Here's the chaos of Christmas morn. Thank you, everyone, for making it merry.
Monday, December 29, 2008
A Joke..
An out-of-work actor gets a call from his agent one day. "I’ve got you a job," says his agent. "That’s great," says the actor, what is it?" "Well," says his agent, "it’s a one-liner" "That’s okay," replies the actor, "I’ve been out of work for so long I’ll take anything. What’s the line?" "Hark, I hear the cannons roar" says the agent. "I love it" says the actor "When’s the audition?" "Wednesday" says the agent.
Wednesday comes and the actor arrives at the audition. He marches on stage and shouts: "Hark, I hear the cannons roar". "Brilliant," says the director, "you’ve got the job. Be here 9 o’clock Saturday evening."
The actor is so happy he got the job that he goes around the rest of the week reciting his line; "Hark, I hear the cannons roar, hark, I hear the cannons roar, hark, I hear the cannons roar." He's so anxious about it that he stays up all night on Friday practicing his line over and over; "Hark, I hear the cannons roar, hark, I hear the cannons roar, hark, I hear the cannons roar." He wakes up at 8:30 Saturday evening and runs to the theater continually repeating his line; "Hark, I hear the cannons roar, hark, I hear the cannons roar, hark, I hear the cannons roar."
He arrives at the stage entrance, out of breath and is stopped by the guard. "Who are you?" asks the guard. "I’m "hark, I hear the cannons roar." "If you’re "hark I hear the cannons roar", you’re late. Get up to makeup right now!"
So he runs up to makeup. "Who are you" asks the makeup girl. "I’m "hark I hear the cannons roar."" "If you’re hark I hear the cannons roar", you’re late. Sit down here." And she applies the makeup. "Go over to costumes, and quick, you're about to go on."
So he runs over to costumes. "Who are you" asks the costume girl. "I’m "hark I hear the cannons roar."" "If you’re hark I hear the cannons roar", you’re late. Put this on, and this." He rapidly changes into the costume with her help." Now quick, get down to the stage, you’re about to go on."
He dashes down to the stage. "Who are you?" asks the stage manager. "I’m "hark, I hear the cannons roar."" "You’re "hark, I hear the cannons roar?" Get out there, the curtain’s about to go up."
He tears onto the stage. The curtains rise, the house is full. Suddenly there is an almighty bang behind him, and the actor shouts "WHAT THE @&$% WAS THAT?"
Wednesday comes and the actor arrives at the audition. He marches on stage and shouts: "Hark, I hear the cannons roar". "Brilliant," says the director, "you’ve got the job. Be here 9 o’clock Saturday evening."
The actor is so happy he got the job that he goes around the rest of the week reciting his line; "Hark, I hear the cannons roar, hark, I hear the cannons roar, hark, I hear the cannons roar." He's so anxious about it that he stays up all night on Friday practicing his line over and over; "Hark, I hear the cannons roar, hark, I hear the cannons roar, hark, I hear the cannons roar." He wakes up at 8:30 Saturday evening and runs to the theater continually repeating his line; "Hark, I hear the cannons roar, hark, I hear the cannons roar, hark, I hear the cannons roar."
He arrives at the stage entrance, out of breath and is stopped by the guard. "Who are you?" asks the guard. "I’m "hark, I hear the cannons roar." "If you’re "hark I hear the cannons roar", you’re late. Get up to makeup right now!"
So he runs up to makeup. "Who are you" asks the makeup girl. "I’m "hark I hear the cannons roar."" "If you’re hark I hear the cannons roar", you’re late. Sit down here." And she applies the makeup. "Go over to costumes, and quick, you're about to go on."
So he runs over to costumes. "Who are you" asks the costume girl. "I’m "hark I hear the cannons roar."" "If you’re hark I hear the cannons roar", you’re late. Put this on, and this." He rapidly changes into the costume with her help." Now quick, get down to the stage, you’re about to go on."
