One Good Thing - Christmas edition

Andi, I hope you don't mind my stealing your idea for One Good Thing. We've kicked the Christmas season into gear here at the Bear household, and I was thinking this might be a special thread we could all use to share our family traditions, as we get to them in the season.

As you can see, I switched to my Christmas avatar - the cover of Chat Atkins' Christmas album. It was also the first Christmas vinyl I put on the 'table yesterday. I always wait until Thanksgiving or the day after to start playing holiday music. Last night's movie was Planes, Trains, and Automobiles (I know, I know, the language... other than the big 'F-bomb' scene, though, it's not...TOO bad). This afternoon we watched Elf. Dining music tonight will be Herb Alpert, which I got on closeout at a secondhand store after Christmas last year, so I haven't even listened to it yet. I love 'new' old records!

Tomorrow will be putting up the tree, with the EXTRAVAGANZA on screen!

We've already heard some from Andi and Tavo - what Christmas stuff have the rest of you all been up to?

,
Bear85 (aka Dave)

Tried to get into some christmas mood (it's still too warm here) today and listened to some christmas music. Here's my all time favourite christmas song:

Guitarmaniac, while that song is probably not what Bear had in mind when he opened this thread, I appreciate you introducing me to it for a completely unrelated reason: Harlingen. The mention of that little border town in Texas in the lyrics brought back a flood of memories of living there for three of the best months of my life before I moved to Australia. I could write a book about the wonderful, talented, quirky people that I met there, that I am lucky enough to call friends. BTW, Harlingen also happens to be the final hometown of one Mr. Bill Haley!

Bear85 wrote:

Andi, I hope you don't mind my stealing your idea for One Good Thing.

Not at all, Bear - you can't steal something that's given freely! I'm happy that it seems to resonate with some folks, and I hope others will chime in here once they recover from a weekend of turkey overload.

This is a mixture of bad and good.

Well it seems Christmas will be different for our family this year. My Dad's going to have a hip replacement operation on the 21st, so he's spending Christmas in the Hospital. That means our Christmas Eve dinner (we celebrate on the 24th as my folks are European) will be on the 19th this year. My Dad's a riot though, he told me to go to Mum's on Christmas Eve so she wouldn't be by herself. I said I can't as all of us will be spending Christmas Eve in the Hospital with him!!! Crazy man thinking we'd leave him in the Hospital by himself. He's my idol, my strength and teacher. Nothing will keep us apart on Christmas Eve, so that's the good thing.

Another good thing is my Mum will be baking her yearly batch of Vanillekipferl which is a horse shoe shaped vanilla almond shortbread biscuit. The German's and some Europeans people in here will know what I'm talking about. To say we eagerly await this special treat every year is an understatement. It would be like saying that we're mildly looking forward to the next Brian Setzer release.

Bring on the Vanillekipferl and the calories!!!!

Happy holiday season to everyone.

René aka Pony

Guit-man: haven't listened to the song yet. Based on Andi's post...should I wait until the kids are in bed?

Andi: thanks for your blessing. A Christmas star for you !

Rene: your dad will be in my prayers. I know this will not be easy for anybody, but one thing's for sure. You will all remember this Christmas forever!

Bear family update: some outside lights are up. Tree is up and decorated, with Setzer DVD rockin' in the background. Vinyl listened to: Wayne Newton (a real hoot), Robert Goulet (both new ones - purchased this summer), Percy Faith, Harry Simeone Chorale, original soundtrack from Rudolph (in very sweet condition), and one of my faves: Christmas from Hawaii by a group called The Surfers. I've gotta get a pic of this album up here - these guys look like Elvis's buddies from Blue Hawaii.

Now I have to downshift back into normal mode for the next few weeks!

Bear85 wrote:

Guit-man: haven't listened to the song yet. Based on Andi's post...should I wait until the kids are in bed?

If you have a problem with your kids hearing words like mexican and tampons you should wait^^
It basically describes a chaos christmas at the home of a white trash family^^

In my younger days i didn`t care so much for Christmas.

Now in my mid-40s i love to listen to good Christmas music,
our house is full of little Santa´s and Rudolph´s,
we`ll buy a little (a real one) Christmastree again.
Every year again i try to play "White Christmas" on my guitar.

So i`m in the mood for Christmas... (The BSO CD are in my car again)

Good times and merry christmas to all.

@bear85, i love your avatar...i`ll try to get this album as well.

Rene my thoughts go out to your father, he can be happy, that his family cares so much for him!
BTW: we've already been baking Vanillekipferl too, but I think we've already eaten all of them!

webelvis wrote:

Rene my thoughts go out to your father, he can be happy, that his family cares so much for him!
BTW: we've already been baking Vanillekipferl too, but I think we've already eaten all of them!

Thanks Paul and Bear for your thoughts. Eaten them already Paul!!!!! I can't wait 'til the first one melts in my mouth. Bring it on!!!!

You only have one Dad. I guess as I get older I appreciate him more. Funny how age makes things fall into place nicely.

Love my Dad!!!! He'll be fine. He'll be terrorizing the older ladies on the tennis court again soon.

Hey All!

We finally got our super cheesy white Christmas tree up this past weekend. The boys decorated it, and I can tell they are getting taller since the ornaments are all over the tree instead of gathered at the bottom. I'm in the process of cleaning downstairs so I can put up my collection of Rudolph bobbleheads. Remember the old Rankin and Bass Christmas specials? I always looked forward to seeing those on tv when I was a kid. Now we have them all on tape and can watch them whenever we fancy. Progress...(I guess)

I was hoping to be able to put up the aluminum tree this year, but my boys are well, boys, and I don't think my tree and vintage ornaments would survive them this year. Maybe next year....or when they leave for college?

