Jim
Merry Christmas
- Thread starter phideaux
- Start date
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Jim
- Joined
- Dec 13, 2017
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Merry Christmas everyone! LOVED a lot of the graphics and vids PPL added to this thread.
Merry Christmas from Skipper!
He's trying to give you a big kiss through the screen.
He's trying to give you a big kiss through the screen.
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- Joined
- Dec 13, 2017
- Messages
- 212
This is the first year it is just my wife and kids for christmas, we usually host for about 30 people but we moved last year and nobody is traveling up here. It will be nice in a way. We invited our neighbors but not sure if they are coming.
Merry Christmas:reindeer::Xmastree:
Our white Christmas melted away after a few days of above normal temps. I am still praying for another good snowfall before Sunday.
Jim
Merry Christmas to all....
Jim
Jim
GUESS WHAT !!!
and that means ....presents...lots of presents..
:snowman:
Jim
and that means ....presents...lots of presents..
:snowman:
Jim
The True Story of Rudolph
A man named Bob May, depressed and brokenhearted, stared out his drafty apartment window into the chilling December night. His 4-year-old daughter Barbara sat on his lap quietly sobbing. Bob's wife, Evelyn, was dying of cancer.
Little Barbara couldn't understand why her mommy could never come home. Barbara looked up into her dad's eyes and asked, "Why isn't Mommy just like everybody else's Mommy?"
Bob's jaw tightened and his eyes welled with tears. Her question brought waves of grief, but also of anger. It had been the story of Bob's life. Life always had to be different for Bob. Small when he was a kid, Bob was often bullied by other boys. He was too little at the time to compete in
sports. He was often called names he'd rather not remember.
From childhood, Bob was different and never seemed to fit in. Bob did complete college, married his loving wife and was grateful to get his job as a copywriter at Montgomery Ward during the Great Depression.
Then he was blessed with his little girl. But it was all short-lived. Evelyn's bout with cancer stripped them of all their savings and now Bob and his daughter were forced to live in a two-room apartment in the Chicago slums.
Evelyn died just days before Christmas in 1938. Bob struggled to give hope to his child, for whom he couldn't even afford to buy a Christmas gift. But if he couldn't buy a gift, he was determined to make one - a storybook!
Bob had created an animal character in his own mind and told the animal's story to little Barbara to give her comfort and hope. Again and again Bob told the story,
embellishing it more with each telling.
Who was the character? What was the story all about? The story Bob May created was his own autobiography in fable form.
The character he created was a misfit outcast like he was. The name of the character? A little reindeer named Rudolph, with a big shiny nose.
Bob finished the book just in time to give it to his little girl on Christmas Day.
But the story doesn't end there.
The general manager of Montgomery Ward caught wind of the little storybook and offered Bob May a nominal fee to purchase the rights to print the book.
Wards went on to print, “Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer” and distribute it to children visiting Santa Claus in their stores. By 1946 Wards had printed and distributed more than six million copies of Rudolph.
That same year, a major publisher wanted to purchase the rights from Wards to print an updated version of the book. In an unprecedented gesture of kindness, the CEO of Wards returned all rights back to Bob May.
The book became a best seller. Many toy and marketing deals followed and Bob May, now remarried with a growing family, became wealthy from the story he created to comfort his grieving daughter. But the story doesn't end there either.
Bob's brother-in-law, Johnny Marks, made a song adaptation to Rudolph. Though the song was turned down by such popular vocalists as Bing Crosby and DinahShore , it was recorded by the singing cowboy, Gene Autry.
"Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer" was released in 1949 and became a phenomenal success, selling more records than any other Christmas song, with the exception of "White Christmas."
The gift of love that Bob May created for his daughter so long ago kept on returning back to bless him again and again. And Bob May learned the lesson, just like his dear friend Rudolph, that being different isn't so bad. In fact, being different can be a blessing.
A man named Bob May, depressed and brokenhearted, stared out his drafty apartment window into the chilling December night. His 4-year-old daughter Barbara sat on his lap quietly sobbing. Bob's wife, Evelyn, was dying of cancer.
Little Barbara couldn't understand why her mommy could never come home. Barbara looked up into her dad's eyes and asked, "Why isn't Mommy just like everybody else's Mommy?"
