A Special Christmas Message To My Readers.

As this long winter evening falls to darkness and children all around the world await the arrival of a certain jolly elf in a red suit, I deliver this simple message to you.

Christmas is not about the gifts under the tree. It's not about the bountiful feasts. Nor is it about flashy new gadgets or expensive vacations. Sure, all of these luxuries are great to have, but none of them imbue the true essence of the holiday season. More so than anything else, being with the ones we love is the single greatest thing we can share as human beings during the holidays. Rich or poor, it doesn't matter. Love will always be free. Love is at times hard to find, but it's always easy to give away. The best thing you can do this Christmas is give your love to someone in your life. Your spouse, your brother, your mother, your neighbor, your friend. Give to someone, whomever they are, the love within your heart. Forget the worries of life for just a single moment and share in the joy. Share it with anyone you can, in whatever manner you can. We, the human race, are one big family. As such, we owe it to ourselves to treat each other like a family. Of course, families fight and argue at times, but at the end of all the grief and discourse, they love each other. So, let's do that. Let's love each other. Begin today, right now, this very Christmas Eve. Maybe we can do it again tomorrow. And then, the day after that. And so on... loving each other day after day. I wholeheartedly believe that global peace is attainable within our time, if only we are brave enough to share the gift of love with each other.

Merry Christmas to you and your family.

Sincerely,

Jared Manning

Marshmallow Snowman!

This is an awesome little holiday treat that you can make with your family, then shove down your throat! Here's how to make a...

Marshmallow Snowman!

All you need are a few simple ingredients. No cooking is involved.

• Marshmallows
• Chocolate Chips
• Chocolate Bell Candies
• Thin Pretzel Sticks
• Black and Orange Frosting Gel

Begin by shoving a pretzel stick into the flat side of a marshmallow. Then connect it to another marshmallow in the same manner. This is the snowman's torso. Add another pretzel stick and connect another marshmallow for the head. You've now finished the body of the snowman.

Next, push two or three chocolate chips into the front of the snowman to create buttons. Using your black frosting gel, draw the snowman's eyes and mouth. Create the carrot nose with a dot of the orange frosting gel. To create the hat, squirt a small dab of either color gel onto the bottom of a chocolate bell candy. Affix the candy to the top of the snowman's head to serve as its hat. The gel will help it stick.

Finally, use two pretzel sticks to create arms for the snowman. That's it! You're all done. Now eat that snowman! There are a ton of ways you can customize this fun activity, including a licorice scarf and different colored gum drop hats. Go nuts!

Move Over Rudolph, It's The Yule Goat!

Believe it or not, there's a goat connected with the Christmas holiday season. Unless you're from Scandinavia, you've probably never heard of it. I'm talking about the Yule Goat.

Originating with pre-Christian Scandinavians and northern Europeans, the Yule Goat is a symbol of the harvest season carried into winter. Tradition states that once the last batch of grain had been harvested, it would be saved for the annual Yule celebration. This bundle of grain was deemed the Julbocken, which translates to Yule Goat. The symbol of the goat was highly regarded at the time, especially by the Norse. This is because of the relation to the thunder god Thor, whom rode a mighty chariot pulled by two magical goats.

As the years went on, the symbol of the goat spread to other aspects of the winter holiday season. During the 11th Century, actors performed simple plays wherein Saint Nicholas would lead a goat man around by a leash. This was meant to symbolize keeping the devil under control.

Continuing through as late as the 20th Century, these same plays would grow and evolve further. The Yule Goat took on a more whimsical and tawdry nature. Large groups of actors would dance down streets and past homes in villages. They would sing, prance and play innocent pranks on their neighbors. The Yule Goat was typically part of this revelry, filling the role of a raucous beast-man demanding treats and presents from people.

By the 19th Century, the Yule Goat had also taken on a similar role as Santa Claus. He'd come around during the holidays and leave small gifts for children. Often times, the two characters were depicted together.

Today, the Yule Goat is a massively popular symbol representative of both the Christmas and Yule holidays. Throughout Scandinavia, the Yule Goat is just as common a holiday icon as reindeer or snowmen are here in America. Yule Goat ornaments are created from straw and wood with red ribbons tied around their neck and horns.

Don't you think it's a-bbbbbbbbbaaaaahhhhhhh-out time you added a Yule Goat to your Christmas tree?

How To Make Homemade Eggnog.

