Christmas Countdown - 2012

[made582]

Isn't the whole Super Bowl experience in your town interesting? I know when it was here last year it filled up almost all our news time but I enjoyed the coverage of it. Some people complained to the news stations about it. It's just wild how your whole town transforms into a completely different place.

It is pretty cool. It looks like downtown Indy has been transformed. Everything is completely decked out. I'm still trying to decide if I want to go down there this week or not. There is no way I would try to drive down there but the city busses are all going to be free thursday through sunday so I may hop on one and head down. The news stations have all set up in the super bowl village and have been broadcasting from there the last couple of days. My facebook page has also been exploding with updates from all of the news stations. We have also been getting a special section in the newspaper everyday dedicated to the super bowl.

 

[Christmasstar]

@Christmasstar-I tried to quote but it did not work,...but your cake looks Awesome!!! especially the buttercream frosting made my blood sugar go up just by looking at it..if we have a Christmas party here at mmc I nominate you to make the desserts!
I just got back from morning church services and am about to warm up dinner which is leftovers from every night this past week...so we are having pot pie,lasagna,brownies for derssert,ham...just a little bit of everything so I can start over on new things tomorrow! I hope everyone is having an awesome sunday!! Alot of folks were out at church with Flu,I am glad Brandi and Jordan did not go...don't want them getting sick!! have a great afternoon everyone!

thank you, I would love to do that!
Lunch sounds delicious!

 

[jennifer91]

I swear, there is no feeling more satisfying than getting things done! I already finished all of my homework, and it is only 1:50 PM! I promised my mom I would help her getting some cleaning done so everything is order when she goes for her surgery on Wednesday, so now I am going to do that now and then see what happens for the rest of the day.

I am disappointed that tomorrow is already Monday - I swear, these weekends go by way too fast.

Hope you're all having a good one! ♥

 

[caninemom3]

CM3,

I just re-read this this morning. It comes from the Little Blue Book for Advent. I, too, felt a little guilty because I was afraid I would miss someone, especially when so many are praying for me:

"...Perhaps I try to be sure to include everyone in my prayer. I do this sincerely because I care about them and I want to help.

Perhaps my prayer gets busy and cluttered because I'm trying to remember to mention all the intentions and all the people for whom I've promised to pray. It's as though I think God wouldn't be able to remember someone if I didn't specifically take care of it.

Perhaps I feel I have all these people depending on me, and I work very hard to include them in my prayer. I am acting as if...it all depends on me. When I do this, I have things backwards. God is God and I am God's child. God handles things as God, and I handle things as God's child.

I can simply relax and talk to God."

Don't be so hard on yourself. Sometimes when I think of all the prayer requests I know about, I just simply ask God to give peace. And especially to give peace to me!!!

You are the greatest, CM3. That's why you are the Founder's Award Winner!!!

Thank you so much for that WONDERFUL passage and thank you for the beautiful complement. xo

 

[trackrebel]

hey you. just watching finishing our weekend by watching a jackie chan movie. kandice´s power rangers costume for carnival has arrived and I was a pirate for carnival yesterday.....even tho I dont really feel like party and all that after gramps passing...I know that life has to go on, and that he would have wanted us to go there and enjoy ourselves for a few hours

 

[jennifer91]

I hate group projects! Our assignment for the week consisted of 4 questions. Since our group has 5 members, we decided that each person would do a question, and then the remaining group member would put it all together and submit the assignment. We went all week without hearing from a girl in our group. Conveniently today (when it is all due) she emailed us with a pathetic excuse claiming she was "out of town" all week long and asked what she could do. Sheesh, don't you think it's a little late for that? The assignment is due by midnight tonight, and she expects to hear back from everyone telling her exactly what to do?

I cannot wait until I graduate!

 

[Seawaters]

I would email her and say, "What you can DO is BE RESPONSIBLE!!! Poor planning on your part does not make it an emergency on our part!!!" Then I would submit the assignment and tell the prof that she did NOTHING!!!

