Not Rain, nor Sleet, nor Snow – - will keep me from going to Texas for Christmas December 20, 2008
Posted by Chris in 2008 in Review, Christmas in Texas, Family & Friends, Tis the Season, lakehouse, weather.10 comments
Things are such a disaster at Continental due to all of the bad weather that, after multiple disruptions, I decided to do it the old fashioned way, load up, and drive the 1700 miles to Texas. Check in on me along the way!
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Jack Frost Swings Through the Neighborhood Overnight December 7, 2008
Posted by Chris in Around the House, Family & Friends, In the Neighborhood, New Jersey, Tis the Season, travel, weather.3 comments
It’s pretty cold up here! Yep it is. And Jack Frost
was making his rounds last night as well.
We had a light dusting over night that was really pretty
to wake up to this morning. It went all the way into
the city, so I am told. It was nothing like the October
Blizzard we had before Halloween, though.
I heard from Gary and Mel this weekend. They are on
their way to Fort Lauderdale via the Southwest Airlines
cattle car (hey, whatever it takes, right?) to settle in
before their big cruise that leaves next Friday.
A December Evening in New York City December 4, 2008
Posted by Chris in 2008 in Review, In the City, New York, Photo Blog, Tis the Season.1 comment so far
The 2008 Christmas Tree Lighting at Rockefeller Center in
New York City
The show was awesome. If you event have the
opportunity to see Jersey Boys, do it!
Sights and Sounds of Christmas on Black Friday in New Jersey November 28, 2008
Posted by Chris in Around the House, In the Neighborhood, Tis the Season.5 comments
After doing our part to contribute to a successful Black Friday at Burlington Coat Factory, Wal-Mart, and Target, it was time to work on Christmas lights in the yard. Now before I say anything else, yes, this year is different at my place. Those of you who know me may remember that past years involved a very coordinated, clear light display in the yard that would rival anything you might see at a fancy 5-Star hotel. Not wanting to get on the roof of a 3 story house or pay anyone else to do it, I took a different approach this year – - and yes, folks, I really did use multi-color lights.
Before the Lights
After the yard lights. Not up to my normal standards like I did in
Texas, where everything was bigger and brighter!
Yes, that is a mixture of colors. I have violated my own rules!
Front Door, using the flash on the camera
My Deer. Not sure about the clear lights there. I might have a color
violation going on.
Thanksgiving Dinner November 28, 2008
Posted by Chris in 2008 in Review, Around the House, Family & Friends, In the Neighborhood, New Jersey, Tis the Season, beacon.1 comment so far
The first Thanksgiving in the new house but the
tradition of face-stuffing remained in tact.
Congratulations to my Dallas Cowboys!
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- Roseanna and Beacon on Thanksgiving Day
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- I should have taken a picture BEFORE I sliced into it!
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- Thanksgiving wouldn’t be Thanskgiving without Roseanna’s Eggs
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- In the past the plan was to use real whipping cream but this year I used cool whip! It worked out fine.
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- Southern Dressing made with yellow cornbread! This is very rare in New Jersey.
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- The electric buffet came in handy
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- Ready, Set, GO!!!
Decorated for Christmas November 25, 2008
Posted by Chris in Around the House, Tis the Season.4 comments
After a couple of days of work, the house is finally decorated for Christmas. I know a lot of folks don’t like to even think about that until after Thanksgiving but I have always been of the opinion that you decorate whenever the mood strikes!
I did decide not to do as much outside as I usually do with the lights because I don’t know what winter
will be like here.
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- Roseanna Bought a Beautiful Rose Arrangement for the Kitchen Table. Very Festive.
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- My Christmas Redneck Trailer Collection on the Gameroom Fireplace Mantle
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- Table in the Gameroom w/ My White Snow People
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- Another Santa and a Couple of NYC Winter Pictures in the Dining Room
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- Christmas Decorations on My Mantle in the Upstairs Den
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- My Lennox holiday lighthouse set
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- On the Coffee Table
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- These ornaments are probably 70 years old or so
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- I am not wild about this tree. I am used to a HUGE tree as most of you know, but I havent figured out how to make that work here yet.
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- The Inspiration for the TV Show, Northern Exposure, I Wonder What Talkeeta, Alaska Looks Like in December?
