We Are Here to Change the World

This weekend I had the privilege of seeing Michael Jackson’s performance of
Captain EO at the Walt Disney Studios. It reminded me of what a talented individual he was and the message he always tried to share with his audiences. I have found a copy of the video on you tube – if you have a few minutes I highly recommend watching. The epic song “We are Here to Change the World” is in the 2nd part of the video – As Michael says, “We're on a mission: In the everlasting light that shines - A revelation Of the truth in chapters of our minds: We are here to change the world.”

I love the hope and the message – what a great thought for the New Year.

Auld Lang Syne

At the stroke of midnight many cultures sing the song "Auld Lang Syne." Have you ever wondered about the meaning behind that song and the tradition of singing it on New Years? Early versions of the song came from medieval Scotland... the Gaelic lyrics reflected hope, companionship, and the uncertainty of life. The phrase "auld lang syne" translates literally to "old long ago," and is meant as a nostalgic reference to so-called good old days. The first published version of the lyrics was written by Scottish poet Robert Burns in the 1700s. It wasn't until the 20th century that the song gained popularity as an anthem to the New Year.

That being said, come on…you know you want to join in for a verse or two!

Should old acquaintance be forgot

And never brought to mind?

Should old acquaintance be forgot,

And auld lang syne!

The new year brings us hope for peace,

A new day for mankind,

Where we can all live hand in hand

And leave all hate behind.

For auld lang syne, my dear.

For auld lang syne.

We'll take a cup of kindness yet

For auld lang syne.

When dreams they seem so far away,

Your soul can feel so low.

But love is never far away;

Your heart won't be alone.

Let's make a world where people care,

A world that knows no fear,

Where we can open up our hearts

And hold each other dear.

Our children grow, they need to know

The Future's theirs to hold.

If we can teach them how to love

Then the world can carry on.

For auld lang syne, my dear.

For auld lang syne.

We'll take a cup of kindness yet

For auld lang syne.

Have a wonderful New Year everybody - filled with love and joy, health and hope, and prosperity for all.

'Twas the Day After Christmas

The Day After Christmas Lament

Twas the day after Christmas, and all through the house,
every creature was sleeping, even the mouse.

The toys were all broken, their batteries dead,
Santa passed out with some ice on his head.

Wrapping and ribbons covered the floor,
while upstairs the family continued to snore.

And I in my T-shirt, new Reeboks and jeans,

went into the kitchen and started to clean.

When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from the sink to see what was the matter.

Away to the window I flew like a flash,

tore open the curtains and threw up the sash.

When what to my wondering eyes should appear,
but a little white truck with an oversize mirror.

The driver was smiling, so lively and grand,
the patch on his jacket said US POST-MAN.

With a handful of bills, he grinned like a fox,
then quickly stuffed them into our box.

Bill after bill and still they all came,
whistling and counting he called them by name.

Now Dillard’s, now Broadway, now Penny’s and Sears,
here’s Levitz and Target and Macy’s….all here.

To the top of your limit, every store, every mall,
now charge away, charge away, charge away all!!

He chuckled and whistled as he finished his work,

he filled up the box, then turned with a jerk.

He sprang to his truck and he drove down the road,
driving much faster with just half of a load.

Then I heard him exclaim with great holiday cheer,
“ENJOY WHAT YOU GOT….YOU”LL BE PAYING ALL YEAR!!

Books Make Great Stocking Stuffers!

Looking for a last minute stocking stuffer for a young one on your holiday list? If Wishes Were Fishes now at a special price for last minute shopping: only $8.50 plus shipping for this cybil nominated picture book.

If Wishes Were Fishes is a hilarious picture book that will appeal to the young and the young at heart.

JT Trumanowski is a six-year old with a BIG problem…his grandparents! How do you survive a whole weekend alone with them when you do exactly what they say and still end up in so much trouble?!

JT adores his grandparents and is thrilled to be invited to spend the weekend with them. He tries hard to follow their requests to a “T” with one disastrously humorous result after another. “Why can’t they just say what they mean?” he wonders. Talk about a failure to communicate! Join JT as he discovers people may mean what they say, they just don’t always say what they mean…clearly.

Christmas Holidays Rules of Eating

I found this last year on the internet and thought it was definitely funny and worth sharing...enjoy!

10 Rules of Holiday Eating

1. Avoid carrot sticks. Anyone who puts carrots on a holiday buffet table knows nothing of the Christmas spirit. In fact, if you see carrots, leave immediately. Go next door, where they’re serving rum balls.

2. Drink as much eggnog as you can. And quickly. It’s rare.. You cannot find it any other time of year but now. So drink up! Who cares that it has 10,000 calories in every sip? It’s not as if you’re going to turn into an eggnog-alcoholic or something. It’s a treat. Enjoy it. Have one for me. Have two. It’s later than you think.It’s Christmas!