One of the most delightful (and fattening) treats of the holiday season has to be eggnog. Coming to America in the 18th Century from England, eggnog originally used brandy as the alcoholic component of the beverage. Though, because of heavy taxation, Americans turned to using much cheaper rum from the Caribbean. As the American Revolution kicked into full swing, the supply of rum entering the British Colonies dwindled. In turn, this caused another change with the recipe. Instead of rum, Americans started mixing bourbon with their eggnog.

In honor of a truly American holiday drink, here's a wonderful homemade eggnog recipe that you can create in your own kitchen. Remember, though... eggnog should be consumed in moderation.

Ingredients

• 4 egg yolks
• 1/3 cup sugar, plus 1 tablespoon
• 1 pint whole milk
• 1 cup heavy cream
• 3 ounces bourbon
• 1 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
• 4 egg whites

Begin by beating the egg yolks thoroughly with a mixer. Add the sugar until dissolved. Finally, mix in the bourbon, nutmeg, milk and cream. Set this mixture aside.

Next, beat the egg whites with a mixer until soft. Then, mix in the tablespoon of sugar until the whites firm up slightly.

Finally, whisk your egg whites into your already prepared egg yolk mixture. Chill the entire batch until the eggnog is nice and cold, then serve.

If you want to try one of the older versions of eggnog, use brandy or rum instead of bourbon!

Remember, there is a slight salmonella risk from uncooked eggs. Only use clean, pasteurized eggs with unbroken shells. The risk is small, but it's best to be cautious.

How To Make A Home Made Snow Globe.

Snow globes are a wonderful part of the holiday season. They possess the power to convey a simple but definitive message of love and peace, all within the realm of an enclosed sphere filled with water. The contents of a holiday snow globe can vary widely, from birds to teddy bears and everything in between. Heck, you can even find snow globes for other holidays and events -- birthdays, Halloween, Fourth of July and so on.

And now, you an make a snow globe within the comfort of your own home. This is a fantastic project to tackle with your family.

Here's what you'll need:

• A clear glass jar with a tight metal light
• Sandpaper
• Clear-drying epoxy
• Distilled water
• Glycerin
• Glitter
• Objects or figures to put in the snow globe
• Enamel paint (optional)

Start by making sure your jar and lid are very clean and dry. If you want to paint your lid, do so first with an oil-based enamel paint. Use sandpaper to rough up the underside of the lid. This is where you'll be gluing your objects and figures for the globe. Go nuts here -- elves, reindeer, pine trees, gift boxes, miniature trains. Anything your imagination can come up with can be inserted into your globe (as long as it fits, of course). Make sure to use plastic or ceramic objects; metal items will rust inside the globe. Attach them to the lid with epoxy and allow to dry completely.

Then, fill your jar almost to the top with distilled water (do not use tap water). Add a spoon of glycerin and a pinch of glitter to fill the jar the rest of the way. Don't go heavy with the glitter, as too much can cause it to cake against the sides and bottom of the jar. Finally, screw your lid on tightly. You can add a very light coat of epoxy around the lip of the lid for added security if you desire.

That's it! Flip your home made snow globe over and shake it. You just created a winter wonderland all on your own!

Belsnickel: Santa's Bad-Ass Bum Sidekick!

We all know and love Santa Claus. He's jolly, fat and gives free crap to good girls and boys. What's not to adore? Here in America, Santa Claus has been mystified as this eternally warm and kind deity. He'd never hurt children in any capacity. In essence, Americans have 'nerfed' good ol' Saint Nick and made him super kid friendly.

Though, If one were to analyze the old world European traditions circling Santa Claus, they would definitely find a much different story. One such old world element that stands out is the legend of Santa's sidekick named Belsnickel.

Born in the Palatinate region of Germany during the Middle Ages, Belsnickel is an ancient mythical being with powers very similar to that of Saint Nick. Dressed in furs and rags, Belsnickel is covered from head to foot in wild, unkempt hair and dirty old clothes. He looks like a disgusting beggar, carrying a large switch in one hand and a bag full of goodies in the other. Some descriptions say he wears a mask to hide his frighteningly grotesque, long tongue! Belsnickel is altogether not pleasant to be around and looks quite disheveled. Many ancient descriptions of Belsnickel also state that he leads Santa's more famous companion Krampus around in chains as a means to frighten children. A guy that walks a demon on a leash? Yeah... that's pretty bad-ass.

