Christmas Countdown - 2008

[Crown 84]

** OFFICIAL THREAD - CHRISTMAS COUNTDOWN 2008 **
After meeting great success at its initial launch at Christmas.Com during 2004 (1217 posts) then over 2,700 posts for 2005, our official countdown thread was imported to The Christmas Place in 2006 where it garnered 3,756 posts!
In late July of 2007, the thead made its appearance in this forum. Despite a late start, it still attracted 1,956 posts.
Well, here we are ready to go again, at the start of 2008.

A word of explanation. We are running a dual countdown in this thread - one for Christmas Day and one for the start of the Christmas Season (November 13). Most of us have agreed that we look forward to the entire Christmas Season rather than just to Christmas Day.
Why November 13? No reason, really. It just seems about the right time to regard the season as arriving. It is exactly 6 weeks before Christmas Day and is about the time the country at large is beginning to get into the holiday spirit. Most of the stores have decorated. And starting the season then gives us exactly 50 days (Nov 13 through Jan 1) to enjoy being "within" the season.

We also like to note "milestones" along the way such as the 1/4, 1/2 and 3/4 marks. At 90% complete, we launch the "home stretch" as we coast into the final days before the season begins.

Well, climb aboard, enjoy reading the posts, and follow the count, which begins today at 317 to the Season and 359 to Christmas Day.
(See the special leap year note at the end of this post.)

Here is a convenient list of our Season countdown milestone markers. For the equivalent figure to Christmas Day itself, just add 42 days to any date below.

January 17 = Day 300
February 12 = 1/4 mark
March 15 = 1/3 mark
April 27 = Day 200
May 15 = 1/2 mark
July 14 = 2/3 mark
August 05 = Day 100
August 14 = 3/4 mark
October 07 = 90% (The Home Stretch begins)
November 13 = THE SEASON ARRIVES!
MERRY CHRISTMAS!
- CROWN

**A brief note for those who appreciate precision.
Yes, 2008 is a leap year which slightly alters some of the milestone dates.
I did not re-calibrate the milestone marker chart since the change would only alter the 300 day marker by a single day and the percentage markers by a fraction of a day. The 200-day and 100-day markers would not change since they fall after Feb 29.
If I think about it, I will point out the change when the marker date in question arrives.

[Icee Racer]

I can't wait to begin another countdown to the 2008 Christmas / holiday season.

207 Days Until The July 25, 2008 (Halfway Through The 2008 Countdown)
318 Days Until The Official Start Of The Holiday Season!
358 Days Until Christmas Day!

Let the year round buildup to the holiday season begin now.

[sila]

itss here the 2008 countdown! thanks crown xxxxxxxxxx
and a happy new year to you all xxxxxxxxxxx

[kelly ann]

Whoo hoo the 2008 countdown has begun, only 300 odd days to go!!!

[Annette1990]

I agree..let's start the countdown only 358 days to go. And of course I can't wait. In the meantime I will continue to take more decorations down today..but can't wait to decorate again next year. I am thinking I may start even earlier than I did this year. There never seems to be enough time. And I don't want to wait a month or so before Christmas. Anyhow...Happy New Year Everyone!

[JayIsh]

We're back in the saddle again!!!

Happy new countdown everyone! And thanks Crown!!!

jay

[sila]

i will take the decorations down on friday
just think this thread will be here next xmas!!!!!

[RadioJonD]

Crown organized the current countdown as we know it with milestones along the way to peak our interest!

The first countdown to appear at Christmas.com was in 2002 and was started by savingstar, so I guess this the sixth year for some of the old timers! This will be my fourth or fifth ride on the countdown!

Great 2008 Everyone!

[Binger]

Binger signing on... again... Happy New year to all and to my special friend Crown who imported this thread through cyberspace to this location... I am here and ready to rock....YABBA!

[Binger]

I took everything down today- it is all packed up- all in the basement- place looks bare, but I know it wouldn't be special if I left it up year long! Hey- I am already looking ahead to the 17th and the first milestone.

[Maureen]

Bring it ON - I am ready for anything 2008 cares to toss my way and I know I have backup amongst friends here.

With the Super Deluxe Family Size Best Columbian Caffeine, Crown's Coutdown and a pair of plaid rubber gloves, anything is possible!!!!

[Maebeary]

What fun!!!! I'll be watching the countdown. I'll be checking in often. I don't want to miss a thing.

[Binger]

ohhh Crown.,...... I see you here.....

[Binger]

wake up and smell the coffee- IT's 2008!!!!!! YABBA!

[Crown 84]

Wow! What a start! Already 15 posts!
Let's look to a record year.

[sugarplum fairy]

I am so excited about this thread. I look forward to all the little milestones. It makes Christmas seem not so far away as it normally would. Thanks for the thread.

[Iron Eagle]

Good Evening everyone !!! and Happy New Year !!!

Another countdown begins, and that's great, and I'm looking forward to next Christmas just like everyone else is. BUT, I'm not ready to give up this Christmas season just yet. I may be thinking about my decorations for next year, but I'm still enjoying what I have now. It ain't over 'till it's over.

I had to go back to work today (bummer) after 3 weeks off. The good part is that my son Matthew is home from the Marine Corp until the 9th. It's nice to have him safe and sound under our roof. No matter how big they get, when you see them sleeping in their old room and in their old bed, you can't help but be taken back to a time when they were much smaller . . . . . the time sure went fast.

Well, my lunch time is just about up, so I'll sign off for now. I'm going to try to get back online from home. I may have the home net back up . . . . . I hope.

[Annette1990]

Hi Iron Eagle
Good to see you on the boards this evening. Nice to hear you have your son home safe and sound. Take care and hopefully we will see you again soon!

[slgslg02]

merry christmas all

[sila]

morning allxxxxxxx
off to visit the parents today x

[scoobie]

Morning all,

Glad to see the countdown continues again this year! I am going to try to check on the countdown every day to try and keep a little holiday spirit going through the year! Didnt have the greatest of Christmas, spent the weeks running up to, during and after being ill and actually spent the entire Christmas Day in bed, so hopefully Christmas 2008 will be better! Will hopefully take more time off over next Christmas so can enjoy the season better... already worked out the on call rota for the office, and i'm not on call at all this year for Christmas! YAY!

My girlfriend and I hopefully move into our new house at the end of this month, and I've already been thinking about how I want to decorate it for next Christmas, as well as starting to save for presents/decorations! We took down our decorations at the weekend, but I still have the tree up outside with the lights on (but this will probably come down at the weekend), and we have some 'ornamental twigs' with tree lights on in the living room, which will probably stay up until we move house!

Anyhoo, sorry for the waffle, just trying to stave off some post christmas blues which seem to be hitting me hard this year, after having a not so great Christmas!

Looking forward to the first milestone!!

scoob.

[sila]

Morning all,

Glad to see the countdown continues again this year! I am going to try to check on the countdown every day to try and keep a little holiday spirit going through the year! Didnt have the greatest of Christmas, spent the weeks running up to, during and after being ill and actually spent the entire Christmas Day in bed, so hopefully Christmas 2008 will be better! Will hopefully take more time off over next Christmas so can enjoy the season better... already worked out the on call rota for the office, and i'm not on call at all this year for Christmas! YAY!

My girlfriend and I hopefully move into our new house at the end of this month, and I've already been thinking about how I want to decorate it for next Christmas, as well as starting to save for presents/decorations! We took down our decorations at the weekend, but I still have the tree up outside with the lights on (but this will probably come down at the weekend), and we have some 'ornamental twigs' with tree lights on in the living room, which will probably stay up until we move house!

Anyhoo, sorry for the waffle, just trying to stave off some post christmas blues which seem to be hitting me hard this year, after having a not so great Christmas!

Looking forward to the first milestone!!

scoob.
awwwwwwww you take care scoobie xxxxxxx and good luck with the move x

[kelly ann]

Love your Avatar Sila, Im a huge fan of Tim Burton!!

[Crown 84]

I am so excited about this thread. I look forward to all the little milestones. It makes Christmas seem not so far away as it normally would. Thanks for the thread.
Ah! That's why I started it years ago, Sugarplum!

Days to the Season: 316
Days to Christmas Day: 358

And in case anyone is disparing at the distance, note that our first milestone, the 300-day window, is barely over 2 weeks away!
Of course, our 2008 Season count began back on Nov 14 and has been quietly running along ever since. We are close to TWO MONTHS along in the count!
There, does that help you feel better?

Well, winter has finally arrived in Raleigh with temps in the upper 20's and some wind. BRRRR!

Have a Wonderful Wednesday / Happy Hump Day, everyone!
Look how close the weekend is already!

