Happy Christmas, World

I haven't said much about this topic lately, but, I think I will now. 
I haven't been shy in telling people that I have a birth father. He was not a part of my life, I mean, he was to a small degree, and I always wanted a relationship with him. 
Growing up was hard without my dad. I mean, I did have father figures in my life, but I always wanted a dad. My own dad married my mom when I was 10, and they had 3 more children together. My dad was kind to me, and he has become more and more cynical the older he has been getting. It's been hard. I never knew why my daddy (my birth father) wasn't around me. It was really painful. 

About three year ago when I went off Facebook (or was that two years ago) I started writing texts to my brother my birth father's son, so my brother. Just back and forth, hey, how's it going... That kind of stuff. Thanksgiving of 2017 my daddy called me! I knew immediately it was him! I was so happy! we talked for an hour and we started from that time on, to talking, texting, etc. I have been loving it. I have never spent a holiday with him. It's been a year and a month that we have been talking on a regular basis. about three weeks ago I was invited to go to my daddy's house to spend the Holiday season with him, his wife, my brother and sister! I will be going to his home tomorrow, and I will be returning in a week! I am really super excited about it. I have decided to let go the asking why I have not been able to see him for years, and I have not asked him why my childhood was spent without him. Will those answers really settle with me? I don't think that they will. But, there here and now, and not living in the past, being able to connect with him and learn about his life and family and culture, will help me find out who I am. Not knowing him is like not knowing who I am. I am really blessed that I am able to have this opportunity. My daddy and I can have a relationship now. We can do catch up and I can learn more about my Czech side of my family. I am really excited. REALLY excited. I feel that winter time is a time of rebirth, renewal, and I feel that this is the perfect time for renewing my relationship with my daddy. It is a beautiful thing. I know that it takes a lot of growth to forgive and let go, and move on and move forward.  I hope that anyone reading this has an opportunity to renew relationships and show love and kindness to the people around them. It is a good thing. We want light, love, and good things in our lives. 

Love and Hugs  to all those reading this! I will write more when I am in my (wont say where) daddy's house, enjoying the amazing time with my paternal family! 

A Merry Turkish Type Christmas This year!

This year I celebrated Christmas a little late because the Long Rock has been working over time and times a thousand. 
 So, When he asked me If I wanted to do Christmas I was a little hesitant. It wasn't that I didnt want to celebrate it. I love Christmas. I love it so much. It was that I feel a little down because I really was planning on being in USA and living there this year. I never said that out loud, but it was in my plans. Well, it did not work that way. I wanted to just cry and I was just not in the mood.
Long Rock said, "But I love Christmas so much", and I could not take that from him. Christmas Eve and  Christmas Day was spent decorating the living room, wrapping gifts. I have been recently accused of locking certain people out of the living room and not letting anyone come near the gifts, which is so far from the truth. I did however, do everything I can to hide the opened gifts that I was wrapping because I wanted them to be a surprise. 
  It turned out to be a nice surprise and everything went very well. 
Turkey does have Christmas, but they just call it New Year, and it is celebrated on New Year. It is all in every sense and purposes, New Year. As a matter of fact, all the month of December, people are getting ready for the New Year, and as a matter of fact, just last night, they had an advertisement, It said "Where is Santa?" and it went on to say "Be good, This year Santa will come:"and ended with Happy New Year. HAHA

I will say, that Christmas Day was spent chatting with Monkey Three, and snapchatting. Yes: I have a snapchat with my monkeys. Only Family memebers get to snap chat with me. 
 Anyway... That was the best part. Emailing and snap chatting with Monkey Three. 
But, the day after Christmas Long Rock came home and thus began my Christmas with him. 

I woke up early on the 26th and went to Istanbul with my Turkish Father because on the 25th the post man gave a letter saying we got a package. I will blog about it in the following blog. It was quite and adventure. 

Merry Christmas ALL!!!   

Mrry Christmas!! our Christmas Jammies!

I love warpping Gifts! 

