Christmas 2010

First of all, congratulations Tianna and Chris and Happy Birthday Nick!

So while my IT guy was rebuilding my computer I decided to do the name draws for Christmas. Welcom to the list Matt and Ti!

Drum roll please…….
Jere has Catherine
Becky has Stephen
Melissa has Amy
Joe has Will
Justin has Matt
Laurie has Tianna
Will has Leah
Trish has Joe
Catherine has Andrea
Chris has Trish
Leah has Jere
Josh has Becky
Andrea has Justin
Stephen has Melissa
Amy has Chris
Matt has Josh
Tianna has Laurie

Whew, we have a lot of people in our family. Remember, the gift limit is $20 (unless you want to make everyone else jealous). Only 217 shopping days ’til Christmas!

Merry Christmas!

OK folks – drum roll please…
Here are the results of the 2009 Christmas Name Draw. (Rest assured these results have been verified by Ernst & Young and a couple of names had to be re-drawn since you can’t draw your spouse.)

Remember, the limit is $20 – happy shopping!

Jere has Catherine
Becky has Amy
Melissa has Andrea
Justin has Jere
Laurie has Melissa (hint – I love calendars with pics of or by kiddies)
Will has Justin
Trish has Leah
Catherine has Laurie
Chris has Trish
Leah has Stephen
Josh has Becky
Andrea has Will
Stephen has Josh
Amy has Chris (welcolme to the family Amy!)

Depp back for new ‘Pirates’ film coming in 2011

Mark your calendars! The following came from AP this afternoon.

By SANDY COHEN, AP Entertainment Writer Sandy Cohen, Ap Entertainment Writer – 1 hr 44 mins ago
ANAHEIM, California – Avast! Disney says a new “Pirates of the Caribbean” film is on the horizon.

Johnny Depp sailed onstage Friday on a pirate ship at the Anaheim Convention Center to help announce the forthcoming installment of Disney’s blockbuster film franchise. He was welcomed with a rousing standing ovation.

Depp will reprise his role as Capt. Jack Sparrow in “Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides,” slated for summer of 2011. It’s the fourth in a series.

Dressed as Sparrow, Depp staggered around the stage and embraced Walt Disney Studios Chairman Dick Cook, who announced the news to about 5,000 fans on hand for the D23 Expo, Disney’s answer to Comic-Con.

“Has anyone else witnessed a talking frog?” Depp’s Sparrow asked the crowd, who had been treated to a performance by the Muppets moments earlier. “Where has the frog gone?”

Cook noted that it was likely time for some rum.

“Sounds good!” Sparrow predictably replied.

In his presentation of upcoming Disney films, Cook also announced that Depp would play Tonto in an upcoming big-screen adaptation of “The Lone Ranger.”

Free Kids Activity at Michael’s for Back-To-School

Saw this in an article today and thought I’d pass it along:
In an effort to get a larger slice of back-to-school business, Michaels Stores is offering parents a special workshop to make personalized pencil cases — something it says comforts kids who are anxious about heading back to the Big House.

The chain will host a free back-to-school event at all U.S. and Canada stores on Aug. 15, offering kids the opportunity to cover their pencil boxes with stickers and paint.

“This has been a big year for do-it-yourself, not just because of the economy but because people want to express themselves by personalizing and creating their own décor, jewelry, clothing, and of course school-related items,” Philo Pappas, EVP/category management for the Irving, Texas-based chain, tells Marketing Daily.

The chain is promoting the event in email blasts, featuring it on both its main Web site, and theknackkids.com and its kids-project site, and using its circulars and in-store materials, as well.

Free Dog – 7/14 Wienerschnitzel Celebrates National Hot Dog Month

Wienerschnitzel is celebtrating National Hot Dog Month tomorrow, Tuesday 7/14, by giving away free chili dogs or ice cream cones at participating locations. Visit www.wienerschnitzel.com for a coupon. Check their store locator to see if the location nearest you is participating. (All of the ones here are).

The Wiener Wagon stopped by the station this morning and gave us all combo meals (ice cream included). I’d forgotten how much I love their corn dogs. But it was a mistake to eat chili fries for second breakfast. I may just give the chili cheese dog to the IT guy in the next office.

Enjoy!

A&W Restaurants Offer Free Floats, 90¢ Burgers

Happy Father’s Day to all you Papas!!

A&W Restaurants are celebrating their 90th anniversary weekend with a Free Float Day on Friday. Between 2 p.m. and 8 p.m., each customer will be entitled to a free float.

In addition, on Father’s Day, the chain will offer dads a 90¢ Papa Burgers (double-patty burgers with “Papa sauce”).

Founded in 1919, A&W All-American Food, based in Louisville, Kentucky, is the longest-running QSR franchise chain in America. The chain famous for its root beer floats has approximately 360 outlets in the U.S., more than 260 in nine other countries, and more than 620 additional points of distribution in multi-brand restaurants.

To find the store nearest you, go to
http://www.awrestaurants.com/storelocator/Default.aspx

Star Trek

So even if you’re not a Star Trek fan, you should check out the new movie. Bones was always my favorite character and this movies just re-inforces it. I think they did a good job casting the original crew (who knew the kid playing Kirk was the son of the guy who played the sargeant in CHIPS?). Throw in a few familiar quotes, a precocious little boy, ILM special effects and two Spocks and who needs more? I’m glad Joe suggested we watch it on the IMAX screen. IMAX is the way to see this movie, but you definitely need a big screen to watch this one. Now I just need to see Wolverine!