Fun and Historical facts about Christmas

- Christmas was created a Federal Holiday in the US in June 1870 by then President Ulysses S Grant in hopes of continue healing of our nation from the Civil War.

- The Puritans did not believe in a jovial holiday, so therefore they banned it.

- From 1659 to 1681 the city of Boston MA the celebration of Christmas was actually outlawed and anyone caught exhibiting the Christmas spirit was fined five shillings.

- After the American Revolution, English customs fell out of favor including Christmas. In fact, congress was in session on December 25,1789 the first Christmas under America's new constitution.

- During World War I in 1914 Christmas arrived only five month's after the beginning of the war. On Christmas day soldier's from both sides came out of their trenches and sang Christmas carols and exchanged gifts with each other in no mans land (the neutral space between the each sides trenches.).

- Each year, 30-35 million real Christmas trees are sold in the US.

- Oregon state produces the most real Christmas trees, they produced 8.6 million in the year of 1998 and are still the largest producers of Christmas trees today.

- Christmas trees are grown in all 50 states including Hawaii.

-The first president to decorate a Christmas tree in the white house was Franklin Pierce.

- " A Christmas Carol" was written by Charles Dickens just in six weeks.

- The first state to recognize the Christmas holiday was Alabama.

- In Greek X means Christ. That is were the word X-mas comes from. Not because someone took the word "Christ" out of Christmas.

- More diamonds are sold around Christmas than any other time of year.

- The poinsettia is a traditional Christmas flower. In Mexico (its original birthplace), the poinsettia is known as the "Flower of the Holy Night".

- Have you ever wondered the cost of the total cost of the items in the twelve days of Christmas song. Well somebody went and a survey in 2006 and the total in US dollars is $18,920.59 and if you bought everything online the price jumps quite a bit $30,330.49. Quite a expensive year of Christmas shopping.

-The popular Christmas song "Jingle Bells" was composed in 1857 by James Pierpont, and was originally called "One-Horse Open Sleigh." It was actually written for Thanksgiving, not Christmas.

Well that was fun Merry Christmas Everyone and Happy New Year !

Christmas is coming and a new year will be born

What will this new year bring? What are your New Year Resolutions and will you be able to meet them by the year? Oh please let Christmas be more exciting next year then this years.

So Long

Frisbee on Thanksgiving day Brrr

Well sorry that has been so long since I last wrote in this blog. Well over a month has past and one holiday and a family birthday has happened. Thanksgiving was relaxing break from work and got to enjoy family and a good meal too. It is crazy but the one thing I will remember is when dad got out his new toys his rifles and showed them off and even posed for a picture with Cathy's wig which I took a picture of . It is posted here. After the weekend was over we all returned to work and to life in general. Christmas here will a calm affair. A year sure can go fast when your working hard.

Birthday

Happy
Birthday
Dan !

What happen today in history

Today is Saturday, Nov. 15, the 320th day of 2008. There are 46 days left in the year.

Today's Highlight in History: November 15th

On Nov. 15, 1806, explorer Zebulon Pike sighted the mountaintop now known as Pikes Peak in present-day Colorado

In 1777, the Second Continental Congress approved the Articles of Confederation, a precursor to the Constitution of the United States.

In 1908, China's Empress Dowager Cixi died two weeks short of her 73rd birthday.

In 1939, President Roosevelt laid the cornerstone of the Jefferson Memorial in Washington.

In 1948, William Lyon Mackenzie King retired as prime minister of Canada after 21 years; he was succeeded by Louis St. Laurent.

In 1966, the flight of Gemini 12 ended successfully as astronauts James A. Lovell and Edwin "Buzz" Aldrin Jr. splashed down safely in the Atlantic.

In 1988, the Soviet Union launched its first space shuttle, Buran, on an unmanned 3 1/2-hour flight.

Five years ago: Two Black Hawk helicopters collided and crashed in Iraq; 17 U.S. troops were killed. Two synagogues were bombed in Istanbul; 29 people were killed.

Thought for Today: "What was once thought can never be unthought." — Friedrich Durrenmatt, Swiss author and playwright (1921-1990).

Pumpkin Patch visit in Portland OR

Searching for the perfect pumpkin

Dan and Nora carrying a pumpkin. Nora rather just eat it than carve it.