I hate group projects! Our assignment for the week consisted of 4 questions. Since our group has 5 members, we decided that each person would do a question, and then the remaining group member would put it all together and submit the assignment. We went all week without hearing from a girl in our group. Conveniently today (when it is all due) she emailed us with a pathetic excuse claiming she was "out of town" all week long and asked what she could do. Sheesh, don't you think it's a little late for that? The assignment is due by midnight tonight, and she expects to hear back from everyone telling her exactly what to do?

I cannot wait until I graduate!

 

[Meceka]

Who all listened to RadioJonD's show last night?

I listened. The show was another winner and it was nice that the chat really took off last night!!!

I missed the Greasy Skillet last night because I was occupied with ANNIE. He does spin out a mighty fine show, doesn't he![/B]

Yes, he does!

Stayed home this morning, bit of a sore throat so did not want to pass it on.

Hope you all have a great day, going to church, relaxing or hanging out here!

I hope you are better soon, Christmasstar!

Who is this Riley? and why do people always brag about his life? cheesy

From The Phrase Finder:

The life of Riley

Meaning

An easy and pleasant life.

Origin

The phrase originated in the Irish/American community of the USA, in the early part of the 20th century. The first printed citation of it that I have found is from the Connecticut newspaper The Hartford Courant, December 1911 - in a piece headed 'Bullet Ends Life of Famous Wild Cow':

The famous wild cow of Cromwell is no more. After "living the life of Riley" for over a year, successfully evading the pitchforks and the bullets of the farmers, whose fields she ravaged in all four seasons.

The quote marks that the writer added around the phrase are often an indication that the phrase in question isn't familiar to the readership, which is an indication of it being newly coined.

The phrase was much used in the military, especially amongst the Irish soldiery in WWI. The first known citation in that context is in a letter from a Private Walter J. Kennedy (who surely had parents or grandparents who hailed from the old country), stationed at Camp Dix, New Jersey, which was published in The Syracuse Herald on 29th June 1918. The piece was headed "Great Life, Writes Soldier at Camp":

"This is surely one great life." writes Kennedy. "We call it the life of Riley. We are having fine eats, are in a great detachment and the experience one gets is fine."

Later that year, on 22nd October, The Bridgeport Telegram published a letter from Private Samuel S. Polley, 102 Regiment, stationed in France.

"They [German officers] must have led the life of Reilly as we caught them all asleep in beds..."

Who Riley (or Reilly, or Reiley) was isn't clear. If he had been a known individual then it surely would have been recorded. The lack of any such records points to the name being chosen as that of a generic Irishman, much as Paddy is used now.

The phrase may have been brought to America by Irish immigrants, although there's no known use of it in Ireland prior to 1918, or, more likely, it originated in the Irish community in the USA.

There had been various Victorian music hall songs that had referred to a Reilly who had a comfortable and prosperous life; for example, there's the 1883 song, popularised by the Irish/American singer Pat Rooney - Is That Mr. Reilly? It included in the chorus "Is that Mr. Reilly, of whom they speak so highly?". Like most other Irish songs of the era, it played to the Irish audience - this one with a dash of anti-Chinese racism thrown in for luck (the Chinese were 'Reilly's' principal competitors for manual work in the USA at the time):

I'll have nothing but Irishman on the police
Patrick's Day will be the fourth of July;
I'll get me a thousand infernal machines,
To teach the Chinese how to die,
I'll defend working men's cause, Manufacture the laws,
New York would be swimming in wine,
A hundred a day will be very small pay,
When the White House and Capital are mine.

Another Irish/American sing, George Gaskin, was popular in New York around the same time. He was called 'The Silver-Voiced Irish Tenor", although audiences must have been rather forgiving in those days, as surviving recordings of him sound like a knife being drawn across a plate. 1897 song, The Best in the House is None Too Good for Reilly, elaborated on the whimsical idea of a wealthy Irishman being treated lavishly:

He's money for to pay,
So they let him have his way,
The best in the house is none too good for Reilly.