Hope everyone is doing well and keeping things simple this time of year. Rene, glad to hear your dad is doing better. Hope he continues on the road to a speedy recovery!


hrg

I get to blast Brian Setzer's Christmas music in my car while driving to work, whether my car-pooler friends like it or not! HAHA!

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!

We took the boys up to the National Train Museum in Green Bay to ride the Polar Express last night. Even though my boys know that Santa isn't "real", they weren't too old to get all caught up in the magic of it all. We listened to an excellent reading of the Polar Express, then drank hot chocolate and rode the train to see Santa. The boys even received reindeer bells on the train ride. The folks at the museum did a fabulous job, and I highly recommend this to any family with kids. It was a great family memory experience. Check it out, but by your tickets early....just like the BSO shows, they sell out quick!

Merry Christmas!

hrg

Yesterday the boys & I put together a fine looking Christmas tree! They are very proud of it (so am I!). Lights up on the house, cookies baked....all is good.

Merry Christmas to all those who are serving and have served in our military. May we never forget you while you are away from home, and thank you when you do return!


hrg

The embers glowed softly, and in their dim light,
I gazed round the room and I cherished the sight.
My wife was asleep, her head on my chest,
My daughter beside me, angelic in rest.
Outside the snow fell, a blanket of white,
Transforming the yard to a winter delight.


The sparkling lights in the tree I believe,
Completed the magic that was Christmas Eve.
My eyelids were heavy, my breathing was deep,
Secure and surrounded by love I would sleep.
In perfect contentment, or so it would seem,
So I slumbered, perhaps I started to dream.


The sound wasn't loud, and it wasn't too near,
But I opened my eyes when it tickled my ear..
Perhaps just a cough, I didn't quite know, Then the
sure sound of footsteps outside in the snow.
My soul gave a tremble, I struggled to hear,
And I crept to the door just to see who was near.


Standing out in the cold and the dark of the night,
A lone figure stood, his face weary and tight.
A soldier, I puzzled, some twenty years old,
Perhaps a Marine, huddled here in the cold.
Alone in the dark, he looked up and smiled,
Standing watch over me, and my wife and my child.


"What are you doing?" I asked without fear,
"Come in this moment, it's freezing out here!
Put down your pack, brush the snow from your sleeve,
You should be at home on a cold Christmas Eve!"
For barely a moment I saw his eyes shift,
Away from the cold and the snow blown in drifts..


To the window that danced with a warm fire's light
Then he sighed and he said "Its really all right,
I'm out here by choice. I'm here every night."
"It's my duty to stand at the front of the line,
That separates you from the darkest of times.


No one had to ask or beg or implore me,
I'm proud to stand here like my fathers before me.
My Gramps died at ' Pearl on a day in December,"
Then he sighed, "That's a Christmas 'Gram always remembers."
My dad stood his watch in the jungles of ' Nam ',
And now it is my turn and so, here I am.


I've not seen my own son in more than a while,
But my wife sends me pictures, he's sure got her smile.
Then he bent and he carefully pulled from his bag,
The red, white, and blue... an American flag.
I can live through the cold and the being alone,
Away from my family, my house and my home.


I can stand at my post through the rain and the sleet,
I can sleep in a foxhole with little to eat.
I can carry the weight of killing another,
Or lay down my life with my sister and brother..
Who stand at the front against any and all,
To ensure for all time that this flag will not fall.."


" So go back inside," he said, "harbor no fright,
Your family is waiting and I'll be all right."
"But isn't there something I can do, at the least,
"Give you money," I asked, "or prepare you a feast?
It seems all too little for all that you've done,
For being away from your wife and your son."


Then his eye welled a tear that held no regret,
"Just tell us you love us, and never forget.
To fight for our rights back at home while we're gone,
To stand your own watch, no matter how long.
For when we come home, either standing or dead,
To know you remember we fought and we bled.
Is payment enough, and with that we will trust,
That we mattered to you as you mattered to us."


LCDR Jeff Giles, SC, USN
30th Naval Construction Regiment
OIC, Logistics Cell One
Al Taqqadum, Iraq

I couldn't have asked for a happier Christmas experience with Andi in Vegas!! Thank you so much darlin'!!
Mr. Setzer was such a good sport, patient, attentive to all and very genuine. That entire experience was a really good Christmas thing!!!

A verrrry Merry Christmas and safe and Happy 2010 to all here and those close to you. What a nice group of people you all are!!

Closed out the Christmas season in what for our family is very traditional form:
[list]watched Ralphie shoot his eye out Tuesday night
watched Clarence get his wings Weddnesday night
watched the kids in the christmas program at church Thursday night
opened presents this morning![*]

Weather here was pretty bad last night and this morning, so we stayed home from church this morning. Presents, therefore, got opened earlier than usual...I had SFLA in my stocking! So I finally got to hear the album, and it's every bit as good as you all said it is. Mom, Dad, and the kids all enjoyed each others' company (and their gifts!) all day long, as the freezing rain fell outside. I was very thankful we didn't really need to go anywhere - I hope you were all safe in your travels.

Merry Christmas, everybody!

One good thing about Christmas? It's over.
As my brother said, "This year's Christmas will go down as one of the most memorable ever."
We're having a blizzard here, which should be no big deal for where I live, but I got stuck twice before I even left the street I live on.
Getting home was a long, rotten ride.
I had a completely dysfunctional family Christmas. I fought with my mother over mashed potatoes, and the day ended when my dad made me cry. Yep. As dysfunctional as they get.
Upon returning home spent over an hour clearing my driveway, only to use up all the gas in the snowblower & gas can. Too bad it hasn't stopped snowing.
I know, I'm getting no sympathy from HRG!! (I just need to vent!)
Thankful for having a warm bed, a full tummy, and a dysfunctional family.
Merry (beeeeeeep-ing) Christmas!