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Wednesday, November 14, 2007
Ready for Black Friday yet?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
According to a recent survey by Maritz Research, members of Gen X & Gen Y are more likely to shop during Black Friday madness.
Maybe they’re the only ones with the patience to endure long lines and crowds.
Do you plan to shop on Black Friday?
What stores will you hit and what promotions are you most excited about? (And don’t forget to tell your age).
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Jingle jam for a good cause
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Looking for a holiday song you haven’t heard a zillion times on the radio already? And one that helps a good cause, no less? Lend an ear.
The song is “Money in a Card,” as in the gift that kids really want for Christmas. The band is the Camp Jam Allstars, a group of teenagers, true amateurs, three of them from metro Atlanta.
You can go on iTunes and buy the song for 99 cents. Proceeds go to the charity Little Kids Rock, a program that provides free instruments and music instruction for public school students.
Camp Jam is a summer music camp for kids that was started in Atlanta by Jeff Carlisi, lead guitarist for .38 Special, that takes young rock-god wannabes and turns them into real rockers (talent permitting). From its start in Atlanta, it has fanned out with franchises. Carlisi co-wrote “Money in a Card” with rockers Liberty DeVito and Derek St. Holmes, both of whom have taught at Camp Jam.
The Allstars are: Niki Frishberg (vocals, Houston, Tx), Chandler Baldwin (vocals, Loganville, Ga), Chris Iorio (guitar, Las Vegas), Matt Ernst (guitar, Auburn, Al), Reeth Dasgupta (bass, Atlanta) and Rod Allred (drums, Atlanta).
And they are ready to rock. You can watch the Youtube video here.
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It’s time for ‘Santa’ talk? It can’t be! Not already!
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Every Friday in my daughter Shannon’s second-grade class, the kids are required to write a brief note or letter home to their family telling us about the past week. They write about whatever it was that week that stood out to them. The parents are then to write a note back in response.
In the past, it has been very easy, as the subject matter has been things such as the animals of Australia or a book they read in class. Then this week we got the following note from Shannon:
Dear Family,
I wish you guys could just wave your wand and make it November 25th because then it would be my birthday and I would get presents. The thing I want the most is that pony thing. You know what I am talking about but you won’t buy it for me so I will just ask Santa Claus but I won’t tell my friends because most people in my class don’t believe in Santa so I will just keep that to myself.
Love,
Shannon
How do we respond to this?
She is not yet even 8 years old, and she already has to hide her belief of Santa to save face with her classmates.
My wife and I have talked a bit about how to handle this, but I know neither of us wants her to lose this belief already.
Our reasons are primarily selfish, no doubt about it. It seems like just yesterday we got to the point where she truly understood who Santa was and got excited about it. The weeks leading up to Christmas the excitement developed — barely contained with each toy catalog she browsed or with each viewing of “The Polar Express.”
We got about three years of this. It isn’t enough. Not for me or any parent.
Not to mention, is there any greater power a parent wields than looking your child in the eyes and saying, “Santa is coming, so you better be good”? By just uttering this simple reminder, we have the ability to instantly settle a fight with her brother, or get her to behave herself while we are running errands.
More than that, can there ever be harm in having a child believe that there is a person in this world who’s sole motivation is to reward boys and girls just for being good?
But can we really continue to keep our child holding on to a belief that other kids already know is false — at the expense of possibly being teased?
If my memory serves me correctly, I was in second grade when my mom told me there was no Santa. My mom said other kids my age already knew, and she didn’t want me to hear it from them.
I already had doubts. I grew up with three older brothers, so making it anywhere close to second grade while still believing in Santa was a miracle in and of itself.
We know it’s time to have the Santa talk with Shannon. But I wonder if this will be the end of her implicit trust in Mommy and Daddy. At her age, most arguments are won and lost simply with the statement, “my Mommy and Daddy said so.” Regardless of what proof the other kid may have, the greater authority is Mommy and Daddy. She has already had exchanges with kids who refuse to believe that there really is a number “googol.” She even knows it is a 1 followed by 100 zeros, thanks to me.
I knew this day would come, it just didn’t seem like it would be this soon.
At least I know that, regardless of whether it is Santa or Mommy and Daddy bringing the presents, she will always be excited on Christmas Eve.
