Say “Hello” to... HOLIDAY HELPERS
FOR THE FRAZZLED
WRAP SESSION
KFill lunch bags with goodies and fold top down. Punch two holes across the top and weave a candy cane or ribbon through the holes. KUse inexpensive holiday tablecloths to wrap large gifts. KSimplify the whole process by buying one oversize roll of silver paper and an assortment of bows and ribbons. KNew paint cans are great air-tight containers for food gifts. Get them at your hardware store. KUse colorful cocktail napkins to wrap small presents. ALL DECKED OUT
oTie bows and bells on your blind or shade pulls. oCluster houseplants together and string with tiny white lights. oFill pretty bowls with an assortment of shiny ball ornaments. oGild pinecones with gold spray paint. Overstuff a pretty basket with them and set on a side table. oWrap potted plants with silver mylar and big red bows.
The shortest day of the year is nearly here. Sunday, December 21st is the day when the sun drifts farthest south, offering little light and marking the start of winter by traditional reckoning. While some people are sad for the loss of light, others say the winter solstice is a day of celebration, for daylight hours get longer after this date. But on this day, there will only be about 9 ½ hours of daylight, compared to about 15 hours on the longest day - June 21st. Whichever group you agree with, we hope you have a wonderful winter!
Quiz Answers TRIVIA 1-b, Irving Berlin 2-c, Edmund Gwenn 3-c, Meet Me in St. Louis 4-b, nine 5-a, old silk hat 6-a, St. Wenceslas 7-b, Poinsettia Scoring: 7-6 Fantastic! 5-3 Super! 2-1 Good! Newsletter Press, Inc. For questions or comments please call 432-426-2072, Fax 432-426-2421, or write to HC 74 Box 115, Fort Davis, TX, 79734. For more info about our newsletters, visit our Web site www.newsletterpressinc.com. All rights reserved. Please recycle this newsletter.
enior
For RAMBLEWOOD
Amazing Holiday Facts Did you know...? The pale wood of the HOLLY tree is very hard, polishes well, and has a fine grain. It is often dyed black and used as a substitute for ebony on piano keys. The first CANDLES, dating back to about 3,000 B.C., were made from beef tallow (animal fat), beeswax and insect and plant waxes. Prescribed for more than just holiday cheer, EGGNOG was considered a restorative in 19th century America and was commonly served to those who were recuperating from illness.
cene December 2008
The holidays are upon us and we wish everyone Merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year. This time of year there are many in the park who are alone, if you have room or make some extras, just think about those who are less fortunate here in our park. Perhaps the best Yuletide decoration is being wrapped in smiles.
Given the different time zones, SANTA Unusual HoliDAYS in December has 31 hours to deliver gifts, but his 1st, Eat a Red Apple Day; 3rd, Roof over Your Head Day; 4th, Wear Brown Shoes reindeer really have to fly, since that Day; 7th, Cotton Candy Day; 9th, means visiting 823 homes per second. Christmas Card Day; 10th, Noodle Ring The US Postal Service delivers 20 billion Day; 12th, Poinsettia Day; 13th, Violin CARDS and PACKAGES between Day; 16th, Chocolate Covered Anything Thanksgiving & Christmas Eve. Day; 17th, Maple Syrup Day; 19th, Look for an Evergreen Day; 21st, Look on the Despite their bad reputation, POINSETTIAS Bright Side Day; 25th, Pumpkin Pie Day aren’t deadly. Latex in the plant can and 31st, Make Up Your Mind Day. be irritating, but not much more.