He dashes down to the stage. "Who are you?" asks the stage manager. "I’m "hark, I hear the cannons roar."" "You’re "hark, I hear the cannons roar?" Get out there, the curtain’s about to go up."
He tears onto the stage. The curtains rise, the house is full. Suddenly there is an almighty bang behind him, and the actor shouts "WHAT THE @&$% WAS THAT?"
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
Thoughts on December 23rd.
It is:
Chanukah / Festival of Lights (Night 3)
Feast of the Radishes (Oaxaca, Mexico)
Queen's Birthday(Sweden)
Suez Victory Day (Egypt)
Tenno Tanjobi / Emperor's Birthday (Japan)
Festivus
Las Posadas (day 8)
On this date in history:
1783 George Washington resigned as commander-in-chief of the Army and retired to his home at Mount Vernon, Va.
1788 Maryland voted to cede a 100-square-mile area for the seat of the national government; about two-thirds of the area became the District of Columbia.
1823 The poem "A Visit from St. Nicholas" by Clement C. Moore was first published, in the Troy (N.Y.) Sentinel.
1867, Sarah Breedlove Walker, the American businesswoman and philanthropist considered to be the first black female millionaire , was born.
1871, Harper's Weekly featured a cartoon about Charles Darwin's theory of evolution.
1941 American forces on Wake Island surrendered to the Japanese during World War II.
1948 Former Japanese premier Hideki Tojo and six other Japanese war leaders were executed in Tokyo.
1968 Eighty-two crew members of the U.S. intelligence ship Pueblo were released by North Korea, 11 months after they had been captured.
1972 The Pittsburgh Steelers beat the Oakland Raiders 13-7 in an NFL playoff game on a last-second touchdown catch by Franco Harris that was dubbed the "immaculate reception."
1986, the experimental airplane Voyager, piloted by Dick Rutan and Jeana Yeager, completed the first non-stop, around-the-world flight without refueling as it landed safely at Edwards Air Force Base in California.
1995 A fire in Dabwali, India, killed 540 people, including 170 children, during a year-end party being held near the children's school.
1997 A jury in Denver convicted Terry Nichols of involuntary manslaughter and conspiracy for his role in the Oklahoma City bombing.
2003 The government announced the first suspected case of mad cow disease in United States.
2003 A jury in Chesapeake, Va., sentenced teen sniper Lee Boyd Malvo to life in prison, sparing him the death penalty.
2003 New York Gov. George Pataki pardoned the late comedian Lenny Bruce for his 1964 obscenity conviction.
2004 Former Connecticut Gov. John G. Rowland pleaded guilty to a corruption charge. (He was later sentenced to a year and a day in federal prison.)
But to me it's just day 4 locked in the insane asylum with my children!
Chanukah / Festival of Lights (Night 3)
Feast of the Radishes (Oaxaca, Mexico)
Queen's Birthday(Sweden)
Suez Victory Day (Egypt)
Tenno Tanjobi / Emperor's Birthday (Japan)
Festivus
Las Posadas (day 8)
On this date in history:
1783 George Washington resigned as commander-in-chief of the Army and retired to his home at Mount Vernon, Va.
1788 Maryland voted to cede a 100-square-mile area for the seat of the national government; about two-thirds of the area became the District of Columbia.
1823 The poem "A Visit from St. Nicholas" by Clement C. Moore was first published, in the Troy (N.Y.) Sentinel.
1867, Sarah Breedlove Walker, the American businesswoman and philanthropist considered to be the first black female millionaire , was born.
1871, Harper's Weekly featured a cartoon about Charles Darwin's theory of evolution.
1941 American forces on Wake Island surrendered to the Japanese during World War II.
1948 Former Japanese premier Hideki Tojo and six other Japanese war leaders were executed in Tokyo.
1968 Eighty-two crew members of the U.S. intelligence ship Pueblo were released by North Korea, 11 months after they had been captured.