[clarebear]

Happy New year all! Another jolly countdown! :D

[sila]

thanks kelly ann me too i have a fab collection xxxxxx

[Holiday]

Happy New Year!!! ;)

I really don't know why, but for some reason I have never really participated in the Christmas Countdown!! What have I been thinking??? What a great way to keep the Christmas spirit/anticipation alive all year long!

We are almost to the 300 day mark already!?! That makes it seem SO much closer!!! My decorations aren't even down from '07 yet, & I'm already looking forward to '08!!! :smile:

[Cedarfarm]

WOW!
Look at this thread take off now!!! Awesome!

Great to see you Holiday...hope you had a great one.

Happy New Year!

[Crown 84]

Happy New Year!!! ;)

I really don't know why, but for some reason I have never really participated in the Christmas Countdown!! What have I been thinking??? What a great way to keep the Christmas spirit/anticipation alive all year long!

We are almost to the 300 day mark already!?! That makes it seem SO much closer!!! My decorations aren't even down from '07 yet, & I'm already looking forward to '08!!! :smile:
Good!
That means the Season Countdown magic is working.
I can tell you feel the spirit, Holiday!

[RadioJonD]

Like Holiday (another former Christmas.com'er!), I haven't posted alot in the countdown. I'm usually boring folks in the music forum!

Rest assured though, I do visit here everyday and always enjoy the comments, banter, countdown, pictures, Operas,...!

[Holiday]

I'll be looking forward to reading the "comments, banter, countdown, pictures, Operas,...!" :lol:

Hey Cedar...Yep...we had a terriffic Christmas! Not that I remember ever having a *bad* Christmas, but this was one of the best! It was so nice to have my brother & sil home for a whole week & to have the week off work was awesome too! We had a ton of family fun & we got to see & spend a lotta, lotta time with friends!

Now I'm going to let the "Season Countdown magic" do it's thing..... :-D

[Cedarfarm]

Good for you Holiday my friend! Will look forward to seeing more of you!

YABBA!!






...in Michigan, of course!

[Undrtakr]

Im a little sad. My wife said we have to take down the Christmas stuff this weekend :( *Sigh* but at least we have this board! :D Merry Christmas everyone!

[Binger]

hey- I'm here and really bad about not getting into any of the other threads... I have been getting into chat some though... cold here also Crown- the wind has been howling through the shispering pines.....

[Binger]

35 posts in two days.. hey- this is gonna be a real record setting thread! If one would like to see another record- say for the most amount of sleep a person has ever had while still holding down a job.. see the website crown84..

YABBA!

[Crown 84]

I'll drink to that.
(But not coffee)

[Crown 84]

It's supposed to be really cold tonight and tomorrow night, Bing.
But no problem for you - you've got your coffee to keep you warm - who needs a heater?

[sila]

morning xxxxx
snow forecast for scotland today!

[scoobie]

Morning all,

Brrr... what a chilly morning! Snow is forecast today (yay!) and I still have my outdoor tree up... never know it may see some snow :snowball: If it does, I'll be sure to post up some pics!

(I get a little excited about snow, as it so rarely snows here in the south east of the UK)

One day closer to Christmas 2008, and one day closer to the weekend! cheesy

[clarebear]

Morning! we have had a tiny bit so far folks! I hope we get lots more. :D

[scoobie]

I've got the blinds up in my office now, so I can see if it starts to snow :snowball:

[Euan Buchan]

Hi everyone hope you all had a great Christmas it was a good christmas for me and I'm missing December already. we take our decorations down in the weekend but I keep my Xmas snowglobes up every year and stocking

[sila]

im keeping up a wee elf and my snow globe
oh and alll my nightmare before xmas stuff!

[kelly ann]

im keeping the lights up in my alcove and maybe a snowglobe or two.

[clarebear]

Ive kept a few things in my bedroom! :)

[Crown 84]

We had a few errant flurries here in Raleigh yesterday afternoon but nothing to speak of.
It is supposed to get down to a chilly 19 degrees tonight!

Days to the Season: 315
Days to Christmas Day: 357

Rolling right along to our first milestone, the 300-day window coming up 2 weeks from tomorrow!
Our Milestone Chart shows Jan 17 as the 300-day mark but, of course, this is a leap year so we reach that point on Jan 18.
(Boo! We have to wait one more day this year!)

Well, have a Thrilling Thursday, one and all!

Don't drink too much coffee (unless you are Binger, of course, who is not familiar with the phrase "too much").

[Cedarfarm]

Good Morning Friends!! ~Hope you get lots of snow in Scotland!

Here is a picture I took right after the big snowstorm on New Years Day...1-1-2008
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b300/chicks_/20081.jpg

[kelly ann]

Oh thats soooo pretty!! You could turn that pic into a xmas card?

[Cedarfarm]

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b300/chicks_/20082.jpg

[JayIsh]

Our temperature was 7 degrees when I left this morning...the poor guy who pumped my gas was shivering...A day closer...A little sadness has set in...We watched some programs that we'd taped during the season last night and I was sorry that the season was over...I guess the only way to get to next year is to kiss this year goodbye but I don't like it much...

Happy January guys!!!

jay

[Cedarfarm]

Thanks Kelly Ann!! ~I just might...I just might.

[Cedarfarm]

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b300/chicks_/20083-1.jpg

[Cedarfarm]

:snowball:

[sila]

wow!!

[RadioJonD]

Everybody on the bus! Christmas in January at Cedar's Farm! Let's go!

What a perfect scene, Cedar! Thanks for posting those pics!

[Crown 84]

I'll have to wait until I get home to see the photo, Cedar.
(My computer at work blocks most photos)

[Holiday]

Oh man Cedar....I am on my way!! Awesome pictures - Beautiful!!! Speaking of pictures...I worked on my Christmas scrapbook all night last night & I got all of Christmas '04 done!! Now I only have 3 more Christmas' to do & I'm all caught up!!! :lol:

[Cedarfarm]

~Ohhhh RadioJon, Thanks a bunch...and what I wouldn't give to see a couple of bus loads of all my Christmas buds come roaring in the driveway!!!!
To get all of us together and celebrate what we love...it would be OUTSTANDING! YABBA!!

Hi Holiday girl! So glad you are here with us! Keep plugging away on those scrapbooks, someday....cheesy

[kelly ann]

Let us all look on the bright side...only 356 days 'til xmas!!! :tree:

[Binger]

The bright side is in Michigan.. OMG those pictures are so so YABBA...

[Binger]

Don't drink too muchc offee- omg that is hilarious.. OMG.. can one ever drink too much coffee? Jay help me out here... OMG... stop- my coffee cup is splitting... off to the shispering pines you go....

it was COLD here this AM.. wind chill of 12... good reason to have a cup of java and warm up...YABBA!

[sugarplum fairy]

It was cold this morning. It was 13 degrees. I wish it had been this cold at Christmas. With the rain we got, it might have snowed.

[Crown 84]

Ah! That's better! Now I can see your photo, Cedar.
Breathtaking!
I nominate Cedar as photo queen!

[Cedarfarm]

I Love you Crownster.

[sila]

awwwwwwwwww
morning festive folk im taking down the decorations today

[sila]

its snowing!

[scoobie]

Morning all, from a slightly chilly UK!

The snow yesterday was disappointing to say the least... it settled for about 10 mins, before it started sleeting! Boooo! Oh to have snow like you Cedar! Can we swap? Snow scenes like that make we want to pack my bags and sneak into the USA as an 'illegal' and stay there cheesy

I'm sitting here with a nice hot cuppa joe, thinking about making myself a countdown calendar for work with all the milestones on it.... yeah, I think that will be my project for the day! I guess I should squeeze in some work at some point today though cheesy

Anyhoo, happy Friday everyone, the weekend starts in 7 hours 37 mins... for me anyway!

[scoobie]

Sila, how's the snow up in Glasgow?
:snowball:

[Rennabelle]

Its a bit brisk here in Oregon also but not freezing like it was. The rain moved in a warmed it up a bit.
Sorry I haven't been posting much but its Master Gardener class time again and again Im head of hospitality and have a lot of things to get done before the first class starts.
Its also time to start my perennial seeds and get my greenhouse in tiptop shape for all my seedlings.
I also have lots of material to cut out and have ready for when I feel like sewing curtains and matching quilts. Lots and lots of cutting. I have curtains for 2 rooms and 9 queen quilts, 4 double quilts and dozens of lap quilts to make. A friend and I are making lapquilts to donate to the fire department so that they can give them along with the food baskets during the Holidays.

[clarebear]

I'm not very well folks, i was sent home from work today, i was sick everywhere in the kitchen eeww it was embrassing to say the least! I feel a bit better now im home.
I think there must be a stomach bug or something going around, i haven't ate anything differen't or out of date. I've got a pounding headache. :(
Anywhoo, i hope everyone is well, we've had no snow today, just lot's of fog.
Luv Clare xxx

[sila]

it didnt lie scoobie but the forecast is for heavy snow later.
decorations all down

[Crown 84]

Wow, Clarebear, I hope you feel better soon!
At least it came AFTER the holiday season!