3. If something comes with gravy, use it. That’s the whole point of gravy. Gravy does not stand alone. Pour it on. Make a volcano out of your mashed potatoes. Fill it with gravy. Eat the volcano. Repeat.

4. As for mashed potatoes, always ask if they’re made with skim milk or whole milk. If it’s skim, pass. Why bother? It’s like buying a sports car with an automatic transmission.

5. Do not have a snack before going to a party in an effort to control your eating. The whole point of going to a Christmas party is to eat other people’s food for free. Lots of it. Hello?

6. Under no circumstances should you exercise between now and New Year’s. You can do that in January when you have nothing else to do. This is the time for long naps, which you’ll need after circling the buffet table while carrying a 10-pound plate of food and that vat of eggnog.

7. If you come across something really good at a buffet table, like frosted Christmas cookies in the shape and size of Santa, position yourself near them and don’t budge. Have as many as you can before becoming the center of attention. They’re like a beautiful pair of shoes. If you leave them behind, you’re never going to see them again.

8. Same for pies. Apple, Pumpkin, Mincemeat. Have a slice of each. Or if you don’t like mincemeat, have two apples and one pumpkin. Always have three. When else do you get to have more than one dessert? Labor Day?

9. Did someone mention fruitcake? Granted, it’s loaded with the mandatory celebratory calories, but avoid it at all cost. I mean, have some standards.

10. One final tip: If you don’t feel terrible when you leave the party or get up from the table, you haven’t been paying attention. Re-read these tips; start over, but hurry, January is just around the corner.

Remember this motto to live by:“Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, chocolate in one hand, body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming “WOO-HOO what a ride!”

12 Days of Christmas

From 1558 until 1829, Christians in England were not permitted to practice their faith openly. Someone during that era wrote this carol as a catechism song for young Catholics. It has two levels of meaning: the surface meaning plus a hidden meaning known only to members of their church. Each element in the carol has a code word for a religious reality, which the children could remember.

-The partridge in a pear tree was Jesus Christ.

-Two turtle doves were the Old and New Testaments.

-Three French hens stood for faith, hope and love.

-The four calling birds were the four gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke & John.

-The five golden rings recalled the Torah or Law, the first five books of the Old Testament.

-The six geese a-laying stood for the six days of creation.

-Seven swans a-swimming represented the sevenfold gifts of the Holy Spirit--Prophesy, Serving, Teaching, Exhortation, Contribution, Leadership, and Mercy.

-The eight maids a-milking were the eight beatitudes.

-Nine ladies dancing were the nine fruits of the Holy Spirit--Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, and Self Control.

-The ten lords a-leaping were the ten commandments.

-The eleven pipers piping stood for the eleven faithful disciples.

-The twelve drummers drumming symbolized the twelve points of belief in the Apostles' Creed.

May the joys and love of Christmas be with you and yours today and always! Merry Christmas, everybody!

Bugs Invade the Third Grade! Book Review: The Bug That Plagued the Entire Third Grade by Lori Calabrese

Matt, like many young boys, is fascinated by things that are creepy, crawly and captivatingly interesting. He loves to look through his books on backyard bugs and once was even able to identify a very interesting hickory horned devil caterpillar he found in his cellar. It is easy to see how the news of the upcoming Bug-A-Fair excites the lad. After all, whoever wins this prestigious science fair is sure to capture the teacher’s praise and become the most popular kid in class. Matt is dreaming of that honor and his quest to become Student of the Year as he pulls a fine specimen off the grille of his father’s car – one that is sure will win him first prize at the Fair, but another bug bugs him as it travels throughout the third grade. Join Matt and his class for a very exciting day in this very clever tale of more than one kind of bug causing havoc in the third grade classroom.

Ms. Calabrese’s rhyming tale is sure to be one that is read over and over. This witty story will tickle the funny bone of the young reader as they join Matt and his class on a day that turns much more exciting than anyone anticipates.

The full color illustrations by Chet Taylor are sure to delight their audience as they perfectly compliment this entertaining tale.

You can follow the rest of this fun tour through these links:

November 15 Beverly S. McClure’s The Story of a Writer http://beverlystowemcclure.blogspot.com/
November 16 Elysabeth’s Stories

http://elysabethsstories.blogspot.com/
November 17 Raising Itty Bitty Bookworms

http://ittybittybookworms.blogspot.com/
November 18 There’s a Book

http://www.theresabook.com/
November 19 The Iron Bodkin

http://lux-st-clare.blogspot.com/
November 30 Into the Wardrobe

http://peteredmundlucy7.blogspot.com/

I highly recommend this book - it is definitely a story that will be read over and over again and sure to become a favorite story time request.