Always remember who’s naughty and who’s nice.

Don’t pout.

It’s as much fun to give as it is to receive.
Some days it’s ok to feel a little chubby.

Make your presents known.

Always ask for a little bit more than what you really want.

Bright red can make anyone look good.

Wear a wide belt and no-one will notice how many pounds you’ve gained.

If you only show up once a year, everyone will think you’re very important.

Whenever you’re at a loss for words, say:
“HO, HO, HO!”

Author Unknown

Mark was an 11 year old orphan who lived with his aunt, a bitter middle aged woman greatly annoyed with the burden of caring for her dead sister’s son. She never failed to remind young Mark, if it hadn’t been for her generousity, he would be a vagrant, homeless waif. Still, with all the scolding and chilliness at home, he was a sweet and gentle child.

I had not noticed Mark particularly until he began staying after class each day (at the risk of arousing his aunt’s anger, I later found) to help me straighten up the room. We did this quietly and comfortably, not speaking much, but enjoying the solitude of that hour of the day. When we did talk, Mark spoke mostly of his mother. Though he was quite small when she died, he remembered a kind, gentle, loving woman, who always spent much time with him.

As Christmas drew near however, Mark failed to stay after school each day. I looked forward to his coming, and when the days passed and he continued to scamper hurriedly from the room after class, I stopped him one afternoon and asked why he no longer helped me in the room. I told him how I had missed him, and his large gray eyes lit up eagerly as he replied, “Did you really miss me?”

I explained how he had been my best helper. “I was making you a surprise,” he whispered confidentially. “It’s for Christmas.” With that, he became embarrassed and dashed from the room. He didn’t stay after school any more after that.

Finally came the last school day before Christmas. Mark crept slowly into the room late that afternoon with his hands concealing something behind his back. “I have your present,” he said timidly when I looked up. “I hope you like it.” He held out his hands, and there lying in his small palms was a tiny wooden box.

“Its beautiful, Mark. Is there something in it?” I asked opening the top to look inside.

“Oh, you can’t see what’s in it.” he replied, “and you can’t touch it, or taste it or feel it, but mother always said it makes you feel good all the time, warm on cold nights, and safe when you’re all alone.”

I gazed into the empty box. “What is it Mark,” I asked gently, “that will make me feel so good?” “It’s love, ” he whispered softly, “and mother always said it’s best when you give it away.” And he turned and quietly left the room.

So now I keep a small box crudely made of scraps of wood on the piano in my living room and only smile as inquiring friends raise quizzical eyebrows when I explain to them that there is love in it.

Yes, Christmas is for gaiety, mirth and song, for good and wondrous gifts. But mostly, Christmas is for love.

Author Unknown

If you drink a diet soda with a candy bar, they cancel each other out.

When eating with someone else, calories don’t count if you both eat the same amount.

Foods used for medicinal purposes have no calories.
This includes any chocolate used for energy, brandy, Sara Lee Cheesecake (eaten whole),  and Haagen-Daz Ice Cream.

Movie-related foods are much lower in calories simply because they are a part of the entertainment experience and not part of one’s personal fuel.
This includes Milk Duds, popcorn with butter, Junior Mints, Snickers, and Gummi Bears.

Cookie pieces contain no calories because the process of breakage causes calorie leakage.

If you eat the food off someone else’s plate, it doesn’t count.

If you eat standing up the calories all go to your feet and get walked off.

Food eaten at Christmas parties has no calories

And remember STRESSED is just DESSERTS spelled backwards!

Author Unknown

9. Well, well, well …

8. Boy, if I had not recently shot up 4 sizes that would’ve fit.

7. This is perfect for wearing around the basement.

6. Gosh. I hope this never catches fire! It is fire season though. There are lots of unexplained fires.

5. If the dog buries it, I’ll be furious!

4. I love it — but I fear the jealousy it will inspire.

3. Sadly, tomorrow I enter the Federal Witness Protection Program.

2. To think — I got this the year I vowed to give all my gifts to charity.

And the Number One Thing to say about a Christmas gift you don’t like:

1. “I really don’t deserve this.”

1. He’s aware. He sees you when you’re sleeping. He knows when you’re awake. For goodness sake!
2. He’s organized. He’s got a list. He checks it twice.
3. He knows exactly what the customer wants. He received and read your letter. He excels at keeping up with constantly changing customer demands.
4. He’s not afraid of hiring those who are different: Rudolph. Red Nosed. Reindeer. Enough said.
5. He inspires his staff with a singular mission. They fulfill their duty with passion and a smile. They wear cool hats to remind them they’re on a team. They’re often known for singing while they work.
6. He has integrity as a core virtue. His leadership core is based on knowing who’s naughty and nice.
7. He’s reliable. He shows up. He’s coming to town. We know that. There’s even a song about his reliability.
8. He has mastered organizational logistics. His delivery system puts FedEx to shame.
9. His is mindful of work/life balance. Some people take a few weeks off for a holiday. Some might take off a month. Santa takes off entire seasons to recoup from his big night.
10. He has maintained the essence of brand name over a span of several hundred years despite massive change. He regularly transitions his brand to the next generation. As each generation becomes aware that Santa plays a different role in their lives, they ensure that the next generations have deep loyalty. No other leader can pull off this feat!