So, while the idea of a notional Irishman living the high life was current in late 19th century America, the phrase 'the life of Riley' isn't found until the early 20th century. It was clearly circulating in the language, by 1911, but it was probably the lyric of Howard Pease's popular song, My Name is Kelly, 1919, that brought it to the wider public:

Faith and my name is Kelly, Michael Kelly, but I'm living the life of Reiley just the same.

Wayne went onto church without me. I just feel so exhausted and have to work today so resting up for now.

I hope you are better soon!

Spelling doesn't count here.

That's good - I tend make a lot of mistakes!

I hope Hermione is doing well, she sounds absolutely adorable! I am glad that the kitties are acting like themselves, maybe they are all done with the hiding for good now. I am envious of your idea with the tree, I wish that my parents would let me do that! How nice it would be to relax in my room and plug the tree in, just with the lights. That is the one thing I think I miss most about Christmas this time of year - admiring the tree! Trust me, you are not letting anyone down! Thank you for asking about my mom. She is having throat surgery on Wednesday to get the mass removed, they will find out then if it is cancer or not. Praying it isn't cancer, of course. Even if it's treatable, it still won't be a picnic.
[/b][/color]

I'll keep your mom in my prayers!

Good morning,

I took a sick day from MMC yesterday, I caught what JP had, I was so sick, still don't feel like eating today, I was in bed for 18 hours with this nasty bug, I am still very dehydrated, it was so bad my skin had a grey tinge to it last night. I do feel better somewhat today, and being off my foot for nearly 18 hours my foot feels better as of right now. I will be sitting around doing nothing today, I don't think I slept more than 2 hours at a time yesterday, even though I was in bed for 18 hours.

Talk to you all later.

I hope you are better soon - your doctor was right about your foot, so I hope you can keep resting!

CM3,

I just re-read this this morning. It comes from the Little Blue Book for Advent. I, too, felt a little guilty because I was afraid I would miss someone, especially when so many are praying for me:

"...Perhaps I try to be sure to include everyone in my prayer. I do this sincerely because I care about them and I want to help.

Perhaps my prayer gets busy and cluttered because I'm trying to remember to mention all the intentions and all the people for whom I've promised to pray. It's as though I think God wouldn't be able to remember someone if I didn't specifically take care of it.

Perhaps I feel I have all these people depending on me, and I work very hard to include them in my prayer. I am acting as if...it all depends on me. When I do this, I have things backwards. God is God and I am God's child. God handles things as God, and I handle things as God's child.

I can simply relax and talk to God."

Don't be so hard on yourself. Sometimes when I think of all the prayer requests I know about, I just simply ask God to give peace. And especially to give peace to me!!!

You are the greatest, CM3. That's why you are the Founder's Award Winner!!!

Thank you for posting that, Seawaters - so, so helpful!!!

hey you. just watching finishing our weekend by watching a jackie chan movie. kandice´s power rangers costume for carnival has arrived and I was a pirate for carnival yesterday.....even tho I dont really feel like party and all that after gramps passing...I know that life has to go on, and that he would have wanted us to go there and enjoy ourselves for a few hours

I'm glad you got out for a bit, track. ((((hugs))))

 

[Maureen]

I know that that needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few but I miss listening to the Greasy Skillet :-(

 

[jennifer91]

I would email her and say, "What you can DO is BE RESPONSIBLE!!! Poor planning on your part does not make it an emergency on our part!!!" Then I would submit the assignment and tell the prof that she did NOTHING!!!

You know what? I think I am going to take your advice. If no one complains about her to the professor, she's just going to think she can get away with it on a weekly basis. We had those questions and a project to do this week and she did not help with either. You are the best - you gave me the little push I needed!

 

[gabulldawg]

hey you. just watching finishing our weekend by watching a jackie chan movie. kandice´s power rangers costume for carnival has arrived and I was a pirate for carnival yesterday.....even tho I dont really feel like party and all that after gramps passing...I know that life has to go on, and that he would have wanted us to go there and enjoy ourselves for a few hours

It's always hard to get back into the swing of things after a loved one has passed!! I hope you find peace and strength!!! I will be sending prayers your way!