Pain

I can not believe the amount of pain my back has given me since the end of last week. First dull and annoying then sharp and more annoying. It has not been constant but off and and in varying degrees of pain levels and I have made the decision I need to see a doctor any doctor well maybe not a quack but any other doctor will do. I am amazed that I do not hurt tonight that much with all the kid I worked with today kept head butting and pushing and pulling me when he was frustrated well no matter borrowing pain. Back pain sure beats any pain have had with my migraine headaches. Hate taking meds that only dull the pain at times but have nothing else at the moment. Finally have downloaded pictures from trip to Oregon. Will be posting them on the logs of the trip.

Thinking outloud

As republican who voted for McCain/Palin my thoughts have been very much on the results of the election and whats going to happen next I do not mean to offend anyone and I am just venting letting it get out of my system so that I can move on so I do apologize. Today like any any started out with work and ended with work . I work with kids with special needs with physical and emotional disabilities so some times its very emotional stress and other just plain physical pain that I feel at the end of the day. I can not understand the why a good portion of the population of our great city and county felt no need to support and denined the funding needed to help both adults and kids with special needs by not passing admendment 51. Very frustrating to the community who helps these special people; can you answer where the funding which is so badely needed going to come from.

Random Thoughts of the week

Well I think I will go random in honor post election week and upcoming holidays.

Here is some of the random thoughts I have had this past week and one or two from today.


Please stop showing post election stuff on television you are driving me batty.

Why is patches climbing around the room and knocking all the containers with pens and other stuff. Note to self clean off desk and hide pens containers.

I wish that grinding noise my truck was making would stop it sounds like someone is grinding their teeth.

Stop attacking Sarah Palin let her and her family get on with their lives.

Why did the idiots of the country vote for Obama. Not a smart move putting an anti American in the white house. He wants to change our national anthem. All historians arise and fight.

Why do the Dem's think they are right and the reps wrong. Politics are all messed up. Time to fix whats wrong but not in a Marxist socialist way. This country was founded on christian principles.

Put "in God we trust' back in the pledge of allegiance.

Who was it grand idea to put Christmas decorations up in Sears and play christmas music before Halloween and then stop playing the music after Halloween. Very werid

Do I have to christmas shop before thanksgiving?

Good Night

Election Night

My head is frazzled from all the results and commentary on television. My candidate McCain a great American did not win but was not from the lack of trying. Obama my opinion of him is well known to my coworkers and family. All I hope is that he does not screw up this great country of ours with all his liberal socialist views and programs. To all who think he is the best thing since sliced pie your choice in change might just be the risky decision that American has made ever. Compare Obama to Hilter in the earlier years and that is even more scarier so I will block out this negative thoughts and start thinking positive and support along as he does not mess with my health insurance which I finally got under our current president. In morning I will get up groan and then I will start praying hard for the country and our future president in earnest.

Home at Last

Well after spending four days in Portland with Dan, Brooks, Pete and Nora I went home wishing I could stay longer. Thursday was a long day of delayed flights and then driving from the airport to home in Colorado Springs boy was I tired when I finally got home after 7pm. Worked all weekend so I still have not downloaded all the pictures from the camera to the computer. I miss Pete and Nora they are growing so fast that the next time I might see them they more grown. Must start planning my next trip mabey for next fall by the lastest we will have to see. Posting pictures soon.

Day 3 and 4

Tuesday we spent most of the day at the house relaxing and I personally had my hair styled by Peter. Went to the playground and chased Peter around to help burn energy so he would have a better nap and also played pirates. Went for a walk while Pete went to the dentist. Wednesday got up earlier and played with Pete and Nora then with to another appointment did a little pre- Christmas shopping while they were at the appointment. Went to out to both dessert and dinner to celebrate Brooks birthday. Happy Birthday Brooks! Early night tonight since I fly back to Colorado tomorrow. Its been fun spending time and getting to Pete and Nora. By the next time I see them Peter will probably be in full time school by then. Pictures to be added later.

Day 2 in Portland

Well today was much more relaxing. Slept in this am since I was so tired from yesterday and late am and early pm we played and drew and watched movies with Pete. At two we went to the zoo and saw a baby elephant, penguins, polar bears, monkeys and even lucky to see the tiger which Brooks says is always inside when came before especially in the am. I am zoo tired and glad back at the house. Pete is painting and Nora is playing the cabinet with dishes. Well that's about it for now. Pictures will come later when I get home.

