Merry Christmas, Soundhoolians.

[drlj]

It’s way too early to be up. It’s quiet, dark, and the coffee is bubbling along.
Have a Merry Christmas and I hope Santa brung youse all new guitars.
Sunbursts for everyone!

[Deleted]

Up and awake. Gibson the Wonder Dog and I are enjoying a quiet moment before the rest of the family comes downstairs.

Claire is in Kent in the UK with her beau's family. We're here in Platte City. We'll call Mom later.

Enjoy your day!

[theevan]

Merry Christmas, y'all. 65f now, headed for a high of 81f.

Flip-flops and the A/C are in order.

[Cosmic Wonder]

Merry Christmas. I’m up, coffee is ready, and I’ve already tasted some almond ring pastry. Nita and the Dachschund are still snoozing. Snow is forcast for the evening, and then below freezing temps for the rest of the week. The freezer and fridge is loaded, and we don’t have to go anywhere. Enjoy the day.

Mike

[millring]

Today marks the end of the 80 hour work week for me. For ten weeks now I've worked between 75-85 hours per week. Yesterday was a very typical 14.5 hour day. But today and tomorrow I am off. That's the first 2 days in a row since I started over a year ago.

Dar and I are headed across town to walk IceSha. Then not much planned.

[theevan]

Dec 25, 2021 8:53:11 GMT -5 millring said:

Today marks the end of the 80 hour work week for me. For ten weeks now I've worked between 75-85 hours per week. Yesterday was a very typical 14.5 hour day. But today and tomorrow I am off. That's the first 2 days in a row since I started over a year ago.

Dar and I are headed across town to walk IceSha. Then not much planned.

Y'all have a beautiful, blessed, love-filled day.

[coachdoc]

Family and tree on a rainy mild day. Christ the Savior is born!

[Cornflake]

Good morning and merry Christmas to everyone. It rained all day yesterday but today should be mostly dry, 50s-60s.

We'll have a small dinner at my older daughter's place. It's the first time we haven't hosted dinner in many years. My wife's parents both died in the past year and she and her sister didn't want a standard Christmas dinner where they'd keep thinking about who isn't there.

I hope no one was expecting any professional athletes as guests. They all seem to be in quarantine.

Have a fine day, one and all.

[gbacklin]

With the cold fact that her dog Brando will not be around this time next year, she brought home a new rescue last night, to join Brando (who gave a sniff and walked away, unimpressed) and Lady who is about 3 years old (and was extremely impressed). She has him on trial for 30 days to ensure no issues. We have yet to hear how his first night went.

My eldest who is the DNP and has been putting in “John” type hours also is having 2 days off and asked if it was ok that he doesn’t have to make the 3 hour trek to visit and exchange gifts.I replied Merry Christmas, rest and be well.

My youngest is due in about an hour, to spend a few hours.

I look back at the past 30 some years with the kids and excitement each Christmas morning. Time flies and I miss those days, but very happy who they have become.

Whenever a tear comes to my eye, I have boxes and boxes of video of those precious years I can watch and reminisce.

As 2021 comes to a close, I have one word for 2022…

[billhammond]

From TKennedy's local paper:


By the Echo Press Editorial Board

What more can be said about this magical and miraculous time of the year?

We turned to Google to find memorable quotes about the holiday. Here are our favorites:

“What is Christmas? It is tenderness for the past, courage for the present, hope for the future.” – Agnes Pahro, from Good Housekeeping.

“One of the most glorious messes in the world is the mess created in the living room on Christmas Day. Don't clean it up too quickly.” – Andy Rooney, from Good Housekeeping.

“A good conscience is a continual Christmas.” – Benjamin Franklin, from Good Housekeeping.

“Unless we make Christmas an occasion to share our blessings, all the snow in Alaska won't make it 'white.'” – Bing Crosby, from Good Housekeeping.

“Love the giver more than the gift.” – Brigham Young, from Good Housekeeping.

“Christmas can't be bought from a store. Maybe Christmas means a little bit more.” – Dr. Seuss, from GoodHousekeeping.

“May you never be too grown up to search the skies on Christmas Eve. – Unknown.


“The way you spend Christmas is far more important than how much.” – Henry David Thoreau, from Parade.

“The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched. They must be felt with the heart,” – Helen Keller, from Parade.

“‘One can never have enough socks,’ said Dumbledore. ‘Another Christmas has come and gone and I didn’t get a single pair. People will insist on giving me books.’” – J. K. Rowling, from Parade.

“And so this is Christmas… what have you done?” – John Lennon, from Parade.

“Christmas is doing a little something extra for someone.” – Charles M. Schulz, from Parade.


“I like to compare the holiday season with the way a child listens to a favorite story. The pleasure is in the familiar way the story begins, the anticipation of familiar turns it takes, the familiar moments of suspense, and the familiar climax and ending.” – Fred Rogers, from Parade.

“We are better throughout the year for having, in spirit, become a child again at Christmastime.” – Laura Ingalls Wilder, from Parade.

“Christmas to me is as many people as possible happy.” – Tupac Shakur, from Parade.

“There’s a certain magic that comes with the very first snow. For when the first snow is also a Christmas snow, well, something wonderful is bound to happen.” – Frosty the Snowman, from Parade.

“Don’t get your tinsel in a tangle.” – Unknown.

