FRIDAY FOTOS: Christmas with the Kids

FAULTS and FAUX pas

For more images like this, go to http://www.glasbergen.com/

The days after Christmas are mine fields in advertising. Did you get all the Santa-gift-Christmas commercials out of the system? People often work late on Christmas Eve in hopes of NOT hearing holiday messages on the 26th. B100 missed some. Saturday, when Beth and I were on the way to the QC to shop, we heard a Christmas Eve bar party run every half hour – 2 days too late. One of the cable channels ran a holiday spot yesterday.

All holidays have a little of this effect. Even seasons. Fix your air conditioning in October. Snowmobiles in May. These are bad. But Christmas is an orgy of buying messages and therefore the time you’re most likely to miss something.

I’m grateful to Mandy, because I think we came through clean this year.

FRIDAY Fotos: Office Party

Brian (Mr. Plaid Shirt) is the program director.  That means the music, the promotions and anything that takes place over multiple shows is his baby.  He does a great job.  Any way,  he and the announcers got to talking about old school video games and Brian mentioned that he never had an Atari. He played at his friends house and always wanted one.  So LaGrow (the King of E-Bay) found one and we all gave it to Brian for Christmas.

FESTIVE and FUNNY: A Fireman's Christmas

In a small Southern town there was a "Nativity Scene" that showed great skill and talent had gone into creating it. One small feature bothered me. The three wise men were wearing firemen's helmets. Totally unable to come up with a reason or explanation, I left.

At a "Quick Stop" on the edge of town, I asked the lady behind the counter about the helmets. She exploded into a rage, yelling at me, "You damn Yankees never do read the Bible!" I assured her that I did, but simply couldn't recall anything about firemen in the Bible. She jerked her Bible from behind the counter and ruffled through some pages, and finally jabbed her finger at a passage. Sticking it in my face she said, "See, it says right here ... The three wise man came from afar.

FUTILE Work Days

The first media to provide 24/7/365 access was radio. Today with voice tracking and other technology, holidays are easier on the announcing staff, but they were still all in today. Since they’re working, the sales staff is here, too.
There are 2 types of Christmas Eve hours – businesses that are closed and businesses that are swamped. And when they cease to be swamped, they’re closed, too. Neither wants to see a salesperson today. Black Friday is the same way.

There are commercials that need to be changed. No one wants to hear about Santa and gifts on the 26th. But those really should be done earlier, because the announcers need time to produce the commercials.

However in the name of treating everyone the same, here we all sit … wasting time.

Thursday Double FEATURE Videos

Wish You A Merry Chistmas -
Click on each reindeer after a short pause!
You can also click on Santa to make him stop dancing.
http://www.glenn.tapley.us/MC.swf

Christmas card from Ashland College in Ohio  - http://ecard.ashland.edu/2004admission/index.html

FESTIVE and FUNNY: Entering Heaven on Christmas

Three men died on Christmas Eve and were met by Saint Peter at the pearly gates. "In honor of this holy season," Saint Peter said, "You must each possess something that symbolizes Christmas to get into heaven."

The first man fumbled through his pockets and pulled out a lighter. He flicked it on. "It represents a candle," he said. "You may pass through the pearly gates," Saint Peter said.

The second man reached into his pocket and pulled out a set of keys. He shook them and said, "They're bells." Saint Peter said, "You may pass through the pearly gates."

The third man started searching desperately through his pockets and finally pulled out a pair of women's glasses. St. Peter looked at the man with a raised eyebrow and asked, "And just what do those symbolize?" The man replied ..."They're Carol's."

FESTIVE and FUNNY: 12 Redneck Days of Christmas

12 pack of Bud

11 wrestling tickets

10 cans of Copenhagen

9 years probation

8 table dancers

7 packs of Redman

6 cans of Spam

5 Flannel Shirts

4 mud tires

3 shotgun shells

2 hunting dogs

and a part to a Mustang GT

FESTIVE and FUNNY: Why Santa's Asking For A Raise

10. The hours, the weather, the trend toward smaller chimneys.
9. Nike won't give him a lucrative side-contract.
8. Reindeer and elves have unionized, driving up his cost.
7. New tax on flying sleighs.
6. Insurance for flying a sleigh has tripled over the past two years.
5. Needs extra cash to cover off-season gambling losses.
4. Air traffic controllers demanding higher kickbacks.
3. Cost of living increase at the North Pole.
2. Children don't leave as many cookies as they used to.
1. The Mrs. told him to.

FOOD at the Office Party

The owner’s wife is a great gal. She invited all the staff from her husband’s 10 stations and her son’s 2 over for dinner. We often don’t have Christmas parties … partly because it’s so crazy in broadcasting at this time of year … and partly because our local GM is just not a party-planning guy. That’s not criticism. Neither am I. I’ve tried, but I don’t have any fun at my own parties – a bad sign.

Jane did most (maybe all) of the cooking herself. There was a big buffet and I kept trying to remember the 15 Tips for Restrained feasting.(http://fatfamilyotherfwords.blogspot.com/2009/11/fifteen-tips-for-restrained-feasting.html ) I took a small plate. Tried to focus on fruits and veggies. Then I found people in another part of the house to talk to. Had a lot of fun and really wasn’t tempted, because I could not see the goodies.

... UNTIL the last half hour. Yeah, I had a little wine. Everyone was into deserts. I have a serious sweet tooth … so I went back. I wasn’t too awful, but if I’d left a half hour earlier, I’d be several hundred calories lighter.

FRIDAY FOTOS: Christmas Past with my Work FAMILY

In 2003, the Laser was in the Galesburg Christmas Parade as the Rudolf TV Special.

Beth (13 or 14) is the soldier.

Eric Hansen is the elf that wanted to be a dentist.

LaGrow is the Abominable Snowman.

Brian is the Burl Ives, the narrator snowman.

In 2004, the WGIL group did a Peanut's Christmas.

It's Terry, Shannon, Will and I'm not sure who else.

Also in 2004, this is the Sales Sister's Christmas Party at Laurie's.

Left to Right: Molly (copy), Michele, Angie T., Angie B., Shannon (news), Laurie, Tracy and me.

Only 1/2 of us are still here.

Thurday Double FEATURE Videos

The perfect Couple on Christmas - http://www.flashfunpages.com/couple.swf 
Boy's FAVORITE Christmas Gift - http://www.fm95online.com/mornings.html

A Quartet of FEATURED Videos on Christmas Lights

Frisco Christmas Lights - Wizards in Winter - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=szLmAPW39uE

Christmas Light Show - Amazing Grace Techno - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mTbpuQzMnxA

Christmas Eve in Sarajevo - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g0IwpRzWL_4

Christmas Lights Synchronized to TSO Nutcracker - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RJISYEbPF4E

Thursday Double FEATURE Video: Straight No Chaser

Christmas Can-Can - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7E-47VmFopE

12 Days of Christmas - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=28GUU1YbP_E