Good Morning and welcome to the right time to start your holiday shopping!

Doesn't it seem the holiday season comes quicker and quicker every year. Maybe it's just here, but, for some reason, there hasn't been nearly enough time to get everything done this year.
It's time to pull a couple of the college all-nighters. Well, maybe not the same, but how about holiday all-nighters.
Fill up with 'Christmas Cheer,' get out the rolls of funny looking paper, tape, scissors and get to work.
By the way, why do we spend money on wrapping paper? People really don't look at the stuff. Never mind, it looks nice under the tree for about an hour.
Now, I'm sure most out there already have the gifts wrapped, the tree decorated, the house cleaned, the laundry folded (and put away), dinners planned and your children have been going to bed early every night in preparation of Christmas morning.
For the rest of us in the real world, none of that is done (in fact, through a flu-riddled brain, I'm looking at two boxes of Christmas decorations right now).
Somehow, though, we'll pull it all together. It always happens, even if we would like a few more days if only so we could procrastinate a little longer.

Good Morning and Happy Hanukkah!

Most days, the time after school is so intense there isn't a minute to breath.
Pick up the boys and get home by 3:30 p.m. Get out the books and start homework.
While homework is still being done, get dinner ready.
Get them back focused on homework.
Set the table.
Get them focused again on homework.
Put out glasses.
Get them back to the homework table.
Try to get the homework done by dinner (mostly failing miserbably).
Yesterday, though, the intensity was OK.
As a surprise, we went out and picked up a tree. This year, we thought we would go with a small one, but the holiday spirit touched down and we ended up with one bigger than ever.
It was cold and muddy, but it was nice to just drop all the pressures of everyday life and pick one out.
It was fun. We all laughed. We all sang.
Now, since every holiday around the world should be celebrated, we will break out the Menorah and Dreidels tonight. We will decorate the tree.
Can't get much better than that.

Good Morning and welcome to the real start of the Holiday season!

Well, actually, that would be Friday when we can start listening to those songs on the radio and think about the winter season.
Up until now, it's only been so much noise. Only after the food's been eaten and the parades are over is it the right time to start thinking about the next month.
There are some people who get all their shopping done by the end of September. For me, that takes the fun out of it all.
If you are buying gifts that early, it shows all you think about is gifts. Forget the people getting those things, just buy, buy, buy.
Here's an idea: One gift each for those who you give gifts. Wait until December 12 at the earliest to make the purchase.
That way, you can focus on the person and not the item.
Just an idea...

Black Friday - watch more funny videos

Good Morning and welcome to the day before the day before the day before the night before Christmas!

While it can be kind of annoying and frustrating, it is good to see this time of year has the same magic to children today as it did in years past. Sure, there are economic troubles, too many guns on the street, too many people losing their jobs, but you can forget all of that by looking into the eyes of a 4-year old as she talks about Christmas.
They can't wait. They annoy their parents. The Santa Claus threat holds no water. So, just try to enjoy it all.
Speaking of enjoyment, turn on the DVD player and check out this list of good holiday fare to calm everybody down until the big day. (Don't look for 'It's a Wonderful Life.' Boring, boring, boring).
5. Elf. One of the funniest and funnest movies to watch about Christmas in a long time. Sure, there are the usual messages about hope and Christmas, but, most of all, it's just goofy. Goofy enough for parents and children.


4. Christmas Carol (1999). Sure, there are classic versions. One staring George C. Scott is a favorite of everybody. Billy Murray's take in Scrooged was fun, but this television version starting Patrick Stewart is very entertaining. It doesn't bog down too much in the back stories. It just gets to the ghosts and shock.


3. Ernest Saves Christmas. Many believe this is the best Earnest movie ever made. Others think Jim Varney should have won his long-awaited Academy Award. Many, many others have never seen it. While parents can catch a nap, the little ones will be glued to the screen. That, of course, is the whole point.


2. Miracle on 34th Street. Sure, it's a bit dated. Sure, you are asked to make a huge stretch out of reality. Sure, it's a big commercial. Still, it's all about Christmas. Really, what more is there?


1. Christmas Vacation. Before heading over the relative's house for dinner, or welcoming them into your home, check out the trials and tribulations of the Griswold family. What's the best test of a movie? Well, if you can watch it 1,000 times and still laugh at the same jokes. That's 'Christmas Vacation.' Remember when Clark was locked in the attic as the family went shopping. Sure, there was the sappy family video, then, bang, somebody opened the door and he fell right out. Classic.


So, head to the malls. Get that last bit of shopping done. Then, pour some tea and enjoy. You can thank me later.
If you have any cool links or photos, send them along to onlinedelco@gmail.com

Good Morning and welcome to the week before the day before Christmas!

Seeing the crowds at the mall this weekend, it appears all that shopping is getting done. Now, it's time for the real shoppers to gear up.
By the way, speaking of malls, that holiday music they play is getting a little out of hand.
I know there is a need to cater the type of music depending on the store or area of the store. For instance, you wouldn't play the Jackson 5 in the lingerie department. Just like you wouldn't play Jay-Z in the jewelry department.
Still, over the weekend, I actually heard a hip-hop version of Gene Autry's 'Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer.' Basically, somebody took the perfectly fine version of the song, added some beats in the background and remixed it to make the song sound like Gene Autry crossed with Chuck-D.
The result was an assault on the ears. Several people were seen running and screaming from the area when the song reached mid-point. Not saying the song sent them running, but, you know, you never know.
Another thing, cut down on the Jackson 5. Yeah, we know they have a Christmas album, but it's the same song over and over again. Besides, it's still kind of creepy to hear Michael Jackson as a child after we know what's happened since.
So, just stick with the classics. They don't bother anybody.


If you have any cool links or photos, send them along to onlinedelco@gmail.com

Good Morning, Delaware County!

Hope everybody is recovering from the July 4th Holiday Weekend. Isn't it nice when these holidays fall on a Friday? It's never fun to have July 4 fall on a Tuesday or Wednesday. Those years, you have a day or two of work, take a day off for a picnic and some revelry, stay up too late to see fireworks, then have to get to work the next moring.
When it's on a Friday, though, you get that little extra buffer. Seems like more of a break.

Speaking of breaks, today is the official start of the 'Running of the Bulls' in Pamplona, Spain. While this annual event offers some good video, maybe it's time to give the bulls a break.
After all, they are just animals running down the street. All those goofballs trying to run away are only making them angrier. Of course, it does appeal to some and they seem to have fun even though nine have already been injured
It was at least made funny in the movie 'City Slickers.'
Anyway, here's the start of last year's festival, after that check out a 'Running' that should be more popular and leave the bulls alone:


The Running of the Nudes:


If you have any cool links or photos, send them along to onlinedelco@gmail.com