Secret Santa 2016

[GNTLGNT]

Hello All! It's been another fulfilling and active year for us all. We are all sitting around the warm fireplace right now drinking hot chocolate mit schlagge. The one unfortunate event was that Randy got killed by a spider bite. It was horribly upsetting for all of us but time marches ever onward. Other than that all is well. We got Brett a beautiful St. Bernard in April. I think the dog is currently out roaming around in the field as he likes to do. Arnold got a new car in July and he is constantly working on it down in a rental stall somewhere. Charlie is in her room right now and not allowed out until supper. She was caught earlier today playing with fire. Usually she is no trouble at all. Trisha still loves to watch baseball but she often stops and stares towards the woods, lost in a daze. I don't know what that's about. Kids! Sheesh! Uncle Jack was just here a second ago but he seems to have disappeared. He's always doing that! Uncle Dan is here but does not seem to be in the Christmas spirit. I'm not sure what happened to him because he never used to be like that. Rosie was supposed to be here but she decided to spend Christmas with her new beau. He seems like such a nice man. Unlike her first husband, which we only ever met once at the wedding (that was enough!). Todd was released from the Juvenile Psychiatric detention center and is now living with us. He particularly likes watching that old Christmas nugget 'The Sound of Music'. I always hear him upstairs walking with such a heavy step. He never does that downstairs. Well, not much more to say. After our Hot Chocolate we are going downtown to inspect that odd little used store that recently opened up. I hope we are all caught up. Merry Christmas to everyone out there from our house to yours. Lot of Love...from all of us!

 

[Debbie913]

Hello Everyone! You all did such a great job this year. It looks like everybody had fun.
I missed it completely this time! Too busy.
I hope you all have a fantastic Christmas!!

 

[do1you9love?]

Hello All! It's been another fulfilling and active year for us all. We are all sitting around the warm fireplace right now drinking hot chocolate mit schlagge. The one unfortunate event was that Randy got killed by a spider bite. It was horribly upsetting for all of us but time marches ever onward. Other than that all is well. We got Brett a beautiful St. Bernard in April. I think the dog is currently out roaming around in the field as he likes to do. Arnold got a new car in July and he is constantly working on it down in a rental stall somewhere. Charlie is in her room right now and not allowed out until supper. She was caught earlier today playing with fire. Usually she is no trouble at all. Trisha still loves to watch baseball but she often stops and stares towards the woods, lost in a daze. I don't know what that's about. Kids! Sheesh! Uncle Jack was just here a second ago but he seems to have disappeared. He's always doing that! Uncle Dan is here but does not seem to be in the Christmas spirit. I'm not sure what happened to him because he never used to be like that. Rosie was supposed to be here but she decided to spend Christmas with her new beau. He seems like such a nice man. Unlike her first husband, which we only ever met once at the wedding (that was enough!). Todd was released from the Juvenile Psychiatric detention center and is now living with us. He particularly likes watching that old Christmas nugget 'The Sound of Music'. I always hear him upstairs walking with such a heavy step. He never does that downstairs. Well, not much more to say. After our Hot Chocolate we are going downtown to inspect that odd little used store that recently opened up. I hope we are all caught up. Merry Christmas to everyone out there from our house to yours. Lot of Love...from all of us!

Oh yes! The Christmas newsletter! No Christmas is complete without one. You rock, mal! Merry Christmas to you and yours!

 

[HollyGolightly]

Oh my Lord! She is a doll. So glad we came for a visit! They have an 18 month old and a newborn. I had 2 Cosmopolitans for dinner, so I'm going to bed. I couldn't walk the square to look at the Christmas lights - we did a drive by - oooh pretty lights. I clearly need to drink more and build up a tolerance.

 

[Tery]

Sorry I missed the Santa-ing. So here's one for all of you:

 

[ghost19]

Everyone on the SKMB have a safe and happy holiday. Watch each other's back. "We are Ka-Tet. We are one from many."

"I was born six-gun in my hand,
Behind a gun, I'll make my final stand."

 

[skimom2]

Everyone on the SKMB have a safe and happy holiday. Watch each other's back. "We are Ka-Tet. We are one from many."

"I was born six-gun in my hand,
Behind a gun, I'll make my final stand."



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THANK YOU! YOU GET ME! Every time that song comes on I think of the Battle of Jericho Hill! It gets a few bars in and at least one of the kids will say, "You're thinking about Roland aren't you, Mom?"

Merriest of Christmases, sir Ghost. Take care of that boy of yours

 

[ghost19]

THANK YOU! YOU GET ME! Every time that song comes on I think of the Battle of Jericho Hill! It gets a few bars in and at least one of the kids will say, "You're thinking about Roland aren't you, Mom?"

Merriest of Christmases, sir Ghost. Take care of that boy of yours

I will ma'am. Thank you. I'm always thinking about Roland

 

[FlakeNoir]

Many blessings and much love for you all... whatever your celebrations may be.
Take good care of yourselves, wishing everybody happiness and peace.

 

[DiO'Bolic]

1897

DEAR EDITOR: I am 8 years old.
Some of my little friends say there is no Santa Claus.
Papa says, ‘If you see it in THE SUN it’s so.’
Please tell me the truth; is there a Santa Claus?
VIRGINIA O’HANLON.
115 WEST NINETY-FIFTH STREET.