1972 The Pittsburgh Steelers beat the Oakland Raiders 13-7 in an NFL playoff game on a last-second touchdown catch by Franco Harris that was dubbed the "immaculate reception."
1986, the experimental airplane Voyager, piloted by Dick Rutan and Jeana Yeager, completed the first non-stop, around-the-world flight without refueling as it landed safely at Edwards Air Force Base in California.
1995 A fire in Dabwali, India, killed 540 people, including 170 children, during a year-end party being held near the children's school.
1997 A jury in Denver convicted Terry Nichols of involuntary manslaughter and conspiracy for his role in the Oklahoma City bombing.
2003 The government announced the first suspected case of mad cow disease in United States.
2003 A jury in Chesapeake, Va., sentenced teen sniper Lee Boyd Malvo to life in prison, sparing him the death penalty.
2003 New York Gov. George Pataki pardoned the late comedian Lenny Bruce for his 1964 obscenity conviction.
2004 Former Connecticut Gov. John G. Rowland pleaded guilty to a corruption charge. (He was later sentenced to a year and a day in federal prison.)
But to me it's just day 4 locked in the insane asylum with my children!
Finally! Some real snow! Maybe a white Christmas after all?
Check it out! About six inches! The reason this photo looks dark and out of focus is because IT'S STILL COMING DOWN! It's almost blizzard like! WHOO HOO! Maybe it will stick around long enough to give us a white Christmas?
Blew down all our lights, though. But hey! It's Snowing!!!
Monday, December 22, 2008
A Holiday Tradition...
Thank you notes from the recipient of the 12 days of Christmas:
On the First Day of Christmas.....
From:
Miss Agnes McHolstein
69 Cash Avenue
Beaver Valley, Colorado
December 14
Dearest John:
I went to the door today and the postman delivered
a partridge in a pear tree. What a thoroughly
delightful gift. I couldn't have been more
surprised.
With deepest love and devotion,
Agnes
On the second day of Christmas...
From:
Miss Agnes McHolstein
69 Cash Avenue
Beaver Valley, Colorado
December 15
Dearest John:
Today the postman brought your very sweet gift.
Just imagine two turtle doves. I'm just delighted
at your very thoughtful gift. They are just
adorable.
All my love,
Agnes
On the third day of Christmas...
From:
Miss Agnes McHolstein
69 Cash Avenue
Beaver Valley, Colorado
December 16
Dearest John:
Oh! Aren't you the extravagant one. Now I really
must protest. I don't deserve such generosity,
Three French hens. They are just darling but I must
insist, you've been too kind.
Love,
Agnes
On the fourth day of Christmas...
From:
Miss Agnes McHolstein
69 Cash Avenue
Beaver Valley, Colorado
December 17
Dear John,
Today the postman delivered 4 calling birds. Now
really, they are beautiful but don't you think
enough is enough. You're being too romantic.
Affectionately,
Agnes
On the fifth day of Christmas...
From:
Miss Agnes McHolstein
69 Cash Avenue
Beaver Valley, Colorado
December 18
Dearest John:
What a surprise. Today the postman delivered 5
golden rings; one for every finger. You're just
impossible, but I love it. Frankly, all those birds
squawking were beginning to get on my nerves.
All my love,
Anges
On the sixth day of Christmas...
From:
Miss Agnes McHolstein
69 Cash Avenue
Beaver Valley, Colorado
December 19
Dear John:
When I opened the door there were actually 6 geese
a-laying on my front steps. So, you're back to
the birds again, huh? Those geese are huge. Where
will I ever keep them? The neighbors are
complaining and I can't sleep through the racket.
Please stop.
Cordially,
Agnes
On the seventh day of Christmas...
From:
Miss Agnes McHolstein
69 Cash Avenue
Beaver Valley, Colorado
December 20
John:
What's with you and those crazy birds? 7 swans
a-swimming. What kind of terrible joke is this?
There's bird poop all over the house, and they
never stop with the racket. I can't sleep at
night and I'm a nervous wreck. It's not funny.
