Friday, October 17, 2014

2014 Christmas Stamps

I went online to buy some stamps today and they FINALLY had photos of the Rudolph Christmas stamps. I was waiting for that final release before sharing them with you. As usual, they have a variety to appeal to everyone, but if you still have a favorite from years past, you can purchase most of those from the online store. Don't procrastinate, buy early and mark one more thing off your To Do list!

 Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
On the evening of December 6, 1964, families sat down to watch a new TV show for the first time: an animated special called Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. It featured the voice of Burl Ives as Sam, a singing snowman, who narrates the tale of a misfit reindeer who finds his own special way to shine. The hour-long show went on to become not only the longest-running and highest-rated Christmas special in TV history, but also a beloved holiday tradition.  
Issue Date: November 6, 2014

Winter Fun
Winter days can be a wonderful time to appreciate the great outdoors with friends and loved ones. Drawing on nostalgic images of snowy childhoods, the Winter Fun stamps can be used not only to convey the joyful spirit of the holiday season and the new year, but also to send cheerful greetings for any occasion all winter long. Each stamp is sure to add a welcome splash of warmth to letters and cards during the year’s coldest months.  
Issue Date: October 23, 2014


Christmas Magi (Not available online yet to link)
The Christmas Maji Stamp celebrates the tale of the Three Wise Men from the east who came bearing gifts for Jesus. The stamp art depicts the Magi riding camels, moving through the desert at dawn, guided by a large, dazzling star.  
Issue Date: November 19, 2014

Global Silver Bells Wreath
In 2014, the U.S. Postal Service® celebrates the winter holidays internationally with a new Forever® stamp, Global Holiday: Silver Bells Wreath. This is the second issuance in the Global Holiday series.

An elegant wreath of silver bells graces this round holiday stamp. The circle of densely packed bells is arranged against a deep green background, with a rich red bow anchored at the top of the wreath. The words “Forever” and “USA” and the date “2014” surround the wreath in gray type. The word “Global” is highlighted in red at the bottom of the stamp.  

Issue Date: October 23, 2014



Thursday, October 16, 2014

Christmas From Heaven: The Candy Bomber Story




I was jumping around on YouTube today, watching various things and ended up at the Mormon Tabernacle Choir page watching various Christmas performances. Having one listed with Tom Brokaw caught my attention and I was curious. What I wasn't expecting was a full on cry fest at the end of this segment. Talk about touching and honored to have such a great man represent the United States.

Several things crossed my mind as I was watching and then pondering after the fact. First, my daughter. I knew I had to share this story with her. What a great, fun spirited thing he did. A quote in the video really touches on something I've always tried to instill in my daughter. "From Little Things, Come Big Things". With small deeds and love, people really can change the world.

Next, I realize just how much I have a fondness for Tom Brokaw. I grew up listening to him on the news, as did everyone else, but I really grew a new level of respect for him as an adult, when he authored the book "The Greatest Generation". At the time, I didn't purchase the book, but in the past year or two, I picked a copy up at the thrift store to add to my personal history collection. It's still sitting on the shelf, unread, but has now become a new priority.

When I watched the follow up interview and realized Gail Halvorsen was from Utah, my mind instantly wondered and then assumed he was a Latter Day Saint. Then I recalled that in the movie trailer for Meet The Mormons they said one of the members highlighted was a WWII vet. Sure enough, it was Mr. Halvorsen and they couldn't have picked a greater representation of what it means to be a Mormon.

I hope you enjoy this as much as I did. I warn you, after reading comments, apparently I wasn't the only one who cried during the last 5 minutes.








There are also various books telling the story of the Candy Bomber. Here are a few of those publications.








Monday, October 13, 2014

Time to Get your TV Spook On!

Halloween season is in full swing. Not only do I love the colors of Fall, but I love seeing a world full of Bats, Witches, Skulls, Owls and Zombies. If you want to bring a little of that fun, family friendly spook factor into your home, here are a few Halloween TV specials I'm looking forward to.

This Wednesday the 15th, ABC will be airing both Toy Story of Terror and the classic It's The Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown. Toy Story of Terror was a TV short released last year that I missed, so I will have the DVR set and ready to record.








ABC Family will kick off it's 13 Night of Halloween on the 19th, so here is a preview of that.




For fans of the series The Good Witch, I have good news. First, a new movie The Good Witch's Wonder will premier October 25th and secondly, the Hallmark Channel has picked up the "Good Witch" TV series and it is set to premier in 2015. I think Hallmark is doing a good thing, by bringing in more TV series. I'm really enjoying them.



For fans of outdoor decorating, the makers of The Great Christmas Light Fight, are bringing you The Great Halloween Fright Fight. This will will air on October 28th on ABC. 

The possibilities are limitless, depending on your taste. Even the History Channel, The Food Network, Turner Classic Movie and the Travel Channel have Halloween specials. I still need to do a search myself and see what catches my fancy. I'm a big fan of the Food War Specials, so I'm sure that will be one of them. 

