8 Days till Christmas, 17th of December 2010. The Politicians are screaming and fighting to not do anything exciting as the Holiday comes closer. So as this debate over taxes, unemployment and more continues on do these Senators and Congressmen know what will happen if they don’t act?  A Double Digit Recession is one step from a full out Depression folks, wake up. We are that close right now to having bread lines again and more, why can’t our Government wake up? If they don’t do what needs to be done before their Christmas and Holiday break, it is not they who shall be hurt or suffer, it is the people who will. Call your Senator, call your Congressman, get them to vote and complete the tax and unemployment packages and leave Health Care alone.

 

Now That I have ranted on the lack of performance of our fine Government, it is on to Christmas once more. Christmas  is  special time of year for all no matter what color, race, or nationality you be, if your American. The rest of the World watches and celebrates the Holiday in their own ways of course, and that is important too. None pass the Holiday Season up completely that I know of anyway unless they can’t afford it or don’t have enough to share or can’t. So, as we celebrate the Holiday Season, somewhere out there in America, or in in World, there are people  who can’t give a gift, won’t receive a gift and who can’t do any of it. Think of the homeless, think of the hungry, think of the needy at least once this year for the Holidays. Give if you can to help your fellow man and lend a helping hand. When you do, no matter how tired you may feel each day or night, if you help the needy the next day you shall feel right, and I can tell you, you shall sleep a good night!.

Santa shall come for all the little ones I am sure, if he can.  So, as the days count down to the big one you see, and people rush to and fro and the gifts and money do flow where it can, Enjoy Your Holiday Season, but, don’t forget, it not about receiving or what you get, it’s about giving that makes life worth living!

As Christmas approaches and the days count down to the big Holiday, I look about and see the shiny lights and decorations all bright. I stop and think of family still with me and Hope their holidays go right and they remain healthy and happy. Then I stop and think of old friends I grew up with when in school, what ever happened to all of you? The time seems to have flew on by, and I hear of old friends who have already said good-bye. Then I am told of old friends who have lost loved ones  and some who are dying, Lord what have they done? Illness it seems races about, and one by one we all get taken out. Sadly it is the ones, that seemed to be the happiest or the most loved that depart first and foremost. If I could change it I would , but, destiny plays tricks on all of us, including me.

A while back I lost my parents in 90 and 91 and they went from cancer. My real father went from cancer in 1986 so no parents were left for me in my 40s’ . Then a few years back my first friend back in my high school days died. Sadly he went young in his 40s, how I do not know. Today I find myself faced with the impending death of the first girl I ever kissed, she has been struck down with kidney failure and lost both of those. Now on machines her Doctors tell her to make preps for her demise. Sadly she is in her 50s like me and I am told can’t last too long. Sadly she is one of the most funniest, cute women I have ever known and always interesting  indeed, and when she passes she will be missed by her family and me. I hope and pray when she passes she does so in no pain, for she always meant good in life and did the best she could. God Bless her I say.

So as the days to Christmas count down this year, I look forward to seeing the family and friends I hold dear. But I also look back at 54 and know that I may not be here too much more. I want to be able to tell thos ei love, I love them so, and others there are things they should know. BUt as the Holiday approaches with great speed, I want to wish all Happy Holidays indeed!.

The Greatest Gifts of Christmas are not the electronic toys or dolls or cars for boys, or diamonds or pearls. The greatest gift anyone can receive at Christmas is really love, caring, sharing, and family and friends. Each year in my life for 54 years I have watched kids of each age cause I lived it of course, want the hottest new toy, the newest outfit, or game, but what they don’t realize is they already have the greatest gift of all, family, friends, love and respect. Maybe if Christmas wasn’t so commercialized as it is today, people would remember and realize. But in todays world and societies, it is all about being in a hurry, and keeping up with everyone else around you. If they have it then you must too, right? Well, sometimes your better off if you don’t.

