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Monday, December 24, 2007
Santa’s Sweatshop
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Been sneered by a salesperson while Christmas shopping?
According to a statement released by the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union, that could be because salespeople this season are overworked and sometimes under-trained.
Late store closings, and in some cases 24-hour operations, mean fewer staffers working longer hours.
Have you seen or experienced any evidence of salesclerk burnout?
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Holiday music played in musicians homes
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
In his early years as Phalon Alexander, Atlanta producer-singer-rapper Jazze Pha (above) remembers Donny Hathaway and Nat King Cole being played in the family living room during the holiday season. “Made me feel all warm and fuzzy,” he recalls. “Still does.”
T-Pain, born Faheem Najm, is Muslim, “so the holidays to other people sounded like every other day in our house,” said the Grammy-nominated singer-rapper-producer. ” We didn’t really celebrate that.”
Fellow local talent Usher, on the other hand, says “all of the classics were going at Christmas when I was growing up. My mom was playing the Temptations, Donny Hathaway, all of that.”
And what are the first holidays like at the Raymonds this year- with their first child at that? “Maaann, we can’t find an interior decorator. So we’re basically just like singing ‘Kumbaya’ my Lord, eating on the floors. I’m like ‘OK, I can’t get mad at [his new bride Tameka], because she just had a baby.’ But there’s like a big tree sitting in the middle of the room — not decorated.”
Sound that much different than the holidays in your house, growing up? What about now - is there a certain song or CD you have to have going when you’re unwrapping gifts? And is there a particular tune - say, “A Charlie Brown Christmas” - that instantly takes you back to your childhood?
What kind of Christmas shopper are you?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Alright folks. We’re heading into the home stretch with Christmas… tomorrow! Yikes!
And it seems like around every corner in every store, a great new gift greets you as you try to head toward the cashier.
That’s when you start to ask yourself, “That is adorable. I know someone could use it.” Possibly, you buy it thinking you’ll be able to give to someone next year.
So, which kind of shopper are you?
Are you the kind who makes a Christmas list and for some unknown reason, it never feels like it’s finished, even when you’ve bought for each person listed?
Or are you the kind of shopper that makes a list, checks it twice and sticks to it? Me, personally, I stick to the list, but I have to admit, it usually never feels finished.
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Dear Santa: Bring our troops home safely
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Dear Santa:
I know it’s been some time since I wrote, and you probably don’t get too many letters from 51-year-old guys, but I have a tall order this year and I can use all the help I can get.
One reason I haven’t written lately is because I’ve hit that age where it doesn’t take a lot of stuff for me to be happy. Don’t get me wrong - I like seeing my name on those boxes under the tree - but sometimes less truly is more. Or at least OK.
Anyway, what I want this year came to me during a trip to the airport last week. I had a little over and hour to kill, so I got a newspaper, grabbed a soda, and settled in with the crossword puzzle. And that’s when it happened.
Around the corner I heard someone making some pronouncement in a loud voice. I heard something about Iraq and Afghanistan, and my first thought was some nut was using the captive audience in the atrium to make a political statement.
But then I heard really loud cheers, applause and whistles, which the nut cases usually don’t get. When I looked around the corner I saw a large contingent of Army soldiers walking through, headed to their departure gate. The loud voice belonged to a veteran now working with the USO, and he wanted to make sure those brave American heroes did not leave home without a proper send off.
The soldiers looked like any other travelers making their way through the terminal on a business trip. Except their way of dressing for success was desert camo. And instead of brief cases they carried canvas duffels. And no one was going to make sure business would be done in time to get them home for the holidays.
And that’s where you come in, Santa. What I want doesn’t even have to show up Christmas morning. What I want is for all those soldiers to come home in one piece, and for good. I want them to get back to the business of being fathers and mothers, husbands and wives, brothers and sisters, and sons and daughters.
So that’s it. Hope I’ve stayed on your “nice” list through the years and rest assured Mrs. Osterman will put out her usual four-star, preemo cookie plate Christmas Eve. I know I’m asking a lot, but it’s what I want. No new golf clubs or big-screen plasma HD TV or hotsy-totsy wristwatch.
And I hope I’m not the only one asking for this.