ANNOUNCEMENTS We are still looking for people who would be interested in sharing the duties of Bingo caller. Cheryl has been doing a superb job but would welcome a chance to play sometimes with her father. The Activity Club is looking for ways to raise money to be able to provide supplies & entertainment (i.e, The Great Halloween Party). January is when we need to elect a new Vice-President and Treasurer. Please consider running for office or nominate a willing candidate. _____________________________ Condolences go out to the families of: Pat McIntyre, Gene Wing and Theo Knight who all passed away in November. Gloria Wielen is in hospice and we send thoughts and prayers to Larry and her family. _____________________________
ast Minute Gift Ideas
L
Need an inexpensive gift quick that just about anyone would love? Here are a few “out-of-the-box” ideas. QA current issue of a favorite magazine followed by a year’s subscription. QA gift certificate to a local restaurant. Everyone loves to eat out, in this case, one size fits all. QA phone card is especially appreciated by a college student or someone in the military. QA roll of quarters, a box of dryer sheets and a container of soap is a practical gift for a college student. QA package of microwave popcorn wrapped together with a free videorental certificate for a movie-loving friend. QA basket of kitchen gadgets and pretty dish towels for the aspiring chef will be welcomed.
December Chart Toppers
Do you remember these? 1954 - Mr. Sandman - Chordettes 1955 - Nuttin’for Christmas - Barry Gordon 1956 - Love Me Tender - Elvis 1957- So Rare - Jimmy Dorsey 1958 - Tom Dooley - Kingston Trio 1959 - El Paso - Marty Robbins
Holiday Treat Wordoku
Wordoku is another form of sudoku. It simply uses letters instead of numbers. You just make sure that each 3x3 square region has the 9 letters indicated and that the letter only occurs once. Each column and row of the large grid must have only one instance of each letter. Here’s a tip for playing. We’ll call the 3x3 squares regions. With a highlighter, color in all the rows in the large grid and all the columns in the larger grid that have an A in them. We chose A because there are several of them in the puzzle. Now observe. In the right column in the middle region, what is the only possible location for the A? This technique is called scanning and you usually do it with your eyes and not a marker. The difficulty rating on this puzzle is easy. The nine letters used in this Wordoku spell the holiday favorite: FRUITCAKE
UPDATE December 6th is our park wide Rummage Sale. If you do not want to put an item in your sale please donate it to the Activity Club Sale at the Clubhouse. Please bring the donations to the Clubhouse Friday the 5th. We will also have a Bake Sale and all proceeds going to the Activity Club Fund. Call Joanne Seger with any questions 783-7505. Sunday December 7th at 5pm is the monthly potluck with French cooking as the theme this month. As usual, if you have no French recipes, we welcome all food. Our monthly Activity Club meeting will follow. Red Hats-December 10th at noon, will be a Salad luncheon at the Clubhouse. Lunch Bunch-December 17th at 12:30pm going to Sweet Tomatoes
3
WAYS to Take Generics Safely
Seasonal Signs
If your doctor or pharmacy switches you to a generic, these three tips will help you stay safe and ensure you’re getting the right dose.
abbreviation for Christmas originated with the Greeks. X is the first letter of the Greek word for Christ, Xristos. By the 16th century, “Xmas” was popular throughout Europe. Whereas early Christians had understood that the term was merely Greek for “Christ’s mass,” later Christians unfamiliar with the Greek reference, mistook the X as a sign of disrespect, and an attempt by heathens to rid Christmas of its central meaning. For several hundred years, Christians disapproved of the use of the term. Some still do.
The FUNNY Zone
1
Ask if your drug has a “narrow therapeutic index”(NTI). This means the dose needed for the medicine to work isn’t much lower than the dose WHEN TELEMARKETERS RETIRE that can cause side effects. If your doctor says this is true of your drug, ask him or to specify do not substitute or LIGHTER SIDE OF PUNS her dispense as written on your prescription. Below are a few puns that will make Pay attention to how you feel. This you smile and make you groan. is especially important if your meds If at first you don’t succeed, are for a condition with no lab tests, such try, try a grin. D as depression. A diamond is a chunk of coal that Track your progress. If you’re on made good under pressure. D blood pressure meds, buy a home The best vitamin for making BP monitor, take readings a couple friends is B-1. times a day for awhile and write them D To keep your mind clean and down. Bring these records to your healthy, change it once in awhile. doctor if you suspect the generic drugs D ~Prevention If the going gets easy, you may be aren’t doing their job.