So stop sending me all these birds!
Sincerely,
Agnes
On the eighth day of Christmas...
From:
Miss Agnes McHolstein
69 Cash Avenue
Beaver Valley, Colorado
December 21
O.K. Buster:
I think I prefer the birds. What am I going to do
with 8 maids a-milking? It's not enough with all
those birds and 8 maids a-milking, but they had to
bring their cows! There is poop all over the lawn
and I can't move in my own house. Just lay off me,
jerk.
Agnes
On the ninth day of Christmas...
From:
Miss Agnes McHolstein
69 Cash Avenue
Beaver Valley, Colorado
December 22
Hey! Toejam,
What are you? Some kind of sadist? Now there's 9
pipers playing. And boy, do they play. They've
never stopped chasing those maids since they got
here yesterday morning. They cows are getting upset,
and they're stepping all over those screeching
birds. What am I going to do? The neighbors have
started a petition to evict me.
You'll get yours,
Agnes
On the tenth day of Christmas...
From:
Miss Agnes McHolstein
69 Cash Avenue
Beaver Valley, Colorado
December 23
You Rotten Sadist,
Now there's 10 ladies dancing. I don't know why I
call them ladies. They've been messing with
those pipers all night long. Now the cows can't
sleep and they've got the diarrhea. My living
room is worse than an outhouse. The Commissioner of
Buildings has subpoenaed me to give cause why this
building shouldn't be condemned.
I'm sicking the police on you.
One who means it.
On the eleventh day of Christmas...
From:
Miss Agnes McHolstein
69 Cash Avenue
Beaver Valley, Colorado
December 24
Listen! Looser,
What's with the 11 lords a-leaping on those maids
and ladies. Some of those broads will never walk
again. Those pipers ran through the maids and
have been chasing the cows. All
23 of the birds are dead. They've been trampled
to death in the frat party. I hope you're satisfied,
you rotten, vicious swine.
Your sworn enemy,
Agnes
On the twelth day of Christmas...
From:
Law Offices
Steeler, Takem, and Ripoffen
303 Knave Street
Chicago, Illinois
December 25
Dear Sir:
This is to acknowledge your latest gift of 12
fiddlers fiddling which you have seen fit to
inflict on our client, Miss Agnes McHolstein.
The destruction, of course, was total. All
correspondence should come to our attention.
If you should attempt to reach Miss McHolstein
at Happy Dale Sanitarium, the attendants have
instructions to shoot you on sight. With this
letter please find attached the warrant for your
arrest.
Cordially,
Steeler, Takem, and Ripoffen, Attorneys at Law
On the First Day of Christmas.....
From:
Miss Agnes McHolstein
69 Cash Avenue
Beaver Valley, Colorado
December 14
Dearest John:
I went to the door today and the postman delivered
a partridge in a pear tree. What a thoroughly
delightful gift. I couldn't have been more
surprised.
With deepest love and devotion,
Agnes
On the second day of Christmas...
From:
Miss Agnes McHolstein
69 Cash Avenue
Beaver Valley, Colorado
December 15
Dearest John:
Today the postman brought your very sweet gift.
Just imagine two turtle doves. I'm just delighted
at your very thoughtful gift. They are just
adorable.
All my love,
Agnes
On the third day of Christmas...
From:
Miss Agnes McHolstein
69 Cash Avenue
Beaver Valley, Colorado
December 16
Dearest John:
Oh! Aren't you the extravagant one. Now I really
must protest. I don't deserve such generosity,
Three French hens. They are just darling but I must
insist, you've been too kind.
Love,
Agnes
On the fourth day of Christmas...
From:
Miss Agnes McHolstein
69 Cash Avenue
Beaver Valley, Colorado
December 17
Dear John,
Today the postman delivered 4 calling birds. Now
really, they are beautiful but don't you think
enough is enough. You're being too romantic.