Days to the Season: 314
Days to Christmas Day: 356
(300-day window 2 weeks from today!)

COLD this morning with my thermometer reading 19 when I left for work.
It's stocking cap-gloves-scarf weather!
Days like today make me glad I have an office job inside.

Have a Fabulous Friday, Friends!
......and a Wonderous Weekend to go along with it!

[Cedarfarm]

Aww, poor Clare. Drink your liquids...get some rest...get better!

Chilly here, 5 degrees. The horses eyelashes are white!

Oh my, here we go...let's see..will it be President Obama or President Huckabee? Can I turn the radio off now? For a couple of years? LOL.

~Have yourselves a groovy FRIDAY!

[scoobie]

I'm not very well folks, i was sent home from work today...

Sorry to hear that Clare, sounds like the bug I had on Christmas Day! Make sure you keep your fluids up, and take some paracetamol (if you can stomach it).. oh and get some rest and you will be fine in a day or so....

There has been a lot of this around this year, has even been on the news!

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/7169347.stm

Take care of yourself!

Dr Scoobie.

cheesy

[clarebear]

Thank you everyone. :)
Oh it's going around then? I hope i dont pass it on to anyone, i'll stay away from people for a few day's.

[JayIsh]

I read about that stomach bug all the way over here in New Jersey, USA! It's big on cruise ships too...Called the Novovirus...No real harm unless you are really young, really old, or already sick from something else...They said that it clears up in 12-48 hours...Of course those will be the worst 12-48 of your life...

I second the nomination for Cedar to be our Photomaven...She is really, really good...Unless she wants to be really, really bad...But that's for another forum...Anywho...She's an excellent photographer! I have a number of her photos spinning around on my screen saver here at work...Perhaps we should start calling her Ansel...

Three cheers for Cedar...Hip-hip...

[RadioJonD]

...

[kelly ann]

Hooray...!!! ''L''

How about a thread to show pics where we're from??

[sila]

take care claire xxxx

[Cedarfarm]

~WOW!
Thanks guys, and know this...you have been and always will be my inspiration. Why do you think I hang around? Huh?

Oh YABBA...

We need an OPERA right about now....xoxox

[Crown 84]

I second the nomination for Cedar to be our Photomaven...She is really, really good...Unless she wants to be really, really bad...But that's for another forum...Anywho...She's an excellent photographer! I have a number of her photos spinning around on my screen saver here at work...Perhaps we should start calling her Ansel...
I confess, I have one of her photos from last year as my wallpaper at work!
Now, for Monarch of coffee, I nominate.......drum roll, please......Beaner! (er, Binger, that is).
Surprise!!(??)

[Crown 84]

Ah! Cedar. You're here!
No doubt basking in well-deserved glory!

[JayIsh]

But we'll have to address Binger as Lord/Lady...Or Lady/Lord...And Crown will have to be King/Queen or Queen/King...sort of like one of those duvet cover things you get at Bed Bath and Beyond??? Queen/King??? Oh nevermind...

I'd like to be the Duke of Oil...If that's Ok with all of you...Or...If you'e prefer my Roman name...Glutimous Maximus...

[kelly ann]

My daughter had that nasty bug which is going around last weekend. It should ease off within 12-48 hrs!!

[kelly ann]

My daughter had that nasty bug which is going around last weekend. It should ease off within 12-48 hrs!! The flu is going around too, my husband and myself had that aswell....oh well at least we didnt have it over xmas.

[kelly ann]

sorry posted twice!!!

[Cedarfarm]

OMG Jay...I'm doubled over in pain...laughter...OMG..ZORA!!

[Cedarfarm]

My Merry Crownster!

[Maureen]

I'd like to be the Duke of Oil...If that's Ok with all of you...Or...If you'e prefer my Roman name...Glutimous Maximus...

Wasn't that a blues song - Duke, duke ,duke, duke of oil..........duke, duke, duke of oil...........

Sorry....!!!!

[Cedarfarm]

~Don't EVER buy a Duvet cover with buttons...you'll be sorry for the rest of your life.

YABBA!!! Dig those flannel sheets though.

[Binger]

I agree- we can use an Opera and I am inspired.... ok ok- let me work on this...
" The beautiful snow queen snapped her camera and sang an Aria depicting the graceful snow that covered the ground.." However, lurking nearby was the evil Crownster ( enters.. children scream, lighting goes dark, flowers wilt, rain drops begin to pelt audience..)_ who singsthe ariathat the magic powers of the snow queen are being revoked since the master flash bounced into their windows and kept them awake for 19 seconds...... hmmm ok ok.. got the basics.. let me work on this....... places everyone..places.. Opera any day now- ohhh dancing boy paus du lux time..........

[Binger]

Inthe words of Brooke Shields..

"Nothing comes between me and my flannel..( sheets..)"

[Cedarfarm]

OH Yeah Bingster. Ohhhh YEaH!! Genius at work! Work it baby, work it!!!

[sila]

oh no daughter has been vomiting violently all last night it was awful

[Crown 84]

But we'll have to address Binger as Lord/Lady...Or Lady/Lord...And Crown will have to be King/Queen or Queen/King...
Ah! Binger and I - the Mystery Monarchs.

Days to the Season: 313
Days to Christmas Day: 355
(Less than 2 weeks to the 300-day window!)
Time's already slipping away!

A chilly 39 outside in Raleigh at this hour.
The warmer weather predicted for today has so far not materialized. It was supposed to be in the mid 50's.

Have a Stupendous Saturday, my Christmas pals!
Keep that Christmas spirit with you.

[Crown 84]

Hey! Almost 100 posts already.
This thread must be on high-octane coffee!

[Binger]

OPERA PART XXVIII will debut tomorrow.... get your reserved tickets now... ohhhhh yeahhhhhhhhhh

[Binger]

isn't everyoneon high octane coffee? I know I am... 24/7... filler up..... I'm a pint low right now......... wake up NC, NJ, MI, Scotland.... hmmm that's weird....

YABBA!!

[RadioJonD]

OPERA PART XXVIII will debut tomorrow.... get your reserved tickets now... ohhhhh yeahhhhhhhhhh

Two tickets to paradise, please!

[Cedarfarm]

Oh SILA.. sorry to hear that. I hope your baby gets better soon!

Reserved a ticket...no wait, I'm in the Opera...OK...OK. Heehehe. Gotta get that wig dusted off...my lipstick and false eyelashes out. I said eyelashes.

[Crown 84]

OPERA PART XXVIII will debut tomorrow.... get your reserved tickets now...
.....Brought to you by Maxwell House and Folgers......

[Holiday]

Good rainy evening! Maybe this isn't a good place for me to visit...all this talk about java...now I have a craving for a big ol mug!!! :lol: I'm thinking about some Highlander Grogg...mmmmm.... Went to Hobby Lobby today. They had their scrapbook stickers 50% off- and I still spent over 30 bucks on CHRISTMAS stickers!!! Lol! I should have enough Christmas stickers to scrapbook the next 10 Christmas's! :) I also bought some CHRISTMAS lights for next year, 80% off - what a deal!! I saw our neighbors taking down their Christmas decorations today & my hubby took down our outside reindeer, santa & sleigh - so sad! I was going to let my inside decorations up until after the Buckeye game on Monday night, but now I'm thinking I might just take them down tomorrow. I'll see once! What a bummer! ONE more night to sit in the dark with only the Chrsitmas lights on. But I can't wait to get out all my snowmen...that will be fun!! Always have to have something to look forward too....

Have a great night ya'll!!!

[Cedarfarm]

~Hey Holiday!~ I was in Hobby Lobby just yesterday...found some Strathmore paper (watercolor)..4 huge sheets...for $9.99. Very nice! Saw some other cool must-have items...hard to leave with ANY cash in my wallet! Love that place!

[Holiday]

I had forgotten how big Hobby Lobby is & how much stuff they have!! Holy smokes! What a fun store!! :smile: I got some other scrapbooking stuff there on sale too. I wish it was closer.... (oh wait! Maybe not...) ;-)

[sila]

thank you cedar she got throught the night without being sick yipeeeeeeee

i threw out my lights as they broke when the tree fell then i found the spare bulbs when i was putting everything away!!!!!

[sila]

ive never heard of hobby lobby sounds fun

[Maureen]

I'll take 2 tickets please. Opera glasses at the ready........

[Binger]

Those opera glasses are not plaid.....

[Maureen]

Ha HA - that's where you're wrong; they have been customised!! Amazing what you can do with fabric remnants and sticky backed plastic!

