extension cord. I had not thought to unplug the extension cord from the wall socket first, so as I pulled the cords apart, the head of the extension cord subsequently broke off an left my finger totally exposed to the wire endings. Instantaneously, a surge of current flowed up my right arm. I lost all control of my arm and felt my heart rate escalate to probably 20 times its normal rate. I let go of the crd as soon as my brain had processed what was happening, and for about 10 minutes just stood there, on the spot, not knowing what to do. My heart was still pacing at a rate and I was trying desperately to calm myself down before cardiac arrest set in, stopping my heart and ending my 16 year life. Another side of me was just trying to process so many thoughts at once. Things like “HOLY SHIT!!! I COULD HAVE DIED!!!” and “OH MY GOD I AM SO LUCKY!!!” were flying through my mind. I wanted to scream and cry of both fear and gratitude, but I was far too stunned to even breathe properly. I could only keep thinking about what would have happened if one of my parents or sisters had found my dead body on the ground outside, and about all the things in life I would have never have done if I had died right there on the spot. I did eventually calm down though. I unplugged the remaining lights and walked inside with the broken extension cord. I showed it to my parents and then briefly mentioned my ordeal as though it was no big deal, before heading off to bed. As I lay in my bed I still hadn’t accepted the fact that I was alive and well; I was convinced that my heart would fail while I was asleep. But that’s just how I am: paranoid.

Since the electric shock of Sunday night I have been feeling imaginary twitches and pains in my heart, finger, arm, neck, and shoulder. I know I am making them up, but it just goes to show how paranoid I am. While electrocuting myself is definitely something I plan to do intentionally at any point in time, I have noticed that since the incident I have been far more alert and active. Over the last few week s I have been sleeping very little (about 5 hours a night) and as a result I have been feeling drowsy in some of my classes. I even fell asleep in AP Psychology last week. Since my shock, I have not felt drowsy at all; even at midnight on school nights when I really should be asleep . If this electric jump-start can just get me past tomorrow then I will be free for 4 days to sleep and enjoy life watching Disney movies with Mai and Jamie and at my cousin’s concert on Saturday in which my little sister is singing, and of course educing my sleep deficit. If I do rejuvenate myself this weekend then I should be able to get through the last 2 weeks of school before the long-awaited Christmas holidays which I am very excited for. I have a feeling that Christmas is going to be really awesome this year. I don’t know why, but I like this feeling. I actually think it may be the best Christmas since I was told the horrible truth about Santa. I am still upset about the fact that I will never experience my fear of Santa again. Christmas just isn’t the same anymore. I suppose in a way I still do believe in Santa though. I believe in what Santa represents in a 21st century world so occupied with science and hard facts that room for suspicion and mystery is shrinking. I think its important that something out there is “supernatural”. Whether its some form of God, aliens, Santa, or even the Lochness Monster I think that its a reassuring and comforting thought that something out there can undermine human “facts” and maintain ambiguity in the universe. I am a big fan of supernatural beings because I believe that they are all true in some form or another, and they are brilliant manifestations and stimulants of the imagination, creativity and dreams. If religious scriptures and institutions are sometimes inaccurate or corrupt, why should those things impact on personal interpretations of religion? If extraterrestrial life cannot be proven just yet why discredit the possibility and limit our understanding of the universe? If Santa was just a charitable man named St. Nicholas who died hundreds of years ago and not a fat man who flies around on Christmas Eve, why not believe in the goodness, charity and joy that he represents? If The Lochness monster is dead, just some kind of giant fish, just a giant rock, or just a hoax, why not keep the tradition alive and look out at the loch and try to spot Nessie just for fun anyway?