Legend has it that Belsnickel will arrive a week or two before Santa Claus and help to 'encourage' wicked little boys and girls to improve their behavior. He would knock on your door and wait for the children of the home to answer his call. Belsnickel might ask the children to sing him a song or answer a riddle. If they did so, he would recklessly toss goodies from his sack all across the floor -- fruits, nuts, baked sweet breads, candy and small trinkets. Yet, this was a devious test by Belsnickel. If any child seemed a little too eager to take the treats, Belsnickel would rap his stick across their back as punishment. Only calm, polite children could take the treats without receiving the wrath of his switch.

Belsnickel 'bout to whoop dat ass.

In every practical sense, Belsnickel is a drunk, smelly, crotchety old bum who doesn't mind using positive reinforcement or punishment to improve the behavior of children. Act like a jerk and you'll feel the sting of his switch. Act like a decent child and you'll get to shove your face with his goodies. While it's not exactly politically correct, it sure seemed to work.

Real Acts Of Charity You Can Do Right Now In Your Community.

A soup kitchen for children during the Great Depression of the 1930's.

Everywhere you turn, there are various charities asking for your money and resources. From bell-ringers to food pantries, it seems so many groups are asking for assistance. Personally, I tend to shy away from donating to large, corporate-run charitable groups. More often than not, they fail to be as charitable as they claim. Instead, you're funding a massive, out-of-touch organization that ultimately exists just to make a profit and pay their executives an exorbitant salary. Even worse, you may be supporting a group that serves to spread a disingenuous religious agenda. One must look no further than the United Way, American Red Cross or Salvation Army for such questionable groups.

If you really want to make an impact this holiday season, consider being charitable within your own community. The things you do locally can make a positive difference on your neighbors, which ultimately will improve your life as well. Here are five ideas to get you started. Better yet... none of these ideas will cost you anything but your time.

• Volunteer at your local animal shelter. As ironic as it may be, the holiday season is usually the worst time of year for pets being surrendered to local animal shelters and humane societies. Perhaps it's because people simply can't afford to care for their furry family members and pay for gifts. Though, the more insidious and realistic reason is that folks turn in their old pets because they receive new ones. This notion is so disgusting that it makes my skin crawl. Humane societies and animal shelters all across America see a spike in surrendered animals during the holidays and they need our help. Visit with your local animal shelter and offer your time. Animals are innocent beings which deserve people whom care about them, no matter what. This idea rolls directly into my next tip.
• Don't give pets as gifts. The worst thing you can do is give someone an animal during the holidays. Living creatures are not gifts. They need the proper amount of love, care and attention; many people can not properly provide for a pet. Even worse, many treat pets like automobiles -- they're constantly trading them in for something new or different. If you want to be charitable, help to not exacerbate the overpopulation of dogs and cats in this country.
• Organize a trash pick-up. Whether alone or with a group of friends and family, agree to clean up a park or street that's often neglected. Our public lands are a mutual interest that we all hold an investment in. So many of our fellow citizens throw their trash out of their vehicles while traveling down the highway. I realize that it's not your responsibility to clean up after another person, but do it anyway.
• Read to children. Let's face it... kids aren't getting any smarter. In this modern age of smart phones and tablets, children simply aren't reading as much as they used to. As a direct result, they're forgoing so much of what makes humanity special and losing a degree of creativity in the process. Offer to spend time in your local elementary school or public library. Share a classic novel with kids and inspire them. Enrich their sense of wonder and encourage a lifelong love affair with books.
• Volunteer at your local senior citizen center or nursing home. The holidays can be a lonely experience for senior citizens. I speak from personal experience on this matter. When I was younger, I worked with an ambulance company. We often would visit nursing homes and assisted living facilities for emergency calls. Many residents would have little contact with their family, nor would they have any friends to speak of. This was a year-round dilemma for these senior citizens, with the holiday season becoming an exercise in loneliness and depression. Volunteer to spend some time at your local nursing home or senior citizen center. As clichéd as this may sound, you'd be surprised at how much fun you'll have. More so, senior citizens (many of whom do not leave their nursing home), can come to experience the outside world through you. Your time and attention is more valuable than you know.

Who Exactly Is Parson Brown?

We've all heard the holiday classic Winter Wonderland. Numerous artists have covered it over the years, from Michael Bublé to Pat Boone. Though, perhaps you haven't fully considered one of the most mysterious parts of the song.

