Christmas Countdown - 2013

[Meceka]

Okay, I just have to say that some people are stupid and don't deserve a drivers license. A guy in my sister's housing addition saw my niece's school bus this morning and didn't want to get stuck behind it. So instead, he tried to out turn the bus around a corner and instead of making it, crashed right into the side of the bus. Luckily no kids were on it but my sister said the driver was pretty shook up.

Thank God no one was injured!

 

[Meceka]

Good morning. Thanks for all the prayers and well wishes on the interview yesterday. The interview went good, but it makes what I make now...so I won't be accepting it if offered. I like my job now and the people I work with, so I don't want to leave for the same thing if that makes any sense. I'm appreciative for the opportunity to interview though and know the right thing will come along.

I did visit my wife's new classroom yesterday. She's working hard to put it together and doing a great job. Tomorrow night we might have a date night as my in-laws are taking the kids to Tulsa (about an hour and a half from us) to see some stuff and have a fun day before school starts. So, me and the Mrs. are going to take advantage of it and go out to eat!

Hope you all have a great day.

Have fun on your date night!

 

[Meceka]

Thanks to anyone who is praying for us.

Yes, I know that my grandparents usually make wise decisions. It is just that this came completely out of nowhere and that they want to complete it in a hurry. That is kind of strange at least to me.

I just finished my shopping spell for this month. I bought several cooking books in my favourite online bookstore. I'm a truly living book worm. Luckily I have a ebook reader otherwise I wouldn't know where to store my books.

Me, too! I have books piled all over the place and yes, storage is a big problem. The good thing is that once read, I rarely keep a book. Enjoy your cookbooks!

 

[Meceka]

Good Thursday morning, my Christmas friends!

Vacation is still going great! We're planning to go whitewater rafting today, then ziplining tomorrow. I hope my ol' heart can hold out! (Just kidding!)

My cousin and his family are driving up today for the weekend. His family has a place just down the road from mama's place, so it'll be fun to have them here. Ed's also my best friend, and we've played together in the band for more than 20 years. Maybe we'll plan a big BBQ this weekend!

I hope y'all have a great day! cheesy

Whitewater rafting and ziplining - they look like such fun! Enjoy!!

 

[Meceka]

It's not a very good day here today, but checking in on the forum helps. Trying to look forward to the weekend, which is a sales tax holiday in Massachusetts. I think we'll take advantage of that to update our TV set---we're still using a non-digital, non-HD TV, but there are signs that the picture tube may be starting to go.

I'd like to be someplace else with all of you instead of here today. With mugs of cocoa around a large Christmas tree.

I hope your day improves, Merry! Good luck with the TV shopping this weekend!

 

[Meceka]

Good afternoon, MMC!

I hope this finds everyone's day getting better!!!

Beautiful day out, but very noisy here in the woods. Turkeys, mourning doves, cardinals, deer and Shaggy are all talking up a storm - sometimes all at once! Lots of road traffic, too. Today I am working at home - cleaning stock and later doing the paperwork from last month. I have all the windows that will open downstairs open - love the fresh air circulating through the house!!!

Be safe and MERRY!!!

 

[Seawaters]

Pictures?

oh....my mom has the cutest visitors!!!!! Mama and daddy hedgehog...plus their two babies.....they are the cutest little critters.....I am totally in love with em!!!!

 

[Seawaters]

Yes, it is!

Beautiful pic star!!!!

 

[sugar142286]

One Santa and Rudolph coming up.

:lol:

 

[sugar142286]

GUESS WHAT??? I have GREAT NEWS!!! When I was home for lunch I got a call from the dogs owner!!!!!! They use to be our neighbors. They got a new puppy last fall & they moved out - to a farm - in November. The dog found her way back to her old neighborhood!! I am so, so happy!!! Her name is Maggie & she is going home tonight!!!!

:???:

Great news!

 

[Ryan]

Good point about the HDMI cable. I also remember when we added the S-cable to the DVD player connection, that added definition, so the HDMI cable should be better yet!

Also a good point about the Blu-ray players coming down in price. We looked at some when we were scoping out TV sets, and we'll probably get one while we're at it. We talked about it and figured if we get an HDTV, we might as well get the most out of it. I've heard about the "up-scanning" and wondered whether it's really an improvement, or more like "interpolation" in Photoshop.
y
Now I'm getting excited ... even though it's going to be a lot of work to hook up a new TV to the existing cable box and other equipment. Sounds like the results will be worth it. And as a friend pointed out this morning, I'm thinking of how wonderful all the Christmas movies and specials will look. The TV we looked at also plays MP3s from a thumb drive, so we could load up a thumb drive with old-time radio and have hours' worth at our fingertips. I love it when new technology improves the enjoyment of OLD technology like films and OTR!

I can tell a difference watching DVDs on the Blu-ray player. I think the difference is the HDMI. I not only love the clarity of HDMI, but also the simplicity: It's one cord for picture and sound, and is so much sharper and crisper. Hope y'all have fun and love your new purchase!