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

 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

Virginia,

 Your little friends are wrong. They have been affected by the skepticism of a skeptical age. They do not believe except that which 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 the great universe of ours, man is a mere insect, an ant, in his intellect as compared with the countless world about him, as measured by the intelligence capable of grasping the whole 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 the world be if there were no Santa Claus! It would be as dreary as if there were no Virginia. There would be no childlike faith then, no poetry 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 have men watch in all the chimneys on Christmas Eve to catch Santa Claus, but even if you 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 that are unseen and unseeable in the world.

You tear apart the baby’s rattle and see what makes the noise inside, but there is a veil covering the unseen world which the strongest men, nor even the united strength of all the strongest men that ever lived could tear apart. Only faith, poetry, love, romance, can push aside that curtain and view and picture the supernatural beauty and glory beyond. It is all real! Ah Virginia, in all this world there is nothing else real and abiding

No Santa Claus?

Thank God! He lives forever.

A thousand years from now Virginia, nay 10 times 10,000 years from now, he will continue to make glad the heart of a childhood.

“The best gifts around any Christmas tree is the presence of a happy family all wrapped in each other.” – Burton Hills

WE WANT TO WISH EVERYONE A VERY SAFE AND HAPPY HOLIDAY SEASON!

*   Gift of Lights at Sunset Park. Celebrate the holidays by experiencing over 400 animated and sparkling displays in a convenient, comfortable drive-thru setting!  Enjoy millions of lights, plus festive arches and tunnels.  A Vegas holiday tradition you won’t want to miss and great fun for the entire family. The Gift of Lights is open from November 13^th to January 3^rd. Hours are 5:00pm to 9:00pm Sunday through Thursday and 5:00pm – 10:00pm Friday, Saturday, Thanksgiving and New Years. Price is $13 per car. http://giftoflights.eventsbot.com/

*  The Holiday Cactus Garden at ethel’s chocolate factory and Botanical Cactus Garden is under way through Jan. 1 (closed Christmas Day). In addition to 500,000 lights in the 3-acre garden, the free event will feature Santa and entertainment by professionals and school choirs. The attraction is open sundown-10 p.m. at 2 Cactus Garden Drive in Henderson (800-680-0150). http://www.ethelschocolate.com/about_us/factory_tour.aspx

* The floating ice rink is back at The Village at Lake Las Vegas. Skaters can lace up their skates for frozen fun 3-9 p.m. Mondays-Fridays and noon-9 p.m. Saturdays, Sundays and holidays through Feb. 15. General admission is $15, $12 for children ages 12 and younger. Several activities are planned Saturday, starting with a polar bear plunge for charity at noon and also including fireworks at 5 p.m. and a tree-lighting ceremony at 6 p.m. at 30 Strada Di Villaggio in Henderson (564-4766).

* The Magical Forest at Opportunity Village  features light displays, carousel and train rides, entertainment and other festive activities. The attraction is open 5:30-9 p.m. Sundays-Thursdays and 5:30-10 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays through Jan. 2 at 6300 W. Oakey Blvd. General admission is $9.50, $7.50 for children ages 3-11. There are special nights for families and seniors, and anyone who brings in gently used items for the organization’s thrift store will get $2 off admission on Thursday nights (225-9627). http://www.opportunityvillage.org/content/?c=28

* Mystic Falls Park at Sam’s Town turns into a winter wonderland Nov. 26, with 50 light-strewn trees and a 30-foot Christmas tree. The attraction will feature three new polar bear scenes and a river scene with fishing polar bears. Lights and water shows will accompany traditional holiday music. Free 15-minute animated shows will be presented at 6, 8 and 10 p.m. daily through Jan. 2 (456-7777). http://www.samstownlv.com/things-to-do/mystic-falls

* The Cultural Corridor in downtown Las Vegas will kick off its holiday celebration Dec. 5, with activities planned at the Old Las Vegas Mormon Fort State Historic Park, Reed Whipple Cultural Center, Las Vegas Natural History Museum, Lied Discovery Children’s Museum and Las Vegas Library. The corridor, which also includes Cashman Center and the Neon Museum, will have a variety of exhibits, performances and special events scheduled throughout December. http://www.culturalcorridorvegas.org/

* Tickets are on sale for rides on the Santa Train in Boulder City Dec. 5-6 and 12-13. The half-hour rides will include a visit from Santa and Mrs. Claus, a toy train exhibit, Santa’s North Pole mailbox and sleigh. Food and cocoa will be sold. Train tickets are $2. The train will depart at the top of each hour from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Nevada State Railroad Museum Depot, 600 Yucca St. (486-5006). http://www.nevadasouthern.com/SantaTrain2009/

Happy Holidays! We hope your holidays are filled with joy, laughter and love.