The point I am trying to make is, that whether  we believe in something or not isn’t important. The important thing is understanding. Understanding that “supernatural” elements have all arisen from some degree of truth and that more relevant than the “supernatural” being itself, is the deeper, implicit message that comes along with it. In the case of Christmas we can look at both Jesus and Santa as symbols of positive energy. The birth of Jesus is meant to signify peace on Earth, and Santa is supposed to be symbolic of the magical joy that charity and sharing gives. Whether or not we believe in these individuals is immaterial. What I believe in most is that if we all acknowledge the messages and symbolic meanings of Christmas, then there is hope that solutions to both our own, and the world’s problems can be found. Maybe when we truly take in the deep emotional, personal, universal, and spiritual significance of Christmas, then when me come close to meeting death when we least expect it, then there will be no need to look back and think of all the things left incomplete and unreconciled.

Just a thought…

The munchkins had a brilliant time at the Santa Claus Experience yesterday!

Hi everyone,

I want everyone to know that I am not just the art guy at Thompson’s Originals but also a client. If you can’t love what you design then I just don’t see the joy in doing this sort of work.  So…yes I can be my biggest fan and therefore pardon my bias.

With that being said I recently purchased my Christmas wardrobe of T-shirts and the fine folks at Printfection got them printed and out to my door just in time for the Thanksgiving weekend.  In case anyone was wondering the quality of the t-shirt prints from Printfection, (my current choice of online printers) I decided to take a picture with my digital camera. As you can see that the shirts feature a large and bright, bold print and the colors come out flawlessly. True the colors on the darker T-shirts are not as vibrant as they are on the lighter T-shirts they still do stand out rather nicely from the darker shirt material.  (You can click on the image for a larger view.)

I invite everyone to have a further look at my Jolly-T’s Christmas store at www.thompsonstshirts.com or www.jolly-tshirts.com.

Well that’s all for now folks.  Wishing everyone a happy and safe Thanksgiving.

Matt Thompson

Santa has flown in from the North Pole & is ready for his close up with kids of all ages!  This week, Portraits with Santa begin at Express Photo’s Studio.  We have a new background this year & are excited to create Christmas memories for you & your family.  Come join us for a great Santa experience.  Appointments are available Monday thru Saturday until Christmas Eve.  Call us at 865-588-8070 for scheduling.

Dare to Believe in the Man in Red Suit is a book that is touching people’s hearts. Writing this book has been a spiritual gift to me and one I see others receiving. The reviews are awesome… don’t just take my word read it yourself. Tabby Mae and the man in the red suit will leave you with one question…Will you dare to believe in the man in the red suit? Our journey to Believe is Now! I welcome all your comments. Blessings to All!

Santa’s coming to town this Friday! This year’s arrival celebration will include musical groups throughout downtown Plymouth with Santa arriving at Kellogg Park on a fire engine at 6 p.m. For information about this and other events happening in Plymouth, please visit www.downtownplymouth.org.

Maybe the coolest California vacation you could take is a visit to Santa Monica, but be prepared for some very hot fashion and dining trends.

There are 400 restaurants around here, a lot of them considered “trendy” or “hip.”. Throw in a few art galleries, some luxury hotels and – oh yes – celebrities, and you have the makings of an eye-popping diversion from your everyday hometown.

Our recent visit to Santa Monica reminded us of why we moved to California. The weather was one of those clear-as-a-bell L.A. days that do come around more often than you might think, the haze having been efficiently removed by some winds and moisture the day before we arrived. It was reminiscent of a trip years ago we took from the soggy Pacific Northwest to Los Angeles that introduced us to what bright sunshine was all about. We couldn’t wait to return and eventually relocated to Southern California to get our regular dose of California sun.

Such weather shows off Santa Monica as it was meant to be. The views from Palisades Park are breathtaking and take in not only the expansive beaches but such distant features as Malibu on the north and even Catalina Island to the southwest. It’s no wonder that half of L.A. seems to be down here jogging or walking. Wide, tree-lined and well-landscaped Ocean Avenue stretches along the coastline offering about as pretty a downtown street as you’ll see considering this is all modern office buildings and not historic mansions.

The Santa Monica Pier is the dominant feature on the water’s edge – and also over the water — and is a favorite for families. We lingered with our five-year-old in Kids Cove, the part of the pier’s Pacific Park that has kiddie amusement rides and, when all was said and done, our daughter declared her time on the pier “the best day ever!”

