Business and Christmas

Building a business, especially a service business, takes a lot of work and effort. At Christmas, when time is at a premium, it takes only a small effort to strengthen loyalty in your customer base.

There are many heat and air-conditioning services around, and when we need one, I think of the one who sends me Christmas cards. (It also helps that he responds quickly and does a good job, but the cards are a nice touch.)

A standard card is nice, but an industry-specific card sends a stronger message. Time is at a premium for the customer, too, so send a card that says Christmas in a way that reminds the customer of your business.

It is still 16 days before Christmas.

Breathe Easier with Christmas Seals

It began in Denmark. A postal worker came up with the idea that a large amount of money could be raised without costing anyone too much. In 1904 the Danes bought four million seal stamps and the funds were used to build two hospitals for children with tuberculosis. It was the beginning of ordinary citizens taking part in the fight against a deadly infectious disease.

Norway and Sweden were impressed and started their own Christmas seal programs.

The United States was impressed and took up the cause. Some officials, however, did not help because they did not like Christmas being associated with such a horrible disease. Support in the US did not come easily, but through perseverance the program took off starting this day in 1907. Canada soon followed suit.

Read the whole story here.

Today, Christmas Seals fight more than tuberculosis , expanding to support the fight against all respiratory diseases. Support the cause, and check out the American Lung Association or browse the designs in the Canadian Lung Association Christmas Seal Gallery beginning in the 1920's.

16 days before Christmas

technorati tags: vickisblog, christmasseals, lungassociation, fundraising, tuberculosis,

Peace on Earth

Twenty-five years ago this week, I was in Hawaii presenting at a trade show. Many old men were there, too, but not to visit the trade show. Rather, to observe the 40th anniversary of the Pearl Harbor attack.

This year, we remember Pearl Harbor 65 years ago, but we add the memory of 9/11 five years ago.

Merry Christmas and Peace on Earth.

18 days before Christmas.

technorati tags: pearlharbor, 9/11, peaceonearth, christmas, peace

NaNoWriMo Update

Early in November, I wrote about the NaNoWriMo contest.

As I was browsing through some blogs this week, I ran across two participants in the National Novel Writers Month contest. First was LA Scene who claimed over 73,000 words in a second year of successful writing. Then tonight I found another, an udge and a wink who won the habit of writing. That is, after all, the stated purpose of the contest.

982, 564, 701 words were logged this year by 79, 813 writers. A Statistics Wrap-up breaks down the results and compares them with last year. It also includes a list of the top 10 regions by word count. It appears the NaNoWriMo contest was a big success.

Curious about what participants wrote? Take a peek.

20 days before Christmas

20 20 days before Christmas

technorati tags: nanowrimo, nationalnovelwritingmonth, winningarticles, toptenregions

Albert Camus Quotes

Albert Camus (1913-1960) was a favorite author when I was in high school. He was a Nobel Prize winning French author and philosopher who cared more about people than ideology. My favorite book was The Fall.

Some quotes:

“’Freedom is nothing but a chance to be better.”

“In the depth of winter I finally learned that there was in me an invincible summer.”

“We are all special cases.”

“Nobody realizes that some people expend tremendous energy merely to be normal.”

And, for the writer in those of us who blog:
“Those who write clearly have readers, those who write obscurely have commentators.”

21 days before Christmas

technorati tags: albertcamus, nobelprizewinner, christmas, quotes, vickisblog

Preparing for Christmas

Time to get ready for Christmas. Of course you know that because it's everywhere -- advertisements for gifts to buy, decorations for the house, inside and out, Christmas specials on TV, Santa in the mall, charities asking for help, and children saying, "I want that."

December, apprpriately, is Stress-Free Family Holiday Month. Here is an article suggestion ways parents can minimize stress during the hectic holidays. Scroll down to Related Articles, especially Tips for a stress-free holiday which talks about setting priorities and controlling your time. Below those links are related topics for suggested activities, games, shopping hints, and more.

When all of the holiday chaos is all around you, don't let it infect your family. Take a deep breath or two, relax, and enjoy the season.

It is 22 days before Christmas.

technorati tags: stress-freefamilyholidaymonth, vickisblog

Apples and Pie

It is Eat a Red Apple Day and National Pie Day. But I have conflicting information. I find these days listed as Dec. 1 and again on Dec. 2. I am so confused.

For Eat a Red Apple Day, I find a reference to the apple page, but that has apple crafts, and the apple doesn't seem too appetizing after being dipped in paint. Hmmm . . .

For National Pie Day, I find a reference to a home cooking page linking to 50 exotic pie recipes, from Abracadaquiri Strawberry Pie to Yoghurt Pie. But the Honey Apple Pie is not even made with red apples.

To add to my confusion, the American Pie Council says National Pie Day is not until January 23rd! So I don't know what special day it is today.

I do know it is 23 days until Christmas.

I think I'll go eat an apple.

technorati tags: eataredappleday, applecrafts, nationalpieday, pierecipes, americanpiecouncil, christmas

Day 1 -- Christmas Month

Rest easy, sleep well my brothers.
Know the line was held, your job is done.
Rest easy, sleep well.
Others have taken up where you fell, the line was held.
Peace, peace, and farewell. . .

Worcester Wreath Co. of Harrington, Maine, donates 5000 wreaths yearly since 1992. MerrillWorcester, the company owner, provides the wreaths and covers the trucking expenses. Most years, Maine school kids help with this event and enjoy an educational trip to the nation's capitol. Harrington is in one of the poorest parts of the state.

technorati tags: christmas, wreath, arlingtoncemetery, maine,