 

[Meceka]

I know that that needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few but I miss listening to the Greasy Skillet :-(

 

[xmas365]

I finally ate something chicken broth with egg noodles, I cannot shake this headache though, I am sure it is because I am dehydrated, been drinking all day long, and it won't disappear, I am afraid to take any ibuprofen or anything like that with my stomach feeling so blah. So I am watching Transformers 3 to pass the time, we are worried LC is coming down with it, he has been complaining about his belly. I hope it is just a bellyache from eating to much popcorn. I hope I can sleep well tonight, I am exhausted.

 

[Crown 84]

I have so many photos, banners, graphics, etc. stored that I have to give them different names to keep track of them.

I just noticed this one

called SleepSheepCrown.

HaHaHoHo!

Good Morning, Good Napping Crown!

Awwww!
A graphic named after me.
I'm touched!

 

[Seawaters]

Well, there's your problem right there. Drinking cannot help your tummy, I am sure!!! Haha!!!

...I cannot shake this headache though, I am sure it is because I am dehydrated, been drinking all day long, and it won't disappear, I am afraid to take any ibuprofen or anything like that with my stomach feeling so blah. So I am watching Transformers 3 to pass the time, we are worried LC is coming down with it, he has been complaining about his belly. I hope it is just a bellyache from eating to much popcorn. I hope I can sleep well tonight, I am exhausted.

 

[gabulldawg]

I finally ate something chicken broth with egg noodles, I cannot shake this headache though, I am sure it is because I am dehydrated, been drinking all day long, and it won't disappear, I am afraid to take any ibuprofen or anything like that with my stomach feeling so blah. So I am watching Transformers 3 to pass the time, we are worried LC is coming down with it, he has been complaining about his belly. I hope it is just a bellyache from eating to much popcorn. I hope I can sleep well tonight, I am exhausted.

For me Ibuprofin is a miracle pill for headaches and muscle aches,but your right about taking it on an empty or upset stomach,that would be a big mistake!!hope you all get better...take some nyquil tonight and try to get some zzzzzzz,ss!!

 

[gabulldawg]

just made pork chops and white rice...hmm it tunred out great...I need to get to bed early tonight for the hell that is waiting for me at work...the last monday of the month is not so good so I am wanting to get it over with! I hope everyone has had a great weekend and it's been so good for me to log on and read how everyone here is doing,I don't get on as much as I use to,but it's like home here when I do log in and check in on yall...I feel like we are visiting in personand it's a great feeling! Have a great rest of the weekend...!!!

 

[xmas365]

Well, there's your problem right there. Drinking cannot help your tummy, I am sure!!! Haha!!!

Haha! :lol:

 

[snowflake22]

Good morning, Christmas family !

Stealing a few moments here while my Hermione is napping.

Not a lot going on today (I hope !) I finished undecorating my tree but my husband is going to make a place for it in the spare room and we are going to leave it assembled. That way I can turn it on and even though it will not have ornaments it is still beautiful and I can still have my beloved tree !!

Raising a puppy after so many years is a challenge but one I welcome. Hermione sleeps on my chest each night. I don't know what I will do when she grows as she is part Bloodhound and part Golden Retriever so my chest is not going to get it in the future ! Housetraining is still a bit dodgy due to the fact that she is so young and I am out of practice at catching the "behaviors"....I am hoping we both catch on !! She will catch on sooner I think as she is much smarter than her mommy xo

The kitties, Smokey and Lily have finally started to act like themselves again after hiding a solid 24 hours. I am glad they have come out as I was beginning to worry about them even though I checked on them.

I am still praying for everyone. I am letting everyone down by not joining in every day and I feel really bad.

Made - I am praying for you and your mother's job situation and also for your niece xo

Jennifer - How is your mother ? I am still praying for her xo

Sugar - I hope you have managed to get some rest ! and are well xo

Snowflake - I am so happy to see you back - I missed you so- We all did !