[Binger]

Ok here goes... THE OPERA PART XXVIII "T8he Snow Queen"

Part One:
Scene- winter wonderland... ice, snow, Dairy Queen in background..... Blue and Silver Blizzards

Cedar enters and begins taking pictures all around.. She is wearing her Dusty Springfield Wig and sings the beautiful aria " I am not a drfit.." others enter including Maureen who immediately asks via an aria to "Take a picture of the background since the icicles appear to weave an intersting plaid pattern.." Cedar does and the two begin plotting to open a chain of Holly Lobby Stores which feature the new " CEDMO" photographs which feature plaid backgrounds. Holiday enters and via an aria announces that she too wants a piece of the retail picture. As Act One comes to a close, we see a Holly Lobby Store being erected next to the Dairy Queen. There is much rejoicing at the possibility of new retail store and an abundance of minimum wage jobs. Cedar continues taking pictures and sings the aria " The Look of Love is a Eckhardt 1000 Multi Disc Chromatic Camera..."

end Act 1

Act two..
Crown enters (lights dim, flowers wilt, cars stall, children scream...) and announces in an aria that there will be no store as they will use their powers to stop the picture taking. In an aria, they announce that "The flash from the picture taking is keeping me awake.." Radiojon appears and in a booming aria announced "The Holly Lobby is closed and will be turned into a mattress factory. Crown uses their powers to imprison Cedar in the Dairy Queen, where she is forced to work with blizzards. Binger appears and sings the aria "Even a mocha java jolt does not bring me happiness.. I miss the CEDMO pictures" Jayish enters and dances a paus du lux entitled "Urgent: It's not a song from 1980 by Foreigner.. It is a song about middle aged men..." ( pause here to allow audience to recover from laughter)... despite the lightness of the moment.. there is great saddness. We see Cedar in the background sitting at the dairy queen and molding her blizzard into a sculpture of a tractor while bluegrass star Mac Wiseman sings in the background..." Ain't no sunshine in my life.."

end Act 2

Act Three: (Finale)
Binger enters the Dairy Queen and orders a coffee flavored blizzard. Cedar makes a huge blizzard and then uses it to climb out of the Dairy Queen. She stands on top of the building and is granted powers from Auntie Mistletoe who enters from the sky singing the aria
"Ohhhh Canada: Land of Ice, Snow, and William Shatner.. three elements which bring about shivering" Cedar then uses her picture taking skills and makes Crown admit that no one needs 19 hours of sleep per day and that the Holly Lobby Store can open, and will even inlcude a minature section devoted to "napping." Then, in one of the most moving moments ever, Crown and Binger team up and announce they will form a rock band entitled " Monarch Mystery.." which will inlcude backdrops of CEDMO" pictures while they perform the hit single
"Coffee and Sleep: Not necessarily a contradiction." Maureen announces that the first exhibit at Holly Lobby will be entitled "Jayish: Thy tights are too tight.." Curtain closes with sila announcing in the world's shortest aria "Good evening."

end..

[Binger]

HAHHHH Take that Plaid Girl....

hey Wake up guys... new OPERA.. starring the beautoful snow queen of Michigan...............


YABBA!!!

[Maureen]

Curtain closes with sila announcing in the world's shortest aria "Good evening."

I'm hoping this isn't inferring "It ain't over til the fat lady sings"

Encore ENCORE.......*clap, clap, cheer, cheer*

Standing ovation!!!!!!!!!!!!

D*mn, dropped my glasses..........

[RadioJonD]

Cooler than a center seed in a cucumber, Bing! I'm on my feet too!

<something just crunched under my right heel?!?>

[Crown 84]

Oh WOW! I have the high honor and distinct privilege of being the first to read Opera Chapter XXVIII!
OK, Binger, you've convinced me it pays to drink coffee - how else can we explain your greatest masterpiece yet.
Glad I woke up in time to see it immediately after its grand opening!
http://img413.imageshack.us/img413/6364/applausejb7.gif

Days to the Season: 312
Days to Christmas Day: 354
On we go toward our first milestone!

Less chilly here in Raleigh this morning, with the thermometer currently standing at 51.
Should be a nice day to get some outside work on.
(Maybe I'll clean the old Crown Vic)

Have a Super Sunday!
Root for the NFL playoff team of your choice - drink coffee - dance - try on wigs - sleep - whatever turns you on!
Rest up for the start of another week - and another step closer to our great Season!

[Crown 84]

OOps! I have to take the "being the first" part back.
Two more posts came in while I was typing!

[Maureen]

<something just crunched under my right heel?!?>

NOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!

[sila]

Curtain closes with sila announcing in the world's shortest aria "Good evening."

I'm hoping this isn't inferring "It ain't over til the fat lady sings"

Encore ENCORE.......*clap, clap, cheer, cheer*

Standing ovation!!!!!!!!!!!!

D*mn, dropped my glasses..........

evening heh heh heh

[Holiday]

Ok here goes... THE OPERA PART XXVIII "T8he Snow Queen"

Part One:
Scene- winter wonderland... ice, snow, Dairy Queen in background..... Blue and Silver Blizzards

What a way to start the day!! :lol: Love it!!!! Bravo......

:!!

[sila]

grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr back to work today!!!!
i could get used to a life of leisure too

[scoobie]

How is it Monday again already? Ah well, one week down and that little bit closer to Christmas 2008!

Roll on Friday!

Scoobie

P.S: Does anyone else ever feel they are wishing their lives away? eg: I wish the weekend would get here quickly?! Maybe thats just me because I hate my job so much! :-s

[Crown 84]

Ah! Monday it is, my friend.
But as you say, we are but one step closer to Christmas Season 2008!

Steps to the Season: 311
Steps to Christmas Day: 353
(Felt like "stepp'in" out today)

Cool but not cold here this morning with the temp at 42 when I left for the office.
It will be downright spring-ish this afternoon, with the high predicted to be in the low seventies. (And possibly mid-70's tomorrow)

Have a Marvelous Monday, friends!

[JayIsh]

My first post here in a few days...

Fantastic opera Binger, as usual...Now I know why they call them tights...YIKES...

The days are speeding by as they did last year. I took most of the lights off the house yesterday...A job I'm not fond of...There are still some out there but it looks so bare. The knick-knacks and doo-dads have been boxed and put in the basement...The tree is still up but it's days are numbered as well...This is my least favorite time of year...To drive down the street and see the former centerpiece of a families Christmas celebration tossed to the curb, on it's side, a few strands of tinsel still connected and blowing in the wind...I hate to see that...But I know that the only way to get to next Christmas is to say goodbye to this one...so goodbye Christmas '07! And thanks! You were a real gem!

Have a great day!

jay

[Crown 84]

I like your philosophy, Jay.
I, too, am saddened by the sight of a discarded Christmas Tree.
I love natural trees but at least the artificial ones don't get thrown out like yesterday's newspaper.

[Holiday]

So true Jayish, so true!!

I am home for lunch now, I just finished taking down some of the outside decorations....it is so warm out today (66º)..I don't even need a coat...I know, I know...I'll be sick by the end of the week! :-? I'm sort of sad taking them down, but yet I know...it's time!

I am so pumped for the big game tonight!!! Something to look forward too!! And I am almost a little excited to take down my inside Christmas decorations tomorrow b/c that means I get to put out/experiment with my WINTER decorations!!!!
:dance:

Have a great day ya'll!!

Drive, drive on down the field, men of scarlet & gray...
GO BUCKS!!!!!

[AuntieMistletoeDear]

My first post here in a few days...

Fantastic opera Binger, as usual...Now I know why they call them tights...YIKES...

This is my least favorite time of year...To drive down the street and see the former centerpiece of a families Christmas celebration tossed to the curb, on it's side, a few strands of tinsel still connected and blowing in the wind...I hate to see that...But I know that the only way to get to next Christmas is to say goodbye to this one...so goodbye Christmas '07! And thanks! You were a real gem!

Have a great day!

jay


:tree: I/m so relieved to discover I'm not the only person who feels bad for the trees at the side of the road. On Thursday morning while I was looking out one of the windows at work, I saw my first one. It was about seven feet tall, a little wider than the height would suggest, a perfect tree for decorating - and there it was standing in or near the snowbank waiting for removal. I said, "Look!" you'd be surprised how many people actually looked. "There's a tree that was loved and admired and held surprises under it a short time ago - it's just standing there naked, losing needles and lonesome - poor little tree - I love you Mr. Fir and I hope the good truck comes to take you to the forest where you can be home to a few small critters instead of the bad truck that will take you to the dump - I'm sure you served the family well and although you didn't spend time in my home I'll miss you - still." Well then I couldn't continue. I was sad.

Well, I'm still here. Nobody locked me up after that dramatic performance, but y'all know deep down I felt bad for that tree. And it was also the first true sign that Christmas had come and gone again.

