Naughty or Nice?

 (Published on surfKY News on November 30, 2011)

T-minus 24 days and counting. Ask any person under the age of 12 and they will tell you exactly what will be in 24 days. This is also the time of year that you can get your child to jump up and do just about any chore that needs to be done. They know this is the time of the year that Santa is making out his list of who is naughty and who is nice.

I can remember the excitement that would be brewing in my home when my JoJo was little. It was so exciting. We would put up the Christmas tree as soon as the turkey was put away and we always made a chain out of colored construction paper. Each day, we would remove a chain and each day, we would get closer to the arrival of Jolly St. Nick. There is just something magical about the Christmas season when you have a child to celebrate it with. But as we grow older, we must keep the magic going. We must continue to believe.

The Blackest Day of the Year

 (Published on surfKY News on November 23, 2011)

“Black Friday” is the name given to the Friday following Thanksgiving day and was first used by the Philadelphia Police Department. The PPD used the term to describe the massive traffic jams and over-crowded sidewalks as the stores were mobbed from the time they opened until the time they closed.

Tomorrow is Black Friday, but many retailers have decided that this year, they will start their sales on this side of midnight. Many turkey-stuffed people believe it will be much easier to go out late Thanksgiving night than to get up early the day after Turkey day.

National Bread Day

(Published on surfKY News on November 17, 2011)

I have a friend that was always bragging about these amazing yeast rolls that his wife made. Finally, one day I was able to check out these rolls, and he was right. They were the best rolls I have ever eaten. He was kind enough to share the recipe, so I gathered everything to make them myself. Of course, like the bologna sandwiches I constantly talk about, my rolls were not near as good as hers were.

Last week, I told my friend that on Thursday, November 17, we would be celebrating National Homemade Bread Day and asked if he minded if I shared their recipe for those wonderful rolls. I saw him yesterday and he asked me if I knew that today (Thursday) was National Homemade Bread Day. “Uh...well...yeah. I'm the one that told you.” He had arranged for many people in the office to bring in some homemade bread so they could celebrate. Only problem was, I was not going to be in that office today. So, I provide the information about the day and he made arrangements for the celebration that I do not get to attend. He knows I'm just picking on him, like I always do. But trust me; he gets his jabs into me also.

Chicken Soup for My Soul

(Published on iSurf News on November 10, 2011)

Jack Canfield and Mark Victor Hansen were repeatedly turned down by publishers when they wrote their first “Chicken Soup” book. Today, over 200 titles later and over 112 million copies in print, the “Chicken Soup for the Soul” series is one of the best-selling paperback series of all time.

"Changing The World One Story at a Time" is the mantra of the writers who chose the name of the books because of the use of chicken soup as being “good for the body”. Their inspirational stories were meant to be “good for the soul”. Many of the books are targeted to certain groups and have been known to be great gifts. With the upcoming holidays, consider giving one of these books for your favorite pet lover or teacher. Everyone loves a book with stories about their passion.