The Greatest Gift one can receive on Christmas once a year, is a sweet hug or handshake, smile or tear, from someone you hold dear. IT doesn’t take a lot of money or materials to hug a friend or sibling or family members  to give them a kiss on their cheek or respect their wishes as they do yours. It  isn’t all about money, or materials or what you can get for Christmas, it’s all about relationships and caring and through that the sharing that makes the Season so Bright!

Unlike many people who love to see presents piled high around and under the tree, the greatest gift to me, well, is me being free, being loved and being respected by family and friends and all who know me well. When I can walk outside my home or anywhere I go, and people don’t hide from me, but like to say hello, that’s a gift that few people really do know.  The greatest gift I have ever received and ever shall in my heart and my mind, is acceptance by those I love for all time. So, if your like me, it is not money or materials that impress and make me smile, it’s being loved and wanted around for a long while. May each Day of The Christmas Season bring all JOy and Love and Respect for each girl, woman, man or boy! May the Ten Days of Christmas which start today, be Happy, Be Merry and bring family and Friends Your Way!

With 11 days till Christmas and the presents getting ready to flow, and some jolly old guy in a Red Suit, getting ready to go HO, HO,  the holiday season is here and many are thinking of cheer, but few are thinking of the New Year! People I see rush too and fro, hoping to buy presents for each person they do know, money is tight and things are not right, but come Christmas Time we all make it through the day and night!

11 days of Christmas, on the 11th day before, we all run out the door, looking for gifts to give and a way to make some smile and live.

Then on the 10th day before Christmas, we hear from people we haven’t for years and  for some of it it brings laughter and for some others  it can bring tears. But we make the best!

9 day before Christmas, we rush about putting up decorations and trying to clean and make it all pretty. Then we buy our wrappings and ribbons and bows, and listen to the store Santa’s with  their HO, HO, HOs

8 Days till Christmas we start to plan the menu for meals that are so grand. The hams and the turkeys and the pies and the cakes, all of that sugar gives our bodies the quakes.

7 Days before Christmas the candy canes come out, hung on the trees and all about/ The red and the white and the white and the green, mixed in with the lights of all red, white and green. The lights start to flashing and Santa’s lite up, making us all realize it’s a special time ahead before we go to bed.

6 Days before the big day and the children all wake, wondering if they will get what they want for  goodness sake. The visions of toys and clothes go thru their heads, as mothers and fathers watch them as they go to bed.

5 days till Santa will come flying through and each child tries to behave, being good they think will get them more, ah what a way to be, when it all doesn’t matter to Mommy or Daddy.

4 Days till Christmas, and the lights blink on and off, the paper wrapping can be heard  being unrolled and ribbons and bows start to flow. Gifts slowly being wrapped and hidden you see, for no one wants the presents , they all can see.

3 Days till Santa and the anticipation builds, and kids start being enchanting and not making thrills. They begin to behave and shovel the walks and yes they even start listening as their parents do talk.

2 Days till Christmas the music starts to play, Rudolph and Frosty and White Christmas they play. People hum the tunes and rush all about, trying to finish the shopping without a shout!

1 Day till Christmas and , things slow down, the final wrapping is done and the presents spread  under the tree all around. The pile grows bigger as the hours go by, and the kids all stare with a happiness in their eye.

Then Christmas Morning,, the house is all quiet and silent, everyone is still asleep, when out of  bed the littlest one does creep. Down the stairs  they rush you see, staring at all the presents underneath the tree. Checking each one to see what is theirs, then suddenly here come the  sisters and brothers. They work all thru all the gifts , each making a pile for themselves to see. Now the excitement fills the air, as at each wrapped present they stare, they can’t wait any longer so they start to make noise. Waking their parents with all of their joy.

The day begins as Dad brings the garbage bags, and mom makes the coffee  before it begins. Mom gets the camera and Dad slides next to the tree, handing out presents and watching the kids laugh with glee. One by one they open  each gift. each proclaiming, How I wanted this!