[AuntieMistletoeDear]

Ok here goes... THE OPERA PART XXVIII "T8he Snow Queen"
Act Three: (Finale)
She stands on top of the building and is granted powers from Auntie Mistletoe who enters from the sky singing the aria
"Ohhhh Canada: Land of Ice, Snow, and William Shatner.. three elements which bring about shivering" end..


:hello: Speaking of shivers and Shatner ...

My brother used to have a radio show called the Bruised Ego Hour on which he would play songs and recorded poetry from celebrities who think they can sing. This was broadcast around 1982 or thereabouts.

My New Year's gift to you comes from another source that shares one of the songs my brother once played for his listeners.

http://www.milkandcookies.com/link/29841/detail/

Check it out, but I warn you - it might cause you to toss your eggnog out the window or perhaps spit up your Java.

******

And Cedar - thanks for the recent snow scenes - beautiful!

*****

And to all y'all bunch of Christmas wackos (and I mean that in the fondest way possible)

May the Calendar keep bringing Happy Countdowns to us!

[JayIsh]

Have you ever read Hans Christian Anderson's story about the Christmas tree??? It almost broke my heart...whenever I see that story now I avoid it!!!

[RadioJonD]

Thanks for the milk and cookies, Auntie! You know what I'll be doing this afternoon!

[AuntieMistletoeDear]

:hello: Your welcome, RJD.

Ah Jay - you mean the Little Fir Tree

http://www.apples4theteacher.com/holidays/christmas/stories/the-fir-tree.html

Not the happiest of stories. Yet, I miss the days of fetching trees with my father (and brothers) and bringing it back home to decorate.

Thankfully, we do have a truck that picks up trees and brings them somewhere special.

[JayIsh]

Yeah...That's the one...Pass the tissues...

[AuntieMistletoeDear]

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y273/AuntieMistletoe/XmasPicAlbum/Kleenex.jpg Help yourself.

[Crown 84]

Well, I'm still here. Nobody locked me up after that dramatic performance, but y'all know deep down I felt bad for that tree. And it was also the first true sign that Christmas had come and gone again.
It's also a true sign that you are a kind and sensitive person with a big heart, Auntie.

[sugarplum fairy]

I can't believe how warm it was today. It was 72 degrees today. Tomorrow it is suppose to be 74 degrees. It was nice, but odd.

[Binger]

sow arm here.. it hit 74 today- doesn't feel like January.. hmm doesn't feel like June either.. better have some coffee and mull this over.....not mullet it over.. that's a haircut for men in tights!

YABBA! Away to the shispering pines.....

[Binger]

Ohhhhh Michigan gal.. time to check in........... what's up?

[Binger]

I'm one of those kind sensitive persons... big heart- wear it on my sleeve- always giving compliments to people who live in NC......

YABBA! I lie to ya'll and we're not even married! YABBA!

[Binger]

There is a tree here by my curb and I noticed it was a perfect tree- the first I have seen tossed out this year- so many people have gone artifical ( I have the aluminum tree.... so life like....) It does send a message that the season has ended.. I agree.. but if we kept it up year round, it wouldn't be special.. and hang on folks... we're less than two weeks away from our first milestone and we're heading towards the 25% mark....

YABBA!

[slgslg02]

merry christmas

[sila]

morning guys daughter up all night vomiting again!!!!
freeeezing here!

[scoobie]

Morning all,

Sila, sorry to hear about your daughter... hope she gets better soon! I'm in the office on my own today as the other two chaps in my department are off sick today!

Getting close to that first milestone! YAY!

I'm really tired today, was up at 5am working and I'm not even on call this week! Roll on 4pm when I can go home to bed! cheesy

Have a good day everyone...

Scoobie

[kelly ann]

Finally we're getting over the bug/flu or whatever else is going around!!

Sila...I hope your daughter gets well soon!

The decorations came down Sunday and my living room looks so depressing. I cant wait until Nov the first cos thats when i've decided to put them back up again....yippeee.

How is everyone else? Are you still watching xmas films and drinking eggnog? Hehehe

[Crown 84]

Like Old Man River, our count just keeps rolling along..........
Days to the Season: 310
Days to Christmas Day: 352

Foggy this morning!
(You know the fog is heavy when you have to run your windshield wipers continuoulsly even when it's not raining)

Just keep those great Virginia compliments coming - can't get enough of that coffee-generated humor! (Just be sure you don't spill any of that black stuff on my mattress)
<< OOOPS!! I said the s-word! Sorry, Bing! >>

Have a Terrific Tuesday, fellow Christmas Comrades!

[JOHNOR]

wooo hoooo! it'll be here before we know it!

my partners dad came round first thing this morning and starting painting our apartment, he has been here every day for a week. it's not that i don't appreciate it but i can't get anything done! he is singing so loud and being generally annoying! i know that sounds mean, i love him to bits but i need to clean up!

[Holiday]

Good afternoon all! I am trying to convince myself to start taking down decorations when I go home for lunch today! :( I know it has to be done!! I just love waking up in the morning & when I flip on the light switch, the room comes to life with colored lights on the tree, mantel & entertainment center! Ah well....in only a little over 10 months it will all go up again!! :smile:

Have a great day ya'll!!!

[Binger]

Anyone heard from Cedar?

[Binger]

Yepper... in 10 we go under 300- first milestone- then it is on to the 25% mark..... I see buds on the trees... blooming soon- which will lead us right back to fall.....

YABBA!

[JayIsh]

I saw buds as well Bing...A little different than the buds I looked for in the early eighties but buds none the less!!!

Here in Jersey, we broke records all over the place in terms of temperatures today...A little scary...Bulbs will begin the germinate and then be killed by the inevitable freeze that will come again...But I'm looking forward to fall alright...Last quarter of the year...That's my favorite!

jay

[Holiday]

It was almost 70º again here in Ohio today! I'm trying to decorate our house for winter tonight, but it's a little hard to get in the mood! Lol!!

I haven't heard from Cedar....Cedar where are you??? You weren't rooting hard enough for my team last night!! ;-)

[AuntieMistletoeDear]

Thanks, Crown.

Binger - here you go http://i7.tinypic.com/4cuepgi.jpg

~ Sila, sorry your daughter isn't feeling well. There's a nasty bug travelling around here too.

~ Talk about rain - it feels more like Easter is on the way.
We broke a record yesterday for the most rainfall in 24hr. - the last time we had this much rain in the winter months was in 1965.

Thankfully I was off yesterday and work is just a hop slip and puddle jump away.

[Iron Eagle]

Good Evening Everyone.

It's warm here in Chicago, with lots of rain. About 52 degrees (bummer), melted all the snow. I've even seen some of my neighbors taking their Christmas lights down. But not m e, I'm going to keep them up and on atleast until the 20th or so. If Mrs.Eagle doesn't yell at me.

Just a short hello tonight. My main computer system is still down at home sooooo, we'll see what happens next. Maybe an early Christmas present ( or late depending on how you look at it), from the computer Santa !!!!

Good night all.

[sila]

thank you auntie xxx
its soooo windy here im scared cos ive got a bit of a walk to the station

[clarebear]

Morning all :hi:

[scoobie]

Morning Clare, morning all!

Its hump day today.... the weekend is so close I can almost smell it cheesy

[Crown 84]

A Wonderful Wednesday greeting to one and all!
May your day be great and full of the spirit of the Christmas season.

Days to the Season: 309
Days to Christmas Day: 351
(Only single digits now to the 300-day window!)

I echo the comments on the weather. Incredibly warm. It was 62 on my thermometer when I left for work and is supposed to be about 70 by this afternoon. Hope it doesn't blow up a major storm.

One of the things I enjoy in the first weeks after Christmas is looking for "hold-over" Christmas decorations. There are still several decorated houses on my short (2-mile) commute to the office. It's fun to speculate on which house will be the last to take them down.

"Where, oh where, has our Cedar Farm gone?
Oh, where, oh where can she be?"
Come home, Cedar - the forest seems so bare without our shispering fir.

[JOHNOR]

hi guys!

got weighed yesterday and i have out on 6lb over christmas! hehe! i am off to weigh****chers tonight so wish me luck! anyone else put any weight on over christmas?

[Holiday]

Good afternoon all!!

Nothing too exciting going on around here today. Got the house decked out in snowmen last night....Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow!!!

JOHNOR....I try to avoid the scale at all cost during the holiday season!! Lol!! I thought for sure I had gained, but I actually didn't. I skipped a lot of meals though b/c we were always snacking!!! I could live on snacky food alone...I love it!! :lol:

Have a great day!!!

[Crown 84]

Good idea for a separate thread, Johnor!

I put on 5 pounds, which is unusual for me.
(Normally, it's only about 2)
Fortunately, loosing weight has never been a problem for me (I just simply eat less than usual for a while) and I have already lost 3 1/2 of those extra pounds.