If spookier is your preference, the AMC channel will begin airing it's Fright Fest schedule on Friday the 17th. Want to watch a marathon of some of the classic horror/slasher series, this is the place to find them. 

Friday, Oct. 17
9 a.m. ET – “Graveyard Shift” (1990)
11 a.m. ET – “Silver Bullet” (1985)
1 p.m. ET – “Thinner” (1996)
3 p.m. ET – “Cujo” (1983)
5 p.m. ET – “Dreamcatcher” (2003)
8 p.m. ET – “Firestarter” (1984)
10:30 p.m. ET – “Children of the Corn” (1984)

Saturday, Oct. 18
2:30 a.m. ET – “Riding the Bullet” (1984)
6 a.m. ET – “Cujo” (1983)
8 a.m. ET – “Children of the Corn” (1984)
10 a.m. ET – “Tremors” (1990)
12 p.m. ET – “Tremors 2: Aftershocks” (1996)
2:15 p.m. ET – “Tremors 3: Back to Perfection” (2001)
4:45 p.m. ET – “Tremors 4: The Legend Begins” (2004)
7:15 p.m. ET “Tremors” (1990)
9:15 p.m. ET – “Tremors 2: Aftershocks” (1996)
11:30 p.m. ET “Tremors 3: Back to Perfection” (2001)

Sunday, Oct. 19
2 a.m. ET – “Tremors 4: The Legend Begins” (2004)
4:30 a.m. ET – “Creation of the Humanoids” (1962)
6 a.m. ET – “Candyman: Farewell to the Flesh” (1995)
8 a.m. ET – “The Howling” (1981)
10 a.m. ET – “Pumpkinhead” (1988)
12 p.m. ET – “Child’s Play 2” (1990)
2 p.m. ET – “Child’s Play 3” (1991)
4 p.m. ET – “Bride of Chucky” (1998)
6 p.m. ET – “Seed of Chucky” (2004)

Monday, Oct. 20
9 a.m. ET – “Friday the 13th” (1980)
11 a.m. ET – “Friday the 13th, Part 2” (1981)
1 p.m. ET – “Friday the 13th, Part 3” (1982)
3 p.m. ET – “Friday the 13th, Part 4” (1984)
5 p.m. ET – “Friday the 13th” (1980)
7 p.m. ET – “Friday the 13th, Part 2” (1981)
9 p.m. ET – “Friday the 13th, Part 3” (1982)
11 p.m. ET – “Friday the 13th, Part 4” (1984)

Tuesday, Oct. 21
1 a.m. ET – “Friday the 13th, Part 5” (1985)
3 a.m. ET – “Friday the 13th, Part 6: Jason Lives” (1986)
5 am. ET – “War of the Colossal Beast” (1958)
9 a.m. ET – “Friday the 13th, Part 4” (1984)
11 a.m. ET – “Friday the 13th, Part 5” (1985)
1 p.m. ET – “Friday the 13th, Part 6: Jason Lives” (1986)
3 p.m. ET – “Friday the 13th, Part 8: Jason Takes Manhattan” (1989)
5:15 p.m. ET – “Jason Goes to Hell: The Final Friday” (1993)
7:15 p.m. ET – “Jason X” (2001)
9:15 p.m. ET – “Friday the 13th” (2009)
11:15 p.m. ET – “Friday the 13th” (1980)
Wednesday, Oct. 22
1:15 a.m. ET – “Friday the 13th, Part 2” (1981)
3:15 a.m. ET – “Friday the 13th, Part 3” (1982)
5:15 a.m. ET – “Violent Midnight” (1963)
5:30 a.m. ET – “Corridors of Blood” (1958)
5:45 a.m. ET – “Invasion of the Neptune Men” (1961)
9 a.m. ET – “Slaughter of the Vampires” (1962)
9:15 a.m. ET – “Invasion of the Neptune Men” (1961)
9:30 a.m. ET – “How to Make a Monster” (1958)
9:45 a.m. ET – “The Funhouse” (1981)
12 p.m. ET – “Freddy’s Dead: The Final Nightmare” (1991)
2 p.m. ET – “The Fog” (1980)
4 p.m. ET – “Survival of the Dead” (2009)
6 p.m. ET – “Land of the Dead” (2005)
8 p.m. ET – “Lake Placid” (1999)
10 p.m. ET – “House on Haunted Hill” (1999)

Thursday, Oct. 23
12 a.m. ET – “Return to House on Haunted Hill” (2007)
1:45 a.m. ET – “An American Werewolf in Paris” (1997)
4 a.m. ET – “Puppetmaster” (1989)
9 a.m. ET – “Eight Legged Freaks” (2002)
11:30 a.m. ET – “Lake Placid” (1999)
1:30 p.m. ET – “Cujo” (1983)
3:30 p.m. ET – “I Know What You Did Last Summer” (1997)
6 p.m. ET – “Thirteen Ghosts” (2001)
8 p.m. ET – “A Nightmare on Elm Street” (2010)
10 p.m. ET – “Ghost Ship” (2002)

