I am riding the Polar Express today!

No, NOT the new animated movie, but rather, the Grand Canyon Railway's annual holiday train ride, which runs from now until just before xmas.

We leave at night, using one of our steam locomotives, and while the story is read on each car, cocoa is served. When we arrive at the North Pole (Grand Canyon Depot), Santa comes on board and hands out presents.

The bonus is, I woke up to snow today, so that will fit the festive mood. :D

many people that love it...

Don't want you stinking.

I am a corporate lackey by day, and getting some serious OT helping the train workers behind the scenes tonight. I will smell fine. ;-)

You are living up to your word I see making your community and life better. Good for you Mr. Zomby Thespian. Have a wonderful time.

Then the GOP Terraists have won. ;-)

Screw 'em... my life is MINE, and they won't own my anger, nor can they squeeze one single drop of FEAR from me like they do for so much of the Amerikkkan electorate. And from a few so-called liberal DUers, who fret about concentration camps and such... :eyes:

Others can flog the corpse and obsess with their petty hatreds, tinfoil masturbation, and futile windmill attacks... I have higher, more fertile ground to seek. My life will be happier than most of theirs.

There was always a reason Sancho Panza was my man.

completely. Myself, I must flog on. Tis my nature I suppose but my flogging takes on a new theme. Solutions, working on solutions. Peace, love and acceptance are there they just must be nurtured. That is my job now. Be happy.

Unless I see you in GD posting threads in ALL CAPS, BREATHLESSLY PANTING that we can force that recount and get Kerry sworn in!

Or not seeing the writing on the wall that TWO consecutive bogus elections is the official death knell for whatever it is we were seeking. Which no 3 people on the left can agree on, as the primaries attested.

I cautioned DU 2 years ago the lessons George Orwell painfully learned in Catalonia. I didn't expect an impact... this is after all, just a message board.

America is a conservative country, and that sad fact cannot be undone by pretending or wishing otherwise.

I do think the fight is important, not as much for Kerry but to keep people aware of what is going on. This all happened way too long ago and under our very eyes and it is set in stone for the foreseeable future I am afraid. However, just in case you are interested in a shot at positive influence I am trying to start a group...http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=104&topic_id=2685

No big deal, just a way to stay in and try some positive action. I disagree about this country being that conservative, I think it is out of all of our control so we will really never know. Just my 2 cents.

Or we wouldn't have the progressives fighting so pointlessly for what other modern democracies take for granted, like universal health care, etc... The nativist streak runs deep, and goes beyond just mere conservatism. A nation that glorifies the 'rugged individual' and believes in the myth of the 'free market' has already consented to corporate rule and to hell with 'we the people'. If this isn't a conservative country, it IS shortsighted, ignorant, and willing to be led by the nose. After all, if 2000 was close to steal, then the country is close enough to be too conservative.

I won't be taking part in any of those new groups, even the ones I like in theory (the child-free one is attractive, but I really don't feel strongly enough about it to think I can add anything of worth to it). I can piss in the DU wind just fine as is. ;-)

To me that is it in a nutshell. See you later and do have a good time.

You make me proud! :D

wish I could go too.


:hug:

But Kiko is entranced by the dusting, lol. :D

might be funny to let him paw at it and see his reaction.

where's my breakfast? :evilgrin:

:o

I may even consider it for 3 meals a day ya know. :P

I read that one to students for years, until it became too popular and well-known.

I had a Christmas-Eve tradition with my boys when they were kids; every year, before bedtime, I would read them a christmas/yule/winter/related story. Every morning, their stocking would contain something from the story. When I read Polar Express to them in 1985, there was, of course, a silver bell in the stocking and some cocoa by the tree as we gathered Christmas morning.

Just simple, unadorned sleigh bells, which would make a great ornament. :-)

my grandson. So far, we've never been with him at Christmas; he's always with his mother and her family. That may be different this year; almost 5 is a great age for story time and silver bell in the stocking!

If we don't have him, he'll be out your direction. This would not be a happy situation, for many reasons, so I'll hope you don't get to be neighbors yet!

Have a great time Zomby. :hi:

Plan it early in the year, because it sells out fast... this week we sold the last tickets.

It's very affordable... $20.00 per adult, $8.00 per child up to age 16. It's the plane fare here that would be pricey.

You can ONLY book our regular trips on the web, and NOT the Polar, but info here:

http://www.thetrain.com