But the Santa Monica Pier can also be very adult. During our visit a local anti-war organization had put up more than 2,000 white crosses on the beach to help people visualize the number of casualties from the war in Iraq. While most crosses didn’t have names, many of them did and it was obvious that grieving families had brought flowers and photos to create makeshift memorials on the beach.

Just up from the pier are blocks and blocks of shopping in the popular Downtown Third Street Promenade, an area where city fathers have taken a street and turned it into a pedestrian mall. There are fascinating shops and an unusual number of movie theaters along this walkway that seems to attract people from all walks of life – young and old, wealthy on down to the homeless. On weekends there is always an assortment of street musicians and entertainers willing to do just about anything to get a tip and a warm round of applause.

Many of the city’s restaurants are located in Third Street downtown area, although many others are spread about in various parts of the city. Our dinner choice, Thai Dishes, actually is about 20 blocks off the beach in the mid-city area and turned out to be a surprisingly affordable spot to enjoy a wide selection of expertly prepared Thai entrees. It’s not formal, but it’s good.

If you’re looking for trendy – oh, there’s that word again – the place in Santa Monica to look is Montana Avenue. There is a 10-block section of this street that has become the center of the universe for celebrity-watchers because this is where we are told the famous like to come out and be semi-real people. The businesses along here are kind of an eclectic collection of specialty stores and quiet little sidewalk cafes and more nail salons per square mile than anyplace west of New York City.

It’s impossible to walk up and down Montana without wondering if that young 30-something “dressed down” with jeans and a pullover sweatshirt is really some starlet taking a break in between movie shoots. Writer Irene Ricasio listed several local celebrity haunts in a recent article for the New York Post. “If it takes you more than 24 hours to see a star in Santa Monica” says the article, “you’re not looking.” The closest we came was seeing an obvious paparazzi stalking Montana with his camera and two-foot-long telephoto lens. No doubt someone had tipped him about a “sighting.”

The cool factor also comes from Santa Monica’s art world where the rich and famous buy while average working stiffs look and wish they could buy. According to the Santa Monica Visitors Bureau, the area is “exploding” with avant-garde galleries, museums and public art. In fact, the city averages more than 10 galleries per square mile and has a total of 38 public works of art.

The words “trendy” and “hip” can also be used to describe many of the lodgings in Santa Monica – especially the small out-of-the-way boutique hotel where we stayed most recently. The newest hotel in Santa Monica, the Ambrose is just 77 rooms and is located about a mile and a half from the beach in a quiet residential area of Santa Monica. The hotel is the brainchild of Deirdre Wallace, a 31-year-old who designed a hotel like she would have wanted during the years she was traveling and working in the film industry. The result is an impeccably decorated, thoroughly updated hotel that pays special attention to detail.

For example, the continental breakfast – included with your room – is catered by Rockenwagner, one of the local celebrity chef eateries. The rooms are done in dark brown and soft gray-green tones and furnished with stylish cabinetry, tables and chairs. The beds have just enough firmness and are decorated with Custom created Matteo Italian bed linens and duvets. Each room was designed with Feng shui in mind which, in our case, included a scenic fourth-floor view of Santa Monica and the Pacific Ocean.

The Ambrose could just as well be a health retreat. No candy and chips at this honor bar — more healthy fruits and nuts, vegetable chips and other items are featured for your between-meal snacks. Instead of soda water, it’s vitamin water. Another product on hand in your room is the Organic Honey Sugar Glow for your skin, or perhaps you’ll want to try the Power Plant Elixer Tonic.

There is also a gym on property that includes a Stairmaster, elliptical machines, pilates mats, balance balls, a ballet bar and a fitness library. If you want to read about something other than fitness, the Ambrose also has a cozy fireplace library with a variety of reading material.

The Ambrose is just the right choice for “trendy” Santa Monica – an experience far and apart from the everyday life most of us lead and a great topic of conversation Monday morning when you’re back in the office.

