Seeing as i probably won't be here much the next couple of days i would just like to wish a Merry Xmas and Happy Holidays to everyone!
I hope Santa is generous and time spent with family is good

Thank you, Yogi, and the same right back at ya!

Merry christmas mate


And merry Christmas to everyone here on BB

Yesterday I was off and it was a day too early to bake and prepare food. I have more or less been waiting for today because now, I have so much to do it seems. I am making italian bread right now but I will be getting help with the other baking though. My daughters are coming over and we I am making it a "girls" day with brunch, baking and munching.

I too wish everyone Merry Christmas/Happy Holidays. May you hall have a joyous safe and content holiday.

TIS

I would like to wish ALL of my Gangster BB Friends and their families a

VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS

and hope that you all enjoy the day and enjoy the time that you have spending this special day with those that you love and care about.

Merry Christmas to the BB familia!!!!

MEEEEEEEEEEEEERRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRYYYYYYYYY CHRISTMAS!

These stories never cease to pull at my heartstrings. It's what Christmas is all about really.

Soldier Home From Iraq for Christmas Meets Newborn Son

TAMPA — Days before Christmas, it's the best gift a family could ask for: Specialist Robert D'Agostino is home from Iraq in time for the holiday.

The homecoming was a special present for the entire D'Agostino family, but the gift waiting for Robert was the chance to hold his 8-month-old son Nicholas, whom he'd never seen.

"It's real, it's hard to believe," Spc. D'Agostino said, holding his new son. "Wow. I'm just waiting to get home."

Also at the airport to welcome Dad home was D'Agostino's oldest son, 2-year-old Robbie, who was just a baby when his father deployed overseas.

"When he left, Robbie wasn't running around, he was toddling," said Beth Livingston, D'Agostino's mother. "He wasn't talking, and now he won't shut up."

D'Agostino's unit shipped off for Iraq one month before Nicholas was born. He's seen pictures and talked over the phone, but it's nothing like the real thing. The Army computer tech is on leave for the next 18 days, and the family plans to make the most of it.

"We've got a little party planned at home, kind of celebrate everything he's missed during the year, all at once," Livingston continued. "So we've put that together for him, kind of a surprise to him."

D'Agostino's wife Melissa has been taking care of the kids, with the help of her family since March, and for a long time, she had no idea when he would be coming home.

"It's good to know he's going to be here for his first Christmas," she said.

Now, everyone will be together again.

"I didn't think I was going to make it, but it was good," D'Agostino said of his 24-hour-trip from the Middle East. "Now I gotta do some Christmas shopping."

On behalf of The Corleones :

AWAY IN A MANGER.......

Great Song Mick! One of my favorites!

I remember all the songs I sang in Christmas Carol service as a junior school kid. Good times.

You served in the Christmas Carol service when you were in Junior School? That's great stuff Mick! When you come to the states I'm going to have to get you drunk on Beers so that you'll sing a few songs for us!

I had a tremendous voice. Till my balls dropped.

The Christmas Tree in front of the New York Stock Exchange 2003, early on a December morning.

Christmas time in Manhattan is very festive. Many lights and decorations. I worked two blocks from the NYSE. After 9/11 the street was closed to vehicular traffic. They placed a Christmas tree in the middle of the street. This photo was taken from the steps of Federal Hall on the corner of Wall and Broad St. Federal Hall is where George Washington was inaugurated as the 1st President of the United States.

Merry Christmas to all. May the peace of Christ be with everyone. May we never experience another day like 9/11/2001. May war be abolished. May all children sleep peacefully in their mother's arms.

New York's one of the few places in the world I associate with Christmas. I might be going there in Easter, by the way...

You'd better let us know when you get here, Mick. It would be a crime to have you so close and not get to meet you.

In the meantime, Merry Christmas to all!!

Many people travel from both around the world and from different parts of this country to New York City at this time of the year.

5th Avenue, Macy's, Rockafeller Center Ice Skating, The Lighting of The Tree, The Christmas Show at Radio City, etc.

It's something that everyone who enjoys Christmas should see at least once in their life.





Well if you do, and I am not away on holiday, I'll buy you that pitcher of beer that I've been promising to buy you when we finally meet.

I think this is a couple years old, but it's an oldie but a goodie. I'm still amazed. Of course, they probably need a 3rd job just to pay the electric bill.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g0IwpRzWL_4

Just curious! It's Dec. 23, has everyone completed their Christmas shopping?


TIS

Merry Christmas everyone!!

Bing Crosby - White Christmas

Judy Garland - Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas

I have a hectic two days lined up, so I just want to wish everyone a Happy Holiday in case I don't get the chance to later on.

Merry Christmas!

Well since we're 8 or 10 hrs in front of you guys,it's Christmas here already so i'm a little drunk and wishing you all a Merry Christmas.!!!

Maligayang Pasko

An unfortunate but sweet Christmas story: My daughter found this sofa she just loved about a year ago at a furniture store. My son-in-law wanted to surprise her and bought it yesterday. Although he had to stand it on it's end in his truck, his house was only a few blocks from the store, with no freeway driving. No problem right?

Well, enroute, the sofa fell out of his truck. That wasn't bad enough, another car ran into it. The driver of the other car came out of his car angry at first My son-in-law totally apoligized, admitted fault, they exchanged info. This guy "didn't know" if there was damage to his car, although there was no obvious damage. He was gonna check today in the daylight. So, there could be an insurance claim coming.

My SIL told my daughter he wanted to surprise her Christmas morning and set it up in the living room so when she came downstairs she'd see it. Isn't that so sweet?

We are "all" thankful though. It could have been much much worse if he or my daughter, or one of my grandkids, or anyone else for that matter was hurt. The sofa was about $1,000 and although they didn't expect the store could or would do a thing about it, since it wasn't their fault, they tried and the best the store could do is offer them $100 off the floor model (which was an exception, because they said they never sell the floor model). They may just do that.

Granted, that's a large sum of money down the drain, but it could have been much worse.

TIS

Sorry to hear that TIS. It is fortunate he didn't get in a worse accident, and that the guy behind him wasn't a road rage idiot. It's a shame. Did he give your daughter any other gift?

I'm sure she'll be grateful for the thought and glad he's ok. Afterwards I would have been, "What..you paid $1000 on a sofa?"

Bummer TIS. So I guess the sofa got destroyed, or unusable. They will laugh about this in a few years.

Sorry to hear this TIS. His intention was a good one. Thankfully no one was hurt.

Let me ask you a question : Did he put the purchase of the Sofa on a credit card by any chance?

As far as the condition of the sofa, I haven't seen it yet. However, my daughter tells me it is ruined (sounds like the frame of it is whacked) except perhaps for the cushions. Looking at a postive aspect, she suggested she could keep the cushions in case as time went on, and with three little kids, they got ruined/stained or whatever. Gotta look at any postive side I guess.

TIS