Bob's jaw tightened and his eyes welled with tears. Her question brought waves of grief, but also of anger. It had been the story of Bob's life. Life always had to be different for Bob. Small when he was a kid, Bob was often bullied by other boys. He was too little at the time to compete in
sports. He was often called names he'd rather not remember.
From childhood, Bob was different and never seemed to fit in. Bob did complete college, married his loving wife and was grateful to get his job as a copywriter at Montgomery Ward during the Great Depression.
Then he was blessed with his little girl. But it was all short-lived. Evelyn's bout with cancer stripped them of all their savings and now Bob and his daughter were forced to live in a two-room apartment in the Chicago slums.
Evelyn died just days before Christmas in 1938. Bob struggled to give hope to his child, for whom he couldn't even afford to buy a Christmas gift. But if he couldn't buy a gift, he was determined to make one - a storybook!
Bob had created an animal character in his own mind and told the animal's story to little Barbara to give her comfort and hope. Again and again Bob told the story,
embellishing it more with each telling.
Who was the character? What was the story all about? The story Bob May created was his own autobiography in fable form.
The character he created was a misfit outcast like he was. The name of the character? A little reindeer named Rudolph, with a big shiny nose.
Bob finished the book just in time to give it to his little girl on Christmas Day.
But the story doesn't end there.
The general manager of Montgomery Ward caught wind of the little storybook and offered Bob May a nominal fee to purchase the rights to print the book.
Wards went on to print, “Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer” and distribute it to children visiting Santa Claus in their stores. By 1946 Wards had printed and distributed more than six million copies of Rudolph.
That same year, a major publisher wanted to purchase the rights from Wards to print an updated version of the book. In an unprecedented gesture of kindness, the CEO of Wards returned all rights back to Bob May.
The book became a best seller. Many toy and marketing deals followed and Bob May, now remarried with a growing family, became wealthy from the story he created to comfort his grieving daughter. But the story doesn't end there either.
Bob's brother-in-law, Johnny Marks, made a song adaptation to Rudolph. Though the song was turned down by such popular vocalists as Bing Crosby and DinahShore , it was recorded by the singing cowboy, Gene Autry.
"Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer" was released in 1949 and became a phenomenal success, selling more records than any other Christmas song, with the exception of "White Christmas."
The gift of love that Bob May created for his daughter so long ago kept on returning back to bless him again and again. And Bob May learned the lesson, just like his dear friend Rudolph, that being different isn't so bad. In fact, being different can be a blessing.
and as a kid ...it was my favorite..
Jim
Jim
you
and the mrs. have excellent taste. love the tree
Not ours unfortunately, but we do go with the red-white-blue lights on our tree and house.
Jim
Hope you all have a Merry Christmas. Pls be careful and stay safe if you're traveling and come back home safely!!
Merry Christmas all
:nativity:
:nativity:
- Joined
- Dec 16, 2017
- Messages
- 19
Merry Christmas to all
Ok, I'm getting excited...
Jim
Jim
As you know, Santa starts from the North Pole and works south. Unfortunately, I am no longer able to do the hunting that I once enjoyed though I have never lost my taste for game meat. Reindeer on my roof is too good to pass up. I promise to only take one reindeer. This may slow down Christmas delivery for some of you. I apologize for any inconvenience.
- Joined
- Dec 24, 2017
- Messages
- 753
From my old blog...2011
- T'WAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS AT ITSY BITSY FARM,
THE CRITTERS WERE QUIET OUT IN THE BARN.
THE GOATS WERE SO SLEEPY, THE PIGS GRUNTED LOW,
THE CHICKENS WERE... DROOPY, THE MICE TIP-TOED SLOW.
DITZY'S LONG EARS LIFTED EVER SO SLIGHT..
WHAT WAS THAT NOISE?, LOOK !!!! THERE GOES A LIGHT !
SOMETHING WAS MOVING, UP HIGH IN THE SKY,
IT LOOKED LIKE A WAGON WITH SOME BEARDED GUY.
COCOA AND HO HO LOOKED UP IN THE SKY,
JINGLE AND NOEL STOOD CLOSELY NEAR BY,
WOBBLES SAID "J.J.,WHAT DID YOU SEE?
