The Stancliff Family wishes you all a very merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! May all of your wishes come true!
Thursday, December 25, 2008
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
Christmas Eve Movie Alert: Watch 'Christmas Vacation'
Looking for a funny Christmas story in keeping with the season?
Watch the Griswold Family "Christmas Vacation." If you ever saw "Family Vacation" then you know you're in for belly laughs when Clark hosts Christmas for the entire family. One of my favorite performers (aside from Chevy Chase) is Randy Quaid who gives a great white trash impersonation.
Best line in the movie was when Quaid's character pointed at his trashy, run down, motorhome, and proudly said, "Now Clark...that there is what they call an RV!"
My wife and I, watch it every year with our other favorite holiday classics.
'Tis the season to be merry!
Political Christmas Song III:Do You See What I See?
(To the tune of “Do You Hear What I hear?")
Said the American people to Congress
“Do you see what I see
way up on Wall Street, the Banks, and the Big Three?”
“Do you see what I see
CEOs dancing in the night
and hugging bonuses under the moon’s light?
and hugging bonuses under the moon’s light?”
Said the taxpayer to The Mighty Fed
“Do you see what I see
a bunch of bankers getting bonus money
Do you see what I see
financial corporations hurting the economy?
financial corporations hurting the economy ?”
Said the average guy to the Mighty President
“Do you see what I see
a wrong war and the loss of my privacy
Do you see what I see
A time for peace in this country?
A time for peace in this country?”
Fan Alert:Lakers and Celtics to play on Christmas Day!
The highly anticipated first encounter between the Los Angeles Lakers and The Boston Celtics this season, is on Christmas Day.
The Lakers may need a Christmas miracle to beat the streaking Celtics who have won a franchise-best 19 straight games. It's a home game for LA and a great opportunity to "make a statement" before the inevitable
Finals meeting between these two conference leaders. East meets West, in what I hope is a highly entertaining contest that ends up as a victory for the Lakers! GO LAKERS! I'll be watching you tomorrow...
Santa tracked by NORAD as he travels across the world
Who says Santa Claus doesn't exist?
The military personnel charged with being the eyes in the sky are certainly acting like he does — and they've been joined on the Internet by millions of believers.
Even doubters have reason to pause when they hear the North American Aerospace Defense Command — or NORAD, which monitors air and space threats against the U.S. and Canada — is in charge of the annual Christmas mission to keep children informed of Santa's worldwide journey to their homes.
"They challenge it, but only to a point," said Senior Master Sgt. Sharon Ryder-Platts, 49, who for five years has been a Santa tracker, taking calls from those wanting to know the location of jolly old St. Nick.
According to NORAD, Santa began his latest flight early Wednesday at the International Date Line in the Pacific Ocean. Historically, Santa visits the South Pacific first, then New Zealand and Australia. NORAD points out that only Santa knows his route.
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
McKinleyville Press: Christmas At Nana & Papa's House
It was the day after Thanksgiving, my wife’s birthday, when Christmas started coming to our household.
Red and green plastic crates were opened and rows of lights (inside and out) slithered down in ungainly clumps - to be separated later - until there was a pile up to my knees.
As more tops popped off the crates, Christmas tree ornaments came into view, nestled between angels and tinsel too.
The fresh-cut Noble Pine, in front of the window, was soon flanked by two three-foot high metal Nutcracker Kings who smirked with secret knowledge. The boughs were bare, but the recently discovered ornaments would soon be there.
Mistletoe was attached to the chandelier, ready to catch someone unaware. Ivy climbed out of the crates and onto the windows, framing them in evergreen. Colorful wreaths wrapped in ribbon centered themselves magically.
Santa and Mrs. Santa were there too. They stood next to some mischievous elves with big grins. Next to them, sporting holiday hats and mittens, there were penguins.
The stuffed pugs were giving hugs as they took their place on the wicker stand. The miniature Christmas village, parts of which were 80 years-old, were spread out in a puffy wonder winterland that really looks cold.
The music box played “Who’s That Doggie in the Window?” when it was wound up. Soon every wall was adorned with scenes of Christmas outdoors and holiday clocks. Hanging from the stairway there was a row of empty socks.
Papa’s “The Night Before Christmas’” storybook was brought forth and set upon the livingroom table in anticipation of five grandchildren. Christmas carols were in the air as Nana and Papa emptied the crates carefully so they didn’t break the special holiday plates.
