One of my little sayings when talk of xmas starts happening (again, already!) is 'if I wake up in the morning, it's xmas.'

Xmas is just another working day for me, only better. The pay is more and there is less to do.

When I was a kid I didn't really care much about the way it was celebrated. I don't bother with it in the slightest now.

It's Here !

In 1978 I lived near the Oakland Bowl. So I was slightly below normal then.

I often wonder if there is an Abnormal Conference Center

I think Christmas is great - my wife makes double time!

It's either the 50+ or Clyde Forum.

Looks like the Oakland Bowl got tore down for a Hardee's.

I can stick Terry Gilliam's 'Brazil' in the DVD player, until Central Services
drills a big hole in My ceiling, and gets out the canvas long sleeve coat.

It's called the dinner table?

No sewing notions store?

I think so. Did it used to be on Veterans Parkway (Rte 66) and Oakland?

In my family, it certainly was . Even at Christmas .

Across the Street, and down Eldorado, almost to Lincoln, near State Farm.

Yep. I lived in Broadmoor Apts.

What, it's changed?

Combining grandchildren with Christmas (to the dismay of about half of you people...), my daughter just told me that my 23 mo. old grandson was so happy to have a decorated, live tree in the house that he went up to it and kissed it. Pretty much the way I've always felt.

Since I started out in Indiana and Michigan, not having snow for Christmas is a big thing for me. Apparently, the fake snow we'd spray on windows turned out to be bad for the environment, too. We used to get up early to open presents, but that's changed now, too.

Well, in the more recent years, we have been getting snow in the Bay Area foothills...not that this year is following suit, but still...

it's changed because my wife had a horrible reaction to the Christmas tree last year. We had to put the tree outside on the porch, but we left it fully decorated. Even then, she tried to take some of the ornaments off of it when it was outside and she got sick all over again. So this year we got an artificial tree.

When I was much younger I used to look foreward with great anticipation to a visit from Santa .

Now I look foreward with great anticipation to a visit from the kids.

Santa couldn't stay long, and neither can they.

So is there a sign on the way out of town, "You are now leaving Normal, Thanks for visiting" or does it keep dis-appearing?

It seems like a 'Gotta have' item to me!!

Nope, it just says "Town of Normal" or just "Normal," and population. Then you're in Bloomington .

Still a busy area, over there.

When we used to drive to Arizona to visit my aunt, we passed through a town named Hope. The sign at the far end of town read: "You Are Now Beyond Hope".

Keep an eye open for the Mitsubishi commercial
about their electric car .
It's all filmed in Normal,
looks like a nice place to live .
Our mayor also owns the LBS

Thank you kindly!