Operation:Season's Greetings - Build Your Own Xmas Tree

Operation:Season's Greetings

- Build Your Own Xmas Tree -

To all the Troops serving our country overseas and especially those in hostile areas, it may be hard, if not impossible, to find an evergreen tree plus all the ornaments to have your own Christmas Tree. Making room in your tent for a tree if you did find one would present a whole new set of problems. I thought about making you a card with a Christmas feast on it, pictures of a roast turkey with all the fixin's, but I figured even MRE's must taste better than paper and pictures. So instead I am sending you a Do-It-Yourself Christmas Tree Kit! Below you will find a tree, assorted ornaments, and a star to go on top. Once completed, your Christmas Tree should easily fit inside your tent, duffle bag, or can even be folded carefully and kept in your pocket. Best of all, this tree won't dry out and shed needles all over the tent!

How to: Build Your Own Christmas Tree

• First you need to print out this page. You can click on the - print this - icon right here or the one just below the bottom of this article. Or you can use the print command on your browser's file menu.
  
• Next you will need something to cut out your tree and ornaments. I recommend scissors, however you might make do with a pocketknife or even your bayonet.
• Once you have all the pieces cut out, you should try arranging the ornaments on the tree. Just lay the ornaments on the tree and move them around until you are most pleased with their arrangement. There is no right or wrong layout for the ornaments, it is your personal preference.
  
• Once you have positioned the ornaments to your satisfaction, you can begin affixing them permanently to the tree. I suggest white paste, Elmer's Glue, or Scotch Tape. Baling wire or duct tape are a couple other options. As a last resort you can spit on the back of the ornaments, like you do with postage stamps, and press them on the tree. Please note, licking & sticking is not as permanent as glue, tape, or wire, and over time the ornaments may fall off your tree.

And there you have it! Your very own PXT (personal xmas tree)! You can share your PXT with your whole platoon, or if you are first one to the printer, print off copies for the whole company so everyone can build their own PXT.

You can click your mouse on any of the ornaments to view the image full-sized.

Sorry I could not make this a fully interactive art project and allow you to drag and drop the ornaments on the tree, but Gather has its limitations, so I hope you enjoy the old-time style Cut & Paste project!

Caution! - Those members of the armed services currently serving in Iraq should be wary and watchful around the 6th of January for three wiseguys riding camels and claiming to be baring gifts. Carefully shake them down, and if they don't have Frankincense, Myrrh, and Gold - they are frauds!

Please click here to view my
Operation: Season's Greetings
animated card for the Troops

¡Feliz Navidad!

!Merry Christmas!

!Happy Holidays!

!and a Joyous Yüle!

Of Winter Solstice - the Holly King, the Oak King, and the Yüle Log

The Winter's Solstice is upon us, bringing the shortest day of the year and with it, the longest night. This is Yületide, the season of Yüle, a time of feasts and celebrations. Winter Solstice feasts extend back 30,000 years into human prehistory to celebrate the end of darkness and coming of the light. Since Midsummer's Eve the light has waned, the days became shorter and the nights longer. Now the days will lengthen and become brighter until the arrival of the Summer Solstice.

Each Solstice has its king, the twin Kings of Holly and Oak, the two sides of Cernnunos the Green Man. Each of the twin kings rule for half of the year, fights for the favor of the Goddess, and dies at the hands of his other half. But the defeated twin is not truly dead, he merely withdraws for half the year awaiting the next solstice, some say to Caer Arianrhod, the Castle of the ever-turning Silver Wheel, which is also known as the Wheel of the Stars. This is the enchanted realm of the Goddess Arianrhod where the defeated king must wait and learn before being born again at the next solstice. The golden Oak King, who is the light twin, rules from midwinter to midsummer. The darksome Holly King rule sthe dark half of the year from Midsummer to Midwinter.

Yüle was celebrated across most of Northern and Central Europe up through the 19^th century. The Winter Solstice was an important date in ancient cultures, especially in northern locations. Winter was the harshest season and many did not survive its wrath, particularly the youngest and the oldest. The northern areas are dark much of the day in the depth of winter, around the Winter Solstice daylight is but a few precious hours. Yüle traditions were also brought to the Americas during the period of colonialism. One tradition that has survived, at least in lore and lyric if no longer in general practice, is the burning of the Yüle Log. Traditionally the Yüle Log was a large Oak log, large enough it could burn continuously for up to a fortnight, though in some areas where oaks did not grow other trees would be used instead for the Yüle Log. The Oak would be covered with bows of Holly and the fire started with remnants of the previous year's Yüle Log.