The spirit of Christmas was there all right. We nearly stayed up all night. As we hung the trappings of Christmas, we remembered Christmas’s past. We have celebrated forty-three together so far, and each has been resplendent with treasured memories that will forever last.
As we strung lights on the tree, visions of our sons growing up made us smile as we recalled their eagerness on many Christmas Eves. All three have grown up and now have children of their own.
Despite our best efforts we shed a tear now and then remembering how it had been. Three sons who once depended upon us now are on their own. Yet, they haven’t gone too far.
They all live reasonably near, and we get together throughout the year.
Once, it was just Dave and Shirley. Then we became Mom and Dad. Now, at this juncture of our life, we are Nana and Papa, and couldn’t be more glad!
Grandchildren are great and they really make our season(s) special. Now, just days before Christmas, Nana and Papa’s house had been completely transformed, inside and out, in preparation of our family - which is what the season’s all about!
As It Stands, I wish all of my readers Merry Christmas, and to all a good night!
PIck up a copy of this column at newstands near you.
Messengers from Heaven:Do you believe in angels?
I was watching the Today Show this morning and they had a story about a Guardian Angel saving a teenage girl’s life.
Doctors’ took her off a life-support system thinking she was a goner. But, hospital security cameras distinctly showed a glowing light in the shape of an angel (with wings) near the girl’s bed hours later.
She miraculously survived the loss of her support system and rapidly got better, to the surprise and amazement of the hospital staff, doctors, and her mother.
Family members had given up on her just hours before, kissing the unconscious girl who they thought was slipping away forever. The mother, and staff members, saw the angel and the mother pulled out her cell phone and took a photo.
It showed the same thing that the security cameras showed, a glowing light in the shape of an angel.
Are there really angels? I believe that there are. Mine is a beloved grandmother who has warned me of danger many times. I’ve never seen a glowing light or anything like that. But, her voice clearly speaks to my head and heart. I’ve never ignored the warnings.
The last time I got a warning from her was back in 1990. I lived in 29 Palms and had to commute to the Palm Springs area every day to my job as the managing editor of a group of weekly newspapers.
The drive involved going up a mountain pass (one-lane on either side). One evening, on my way home, and going up that pass I suddenly had a funny feeling like something was going to happen. My grandmother’s voice calmly warned me to pull off the road immediately. I hesitated for a moment then slowed down and looked for a spot to pull over.
Just as I hit the break my front driver’s side tire blew! I was going slow enough and was able to maintain control to guide the car to a safe spot. When I got out, shaking like a leaf in a storm, I looked at how close my car had come to the edge of the mountain. I had, maybe, two feet before the ground gave way.
If I had been traveling at the speed I was going (before slowing down) and that tire blew, there was a good chance I’d have taken a plunge off that mountain. I stood there for minutes taking deep breaths and thanking my grandmother, before I went about repairing the tire.
There were other times, like when I was in Vietnam, when I felt her presence in perilous situations. I’ve often asked myself, why me? Why does grandma warn me of danger and not my brother or sisters? That’s a question that will never be answered.
AS IT STANDS I just know that I loved her deeply when she was alive, and somehow she still watches over me!
Unions sue Herr Schwarzenegger over mandatory days off
Two public employee unions on Monday sued Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger to block his effort to furlough state workers in a cost-cutting measure as California's treasury runs out of money.
Last week, Schwarzenegger issued an executive order to require that all state employees take two unpaid days off each month starting in February. The governor said the measure is needed to conserve cash, with the state budget gap estimated to reach $42 billion a year and a half from now.
The lawsuit, filed in Sacramento County Superior Court, asserts that only the Legislature can alter the pay of workers who have labor contracts with the state. It asks the courts to issue a temporary stay to stop Schwarzenegger's efforts, which could affect 230,000 workers.
Monday, December 22, 2008
Political Christmas Song II: Letting Dubya and Cheney go
LETTING DUBYA GO & Cheney Go
(To the tune of “Let it Snow”)
Oh!the economy has been really slow,
and doesn’t seem to have a place to go.
Why we don’t really know,
we just... Let Cheney go! Let him go! Let him go!
It doesn’t show signs of getter well
as any economist will tell
Why we don’t really know,
but we Let Dubya go! Let him go! Let him go!
When we finally get rid of Dubya and his regime where nothing was as it seemed,
Americans are all going to know,
the times is over for Letting them go! Letting them go! Letting them go!
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