Bumper, Muffy, et al., if not this year, next year. But please consider this year.

I am NOT KIDDING about Blunderland. This is a mission you will hear about again, maybe much later, but you will hear about itl

Im serious about "Blunderland" too, Ceashel. has anyone talked to Arlo, about it? or do we just show up & burn our AARP cards, there?

thanks, guys.
a blunderhome for the aged, huh? not a bad idea. can i help plant a hummingbird/butterfly garden? it would get me out of woodstock, that's for sure.

did anyone else do advent calendars when they were kids, or still have them around? that was always something to look forward to: the daily ritual of opening a window, all through advent. my mother would set out the creche on the first sunday of advent, too, and make steps leading up to it. the three kings would start out at the bottom step, and the youngest children would move them a step closer to the manger every day. my mother was great when it came to having stuff like that for kids. mexican families would do their nochebuena dinners, but we'd come home from midnight mass, open up one present, and wait until christmas day for the rest of the presents and dinner. we'd always have an 'open house' on christmas day, and everyone we knew was invited to stop by for eggnog.

nathen, in answer to your question to pat earlier about santa, i'll say the same thing my mother said when i asked her that: what do you think?

Hey all!

Just a few brief thoughts regarding the holly daze, me, and some of the other posts I've read on here.
#1) Isn't it amazing just how many holidays are actually celebrated in December?!! Think about it: Christmas (thank you Ceashel for mentioning that Christ was actually born in March (i heard August actually...but still) and that it was moved to Dec. to stamp out the pagans, glad to see someone else knew about it), Hannukah (Shalom Arnie!! I love Judaism, I've always been fascinated by it!), Kwanzaa (my step-father is African American and celebrates this holiday, so I'm learning all about it now), Ramadan, Yule (that's pagan), and the Winter Solistice. (whew). S'nuff to run your wallet dry for MONTHS! LOL.
#2-I feel really bad, I've only seen "It's a Wonderful Life" once in my entire life! And I still don't get why Jimmy Stewart talks like that, although Dana Carvey did a great impersanation of it on SNL several years back in a IAWL spoof. I hated "Miracle on 34th Street"...<img src="http://www.arlo.net/ubb/smilies/sickpuke.gif" width=15 height=15>
#3-Bumper, (and Ceashel) I'm sorry to hear that the holidays remind you of your mother. This makes me think back to my favorite high school teacher who passed away last year at Christmas time. She lived a lonely life and was always depressed around the holidays because it reminded her of her mother. I think that your idea of celebrating the joy it brought her (your mother) is a great idea. It also reminds me of when my whole Irish family would gather at X-mas time at my Grandmother's house and celebrate. But my grandmother has alzheimer's now and is in a nursing home, and we had to sell her house. It's the first year we haven't had it to go to for a family gathering. I can't talk about this anymore...
#4-Nathen that Bubba Claus thing was hilarious!!!
#5-Arlo looks a lot like a hippie-esque (and slimmer) Santa himself doesn't he? <img src="http://www.arlo.net/ubb/smilies/round.gif" width=15 height=15>

I hope you all have a wonderful holiday, whichever one it may be, if any. But no matter what faith, what religion, what holiday you look towards at this time, may it be filled with love, family, light, renewed faith and optimism, peace on earth (now more then ever!), and lots and lots of Arlo!

i'd heard both that jesus was born a pisces and also that he was born a virgo. neither source was around at the time of his birth, though, so i don't know which is right. we do celebrate christmas around the saturnalia, the old roman mid-winter holiday. it makes sense that most cultures have some kind of celebration around this time of year, though. you have to do something to beat cabin fever; and being a lot closer to nature, the solstice would be totally important as a symbol.

Oh, yeah...the cabin fever. Depression includes a depressed immune system. Celebrations of togetherness can go a long way to help with that. Also, the sharing of food gifts at a time when everyone is facing many months of scarcity has to have been/be important in many cultures.

BTW, have I mentioned that having fellow Blunderites as friends is making this one of the best holiday seasons ever? I get a celebration of togetherness every day! Thanks for being you and being here. (I know, Thanksgiving's over, but then it's never really over in Blunderland.) 'nuf mushy stuff and got to go to work.<img src="http://www.arlo.net/ubb/smilies/frown.gif" width=15 height=15>

1) no
2) yes, but they make me sneeze, so it's artifical in this house
3) i hope so because it might be all i can get to this year.
4) someone actually has time to count them?
5) <img src="http://www.arlo.net/ubb/smilies/laugh.gif" width=15 height=15> good question!
6) yes, but it's nicer with it
7) remember? what's that?
didn't notice
9) of course they do! never heard it, but thanks for the lyrics, nathen! <img src="http://www.arlo.net/ubb/smilies/smile.gif" width=15 height=15>
10) everchanging around here. this year we're off to tara's new place in MA.

no sech thing as too much mushy stuff around the holidays. that's what they're there for. to get all mooshy.

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Ceashel:

Bumper, Muffy, et al., if not this year, next year. But please consider this year.

I am NOT KIDDING about Blunderland. This is a mission you will hear about again, maybe much later, but you will hear about itl<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

a) things are getting better for me, but they haven't gotten that good yet. I'd hardly bother with being alone on the holidays, otherwise... i'm no longer too sick and too broke all the time to go anywhere or do anything. now i'm only too sick some of the time -- just still too broke all of the time. but ... all things must pass. maybe next year. one never knows. at this stage though, it's still a relief when there's food on christmas/whatever holiday. i'm not mentioning this stuff in hopes of getting any specific reaction. it's just what the reality of my life has been/still is.

b) go ahead. i'm listening.

Our traditions at Christmas are like this... Bubble lights on our Christmas tree are a tradion. Thay are so pretty...

My parents used to do the big dinner thing but now that my Aunt & Uncle both have Alzheimers & the cousins are busy with their own families, & my folks are up in age they now have us spend the nite with them & we eat with them Christmas Eve & Day. Christmas Eve on the way to myfolks house westop by Mikes brothers. After we're thru with my folks on Christmas day it's back to visit Mikes brothers again & this yr his cousin & her hubby want us to come by too. & On Christmas Eve at church they usually have a service & we go to that too...

Then every yr in Dec we got my the Christmas pay at my cousins Church as he's alwys in it. Go to that on Sun. Busy....

Advent calendars - we had them and I got them for my daughter, too, as best I recall.

As far as the December holidays go, that's what i keep trying to say. We're all just celebrating the Winter Solstice, no matter what you dress it up as. It's a time to get together with family and friends, eat fatty foods because the hunting will be sparse for the next few months and celebrate light, but not lite. So, Happy Everything!

Pat, have you & Larry invented a new winter Olympic e-sport? ...synchronized posting! both posted, at 3;16, that's an hour & 12 from now, here,,,!
I always aoid eating lite, in fact, at the market, if I can't find it on shelves, I ask for Full-fat yogurt, even...

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Bumper:

Pat, have you & Larry invented a new winter Olympic e-sport? ...synchronized posting! both posted, at 3;16, that's an hour & 12 from now, here,,,!
...<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Pat and I have shared the blunderite brain cell in consecutive order many times over the past 5 years or so, that's the only explaination I can think of.... but I don't have the brain cell at the moment either.

I am so glad that so many people shared their stories, to me that is extra special and brings joy to the heart. merry Christmas to all and to those select few like myself, Happy kerry's Birthday to all....

Yes it the Kerry Birthday celebration as the whole world joins in saying happy birthday to her December 25

Jay, just reading over my shoulder, says, "Happy Winter Solstice to everyone!" while we're doing the sing-alongs with the
Dallas Symphony Orchestra's live Christmas performance.