YouTube have blocked the video in some countries because of the music used, if you can’t see it try this:
Have a lovely day tomorrow everyone - or today, if you’re one of our Australian or New Zealand friends!
I just want to thank you all for keeping me company on this amazing journey. So many highs, so many lows, it’s been a bumpy ride. But on the bad days we’ve raised each others’ spirits, and I can never ever thank you enough for that.
You make me think, learn, smile, laugh, cry, the whole lot, I’m richer for knowing you all. You’re just the very loveliest bunch of people.
My heart goes out to those of you who have lost loved ones in the last year or two, I know Christmas will be desperately lonely for you. If you ever need a friend, drop in here - you’ll always find support. And take good care of yourself.
Wishing you all good health and happiness, we’ve a busy year ahead, I need you fired up and ready to go - okay?
Love ya.
****
Between periods of recovery from turkey overload I’ll carry on posting any updates from Hawaii over the next few days, so don’t go away 
****
ABC: “20/20″ visited two New York City schools to talk to students and get their feedback on the president. We asked students in grades five through 12 at Frederick Douglass Academy and P.S. 199 Jessie Isador Straus School to describe the president in one word. Watch below to see what they came up with:
****
First Lady Michelle Obama reacts while talking on the phone to children across the country as part of the annual NORAD Tracks Santa program. Mrs. Obama answered the phone calls from Kailua, Hawaii, Saturday, Dec. 24, 2011. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)
****
White House.gov
me, me, me, me first?
yes, yes you! w00t!
PS Chips that vid says it won’t load because of EMI copyright stuff tried it at you tube too. FYI
Hey a4alice!!
LOL. You’re it, africa.
merry Christmas you guys!!
First, africa! This has been a good week!
What a joyful picture of Mrs. O on the phone. Love it.
Night all! Congrats on first, africa.
Mrs. Obama is so very beautiful! So loved!
Pamela, I agree with you on that.
That’s an amazing photo. Looks like she was having a blast talking to the kids. =)
It is a delightful picture. She’s incredibly amazing. Boy oh boy did we luck out with this First Family. And our Second Family too!
Merry Christmas everyone! Thank you Chips for this home!
Sixth!
Seventh!
Thank you Chipsticks for creating TOD and drawing us good folks to this site.
Good night and God bless.
See you all tomorrow.
MERRY CHRISTMAS!
Oh, well, having a wonderful evening, playing my old Sounds of Hawaii CD for the atmosphere! Very special energy all around tonight!
I’m a longtime lurker and decided to finally make it known how much I love, love, love this website, it keeps me sane with all the craziness out there.
My husband is a Chief in the Navy and we are stationed in Yokosuka, Japan. He’s loves our President also! Merry Christmas to everyone out there and Happy New Year.
So glad that you delurked and joined us here! As the wife of a retired Navy Chief…welcome to the family! Please pass along our sincere thanks to you husband for serving our country. Glad that you could be there with him overseas:) We DO love our President!!!!
Happy Holidays, and a wonderful New Year to both of you! Don’t be a stranger.
Japan! Wow. Have a wonderful Christmas!
gregsgyrl63, Merry Christmas to you and your family. WELCOME, WELCOME, WELCOME. Thanks to your husband and you for your service to our country. Bless you.
Thanks gregsgyrl63 for coming forward and lending your voice to our Merry Christmas chorus!
Welcome! And we look to hear from you more
Wow! Those kids give me great hope for the future!
I know it. I completely agree! They were spot on in their descriptions of PBO! It was heartwarming to see/hear.
We are getting ready to go to the midnight service. Watching “The Sound of Music”. It’s been such a lovely evening and coming here and sharing with the TOD family makes it more special. Chips you our esteemed leader and we thank you for this wonderful place!!! Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, and all. I echo all that Chips said.
Chips, reading your comments made me cry, but with so much beautiful joy. You are a jewel of the most beautiful ever!!! Thank you so much.
Have a beautiful day tomorrow, and enjoy your time together with your family and friends. I just want to say, Merry Christmas and I love you for making this my home. I give thanks for each of you as well. We have something so very special here.
Merry Christmas my TOD Family and our wonderful and most brilliant President and beautiful First Lady and First Daughter. Also our cute and smart, First Dog Bo. What beautiful gifts we have for our Christmas.
Have a great day, everyone. I love you all so very much. You make me hopeful, joyful, and peaceful.HZ
should be, and First Daughters.
Love you too, HZ…Very Merry Christmas to you….and in the New Year, I wish you good health and happiness. You are an angel.
Hoping that you are having a beautiful day, DF. It is a beautiful sunny day here in Cali. Enjoy your day and may may more come your way for you and your family.HZ
A must see that will make your heart happy….Thank you, President Obama!
http://video.msnbc.msn.com/nightly-news/45785382/#45785382
Thanks for sharing that videoDesertflower. That was heartbreaking.
That was so AWESOME!!! I sobbed like a baby!
Thank you ONCE AGAIN, Mr. President!
Me too! Just imagine the ripple effect of all those soldiers making their families and communities escstatc with homecoming joy (while the neocons rumble about startng a war with Iran). I hope all those families don’t forget that President Obama brought them home!
Merry Christmas to those who celebrate this day and happy other holidays to everyone else.
Tally, hope that you are feeling great today. It is a beautiful day here for us. Keep well and enjoy your Christmas. Love you.HZ
So beautiful!
You’re all so welcome! I thought that you might like that…made my heart happy! I LOVE MY PRESIDENT!
“Home is the sailor home from the sea, and the hunter home from the hills.” i might have that backwards but thanks df. Merry Christmas.
OH! Merry Christmas, yardarm
I think you actually got that right….I don’t think it’s backwards at all. Happy New Year, too!
Merry Christmas to all and a Happy a prosperous New Year. Church service was lovely tonite, now sat down to Sound of Music as well (beautiful movie never tired of it).
ok ppl of tod i gotta get up the stair before i fall asl-
zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
(nitey nite TOD)
Chips, the video is blocked due to copyright thingee. Other source? when time permits of course.
Mele Kalikimaka my TOD family!!! I LOVE YOU ALL SO MUCH!!!
{{{GROUP HUG}}}
❤❄❤❄❤
And we love you, Tally! Mele Kalikimaka to you
Back atcha babe…..;-)
‘And, the world will be a better place …’
Actually, ‘And the world is a better place’ because of people like you, Tally, and Chipsticks, and the special TOD community.
He’s correct … ‘we are the people we always hoped to be … you have to get involved … if you give … then it can happen … everybody has got to have this miracle … it can happen everyday … it can happen to you …’
I think President Obama has lived this message for most of his life - fortunately for all of us.
Merry Christmas.
Bobfr: You said it all, covered all bases. And Merry Christmas to you!
Thank you DoNoHarm - Merry Christmas!!
So true! Just a little love in the heart to make the world a little brighter. Best Wishes to you Tally, Yardarm, Bobfr, DNH & Df!
Thanks Bobfr. You always say the most beautiful thoughts that covers it all for us. Have a great Christmas, Bobfr. HZ
Merry Christmas to my TOD family.
Well, as I toddle off to bed, I hope you ALL had a wonderful Christmas Eve. Good night! Sweet dreams, and I’ll see you at Christmas.
ps. Chips, I can’t wait to see what you got me for Christmas!
