Category Archives: Holiday

Where there’s smoke

Posted on January 23, 2012 | 2 Comments

For people who celebrate Chinese New Year — or just heart Chinese food — today marks the official beginning of the Year of the Dragon.  According to legend, the dragon is a symbol of good fortune, intense power and authority.

That’s so hot.

But I have to wonder – what kind of dragon will 2012 be?

Will it be like the dragon in the first Shrek movie — ferocious and fire-breathing one moment, then a puddle of mush the next, all because of the attentions of a wise-cracking yet lovable Donkey?

(And how many months of the year will be fire-like, and how many mush?)

Or will 2012 be a dragon with a temperament more in keeping with the three beasts in the Tri-Wizard Tournament in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire?  They also breathed fire and brimstone, but were initially restrained by bars and chains.  When they finally broke free, they fought till the death to vanquish their enemies.

Not sure I want to go up against a year like that.

No, I would prefer the Year of the Dragon to be more like Toothless in How to Train Your Dragon.  He was first misunderstood and underestimated, but man oh man — didn’t he end up being exactly the kind of dragon you wanted on your team when the going got tough.

Yep.  That’s the 2012 I’d like to see.

→ 2 Comments

Posted in Animals, Astrology, Commentary, History, Holiday, Humor, Life, New Years

Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Open arms

Posted on January 21, 2012 | 2 Comments

What can help you both build up your immune system and decrease your risk of heart disease and stress?

Hint: it’s not a pill, an exercise routine or the now ubiquitous green smoothie.

It’s the hug — that simple (and simply wonderful) one-on-one human contact between friends and loved ones.

Fantastic, huh?

Lucky for all of us, today is National Hug Day!  The holiday was established in 1986 to encourage PDA-phobic Americans to ‘reach out, reach out and touch someone.’ So now’s your chance to get out there and improve your health, your happiness and your overall state of being.

You’ll probably freak out a few people along the way, but hey — that’s just a bonus for feeling so gosh darn happy!

(See you out there.)

→ 2 Comments

Posted in Commentary, Exercise, Family, Friends, Health, Holiday, Humor, Life, Love, Philosophy, Relationships

Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

If a tree falls

Posted on January 8, 2012 | Leave a comment

O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree,
Your branches green delight us!
O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree, What’s next for you we should discuss.

You grace our homes with twinkle lights,  Then hug the curb — that’s just not right.

O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree,
Plus, my dog pees on you.

A lot.

→ Leave a comment

Posted in Comedy, Commentary, Environment, Green, Holiday, Humor, Life, Music

Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Pie in the sky

Posted on January 6, 2012 | 1 Comment

Let them eat cake. — Marie Antoinette
Let them eat pie. — The Sticky Egg

I have never been a fan of cake.

For my birthday, I prefer pie.  Fruit pie.  (Lemon pie, to be picky and specific.) Sometimes I get one; often I don’t.

But then again, I don’t have a pie fairy like Willis Welch.

For the past 35 years, Willis has received a pecan pie at his Columbus, Ohio door every Christmas.  From whom he can not say, even after all this time.

This year’s pastry was accompanied by a note announcing the pie fairy’s retirement saying,  “I am a little too fat to fly anymore.”

While I’m sad this particular pie maker is grounded, I am inspired by his tradition.  We need more pie fairies in the world!  At birthdays, anniversaries, holidays, sick beds — you name it!  Life needs more pie in it.

Will you be my pie fairy?

→ 1 Comment

Posted in Humor, Foods, Holiday, Life, Food, Cooking

Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

The white stuff

Posted on December 30, 2011 | Leave a comment

HAPPY NATIONAL BAKING SODA DAY!

You heard me.

And don’t act like you aren’t celebrating, either.

I mean, how could you not?  Baking soda has a plethora of uses around the kitchen and home.

Did you know that baking soda…

  • Helps baked goods rise
  • Relieves stomach indigestion
  • Removes odors in the refrigerator and kitty litter
  • Can tenderize meat
  • Can minimize flatulance from eating beans
  • Polishes silverware
  • Removes burned food from pots and pans

How would we get along with it?  Why aren’t we celebrating National Baking Soda Week??

