Author Topic: Uno's winter holiday rant: 2015 edition.  (Read 5172 times)

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Offline Unorthodox

Re: Uno's winter holiday rant: 2015 edition.
« Reply #15 on: December 09, 2015, 08:44:19 PM »
I don't know that I've ever endorsed much of anything before, but if anyone is in need of a flashlight, or you have someone on your list that is something of a macguyver type, this thing rocks. 

Bought it for work, and it's exceeded all expectations.  The magnet is SOLID.  I slap it on anything and everything around here. 

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Offline Unorthodox

Re: Uno's winter holiday rant: 2015 edition.
« Reply #16 on: December 10, 2015, 01:22:01 PM »
I HAVE SINCE LEARNED UPS offers free ship to UPS store on anything coming my way ANYWAY, so in the future, I won't have to worry about the ship to store.) 

What.
A.
Joke. 


So, UPS offers free Ship to Store to any UPS store on ground or express(whatever they call the expedited) items.  You have to sign up online and fill out some stuff.

I don't want packages on the porch, so sign up. 

First package goes smoothly.  I add hEt's name, I'm getting emails and texts on all our package updates, its great...

And then "The store is unavailable", we're rerouting shipment.  WHAT? 

Yes, the store by us is too busy, so they just arbitrarily cancel the ship to store. 

Now, MOST of the things just auto routed to my house instead (the whole thing I was trying to AVOID by signing up!)

However, one's gotten lost in the wind.  Attempted delivery at the store, refused, in limbo...

There's a reason I avoided UPS for YEARS (delivered my stuff to a walmart!).  The whole ship to store had me rethinking that...nope, you guys just SUCK. 

Offline Valka

Re: Uno's winter holiday rant: 2015 edition.
« Reply #17 on: December 10, 2015, 05:50:15 PM »
The usual UPS guy here is great - brings stuff right to my door, no matter if it's just an oversize book or a whole big bookshelf (the kind I have to assemble myself, of course).

Offline Unorthodox

Re: Uno's winter holiday rant: 2015 edition.
« Reply #18 on: December 10, 2015, 07:22:11 PM »
Oh, they bring it to the door step.  Problem is we're not always home.  People stealing packages thus left on a door step is a raising problem, and since SOMEONE around here already stole our luggage from the back of a car in the driveway, they wouldn't have any problem taking a package off the porch. 

Offline Unorthodox

Re: Uno's winter holiday rant: 2015 edition.
« Reply #19 on: December 10, 2015, 10:20:09 PM »
Let the Kristmas Kooking Kitchen Kalamity of 2015 Kommence. 

Offline Valka

Re: Uno's winter holiday rant: 2015 edition.
« Reply #20 on: December 10, 2015, 11:00:17 PM »
I live in an apartment, so it's not like my stuff would be left outdoors. There have been a few times when someone knocked at the door and didn't wait for an answer - and I found my parcel. And one time they didn't bother to knock. On that occasion I was grateful it was the middle of the day when the kids on this floor were in school, because they probably would have stolen it. But most people around here are honest (except when it comes to newspapers). One time the mailman put one of my eBay purchases in someone else's mailbox and the person came to my door and gave it to me. It was a pair of earrings, so I was glad to get them. I've only ever had two eBay purchases get completely lost and never make it. Both were small things - one was jewelry, and the other was a couple of Monopoly tokens (I collect them).

I'm not ordering as much online now, though - the exchange rate between Canadian and US dollars is horrendous.


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Offline Unorthodox

Re: Uno's winter holiday rant: 2015 edition.
« Reply #21 on: December 15, 2015, 03:34:55 PM »

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Re: Uno's winter holiday rant: 2015 edition.
« Reply #22 on: December 15, 2015, 03:43:19 PM »
 ;lol

Offline Unorthodox

Re: Uno's winter holiday rant: 2015 edition.
« Reply #23 on: December 16, 2015, 09:46:59 PM »
The boy's choir is singing at TEH TEMPLE.  Going to try to get pics for y'all, as they are lit up for the Christmas cheer, and I assume many of you haven't seen TEH TEMPLE.  But, weather might hinder my efforts.  My camera is weather sealed and all, but snow can play havoc with trying to get pics. 

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Re: Uno's winter holiday rant: 2015 edition.
« Reply #24 on: December 16, 2015, 11:03:27 PM »
You mean the big main one in SLC?


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Offline Unorthodox

Re: Uno's winter holiday rant: 2015 edition.
« Reply #25 on: December 17, 2015, 01:26:30 PM »
Yep, ground zero. 

While I upload pics, you can enjoy this little Christmas treat.  (and you thought ewoks were annoying...)

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Offline Unorthodox

Re: Uno's winter holiday rant: 2015 edition.
« Reply #26 on: December 17, 2015, 02:23:28 PM »
So, Salt Lake Temple. 

Where to start...

So, "Temple Square" is the block the Temple sits on.  It is open to the public normally, and contains multiple buildings, including a visitors center.  Temple square has long been one of "the" places to look at Christmas Lights in Utah.  Used to be horse carriage rides around it. 

"The Temple Grounds" are a walled off lot of this area that immediately surrounds the temple itself.  I thought the last time I was at temple square (20 years - ish), it was open to the public as well (though expect a missionary tour guide), but it was not now.  It's not a members-only section, I know, as wedding photographers and non-member family members can get in, but it was closed for the Christmas crowds.   