COOKIE SAID "NOTHING", "DON'T LOOK AT ME!"
THE DOVES STARTED COOING, THE ROOSTERS DID CROW
THE GUINEAS WERE POTRACKING,THE GEESE'S WINGS WERE A FLAPPING,
THE PIGS STARTED GRUNTING, THE HENS STARTED RUNNING,
THE GUINEA PIG PEEKED FROM HIS CAGE,
THE CATS WERE MEOWING, THE DOGS WERE A BARKING,
THE ENTIRE BARNYARD WAS ENGAGED.
AND HOMBRE THE LONG HORN BELLOWED WITH ALL OF HIS MIGHT
MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL, AND LET PEACE REIGN TONIGHT.
GOD BLESS ALL OF YOU. MERRY CHRISTMAS.HAPPY NEW YEAR.
GAYNELLE, BENNY, AND ALL THE CRITTERS
- Joined
- Dec 3, 2017
- Messages
- 386
The Little Angel on the Top of the Christmas Tree!
One particular Christmas season a long time ago, Santa was getting ready for his annual trip but there were problems everywhere. Four of his elves got sick, and the trainee elves did not produce the toys as fast as the regular ones so Santa was beginning to feel the pressure of being behind schedule. Then Mrs. Claus told Santa that her Mom was coming to visit; this stressed Santa even more.
When he went to harness the reindeer, he found that three of them were about to give birth and two had jumped the fence and were out at heaven knows where. More stress.
Then when he began to load the sleigh one of the boards cracked and the toy bag fell to the ground and scattered the toys. So, frustrated, Santa went into the house for a cup of coffee and a shot of whiskey. When he went to the cupboard, he discovered that the elves had hid the liquor and there was nothing to drink.
In his frustration, he accidentally dropped the coffeepot and it broke into hundreds of little pieces all over the kitchen floor. He went to get the broom and found that mice had eaten the straw it was made of. Just then the doorbell rang and Santa cussed on his way to the door. He opened the door and there was a little angel with a great big Christmas tree.
The angel said, very cheerfully, "Merry Christmas Santa. Isn't it just a lovely day? I have a beautiful tree for you. Isn't it just a lovely tree? Where would you like me to stick it?
Thus began the tradition of the little angel on top of the tree.
---tort--
One particular Christmas season a long time ago, Santa was getting ready for his annual trip but there were problems everywhere. Four of his elves got sick, and the trainee elves did not produce the toys as fast as the regular ones so Santa was beginning to feel the pressure of being behind schedule. Then Mrs. Claus told Santa that her Mom was coming to visit; this stressed Santa even more.
When he went to harness the reindeer, he found that three of them were about to give birth and two had jumped the fence and were out at heaven knows where. More stress.
Then when he began to load the sleigh one of the boards cracked and the toy bag fell to the ground and scattered the toys. So, frustrated, Santa went into the house for a cup of coffee and a shot of whiskey. When he went to the cupboard, he discovered that the elves had hid the liquor and there was nothing to drink.
In his frustration, he accidentally dropped the coffeepot and it broke into hundreds of little pieces all over the kitchen floor. He went to get the broom and found that mice had eaten the straw it was made of. Just then the doorbell rang and Santa cussed on his way to the door. He opened the door and there was a little angel with a great big Christmas tree.
The angel said, very cheerfully, "Merry Christmas Santa. Isn't it just a lovely day? I have a beautiful tree for you. Isn't it just a lovely tree? Where would you like me to stick it?
Thus began the tradition of the little angel on top of the tree.
---tort--
FYI...
Starting at 7pm tonight...
A 24 hour marathon of
"A Christmas Story"
on TBS and TNN
Ralphie
Jim
Starting at 7pm tonight...
A 24 hour marathon of
"A Christmas Story"
on TBS and TNN
Ralphie
Jim
As we are ahead of all of you in Australia time wise than the United States by around 12 to 14 hours we are already having our Christmas day here.
So on that note Merry Christmas to you @Tank-Girl and I hope this season is good to you and you are uplifted and supported throughout the rest of this year and next :reindeer:.
So on that note Merry Christmas to you @Tank-Girl and I hope this season is good to you and you are uplifted and supported throughout the rest of this year and next :reindeer:.
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