In the meadow we can build a snowman
Then pretend that he is Parson Brown
He'll say: Are you married?
We'll say: No man
But you can do the job
When you're in town

For decades we've all collectively listened to this carol, but not once have most of us considered...

Who is Parson Brown?

Well, I've got the answer.

Winter Wonderland was created in 1934 by composer Felix Bernard and the lyricist Richard B. Smith. At the time, there were preachers (typically Protestant or Anglican) whom would travel from one small town to the next. Their mission was to perform wedding ceremonies for couples whom didn't have a local minister of their own faith. These roving ministers were referred to as parsons.

If you understand the context of the lyrics in Winter Wonderland, you'll see that it's about building a snowman and imaging that he is Parson (aka Minister) Brown. From the perspective of children playing and pretending they're in a wedding (kids used to be fairly creative, believe it or not), they are going to ask Parson Brown to perform their wedding ceremony when he arrives in town.

Obviously, lyricist Smith used the surname Brown simply to make his song rhyme better, thereby putting it in unison with the word town that comes up four lines later.

Parson Brown is nothing more than an imaginary preacher snowman. How delightfully simple and sincere!

The Tanglewood Festival of Lights.

As I dash to my keyboard this evening and prepare to relay what I saw just a while ago, first let me set the month off right.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS EVERYONE!

Now that December is here, I feel more comfortable reveling in the holiday spirit. For every time there is a season. 'Tis the season to be merry!

I had the pleasure of experiencing the Tanglewood Festival of Lights this evening. Though it may have been rainy and foggy, I was totally entranced by the wonderful glow of holiday lights spread over four winding miles through Tanglewood Park, located in Clemmons, North Carolina. As a visitor, you drive through the park and view everything from the comfort of your vehicle. There are numerous displays dedicated to horses, swans, pirate ships, dragons, bells, snowflakes, mermaids, Santa Claus, train engines, fireworks, penguins, gingerbread men, Christmas trees and more. Every single display in the park is powered by LED lights, giving you an amazing viewing experience. Of note, one special area that winds through a forest has a plethora of Christmas bells hanging from the trees. If you roll down your windows and listen, you can hear beautiful bell music emanating from the forest. Also, many of the lighted attractions are animated for extra awesomeness. Honestly, I was very happy with what I saw and I'll definitely be going back. Pack your family into your vehicle and visit! They'll be open nightly until January 3rd from 6 to 11 PM. The fee for entering in a passenger vehicle is $15.

Here are some photos I snapped while driving through the festival. Please excuse any blurry photographs; it was raining and my vehicle was moving.

The War On Thanksgiving Has Begun.

I visited my local JCPenney retail store in Burlington, North Carolina today. In my possession were a few decent coupons and I wanted to see what clothing I could purchase at a substantial discount. Lo and behold, the horrors I found as walked through their entrance.

Tinsel...
Wreaths...
Holiday Trees...
Christmas Carols!

WHAT IN THE HELL IS GOING ON HERE?!

That's right, ladies and gentlemen. JCPenney has already decorated for Christmas by the first week of November. Forget that we just finished Halloween. Forget that we still have THREE FRICKIN' WEEKS until Thanksgiving. Nope... they've just leap-frogged right into Christmas, the most wonderful time of the year!

EAT. MY. SCHWEDDY. BALLS.

I understand that the holidays are the most profitable retail season of the year. Hell, I'm a retailer myself. But... can we not celebrate each season in its own time? Thanksgiving is my most favorite holiday, yet retailers can't wait to forget about it because it doesn't drive sales. Who wants to buy new suede shoes and cashmere sweaters when they're trying to be thankful for what they already have?

Alarmingly, Thanksgiving has become nothing more than a pre-game ritual for Christmas. Folks often have their Christmas Tree and decorations already out for display by Thanksgiving. Thanksgiving has morphed into Christmas Light, just without the exchanging of gifts. Retail stores are no different. They want you to celebrate Christmas early and often. It's all about the War on Thanksgiving... and many of you have blood on your hands.

So to JCPenney, I say SCREW YOU.

Screw you for cheapening Christmas.
Screw you for dismissing Thanksgiving.
Screw you for changing the seasons to suit your own selfish whims.

I'm sure there are other large retailers that have already set up for Christmas. Undoubtedly, JCPenney is probably not the only guilty party. Yet, they're the first example I've encountered... no less than FIVE days into November. Good grief!