Happiness has arrived you see, but it is not the gifts that’s makes me smile you see. I sit back in my chair and watch the smiles all around and the hugs and the kisses and listen to the happy sounds. It’s the feeling of family and of care and knowing it will be the same the next year!. So when you stop on Christmas Night and all the presents are unwrapped and the kids in bed just right, do what I do, and pray to god, for you have been blessed with family and health, and it does not matter about the wealth. The meaning is simple, the story so pure, it’s the love of the giving that makes it worth more!  

If you give from the heart and you give from the soul, in the end it is that which makes you whole!.

Good Morning to ALL and may your December 13th, 2010 be filled with happiness, fun, joy and some work, for we all need to eat you see and keep a place to live and be free. The Holiday Season as I said many times before is upon us, and as you drive around and look around you may see, the homeless, the hungry and the disabled some who made this country free. Being America we have different social logical and financial  levels and educations too, amazingly we all seem to get along someway too, for the most part.

Growing up as I did in two place over most of my life, one was The Brass City, Waterbury, Connecticut, the other was The Rubber City as I call it Naugatuck, it seems one didn’t have much time to worry what social or financial level you were on, you had to learn to move your ass and make a buck or become broke and lost. Waterbury doesn’t measure who you are by looks, nationality, color or creed, it measures you by the size of your wallet and what you have. Naugatuck expects it’s citizens to be neat, clean, well groomed, but ready to fight for everything they have including jobs, food and home, as well as family. Both Waterbury and  Naugatuck, instill, pride in their own ways, and both are strong teachers of independence and self survival.  Waterbury uses it’s streets and neighborhoods to teach survival, because it is so multi-cultural , and Naugatuck is too, but has a stronger sports culture then Waterbury. It’s funny how you can struggle to survive in one place, but fly through in the next and be accepted. Two towns, same planned objectives for kids growing up and different atmospheres but not must different in many ways.

Holidays bring rushes to and fro, rushing for last minute shopping is where we do go. Then ya have last minute changes as to where the holiday will be held. Will it be at my house or yours, and how many shall come. Did we buy presents for all of them or did we forget maybe one. What shall we feed them if they come here, are it has to be easy to feed them all is all that I care. I not being a woman don’t want to rush around cooking and getting it done, while everyone else is talking and having fun. Holidays bring some joy to see old family and friends, but if your doing all the work it becomes just that work and no fun. So, if your hosting be careful not to overdo, buy the meals and candies and goodies to get you through. lol.

As the Holiday Season is now in full swing, remember, it is the interactions and caring for one another, that makes it all work my sisters or brothers. So as you rush to and fro, listen in the Malls and Stores to the HO, HO, Hos, Santa no matter what color or race, and through all of his work and rushing all over the place, still manages to laugh and smile and laugh with style, so do it too.

As today starts I think over the last 13 weeks of the NFL Season and think of the disappointments of the year from two of the so called strongest teams in the league. The Dallas Cowboys fell to the wayside and out of the playoff picture long before their Owner Jerry Jones made his decision to replace his coach. Then we have the Minnesota Vikings, who were 12-4 last year and one victory from the Super Bowl and went flat this year like a tire that ran out of air. Sadly, both teams that had playoff possibilities when they started now are done in the NFL with new coaches in both places. The Cowboys promoted from within and so did the Vikings, who knows how many other teams may follow suite before it is over this year. In each case where the coach was fired, the teams have rebounded back and responded to their new coaches it does seem. Was the problem really the coaches in each case or what really was it? We only know what we see as results so we go with the coaches losing the respect of the players as a team.  Other things in the NFL seem to have changed also, teams like The Chiefs, Rams, 49ers, and Dolphins are making comebacks and some may see the playoffs this year and surprise others, we shall see.

