WHEN ONE CURTAIN CLOSES

photo by Claudia Dunitz

They say it comes in 3s.  Maybe you have personal experience with that?  In celebrity news, we sadly lost George Michael, Carrie Fisher, and Debbie Reynolds this week.   Talented singer, good writer (and Princess), and an icon starlet.   I thought of Debbie Reynolds just the other day.  Watching a number in La La Land, reminded me of her and her fellas in Singin' in the Rain.  Enjoy the link!  They are in a better place.  Rest in peace. 

Principle in the type:  "Before embarking on any journey we like to have some assurance of a round-trip ticket.  Returning from earth to life in our heavenly home requires passage through--and not around--the doors of death.  We were born to die, and we die to live (Corinthians).  As seedlings of God, we barely blossom on earth, we fully flower in heaven."     Russell M. Nelson

TOYLAND

photo by Graham Dean

Hall of Fame toys include Super Soakers, swings, Big Wheels, baby dolls, skateboards, Easy-Bake Ovens, and Legos.   Get or give any of these this holiday?  Personally we enjoyed (kinda?) something Nerf'y that shot and annoyed incoming family all day.   Classic.       story

Principle in the type:  "The only gift is a portion of thyself."  Ralph Waldo Emerson

YO! YO! HAVE A MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

photo by Sputnik

Lovely, lovely, Christmas time.  It is a blessing to society!  Bask in the hope, and the love...  Thank you, Jesus.  Take the wheel. 



                                     
  

Principle in the type:  "What will you and I give for Christmas this year?  Let us in our lives give to our Lord and Savior the gift of gratitude by living His teachings and following in His footsteps."    Thomas S. Monson

                                                                                                Merry Weekend, Peeps!

WHEN YOU DON'T HAVE A LEG TO STAND ON

photo by Mark Hogan

 

You may be busy this week, but at least you didn't leave your prosthetic limb behind on the train?  (I'm assuming.)   But it happens.  Mixed right in there with cell phones, keys, wallets, and laptaps.   And once "a backpack with a mannequin head."  That kind of threw her, says Ruth Moreno, Senior Agent with the Los Angeles  Metro.  Uh, yeah.  I can imagine.     story          

Principle in the type:  "Never be in a hurry; do everything quietly and in a calm spirit.  Do not lose your inner peace for anything whatsoever, even if your whole world seems upset."   Francis de Sales

 

ALL WRAPPED UP

I'm running on all Christmas cylinders!  How 'bout you?  Click here for
welcome perspective.  

Principle in the type:  "The grand and the simple.  They are equally wonderful."   Marjorie Pay Hinckley

THE PROBLEM WITH JOE

photo by June Marie

We got issues in L.A., and one of them is finding a parking space at a Trader Joe's!  For that matter parking at a Trader Joe's anywhere seems a pain in the seat belt.  And Trader Joe's is Yumsville, if you didn't know.  BuzzFeed "compiled a list of '23 Hilariously Accurate Tweets About Trader Joe's Parking Lot.' "   File this under first world problems, but still.  #ineedmytraderjoes    story

Principle in the type:  "Do not give up hope. And do not give up trying. But do give up being obsessed with it. The chances are that if you forget about it and become anxiously engaged in other activities, the prospects will brighten immeasurably. …"   Gordon B. Hinckley

JINGLE BELLS

photo by Tara Schmidt

Whether your thing is Christmas, or not, you gotta love the music, right?!  I kind of fancy that in 2016, Billboards top Holiday songs still include the classics.  Makes me feel like I'm in a black and white movie, Bing is singing, and turkey's in the oven.  This weekend enjoy the Mormon Tabernacle Choir.  They really know how to 'choir.'    news          

                           

                                   
 

Principle in the type:  "I will honour Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year.  I will live in the Past, the Present, and the Future.  The Spirits of all Three shall strive within me.  I will not shut out the lessons that they teach."     Charles Dickens, A Christmas Carol      

 












                                                                                        Happy Cheery Weekend, Peeps!

SPECIAL DELIVERY

photo by Alexander C. Kafka

I'm not sure how they thought this was going to work out, but "a mother who mailed drugs to her incarcerated daughter is now an inmate in the same Florida jail."  I don't know, is it at the least a 'two-wrongs-don't-make-a-right," sorta story?   news

Principle in the type:  "Motherhood is the noblest and greatest of all callings."  L. Tom Perry

CHRISTMASTIME CHEER

photo by Tagosaku

Late on their payments and generally in debt, an elderly couple in Illinois had their car repossessed.  But parked around the corner with the car, repo man Jim Ford called the bank and paid them up to current.  The gesture made him think of his own grandparents.  Ultimately donations paid off the car in full.  "We raised most of it in the first eight hours," said Ford.   Just a good ol'fashioned feel good story.  Thank you, Illinois.       story           

Principle in the type:  "Doing good is a pleasure, a joy beyond measure."    Hymn

FRENCHY

photo by Tyler

Really?  It's National French Toast Day?  After a weekend like Thanksgiving do we really need sky-high amusement park breakfast platters?  At least that's how I envision celebrating French Toast.  And for me - no leftover turkey, French Toast recipes.   But you choose.  It's a free country!   story

Principle in the type:  "Honoring agency does not mean embracing anarchy."    Mark A. Mathews