There’s a flurry of reports in the blogosphere today on whether first dog Bo was flown back from Hawaii to the nation’s capital for a photo op after President Barack Obama and Bo appeared Wednesday at a store in Alexandria, Va.
Scott Miscovich, who lives down the street from the Obama vacation rental home on Kailuana Place told the Star-Advertiser Sunday, “My wife saw Michelle and the kids passing by and we’ve seen Bo (the Obamas’ dog) walking.”
A White House spokesman told the Star-Advertiser that Bo did not travel to Hawaii with the first lady and daughters Malia and Sasha.
A;ready debunked. That gut apologized later. There is no there there.
Not to mention the whole idea of flying Bo back for a shopping trip/photo op….. so out of character with the way this First Family thinks and lives!
And you left out this from that gopolitico pos.
Roosevelt’s response: “These Republican leaders have not been content with attacks on me, or my wife, or on my sons. No, not content with that, they now include my little dog, Fala. Well, of course, I don’t resent attacks, and my family doesn’t resent attacks, but Fala does resent them. You know, Fala is Scotch, and being a Scottie, as soon as he learned that the Republican fiction writers in Congress and out had concocted a story that I had left him behind on the Aleutian Islands and had sent a destroyer back to find him - at a cost to the taxpayers of two or three, or eight or twenty million dollars- his Scotch soul was furious.”
Amk , is it not interesting that they are repeating the 1930′s playbook.
yup. same old tiresome lying attacks with no shred of truth. And yet nearly half the american voters have been dumbfucks for decades. PMFF.
Decades. Now Republicans think that we should do away with the entire Dept. of Education. Wonder why? So they can F up the other half? I’m so done with stupid.
I’m willing to bet Scott Miscovich is a Republican or a liar, maybe both. I do not believe President Obama would do anything like that, just for some photo op. It is ashame how low these Republicans will sink.
Mele Kalikimaka!
Merry Christmas to all of my TOD friends. Chips a special thank you for your tireless work in keeping up this blog and keeping us sane. We appreciate it more than you know. If I were near you, I would give you a huge hug but I hope this will do for now. ((((((HUGS)))))
Seconded, COS! And Merry Christmas to you!
TOD,
happy holidays and thanks to Chips who keeps me sane when I want to throw myself out of the window.
Thank you for the beautiful pictures!
Chips, once again, thank you for providing this safe haven in the storm.
Please forgive the long post. The following is a piece that I share at my annual family Christmas party and I want to share this with all of you.
Merry Christmas, Alycée
******************************************************************
“I wish you enough!”© by Bob Perks
I never really thought that I’d spend as much time in airports as I do. I don’t know why. I always wanted to be famous and that would mean lots of travel. But I’m not famous, yet I do see more than my share of airports. I love them and I hate them. I love them because of the people I get to watch. But they are also the same reason why I hate airports. It all comes down to “hello” and “goodbye.”I must have mentioned this a few times while writing my stories for you.
I have great difficulties with saying goodbye. Even as I write this I am experiencing that pounding sensation in my heart. If I am watching such a scene in a movie I am affected so much that I need to sit up and take a few deep breaths. So when faced with a challenge in my life I have been known to go to our local airport and watch people say goodbye. I figure nothing that is happening to me at the time could be as bad as having to say goodbye.
Watching people cling to each other, crying, and holding each other in that last embrace makes me appreciate what I have even more. Seeing them finally pull apart, extending their arms until the tips of their fingers are the last to let go, is an image that stays forefront in my mind throughout the day.
On one of my recent business trips, when I arrived at the counter to check in, the woman said, “How are you today?” I replied, “I am missing my wife already and I haven’t even said goodbye.”
She then looked at my ticket and began to ask, “How long will you…Oh, my God. You will only be gone three days!” We all laughed. My problem was I still had to say goodbye.
But I learn from goodbye moments, too.
Recently I overheard a father and daughter in their last moments together. They had announced her departure and standing near the security gate, they hugged and he said, “I love you. I wish you enough.” She in turn said, “Daddy, our life together has been more than enough. Your love is all I ever needed. I wish you enough, too, Daddy.”
They kissed and she left. He walked over toward the window where I was seated. Standing there I could see he wanted and needed to cry. I tried not to intrude on his privacy, but he welcomed me in by asking, “Did you ever say goodbye to someone knowing it would be forever?”
“Yes, I have,” I replied. Saying that brought back memories I had of expressing my love and appreciation for all my Dad had done for me. Recognizing that his days were limited, I took the time to tell him face to face how much he meant to me.
So I knew what this man experiencing.
“Forgive me for asking, but why is this a forever goodbye?” I asked.
“I am old and she lives much too far away. I have challenges ahead and the reality is, the next trip back would be for my funeral,” he said.
“When you were saying goodbye I heard you say, “I wish you enough.” May I ask what that means?”
He began to smile. “That’s a wish that has been handed down from other generations. My parents used to say it to everyone.” He paused for a moment and looking up as if trying to remember it in detail, he smiled even more.”When we said ‘I wish you enough,’ we were wanting the other person to have a life filled with just enough good things to sustain them,” he continued and then turning toward me he shared the following as if he
were reciting it from memory.
“I wish you enough sun to keep your attitude bright.
I wish you enough rain to appreciate the sun more.
I wish you enough happiness to keep your spirit alive.
I wish you enough pain so that the smallest joys in life appear much
bigger.
I wish you enough gain to satisfy your wanting.
I wish you enough loss to appreciate all that you possess.
I wish enough “Hello’s” to get you through the final “Goodbye.”
He then began to sob and walked away.
My friends, I wish you enough!
I’m teary now, Alycee. Beautiful. I wish you enough. Perfect.
What a beautiful story beautifully written. Thank you for sharing it.
Oh, Alycee, thank you. Beautiful thought.
Ok blubbering. That was beautiful. Thx for sharing…
Thanks Alycee. That is such a beautiful sharing. Have a beautiful day.HZ
x 2 Merry Christmas Alycee & Jackie!
this was so wonderful…thank you
Merry Christmas everyone! And thank you Chipsticks for all the wonderful diaries all day long. It really keeps me going and makes my days. Peace and love to everyone. God bless our President, God bless us all!
Time out….the old Great Dane needs to go outside:) When she needs to do something, she’s not too subtle! Be back…..
Merry Christmas Chips and TOD family!!
Ps- Chips, I can’t watch the clip of pete’s photos. Says something about the copyright not being allowed by the country I in. Very strange.
I know. Bummer. We can watch this instead. FABULOUS!
http://www.pbs.org/programs/presidents-photographer/
If you haven’t had the chance to watch this, you must. Grab a drink, snuggle up with a blanket, and be prepared to be mesmerized for 1 hour…..AND Morgan Freeman narrates! I adore him, AND his wonderful voice. Enjoy
Thanks, df! Merry Christmas!
You are so welcome, lisa! Enjoy….Merry Christmas!
Merry Christmas DF and Lisa. This is a great one. I have it and I must say that I watch it when I want to see our President getting the official ceremony that he so deserves. Have a great day Desertflower and Lisa.HZ
Merry Christmas, Chipsticks, TOD’ers. God’s love and blessings to all.