Affectionately,
Agnes
On the fifth day of Christmas...
From:
Miss Agnes McHolstein
69 Cash Avenue
Beaver Valley, Colorado
December 18
Dearest John:
What a surprise. Today the postman delivered 5
golden rings; one for every finger. You're just
impossible, but I love it. Frankly, all those birds
squawking were beginning to get on my nerves.
All my love,
Anges
On the sixth day of Christmas...
From:
Miss Agnes McHolstein
69 Cash Avenue
Beaver Valley, Colorado
December 19
Dear John:
When I opened the door there were actually 6 geese
a-laying on my front steps. So, you're back to
the birds again, huh? Those geese are huge. Where
will I ever keep them? The neighbors are
complaining and I can't sleep through the racket.
Please stop.
Cordially,
Agnes
On the seventh day of Christmas...
From:
Miss Agnes McHolstein
69 Cash Avenue
Beaver Valley, Colorado
December 20
John:
What's with you and those crazy birds? 7 swans
a-swimming. What kind of terrible joke is this?
There's bird poop all over the house, and they
never stop with the racket. I can't sleep at
night and I'm a nervous wreck. It's not funny.
So stop sending me all these birds!
Sincerely,
Agnes
On the eighth day of Christmas...
From:
Miss Agnes McHolstein
69 Cash Avenue
Beaver Valley, Colorado
December 21
O.K. Buster:
I think I prefer the birds. What am I going to do
with 8 maids a-milking? It's not enough with all
those birds and 8 maids a-milking, but they had to
bring their cows! There is poop all over the lawn
and I can't move in my own house. Just lay off me,
jerk.
Agnes
On the ninth day of Christmas...
From:
Miss Agnes McHolstein
69 Cash Avenue
Beaver Valley, Colorado
December 22
Hey! Toejam,
What are you? Some kind of sadist? Now there's 9
pipers playing. And boy, do they play. They've
never stopped chasing those maids since they got
here yesterday morning. They cows are getting upset,
and they're stepping all over those screeching
birds. What am I going to do? The neighbors have
started a petition to evict me.
You'll get yours,
Agnes
On the tenth day of Christmas...
From:
Miss Agnes McHolstein
69 Cash Avenue
Beaver Valley, Colorado
December 23
You Rotten Sadist,
Now there's 10 ladies dancing. I don't know why I
call them ladies. They've been messing with
those pipers all night long. Now the cows can't
sleep and they've got the diarrhea. My living
room is worse than an outhouse. The Commissioner of
Buildings has subpoenaed me to give cause why this
building shouldn't be condemned.
I'm sicking the police on you.
One who means it.
On the eleventh day of Christmas...
From:
Miss Agnes McHolstein
69 Cash Avenue
Beaver Valley, Colorado
December 24
Listen! Looser,
What's with the 11 lords a-leaping on those maids
and ladies. Some of those broads will never walk
again. Those pipers ran through the maids and
have been chasing the cows. All
23 of the birds are dead. They've been trampled
to death in the frat party. I hope you're satisfied,
you rotten, vicious swine.
Your sworn enemy,
Agnes
On the twelth day of Christmas...
From:
Law Offices
Steeler, Takem, and Ripoffen
303 Knave Street
Chicago, Illinois
December 25
Dear Sir:
This is to acknowledge your latest gift of 12
fiddlers fiddling which you have seen fit to
inflict on our client, Miss Agnes McHolstein.
The destruction, of course, was total. All
correspondence should come to our attention.
If you should attempt to reach Miss McHolstein
at Happy Dale Sanitarium, the attendants have
instructions to shoot you on sight. With this
letter please find attached the warrant for your
arrest.
Cordially,
Steeler, Takem, and Ripoffen, Attorneys at Law
Saturday, December 20, 2008
Yes, Virginia....
(I'm a little peeved at Macy's for commercializing this, but it's too good not to share.)