AT A GLANCE

WHERE: Santa Monica is just west of Los Angeles and on the coast south of Malibu. It’s easy to reach by taking Interstate 405 or Interestate 5 to Interstate 10 and driving west.

WHAT: Santa Monica’s spectacular setting on the ocean has made it one of the most popular beach getaways for people from the Los Angeles area and well beyond. A combination of trendy shops, galleries and restaurants make this a favorite for the famous as well as everyday people. Interestingly, the beach city of Santa Monica actually is close to the mountains as well. The Santa Monica Mountains are just a few-minute drive from the glamour and glitz of the city and offer a wide selection of trails and nature hikes in the 150,000-acre Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area

WHEN: The weather in Santa Monica is sunny most of the year – about 343 annual days of sunshine to be exact – so there’s no bad time to visit.

WHY: The scenery’s great, but there’s also an electricity that comes with a getaway so close to celebrities and the entertainment business.

HOW: For more information on Santa Monica, phone the Santa Monica Convention & Visitors Bureau at 800-544-5319 or visit www.santamonica.com. For more information on the Ambrose Hotel, phone 877-AMBROSE or visit www.ambrosehotel.com.

Geschickt  werden hier stampfende Beats, treibende Sequencer und apokalyptische Sounds mit aggressiv-düsteren Gesängen vermischt. Peter Spilles und seine italienische Kampfgenossin Jinxy verpassen uns in einer unerwarteten und verführerischen Art einen musikalischen Arschtritt, der dem ganzen eine widernatürliche sexy Note verleiht.

SANTA HATES YOU sind laut, aggressiv, dunkel, rebellisch, bedrohlich, tanzbar, bewegend, leidenschaftlich und intelligent. Eine charmant-wilde Spielwiese elektronischer Musik, auf der sich die Protagonisten in lasziven Posen und unschuldigem Blick austoben, um dem Hörer ihre geballte Kraft an Beats und Sounds um die Ohren zu hauen, die einem schier den Atem nimmt.

Die EP im schicken Digipak ist streng auf 2.000 Exemplare limitiert und beinhaltet neben einer Coverversion des AND ONE Hits “Deutschmaschine” auch Remixe u.a. von STRAFTANZ, SOMAN und REAPER sowie einen weiteren Bonus Track. Ein Muss für jeden PROJECT PITCHFORK Fan. Unverzichtbar für alle Anhänger knallharter Elektronik!
Dieses Geschenk packt man gerne aus, wenn dieser Weihnachtsmann uns hasst. Das ist gut so und eine Bereicherung unter den Gaben, die es lohnt zu entdecken. Lasst Euch verführen! SANTA HATES YOU sind absolut durchtrieben, animalisch und so verstörend sexy, dass sie den perfekten Soundtrack zu durchtanzten Clubnächten abliefern.

Bandmitglieder:
PS
Jinxy

Gründungsjahr:
2007

Diskographie:
YOU’RE ON THE NAUGHTY LIST
(CD 2007)

Genre:
Industrial / Gothic / Electro

Trackliste:
01. Rocket Heart
02. Rocket Heart (STRAFTANZ remix)
03. Rocket Heart (AXXL E. remix)
04. Rocket Heart (SKYLA VERTEX remix)
05. The Bonus 1.0
06. Rocket Heart (SOMAN remix)
07. Rocket Heart (REAPER remix)
08. Deutschmaschine

Erscheinungsdatum:
04.12.2009

ORDER:

http://www.poponaut.de

SANTA HATES YOU @ MySpace:

http://www.myspace.com/santahatesyou

SANTA HATES YOU @ www:

http://www.santahatesyou.com

Labelwebsite:

http://www.trisol.de

Etiquette Awareness

Tips, suggestions and stories…

Things to keep in mind as you interact with others

There is no denying it — the holidays are upon us. For some, it is a difficult, stressful time of year. For others, it is the season they love best, full of cheer and happiness. For many of us, it is a combination of the two.