CHA CHING! http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/45786004/ns/us_news-the_new_york_times/#.Tva6PzXlPeg
WASHINGTON — The Justice Department has reversed its long-held opposition to many forms of Internet gambling, removing a big legal obstacle for states that want to sanction online gambling to help fix their budget deficits.
Merry Christmas Everybody and specially to you for this wonderful site. Everyday starts brilliantly for me here in France when I look here!
Bless you and yours xxx
Helene?
Merry Christmas evening and happy holidays to all. Special thanks to our beloved Chips for all she does. Her tireless passion, creativity, and inspiration to work together and guarantee another four years. The journey has just begun. Love all the fierce supporters of our president, first family, VP Biden and Dr. Jill Biden. Yes we can, together.
Merry Christmas and have a blessed day to such a wonderful group of human beings. You all add sunshine to my existence.
Thank you for doing the Obama Diary. It is a beacon of light in the blogosphere. I love you all and I love our President and First Lady. Merry Christmas and God’s blessings on the First Family and this community of hope.
Feliz Navidad y Prospero Año! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! I wish you all Love, Happiness and Peace y OBAMA/BIDEN 2012!!!!
From Miami, where it’s 80 degrees in the shade, Love, Olivia
Feliz Navidad Chips, Olivia and all the Obots!!!
Wow. So many new faces and new posters here…it’s wonderful to see how people are gravitating here, Chips! I know that you must be all snug in your bed, waiting for Santa…but you should see what’s happening while you sleep:) Glorious TOD! And TOD’ers!
A good christmas message from UK’s archbishop.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/mobile/uk-16328192
Thanks - the current prevalence of hate and extreme greed really is a matter of social conscience and a call for self-examination - and it’s good that this Archbishop is addressing it. This kind of poison that we’re seeing from the GOP and some of the greedy rich can seep into the very fabric of society.
“We can no longer afford to build ourselves up by tearing each other down. We can no longer afford to traffic in lies or fear or hate. It is the poison that we must purge from our politics, the wall that we must tear down before the hour is too late.” Barack Obama at Ebenezer Church in Atlanta, 2008
http://hosted2.ap.org/OHCOL/8ef5320729ce4298abefc1903704c7d5/Article_2011-12-24-Obama-Hawaii/id-30b7c2fc276f4752b762944cfec02dab
HONOLULU (AP) — Michelle Obama was looking for help from more than just House Republicans so her husband could make it to Hawaii in time for Christmas.
“We were all praying and praying, and asking Santa, and the tooth fairy, and every fairy they could think of,” the first lady said Saturday. She said their children prayed as well that the president “would be able to be with us.”
Finally!!
Hey desertflower, I know it’s late (at least for me it is — 2:06 a.m. CST)
but have you read the entire script of the First Lady’s telephone conversation with the kids who called in to track Santa’s location through the NORAD Tracks Santa program? It is really amazing! I actually almost shed a tear when Mr. Braden (I think he is the uncle of one of two children talking on the phone with Mrs. Obama) asked FLOTUS what she wanted for Christmas, and she responded: “I have what I wanted for Christmas: the President is here with us.” The rest of the script is equally moving as FLOTUS becomes “Mom-in-Chief ” and a true ambassor for Santa. 
Here’s the link: http://www.eclectablog.com/2011/12/first-lady-michelle-obama-talks-to.html#disqus_thread
So beautiful, loved it!
Now we know why their was a big smile on the President’s face as he was leaving for Hawaii. I’m so glad the First Lady and Malia and Sasha got their wish. It’s beautiful, I’m sure it made POTUS feel like a million bucks to hear what she said.
” true ambassor” = true ambassador
My mistake.
It’s past my bedtime. Got to get some zzzz’s before the kiddies (big kiddies) wake up. Merry Christmas, TODville!
Morning, newcenturywoman! No, I hadn’t read that, so thanks for the link:) Have a wonderful day today! Thanks again….Mrs. O is…..a great Mom in Chief! Perfect.
Thanks,amk.
….”not build lives based on selfishness and fear.” Amen to that.
Our4thEstate Bobfr
“Obama is …” exceptional perceptions of those who will shape the future of America - http://youtu.be/hk2aczQPDqM #YesWeCanDoMoreTogether
Thank you wonderful Chipsticks for your exceptional warmth and tireless efforts to support our President and give voice and place to all those dedicated to ensuring the American Dream will remain vibrant and open to future generations.
#PRESSON
Merry Christmas Chips and TOD family!
willard mittens toon
http://blogs.ajc.com/mike-luckovich/files/2011/12/mike121111.jpg
First time in years that I entered the gopolitico comments section. Glad to report that dems there are kicking the thugs’ asses.
It must burn gopolitico that despite their shilling for the thugs’, it’s the dems that rule their comments section.
US teenager Jordan Romero sets seven peak record
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/mobile/world-us-canada-16328714
Chipsticks, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
It is such a joy following Your site , and You surely deserve all the roses coming Your way.
Landslide for Obama/Biden 2012!
Hey guys,just want you guys to know that I appreciate the good fight you that you have been fighting for pob,I was a luker at dkos throughout the 2008 election,used to love bwd diaries until she was hounded out by the jackals,found my way here through bwd,this place has been my top site to visit everyday since then,Just wanna say thank you to u guys and merry xmas
The presents are wrapped for my 3 kids and are under the tree. The living room looks beautiful. It’ll be a magical morning, but until then I really must try to catch some Zzzz’s. Blessings and love to all.
MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL OF THE TOD FAMILY. HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!
Well, here’s another frequent lurker and occasional commenter coming out to give thanks to this wonderful TOD family and infinite THANKS to its creator Chipsticks. Words will never be enough to express the gratitude and blessing I feel for this oasis of peace you have given us, Chips. I believe the only way to express that gratitude is to give 1000% relentlessly to our effort of fighting for our President every which way we can and get him re-elected. And I know we will prevail in that!
I wish you ALL a very Joyous Christmas a Happy New Year and every Holiday in between!
In honor of our Hawaiian President enjoying this Christmas with his beautiful family in his lovely island, I would like to leave you with this video:
Mele Kalikimaka! Thank you, have a lovely peaceful day, bestpresidentever, and all TOD’ers, spread the Light and Joy!
Merry Christmas and best wishes for a blissful festive season and best wishes for a healthy and prosperous 2012 to all the TODville family - especially Ms Chips - thanks for all you do daily to make this a haven for all.
I wanted to jump on to wish everyone Happy Holidays!
Chipsticks, Thank you for this wonderful site and for bringing the TOD family together!
Merry Christmas TOD Fam! Chipsticks, thank you for this wonderful creation and keeping us all sane!
MERRY CHRISTMAS everyone!
And thank you Chips for this lovely present that means so much every day of the year.
Politically, this has been, in many ways, a bad year for the White House, as a quick look at the polls will show. Economically, it’s been rough, as a look at the jobs numbers will show. But as far as the administration’s bitter, high-stakes negotiations with the Republicans in Congress go, it’s really been a surprisingly good year for the White House.
Thursday’s payroll tax-cut deal concludes the last of the four major negotiations of 2011. The first was in February, when Congress needed to fund the government or risk a shutdown. The next was in August, when Congress needed to raise the debt ceiling. Then there was the “supercommittee.” And, then, finally, the expiration of the payroll tax cut and unemployment insurance.