Where Did Christmas In July Come From?

Now that the Fourth of July is behind us, we're entering into the Holiday Wasteland. No major holidays are on the American calendar between now and September. Yet, I'm reminded of ironic Christmas in July shopping events. When I was young, my mother used to watch all of the various Christmas in July sales and promotions on the QVC home shopping network.

That's right... I'm parlaying an article out of a memory concerning QVC. Just bear with me, folks.

What's stayed with me for all of these years is how blatantly profit-driven those televised sales were. Snowglobes and reindeer... for sale in July? Oh yes... and even more. You could get everything holiday related that you'd normally see for sale in December, but during the middle of Summer. In fact, QVC is still holding their annual Christmas in July sale more than twenty plus years since I can recall first seeing it.

So where did the concept of a Christmas in July originate? The idea is more simple than you might think.

In the Southern Hemisphere of our planet, the seasons are reversed from those in the Northern Hemisphere. Instead of experiencing Winter in December, January and February, countries like Argentina and South Africa endure their coldest months in June, July and August. Likewise, December, January and February in the Southern Hemisphere are Summer. To experience and celebrate the more recognizable Northern Hemisphere Christmas, many countries south of the Equator hold Christmas in July events. You could see Santa Claus sipping a margarita on the beach, or a snowman made out of sand (sandman?). Gifts may or may not be exchanged. The Southern Hemisphere still celebrates Christmas in December, so they practically enjoy the holiday season twice in one year!

Of course, leave it to capitalists to take a wholly innocent idea and run with it. Adopting the Christmas in July theme, retailers began using it as a promotional tool to move merchandise during the slowest sales time of year. This practice goes as far back as the 1950's in the United States.

So there you have it -- Christmas in July actually does have a reason to exist. If you're in Australia, then Christmas in July is about festively sharing a sense of merriment and wonder with your fellow man. If you're in the United States, then Christmas in July is an excuse to purchase sports bras, running shoes and video games at forty percent off!

Just in case you were wondering, Australia does see snow in June. Here's an article with photos detailing a terrible snow storm they received just a month ago.

Losing Their Luster.

The 2014 holiday season has called it quits. The trees are going away (took mine down tonight). All the pretty bulbs are being rolled up for storage. Wrapping paper and bows have been returned to their dark prison in the bedroom closet.

Fin.

I noticed today while shopping that department stores and retailers of virtually all sizes aren't waiting to push Valentine's Day upon us. While passing Nature's Emporium, a local pet and garden center here in Burlington, NC, their electronic billboard was already touting the upcoming holiday. In bright letters, it said...

"GET YOUR VALENTINES' DAY FLAGS HERE!"

I thought to myself... wow! Not a week ago you were telling me how important Christmas was. Now, it's as if you've completely forgotten the holiday. I haven't even popped a bottle of champagne for New Years yet and you want me to confess my undying love via a garden flag?! Do you have amnesia? Then it hit me. This isn't just an isolated incident. Perhaps my thoughts about amnesia were spot on. What if nearly all retailers in today's modern age have HOLIDAY RETAILER AMNESIA?

Certainly, I can understand the imperative of a retailer to make a dollar. I'm a retailer myself. The holiday season between Thanksgiving and New Years is when I turn the highest profit of the year. But what's the difference between them and I? I don't forget to respect the holidays in their own time. I give each and every benchmark holiday on the calendar a chance to breath and stretch its legs, so to speak.

In essence, my point is this... and it relates to my previous articles about Thanksgiving being over-run by Christmas.

Give every holiday it's due time in the spotlight. If we stretch every single holiday out from one to the next, then those special days lose their luster.

Every day can't be a holiday, otherwise there would be no holidays.

Merry Christmas to All!

As I write this blog entry, I'm nestled in bed with a big fluffy dog keeping my feet warm. It's been a long day full of work and celebration. My bones ache, my muscles are sore, my eyes are weak. This was a Christmas I won't soon forget.

Hopefully, your holiday has been filled with joy. I wish all of my readers a Happy Christmas. Here's to a wonderful last few days of 2014... and the year ahead.

The Gift of Life.

Hello everyone. Tonight's blog needs few words, so I'll get to right to the heart of the matter (and the photos). Just a few moments ago, I was lucky enough to witness the birth of two beautiful baby lambs. The amazing process of birth is something to behold, especially in animals as friendly and cute as sheep. How spectacular to witness such a marvelous thing on Christmas Eve. I hope these two newborns have a long and happy life on the farm.