[JayIsh]

A little after Christmas news...My wife can be a bit moody from time to time...So for Christmas we decided to get her a mood ring so I'd know when she was approachable and when she wasn't...Funny thing we have learned...When she's in a good mood the ring turns a beautiful emerald green...And when she's in a bad mood it leaves a big red mark on my forehead...

[Binger]

another record here- in the 70s and as beautiful as a double mocha latte from Starbucks.. hmmmm think I will go and get one now.....

YABBA!

[Binger]

hey Jay- lean up and over and bang on Cedra's door in Michigan and ask her to check in....

thanks-
YABBA!

[Crown 84]

You're not a dancer, Jay, you're a comedian!
(Hey, Binger, how about re-casting Jay in your next opera?)

[Binger]

No... he must dance.. he is the dance.. he is..( you knew I'd say it sooner or later..)

LORD OF THE DANCE!!!!

[Binger]

Auntie- I downed the Starbucks... another please....

[Crown 84]

[QUOTE=Binger;61878]No... he must dance.. he is the dance..QUOTE]
Hmmmm.....
How about a dancing comedian, then?

[sila]

morning all xxxxxxxxxxx
i need tea!

[sila]

A little after Christmas news...My wife can be a bit moody from time to time...So for Christmas we decided to get her a mood ring so I'd know when she was approachable and when she wasn't...Funny thing we have learned...When she's in a good mood the ring turns a beautiful emerald green...And when she's in a bad mood it leaves a big red mark on my forehead...
lol lol lol

[scoobie]

That had me laughing out loud Jayish!! Very good!!

Miserable weather this morning, it is dull and overcast and really windy! We certainly do get alot of weather in the UK! Did you know that in the UK, we get more tornados per square mile, than any other country?! Unfortunately, for weather watchers such as myelf they are ususally over with in a few minutes, and are pretty small!!

Oh, and morning all! :-)

[Crown 84]

Days to the Season: 308
Days to Christmas Day: 350
(Our first milestone, the 300-day window, arrives just a week from tomorrow. Our count is moving right along!)

Forty-Nine to start my morning commute. Rain predicted today and tomorrow. We still need it owing to our continuing drought.

Have a Thrilling Thursday, folks!

........And Jay, we don't care if you dance, tell jokes or both, we're just glad you're here.

[JayIsh]

Thanks Crown! You have no idea how much those words mean to me this morning!!!

I can assure you that there have been many, many teachers in my life who thought I was less than funny...But such is the life of the class clown...

Sounds like Vaudeville would have been a suitable home for me if only I'd been born 50-60 years earlier...Singing, dancing, telling jokes..."A funny thing happend to me on the way down to the studio tonight..."

I'll email our buddy Cedar and see if I can get her to poke her head in and say hello! Happy January 10th!~

jay

[Holiday]

Good morning everybody!! Could be a long day ....too many bosses in MY office this morning!! :lol:
I noticed frost on our nieghbors rooftop this morning...starting to feel like January in Ohio! Hope ya'll have a GREAT day!!
http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d102/bucks_fanatic/image11evensmaller.jpg

[JayIsh]

Here's an oldie, but a goody!!!


A blonde and her husband are lying in bed listening to the next door neighbor's dog. It has been in the backyard barking for hours and hours.

The blonde jumps up out of bed and says, 'I've had enough of this'. She goes downstairs.

The blonde finally comes back up to bed and her husband says 'The dog is still barking, what have you been doing?'

The blonde says, 'I put the dog in 'OUR' backyard, let's see how THEY like it!

Badumpbump...

[scoobie]

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d102/bucks_fanatic/image11evensmaller.jpg

Heyyyy, how did you manage to snap that picture of me this morning?! ;-)

[Holiday]

Heyyyy, how did you manage to snap that picture of me this morning?! ;-)

Watch what you do... you never know who is looking (and taking pictures!) :lol:

[Crown 84]

Gee! Is that what Binger looks like when their coffee goes bad?

[Binger]

Gee! Is that what Binger looks like when their coffee goes bad?

No- it is whatyou look like without the required 19 hours of rest....

YABBA!

[Binger]

hmmm still no sign of Cedar... search party- everyone out... search party everyone on to Michigan.....

[sila]

morning xxxxxxx
its been a long week!

[scoobie]

Morning all,

It certainly has been a long week! But it's now Friday! Yay! Awful weather down here in the SE of England. It's still really dark, bucketing down with rain, and fairly windy too! Not nice! Its the kind of weather where you want to be all cosy at home, with a nice cuppa coffee, some christmas chocolates and a christmas mooovie or two.... hmmm think I may have found my plan for tomorrow :-)

I was going to try and make it into chat tonight, but I think I need an early one... I'm shattered!

Hope you all have a great and groovy day!

Scoobie

[Crown 84]

Friday it it, Scoobie.
And I hope everyone has a Fabulous one!

Days to the Season: 307
Days to Christmas Day: 349
(One week to the 300-day window, our first milestone!)

Very damp and dreary here this morning in Raleigh but warm
with the temp about 60. Colder weather is set to move in for next week, however.
Things are so dry here, one of our local legislators has actually suggested cloud seeding (no kidding).

Have a Wonderful Weekend, everyone!

[kelly ann]

Hey everyone, how's it going!!!?

watching Home Alone at the mo with my daughter. Trying to keep the christmas mood going for a bit longer!!

Hasnt stopped raining here unfortunately.....no sign of snow either...

[JOHNOR]

weather is horrible here, really dull and rainy. to be honets i am not too bothered as i don't have anywhere to go.

i am having a terrible time with my car, it's making some very strange noises and the electrics have gone, unfortuantely i don't have any money to get it fixed, my boyfriend will have to pay but he's being very nasty to me today for some reason, so i daren't ask!

anyone know anything about cars? i could do with the advice

[JayIsh]

A little light humor...

My Veterinarian is also a Taxidermist!

The great thing about him is that no matter what happens, you get your dog back!

Good luck with the car...I know about as much about cars as I do brain surgery...

[Holiday]

Happy Friday all!!! :D

What an icky day outside!! Cold & rainy/sleet....brrrrr...I'm liking your idea Scoobie - home, coffee, chocolate, christmas movie...ahhhhhh! I wish I were home now! Only my agenda would probably be - home, movie, glass of wine, popcorn! :lol:

Last night I started to watch A Christmas Romance - I made it about 1/2 way through & I couldn't stay awake anymore...too many late nights in a row! I told myself I was going to watch a Christmas movie every Thursday night while my hubby is bowling - it's a good plan, just need to stay awake! Lol!! I need to start the movie before 11:00! It is a cute movie so far...I definately want to see the rest!!

Ya'll have a GREAT day!!!

[Binger]

getting ready to storm here
warm though

[Binger]

Good time for coffee..t hink I'll have some now
YABBA

[sila]

morning
grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr off out with daughter in a mo to get her nails done and its freezing out id rather stay in and get the housework done!

[Holiday]

It's SATURDAY!! The greatest day of the week!
:dance:
I got my Christmas scrapbook DONE last night!! What a great feeling, but it was so fun to do - now I don't know what I'll do in my spare time!! :lol: Of course I still have to do the 2007 pictures, but I don't have them back yet. Should be here next week! We are having our pictures taken this morning for our church book. I'm never too thrilled about this...It's a guarentee that the hair won't cooperate & I'm going to be ticked here in about an hour!! Lol! Oh well...at least they are being taken just down the road from our house, so it's nice 'n convenient for us! The appointments are set up every 10 minutes, so it shouldn't (or better not) take long!! After that, we have NO plans the rest of the weekend, which doesn't happen very often, so it's kinda nice! We went out to eat at a Mexican restaurant w/ another couple last night & then to another friends house for a small party. Thought we would be home early...HA...got home at 2 AM! Oh well...it was a good time. Got to see some friends we haven't seen in quite awhile!

Enjoy your weekend everybody!!

[Crown 84]

Good Morning, one and all!
A beautiful morning here in Raleigh, premier city of the old South!
Spared by Sherman's army during the civil war, our city shines bright! Come for a visit some day!

Days to the Season: 306
Days to Christmas Day: 348
(Under a week now to the 300-day window!)

Lacking something witty to say this morning, I will simply place a link to a cartoon you might like (Binger in particular)

http://www.cartoonstock.com/newscartoons/cartoonists/mfl/lowres/mfln341l.jpg

Have a Stupendous Saturday, everyone!

[Binger]

That cup is too small- I had that much by 7:00Am....
YABBA!

[Binger]

hmmm Sherman spared Raleigh? What nothing to burn there?

YABBA!

[sila]

evening all xxx

[Cedarfarm]

HEY!! You Christmas Nutter~Butters!

SATURDAY!!! ....Anything is possible! YABBA! Anything!!

I landed a design job in Kalamazoo last week, it is a HUGE job. I've been working on it, steadily for days now...no end in sight.