Teyze means Aunt in Turksih.

Our Tree was in a little corner but Long Rock thought to move it to the table for better decorating! Good idea!

This paper came from USA

All Ribbon was saved by Anne so she could have her own wrapping collection

All the wrapping I did. but, the paper with Santa Claus. My mom wanted my gifts to be a surprise. She wrapped them.  I miss my mom to death. I love her so much

It is Christmas Season, Again!!!

I don't know about my wonderful readers (btw, thanks for reading my posts! I am getting about 200 readers a month now! WOW!!!)
 But, I want to come out and tell you something about myself. 

  I love LOVE the Thanksgiving and Christmas Holiday, but I have noticed, I get really depressed over the Winter Season, and noticably more and more depressed over the Christmas Holiday these last three years. 
I am sure there are a few factors, I miss my kids, my family, I miss the things that I normally do during the holiday season. Being here is hard a bit for me because I am very much a family and friend person. I am not talking about doing anything drastic, I just really get extra emotional, and very homesick. 
I have noticed that I want to hibernate more in the winter too. 

I am coming out and telling people about this because, I notice I have many readers from countries that, in the winter, typically, are very harsh, and the days are shorter in the winter. For example my mother grew up in Alaska where the winter days were only light for about 4 hours. I am guessing some of you have those kinds o f winters. Well, I wanted to write about some of the things I do in the winter to try to life my spirits. I hope it helps all of you..

First of all, I know if my parents read this they would fall over, but, I have a drink now and then. Mind you I dont get drunk. I just enjoy a drink now and then. I cant say this enough. Never drink alone. WHY? Let me tell you. Alcohol is a depressant. So, when you are drinking alone, you have a tenancy to be more depressed and lonely, and this is not a good thing. Also, Don't drink often. My fahter would say: Don't drink at all... But, I am not here to preach. I am here to be reasonable. Many Europeans drink with their meals,and I think many of my readers it would be really hard, so I am saying: Don't drink alone. I don't ever drink alone. 

Second: Take 20 minutes a day for meditation. I can call it prayer, if you want. I find that when I read the scriptures, and pray, I am actually cleaning my spirit, I am trying to connect with God, (whomever you think is the Being that Created us, the Great Spirit, etc) Trust me, this helps a lot. 

Third: Listen to uplifting music. Don't get me wrong. I love ALL kinds of music. I love Rap, I love Hip Hop, I love all kinds. I have found that some of my spiritual moments have been with music. Your soul needs to be filled with positive energy, and music is perfect form of communication with your inner spirit. Uplifiting music will help you, please trust me. Go on YouTube and find "Mormon Tabernacle Choir", "The Vienna Boys Choir", Douglas Spotted Eagle, Enya, Neil Diamond, Mozart, Chopin, etc etc etc... There is a lot of just beautiful music for us to enjoy! 

Fourth: Keep a journal. Write things about how you feel, what you did n the day, what you want to do and how you want to be. Write what you are thankful for everyday. Write about your fears, and joys, and triumphs and what you want to over come in your life. And again::: Write about what you are Thankful for. 

Fifth: Smile. Give a smile to someone, once a day. Find laughter find a way to laugh at your trials. 

Sixth: Do something good for someone at least once a day. This can be anythig: Suprise flowers for your loved one for no reason at all, opening the door for an elderly woman, or helping someone crosee the street. Take the time listening to a friend who has some problems, tell your mom or dad you love them, just something good for someone. You will find that when you do some act of kindness for someone with out wanting anything in return, you are actually filling your heart with kindness that you will never find anywhere else. Doing good to others isn't always for them, it is to make yourself a better person. 

Those are the "Spiritual things"

Now::: Let me tell you about things that also might help. 