Merry Christmas everyone!

A Hidden Gem from the Past.

While shopping at my local Food Lion grocery store, out of the corner of my eye I saw something I hadn't seen in many years. The customer before me in the checkout line had a bag of Old Fashioned Vanilla Creme Drops!

Mind you, I was a pre-teenager the last time I had a creme drop. It seems that as I grew older, this particular holiday treat disappeared, never to be seen again. I knew of specialty shops on the internet that were producing creme drops in small quantities, but they were very expensive. In some instances, over $30 for a single bag.

I quickly, but politely, got the customer's attention and asked where in store she found them. She pointed me to their location. Briskly, like an excited stallion, I trotted over to their holy location. Behold... there were two bags left, and I got them both!

The bag says 'old-fashioned', to which it should be taken quite literally. Creme drops are a very traditional confectionery that go way back. Though, it seems they've all but vanished in modern times. Of course, I eat in a much better way than I used to, so I'll be slowly eating these instead of inhaling an entire bag in one night. I can remember eating whole bags of creme drops at Christmas as a kid. Boy... someone should have stepped in and stopped me.

I was so glad to discover the creme drops today. They're like a hidden gem from the past, stirring memories of holidays gone by.

What are some of your favorite holiday candies and sweets?

My Favorite Christmas Carols: Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas

Good evening everyone. I'm back with another favorite Christmas song of mine. Tonight, I'd like to discuss "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas".

I'll readily admit -- this one always gets me a little teary eyed. "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" speaks to love of days gone by, to those we've lost over the years, to getting through the tough times... and to the unwavering spirit of humanity. No matter how dark things get... we have tomorrow to look forward to. The holidays are a symbol of hope for us all. We may be surrounded by strife and turmoil, but there's always the chance that tomorrow might just be better than today. Just remember -- live for today and take even the smallest amount of joy in whatever way you can.

"Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" was written for the 1944 film Meet Me in St. Louis. Judy Garland performed it on film for the first time. Since then, countless artists have recorded the song. The video featured above has the famous recording done by Frank Sinatra. The song's music was written by Ralph Blane and the lyrics were crafted by Hugh Martin. Blane and Martin were a legendary musical duo in the early days of American cinema. Judy Garland, whom was already a major star thanks to The Wizard of Oz, forever sealed this song as a classic. Here is the original version from the film.

While certainly a melancholy and sad song, "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" is a holiday classic that we all should cherish.

You Can't Catch the Gingerbread Man!

We all know the old fairy tale about the Gingerbread Man. He ran away from the grandmother and grandfather whom made and cared for him. Dodging to and fro, he bounced through their farm. His plan for escape was almost perfect...

That is, until a fox swallowed him whole. *GULP!*

This blog post ends on a much happier note, though... I assure you.

One of my favorite treats at Christmas is the Gingerbread Man cookie. It ranks near the top of the most delectable of all holiday foods. Where did the idea of making Gingerbread Men come from, though?

Queen Elizabeth I by Federico Zuccaro (circa 19th Century)

We all owe a big thank you to Queen Elizabeth I, whom ruled over England between 1558 and 1603. She asked that gingerbread cookies be made in the likeness of her court's guests. Thereby, the concept of making human figures out of gingerbread was born!

Gingerbread itself dates back even farther. As early as 992, the Armenian Monk Gregory of Nicopolis is recorded as making gingerbread for the French people. He left Armenia as a pilgrim after being persecuted by the Persians. Once in France, he lived as a hermit. Occasionally, he was allowed by local church leaders to prepare a meal, to which he would always serve Gingerbread as the dessert. Thus, Gregory's legend grew, as did the praise for Gingerbread!

Since the reign of Queen Elizabeth, the Gingerbread Man has been a staple at Christmas. So festive and cute; the tiny brown bundle of tasty joy is so easy to create and decorate. Give him a hat and slippers... buttons and a petticoat... or just slather him in icing and take a bite. There's no wrong way to dress down and consume a Gingerbread Man. There are even ways to preserve a Gingerbread Man and turn it into an ornament for your Christmas tree!

As a bonus for my readers, I happen to have a simple, easy to complete Gingerbread Man recipe right here!