These negotiations were ugly. Their endgames were alarming displays of Washington’s polarization and dysfunction. They drove the approval ratings of both President Obama and Congress to new lows. But, in terms of the substantive concessions the two parties have won for themselves, the fact of the matter is that the White House begins 2012 in a very, very strong position. Much stronger than most would have expected at the beginning of this year. And not always through any fault of its own.
http://mobile.washingtonpost.com/rss.jsp?rssid=601&item=http%3a%2f%2fwww.washingtonpost.com%2fbusiness%2feconomy%2f2011%2f12%2f23%2fgIQAcHUeEP_mobile.mobile&cid=961405
Why post this on the day we celebrate the birth of Christ, Jovie? A kill joy to say the least. Read the other thread. Other journalist have proclaimed this to be a comeback year for PBO and the Dems with 2010 being a banner year for the Rethugs. Of course I know you are being objective and reporting all sides and opinions. That said I don’t believe any TODers or the Whitehouse would consider 2011 as a bad year. I am so sick and tired of the manufactured gloom and doom promoted by the MSM and then we must read it here. We love you Jovie cause you bring it all. Merry Christmas. Obama/Biden 2012!!
BTW TOD FAMILY IT HAS BEEN A BANNER YEAR!! PBO HAS REACHED MANY OF HIS GOALS AND KEPT MANY OF HIS PROMISES TO CLOSE YEAR 3 OF HIS ADMINISTRATION. WHAT MORE COULD AMERICA ASK FOR BUT THE CONCLUSION OF THE HORRIFIC IRAQ WAR? GOD BLESS THE OBAMA FAMILY AND THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA!!! YEW WE CAN!!
YES WE CAN!!
Happy Holidays from Chicago to everyone here at TOD! It’s so wonderful to be here in this “happy place” for good news and good thoughts. All the best for 2012……..and by that, I really mean……..Obama/Biden 2012!
Merry CHristmas TOD family. Best for the season
If pressed, most mayors across the United States would admit to having a “wish list” of special projects they would like to accomplish if the money was ever available.
Well, up in the iconic community of North Pole, Alaska, (population 2,226) the city leaders have made their energy efficiency upgrade wish list, and now state auditors are “checking it twice” to see which projects the city will be able to complete in 2012 using funds from the state’s Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. This can be critical in a city that sees winter temperatures as cold as -67F.
The State of Alaska Energy Authority has had teams of auditors from energy services company Ameresco journeying all across the state this year analyzing submitted EECBG project lists from eligible communities and making the hard decisions about which projects they will be able to help see to fruition. North Pole, like many Alaskan communities, built most of their public infrastructure around 30 years ago, when energy was cheap, attitudes were different and energy saving technologies were less effective than those available today.
The city is hoping the $100,000 in EECBG funds, plus $10,000 in city matching funds, will provide the frosty community with enough start-up funding to improve the energy efficiency of several key city facilities, including: the North Pole City Hall and police station (both on Snowman Lane, of course); the fire station; fire annex and the main public works building.
http://energy.gov/articles/north-pole-s-holiday-wish-energy-efficient-2012-0
Merry Christmas/Happy Holidays to Chips and the TOD Family.
It has been a wonderful year! I really don’t care what the naysayers say, but MY President has been wonderful, fighting for us all. If he can fight, so will I and that’s my aim for 2012 to ensure that he is the President for another FOUR YEARS!
Thanks everyone for the laughs, cries, joys, lessons, hugs, sympathy! Thank you for being open minded and not like the GOP’s and their hatred for EVERYTHING.
Have a blessed holiday season and blessing for the new year!
Chips, I woke up this morning to the clips and photos on this site and to your comment and I thought, “Chips has given us a Christmas present-and now here I am with tears streaming down my eyes from watching the homecomings and reading all the wonderful comments. Wanted to say how much I appreciate this gift, not just today, but every single day when you take us through all the emotional highs and lows of this incredible presidency. We’ve all fought for PBO, shared our anger at the unjust way he’s sometimes treated, cried during tributes, homecomings. and eulogies and laughed and high-fived each other when things go right. And we’re just getting started for the battle ahead. I don’t underestimate for one minute how difficult it is to manage a site like this, how time-consuming to keep up with news, post the latest photos and keep the ugly trolls out. It takes an infinite amount of heart and loving determination to keep all of this going day in and day out and I so appreciate and want to thank you and all of this amazing family for the love, intelligence, kindness and community that I’ve found here. Christmas blessings to everyone. 2012 will be OUR year.
Mele Kalikimaka, Jackie! (are we twins, do you suppose? Your thinking and expressive way really resound with me!) thank you, Chips, I know you must be feeling the love this weekend!
Merry Christmas Chips and all at the Obama Diary from me and my family to yours from the lovely island of Trinidad.
Have a blessed day everyone!
Merry Christmas TOD family from my family and I to you ALL
Special prayers for your Mother and your family, that her health will be restored and your routines will once again return to normal. Despite the struggles you will always know that love is what guided you and strengthened you throughout the course of your challenges. God bless and keep you Fred.
My most sincere wishes that all our family here have a blessed holiday, and that the spirit of Christmas fills your hearts throughout the year…I know it will.
Merry Christmas, Sue. I hope that you are having a lovely one. Enjoy the day, Sue.HZ
Have a beautiful day, Fred. So good to hear from you. May peace and joy filled your home and your heart for your mom. Give her a hug from all of us. Love you Fred.HZ
MERRY CHRISTMAS & HAPPY HOLIDAYS TOD FAMILY!!
Wishing you all the best of everything for the rest of this year and the year to come!!!!!
Aunt Sis
Thank you for the beautiful tribute to the wonderful President and First Lady as well as our brave men and women of the military. Wishing you peace and joy in the New Year!
Hi Chipsticks and the whole TOD Family,
Merry Christmas to everyone from sunny Trinidad and Tobago. Went to church at 5pm yesterday. Have been up since 6 am this morning getting breakfast ready. One of my sons and his wife who live in New York are with me for Christmas. My other two sons are in New Jersey. My oldest son and his wife and three kids live in New Jersey and my youngest who is at school in Boston at BU is spending Christmas with them. I am missing them but we will skype later today.
Enjoy the day everyone. Will be back lurking later after all the cooking and eating and drinking.
Socasweet, have a beautiful and joyful day there. Having your family there with you must be a wonderful and sweet blessing. Have a wonderful time. It is very beautiful and sunny in Cali as well. Have a sweet time.HZ
Thank you Chips for this site, and thank you to all of the posters who contribute, and do research, and constantly encourage. This is a great place. I feel like Mrs. Obama today when asked about her Christmas present….”he’s here.” That is what I am thankful for too, for excellent surgeons and nursing care and thatm y husband is growing stronger every day after his stents were put in. I feel blessed. Blessings on everyone today and all days.
So happy to hear that your husband is on the mend, carolyn. Best present ever!
Carolyn, so happy for you. I will be grateful for you for your wonderful gift to have your husband healing and getting stronger. Be sweet and know that you are loved here as well. Hugs coming your way.HZ
Lugar will get primaried. Senile old fart.
Lol!
