Licking County Courthouse Lighting

SANTA VISITS LICKING COUNTY & TURNS ON THE COURTHOUSE LIGHTS

One of the best reason to have Thanksgiving Day in Licking County is because on the next day, Santa Clause arrives to the County Courthouse and kicks off the Christmas Season by helping all the children turn on the decoration lights of our historic courthouse.

For an hour prior to Santa's arrival on NFD Tower One, Christmas songs by local artist and children's choirs prepares everyone for Santa's arrival.

Our family has not missed a year, standing in front of Cornell Clothing with owners Robin and Judy Pierce to watch hundreds of people enter downtown Newark for the official start of Licking County's Christmas Season.

The expense of this lighting is due to the many generous contributions by citizens, the annual Downtown Car Show in September and the Downtown Merchants Association. Make sure to shop downtown Newark and take an evening to drive around the Courthouse Square to view the decorations. It will surely bring some Christmas Spirit to you and it's free!

JENNY LANNING MADE US TURN THE CORNER

Holidays with the Guanciale Family are very different. It has always been a good test for boyfriends and girlfriends for myself and my siblings to see if they fit the mark.

Thanksgiving Day dinner for the past 28 plus years was prepared by Skip Salome, all due to my mothers long extended illness and my father's stubbornness to make sure he provided the holiday feast.

Behind closed doors, it was really Jenny Lanning who prepared the meal. All of the details were met from the turkey to the plastic plates. Jenny was always there on Thanksgiving morning when we would pick up the food, it was a part of our Thanksgiving Day. Jenny died on October 31, 2008. Besides leaving this earth too early and many people who knew and loved her, she stranded our Thanksgiving Day meal.

Well Jenny made us turn the corner of which should have been turned many years ago. Chip and Tina did an excellent job with the turkey and 90% of the entire dinner with others bringing pies, salads and wine. Jill brought her Buffalo Wing dip, which please me. We kind of became like most American families on Thanksgiving, we had a lot of major dish washing to do, we did stay around to talk more and the gathering lasted for almost two hours instead of 1.25 hours. I lost my battle of eliminating the family gift exchange due to a slowing economy.

Thanks Jenny, from our family and the many people that have depended on you for wedding receptions, service organization fund raisers etc over the years, we will miss you as I am sure Skip will.

PNB'S MORTGAGE MARKET GUIDE

WHAT DIRECTION WE ARE MOVING

Click here for an excellent newsletter from Park National Bank . I receive every week concerning finance and the economy.

I always look forward to receiving the information and hope you pick up something from it today.

CHRISTMAS SOCKS

I am not worried about the long socks hanging from the mantle for Santa to fill, but worried that someone will buy me socks for Christmas.

The other day I did some shopping for socks and was amazed I could not find the socks that I have worn for 40 years, Gold Toe, to the knee, 90% wool. The socks available were so hideous, I can not believe there are men who would wear such things, but do believe there are mothers and grandmothers who would buy them as gifts.

I found my socks on line and have ordered a supply which should last me the remainder of my life. This was easier than I thought compared to my quest to find a hard knit, dark navy blue Shetland wool sweater. I have always had at least one and wear them often, but I have holes in the elbows and can not find a replacement. I figured a good hard knit Shetland sweater will last me for 12 years, so I will need to buy three so I will covered through age 95. After age 95, the odds are that I will not know the color of sweater I have on besides, nursing homes always have the heat on so high.

Click her for some fashion guidelins on men's socks.

ALTERNATIVE INCOME DURING A TOUGH ECONOMY

Not too many people have figured out, if you work hard and smart, the money will come. Most are like a slow safecracker, time is their number one enemy. Before they know it, there is no money for retirement.

I found this lengthy article on safecracking. I did not know criminals and especially safecrackers had to work so hard and smart to do their illegal job correctly.

If I ever have the chance to meet a real safecracker, I will pat him on the back. He has worked very hard and practiced to establish a real skill and make a some possibly big money.

The odds are he will spend all of his non-taxed income during his early years, fail to save and then become like many others, he will have his retirement subsidized, but in prison.

BEAT MICHIGAN BASH!

BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS OF LICKING & PERRY COUNTY

Once again this organization held their BEAT MICHIGAN BASH at Hopewell Hall on the campus of OSU-Newark and it was a pleasure to be a part of the exciting crowd. Many great items were auctioned to raise funds for this 800 plus volunteer organization helping so many children's life's.

If you are interested in becoming more involved or want to learn more, click here.

TURF WARS

WAR AS THEY KNEW IT by Michael Rosenberg

My sister emailed me last night and suggested to place this book review on my blog.

Two great leaders to be remember this weekend of the "Big Game"