Hope you have an awe-inspiring day my friends.

YABBA!

[sweetmisery]

Hey guys, its Sunday here already, 4:21 am. Cant sleep. Just thinking how more months before Christmas. Good thing Ive planned out what Ill be doing each month, and most of them will be fun...

January - 3rd year dating anniversary with my girlfriend
February - Valentines
March - nothing really but looking forward to summer(April - June)
April-May - getting a PS3! Summer time here, so Ill be spending my time with my cousins which are close to me.
June - my birthday month
August - July - nothing special except that were on the 2nd half of the year
SeptemBER - start of BER season. Some malls here will start selling/decorating Christmas stuffs!!!
October - December - GREAT! Need I say more?

[Holiday]

CEDAR! Good to hear from ya! We were worried!!! :grin: Congrats on the big job!! Hope to hear more from you soon!

sweetmisery: Looks like you've got your year planned! Makes Christmas '08 seem like it will be here in no time at all!

Got our pictures done this morning...it went super fast & yes, the camera still worked after our pictures were taken! :lol: Our appt. was at 10:20 - he took our pictures (5 poses) - we picked out which ones we wanted & we were pulling out of the parking lot at 10:31!! That's the way to do it! My hubby is out loafing w/ his Dad all afternoon so I went to Walmart....not 1 sign of Christmas left in the store! Kinda sad!

[Crown 84]

[B]I landed a design job in Kalamazoo last week, it is a HUGE job. I've been working on it, steadily for days now...no end in sight.

Congrats, my friend!
What kind of a design job?
Anything that might involve Christmas designs this December??

[Crown 84]

hmmm Sherman spared Raleigh? What nothing to burn there?
Ahem! I'll have you know that it was my illustrious ancester, Crown 55, who was responsible for saving the city.
He was a good friend of Gen. Sherman before the war and requested that he bypass Raleigh so as not to disturb his sleep.
See - something good CAN come from sleeping!

[sila]

well done cedar xxxxxxxxx

[Cedarfarm]

~Good Morning Friends and Thank You Kindly!~ With the payment from this one job alone, I intend to buy myself a 'real' camera, a Nikon D80 digital...but that's a LONG way down the road!

Crownster, that is just INCREDIBLE...your ancestors were responsible for the saving of an entire city like Raleigh!! You must be so proud. So you still have the original capitol building then? Also think of all those beautiful ancient trees that were saved as well as the architecture.
~BUT....what about the mattress raid on the city? I believe it was called "Sherman's Great Mattress Burn of 1865". When they dragged all the mattresses out to the center square and burned them. Geesh, no wonder you are always tired..heeheehee. lol.

Holiday my girl, great job getting those scrapbooks finished!! Way to go!!!

Where on earth...is Norfolk? YABBA!!

[Binger]

I have never been so glad to see a post in all my life......

YABBA x 10000

[Binger]

hmmm so Raleigh was spared for extra sleep... now sparing a city for coffee- that is something worth saving..... think I will go have a cup and exhale ....

YABBA YABBA YABBA!~YABBA

[Crown 84]

Days to the Season: 305
Days to Christmas Day: 347
(Closer and closer to that first milestone!)

Cedar, you are right about the Great Mattress Burn (something the Crown family doesn't talk about much) but that happened down in Atlanta, not Raleigh. What do you think Sherman used to start that fire with, anyway?
(Remember, Crown 55 and Sherm were old pre-war buddies - he would never burn a mattress in Raleigh!)

Now, Bing, don't tell me coffee saved any Virginia cities!
(If so, I want to hear all about it in your next opera chapter.)

A cool 46 degrees outside at this hour. Possible sprinkles predicted.

Have a Super Sunday, Guys!
And a great start to next week, a week during which we reach our first coundown milestone!

[sweetmisery]

You forgot a few in March there's Easter
In July there is Christmas in July here.

Yeah though here in the Philippines, we dont celebrate Easter as much. Its more of a serious religious holiday than Easter bunnies and whatnot.

[Holiday]

Happy Sunday Ya'll! Snow is predicted for us today & tomorrow!! YAY! It's not snowing yet, but I say BRING IT ON!!!

Not much going on here today...hubby is working on our clogged, leaking shower :-( & I am working on getting pictures organized....MAN do I have a lot of pictures! I've captured lots of memories over the years.... Lol!!

Hope you all have a SUPER SUNDAY!!! :smile:

[Binger]

ohhhhh Jayish... I See you.............stop talking plaid with Maureen.....

[Maureen]

Plaid, plaid, plaidity, plaid......

[Binger]

hmmm Opera part XXIX

"The shispering pines were being threatened by the onslaughtof General Crown who insisted not upon burning and looting, but in inflicting a 23 hour nap time upon everyone...."

hmmm gotta work on this one....

YABBA!

[Binger]

hellpppp the world is being overtaken by those who feel that stripes in multiple colors are the only true fashion.,.........

[Binger]

no names of course....

YABBA!

[AuntieMistletoeDear]

Gee! Is that what Binger looks like when their coffee goes bad?

This is what Binger looks like if their coffee runnith empty

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y273/AuntieMistletoe/garfield24eo.gif




And if it tastes bad, you'll get this . . .

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y273/AuntieMistletoe/GarfieldCoffeeTea.gif

[AuntieMistletoeDear]

:cry: I drove by Binger's place and snapped those myself.

:hello: One PM tutorial coming up.

[Maureen]

Does it matter if it tastes bad if you still get the 1000 mega watt caffeine rush??!!!!

[AuntieMistletoeDear]

... but first I have to share something.

For the romantic folks out there and those who wish they had snow . . .

My husband and I were finished our coffee, packed and ready to come home from our trip to Ottawa last weekend when I spotted a couple lounging on their deck. I had to take a picture of them.



http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y273/AuntieMistletoe/XmasPicAlbum/FrostyLady208x192.jpg


Isn't that adorable? The weather had been mild and the clumps of snow that fell onto the lounge chairs started to melt and when I saw them all I could see was Frosty and his sweetheart holding hands on their deck in front of their log home.

My neighbour told me to send it to the weather network. I will,but I'm going to wait until closer to February, it would make a nice Valentine photo. I made two banners from the photo, but if I send it in, it would simply be the snow couple alone with no frills attached.



Here's what I did with the other one
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y273/AuntieMistletoe/XmasPicAlbum/WinterLove183x242.jpg


Raise your hands if you just said, "awwhh"!

Walk away from the computer screen if you're about to spit out your coffee.

******

Nice to hear from you Cedar - bet you're having fun.

[Binger]

Just what I did Auntie... and I HATE to spit out coffee!!!

[Binger]

hey the cowboys just lost! ( yesssssss)

YABBA!!

[Holiday]

Technically, it's Monday already! Ugh! Do ya ever have one of them Sunday nights where ya just don't want to go to bed b/c the next thing you know the alarm clock will be going off & it will be Monday morning - time to go to work! That's where I'm at right now! Lol!! It's 12:30 AM & I just finished making White Chili (crock pot) & a fruit salad for supper (tonight)...will be nice to not have to make supper after work! I just can't believe the weekend is over already...they go too darn fast!!

We went to the bowling alley tonight & on the way home I saw 1 house w/ some Christmas decorations still up! :)

Auntie...I too love all your animations & siggy's...Garfield & Coffee...doesn't get much better than that!! :smile: Cute "snow lovers" too!

[sila]

morning all
monday again grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr
can you teach me too auntie please xxx

[Crown 84]

A Marvelous Monday Morning to one and all!

Days to the Season: 304
Days to Christmas Day: 346
Hey! Not very long at all to milestone #1!

It was 35 to start my morning commute with lows in the 20's predicted for the rest of the week.
(That's windshield sheet weather for sure!)

Looks like a busy one here at the office today so I'll ring off.
See you later.

[Cedarfarm]

Oh Brother...it is so very Bleak out there...I hate this time of year...various shades of gray. Take the rope to the barn OR sit under the sun lamp for 10 minutes with IPOD on and listen to "Moonlight Feels Right" by Starbuck!...that 70's song with the great marimba solo...remember? Takes me back to those carefree California days in the 70's.. Let's cruise down highway 101, Carmel south to Big Sur...Ready? Let's Go guys!
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b300/chicks_/806.jpg

[Cedarfarm]

C'mon, lets pile in the car. All together now...'Moonlight feels right, Moonlight feels right'...Yeah! Oh feel that sun. YABBA!
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b300/chicks_/big-sur-color-blog.jpg

[Holiday]

Ahhhhh...Cedar...you're killin me!! ;-)

[Cedarfarm]

Ahh C'mon Hol~ throw some sun lotion in a bag and let's boogie! hehehe

OK?

[JayIsh]

I'm in! Just tell me where and when...I'll be there!!!