I have been reading about this condition that I have, Well, I think I have. It is called S.A.D. Seasonal Affective Disorder. Here is a Link about SAD   Here is another link: Here is another Link about SAD 
And here is the last link about it:  OK So here is the Last Link about SAD 

These all say the same thing: That sunlight helps those with SAD. I have to say, I don't think I noticed it when I lived in Utah, because when I was working, I would go to the Tanning Booth. OK... Judge me, I would go about 30- 45 min a week, about 15 min a week sometime, and I was energized, I was fine. I would go after work and when I felt really down, going would pick me up and make me feel great. I felt like I was just great! Well, I have noticed that since I have been living here in Turkey I have not been going to the Tanning Booths, and it has been effecting me. I know that people say you should not go, but there are some people that need sun lamps. What it doed for me is trick my mind to thinking that I was in the sun. I did not need medication. 
 I posted this last week on Facebook, That I think I have it and I heard that this year, it is being recognized as a real disorder, which I am glad. I think that some people have this disorder. I know I do. MY friends on FaceBook about 8% of them, responded with they had it or were married with a person that has it. Then about 35% of my friends never heard of it and said that they might know someone that might have it. Mind you::: about 85% off all my firneds on Facebook knows eachother, are family or went to the same HighSchool as I , meaning that maybe 80 of my friends of 100 of them, are all friends with eachother. I have some friends that have about 200 of the same friends as I::: All from HighSchool, so they can say, I think I know someone with SAD, they could be talking about the same person that wrote: I have SAD, or My spouse has SAD (I have friends who have married their HS sweetheart, and all are m y friends on FB) This is an idicator to me that that, I, in my humble opinion, about 4-5% of North Americans in the 48 States very well could have SAD and not know it. 
When I lived in Arizona, I might have had it but I never noticed it because I was busy, I had kids ran a day care on my own, and I was in the sun all the time. I would in the winter take my day care kids to the Zoo, the Parks, etc,etc and so I never noticed that I had it. It is really sunny in Arizona and hence nicknamed "The Sunsine State". 

Well, My Dear Readers I am sigining out tonight. I hope that you have a happy winter, and please, stay healthy! 

It is the NEW YEAR!

Well, tomorrow it is. Tonight some family members are coming over to bring in the New Year with the Family. 

 I still am not in a mood for celebrating, but I am helping with the preparations. 

 I will be making pumpkin bread today, but first have to make the puree, and I am making hot buffalo wings, but using chicken breast instead because I really don't like wings, wassail, and steaming fresh well, frozen corn, because I freakin love corn. Long Rock's mom is making some beef and rice. I am not a fan of the rice here. I think it is cooked with too much grease and is cooked with a pasta type noodle, called pilav, and I do not care for it. I miss mashed potatoes, and dressing. Sigh... Oh well. 

  I really want to just make everything then climb into bed right after. It that an option? 

 Anyway... 

 I will post pictures tomorrow 

Merry Christmas My Dear Readers!

So, I finally have a Christmas Spirit and really want to do something special for the Long Rock

I am not that much of a Grinch! OK... I have been but, I did not steal Christmas nor did I get in the Spirit of it all TOO late.

 Long Rock comes home on the  26th. Sadly he is only home for a LITTLE while before he has to return the next day.

I am helping his mom make a Bruncheon. I just made up that word. It is a Luncheon during Brunch time and I am helping her.

So, I am doing tons of baking tomorrow.

 I am baking different kinds of cookies, and I was thinking...

 I want to do something special for long rock and he does not want anything too expensive.

 So, I am going to make him a traditional, well, not so traditional Christmas meal... But I am using the main course as Hot Buffalo Wings!!!

I have somethings that mom sent me from America... Hickory Farms Beef Sausage, Crackers, and she bought me some plates that are sooooo pretty, disposable because heck, we know they would break getting shipped here.

 I am really excited.

 I am going to have Potatoes, Hot Wings, Salad, and for Dessert I will have a plate of the homemade cookies! I really want to have pumpkin cookies but they have no pumpkin puree here and I am making that and pumpkin bread and pumpkin cookies the day he leaves, so I will just make other cookies, and I will TRY to make the pumpkin cookies tomorrow, but I am decorating them, and let me tell you what as task it is here.