CAH - How are you feeling ?? I hope okay xo

Xmas- How is that foot. I know I read that you still have 3 weeks off. Praying that it all turns out well.

Seawaters - You are always the first and last person I mention each morning and evening to our Lord xo Praying all goes MUCH BETTER than what may be expected xo

Bulldawg - So glad you are finding fatherhood so amazing ! I hope your tummy troubles are better !!

MerryMistletoe - (((BIG HUGS))) for you as you always are so kind to me and everyone xo You also make me smile ! xo

Meceka - I hope your allergies are better and that Palmer and Mouse and Bo are well xo

Bradmac - I hope and pray all you and yours are well and that being Mayor is enjoyable ! xo

((((((HUGS)))))) To Snickers (and Lauriebear of course !), Ella, Harlowe, Gomez, Chico, Daisy, Hobbs, Scooby, Sasha, and all furkids everywhere.

Remember the animals - They need our help !! xo

I love you, Christmas family xoxo

I love that you can see your pretty tree year round! Great idea. Hermione is so lucky to have you for a Mom! And also to have wonderful brothers & sisters to play with! Please give her, Ivy, Wish, Clancy, Lily, and Smokey hugs from Har & I. xo

Another wonderful performance by our young local talent. This production with a cast younger than those that performed Footloose a few weeks ago was better rehearsed. They had the ability to fool you in forgetting just how young they are while they danced and sang their way into our joyful hearts.

I only knew a few of the children in this production and the voice coaches and musical director. The two lead production assistance who helped bring this together were among the first group of students to perform with the Dreamcoat Fantasy Theatre. I'm glad they stuck with it. Sometimes I wish I had, but I don't have any regrets about the road my life took, I chose the direction myself and I'm more than content with life as I know it.

My neighbour really enjoyed it. I commented to her about the vocal range that the young lad who played "Rooster" had. His voice was higher than Annie's and then he'd get it lower right on cue.

I'm kicking myself that I missed out on Jesus Christ Superstar and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat, but I've seen more of their productions than I've missed so I guess you could call me a Dreamcoat Theatre Fan.

When I was growing up there were Summer Challenge productions organized by the Church (TOROS) and Gateway Theatre Guild and that was it for acting stuff, except for school plays.

I directed Aesop's Fables once upon a time in a High School far-far-away-ago. It wasn't as easy directing as it was performing, but I had fun.

I had more fun playing one of the witch sisters in MacBeth than I did directing. Still remember the lines and use that voice nearly every Halloween.

I love the theater! I was in our high school production of Jesus Christ Superstar, and it was probably the most memorable time of my high school career!! I was part of Herod's Court :wink:...

Hubby has taken me to Phantom Of The Opera, Mama Mia, and Jersey Boys since we've been here in Vegas. All were excellent!!

OH MADE I BET IT'S SUPER CRAZY UP/OVER THERE. YOU NEED TO COME DOWN SOUTH FOR A BREAK!!! LOL

OH YAAY..ME..ME! SOUNDS DELICIOUS!

Good evening, friends!!

Just sitting here & finishing up listening to The Merry Podcast Christmas Show. So neat to listen to all of your voices- kind of like placing a face to your names!

Hubby & I ordered a pizza tonight and watched a scary movie called Grave Encounters. It had some spooky parts, but some were obviously stolen from Blair Witch Project.
I had to go out back for a playdate with Harlowe's buddy next door after that, and could hear coyotes nearby. The back yard light burned out while I was out there..that all set the mood & I got creeped out all over again!

I probably missed out on some of your after Christmas sale talks...
What were some of your finds?
There really wasn't a whole lot left here. I was bummed about that. In fact, I noticed while I was finishing up some last minute Christmas shopping that there wasn't much holiday stock left at all.
The only deals I got were an beautiful animotion 'Twas The Night Before Christmas book on Amazon, a Christmas CD @ Walgreens of all places, and some Ralph Lauren "Christmas Wreath" soap @ Marshall's. Love them all, though =)

Well, think I will call it a night. Good night. Talk to you all tomorrow!