Equally gray in Jersey today...And none of the snow they promised...A real bummer!

jay

[RadioJonD]

Been there; Done that Cedar; only it was the early eighties!

"...I'll play the radio on southern stations
'Cause southern belles are *&@% at night..."

[scoobie]

Evening all! Missed my fix of this place over the weekend, as my ISP had kindly turned my internet connection off! It's now back and groovy, so I'm a happy bunny once again!

So close to that first milestone, I can almost touch it!

Happy Monday everyone! :-)

[Cedarfarm]

~RadioJon...somehow I just KNEW that...somehow. LOL! C'mon Jayster...get packed baby!

~Ohhh Nothing better..than good memories, I wouldn't give up my 'youthhood in CA for anything..the 70's ROCKED!

YABBA!! ~Wish you had been with me! ~YABBA!

'Moonlight feels right, Moonlight feels.....SCREEEEEECH....oops, went over the guard rail!

[kelly ann]

Hi all

The picture of the beach looks wonderful - just add in a few snowmen and some xmas trees and it would be perfect!!! lol


Anyhow my daughter has written her letter to Santa so xmas cant be far off again!!

Have a great week

kelly

[Crown 84]

Ah, Cedar! What can I say? Two more photo masterpieces!
No wonder you got the designer job - you can sure compose a good photo!
Shouldn't you be listening to Glenn Miller's "Kalamazoo", though??
(Another great old big-band song!)

[Cedarfarm]

~Crownster! Those aren't my photos!! A Google for Big Sur images! Thanks anyways my friend!

[Binger]

I LOVE Big Sur... ahh California....

ohhhhhhhhhh Big Country with Big Coffee..... ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh YABBA!

[Binger]

hmmm Opera..must write Opera...

" As the sun came up across Big Sur everyone was gleeful in the shispering pines.... Maureen pledged to weave a new plaid using sun colors.. Binger vowed to brew coffee from the pine cones.. Cedar vowed to take the wonderful pictures and not sell them to anyone who would make tacky placemats.. Auntie vowed to annex the mountain and make it a part of Canada in honor of it's most famous starlet.." William Shatner" Jayish vowed to dance a paus du lux in honor of Big Sur.... all was well until.....( darkness....) Crown entered and demanded that Big Sur be torn down in order to mazimize the mountain in the making of coils for a super dooper sealy posturepedic mattress......

ohhhhh opera opera.......l

[Maureen]

More......must have...........more.........

[Cedarfarm]

...Could it be...Andrea True? More, More, More?...hmmmm.

[gracie]

hey guys remember me?

[Cedarfarm]

~GRACIE-MAE!~ How ARE you? So great to hear from you!!!

[sila]

morning all xxxx

[scoobie]

Morning everyone... gale force winds and heavy rain today... lovely :-?

I've decided, I'm going to have Christmas in January in 10 days time... nothing fancy, just a christmas dinner, some christmas music and a film or two!

Does anybody else love turkey sandwiches with just a sprinkling of salt, and nothing else? It has to be turkey from a roast turkey, not the packet stuff?! Thats one thing I loooove about Christmas... turkey sandwiches for days after!

Anyhoo, happy Tuesday all... hope you all have a great day!

Scoobie

[Crown 84]

~Crownster! Those aren't my photos!! A Google for Big Sur images! Thanks anyways my friend!
Oh.

My disappointment is matched only by your honesty.
But my comment still holds - great CHOICE of photos, then!

Hmmm......... Mattress coils from mountains(??) I don't know....
Perhaps a giant hammock slung between two peaks! Ah! Now there's a thought! High up in the gently blowing wind - high over the noise of traffic, rock music.......and those annoying coffee perculators.

A chilly good morning from cold Raleigh, the city of oaks!
It was a crisp 27 when I departed for the office, grateful for my windshield cover that saved ice scraping.
Even colder temps are predicted for tonight. Possibly low 20's.
Then, maybe some form of frozen precipitation for Thursday.
The problem around here is that it generally falls as sleet or freezing rain rather than snow - not as pretty and more dangerous.

Well, a Teriffic Tuesday to you!
May the breeze be at your back and the sight of Christmas always ahead.

[Cedarfarm]

Good Morning Friends!

Before I dive into work, I had to stop by and say Hello.

Crownster, a very enjoyable post you wrote this morning. You have an eloquent way of writing. A good read on yet another bleak January day.

WONDERFUL mini Operetta Bingster...tacky placemats have a place in the world...somewhere! Ohhhh Yabba..how could we get along without you? And by the way, I tried pinecone coffee once in a hippie restaurant in San Francisco. Ended up in a Chinatown hostel with a Chinese Pug (the dog...) lying next to me. lol.

Now, after those inspirational thoughts...back to work.

Scoobie~ I LOVE turkey sandwiches. Just plain, little butter...salt & pepper..little mayo...ummmmmmmm.

[Crown 84]

I love turkey sandwiches, too.
Just gobble them up, washed down with properly sweetened ice tea (never coffee!).

[JayIsh]

I had a similar experience with tea Cedar...Except mine ended in a Buddhist Monestery in Monterey and I only had one shoe...I think Jerry Garcia was there...And maybe Timothy Leary...And the guy who played Uncle Martin on "My Favorite Martian"...Maybe that was a dream...Nevermind...

[JayIsh]

More Light Humor!!!

A thief in Paris planned to steal some paintings from the Louvre.

After careful planning, he got past security, stole the paintings and made it safely to his van.

However, he was captured only two blocks away when his van ran out of gas

When asked how he could mastermind such a crime and the make such an obvious error, he replied,

"Monsier that is the reason I stole the paintings.

I had no Monet

to buy Degas

to make the Van Gogh"

See if you have De Gaulle to repeat this joke.

[Cedarfarm]

CROWN said: "I love turkey sandwiches, too.
Just gobble them up, washed down with properly sweetened ice tea (never coffee!)."

~Heeheehee! You GOBBLE them up?

[Cedarfarm]

~Jayster....if Timothy Leary was there, you should be happy you have a brain at all!!! LOL/oh my.

[Iron Eagle]

Goodmorning Everyone !

As I drove home last night, I counted the last remaining houses that had their Christmas lights still turned on. It saddens me to say I'm down to 5, that includes me ! I like to hang one to the season as long as I can. I'm sure most of the homeowners in my area have been taking advantage of the warm weather of the last week or so. Now it's getting cold again, and we got a little snow yesterday. It started to look like Christmas all over again.

Song for today: Bing Crosby - It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas

On the topic of turkey, My vote is two thumbs up. I got ripped off this year in the turkey count in December. Every where we went for Christmas (pre and post), everyone served some very fantastic meals, of every sort . . . . . . . . . . . . but NO TURKEY. (sniffle) Mrs Eagle is going to make turkey on my next weekend day off, which won't be for a few more weeks. Oh, well ! I can almost tast those turkey sandwiches. Hmmmmm Christmas in January, Scoobie might be onto something. Most of my indoor deco is still up. That might work.

Jay - That was bad, even by my standards

Have a good day.

[scoobie]

Grrrr.... I havent been able to stop thinking about turkey sandwiches all day long! I've just had a lovely dinner, but I'm still thinking about turkey sandwiches!! I want to go out this weekend and buy a turkey for this sole purpose! I still have a christmas pudding in the cupboard too so I'll be good to go!!

Hmmm anybody know where I can buy christmas puddings all year round? I tried to get some in my local supermarket just after Christmas to stock up for the year, but they didnt have any left! Booooo! :-(

Anyhoo, enough waffling for me...... hmmmm waffles.... with maple syrup... yum!

Scoobie

[Holiday]

Ahh C'mon Hol~ throw some sun lotion in a bag and let's boogie! hehehe

OK?

OK!!!!!! Lets go now!!! It's C-c-c-c-c-cold today!!!!! Brrrrrr!!!
:cold:

BUT, it just started snowing!!! YAY!!!!! :D

[Holiday]

hey guys remember me?

Gracie!!!! Great to "see" you!! How have you been?? Hope you had a great holiday season!! Stop in & see us more often! :smile:

[Binger]

and Coffeee,,,, let's not forget the coffee.. cause a day with coffee is like a day spent sleeping in a hammock while breathtaking photos are being taken up on Big Sur.. but one can not get outof bed long enough to enjoy them.... AHHHHH YABBA!

[Binger]

GRACIE!!!!! HEY HEY HEY!!!! Welll allll right... we are truly all together again.,.Jay- quick- a paus du lux in honor of Gracie being here with us! Gracie- welcome home... you are among friends!

YABBA!

[Crown 84]

CROWN said: "I love turkey sandwiches, too.
Just gobble them up, washed down with properly sweetened ice tea (never coffee!)."

~Heeheehee! You GOBBLE them up?
Heh! Heh! I thought someone would catch on to that one.