Of course, there is great symbolism associated with the Yüle Log, beginning with the Oak and Holly, each representing its King's half year of rule. The Oak would burn the Holly and from its ashes the light would arise. This marked the sun's victory over darkness; the defeat of the Holly King by the Oak King and the days would now grow longer. The cinders from the burnt log were thought to protect homes from sickness, lightning and unfavorable spirits. Later, as Christianity spread, the tradition and its symbolism of light, birth, and life become more closely associated with Christmas, especially in England where Father Christmas is often seen carrying the Yule Log. 

Traditionally different woods were burned to produce desired effects: 
Aspen: invokes understanding of the grand design
Birch: signifies new beginnings
Holly: inspires visions and reveals past lives
Oak: brings healing, strength, and wisdom
Pine: signifies prosperity and growth
Willow: invokes the Goddess to achieve desires

 

The Holly King and the Oak King
Sing we of a mystery, now as long ago.
Blood red holly berry, blood upon the snow
Oak King shall rise - The waxing year to bring
Therefore bid we farewell, To the Holly King.
In the bright Midsummer all seems in a trance
Comes the golden Oak King, In his age old dance
Comes he to slay, Yet honour he does bring
To his fallen brother, the darksome Holly King.
In the cold Midwinter, the year wheel's turned around
Then shall be the Oak King's Blood upon the ground
Ever it comes, once more the year's waning
Then shall be victorious, the darksome Holly King
Sing we of a mystery, now as long ago.
Blood red holly berry, Blood upon the snow
Oak King shall rise The waxing year to bring
Therefore bid we farewell To the Holly King
-Author Unknown

Getting to Know Me ~ The Bandstand Edition

Getting to Know Me

-Bandstand Edition-

This is a questionnaire that can only be answered by song titles or lyrics to a song. As a music lover, I felt compelled to do this one. Feel free to copy the questions and post your own playlist!

1. What is life to you?

"They Can't Take That Away From Me" - Billie Holiday

2. What do you think of the world today?

"No one likes us, I don't know why
We may not be perfect, but heaven knows we try
But all around, even our old friends put us down
Lets drop the big one and see what happens

Boom goes London and boom Paree
More room for you and more room for me
And every city the whole world round
Will just be another American town

Oh, how peaceful it will be
We'll set everybody free
You'll wear a Japanese kimono
And there'll be Italian shoes for me

They all hate us anyhow
So lets drop the big one now
Lets drop the big one now"

Political Science - RandyNewman

3. Do you have a lover?

"All By Myself" - Eric Carmen (more recently by Celine Dion)

-or-

"You Can't Treat The Wrong Man Right" - Linda Ronstadt

4. How long have you loved your lover?

" Its been a long time, been a long time,
Been a long lonely, lonely, lonely, lonely, lonely time...
Yes it has!"

Rock & Roll - LedZeppelin

5. What is love?

It's a "Stairway to Heaven" - Led Zeppelin

6. What is your lifetime goal?

"I Saved The World Today" - Eurythmics

7. What do you do when you're angry?

"Sounds of Silence" - Simon and Garfunkle

8. What is you favorite thing to do?

"Setting on the Dock of the Bay" - Otis Redding

9. What do you say to those who comment on your posts?

"lets drink to the hard working people
lets drink to the lowly of birth
raise your glass to the good and the evil
lets drink to the salt of the earth"

Salt of the Earth -Rolling Stones

10. What is your financial status going to be like come December 25^th?

..."busted flat in Baton Rouge,
headin' for the trains,
feelin' nearly faded as my jeans..."

Me and Bobbie McGee -Janis Joplin (written by Kris Kristofferson)

11. What's the weather like in your neck of the woods?

"The Weather's Here - Wish You Were Beautiful" - Jimmy Buffett

12. Have you finished your Christmas shopping yet?

"No Time" -The Guess Who?

13. How do you pay for your Christmas gifts?

with "Money" - PinkFloyd

14. What do you think of yourself?

"One In A Million" - Steve Miller Band

15. If made to wait what do yousay?

"Does Anyone Really Know What Time It Is?" - Chicago

16. What kind of shoes do you wear?

" God knows, you're looking good enough,
But you're so smooth and the world's so rough.
You might have something to loose.
Oh, no, pretty mama, what you gonna
Do in those shoes?"