Next subject the beloved Holidays America hold every year in December. Christmas, and it’s Jewish counterpart and more come in December of each year to America. It usually means a boost for the American Economy and sales rates jump up first and foremost  and things start to look brighter by New Years. But in America this year we face a depressing problem of a sluggish and non existent economy that is barely moving along. If Americans want to know why, just take a look at your mid-term election results. Folks you split the Congress between then two parties and I have said this before, gridlock will come into play, sad isn’t it. Congress needs to extend Unemployment Benefits and the Bush Tax Cuts and do so quickly.  Ah what’s the sense, you can drag a horse to water but you can’t make it drink can you! America is one stubborn country and it’s people reflect that too. It’s time to wake up folks, we are going to fall into a two or maybe three digit recession and the whole country will fall in importance and position in the world. Wake Up!

Two weeks from now across America Christmas and the full Holiday Season shall be in effect, people will be opening the few presents they can afford. It will not be the type of Holiday many American’s grew up with. Money is tight, presents may be fewer, but we all must remember it is not what one gets, it is what one gives. A hug or a kiss or some time with family and friends goes a long way. SO remember, if you have no money you can always give love, honesty, advise and respect and most of all time with your loved ones and that makes a Holiday Special in more ways then one. It is not the cash, nor materials that make a holiday like Christmas Special, is the people you spend it with and how you spend that time with them. You can save to buy materials and make do with what you got, but if you lose a loved one you can’t replace them that easy can you!

Last note: As The Holiday Season closes in big time and time runs short stop and think of some fellow Americans who have a lot less then you. Then have no homes and sleep on the streets, they starve and beg for food and live in cardboard boxes. They stand by the roadsides with signs offering to work for food and shelter. If  you can’t help them it can be understood by most, but if you can you should. I am not talking the drug addict or criminal, I am talking average Americans who can’t find work, who’s benefits have run out and who are on their last legs. Help if you can for those who don’t help and walk on by, may tomorrow be the ones next in line.

Today being the 10th of December means yes the Christmas Season or day countdown has begun for many kids like it dis for me when I was young. I would wake up each day after the tenth and announce how many days till the big one.  As ya grow older though you  learn a few things about Christmas, 1) it cost a lot of money and is commercial as all get out. 2) It is work rushing to and fro to find the gifts, don’t you know and fit them to each person you buy for. 3) Wrapping and sending or getting it ready to give takes work and time to do it all right. 4) In the end you really learn the true meaning of the Holiday wheither you call it Christmas ot Hannacha or something else. The real meaning of Christmas my friends is not in receiving but giving  an dnot just in materials and toys girls and boys, but in heart filled hugs and kisses and seeing people you be missing. Family is vital of course, and you learn they count the most.

 

So as you run around and time flies on, and the Holiday gets closer each day, stop and think of family and loves in your lives, and try to do something nice. Try to show them that you care and that Christmas is more about what you can share! Give them hugs and kisses and make them smile and laugh with a little warmth and caring, for in the end The Holiday is for Sharing. Happy start to your holiday season is what I wish all right now, we may not have money, we may not have much, but you Christmas a hug or kiss or a soft touch makes one feel needed and wanted!

Wake up America, the President of the United States and his Economic Adviser is telling Congress and the American People to keep the Bush Tax Cuts in place two more years to prevent a depression in the country. If you want to raise taxes Republicans you better raise them on the rich and not the middle class or poor. As it is now this country is beginning to become a lower end country. Yeah the few rich have it really well don’t they, but what about the Middle Class and below. We all suffer struggle and pay our taxes and try to survive too. What about those on Unemployment, welfare, disabilities and more? Where is the help for the real needy ones folks? Each day I see homeless on the streets, people working for a meal, and disabled and ill struggling to survive. Medical Costs sky rocket, Unemployment running out for thousands at a clip and no jobs. What’s next people are we headed to becoming a third world country soon where we will be fighting one another for food and to survive? America is heading for major big shit unless Congress and both parties get on the same page and work and compromise to straighten it out!