Lunger is another reason why there need to be term limits.
lugar had a golden opportunity to go out with his head held high and he blew it. He was the biggest disappointment for me since 2008 with lock-step voting with his insane party.
http://thepoliticalcarnival.net/2011/12/25/video-senator-dick-lugar-says-tea-party-challenges-killed-off-efforts-at-republican-majority/
He will be 80 years of age by the 2012 election. I would like to hear his explanation for running.
I wish you all a Merry Christmas and the best present that I get is this site. Everyday I get to come here and read, laugh, tear up and feel the hope and change that I wished for in 2008. Thank you all my fellow travelers during this wonderful part of our history. God Bless.
Merry Christmas to all.
We wish you all a Merry Christmas, We wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. To you all here there and every where. Have a wonderful Merry Christmas. To President Obama, First Lady Michelle, Malia, Sasha, Grandma, and Bo, Merry Christmas to you all. We love you guys and you will always be in our prayers. To the Republicans, have a Merry Christmas and get ready because we are going to kick your behinds, if it’s Mitt, Newt, or whomever the dope is who will take on our President Obama/ VP Biden, we are ready to fight like heck to re-elect OBAMA/BIDEN 2012. Merry Christmas to VP Biden, Dr. Biden and their family also. Finally I want to thank Chipsticks also for this site . I count on it so much . Merry Christmas Everyone
I also want to wish our veterans from all wars, our troops overseas, and the ones who recently came home, I want to thank them all for their service, and wish them a Merry Merry, Merry, Christmas. Same to the military families. God Bless You All.
Merry Christmas sonjiaduncan. I feel the same. This is such a beautiful and sweet haven to come to. Thank you as well for taking the journey with us. We do have something so special here with our wonderful Chips. What a blessing indeed. I am so grateful. Have a beautiful day, sonjiaduncan.HZ
Love your comment Sonjia. I do believe there are thousands of people (lurkers included) who feel the same way! Blessings to you Sonjia!
Love your comment Sonjia! I do believe there are thousands of people (lurkers included) who feel exactly the same way! Blessings to you!
Oh chips, I messed up signing in above! It is me…..
Merry Christmas everyone!!!! A very special thanks to Chips for this safe haven. God Bless
Hello Chipsticks and the TOD family, Seasons greetings to everyone. I hope everyone has a truly blessed and peaceful day. And, whatever you do please enjoy. I do not comment much but I do visit several times per day and am often uplifted by the comments, support and energy displayed by your comments.
Have a wonderful day everyone.
Merry Christmas to TOD community. I wish everyone a safe and happy time with their families.
Thanks to you Chipsticks for hosting a great site for all of us
This is so like a family! Here are Pinkbunny and Joy(BArbados), both of whom I haven’t seen for a little while, coming home for Christmas!
It feels good to see you both - Season’s Greetings! Hope your Christmas has been filled with love and laughter.
Merry Christmas, everyone!!!!
Chips, thanks for posting another version of your video. It’s so wonderful and inspirational. Perfect for the day.
And if you got through that homecoming video without a kleenex, you might be a Republican!
A Merry & Blessed Christmas, Meta! I am always encouraged by your practical suggestions and your commitment to the best president ever. Stay strong!
It’s been a lonnnng time since I’ve posted. But, I wanted to come out from lurker status (like almost everyone here, I visit all day long) and wish all a VERY blessed and Merry Christmas.
And, Ms. Chip, you are just ACES!
Merry Christmas, Blackman. I remember your occasional posts from long ago - you should post more often!
I concur with theo67. Glad that you came here today. Have a beautiful Christmas.
Theo67, have a Merry Christmas as well. Thanks for all that you do to make this a beautiful site as well. Have a great day.HZ
Good to see you again. Merry Christmas!
Even on x mas, David Gregory is starting his doom and gloom.
Even on x mas? Really?
Nobody wants to watch his attacks in the President, while Tom Brokaw plugs his book!
Maybe, I will go early to my Brothers house to open my presents.
Jovie, take my advice, today take a break from these clowns like Gregory. Go open your presents and eat some good food, spend time with your loved ones, and have a Merry Christmas.
Thanks anniebella. I gave her some advice upstream. Why she is searching for negative vibes to post today I have no IDEA.
Hi Anniebella, Merry Christmas to you. Thanks for all that you do to make this a beautiful place to come to daily. Have a great day. Love you back also.HZ
Chipsticks, the gift you have provided us here through your tireless work, energy and commitment is the greatest gift of all…..love. Thank you for being the light that you are, and to ever growing community of TOD’ers….each and everyone a beautiful and shining light. Others have said it much better than I am able, but everyday I am grateful for the spirit, the intellect, the wit and the determiation that is manifest is this community. It is like water for me …essential, and quietly (lately) I am here several times a day drinking from the well. Thank you, a million times over, to you and all TOD’ers. Shine on!
Ah ha, dear sister, you are here!
I am so happy to see you. You were on my mind when I came in on the bottom of the thread earlier in the day, not knowing you had surfaced. Now that I know you are drinking silently, I won’t worry. {{Sue in Mn}} Hope you are having a lovely Christmas!
Chip, this video is astonishing. I did not plan to cry so early in the morning.
Merry Christmas.
A special Christmas greeting to you, blackwaterdog, I was crying too, but it is such a sweet pain! YOU, ma’am, are to share in the Love and Light and Peace right alongside Ms. Chips; we hope you know how many of us you rescued, and generously brought along to TOD! Have a blessed day! Thank you, thank you!
Happy hols, bwd and other ‘obamamots’.
Merry Christmas, Chipsticks and TOD family. Sitting here in my new “I heart Obama” sweatshirt and experiencing the gratitude and love from this awesome site. Later all; have a blessed and joyful day.
You all have created an affirming, strong community in support of President Obama and I value you. Moving from observerr, ‘lurker’
to participant. Thank you.
Merry Christmas to you all lovely TOD family. And to Chipsticks, thank you for making us laugh, smile and nourishing our brains everyday all year round. To all my TOD family thanks for supporting our President and his Cabinet and for your wonderful support to this informative oasis of ours, TOD.
Merry Christmas, Chipsticks and TOD!!
thank you so much for this site, Chips
Merry Christmas Chipsticks and all friends!
>^..^<
Happy hols kat, Do you still do those wonderful diaries at that orange place ?
Hi amk! Happy holidays and thanks, but I had to let that go this year — lots of family business to take care of. And I’d rather spend my online hours clicking and boosting sites that actually understand and support President Obama’s heroic efforts to get real things done for real people!
Merry Christmas Chipsticks - and Kat - from wintry Illinois!
Nerry Christmas and stay warm, jacquelineoboomer! We are having high winds in this corner of the soggy Northwest!
I mean “Merry.” *slaps forehead*
Good Morning all and Merry Christmas from California. I want to echo so many here my appreciation for Chips and her dedication and inspiration, for providing a place for Obama supporters to learn all the wonderful things he has done and continues to do because if there were not place like BWD’s, TOD and other Pro-Obama blogs we would believe all the crap the MSM wants to shove down our throats.
Thanks to all the service men/women for your service and thank goodness you are home.
A MERRY & BLESSED CHRISTMAS to everyone who participates in the TOD especially to Chipsticks, a very BRILLANT and FUNNY person, IMO. Thanks SO VERY MUCH for this island of love, sanity and truth in a sea of hate , ugliness, and LIES.