"We take pleasure in answering thus prominently the communication below, expressing at the same time our great gratification that its faithful author is numbered among the friends of The Sun:
Dear Editor—
I am 8 years old. Some of my little friends say there is no Santa Claus. Papa says, “If you see it in The Sun, it’s so.”
Please tell me the truth, is there a Santa Claus?
Virginia O’Hanlon
_______________
Virginia,
Your little friends are wrong. They have been affected by the skepticism of a skeptical age. They do not believe except they see. They think that nothing can be which is not comprehensible by their little minds. All minds, Virginia, whether they be men’s or children’s, are little. In this great universe of ours, man is a mere insect, an ant, in his intellect as compared with the boundless world about him, as measured by the intelligence capable of grasping the whole of truth and knowledge.
Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus. He exists as certainly as love and generosity and devotion exist, and you know that they abound and give to your life its highest beauty and joy. Alas! how dreary would be the world if there were no Santa Claus! It would be as dreary as if there were no Virginias. There would be no childlike faith then, no poetry, no romance to make tolerable this existence. We should have no enjoyment, except in sense and sight. The eternal light with which childhood fills the world would be extinguished.
Not believe in Santa Claus! You might as well not believe in fairies. You might get your papa to hire men to watch in all the chimneys on Christmas eve to catch Santa Claus, but even if you did not see Santa Claus coming down, what would that prove? Nobody sees Santa Claus, but that is no sign that there is no Santa Claus. The most real things in the world are those that neither children nor men can see. Did you ever see fairies dancing on the lawn? Of course not, but that’s no proof that they are not there. Nobody can conceive or imagine all the wonders there are unseen and unseeable in the world.
You tear apart the baby’s rattle and see what makes the noise inside, but there is a veil covering the unseen world which not the strongest man, nor even the united strength of all the strongest men that ever lived could tear apart. Only faith, poetry, love, romance, can push aside that curtain and view and picture the supernal beauty and glory beyond. Is it all real? Ah, Virginia, in all this world there is nothing else real and abiding.
No Santa Claus! Thank God! he lives and lives forever. A thousand years from now, Virginia, nay 10 times 10,000 years from now, he will continue to make glad the heart of childhood."
- By Francis P. Church, first published in The New York Sun in 1897.
"We take pleasure in answering thus prominently the communication below, expressing at the same time our great gratification that its faithful author is numbered among the friends of The Sun:
Dear Editor—
I am 8 years old. Some of my little friends say there is no Santa Claus. Papa says, “If you see it in The Sun, it’s so.”
Please tell me the truth, is there a Santa Claus?
Virginia O’Hanlon
_______________
Virginia,
Your little friends are wrong. They have been affected by the skepticism of a skeptical age. They do not believe except they see. They think that nothing can be which is not comprehensible by their little minds. All minds, Virginia, whether they be men’s or children’s, are little. In this great universe of ours, man is a mere insect, an ant, in his intellect as compared with the boundless world about him, as measured by the intelligence capable of grasping the whole of truth and knowledge.
Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus. He exists as certainly as love and generosity and devotion exist, and you know that they abound and give to your life its highest beauty and joy. Alas! how dreary would be the world if there were no Santa Claus! It would be as dreary as if there were no Virginias. There would be no childlike faith then, no poetry, no romance to make tolerable this existence. We should have no enjoyment, except in sense and sight. The eternal light with which childhood fills the world would be extinguished.
Not believe in Santa Claus! You might as well not believe in fairies. You might get your papa to hire men to watch in all the chimneys on Christmas eve to catch Santa Claus, but even if you did not see Santa Claus coming down, what would that prove? Nobody sees Santa Claus, but that is no sign that there is no Santa Claus. The most real things in the world are those that neither children nor men can see. Did you ever see fairies dancing on the lawn? Of course not, but that’s no proof that they are not there. Nobody can conceive or imagine all the wonders there are unseen and unseeable in the world.