You know how fun it is to walk up and down the baking isles in USA and get to buy different colors of Food Coloring? Try there is not any here.

   I am thinking of visiting a baker (a Cake Baker) and asking him if I can buy some of  his. I mean how on eath do they make Wedding cakes with different colors? What is that all about?

The other task... Wilson Decorations are not here either so I can't find those pretty Silver balls you put on decorated cookies... Yeah... None of them are to be found here.

Just think like this... Haribo is here, but I don't want to put little gummy worms and my Christmas Cookies.

 So, this will be different... But I am making him some yummy food, and I hope he likes it.

Pictures will be posted Later!!! Totally!!!

Merry Christmas World! Santa Claus is a Turk!

 Yes, you read right! Santa Claus is a Turk! I have decided that since I am in Turkey and celebrating it from so far away, I would write about my experiences as an American in Turkey. 
 Many of us Christians do not realize how Turkey is actually our Holy Land second to Palestine. This country is rich with Christian artifacts and History, and yes, a little unknown fact is that Saint Nicolas is a Turk!
 Saint Nicolas was born in Ancient Greece known as Lycia and the city called Myra. Myra is now the Modern Day Turkish city of Demre. There is also a city named Antalya where a monastery was named after him and he did travel and reside there, too. It is not far from Antalya. Demre is now also in the modern Provence of Antalya, and not far from Demre, so it all makes sense that he went all over Antalya.
  Now, many many Christians all over the world actually have him as their Saint. Russian, Eastern, Greek Orthodox all highly regard him, and same with Lutheran, Catholic, and Protestant Christians. 
 He was known for his gift giving and this is why we use him to this day in being Santa Claus, as a tradition he started. 
  Why do we use him this time of year? Very easily explained. He died on the 6th of December, in the year 343. They had as a tradition a feast for his honor and this is why we use him specifically. He was also canonized on his birthday, so many believe. 
 What we do know of him was that he was the Patron for those falsely accused, children, and many other people. He was a Bishop and a Presbyter in Antalya and Demre and did in fact perform a miracle that was documented in Antalya's port. There was a ship that came into port during a heavy famine while Saint Nicolas was a Bishop. The Bishop had asked the Saliors to measure the wheat that came in the ship and the sailors grew very annoyed that they would have to measure for the Emperor of Constantinople. Bishop Nicolas told the Sailors while he understood their frustration with the Emperor, if the Sailors where honest in all their business with the Emperor, they would have an abundance of business, and that was a promise. The sailors did as Bishop Nicolas of Myra asked and they were shocked. The wheat on the ship had multiplied and the Sailors were able to give the Emperor much of their shipment, but still had enough for the townspeople and were able to use the over abundance for growing wheat for that following year. 
There are many stories  of his kindness. Born of very wealthy parents, but they tragically died in an epidemic when he was a boy, he had a kindness to children and poor families with children. He had been known to leave money and small gifts for children in the cities that he was Bishop or passing through, and often at night, so remain anonymous, and create an excitement for children. This tradition is carried on all over the world for little boys and girls on Christmas Eve, the wonderment of Santa Claus coming and leaving toys has been a traditon that started here in Turkey. 


In 1073, the Seljuk Turks slowly took over Turkey. We now call this the Ottoman Empire because of one man, the first Sultan named Osman. (Ottoman is Osman in Turkish)
 When the Seljuks had a great battle here in Turkey, they took Nicolas' remains to Constantinople, and then for years it was a mystery where it went. Many stories said that they were stolen but years ago, the Turkish government found they were stolen and taken to Italy. They found the remains were confirmed that in fact it was The Saint Nicolas and as of 2005 the Turkish Government asked for the remains to be brought back to Saint Nicolas' birth town, and resting spot, which he intended to be buried as in a letter that he wrote himself as to what he wanted done with his body after he died.
 Why do we use this Saint of all Saints for December and Associate this Saint for the Gift Giver in December? 
 That is easy to explain. He died on the 6th of December of 343. He was 73 years old. Now, there is a feast on this day in honor of him, many Orthodox Christians Celebrate Christmas on this day, much as us Americans Celebrate Christmas on the 25th of December.  So, if you think about it, our world actually honors a man that lived almost 2,000 years ago who was Christian and A Turk, and lived his life in gift giving and being honest good and kind and we carry on his traditions in wonderful Christmas time. 