Next subject for me and my rants, what the hell is with the cost of food and everything else now? The cost of food is rising, the cost of goods is rising but no ones paychecks are rising and more people are out of work then at any other time in American History then the Depression years of the 20s and 30s! Sadly we need a new New Deal. Fix Social Security first and foremost by getting it paid more for by the rich and keeping the Governments fingers out of it. Secondly leave Medicare and Medicaid alone folks and stop fighting the Health Care Reform and just repair what may be wrong with it and lets move on. Be realistic folks, no other American President has been able to even come close to passing Health Care Reform Obama did it and now people want to repeal it, stupid, stupid, stupid! Don’t repeal it, fix it and make it work idiots, America’s medical profession is ripping it’s people off left and right, why should it cost me five grand to be taken less then 10 mile from my home to a Hospital for a heart attack, that’s crap folks. Why does a dentist need 10 grand to fix a person’s teeth? Shit they fixed George Washington’s, with wooden teeth way back when and he survived fine. Health and Dental costs are crazy in America and it is bleeding the people to death, fix the Health Care Reform and lets go.

As President Obama did do Financial Reform too we are lucky for that. Each step he has taken in many things he has done has paid off for the country folks, it’s now just a matter of giving his changes and reforms and new laws a chance to take affect and become reality. If President Bush had eight years to bury this country and make the mess, why shouldn’t President Obama have at least four full years to turn it around again? Americans you all shot yourselves in your own feet, giving Congress to the Republicans, now we face gridlock and nothing happening as they try to filibuster  everything Obama says or does. Nothing will get passed.  We need the Bush tax cuts to remain in place until 2012 after the election, we need extensions on unemployment insurance, we need to create more jobs and boost the economy more. Get Creative, get innovative, get inventive and find ways to bring back the manufacturing base this country ran on for over two hundred years. Manufacturing of weapons, appliances, cars and such made this economy run for many decades lets go folks, bring them back and make it work somehow.

Why is it you think your done Christmas SHoping and wrapping and wham it comes back to get you for more? I completed one list and then whan another flew in the window just as I was sitting down from the first one. Amazingly it seems Christmas doesn’t cease it just goe son for months, ask the bill collectors lol.

Hopefully today I will do what needs to get done to get it all done.  I need to pack the two boxes and tape them shut, and then ship them away. The run to mall when it opens and finish up the shopping today. By the time I am done it will not seem like fun, but work the way this Holiday makes one run. Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays, may you have some energy left when your done rushing about all of these days!

Well, at least at our older age my wife and I don’t do Christmas Trees and decorating of the whole house. We now a days just put a wreath on the front door and one over the fireplace mantle and buy a Poinsetta or two. It’s easier is what I told her, because I have to clean up the whole mess in January when we are through lol. Age does that to us all I think, we just want to exchange the gifts and get through it all in the pink. lol.

I wish all who read my blog a easy finish to their shopping excursions this year at Christmas time, for we all know it’s a big time battle to stay in budget and yet do it right, so no one is sadly mad come Christmas Night!

Christmas is more and more commercial every year. Sales here, and there and people rushing to and fro and in the end you end up with no where to go. But the holiday season you struggle through because each and everyone of us know it’s the thing to do.  Prices go up and then come down, sales it seems  do abound. The Children line up in a line in the mall to sit in Santa’s lap and and ask for it all.  Ah Holidays so fine they take up so much time, and buying presents is always on your mind.

Always we run into the uneventful or untimely cost also, where something you need seems to break down and go by by during the season of fun, so in the end your holiday season comes up as over done. Prices it seems never seem to come down on items you want, they only seem to stay up. Why is that always so?

Seems every year the prices on the most wanted items go up and the prices on the not wanted come down lol.  Ah well, as momma once said, You Can’t always get what you want, but you try so harddddddddddddddddd!

One more rant for today, why is it when I was a kid in the 60s and 70s, we fought over having bikes and sleds and books and games, and we ran outside screaming each others names. Now you never see kids outside having fun, no now a days it is in front of a TV, or computer screen they get the fun done.  The new generation are going  to develop bigger ass cheeks and more flexible wrists is all. Sadly we are now a lazy generation and only getting lazier. Push your kids into playing outside and sports, push them to read and learn, they will live longer and be smarter and earn more, for the more you know, the less you shall owe. Ho, Ho, HO!