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- We picked this one up in Las Vegas at the Venetian
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- Ornament we picked up last year in Ketchikan
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- Ornament from Chicago, IL
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- Ornament from Hollywood, CA
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- We picked this ornament up in Fairbanks, Alaska
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- A few deer guarding the front yard
I Will Survive (Thanksgiving) November 25, 2008
Posted by Chris in Humor, Tis the Season, Videos.add a comment
You Can’t Gobble Me November 23, 2008
Posted by Chris in Animals, Humor, Tis the Season, Videos.add a comment
The Dynamic-Duo Back in Action November 16, 2008
Posted by Chris in 2008 in Review, Around the House, Family & Friends, The Good Life, Tis the Season, Video Blog, Videos, dallas cowboys.5 comments
We spent much of the morning running around with
errands. This afternoon we put up a Christmas
tree in my rec room downstairs.
We are having a great time
Autumn Arrives at the Clark House September 21, 2008
Posted by Chris in 2008 in Review, Around the House, Feel Good, Hobbies & Interests, In the Neighborhood, Observations, Photo Blog, Tis the Season, Weather Report.3 comments
I will reserve judgement on Winters in New Jersey untill I actually have to experience a full season of the cold stuff, but so far, Fall gets a big thumbs up.
The trees are not quite ready to turn, but many of the shrubs are.
Give it another month or so and we will be into the full color change.
It’s finally cool enough for mums here – - I am just hoping that the deer don’t come through at night and eat them. Click on the thumbnails below to expand the pictures!
Christmas is a Go December 8, 2007
Posted by Chris in Around the House, The Good Life, Tis the Season.Tags: christmas, holidays, tree
2 comments
A quick tour of my front yard at Christmas time. It doesn’t compare to last year, but I am glad I did something instead of being a scrooge.
Soldiers on Easter April 7, 2007
Posted by Chris in America, In the News, Tis the Season.add a comment
There are thousands of members of our armed services who won’t be home with their families for Easter.
Here’s to wishing them a safe and blessed Easter, and a safe return home.
Many of the people I work with have family members serving overseas in the armed forces. A couple of years ago I created a video for my company’s annual award presentation to recognize those dedicated individuals. I asked Jeff at my office to make an AVI version of it so that I could share it here. I hope you enjoy it.
New Years – 2007 January 1, 2007
Posted by Chris in Tis the Season.Tags: chris, holidays, mom, new years, roseanna
1 comment so far
It was a pretty tame New Years Eve around my place. A few glasses of peach champagne to toast in the new year, and a game of Monopoly – The Here and Now Version, and it was time to watch the ball go down and call it a night.
Yesterday, on New Years Eve, I received an email from Melinda regarding the way she is approaching the new year and resolutions, and I have decided to adopt her way of thinking:
I am starting a new trend. I’m done with New Year’s resolutions because I never keep them. But I do like the idea of January being a fresh start. So I hereby declare tomorrow as Do-over Day. Whatever went wrong for you in 06, you now get the chance to do over, differently if you want. And the things that went well, do them over too. Maybe they will be even better in 07. We all know we are going to repeat a majority of what we did this year anyway, but if you take the approach that tomorrow is the start not just of another year, but of another chance at everything, it puts it in a different perspective. So tonight at midnight, or if you’re like us, tomorrow morning when you awaken to 2007, instead of saying “Happy New Year,” put a smile on your face and shout “Do Over!” You’ve earned it.
Mel
So, this morning – when I awoke to a new year that promises to be full of opportunities and blessings, I shouted “Do Over!”
Seasonal Good Taste – Guidelines December 21, 2006
Posted by Chris in Tis the Season.Tags: christmas
2 comments
I have to admit. I am a Christmas decoration snob. There are outside decorations that look good, and some that just don’t. My friends have dubbed me the Christmas Light Cop, passing judgement on every decorated house I drive by. To help everyone out, I have created this seasonal guideline when decorating your yard for the season:
1. Anything over six feet tall should be avoided.
2. Refrain from inflatable decorations. If you have to blow it up or hook it up to an exhaust fan, its tacky. I don’t care what your kid says.
3. If you own anything that is over six feet tall AND inflatable, laws have been broken and you must be punished.
4. The same goes for anything that is motorized or talks.
5. Clear lights are good. Colored lights are good as long as it doesn’t look like a circus. Mixing Clear and color is bad. While I am at it, steady on doesn’t go well with blinky blinky, and chaser lights down the sidewalk makes your front yard look like a taxi way at JFK International Airport.
6. No nativity scenes displayed outside of any building that is not a church. The Savior deserves a more hallowed spot than the weedy knoll usually occupied by your garden gnomes.
7. If you must have a nativity scene, stick to the script. Only a few characters are supposed to be at the manger, and we all know who they are. My neighbors have throws Disney characters into the mix. When the baby Jesus is visited by the Three Wise Smurfs, you’ve taken a very wrong turn.
Yes, I am a Christmas Decoration Snob. But if we can all follow these simple rules…..