 Whatever happened to his remains in this Modern day, Saint Nicolas had changed the world, and changed it for the better. I love the fact that Saint Nicolas is from here. Christians all over the world should know that OK, yeah Greece is cool, but Turkey is where the really cool Christianity starts. This is where it all happened once a long time ago. There are artifacts that really surpass anything anywhere in All Things Christian. Think about it, Saint Nicolas, The Apostle Paul, Virgin Mary's final resting place, Constantinople, Anitoch, the list goes on and on! 
 Below are some really cool pictures of this Saint Nicolas, our Santa Claus, a Turk

I took this. It is in Bodrum, at the Bodrum Castle:   Saint Nicolas! Interesting how this came about here! I wish I knew the story!

Another picture of me with St Nicolas! I want to go to Antalya! Long Rock wants to take me

Usually St Nicolas is painted with Jesus Christ over his right Shoulder. He was kind to Children, the Falsely Accused, He tried to buy Slaves Freedom, And Women Regarded him as Compassionate. He was also loved by the Sailors and he was kind to them. He liked sailing, It was told

I like this depiction of Saint Nicolas!

I have seen this painting on Cards, Have you?

And the final picture. Another depiction of Saint Nicolas

I have been Grumpy Lately

I have been grumpy lately but I wanted to share this story in the news because I think I need to get in a better mood and this is a positive story.
 Last week there have been a number of people reporting that their "Layaway's" have been paid for by anonmynous people. 

 For those of you that are not in the USA, I will explain very briefly what a Layaway is. 

 This is when say, you do not want to use a credit card purchase for something at the mall that you really want or need but you do not have the money for it. Usually you can buy bulk items, or that is to say more than one item. It is common to use it for Christmas. 

 There are risks to doing it this way. 

When you do it this way, you have so many days to pay it off, and the items are kept in the storage of the store. If you do not pay it back or are late, you lose the items, that is to say they are placed back on the shelves so that other customers can buy them. If you pay on time, then you can bring the items home with you. Sometimes many people can not pay the items so they lose the money they put down on the Layaway and they lose the item. 

 The advantage is buying somethings for Christmas or whenever, but not having to pay for it all at once especially if you are short on cash, and you do not have to use the credit cards, it does not mark against your credit. 

So, there have been some stores that people have been paying off other people's Layaway, but those paying for the Layaway are perfect strangers. 

I like hearing stories of kindness and compassion! 

That made me happier.
Maybe I will explain my grumpiness. right now I just feel like I can not

Good News: Jasmyne Decided to join my awesomeness

So, OK I did about 7 of these videos. 
 The first few, Shahira just did not like and thought was random. 
 The last one I posted was great but Jasmyne decided to join my letter. I like to think it was because she wanted to be a part of my awesomeness... She said she thought she would have time to make one... (Sounds like she wanted to be apart of my awesomeness to me) 


So... This is the 7th time is a Charm... and this is the one I sent to my dad to use. In case my dad doesn't know how to do it, My sister, Darci will stick it on a Jump Drive and take it to the Family party tomorrow... I am really sad I am missing the party. 
 I miss my family and my nieces and nephews like crazy and I love my family so much. I really am having a hard time being homesick... 
OK not talking about it
Enjoy my movie!!! 
Love to ALL

Grumpy, Christmas is Coming, and I just don't want to talk about it

Well, one picture did not make the cut, but she liked it... That means it was way better than before... 

Yay...  

So I am using the one above as my final Cut and I sent a copy to my dad and asked him to play it on the time it is my turn to do the Letter. 