Perhaps you have a mother — or mother-in-law — that is difficult to please and your table setting never seems to meet with her approval. Or you feel obligated to participate in the office “Secret Santa” gift exchange but you really don’t want to — or can’t afford to — this year. Holiday cards … you want to send them, you have made a list, you might have even purchased them, but will they actually go out? Then there is that wonderfully perfect friend that always has all gifts purchased and wrapped in advance, the house beautifully decorated and the cookies are homemade and ready for delivery while you still have your Halloween pumpkin rotting on the front door step!

Be kind to yourself this season. Show yourself the same courtesy you extend to others through-out the year. Much as you might ask a colleague for help or advice about a business or work related project, ask a friend or family member for the same when it comes to your holiday preparations. If there is no one to take care of the task, ask yourself, in all seriousness, if it really needs to get done?

Positive interactions with others help reduce stress, whether it is a one minute conversation as you order your coffee or a long lunch with a friend. It’s an opportunity to connect with someone else, share a smile, perhaps a laugh, while it makes the time move along and the day seem brighter.

Reminding you of the importance of smiling may seem trivial and superficial but take a look at the expressions of those around you; how many could be improved by smiling? It is a simple thing that can change someone’s attitude instantly.

Remember…

While my focus is primarily on business etiquette, I am also well versed in matters of social etiquette. If I may answer any questions for you or be of any assistance during this hectic but enjoyable time of year, please feel free to contact me.

Have a lovely Thanksgiving!

Please feel free to send me any of your

etiquette or customer service questions or stories!

Previous editions of Etiquette Awareness

may now be viewed at my website,

www.jodiblackwood.com

Jodi Blackwood

Business Etiquette & Customer Service Specialist

Speaker & Seminar Leader

I help individuals and businesses polish their ability to stand out among their competition.

Visit my website to see what I can do for you!

“Etiquette is about polishing your approach,

not changing who you are.”

mailto:jodi@jodiblackwood.com

360-798-4912

www.jodiblackwood.com

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Some years ago I saw Bob Dylan play with Paul Simon in Northern California. It was a joy to see these sages play a double-bill and perform duets together. But, Bob keeps on playing and touring, constantly writing new music and giving new voice to old songs. Love him or hate him, he has been one of the most prolific song writers of my parents generation, my generation, and probably my children’s generation, too. Yeah… WOW!

Last month, this musical American bard released “Christmas in the Heart” an album that will raise money for charities around the world.

Dylan has been much criticized for his music video of “Must be Santa” (see below). I have to disagree with the critics who think it’s just too bizarre. What is Santa but play and merriment? This polka-infused version of the song is nothing but fun as Dylan oscillates from Sage to bartender to leader of a party of merry-makers! Pat Boone can sing about Mommy kissing Santa Claus and Dylan can’t have a little fun with this Christmas myth?  Bob Dylan has a long history of doing Christmas right with plenty of respect, even on this album. I, for one, finished the video and felt like gettin’ up and dancing to celebrate Christmas. Not bad for a new rendition of an old Christmas Song.

Don’t take my word for it, decide for yourself:

You can see the exact same version on Bob Dylan’s page by clicking: here.

I’m getting so tired of… wait.. not getting, i am tired of all these politically correct donkeys that are determined to steal the joy from everything we have. Who the hell are you to start crying foul that saying Merry Christmas could offend someone.
Offended, seriously? No one is forcing you to say it, just like no one forces me to say Happy Kwanzaa, or to celebrate Ramadan. I have the choice, and that’s the most important part of this… i have the choice to acknowledge, or partake in this. Why would I be offended if someone else chooses to display their celebration of these times? If a store has a display that I don’t like, I have the choice not to go there.. What kind of an asshole would I be to tell them they can’t sell it?
Soon enough there will be no more holidays… the risk of offending someone is too great.
I’m just flat out irritated as I sit here and listen to these news stories…

This one kills me…

a ban on Santa, candy canes, stockings, and all Christmas, Hanukkah and other “religious items.”