Ingredients:

• 3 cups of flour
• 2 teaspoons of ground ginger
• 1 teaspoon of ground cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon of baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon of ground nutmeg
• 1/4 teaspoon of salt
• 3/4 cup of butter, softened
• 3/4 cup of brown sugar
• 1/2 cup of molasses
• 1 egg
• 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
• 1/4 ~ 1/2 cup of water if your dough seems a little dry (optional)

Mix the flower, ginger, cinnamon, baking soda, nutmeg and salt, then set aside. Mix butter and brown sugar together until soft. Add the egg, vanilla extract and molasses to this. Next, slowly incorporate the dry flour mixture you set aside at the beginning. Mix it all very well. Then, press it into a large cookie pan lined with plastic wrap. Make sure you leave it fairly thick when pressing it out. Let it refrigerate for at least four to five hours.

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. Roll your gingerbread dough about a 1/4 inch thickness on a lightly floured surface. Now is the time to use cookie cutters in the shape of people to make your Gingerbread Men! Place your cookies on an ungreased baking sheet. Let the cookies bake for 8 to 10 minutes. Your edges should be firm, but the interior should still be chewy and somewhat soft.

It's best to let the cookies cool on a wire rack. Once they're cool, you can decorate them with frosting, gumdrops, etc. GO WILD!

Finally... shove those little bundles of joy in your face!

In The Holiday Mood.

Hurray! The Christmas Tree is up and ready for Santa Claus' arrival!

I'm so glad to have a real tree in my home this year for the holiday season. Crystal and I dressed our tree to look fantastic in every way. We have ornaments from our childhood, as well as ornaments we've obtained while we've been together. It looks wonderful... and really gets me in the holiday mood. Much different than last year when I was really down in the dumps.

In fact, there's such a festive atmosphere in our home that we've finished not one, but TWO bottles of wine. Mmmmm! I must be honest... I'm slightly tipsy as I write this blog. Though, I seem to type better while slightly inebriated, not worse. Go figure!

Fan-frickin'-tastic!

Tomorrow, our home outside will be dressed with light-up snowflakes, bells and a snowman! I hope to share photos with you tomorrow evening. Sleep tight friends and family!

400 Miles.

Today has been a busy day for me. I've logged nearly four-hundred miles today round trip, but it was worth it. James, Julie, Brandon, Niki, Josh -- it was absolutely fantastic to see you. I hope we can all be together again in a few weeks for Christmas.

I don't have much to say this evening because I just got home and I'm quite tired, but I will relay a few thoughts that occurred to me while I was driving. I may expand on these ideas later in the week.

• Steel Guitars produce some of the most beautiful music and they're not nearly used enough in modern recordings.
• Driving down back country roads and seeing Christmas lights on homes is very comforting.
• I discovered a lot of great independent musicians in 2014, even though most modern music is over-processed garbage.
• Dreams are important. Don't ever ignore what your dreams are telling you.
• Always give love a chance, no matter what.

And now, I'll leave you with a forgotten ballad classic (and one of my personal favorites) from 1989. Here's Giant, with "I'll See You In My Dreams".

Getting Roofied at Christmas.

Times Square of New York City during the Blizzard of 1947

Ever notice how the holiday song "Baby, It's Cold Outside" is about a guy slipping a chick a roofie, then heavily influencing her to stay the night? If you listen to the lyrics carefully, it becomes readily apparent that the song references some very nefarious activity.

Sure, the song is great and invokes the essence of the holidays -- good fun, cheer, love. But... what about this set of lyrics right here?

(So really I'd better scurry) Beautiful, please don't hurry
(Well, maybe just half a drink more) Put some records on while I pour
(The neighbors might think) Baby, it's bad out there
(Say what's in this drink) No cabs to be had out there

And there you have it... the smoking gun, so to speak. The female parts of the song clearly indicate that:

• She wants to leave the party and go home
• She is concerned about her safety and well-being
• She has been slipped Rohypnol in her drink

The rest of the song relates how the man wants to convince her to stay overnight with him... and 'no' is an answer he simply will not take. Though it came many years later, the man in "Baby, It's Cold Outside" reminds me of a classic Saturday Night Live sketch. For your viewing pleasure, I present Christopher Walken in one of his finest roles... The Continental.

Now that you've read this and watched Walken work his mojo on an unsuspecting maiden... how can you ever listen to "Baby, It's Cold Outside" the same way again?

You're welcome.