I am more discouraged and in a worse mood today than I was yesterday. 

My Fourth Attempt Christmas Digital Letter 2011

This is what I submitted after two others were practice runs and the First one I sent that was OK... Was considered Random... Let's hope it passes inspection. I think this one is the winner, myself.

It is the 12 days before Christmas

Normally I am so excited before Christmas and normally this time of year I am getting things ready for Christmas. 
 This year, I am not
 I don't want anyone feeling sorry or sad, I am just not excited about anything right now. I thought that I would be excited 
I even thought that if I acted like it more, that I would be in the Christmas Spirit. But this year I am not at all
So, I will not write more  in this post. I think I am in a really bad mood. 
 I will try eating something. Maybe my Christmas Cheer will come back

A Christmas in Hawaii

Christmas in Hawaii was really awesome. The weather is perfect, it was not too hot nor was it too cold and there was  not a lot of rain that year.  
 I was in the First Grade when we lived in Hawaii. I loved it there. I am the only one in my family that has not been back since we left. I need to go back. It is my favorite place in the world. Literally. 
  I was 6 years old when we had Christmas there. 
 We were not rich in Hawaii. It was me and my two sisters living there. My mom was a student and going to B.Y.U. Hawaii and we lived what was TV2 Apartments. We lived at the far end where there were no other apartments and just the Temple and huge field. (Now that said field are apartments) Anyway... I loved Hawaii so much. 
 My mom came home one day from Visiting Teaching. She said that there was a family that just moved from Tonga and had nothing, absolutely nothing for Christmas. 
 We didn't either, but they had less than we did. And so, my older sister and I thought about it and we decided that would give our gifts to the family that had just come from Tonga. We gave them everything under our Christmas tree. I remember wanting a doll so much and I knew I was going to get it that year, as a matter of fact, I thought that was what I was giving, the doll. It was a Baby Alive. This doll was so cute. I wanted her so much because she could sleep, eat and pee.  Well, I gave it to the family with nothing. 

 We got these moo-moos Christmas and wore them to church. We walked to church

 I can not tell you it was easy. At first it was hard giving something you want so much. But,we had put all the gifts from under the tree in tall garbage bags, but I asked my mom if I could hold my gift, the bigger one, knowing it was a doll. I walked to the apartment where they lived and I handed the wrapped gift to the girl that was about my age. The family had just moved from Tonga and spoke only Tongan. They knew nothing in English. I remember the dad and mom of this family and seeing their tears and thanking us. We still as a family have marked that our best Christmas ever. It was, too. I know that my mom could never have afforded toys that year and so Santa bringing me a Baby Alive after I had given my Baby Alive under my tree was for me a huge confirmation that Santa is real.

Christmas Blues And How to Avoid Them

It is the time of year, again where we are shopping for the Holidays. Christmas is a beautiful season, but to many it is frustrating, filled with Malls over priced and over crowded, people running round to get things done, and it is also the High Stress time of year. 

  Here are some words of advice about how to keep the Season Jolly with out getting the Christmas Blues:

I will not sign my name to this but I can help you miss the Christmas blues. 

First: don’t expect to be so happy. Overly high expectations are to blame here. Your natural state of happiness is dwarfed by high hopes of a season to be jolly. 

Second: if you are a prudent, thrifty, and responsible you will be dismayed by frivolous spending all around you. So learn quickly this cannot be stopped and console yourself that Christmas debt is the easiest of all debts to justify. 

Third: While music is a great crutch to pull us back from depression a steady diet of sentimental Christmas Carols does just the opposite. It is important to direct your seasonal selections to uplifting carols such as jingle bells, up on the house top, and Rudolph.

Fourth: Getting the holiday spirit does not mean drinking more spirits. Substitute the gym for the bar and fill the refrigerator with fresh fruits and vegetables. 

Fifth: You will find that those around you become absorbed with notions that take their attention away from you. It is best not to ask them to put you first for it won’t work and if it does you will feel guilty. 