Red and green tissue paper to wrap presents was also crossed off the list because it looked too “Christmasy,” McMillan said.

“One of the parents said, ‘If we allow Santa, what do we say if a child brings in a swastika? Do we allow that too?’”

When did Santa become offensive? Who in their right mind compares Santa to a swastika? You should be ashamed… oh, and let’s not pick colors that are “too christmasy”?

Why can’t we just allow the kids to continue enjoying the holidays for what they are, how we remember them, and focus on having time together with our families instead of wasting so much time with these ridiculous battles to prove your own ignorance. Remember, there’s alot of people who cannot be home with their families these holidays, because they’re out fighting to protect your freedoms to run your fat mouth. Stop stealing the smiles from the kids and get your ass home & spend some time with them.

This goes right in line with all these kids sports where “everyone wins”… Oh man, that’s a whole other topic.. but these kids grow up with a false sense of reality.. no sense of accomplishment, or understanding of competition.. You want to win, work for it…

Ok, i got work to do, have a good day.. and in case I don’t post before then, Happy Thanksgiving. Keep our soldiers in your thoughts.

just got back from kc, MO..(practically home!) i traveled with andy and the righteous b crew to ncyc and it was thebomb.com.. the band did great

we’ve been trying to spread the word about santa being defeated (check out the new rightous single for an explanation http://righteousb.bigcartel.com/product/righteous-b-christmas-special) so far one white castle employee and about 50 people from NCYC know…

Some Christmas Cheer…

Download Vector

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Christmas is coming and yes we all have a million things to do and all those gifts to sort out. Well Hey Santa is here to make it a little bit easier by suggesting the perfect gifts. From icon Pillows to custom made cupcake cars, it’s all covered!

Day One! I have decided to do my first post with 5 historical facts about Christmas to tie in with goal 88 of my mission 101. Also I thought it would be nice to try and teach Boo a bit more about Christmas rather than just ‘you get presents’

Fact One : Celebrating Christmas :

The middle of Winter has been celebrating since long before the birth of Jesus. Winter Solstice on 21st December was celebrated as the most of the dark winter days were gone and it was the start of longer days of light. In Scandenavia they celebrated ‘Yule’ from the 21st December through to January, in recognition for the return of the sun the father and sons bought home a large log which was set on fire and the family would feast until it burnt out.  It is thought that Jesus was born on 25th but no one was sure of what month it is likely the catholic church adopted December as it was a time of many other celebrations in 350AD. The name Christmas comes from the old english phrase ‘Cristes maesse’ meaning ’Mass of Christ’ 

Fact Two : Santa Claus

Santa Claus originated in the 4th Century with Saint Nicholas, a genourous man devoted to children. This gave rise to claims he could perform miracles.

He became the Patron Saint of Russia, in Greece he was the patron saint of sailors, in France the patron saint of lawyers and in Belgium the patron saint of children and travellers. In the 12th century an official church holiday was created in his honour which was celebrated on 6th December. Followers in Europe dwindled after the reformation, although Dutch celebrated and kept his legend alive by leaving out their woden shoes to be filled with treats if they had been good. Dutch colonists took this tradition to America and ’santa Claus’ emerged.

Fact Three: Christmas Tree

The Christmas tree originates from 16th Century Germany. They used to decorate fir trees with candles, apples and coloured paper. The Christmas Tree was bought to England by Prince Albert (Queen Victorias husband) and became popular in both England and America by the late 19th century.

Fact Four : Christmas Cards

Christmas cards originated in England in 1843. Sir Henry Cole is credited as creating the first real christmas card when he was too busy to compose individual greeting for his friends so he commissioned an artist Johan Calcott Horsely to design the card and then sent it to his friends inscribed with the message ‘A Merry Christmas and a Happy new year to you’.