PS...I've watched quite a few classic films on our HD TV. As you know, so much depends on the quality of the print. But, so many vintage films look darn near pristine on the HD TV. For example, the Blu-ray of Safety Last looks incredible! I'm not sure how they did it, but they took a film 90 years old and made it look wonderful, without adding modern digital effects.

 

[MerryCarey]

I can tell a difference watching DVDs on the Blu-ray player. I think the difference is the HDMI. I not only love the clarity of HDMI, but also the simplicity: It's one cord for picture and sound, and is so much sharper and crisper. Hope y'all have fun and love your new purchase!

PS...I've watched quite a few classic films on our HD TV. As you know, so much depends on the quality of the print. But, so many vintage films look darn near pristine on the HD TV. For example, the Blu-ray of Safety Last looks incredible! I'm not sure how they did it, but they took a film 90 years old and made it look wonderful, without adding modern digital effects.

Oh, boy, we have something to look forward to!

We probably won't buy everything again as Blu-ray, but there are a few that we probably will, like "Gone with the Wind" and "The Wizard of Oz" that have pristine source materials that will make stunning transfers. And I've heard there's a killer Blu-ray of Buster Keaton's "The General."

As for "Safety Last"---I don't know the print pedigree, but it's possible they could have made a new transfer from original 35mm elements. A beautiful print makes all the difference. Most people don't realize how sharp and clear old movies really were, because they've only seen dupy, dirty prints. Case in point is the 1935 Seymour Hicks version of "Scrooge," which usually looks awful on video. But I've seen a 16mm print struck just a few years after the film was released, and the photography is nicely done, very spooky and atmospheric. But on video it looks muddy and dark; so much detail is lost.

 

[Christmasstar]

Good morning. Thanks for all the prayers and well wishes on the interview yesterday. The interview went good, but it makes what I make now...so I won't be accepting it if offered. I like my job now and the people I work with, so I don't want to leave for the same thing if that makes any sense. I'm appreciative for the opportunity to interview though and know the right thing will come along.

I did visit my wife's new classroom yesterday. She's working hard to put it together and doing a great job. Tomorrow night we might have a date night as my in-laws are taking the kids to Tulsa (about an hour and a half from us) to see some stuff and have a fun day before school starts. So, me and the Mrs. are going to take advantage of it and go out to eat!

Hope you all have a great day.

glad the interview went well, at least it was good practice for a future position that you do want!
Enjoy your break from the kids!

 

[Ryan]

Oh, boy, we have something to look forward to!

We probably won't buy everything again as Blu-ray, but there are a few that we probably will, like "Gone with the Wind" and "The Wizard of Oz" that have pristine source materials that will make stunning transfers. And I've heard there's a killer Blu-ray of Buster Keaton's "The General."

As for "Safety Last"---I don't know the print pedigree, but it's possible they could have made a new transfer from original 35mm elements. A beautiful print makes all the difference. Most people don't realize how sharp and clear old movies really were, because they've only seen dupy, dirty prints. Case in point is the 1935 Seymour Hicks version of "Scrooge," which usually looks awful on video. But I've seen a 16mm print struck just a few years after the film was released, and the photography is nicely done, very spooky and atmospheric. But on video it looks muddy and dark; so much detail is lost.

Is there a DVD edition of Scrooge you do recommend? It's been so long since I've seen it!

 

[Christmasstar]

Thanks to anyone who is praying for us.

Yes, I know that my grandparents usually make wise decisions. It is just that this came completely out of nowhere and that they want to complete it in a hurry. That is kind of strange at least to me.

yes, they are so cute at that age!

 

[Christmasstar]

Good morning!
It is going to be cloudy and humid today. I woke up to a thunderstorm at 3:30 a.m. Molly was a nervous wreck. Thankfully it passed quickly. I am heading out soon to run a couple of errands. I already got a few chores out of the way and dinner is started in the crock pot. I'm making pulled pork and homemade coleslaw tonight. I hope everyone is well and has a wonderful day!!!

we are having pork chops for dinner, not sure yet what I will make to go with it.

 

[Christmasstar]

Good Thursday morning, my Christmas friends!

Vacation is still going great! We're planning to go whitewater rafting today, then ziplining tomorrow. I hope my ol' heart can hold out! (Just kidding!)

My cousin and his family are driving up today for the weekend. His family has a place just down the road from mama's place, so it'll be fun to have them here. Ed's also my best friend, and we've played together in the band for more than 20 years. Maybe we'll plan a big BBQ this weekend!

I hope y'all have a great day!

have a wonderful time! Take lots of pictures, eat more than you should and laugh till your sides hurt

 

[Christmasstar]

Hey girl =]

It's going ok! Haven't really gotten going with training yet, still dealing with loading programs on my computer & setting up my laptop.

Thanks for asking!!

How are you guys?

yes, the foundation must be laid before you build a sound career!

 

[Christmasstar]

It's after 5 p.m. and I'm leaving work soon. I wish everyone a great night or day (depending on where in the world you live).

See you tomorrow!

have a great night at work!

 

[Ryan]

Well we have cooled down today and it is only in the high 80s. I am going to take advantage of it and mow tonight. Y'all have a good evening.