Thank you, Alycee for that BEAUTIFUL story! I wish you and EVERYONE ENOUGH.
EXACTLY! I couldn’t have said it better.
Merry Christmas, Jackie!
Seconded, Jackie! And Merry Christmas!
Chips…That was a great video put together of Pete Souza’s pics! Its 05:55 Boxing Day here and you had me in tears early in the morning. (Cold Play - Fix You at the end didn’t help either, that song is a tear jerker! lol) Thanks also for the lovely TOD Christmas Greetings message you posted too!
Have a wonderful Christmas Day **TOD** Family who are celebrating it today!!! I can only imagine what an American Christmas feast would be like with Pie and other goodies… hmmMMmm *holds empty plate in hand looking around TOD dining room for an empty seat* lol!!
Stay Blessed folks!!!
Back later!!
NZ4Obama, there is room at our fire for you, anytime! You just leave that plate, your place is set!
NZ4Obama, there is always room for more at out table. Come any time!
This in pakistan, would you believe it ?
Tens of thousands of people have turned out at a rally in the southern Pakistani city of Karachi for former cricketer turned politician Imran Khan.
Mr Khan, who has been an established politician for many years but has struggled to win votes, has seen his support increase recently.
Correspondents say he has been riding a wave of disillusionment, particularly among the urban middle class.
The next national elections are scheduled for 2013.
‘Potent power’
The BBC’s Aleem Maqbool, at the rally, says there were posters, banners and T-shirts espousing hope - clearly reminiscent of the sentiment that carried President Barack Obama to office in the US.
One supporter there told the BBC: “I’m highly optimistic that Imran Khan has the potent power to bring in change which we highly need because our country can’t survive without a fair and just leadership.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/mobile/world-asia-16329906
It’s high time that country turned away from its present course of self-destruction.
Great news, amk! Self destruction, indeed.
Indeed df. As its neighbor, it alarms me most is the the mess pakistan is currently in.
I understand India’s angst and need for certainty with your neighbor. I think, actually, that Pakistan is a larger concern than Iran. Personal opinion. It would be wonderful news for Pakistan to finally turn a corner…..
The President would agree with you. Didn’t he recently say in an interview (Walters?) that the thing that keeps him up at night is Pakistan? Far more dangerous to the world than Iran. If this Imran Khan can help build a new focus and doesn’t get picked off before hand, it would be a blessing. But the paranoid old guard worldwide won’t go down without a fight.
Agreed, Tien.
I think it was just a few days ago we read an interview of George Clooney saying that when he asked Obama what keeps him up at night, he replied “Pakistan”. This is hopeful news, let’s pray it keeps moving forward.
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays, TOD family!!
Chipsticks, that video is BEAUTIFUL!
Morning everyone
Thought I would share THIS gift with all of you…..
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/25/fashion/the-magi-at-10000-feet-modern-love.html?hp
Sweet story - thanks for sharing! It’s surprising how much you get back when you give. You always get something back.
Always, theo67. Thanks for making that statement. Have a great day.HZ
You, too, HZ. I hope you’re having a lovely Christmas day!
WiW….are you here? Except for the “finding a place in China to manufacture these items” Pretty cool.
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/25/business/if-moms-cant-find-it-they-invent-it.html
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to my TOD family; a special thanks to Chips for the love, humor, intellect, and sanity that you bring to so many of us who consider ourselves a part of the OBAMA family; and to our military men and women as well as their families-both current and past.
To our President, Mrs. Obama, Sasha, Malia, Grandmother, and Bo, may your holiday be filled with love, peace, faith, good health, safety, and the knowledge that: 1) we at TOD love you, 2) we support you 100+%, 3) we will always have your back, and 4) we will give our all to ensure that you and VP Biden will remain in the WH for the next four years. I have no doubt about that!
Again, thank you Chips for all that you do. You are my hero, and I will be forever grateful for all that you do for me as well as for the country.
Beautiful!
Beautiful and more beautiful.!!!! Thank you bebe.HZ
As you can see, I’m reading the NYTimes
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/25/us/politics/obama-heads-to-hawaii-after-vacation-suspense.html?hpw
The political gamesman Karl Rove advised House Republicans to hold firm, even though they were being excoriated for potentially raising taxes for 160 million Americans, and wait for the president to leave for Hawaii. Then, Mr. Rove said, the Republicans could criticize Mr. Obama as being derelict and then pass the same Senate compromise they had rejected.
Karl doesn’t understand who he’s dealing with, does he? I stand by my thoughts that PBO WOULD NEVER have gone to Hawaii if this hadn’t passed….this reason being one of them. PBO is the smartest man in the room.Bar none.
All that bs (and that idiot) are heading for the recycling bin, df; now you put that stuff aside and have a peace-filled day!
Because any intelligent person knows full well, PBO stands by his convictions, and he is strong! Of course he would have stayed, we knew this, how could it be otherwise?
There was discussion here the other day, in the middle of this stupid, unnecessary payroll tax cut debate, as to whether or not POB would just go to Hawaii, or SHOULD go, if this was not completed yet. I thought no…and even said that I thought the First Lady and the girls would return home to the WH, rather than PBO go there to Hawaii…some agreed, some disagreed, but that was the reason for my comment.
He is a man of his convictions, and stands by his word. If he says he wouldn’t go until this was resolved…he meant just that. That is all
I remember that, and agreed with you, fully. If the family had had to come back to DC, they would have done so, graciously and with no question. I knew it was a moot point. But the yammerers need to be going on about something or other, or they feel no justification for their existence!
I didn’t see the discussion earlier in the week, but I totally agree with you. I think the First Family (and maybe even their friends) would have returned to the White House and had Christmas there, if the deal could not be struck. The sad thing is that the WH service staff would have had to work, too. I’m glad they didn’t have to, but I’m pretty sure the President wouldn’t have left without having a deal in place.
I believe deep within my spirit that POB would not have gone without succeeding in what he was fighting for in this case. He is a man of such high and honest principles that a person like the likes of that of KR are shameless and vile and do not understand a man like POB. So out of KR’s mouth, his heart speaks. He does not understand that POB does not operate like KR’s vile and selfish self.KR thinks. we do not get his evil ways, but we see through them all. His values are NOT our values. POB is not on that evil wave-length.
KR can’t touch a strand of hair( wherever he can find one on his head) that would ever match the quality of the goodness of POB’s heart.
I pray that KR will get off of the scene and leave us and the good people within this country and the world alone. KR is a very ugly spirit, and certainly not of a spirit of this season that we are celebrating today and all of our days here at TOD.
KR is evil, ugly, and a hurtful spirit, and I really do not believe that his ugly works and deeds will continue to hurt families like he has already hurt them. Enough is enough. “Fret not theyself of evil doers….”
Remember, we have the opportunity to bring something so much more beautiful and good into the lives of millions. That is what we are about and our President is about. I feel the good will out weigh the evil, this time. That is why I love this place becuase we know what we are about here. They will not win this time. No way. We will fight, have faith and work hard. Our message is a message of good news and great joy. Peace and love with good deeds for mankind is what this celebration is about and we will work hard to be on this side of history..HZ
Gasoline for a week #40dollars. Chew toy for Bo $15. Beating Karl Rove at messaging? Priceless.
