Posts Tagged ‘christmas’

Playing the mindless optimism card

Posted: December 19, 2009 by datechguy in catholic
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Yesterday I was talking with my son about the way he thinks about various things.

When I asked what his perception of me was, he said God had blessed me with mindless optimism and naivete.

A great example of this happened yesterday. I already commented on Stacy’s big announcement when it occurred to me that this is exactly the best time for people to mend fences. If I was in a dispute with someone on another matter and someone had a positive announcement in that vein I would send polite congratulations.

It’s that type of civility that is the first step to making things right. God constantly gives this kind of small blessing to man, a simple way to get back into his good graces by (particularly at Christmastime) to show some small kindness to his fellow man.

So I did something I haven’t done in a long time. I checked Charles blog to see if he had reacted to RSM’s announcement.

Instead, of course there was an attempt to portray him as a Nazi.

I was very disappointed but anyone with sense would have known better (that’s just about everyone else).

You may laugh but that same optimistic view of man is the one God maintains of us. The willingness to forgive and to give yet another chance to take the right path.

May we all have a little of that at Christmas time and enough to keep us the rest of the year as well.

Albert Finney’s Scrooge: Amazon Review

Posted: December 13, 2009 by datechguy in amazon reviews
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My review of the delightful Christmas Musical adaption of A Christmas Carol: Scrooge with Albert Finney in the title role is available at Amazon.com here.

If at all possible watch it on DVD or through netfliks. What I think is the key scene in the movie is often left out on television.

Be warned that you won’t be able to get the songs of this movie out of your head for days.

The Tree is up but not decorated

Posted: December 12, 2009 by datechguy in personal
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We picked it up at Erickson’s Tree farm in Ashby Mass. It turns out the owner’s son is in my youngest son’s class.

His wife is from the Philippines Islands. Ashby Massachusetts is about as far as Mindanao that you can get in both distance and tempature. She was feeling VERY cold out waiting with the trees.

All trees there are a flat $20 each even with ones as big as 15′ or more tall. That is so much cheaper than most other places it is ridiculous. I asked him why he doesn’t charge more, he said he makes enough with what he does charge and times are hard for people right now. What a nice guy.

As he puts it he sells between 300 & 400 trees per years, many are sold the day he opens (1st Sat. in November). People come down and tag their favorites that day and then cut them as Christmas comes closer. From how they described it the first day is like the running of the brides.

I’m being shouted at because I’m told we will never get a good tree again if everyone finds out. Poppycock! He’ll just plant more.

It came down to three trees before my wife made her final selection, a Scotch Pine that looks simply marvelous!

Oh and the lunch was a big hit too, the wife and my old friend hit it off at once, both are crocheters and like women do generally agree about when I’m wrong.

All and all the day seems to be going pretty well. We have a tree to decorate and a lot of stuff to clean so posting will be kinda spotty the rest of the day if at all.

Christmas Tree this morning, Lunch with an old friend this afternoon

Posted: December 12, 2009 by datechguy in personal
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Today we get the Christmas Tree and meet an old friend for lunch so blogging will likely consist of a few movie reviews scheduled to post.

The tree has to last 25 days so we have to pick carefully. We particularly need it to still look good for the Christmas open house of the 2nd so lets see what happens.

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