Those Shoes - TheEagles

17. What is your favorite animal?

"There was green alligators and long-necked geese
Some humpty backed camels and some chimpanzees
Some cats and rats and elephants, but sure as you're born
The loveliest of all was the unicorn"

The Unicron Song - writtenby Uncle Shelby(Shel Silverstein) and sung by the IrishRovers

18. How do you see without yourglasses or contacts?

"I Can See Clearly Now" - Jimmy Cliff's version (from "Cool Running", the song was written byJohnny Nash)

19. How fast do you drive?

"My Maserati does 185
I lost my license now I don't drive
I have a limo ride in the back
I lock the doors in case I'm attacked!"

Life's Been Good -Joe Walsh

20. What else would you like to say?

"That's My Story And I'm Sticking To It" - Jimmy Buffett

I am not sure about this "tagging" thing so if you want to join in the fun, just copy the questions and compose your own playlist to describe yourself.

I also did the "Getting to Know Me ~ Holiday Edition"

Getting to Know Me ~ Holiday Edition

Getting to Know Me ~ Holiday Edition

This looked like an interesting way to share a little about myself with the gathered folks. This was fun, fill out one of your own if you like.

1. Egg Nog or Hot Chocolate? Egg Nog or Cocoa (which ever has the cognac in it)

2. Does Santa wrap presents or just sit them under the tree? Santa fills the stockings hung with care and leaves his gifts unwrapped in front of the hearth.

3. Colored lights on tree/house or white? Absolutely all the colors of the rainbow!

4. Do you hang mistletoe? You betcha! Pucker up baby!!!

5. When do you put up your decorations? When ever the spirit moves me sometime after Thanksgiving.

6. What is your favorite holiday dish? Prime Rib and Yorkshire pudding.

7. Favorite Holidaymemory as a child? Might seem strange coming from me, but Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve. The old stone church lit only by candles, the smell of the pine bows that decorated the nave and sanctuary, and everyone singing.

8. When and how did you learn the truth about Santa? Probably by some friend's older sibling trying to ruin the mystery.

9. Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve? Yes, as kids we usually opened one small present.

10. How do you decorate your Christmas Tree? As a kid it was the works. Special ornaments were ones that our parents had made their first Christmas together when they were young and poor. I still have one in a little frame. Now days I don't decorate my little tabletop tree, just enjoy its fiber-optic lights.

11. Snow! Love it or Dread it? Love it!

12. Can you ice skate? Sure, I can do a figure 8 and then erase it with my bum!

13. Do you remember your favorite gift? The ones that really stick out were the building sets - Lincoln Logs, Tinker Toys, Erector Set, Legos - which were then pooled together to build the 8^th wonder of the world!

14. What's the most important thing about the Holidays for you? Being with family and friends. Oh! And the feast!

15. What is your favorite HolidayDessert? Chess Pecan Pie made from pecans from my grandmother's yard.

16. What is your favorite holiday tradition? Singing Carols as kids.

17. What tops your tree? Nothing now but the top of the tree, as kids it was an angel inside a golden star.

18. Which do you prefer giving or receiving? Oh come on, it may be more blessed to give than to receive, but if you're truthful you like to receive!

19. What is your favorite Christmas Song? It Came Upon The MidnightClearand Joy to the World

20. Candy Canes? Yes? No? Color? Take 'em or leave 'em, but they should be red and white.

21. Do you feel Christmas is too commercialized? Definitely!

¡Feliz Navidad!

!Merry Christmas!

!Happy Holidays!

!and a Joyous Yule!

Google Going Offline!

Google, the wildy successful internet search engine/email/advertizing portal is going offline! According to an abcNEWS Tech Bytes report Google will soon being going offline.

Offline, but, not out of business. Google is preparing to release a new suite of productivity applets for power users. The new applets, called Google Gears, supposedly will allow users to continue working on blogs, email, and other Google based utilities when they are in remote locations not connected to the internet. The current beta version of Google Gears only supports Blogger, but they claim they will be adding Gmail and search functions shortly.

A curious thing about this report on abcNEWS website is the date posted as Feb 13th of next year, and the following report is dated for tomorrow! Talk about seeing into the future!!!

Click here to view the complete abcNEWS-Tech Bytes report.

Blue Moon

Blue Moon

Tonight is a BLUE MOON for the people living in North and South America. Europeans get their Blue Moon tomorrow night. Asia and Oceania have to wait until the end of July.

Some authorities define a Blue Moon as the second Full Moon of any calendar month. By this reckoning, the coming Full Moon will be Blue in Americabut not in Britain. Time zone differences push it just outside the qualifying period. To an astrologer, though, a 'Blue Moon' is what you get when two successive full moons occur in the same zodiac sign. That's rare. It's not happening now, but I hate to detract from an exciting idea. So maybe you should prepare for once in a lifetime opportunity, just in case there is a little Blue Moon magic about.