VIRGINIA, your little friends are wrong. They have been affected by the skepticism of a skeptical age. They do not believe except they see. They think that nothing can be which is not comprehensible by their little minds. All minds, Virginia, whether they be men’s or children’s, are little. In this great universe of ours man is a mere insect, an ant, in his intellect, as compared with the boundless world about him, as measured by the intelligence capable of grasping the whole of truth and knowledge.

Yes, VIRGINIA, there is a Santa Claus. He exists as certainly as love and generosity and devotion exist, and you know that they abound and give to your life its highest beauty and joy. Alas! how dreary would be the world if there were no Santa Claus. It would be as dreary as if there were no VIRGINIAS. There would be no childlike faith then, no poetry, no romance to make tolerable this existence. We should have no enjoyment, except in sense and sight. The eternal light with which childhood fills the world would be extinguished.

Not believe in Santa Claus! You might as well not believe in fairies! You might get your papa to hire men to watch in all the chimneys on Christmas Eve to catch Santa Claus, but even if they did not see Santa Claus coming down, what would that prove? Nobody sees Santa Claus, but that is no sign that there is no Santa Claus. The most real things in the world are those that neither children nor men can see. Did you ever see fairies dancing on the lawn? Of course not, but that’s no proof that they are not there. Nobody can conceive or imagine all the wonders there are unseen and unseeable in the world.

You may tear apart the baby’s rattle and see what makes the noise inside, but there is a veil covering the unseen world which not the strongest man, nor even the united strength of all the strongest men that ever lived, could tear apart. Only faith, fancy, poetry, love, romance, can push aside that curtain and view and picture the supernal beauty and glory beyond. Is it all real? Ah, VIRGINIA, in all this world there is nothing else real and abiding.

No Santa Claus! Thank God! he lives, and he lives forever. A thousand years from now, Virginia, nay, ten times ten thousand years from now, he will continue to make glad the heart of childhood.

 

[Spideyman]

1897

DEAR EDITOR: I am 8 years old.
Some of my little friends say there is no Santa Claus.
Papa says, ‘If you see it in THE SUN it’s so.’
Please tell me the truth; is there a Santa Claus?
VIRGINIA O’HANLON.
115 WEST NINETY-FIFTH STREET.


VIRGINIA, your little friends are wrong. They have been affected by the skepticism of a skeptical age. They do not believe except they see. They think that nothing can be which is not comprehensible by their little minds. All minds, Virginia, whether they be men’s or children’s, are little. In this great universe of ours man is a mere insect, an ant, in his intellect, as compared with the boundless world about him, as measured by the intelligence capable of grasping the whole of truth and knowledge.

Yes, VIRGINIA, there is a Santa Claus. He exists as certainly as love and generosity and devotion exist, and you know that they abound and give to your life its highest beauty and joy. Alas! how dreary would be the world if there were no Santa Claus. It would be as dreary as if there were no VIRGINIAS. There would be no childlike faith then, no poetry, no romance to make tolerable this existence. We should have no enjoyment, except in sense and sight. The eternal light with which childhood fills the world would be extinguished.

Not believe in Santa Claus! You might as well not believe in fairies! You might get your papa to hire men to watch in all the chimneys on Christmas Eve to catch Santa Claus, but even if they did not see Santa Claus coming down, what would that prove? Nobody sees Santa Claus, but that is no sign that there is no Santa Claus. The most real things in the world are those that neither children nor men can see. Did you ever see fairies dancing on the lawn? Of course not, but that’s no proof that they are not there. Nobody can conceive or imagine all the wonders there are unseen and unseeable in the world.

You may tear apart the baby’s rattle and see what makes the noise inside, but there is a veil covering the unseen world which not the strongest man, nor even the united strength of all the strongest men that ever lived, could tear apart. Only faith, fancy, poetry, love, romance, can push aside that curtain and view and picture the supernal beauty and glory beyond. Is it all real? Ah, VIRGINIA, in all this world there is nothing else real and abiding.

No Santa Claus! Thank God! he lives, and he lives forever. A thousand years from now, Virginia, nay, ten times ten thousand years from now, he will continue to make glad the heart of childhood.

The perfect post for this thread. Thank you, Dio. Indeed, there is a Santa Claus---his spirit abounds on the SKMB.

 

[GNTLGNT]

....and I add this as my Christmas thought.....

 

[DiO'Bolic]

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL
AND TO ALL A GOOD FRIGHT

 

[Lepplady]

I got a card today from someone here on the board. I didn't sign up for Secret Santa or a card exchange this year or anything, so imagine my delight to get such a wonderful surprise from a far away land.
Thank you, Niro. You made my day much, much brighter.

 

[niro]

I got a card today from someone here on the board. I didn't sign up for Secret Santa or a card exchange this year or anything, so imagine my delight to get such a wonderful surprise from a far away land.
Thank you, Niro. You made my day much, much brighter.

You are welcome!

 

[GNTLGNT]

I got a card today from someone here on the board. I didn't sign up for Secret Santa or a card exchange this year or anything, so imagine my delight to get such a wonderful surprise from a far away land.
Thank you, Niro. You made my day much, much brighter.

...she hooked me up too.....

 

[Doc Creed]

Wishing y'all a Blessed Chirstmas!

I love this picture. Is it a painting?