Six: Christmas will add loneliness to the lonely if they don’t catch the Christmas Spirit. If they do discover the spirit of the one for whom the holiday exist, then they will become less lonely long after Christmas has come and gone. 

Seven: Many of us are unhappy to begin with so here is a chance to shine by knowing you will soon be joined by all those who soon will be contracting Christmas blues.

Eight: Don’t take days off and don’t use those holiday vacation days. If you keep busy by working overtime right you won’t even have time to get the blues.

Nine: Even though most who get the blues are adults the root cause is that they don’t believe in Santa Claus. The only known cure for this tragedy is to find a child and be a Santa Claus proving once and for all that Santa exists. 

Ten:  Notice that in so many Christmas stories thrust upon us there is a main character who has lived a selfish life. These stories will activate your conscience leading you down the path of self- deprecation. Here is what you must do. When first sensing a voice from your conscience, slip an unsigned note telling someone you are going to be their Christmas pixie. Then for 12 days do something nice. This will silence your conscience for 12 days before Christmas and with luck you will get back to work before you contract the blues.

Lastly: You might be lucky enough to learn that Christmas is not about getting more presents, partying, drinking, eating, time off, TV Christmas specials or increasing sales. If this happens and with good fortune you might be able to become a little more religious and notice; religious people don’t get the Christmas blues.  

Christmas Blues: How to Avoid them

I have another blog ad thought I would post this on here to hopefully help someone with the Christmas Blues, or Holiday Blues. 

It is the time of year, again where we are shopping for the Holidays. Christmas is a beautiful season, but to many it is frustrating, filled with Malls over priced and over crowded, people running round to get things done, and it is also the High Stress time of year. 

  Here are some words of advice about how to keep the Season Jolly with out getting the Christmas Blues:

I will not sign my name to this but I can help you miss the Christmas blues. 

First: don’t expect to be so happy. Overly high expectations are to blame here. Your natural state of happiness is dwarfed by high hopes of a season to be jolly. 

Second: if you are a prudent, thrifty, and responsible you will be dismayed by frivolous spending all around you. So learn quickly this cannot be stopped and console yourself that Christmas debt is the easiest of all debts to justify. 

Third: While music is a great crutch to pull us back from depression a steady diet of sentimental Christmas Carols does just the opposite. It is important to direct your seasonal selections to uplifting carols such as jingle bells, up on the house top, and Rudolph.

Fourth: Getting the holiday spirit does not mean drinking more spirits. Substitute the gym for the bar and fill the refrigerator with fresh fruits and vegetables. 

Fifth: You will find that those around you become absorbed with notions that take their attention away from you. It is best not to ask them to put you first for it won’t work and if it does you will feel guilty. 

Six: Christmas will add loneliness to the lonely if they don’t catch the Christmas Spirit. If they do discover the spirit of the one for whom the holiday exist, then they will become less lonely long after Christmas has come and gone. 

Seven: Many of us are unhappy to begin with so here is a chance to shine by knowing you will soon be joined by all those who soon will be contracting Christmas blues.

Eight: Don’t take days off and don’t use those holiday vacation days. If you keep busy by working overtime right you won’t even have time to get the blues.

Eight: Even though most who get the blues are adults the root cause is that they don’t believe in Santa Claus. The only known cure for this tragedy is to find a child and be a Santa Claus proving once and for all that Santa exists. 

Nine:  Notice that in so many Christmas stories thrust upon us there is a main character who has lived a selfish life. These stories will activate your conscience leading you down the path of self- deprecation. Here is what you must do. When first sensing a voice from your conscience, slip an unsigned note telling someone you are going to be their Christmas pixie. Then for 12 days do something nice. This will silence your conscience for 12 days before Christmas and with luck you will get back to work before you contract the blues.

Lastly: You might be lucky enough to learn that Christmas is not about getting more presents, partying, drinking, eating, time off, TV Christmas specials or increasing sales. If this happens and with good fortune you might be able to become a little more religious and notice; religious people don’t get the Christmas blues.