Portland at last

Finally after a year of working hard I earned enough vacation hours and saved enough for a trip to Portland to visit Dan and family. So after two plane trips and a very very early morning start I arrived in Portland to a big hug from nephew Pete and finally met my niece Nora. On this first day we went to the Pumpkin Farm and picked out some pumpkins and ate some roasted corn and purchased some fresh goodies. Pictures will be included later. Still awake at 8pm West coast time after waking up around 3am mountain time ,I am amazed I am not sleeping on my feet at the moment. Good night!

Politcal Craziness

I am going to say that I am tired of the election overload and crazy stuff. The ads are not as bad as the commentary from people who really in the long haul are not in touch with average American voters. Another point they keep talking certain states that will make or break the election. I believe that all the states are important and not just Ohio, Florida, and the other states named. The states with small electoral college points are just important that the ones with large electoral college points. The Electoral College needs 270 for a winner and that comes from the whole not just one large state. To you Obama supporters wake up the major reason I am not voting for your candidate is one word TAXES. He says he will not increase taxes on the middle class but by taxing businesses and income he doing just that, these will trickle down to us working and middle class employees and making everything we buy from milk to cars more expensive and this is not healing but hurting our economy. Okay this will be the only political speech for this blog this month. I hope that this last month will be over quickly.

East to West

I am finally going to say this I am glad I am not living on the East Coast of the Gulf Coast too much action, But today I rather be in Portland Oregon with my brother Dan and my nephew Pete and Niece Nora . Happy Birthday Pete, your gifts on the way in the mail I wish I was there in person. I remerber in 2006 I was there with you to help celebate your 1st birthday and now you are 3 and going to school. Boy does time fly. I hope I can go west to see you and your sister soon.

Labor Day at Di's

Allie showing off her new tap shoes

Allie playing a game and laughing

I love labor day , usually means a day off and rest. This year we went to Di's house and Dad put up the tiles around their fire place. I helped a little but mostly played with Allie and talked to Di and Mom.

Wishing I was living on the East Coast

Well you know its Hurricane season when you watch the weather channel more than once a month. In the past week or more I have watched the weather channel more than once a day. I crave extreme weather and Hurricanes along with Tornadoes are the most extreme you get. Living though three hurricane seasons in North Carolina including the season of 2005 was both a thrill and some serious fear. I would not like to ride out another Hurricane I would just love to be on the coast this weekend with a Hurricane headed towards the Gulf coast. I sorry that this area is yet to be hit again in such a short time since Katrina in 05 but from watching the news and weather channel sounds like they have learned and evacuating the coast which is a very smart idea. Just living on the east coast especially in the mid southern and down you get a excitement during hurricane season. I am praying for the people who are in the path of this hurricane and the others just behind it just look at the radar and you can tell the story does not end with this storm.

Happy Birthday Diana!!

School time means decision time

Sorry its been a few weeks and since I really do not know who is reading my blog I sometimes forget that I have a page to blog in. Well school is in session here in Colorado Springs so my hours at work are less and more crazy since I work mostly afternoons and weekends except when school is out then I work all day or more. I will at the very least try to get a second job and mabey volunteer at a museum or the library and at the very most I will be looking for a new job and more in my desired field of history and with a job secured I can take my time finding that job instead of rushing and take the first thing I find. Who knows whats exactly out there in the world of jobs in Colorado Springs and Denver (its a possibility) it could surprise me .

Thankful that school is in session

Well school time has finally arrived so my work hours once again become scattered and werid but at least get some free time to blog, knit and mabey take a vacation. Less craziness and more peaceful time.

What a day

My day is started with waking up 15 minutes before I needed to leave for work. Well I did get to work on time but boy was I tired and felt it all day. Being tired in my job makes it difficult and my patience runs on a thread and is short this can be stressful and make the day feel like it lasts forever. Thankfully the day finally ended without any tragedys.

Ramblings of the day

Well it was mostly relaxing weekend and I got all I needed to get done including a eye doctors appointment. Thank God I have health insurance. But after my weekend I really did not want to back to work a sure sign I need a vacation or mabey if I spent more time in a cave I would not feel this stress at work. Nothing really wrong at work I just think its the mid summer stress point in which I wish I was working a National Park far far away from the dry dry weather of this Colorado summer and wishing their was a beach close by on these warm days. To all you park rangers you do not know how lucky you have it until you spend one summer not working as park ranger.