You tear apart the baby’s rattle and see what makes the noise inside, but there is a veil covering the unseen world which not the strongest man, nor even the united strength of all the strongest men that ever lived could tear apart. Only faith, poetry, love, romance, can push aside that curtain and view and picture the supernal beauty and glory beyond. Is it all real? Ah, Virginia, in all this world there is nothing else real and abiding.
No Santa Claus! Thank God! he lives and lives forever. A thousand years from now, Virginia, nay 10 times 10,000 years from now, he will continue to make glad the heart of childhood."
- By Francis P. Church, first published in The New York Sun in 1897.
Thursday, December 18, 2008
True Story of St. Nicholas
He was a boy when he lost his parents very early in life. It was an epidemic that took them, but not before he was old enough for them to help him discover the gift of faith.
Little Nicholas went to Myra and lived a life full of self-offering, and giving of himself. His life was full of sacrifice and love, just like Jesus. Nicholas lived such a Christ like life that when the town needed a bishop he was immediately elected. Later he was imprisoned for his Christian faith, but released by the Emperor Constantine. Thereafter, many stories of his generosity were collected and they spread from mouth to mouth all through out the lands. I
t was told how he begged food for the poor and how he would somehow get money for girls to use as a dowry so that they could have husbands. The story most often repeated was about how he would put on a disguise and go out and give gifts to the poor children. In fact Nicholas gave away everything he had, plus everything he could get.
He died in AD 314; his body was moved to Italy where his remains are believed to be to this day. The story of Nicholas has spread all around the world, and today there are more European churches named after St. Nicholas than any other person in the history of the church, aside from the famous Bible characters.
People have done many things to old St. Nick. Clement Moore the poet gave him a red nose and eight tiny reindeer. Artist Thomas Nast gave Nicholas a round belly and a red fir trimmed suit. But those things really aren’t that important are they? What is important is that he lived in the mind set and the life style of Christ.
And because he lived that lifestyle, the life of Nicholas touched the whole world and it does to this very day. But here is the really important part of the story. That same Christ like mind set and that life style is supposed to be in all of us and lived by all of us.
-- Author Unknown
Little Nicholas went to Myra and lived a life full of self-offering, and giving of himself. His life was full of sacrifice and love, just like Jesus. Nicholas lived such a Christ like life that when the town needed a bishop he was immediately elected. Later he was imprisoned for his Christian faith, but released by the Emperor Constantine. Thereafter, many stories of his generosity were collected and they spread from mouth to mouth all through out the lands. I
t was told how he begged food for the poor and how he would somehow get money for girls to use as a dowry so that they could have husbands. The story most often repeated was about how he would put on a disguise and go out and give gifts to the poor children. In fact Nicholas gave away everything he had, plus everything he could get.
He died in AD 314; his body was moved to Italy where his remains are believed to be to this day. The story of Nicholas has spread all around the world, and today there are more European churches named after St. Nicholas than any other person in the history of the church, aside from the famous Bible characters.
People have done many things to old St. Nick. Clement Moore the poet gave him a red nose and eight tiny reindeer. Artist Thomas Nast gave Nicholas a round belly and a red fir trimmed suit. But those things really aren’t that important are they? What is important is that he lived in the mind set and the life style of Christ.
And because he lived that lifestyle, the life of Nicholas touched the whole world and it does to this very day. But here is the really important part of the story. That same Christ like mind set and that life style is supposed to be in all of us and lived by all of us.
-- Author Unknown
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Saturday, December 13, 2008
How much crap do you think I need?
Everyone knows the song “12 days of Christmas”. But do you know exactly how many things “my true love gave to me”?
Let’s clarify the lyrics as receiving one gift (a partridge in a pear tree – we won’t count the tree separately) on “the first day of Christmas”, and THREE gifts on the second day (two turtle doves AND a partridge in a pear tree), etc. etc.