Sorry.  Got overly excited.  Going to drink some baking soda mixed in water to calm myself.

Enjoy the day.

→ Leave a comment

Posted in Comedy, Commentary, Cooking, Food, Foods, Holiday, Humor, Life

Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Ugly wins

Posted on December 28, 2011 | 3 Comments

This post is ugly and time sensitive.

So VOTE NOW!

My sister-in-law Debbie is competing in an ‘Ugly Christmas Sweater Contest’ sponsored by First Kentucky Bank.  Take a look at her entry below.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What could beat that?

So click on the photo.  It will take you to the Facebook page where you can ‘LIKE’ the photo and vote her sweater the ugliest in the land.

BUT VOTE NOW!  The contest closes today at 1:30pm ET / 12:30pm CT.

Ugly rules.  (And family even more so.)

Note: Debbie WON! Thanks for your support.

→ 3 Comments

Posted in Christmas, Family, Fashion, Holiday, Humor, Life

Tagged , , , , , , , , , ,

Hearth and home

Posted on December 26, 2011 | Leave a comment

Christmas may have come and gone, but the yule log is still burning bright.

On TV, that is.

I have been visiting my sister and brother-in-law for the holidays, and they haven’t had cable television in years. They watch movies and TV shows via Internet streaming services like Netflix and Hulu.com.

So when they aren’t online or are listening to music, chances are pretty good a fire is burning on their TV. This has become a tradition of sorts at Christmas, but I didn’t know where it originated until today.

Chalk up another one for New York City.

WPIX-TV Channel 11 was the first TV station to broadcast the burning yule log way back in 1966. President and CEO Fred M. Thrower thought residents of New York who didn’t have fireplaces would appreciate the added holiday cheer. And it allowed station employees to stay home and celebrate Christmas with their families during the four-hour time slot.

It’s like I’m always saying…

New Yorkers are the nicest people.

→ Leave a comment

Posted in Christmas, Commentary, History, Holiday, Humor, Life, Travel

Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

It feels like Christmas

Posted on December 25, 2011 | 1 Comment

It’s in the singing of a street corner choir
It’s going home and getting warm by the fire
It’s true
Wherever you find love
It feels like Christmas

A cup of kindness that we share with another
A sweet reunion with a friend or a brother
In all the places you find love
It feels like Christmas

 

 

It is…the season of the heart
A special time of caring
The ways of love made clear
It is…the season of the spirit
The message if we hear it
Is make it last all year

It’s in the giving of a gift to another
A pair of mittens that were made by your mother
It’s all the ways that we show love
That feel like Christmas

A part of childhood we’ll always remember
It is the summer of the soul in December
Yes, when you do your best for love
It feels like Christmas

It’s true, wherever you find love
It feels like Christmas.

Merry Christmas, everyone!

–”It Feels Like Christmas” from The Muppet Christmas Carol
by Paul Williams

→ 1 Comment

Posted in Christmas, Holiday, Humor, Life, Love, Music

Tagged , , , , , , , ,

That’s the spirit

Posted on December 24, 2011 | Leave a comment

Did you know you can track Santa’s progress tonight via NORAD?

Yep, as in the North American Aerospace Defense Command.  And all because of a misprinted phone number.

Back in 1955, a newspaper ad for a Sears store in Colorado Springs advertised a direct line to Santa Claus.  Callers instead reached CONRAD  — NORAD’s predecessor — and hotline operator Colonel Harry Shoup obligingly used the radar to track Santa for the kids on the line.

That’s customer service, folks.

And a tradition was born.  Since 1958, NORAD volunteers have personally responded to phone calls and emails about Santa from children all around the world. Today NORAD provides up-to-the-minute info on Santa’s location via Google Earth and Google Maps, and Twitter and Facebook posts about each sighting, including the cookies and beverages consumed by the big man at each stop.

Talk about turning a wrong into a right.

Way to go, Harry.

→ Leave a comment

Posted in Business, Christmas, Commentary, Holiday, Humor, Internet, Life

Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,