As we come to the close of this year, I would like to reflect back and think about all of the changes that 2008 has brought.

My personal life has changed in some ways; but then again, not so much. I still have the same job and live in the same house and drive the same car. But I also became a published author and poet this year. And although, like many other authors, it hasn’t brought me a lot of financial success, it has brought me immense personal satisfaction. I also started writing on this web site this year, and I have enjoyed it very much.

I so have enjoyed all of the beautiful pictures and stories on www.TodaysPhoto.org site. Thanks to all of the wonderful photographers who have made this site possible. Rick, you’re the best and you know I love you. Cheria, you have captured some of the most precious moments. Thanks for sharing them. Ron Trees has submitted some wonderful pictures for us to enjoy. And I certainly would be remiss without mentioning the beautiful work of Winston Rockwell. W-O-W – His pictures take my breath away!  What a great way to start your morning! Thanks to all of you wonderful photographers who have made this site possible.

I hope the next year will be better for the economy. This past year has seen prices at the pump ridiculously high, and grocery items have followed suit. “The little man’s back ” has been broken this year by escalating prices. Mr. Obama wanted a chance to change things, and now he has that chance. I hope his actions can back up his words. He has a big job ahead of him, and I hope he is up to the challenge.

No matter what happens to the world at large, I hope 2009 is a wonderful year for all of you personally. And you continue to grow and prosper throughout the new year. A very happy New Year to all of you!

I wish for all of you a very Merry Christmas filled with all of the wonderful things of the season. I hope your Christmas Stockings are filled with all of the goodies you truly wanted. But most of all I hope you get to be with those you love to celebrate the true meaning of Christmas. The birth of our Saviour.

A very Merry Christmas to you all!

This morning I read the cutest sign on the back of a pick-up, and I just had to share it with you. It read:No longer shall we be called hillbilly rednecks. Henceforth we shall be known as Appalachian-American.

I had another book signing last Saturday. And I enjoyed the company very much. My fellow authors were Deanna Snyder, Francis Gray, and Frances Van Landingham.

Deanna Snyder wrote a lovely book of poems called Weed or Flower ? She is in the process of writing a book. Deanna is from Mountain City, TN.

Francis Pauline Morgan Gray wrote a book called Penny and Ripshin Mountain or “Under Mama’s Frozen Green Beans”. She lives in Roan Mountain, TN. If you are interested in ordering her book, you can send a cashiers check or money order for $14.99 plus $4.80 shipping and handling to Francis Gray Attn:Book PO Box 67 Roan Mountain, TN. 37687

Frances Henson Van Landingham has written four books. She lives in a little community called Poga. Her books are now lovingly called “The Poga Set”. She has written Back on Nowhere Road, a cookbook called Puttin up Vittles, Children Will Play, and Appalachian Women-Steel and Velvet. If you would like to order a book from Francis, or the whole Pogie set you can send a check or money order to 812 Poga Road, Butler,TN. 37640. Or you can email her at francymay34@aol.com.

This year things are tight for almost everyone, even Santa.

Santa has been looking at his list and checking it twice to see who has been naughty and nice. And he has had to move some of the less naughty to the nice list because the price of fuel is so high that he just can’t leave all of that coal in all of those stockings this year.

He has asked Mrs. Clause to darn and mend his long johns to make them last a little longer. And to fix his suit so that he can get another year out of it. And Rudolph’s nose isn’t nearly so bright since he had to resort to buying cheaper feed for the reindeer. Then there was that unfortunate “incident” that one of the elves got into, and Santa had to pay all of that hush money to keep it quiet. And he is really afraid that he is going to have to lay a few elves off this year.

The children just don’t understand the shape the economy is in. Their requests for gifts haven’t been scaled back at all. If anything their requests this year are bigger and more extravagant than ever. But they really are just children after all; and Santa dearly does love the children so much and wants to see them happy.

Santa is a proud man and will not ask for help. But if congress can help all of the big corporations with all of this bail-out money, surely they can help a good hard working man like Santa who has worked tirelessly for all of the children without ever asking for anything in return.

So call all of your friends and neighbors and lets all appeal to congress on Santa’s behalf, and see if they will give Santa a good bail-out package this year!

P.S. Author’s note: This is strictly a fictional story and in no way meant to be taken literally.

Can you believe it is December already? And Christmas is just around the corner. The time is flying past in an unusually fast way. Christmas shoppers are out in full force trying to save every penny that they can with early sales.

We have had an unusually cold beginning to winter here in the Northeast. Temperatures have plummeted to freezing, and snow has been falling hard and fast. We have already had almost ” white out” conditions on at least one snow storm already.

I hope it is a fast winter, and spring makes an early appearance this year. We all like a little snow at Christmas time, but other than that, most of us would just as soon see it go. In the mean time we will hope that “Old Man Winter” doesn’t get too comfortable here and wear out his welcome!