“As long as we know in our hearts what Christmas ought to be, Christmas is.” – Eric Sevareid, from Parade.

“Christmas is built upon a beautiful and intentional paradox; that the birth of the homeless should be celebrated in every home.” – G.K. Chesterton, from CountryLiving.

"Freshly cut Christmas trees smelling of stars and snow and pine resin – inhale deeply and fill your soul with wintry night." – John J. Geddes, from CountryLiving.

"Nothing ever seems too bad, too hard, or too sad when you've got a Christmas tree in the living room." – Nora Roberts, from CountryLiving.

"Probably the reason we all go so haywire at Christmas time with the endless unrestrained and often silly buying of gifts is that we don’t quite know how to put our love into words." – Harlan Miller, from CountryLiving.

"As for me, I like to take my Christmas a little at a time, all through the year." – David Grayson, CountryLiving.

"Mankind is a great, an immense family. This is proved by what we feel in our hearts at Christmas." – Pope John XXIII, from CountryLiving.

"And that, of course, is the message of Christmas. We are never alone. Not when the night is darkest, the wind coldest, the world seemingly most indifferent." – Taylor Caldwell, from CountryLiving.

[TKennedy]

The local rag has some good moments. Actually quite a few. I like the editor.

Just the two of us today. Chicago kids plus dog roll through Tuesday. Energy level will skyrocket.

We gave each other a Celestron spotting scope and tripod. Courtesy of BH Photo and Howard’s earlier advice. Might be able to see a squirrel or fish house up close or what the folks across the lake are having for dinner.

Merry Christmas everyone. Millring you’ve been beat up. How many left cookies in their mailboxes?

[Marty]

Kaiah and Zaria did a surprise visit last night to drop off presents. What they were really doing was coming over to open a present. Grandma has a tradition, every Christmas she buys pajamas for the girls and they get to open that present on Christmas Eve. Cheri wasn't going to worry about them not opening that present until Christmas Day this year but the girls remembered.

So they got their pajamas, I made hot cocoa and they watched Galaxy Quest. Galaxy What they asked? Like Princess Bride they enjoyed it. Another movie Grandma likes. 

The girls will be here when they get here and we will open presents. I have 3 under the tree, I know what two of them are.

Now I get orange/cranberry muffins and coffee.

[Dan McLaughlin]

Merry Christmas!

Have good ones.

[kenlarsson]

good Yule one and all. Spent time the Kelly, RJ and the grandkids last night. Today is a lazy day full of gratitude. Be well, be happy.

[Rob Hanesworth]

Merry Christmas! 60°F here at the moment.

[millring]

London Snow
By Robert Bridges
When men were all asleep the snow came flying,
In large white flakes falling on the city brown,
Stealthily and perpetually settling and loosely lying,
Hushing the latest traffic of the drowsy town;
Deadening, muffling, stifling its murmurs failing;
Lazily and incessantly floating down and down:
Silently sifting and veiling road, roof and railing;
Hiding difference, making unevenness even,
Into angles and crevices softly drifting and sailing.
All night it fell, and when full inches seven
It lay in the depth of its uncompacted lightness,
The clouds blew off from a high and frosty heaven;
And all woke earlier for the unaccustomed brightness
Of the winter dawning, the strange unheavenly glare:
The eye marvelled—marvelled at the dazzling whiteness;
The ear hearkened to the stillness of the solemn air;
No sound of wheel rumbling nor of foot falling,
And the busy morning cries came thin and spare.
Then boys I heard, as they went to school, calling,
They gathered up the crystal manna to freeze
Their tongues with tasting, their hands with snowballing;
Or rioted in a drift, plunging up to the knees;
Or peering up from under the white-mossed wonder,
‘O look at the trees!’ they cried, ‘O look at the trees!’
With lessened load a few carts creak and blunder,
Following along the white deserted way,
A country company long dispersed asunder:
When now already the sun, in pale display
Standing by Paul’s high dome, spread forth below
His sparkling beams, and awoke the stir of the day.
For now doors open, and war is waged with the snow;
And trains of sombre men, past tale of number,
Tread long brown paths, as toward their toil they go:
But even for them awhile no cares encumber
Their minds diverted; the daily word is unspoken,
The daily thoughts of labour and sorrow slumber
At the sight of the beauty that greets them, for the charm they have broken.

[amanajoe]

Sunny and no snow to be seen here in the middle of eastern Iowa.

My kids are in town so we shall slaughter the fatted manicotti this evening.

My daughter brought an old friend with, my old ibanez acoustic that I bought over 30 years ago im crystal lake Illinois. She has been slowly taking up guitar over the past 15 years and it has been with her. It came home for a truss rod adjustment. It still shows all the dings (and one major finish crack) from the years of abuse as a traveling guitar back then. It was good to see an old friend.

Bah humbug to all the soundhooligans!

[billhammond]

Just about time to set out for Sconnie, for Christmas smorgasbord at seester's place. Roads are dry, sun is out, winds are light, temp is 18 degrees and only flurries expected this evening. There's snow on the ground here and there, but greenery, too. It should be a good field for the Packers at 3:30 (vs. Browns at Lambeau).

[millring]

[paleo]

It was a challenge, but we got all the Christmas gifts opened, now to kick back and enjoy some coffee.

One gift i received was a ticket to River Dance, next June, in Cedar Rapids. It'll be a family outing.