2 3
going downhill. D
~Word Play
A smile doesn’t cost a cent, but it gains a lot of interest. D
The difference between a champ and a chump is u. D
Frogs have it easy. They can eat what bugs them.
Memories
I remember when Pet milk was delivered to our house by the delivery “Milk Man.” ~ Ivy Morello, Columbia S.C.
Got a memory you would like to share? Send it to the address on the back page.
MERRY XMAS The familiar
SALUD! CHEERS! PROSIT! In 17th century England it was customary to float a piece of spiced toasted bread in a bowl or a carafe of wine to improve the wine’s flavor. When people raised their glasses to wish someone good health, it would have been rude not to finish every drop, and so the toast was consumed along with the wine. The custom came to be called “toasting,” but eventually the toast was jettisoned. Be always at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbors, and let each new year find you a better man. ~Benjamin Franklin
trivia corner quiz
ÊWho wrote the popular holiday song White Christmas? a-Bing Crosby, b-Irving Berlin, c-Cole Porter ËWhich actor won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor by playing Santa Claus in Miracle on 34th Street? a-Jackie Gleason, b-Art Carney, c-Edmund Gwenn ÌIn what movie did Judy Garland sing Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas? a-The Harvey Girls, b-A Star is Born, c-Meet Me in St. Louis ÍHow many reindeer does Santa have? a-ten, b-nine, c-eight ÎWhat was placed on Frosty the Snowman’s head to make him come to life? a-old silk hat, b-stocking cap, c-top hat ÏWhat saint is the subject of a Christmas carol about a king who gave alms to a poor peasant on the day after Christmas? a-Saint Wenceslas, b-Saint Cyril, c-Saint Nicholas Answers on back page.
Season’s Greetings to you and yours. We hope you have a wonderful holiday and a very happy New Year!
December 2008 Sun
Mon
Tue
2 Happy 1 Birthday to 6pm 6:15PM Bingo our Friends Dominos Celebrating in December! 7
Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day
8 6pm Dominos
3
Thu
4
6:15PM Bingo
Rights Day
12pm Red Hats
6
8-4 Park-Wide Rummage & Bake Sale 6pm Game Night
12
12:30pm Golf
Full Cold Moon
13 6pm Game Night
Guadalupe Day Santa Lucia Day
15
16 Las 17 Posadas Begins 6:15PM Bingo
18 12:30pm Golf
Lunch Bunch
6pm Poker Nite
22 6pm Dominos
23
24
6:15PM Bingo
25
Happy Winter Arrives Today Hanukkah
29 6pm Dominos
19 Seger Christmas Party Everyone Welcome
26
5pm Christmas Dinner Merry Christmas!
6pm Birthday/ Anniversary Ice Cream Social with Nickle Bingo
Sat
6pm Poker Nite
6pm Dominos
28
5
6pm Poker Nite
12:30pm
21
Fri
12:30pm Golf
10 Human 11
9
5pm French Dinner Activity Mtg.
14
Wed
20
8am Pancake Breakfast
6pm Game Night
27 6pm Game Night
Celebrate
KWANZAA
30 6:15PM Bingo
Others lighting candles this month: 1st, Lee Trevino, 69; 5th, Joan Didion, 74; 7th, Ellen Burstyn, 76; 8th, David Carradine, ` 68; 9th, Dick 8pm Van Patten, 80; 11th, Rita Moreno, 77; 14th, Patty New Years Duke, 62; 15th, Tim Conway, 75; 18th, Steven Party Spielberg, 61; 19th, Cicely Tyson, 69; 22nd, Steve New Garvey, 60; 25th, Barbara Mandrell, 60; 28th, Year’s Maggie Smith, 74; 29th, Mary Tyler Moore, 72 Eve and 31st, Anthony Hopkins, 71.
31
Monthly Reminders M-F Shuffleboard 1pm
PLEASE PICK UP AFTER YOUR PETS!!!