I have never lost that feeling. Maybe that is what I have to hold on to.
Even without the jolly fat guy, it will still be the best time of the year for her and for me.
Jim Costelloe is a husband and father of two who lives in Suwanee and works in the commercial mortgage industry.
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Give fall decorating its due
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
There are still some of us who are a little concerned over the way Christmas has all but eclipsed the fall holidays in the decorating department.
Christmas trees were up in stores before Halloween. Garland is already wrapped around street lamp poles. Call me old fashioned, but I like to give each holiday its due, in its own time.
So, during the run up to Thanksgiving it’s nice to decorate the front porch with an assortment of beautiful heirloom pumpkins and gourds, and, if there’s room, a dried cornstalk or two.
But what I want to know is, where are the pumpkin patches and the pumpkin lots that have the best heirloom selection? Not just the traditional, Charlie-Brown orange ones, but ones shaped like Cinderella’s carriage or plump, ghost-white clouds, or funky, speckled green ones that crane like a goose’s neck.
After Thanksgiving is over, some of them make fabulous pies. So where are the places with the best selections? And what else do you do to decorate for Turkey Day?
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Not another gift list - really
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The holiday season seems to start earlier every year. For instance, there are already department store Santas hard at work here in Atlanta.
So you don’t need to be a psychic to predict that I’ll be writing soon about high tech holiday gifts. But not just yet. Today we’ll talk about the holidays, but we’ll leave gifts for another day.
That’s because there are things you need to do to prepare for the season that do not involve buying iPods, telescopes, laptop computers and high-tech toys.
Batteries
Boy, you’re going to need them.
Most of us use digital cameras now and this is definitely picture taking season. Many families will also need batteries for holiday gifts. I think of the battery as one of the most important - yet unsung - heroes of high tech any time of the year. But it is especially true now.
Pick up several large packs of AA and AAA batteries. I’m suggesting the regular alkaline batteries since they have an excellent shelf life. If you store them unused they easily last a year and manufacturers claim shelf lives of up to three years.
Also, buy alkaline batteries for flashlights and fluorescent camping lanterns since, besides joy, the season also brings the possibility of ice storms that take down power lines.
If you already have rechargeable batteries make sure that they still take a good charge. As you have undoubtedly learned, rechargeables eventually die. If you don’t have rechargeable batteries, then it’s a good idea to buy some in both AA and AAA sizes as well as a recharger.
Keep in mind that rechargeables are fine for digital cameras and even toys. But they should never be used in a smoke alarm (they don’t hold a charge long enough) and they’re poor choices for other high tech devices that draw tiny amounts of current.
For instance, don’t use a rechargeable battery in a TV remote control (you’ll spend too much time removing and charging the batteries) or in a high tech thermostat like the one in my home that uses three AA batteries. For those uses, dig into your pack of alkaline batteries.
Digital cameras
This is also the time of year when your camera will get a workout. And that time starts well before Christmas morning. Invitations to the first parties and gatherings, at least among the folks I know, are already being sent out.
So this is a good time to make sure your camera is in good working condition. And, for the few and the lucky who can afford to spend a little extra money this year, it’s a good time to consider replacing digital cameras that are more than two years old.
In the last couple of years, the quality and reliability of digital cameras has zoomed up. If you have an old camera and can afford to replace it, do it now. By getting it now you’ll have time to get used to the way it works and do a better job of taking pictures of special moments.
A life-saving suggestion
There’s a ritual around my house, tied to this time of the year, that makes great sense. During the fall we replace all the batteries in smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors. Tying the replacements to a season makes it easier to remember.
And since many tragic fires occur during the winter, it’s important that these detectors be in good working order.
You’ll notice that I mentioned a carbon monoxide detector. Out-of-whack heating units can produce deadly carbon monoxide. It’s important that you get your heating system checked.
But it’s also essential that you install a good carbon monoxide detector - the stakes are too high to ignore this. You’ll find them in most stores that sell fire detectors, such as places like Home Depot, Lowes and other home centers.
That’s it for today. If you were yearning for some gift notions, don’t worry. With these preliminaries out of the way there’ll be plenty of time for me to come up with some great lists.
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