Fact Five : Snacks for Santa

Mince Pies, biscuits, cookies, milk, whiskey are all left by millions of children on Christmas Eve for Santa, not forgetting carrots for rudolph! There is no exact date for when this tradition was said to start, but it is thought it originated in the 1930s as a way for Good Children to thank Santa on Christmas Eve (or for naughty children to ‘please’ him in a last attempt to get presents!!!)

There will be a Christmas Fayre in |Wicklow Town Square on the 1st December. Stands will include Delicious Hampers , local crafts. Santa will be arriving at 3 oclock.

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We went puttering around the mall on Sunday and came across a dude in a red suit.  So we thought we would see if Monkey wanted to sit on the strange guys lap and take a picture.  Sounds normal right?  HAHA

Monk did GREAT on Santa’s lap.  This Santa was the sweetest man!! Monkey went right to him!  It was really neat.  He wasn’t really dressed for the occasion but I did wipe the pizza off of his face before the picture, so that’s something at least, right? haha

Here is the picture.  I did edit the contrast and saturation a little bit.  You know me, I can’t help myself.  Besides, now it’s gobs better.  Trust me J

I was really surprised that he didn’t cry or anything.  He went right to him.

I am still debating on whether or not I want to tell Monkey there is a Santa.  I have this whole weird issue thing in my head with lying to my kid, even if “all the cool moms are doing it”.  I just want him to like the idea but not think that if he is “naughty” then the dude will show up with coal.  Ya know?

Thoughts?

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I am making a Turducken for Thanksgiving.  Anyone ever had one?

I am changing it up a bit and leaving out the duck.  And the chicken.  *grin*

What? *blink*

That was funny.  *pbbbbt*

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I think I know why people always say I have slapstick humor. Its because they want to slap me with a stick when I am trying to be funny. *shrug*

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Another case of Hubby sleep-talking this week.  It always provides a giggle.  This one is sure to please…

Hubby (eyes still closed): “Throw it in the lake!”

Me (as usual, taken off guard): “Throw what in the lake?”

Hubby: “The beer!”

Me (stifling a giggle): “The beer?”

Hubby: “Yes.”

Me: “Umm… why would I throw beer in a lake?”

Hubby (clearly frustrated): “UH! Becaaaause it failed the breathalyzer!!”

Me (confused): “Wait… who failed the breathalyzer??”

Hubby (suddenly confused and calm): “umm… I dunno, I think the beer did”

Me (pushing for fun, heh): “Why did the beer take a breathalyzer?”

Hubby: “…………”

And he was out.  Lol

Good times.

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Military helicopters in groups of six have flown over my house four times since I wrote this.  Why does this give me the heebies?

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My dear friend Amanda entrusted me with her Grandmothers Spaghetti recipe.  We had it last night (Sunday night since I again wrote this blog a day ahead) and it was DELICIOUS!  But I really wish she had warned me about the effect it would have on all of us.  It sounded like there were 2 motorboats in my bed last night.  And there was another one in Monkey’s bed too.  I know because I kept hearing it on the monitor.

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Speaking of my ass (yet again) it’s healing really well.  You know what happens when you start to heal?  You start o itch.  Like crazy!! I just wanna stick both my hands in my pants and scratch my butt like crazy!!  But that would look funny and mostly likely elicit stares not to mention it would be the 2nd worst thing I have done this week.  The first of course was luring that spider into my pants with my super inviting, sexy fanny.  Hows that for TMI?  Wait, this isn’t TMI Thursday you say?  *grin*

What is random about your day?

Click here to view today’s Daily Photo Blog… Unamused Daily Photo Blog

]]> http://eananes.wordpress.com/2009/11/24/seacost-shrine/ Tue, 24 Nov 2009 05:45:08 +0000 erwin nanes http://eananes.wordpress.com/2009/11/24/seacost-shrine/

200mm, 1/320s, f/11, ISO 200

i have always wondered about this place.  i always see it on the way to and from the province off the highway in the town of Santa, Ilocos Sur (one of the longest towns to drive through on the journey from Manila to Ilocos Norte.)  on this last trip, we finally were able to go down and photograph it.  i’m still not quite sure what it is though.