On day x, I have
d(x) = 1 + 2 + 3 + ... + x = x(x+1)/2
gifts, by the formula for the sum of the first x natural numbers. On the nth day, I get
S(n) = d(1)+d(2)+...+d(x) = 1(1+1)/2 + 2(2+1)/2 + ... + n(n+1)/2
gifts, or:
S(n) = (12 + 22 + ... + n2) /2 + (1 + 2 + 3 + ... + n)/2.Simplifying - using the formula for the sum of the first n squares and the first n numbers, we have:
S(n) = n(n+1)(2n+1)/12 + n(n+1)/4Further simplifying we get:
S(n) = n3/6 + n2/2 + n/3For n=12 or 12 days we get:
S(12) = 123/6 + 122/2 + 12/3You can prove this the hard way:
1728/6 + 144/2 + 12/3
288 + 72 + 4
364
One
1 +
Two
(1 + 2) +
Three
(1 + 2 + 3) +
Four
(1 + 2 + 3 + 4) +
Five
(1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 5) +
Six
(1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 5 + 6) +
Seven
(1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 5 + 6 + 7) +
Eight
(1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 5 + 6 + 7 + 8) +
Nine
(1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 5 + 6 + 7 + 8 + 9) +
Ten
(1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 5 + 6 + 7 + 8 + 9 + 10) +
Eleven
(1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 5 + 6 + 7 + 8 + 9 + 10 + 11) +
Twelve
(1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 5 + 6 + 7 + 8 + 9 + 10 + 11 + 12)=
364
That’s 364 birds, musicians, dancers, and rings.
Who needs that much stuff?
On the bright side, in today’s market all those gifts would be worth more than $20,000.00. So if you returned all of it you could buy yourself a car or something.
Friday, December 12, 2008
Thursday, December 11, 2008
Can I send them now?
Ok, so some of you may have heard that Miss C has a chance to go to NY this summer with her art class. She has to raise a ton of money. So far the fund raisers haven't been so great, but they're getting there.
But what some of you may not know is that Mr. D has a chance to go to LA with the band this year. He's been really secretive about it, trying to do it on his own, so I don't know exactly what's going on. But he's going to need some money too.
So, on the left hand side of the blog I added a little donate button. I'm not going to make a sales pitch or anything. But if you are family and you feel so inclined, maybe drop them a couple of pennies.
Thanks.
But what some of you may not know is that Mr. D has a chance to go to LA with the band this year. He's been really secretive about it, trying to do it on his own, so I don't know exactly what's going on. But he's going to need some money too.
So, on the left hand side of the blog I added a little donate button. I'm not going to make a sales pitch or anything. But if you are family and you feel so inclined, maybe drop them a couple of pennies.
Thanks.
Tuesday, December 09, 2008
Can I just say this?
Can I just blow off some steam and then I'll shut up?
I have ZERO sympathy for people who volunteer to do something and then complain about having to do it. Worse, complain that no one will help them when several people offered and they were all turned down.
Just really torques me off. If you don't want to do it, then keep your mouth shut. If you need help, then freaking ASK, not everyone on the planet is a mindreader. And if you're volunteering to do something for other people's kids, then you better make really freaking sure you get it done and not just shrug your shoulders and say "oh well".
Ok, I'll shut up now.
I have ZERO sympathy for people who volunteer to do something and then complain about having to do it. Worse, complain that no one will help them when several people offered and they were all turned down.
Just really torques me off. If you don't want to do it, then keep your mouth shut. If you need help, then freaking ASK, not everyone on the planet is a mindreader. And if you're volunteering to do something for other people's kids, then you better make really freaking sure you get it done and not just shrug your shoulders and say "oh well".
Ok, I'll shut up now.
Saturday, December 06, 2008
From the Live show.
These didn't come out quite as well as the one's we took at dress rehearsal (we couldn't use a flash and our 5 year old camera is slower than snot on a snail), but there are a few good ones in here.
Tuesday, December 02, 2008
A few early pics of the play!
We snuck into the final dress rehearsal last night and snagged these shots of the kids. Opening night is tonight!!!
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