Amen to that Desertflower. Love you.HZ
Love you back, HZ
hope you had a marvelous day today!
So funny, Tien Le!
How dumb that Rove would even consider that. This is how they operate, not PBO!!
Not dumb, africa. Crazy like a fox. The problem for him, this time…he met his match. PBO is NOT his intellectual equal…THE BLOWS THE SOCKS OFF KARL ROVE! That’s what forward thinking gets! THAT’S MY PRESIDENT!!!! He’s on a higher plane…BAR NONE!
I found this handy dandy “one stop shop” for comparing one crazy RW candidate to the next!
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-15928752
Amped up crazy!
Merry Christmas TOD Family and a Very Merry Christmas to our First Family. God Bless!
Obama/Biden2012
Merry Christmas & Happy Holidays to all!
Here’s wishing the entire Obama Diary Family a Merry Christmas and a Happy Safe Holiday Season.
Thank you Chips for all you do with this site, you are the morning to the night fright of some of the other sites (I won’t name them) you all know who & where they are. I don’t get to post my thanks as often as I like, but I’m here daily, often the site is open all day me just refreshing the pages LOL. I wish you and yours a wonderful holiday season and I’m excited for the next year to come. It’s going to be wonderful and inspirational for all of us.
THIS!
http://pmcarpenter.blogs.com/p_m_carpenters_commentary/2011/12/a-cliffhanger-really.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+pmcarpenterscommentary+%28p+m+carpenter%27s+commentary%29
Nice…pmcarpenter usually writes way above my pay grade, but this I understood.
Article is so right. MSM credibility is shot two times over.
“MSM credibility is shot two times over.” You’re to kind! And they get PAID for that bullcrap!
from ABL
http://www.angryblacklady.com/2011/12/25/merry-christmas-to-jew/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=merry-christmas-to-jew
This is cute! Merry Christmas everybody. I just had to pop in and see everyone! Enjoy the rest of the day.
Live stream Rev Al’s NAN feeding the homeless and seniors in NYC
http://www.livestream.com/officialnationalactionnetwork
Also, there are people there who just don’t have a place to go for a Christmas meal or a family to be with…
Merry Christmas, wonderful TOD family!!!! It has been a beautiful morning with family, Santa has been great to all of us. Not overdone just things we can use and appreciate. Now getting ready for dinner with extended family and friends. I pray the First Family is having a very special day.
I pray for all who are alone today, know that there is a family here that cares about you. This site is a sanctuary for all of us. Thank you Chips for all you do to keep it so. God Bless us All!!!
Thanks mtmarillyn. Merry Christmas to you and your family as well. I am alone, but not really. (My choice) I went early this AM to help serve breakfast to a much needed group of beautiful human beings. We are so blessed because we have a President, our TOD family, and ofcourse, our wonderful Chips who keeps the light burning for each of us to give and do what we can to keep the light that POB lit so many years ago as he was walking the streets of Chicago helping others.
Our hearts carry his message with the message of love and compassion that we were all given at our birth and nurtured by our parents and grandparents. What a joy to give back. Not out of pity, but of love. That is a joyful and grateful feeling.
Now it is wonderful to listen to music, relax the feet and be grateful to be a loving instrument of God’s love to others.
Have a wonderful reamining moments of this beautiful Christmas of 2011. Just think, we pray and hope on every word ,that we will all be celebrating with so many thankful hearts our gifts this time next year of our re-electing our wonderful, loving, very smart, and compassionate President,Barack H. Obama this time next year!!!!!!! What a thought to keep out hearts focused and uplifted on these thoughts. I am so excited just thinking about it. Enjoy, Mr. President and First Lady, because we will work so hard to make it happen. God please bless us and give us favor for the good of the people. Thanks in advance. Amen.HZ
Merry Christmas to Chips & the entire TOD family!
Merry Christmas, everyone! I wish you all a warm hearth, health, happiness, time with family and friends. And I join the profound thanks expressed by so many for Chips’ tireless efforts to create this wonderful haven, and for the family members who make it such a rich, informative, fun, passionate, naughty place to come to every day.
Hi Betsey, thank you for the information. I hope I am speaking this message to the proper person. I hesitated, but I hope that it is you. I am doing better than before. Appointment next month. Keeping my faith and watching and doing what is helping. Thanks again for being so generous with your note.HZ
So glad to hear it, HZ. Have a beautiful Christmas!
Okay, everything is in place and I’m all ready for my sister and her family… whenever they choose to arrive! So I have time to share my wishes with you guys before checking out again for a while..
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Since I can’t sing I got help.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PSzVDDf3c64
Christmas is here!
Heartfelt THANKS to Chips Chica for a wonderful cyber home, and for providing me with such terrific cyber siblings! I have been so blessed by your efforts here. You are an awesome cyber mom and you will always hold a special place in TODville hearts.
Special thanks for TOD siblings who are caring, thoughtful knowledge seekers who daily practise how to disagree without being disagreeable.
Special shout out to our siblings (like Sue in M ) who have been unable to make it here as regularly as they used to. We think of you often.
Season’s Greetings also to BWD and best wishes for 2012 – the year we all ramp it up!
WITH PRESIDENT OBAMA, VP JOE AND YOU GUYS ON MY TEAM, I. AM. SO. LOOKING. FORWARD. TO. THIS. ELECTION!
Merry Christmas, ALL!
VC
Merry Christmas, VC!
Have a wonderful time with your family! I love the “cyber siblings”! Yes we are:)
Merry Christmas, VC!!!!! Have a great time.HZ
But but but Kris Kringle said…
Merry Christmas ~ Happy Holidays to everyone and always a special thank you to Chips for providing this site for all of us. I read everything you all write and am constantly being educated, enlightened, warmed and amused by your words, your opinions, your humor. I wish all of you happiness & love today.. and as Alycee’s story stated so beautifully… I wish you all Enough. And I cannot wait for 2012 and this election- I am so ready to work very hard to get our President & VP reelected.
We are Buddhists and we don’t celebrate Christmas but I love to come out of my lurking mode to wish this wonderful TOD family a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Also, I like to echo as so many have done here, my appreciation for Chips and her dedication and inspiration, for providing a place for us to learn all the wonderful things our PBO has done and continues to do.
Funny that you mention being Buddhist…as I sit listening to the gift that my husband gave me today…25 Years of Sting…..I adore him…and think that he is a musical genius. And an incredible human being. And fellow Buddhist
Lovely chitra. May you have a fulfilling day and enjoy your Sunday. I have basically gone to lurking status the last few months because of other projects but never forget to come to TOD to keep up to date with all things Obama. Chips is a godsend to maintain this site of information, comedy, laughter and friendship, and of course she is a wonderful gatekeeper. I hope everyone is having a peaceful and “Merry” day. We had our celerations yesterday evening so every family memember could be there. This is my second home. Love to all. Blessings to Fred and anyone who may be going through a difficult time. Off to gratefullness.org to light a candle for the First Family and for all of us here. Chips, you are my hero.
For the past 26 years, I have been blessed to practice the deepening discipline of Theravadan Buddhism, which layering onto a catholic background, and a lifelong study of astrology, gives a broader view of the human experience. Many here are able to reach out beyond ourselves and the sometimes limiting views of adopted belief systems, into a vast Oneness of Being. Thank you, chitra, for joining with us who gather here on TOD, in our effort to broaden the inclusion of all sentient beings, and bringing your focussed energy to supporting President Obama.