Stacey /QUOTE]

HUBBY FOUND US A NEW TREE. OURS HAD SO MANY LIGHTS BURNT OUT. 1/2 PRICE. SO GLAD YOU'RE BACK! LOVE & HUGS TO HARLOWE & YOU!

Love & hugs back to you, merry!! Your tree sounds like an excellent find!! I bet you can't wait to put it up & get it all decorated :-D

Good a.m. Ya'll! Been a very lazy weekend thus far. I did have to go in for about 1 1/2 hrs. Yesterday as it got very busy again. The rest of the day we watched tv & did nothing. I hope to find something to do today. I can only clean so much. It seems every weekend @ home is filled w/ football. Today the guys are watching the pro bowl & only because cam newton is in it. They usually never watch it. Until it comes on the tv will be on espn to hear every possible comment made about it & the players.
It's suppose to be very nice today but i don't have much interest in going out.
Hope all ya'll are well, take care!!!!

I feel the same way merry! It's gorgeous out, but I've just been watching movies, old Alfred Hitchcock Hour episodes & doing laundry. I feel like being lazy today! Hope you found something fun & relaxing to do. xo

I felt the same way listening to the merry podcast - 3 times so far. A few of your voices were not how I imagined them to be, but I suppose mine wasn't as Canadian sounding as you might have imagined. HaHaHoHo,eh!

=) =) =)

Good to have you back!

I only bought three things after Christmas, a box of cards, a photo quilt and a Christmas themed scrapbook wth various sizes of photo inserts

The hard part is deciding if I'm passing the photo-related gifts onto someone else or keeping them for us. My mom suggested I insert photos into the quilt now and hang it up so I don't regret it down the road. I'm still thinking it over.

Thanks, Auntie-so glad to be back!! It sounds like you got some good buys, too! Your Mom's idea is a good one. You could always do that for a week or so, may help you decide?

Good Sunday morning, my Christmas friends!

I worked under the deck all day yesterday, but I now have two additional water faucets and several (waterproof!) electrical outlets around the deck. No more hooking hoses together to get to the other side of the yard! It's ready for the lattice to go up, finally.

Nancy and went out to eat, but didn't really see a movie that we could wanted to see (read: that she wanted to see!), so we came home watched a scary movie on Netflix. Ha! I still win!

We're off to church now. I hope y'all have a great day!

Sounds like you had a very productive day yesterday! That always feels good. Glad you're *winning* !!! Hahaha. cheesy
What scary movie did you guys watch?

Wayne and I went to the lake yesterday to feed the ducks and take a walk. I thought the ducks were going to attack us as we walked up, they wanted food! I have been going to this lake ever since I was a little girl and never remembering seeing that many ducks at one time! We had fun!

Who all listened to RadioJonD's show last night? Wayne and I tuned in, it was great! We even got up acting goofy and danced to one of the songs.

Be sure to listen next Saturday night starting 8:00 pm est!

It just sounds like you had a fabulous day yesterday, CAH! Going to the lake is the best. Feeding the ducks = even better!! Hope you guys have a great Sunday, too!

Stayed home this morning, bit of a sore throat so did not want to pass it on.

Hope you all have a great day, going to church, relaxing or hanging out here!

Hope you're feeling better, CS! Sending hugs to you, get lots of rest! xo

Good morning,

I took a sick day from MMC yesterday, I caught what JP had, I was so sick, still don't feel like eating today, I was in bed for 18 hours with this nasty bug, I am still very dehydrated, it was so bad my skin had a grey tinge to it last night. I do feel better somewhat today, and being off my foot for nearly 18 hours my foot feels better as of right now. I will be sitting around doing nothing today, I don't think I slept more than 2 hours at a time yesterday, even though I was in bed for 18 hours.

Talk to you all later.

So sorry to hear this, Xmas. Hope you sleep well today & regain some strength. Feel better soon! Take good care of yourself!

 

[made582]

Does anybody want to go see Dierks Bentley perform at the Super Bowl Village tonight? We can stand under one of the big heaters hanging above the street.