Inspiration

Our Deepest Fear by Marianne Williamson

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness That most frightens us.We ask am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small Does not serve the world.There’s nothing enlightened about shrinking So that other people won’t feel insecure around you.We are all meant to shine, As children do. We were born to make manifest The glory of God that is within us. It’s not just in some of us; It’s in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, We unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we’re liberated from our own fear, Our presence automatically liberates others.

The Fourth of July

I spent the 4th watching my niece Allie ride a bike, chase bubbles, playing in the hot tub and watching fireworks. It was the nicest fourth I have had in a few years and it did not involve watching coworkers getting more and more drunk and driving them home since I was the only one sober. It was a relaxing day and evening thanks to family.

Snow in Late June

Well not here in Colorado Springs but up in the mountain there is stilll is an I got up close and personal with it on a sunday pinic at the in of June. After a long and will tell it was not my idea to drive so far just to eat lunch outside I do that two or three days a week at work and all we do is eat at one of the many city park and that just works fine for me. Well after the drive we finally arrived a Cottonwood Park and lake. This is near the area as a kid we to a camp with all the family for christian officers and families do not remerber much but did see the sign and mom did confirm this was the place. Okay got side tracked so found the most sunniest pinic table in the whole place I blame dad for this one and for the whole drive to the middle of nowhere mountain idea also. So we ate just having the first potato salad of the summer season made it almost worth it after the food was consumed mom and dad sat in their camp chairs near the lake and read while walked Mippers did I forget that we brought the dog which of course I walked to keep her happy and not barking at the other dogs and kids, she did well mostly only scared one kid which was good. After we packed up we helded still west up to the Cottonwood Pass which is the Continental Divide at 12,126 feet where the snow is this late in the year. There was skiers and snowboarders who enjoying this last bit of snow in the ever decreasing snow until winter time. We got out walked abit took pictures and then started home which was even a longer drive because dad kept finding short cuts that where not short so he would turn around and go back to the main highway, well at least I got a chocolate malt and some good potato salad for all the riding around we did.

Warm Weather

Well its summer along these three comes warm weather. And thats all have to say about that.

Salute to National Park Service

Oregon Caves , Cave Junction Oregon

Cape Hatteras Lighthouse, Buxton North Carolina

I've worked in the park service for four seasons and spent three seasons at Cape Hatteras National Seashore and one in Oregon Caves National Monument. This is the first spring in four years that I have not been either traveling or working at a National Park site. being a park ranger is still one of my favorite jobs I have had. I do miss talking to the public and educating them about the parks and the history that surrounds it. I hope in the future that I can return to being a park ranger. So I raise my cup in honor of all the park rangers working hard especially my friends that are interpretative rangers. I challenge all that read this to visit a park near them and take in a ranger program.

Pete my growing nephew loves to create, bulid and do just about anything. He is a buddle of joy and excitement to my brother's family watching grow up even from so far way will be a joy to watch and will be as unpredictable as my brother himself. I wish he and his little sister Nora lived closer.

Way too long

Wow it's been almost three months since I posted. Been very busy and tired at the end of the day to be online and to be very honest I forget that I created this blog and I do not know if any one even looks at it. Since January more than two holidays have gone by and a several birthdays including my own. I have a new boss at work which is working out great since my hours have increased and are more stable. Which is why I am more occupied and more tired which is a good thing which it makes it easier to sleep. Well I am rambling and there are things I need to get done on my one day off and I do not know when the next is so I am going to keep this short. I will try my hardest to keep this going and not wait so long before I blog again. When I have time I will post a few pictures. Well that's it for now.

A New Year Ramblings

Its a brand new year. What will become of this year. Will the world come to an end or just keep on ticking . I thought it would be nice that in the coming year we all make a resolution that to keep it peaceful even with an election coming. Well I think that enough of that. I am doing well working pretty much steady with school since before christmas its sure to slow down since school goes on tomorrow. I kinda miss that rush to classes and having something to do. Do not miss the papers and tests. Speaking of the new year did anyone make any resolutions this year? This is one my few days off so I better sign off. Sorry this is sort of rambling I plan to make better sense next time.