Merry Christmas TOD family! Thank you for your commitment to our wonderful president. I am so grateful to Chips and all of you for making this place my little safe haven. Joyeux Noel!
I saw this on twitter, wish I knew how to copy and give author credit, but here it goes:
“Rumors are carried by haters, spread by fools and accepted by idiots.”
@Iain Macadair
Fear and ignorance plays a huge part…..but I can not disagree with the Tweet
This year, let us all aim higher for spreading truth.
But but but Frosty said Happy Birthday and…
HONOLULU — President Barack Obama is marking the Christmas holiday with calls to American service members stationed around the world.
The White House says Obama spoke with 10 service members, two from each branch of the military. He made the calls Christmas Eve from his rented vacation home on the Hawaiian island of Oahu, where he and his family are spending the holidays.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/obama-makes-christmas-calls-to-american-service-members-stationed-around-the-world/2011/12/25/gIQA1lGOHP_story.html
But but but Rudolph said…
There you go Jovie. This is the type of news that should be reported on Christmas. KUDOS!!
The Obama family attends Christmas Mass.
http://content.usatoday.com/communities/theoval/post/2011/12/obama-makes-christmas-calls-to-service-members/1?source=twitter
Short article, with a picture.
http://www.khon2.com/news/local/story/First-Family-attends-Christmas-services-in-Kaneohe/HHfX1Bj9CU-F3o0cllCIWQ.cspx?rss=3030&utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter
I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas. We had my family over for dinner and our friends are staying for a week. Been difficult as my friend’s 4 year old was attacked by a dog and has had eye surgery. We spent all of Friday at the hospital 60 miles from home. Thank God she is ok and her sight is ok. My son was really upset but hid it well and bless him he hugged this little girl and told her that she was beautiful - and really meant it. (she was upset because she felt like a monster).
We have had a lovely day today the kids were spoiled by Santa and my parents were able to relax and not cook. My Dad was briefly in hospital again last week so I am relieved that he could rest and as Mom is waiting for a hip op she could take it easy and let me look after them both. I have to admit that I will be VERY glad to see my bed tonight, I shall probably snuggle down and watch my new President Obama DVD - Obama the people’s president - I got that and a couple of PBO books as well as a daily quotes calendar.
I hope you all enjoy the rest of Christmas and have a happy, peaceful and blessed New Year. I am looking forward to working my a$$ off next year to help re elect your amazing, fantastic President.
Merry Christmas, Sam UK! Enjoy your cozy evening watching the lovely President Obama.
Thanks theo, I will LOVE watching him.
Let me take these few minutes to express my complete gratitude for this site. Chipsticks I hope you never get tired of hearing about how many lives you’ve saved…count me in! I check in many times a day and often late at night.
When BWD left the orange place I was horrified, than she left again and I found you thanks to her. So I feel like family although I dont comment alot. May each and every person here and especially Fred and family have a wonderful holiday! Having PBO and FLMichelle in charge of the world is good enough for me. They complete me!
THEY COMPLETE ME….I AGREE!!!!
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to Chips and all members of the TOD family. Hope you enjoy a truly blessed time with family and friends. And may God bless the troops and their families.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cA46ZNjrzeY&ob=av2e Brand New Day!
http://blog.recovery.gov/2011/12/21/photo-of-the-week-high-spectral-resolution-lidar/#respond
Photo contributed to the Recovery.gov Flickr Group by ARM Climate Research Facility
The laser from the high spectral resolution lidar (right) lights up the sky. The HSRL provides calibrated measurements of aerosol optical depth, backscatter, cross section, and depolarization. It was purchased through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.
The micropulse lidar can also be seen on the left.
Picture courtesy of Jon Gero.
Realizing this is the first Christmas Eve and Christmas Day off work for me since 2006…. It is simple, quiet and lovely to be so relaxed and with time to read, to enjoy the decorations, and to follow along with all of you fine people! A memorable weekend, indeed!
The Department of the Navy’s largest Recovery funded project is a new hospital under construction at Camp Pendleton on the California coast. When completed in January 2014, the hospital will support approximately 151,000 active duty and retired military personnel and their families.
The 500,000 square-foot facility will include:
Inpatient services
Emergency care
Primary care
Specialty care
The $394 million contract was awarded to the Costa Mesa firm Clark/McCarthy, which in turn has engaged the services of 49 sub-recipients. The new hospital replaces one constructed in 1969.
As of the end of September, 2011 work on the foundation, including installation of below-ground mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems, was complete. Workers are now erecting the structural steel for the seven-story building.
Recovery act Blog-
It’s amazing how well President Obama connects with people. And it’s an ever greater reminder of how hard it would be for someone who lacks the ability to connect with other human beings (Romney) to get elected President.
In looking at all those pictures of President Obama, what strikes me is how people from the oldest to the youngest want to reach out and touch him. And he accepts all of it. I pray that every touch conveys a blessing and an anointing to give him strength for the coming year.
Hmmmm!
More than a year after Republicans first pledged to “repeal and replace” President Obama’s new health-care law, the GOP is still struggling to answer a basic question.
Replace it . . . with what?
The repeal-and-replace argument has been a central line of attack in the GOP’s anti-Obama assault, both on the presidential campaign trail and on Capitol Hill.
In Congress, the new Republican-led House took a symbolic vote to repeal the law in January. But since then, nothing has happened. The House hasn’t passed anything new to take its place.
On the campaign trail, both former House speaker Newt Gingrich (Ga.) and former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney have said they want to repeal the law.
To replace it, they have reused several ideas from 2008 GOP nominee John McCain. Instead of a mandate to buy insurance, the two current front-runners would offer ways to make insurance cheaper: new tax credits, new bargains on policies from out-of-state.
But even some conservatives say these ideas might not work as advertised. And they would only be the beginning of a true “replacement” for Obama’s sweeping law.
With the 2012 elections less than a year away, Republicans’ struggle over health care could be a political liability. Democrats will blast them for breaking a promise.
http://mobile.washingtonpost.com/c.jsp?item=http%3a%2f%2fwww.washingtonpost.com%2fpolitics%2ffor-gop-repeal-and-replace-has-been-nothing-but-a-mantra-on-health-care-law%2f2011%2f12%2f14%2fgIQApUB8FP_mobile.mobile&cid=578815
……and to all a goodnight!
Thank YOU so much! I come here when the news is discouraging everywhere else, because you always have something to give me a lift!
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-obama-economy-20111226,0,3267719.story
So increasingly, Obama and his aides have switched to a longer view, trying to focus attention on what they portray as the president’s defense of the middle class. That positioning, they hope, will set up a helpful contrast with his November opponent.
“This isn’t just about recovering from this recession,” said a senior advisor to Obama, one of several who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly about internal White House discussions. “This is about saving the middle class from a decline that’s been going on for three decades.”
I hope everyone had a good Christmas and I wish everyone here a happy, good New Year. I don’t comment ofen, but I come here 3, 4 times a day because it is the most wonderful site filled with people who give me hope, make me think, give me a smile or laugh……I thank all of you!! Especially you Chips and this unbelievable site!!1 Thank you!