Friday, Oct. 24
12 a.m. ET – “Scream 3” (2000)
2:30 a.m. ET – “Deep Blue Sea” (1999)
9 a.m. ET – “Scream 3” (2000)
11:30 a.m. ET – “Ghost Ship” (2002)
1:30 p.m. ET – “Firestarter” (1984)
6:30 p.m. ET – “Damien: Omen II” (1978)
9 p.m. ET – “Omen III: The Final Conflict” (1981)

Saturday, Oct. 25
1:30 a.m. ET – “Hide and Seek” (2005)
6 a.m. ET – “Graveyard Shift” (1990)
8 a.m. ET – “Christine” (1983)
10 a.m. ET – “Friday the 13th” (2009)
12 p.m. ET – “A Nightmare on Elm Street” (2010)
2 p.m. ET – “Child’s Play 2” (1990)
4 p.m. ET – “Child’s Play 3” (1991)
6 p.m. ET – “Bride of Chucky” (1998)
8 p.m. ET – “Seed of Chucky” (2004)
10 p.m. ET – “Child’s Play 2” (1990)
Sunday, Oct. 26
12 a.m. ET – “Child’s Play 3” (1991)
2 a.m. ET – “Bride of Chucky (1998)
4 a.m. ET – “Seed of Chucky” (2004)
6 a.m. ET – “The Crow: City of Angels” (1996)
7:45 a.m. ET – “Tremors” (1990)
9:45 a.m. ET – “Tremors 2: Aftershocks” (1996)
12 p.m. ET – “Tremors 3: Back to Perfection” (2001)
2:30 p.m. ET – “Tremors 4: The Legend Begins” (2004)
5 p.m. ET – “Tremors” (1990)

Monday, Oct. 27
9 a.m. ET – “War of the Colossal Beast” (1958)
10 a.m. ET – “Riding the Bullet” (2004)
12 p.m. ET – “Dreamcatcher” (2003)
3 p.m. ET – “Ghost Ship (2002)
5 p.m. ET – “House on Haunted Hill” (1999)
7 p.m. ET – “Halloween” (1978)
9 p.m. ET – “Halloween II” (1981)
11 p.m. ET – “Halloween” (1978)

Tuesday, Oct. 28
1 a.m. ET – “Thirteen Ghosts” (2001)
3 a.m. ET – “Dreamcatcher” (2003)
9 a.m. ET – “Thinner” (1996)
11 a.m. ET – “Lake Placid” (1999)
1 p.m. ET – “Friday the 13th” (2009)
3 p.m. ET – “Tremors” (1990)
5 p.m. ET – “Pumpkinhead” (1988)
7 p.m. ET – “Halloween II” (1981)
9 p.m. ET – “Halloween III: Season of the Witch” (1982)
11 p.m. ET – “Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers” (1988)

Wednesday, Oct. 29
1 a.m. ET – “Child’s Play 2” (1990)
3 a.m. ET – “Child’s Play 3” (1991)
11 a.m. ET – “A Nightmare on Elm Street” (2010)
1 p.m. ET – “Children of the Corn” (1984)
3 p.m. ET – “Bride of Chucky” (1998)
5 p.m. ET – “Seed of Chucky” (2004)
7 p.m. ET – “Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers” (1988)
9 p.m. ET – “Halloween 5: The Revenge of Michael Myers” (1989)
11 p.m. ET – “Halloween 6: The Curse of Michael Myers” (1995)

Thursday, Oct. 30
1 a.m. ET – “Ghoulies” (1984)
3 a.m. ET – “Ghoulies II” (1988)
5 a.m. ET – “Creation of the Humanoids” (1962)
5:15 a.m. ET – “Violent Midnight” (1963)
5:30 a.m. ET – “How to Make a Monster” (1958)
5:45 a.m. ET – “Slaughter of the Vampires” (1962)
9 a.m. ET – “Halloween” (1978)
11 a.m. ET – “Halloween II” (1981)
1 p.m. ET – “Halloween III: Season of the Witch” (1982)
3 p.m. ET – “Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers” (1988)
5 p.m. ET – “Halloween 5: The Revenge of Michael Myers” (1989)
7 p.m. ET – “Halloween 6: The Curse of Michael Myers” (1995)
9 p.m. ET – “Halloween” (1978)
11 p.m. ET – “Halloween II” (1981)

Friday, Oct. 31
1 a.m. ET – “Halloween III: Season of the Witch” (1982)
3 a.m. ET – “Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers” (1988)
5 a.m. ET – “Slaughter of the Vampires” (1962)
5:30 a.m. ET – “Invasion of the Neptune Men” (1961)
5:45 a.m. ET – “War of the Colossal Beast” (1958)
9 a.m. ET – “Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers” (1988)
11 a.m. ET – “Halloween 5: The Revenge of Michael Myers” (1989)
1 p.m. ET – “Halloween 6: The Curse of Michael Myers” (1995)
3 p.m. ET – “Halloween” (1978)
5 p.m. ET – “Halloween II” (1981)
7 p.m. ET – “Halloween III: Season of the Witch” (1982)
9 p.m. ET – “Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers” (1988)