CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY EATING TIPS

I meant to post this around Christmas but forgot.  But it can work for New Years also

1. Avoid carrot sticks. Anyone who puts carrots on a holiday buffet table knows nothing of the Christmas spirit. In fact, if you see carrots, leave immediately. Go next door, where they’re serving rum balls.

2. Drink as much eggnog as you can. And quickly. It’s rare.. You cannot find it any other time of year but now. So drink up! Who cares that it has 10,000 calories in every sip? It’s not as if you’re going to turn into an eggnog-alcoholic or something. It’s a treat. Enjoy it. Have one for me. Have two. It’s later than you think. It’s Christmas!

3. if something comes with gravy, use it. That’s the whole point of gravy. Gravy does not stand alone. Pour it on. Make a volcano out of your mashed potatoes. Fill it with gravy. Eat the volcano. Repeat.

4. as for mashed potatoes, always ask if they’re made with skim milk or whole milk. If it’s skim, pass. Why bother? It’s like buying a sports car with an automatic transmission.

5. Do not have a snack before going to a party in an effort to control your eating. The whole point of going to a Christmas party is to eat other people’s food for free. Lots of it. Hello?

6. Under no circumstances should you exercise between now and New Year’s. You can do that in January when you have nothing else to do. This is the time for long naps, which you’ll need after circling the buffet table while carrying a 10-pound plate of food and that vat of eggnog.

7. If you come across something really good at a buffet table, like frosted Christmas cookies in the shape and size of Santa, position yourself near them and don’t budge. Have as many as you can before becoming the center of attention. They’re like a beautiful pair of shoes. If you leave them behind, you’re never going to see them again.

8. Same for pies. Apple, Pumpkin, Mincemeat. Have a slice of each. Or if you don’t like mincemeat, have two apples and one pumpkin. Always have three. When else do you get to have more than one dessert? Labor Day?

9. Did someone mention fruitcake? Granted, it’s loaded with the mandatory celebratory calories, but avoid it at all cost. I mean, have some standards.

10. One final tip:   If you don’t feel terrible when you leave the party or get up from the table, you haven’t been paying attention. Re-read these tips; start over, but hurry, January is just around the corner. Remember this motto to live by:

“Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, chocolate in one hand, body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming “WOO HOO what a ride!”

Have a wonderful Christmas Season!!

Track Santa

For all the kids and all the people that are kids at heart.

Since 1955 NORAD has been following Santa on Christmas eve and this year is not different. Now you can track Santa online.

Originally posted at 73 Wire Business and Technology

A little early Christmas Cheer

Beautiful Music from King’s College, Cambridge

In dulci jubilo, English

From “Carols for choirs I, fifty christmas carols, edited and arranged by Reginald Jacques and David Willcocks”.

In dulci jubilo

Old German tune

The original melody employed, as a Cantus firmus, in the following composition, is to be found in an old German book published in the year 1570 – which, from its title and contents, appears to be have contained the ritual of the Protestant Congregations of Zweibrueken and Neuburg. Even there it is called “a very ancient song (uraltes Lied) for Christmas-eve;” so that there can be no doubt that it is one of those old Roman Catholic melodies that Luther, on account of their beauty, retained in the Protestant Service. It was formerly sung in the processions that took place on Christmas-eve, and is still in those remote parts of Germany where people yet retain old customs. The words are rather remarkable, being written half in Latin and half in the upper German dialect. I have translated them to fit the music, and endeavoured to preserve, as much as I could, the simplicity of the original. Of the melody there can be but one opinion; namely, that which in spite of religious animosity, secured it the approbation of the Protestant reformers, and that of the German people during many centuries.

Willsbridge, Gloucestershire, 31st of January, 1837. R.L.Pearsall.

In dulci jubilo / Let us our homage shew;
Our heart’s joy recli- / neth in praesepio
And like a bright star shineth, / Matris in gremio.
Alpha es et O, / Alpha es et O.

O Jesu parvule! / I yearn for thee alway! [1]
Hear me, I beseech / thee, O puer optime!
My prayer let it reach thee, / O Princeps gloriae!
Trahe me post te! / Trahe me post te!

O Patris caritas, / O Nati lenitas!
Deeply were we stained / Per nostra crimina;
But thou hast for us gained / Coelorum gaudia.
O that we were there! / O that we were there!

Ubi sunt gaudia, / If that they be not there?
There are angels singing / – Nova cantica,
There the bells are ringing / In Regis curia:
O that we were there, / O that we were there.

[1] Pearsall’s translation of this line was “My heart is sore for thee!”

Christmas Cards

via email

Whether or not you think the war our country is in is a good thing or not….this is
a Christian thing to do….

When doing your Christmas cards this year, take one card and send it to the
address below. If we pass this on and everyone sends one card, think of how
many cards these special people who have sacrificed so much would receive.

Please send a card to the following:

Holiday Mail for Heroes

PO Box 5456 Capitol Heights , MD 20791-5456