The park:  I forget the name and can't be bothered to look it up.  About 10 years ago, the church bought a portion of main street, to expand "temple square" into 2 city blocks (they already owned the block north of the temple), built underground parking beneath the second block, closed the street, and put a park where the street is.  They attempted to enforce LDS dress guidelines and behavior in the park, but I haven't heard news on that in a while, so think they lost that battle.  The light show has extended to the park since it was built. 

City Creek:  The Church then bought 2 blocks to the South of the expanded Temple Square, and built a shopping mall.  Technically "outdoor" shopping, it has a retractable roof for poor weather days.  They built a skybridge over the street separating the two lots, keeping foot traffic from the few local businesses they couldn't buy out, it was a big legal thing at the time.  They attempted to enforce a dress and conduct code here as well, but have lost that battle.  (half the clothing in the stores is against the dress code anyway)  City Creek is also lit up, but more on the individual store level.  Macy's there has "candy windows" that are a Salt Lake tradition (formerly of ZCMI) for ages, I didn't get any pics of them, sorry. 

All the school choirs were singing there, which our school had a mixture of religious, non-religious, and olde English songs.  The irony of singing about wassailing and casques of ale on temple square was not lost on me. 

It was snowing, which rendered Vera incompatible, as she turns snow flakes into ghosts. 



Temple, Moroni (angel on top), and moon.





This is that second block that houses some of the church offices.  One's the publication building, I think the other is just offices.  Globe on the building to the left. 



Particularly impressive visual out the front of the temple.  This is that new park, haven't been there before, don't know if the nativity in the middle is permanent or changes.  Want to come back in the day so I can see better how the 'floating' lights work.  They've got to be wired, just want to see them better, though it might be "dark water" tech, similar to what Disney uses so you CAN'T see, even in the day.  There was a wedding proposal here just before we arrived, we heard the cheering. 



to either side of the pond were shepherds.  Again, not sure if permanent or changes. 



Close as I could get. 



Offline Unorthodox

Re: Uno's winter holiday rant: 2015 edition.
« Reply #27 on: December 17, 2015, 02:37:34 PM »
Talia and "her" pink tree. 



The Assembly Hall.  This is where the choirs sang.  Wish I had gotten a pic of the pipe organ.  You might wonder at the Star of David in the upper window, it's actually fairly common early LDS symbology. 



The Temple Square itself is really designed to funnel you to the visitor's center.  Lighting was a little less showy inside. 



Outside the visitors center is another, I believe temporary, nativity, with a coordinated story and light show going on.  Mostly just retelling the nativity story from the Bible with a few words from the Church Presidency.  That's the ... lost the name.  Where the conference is held every 6 months behind the nativity.  Love the orange lights on black branches, though a little confused why they are being used.  (conference is where the LDS leadership gives talks and preaches to their members)





There's a nifty room and statue of Jesus in the visitor's center.  If you visit outside of Christmas, you're going to pick up a missionary guide around Temple Square, and they'll end the tour there with offers of further teaching.  However, it was far too crowded for us to worry about getting pics. 


Offline Unorthodox

Re: Uno's winter holiday rant: 2015 edition.
« Reply #28 on: December 17, 2015, 02:48:07 PM »


Brigham Young.  He used to be in the middle of the street, but now seems more in place since the street is now the park.  My Grandma was always fond of pointing out he has his back to the church (the temple) and his hand out to the bank (building on the opposite corner) 



New since I had been there, I shouldn't have been surprised.  The whole City Creek thing always rubbed me wrong, mixing blatant money grabbing and religion, but there's an official cafe right on the grounds as well, now, apparently.


Offline Unorthodox

Re: Uno's winter holiday rant: 2015 edition.
« Reply #29 on: December 18, 2015, 04:09:34 AM »




A Visit from the Three T-Rexes

Once before Christmas, a long time ago,
Three starving T-Rexes, filled with sadness and woe,
Drooled down at a sheep flock, so tasty and good.
They’d eat them in a second, if only they could.

But the shepherds watched o’r their flocks carefully.
So t’was no chance for snacking for T-Rexes three.
In the skies to the East, a wonder glowed bright
A star with a tail slipped soft through the night.

The shepherds gazed up, agog and amazed,
At the cold new-born star as it silently blazed.
They saw wise men three, upon camels and horse,
Ride toward a stable — rustic, common and coarse
.
At the door, they all halted, these kings from the East,
Faced with a setting of hay, straw and beast.
They offered up frankincense, gold coins and myrrh.
They bowed down and worshipped, their treasures conferred.

From out of the stable, came a warbling cry
Of a new-babe’s complaining, his diaper not dry.
The shepherds discussed what they ought do
And they soon decided; they should go too.

So away from their sheep flocks, shepherds hurried that night
To behold in the stable that most curious sight.
And lo, they soon found in the stable nearby
Mary and Joseph and the source of the cry.

The Messiah had come, to bring hope to the world
His halo glowed bright; His great glory unfurled.
Like the Kings from the East, these men bowed and they prayed.
To the world’s newest King, in swaddling handmade

But up on the hillside, dinos chuckled and danced,
For the absence of shepherds provided their chance.
Down from the hillside, with a most horrible screech,
The three dinos charged, grabbing each sheep in reach.

They chomped them. They bit them. They gobbled them up.
Sheep’s bleating. Good eating! A grand way to sup!
The flock tried to flee, but T-Rexes are fast.
They devoured them all, each one, to the last.

And after the last sheep’s blood did squirt,
T-Rexes looked ‘round for a tasty dessert.
O’r the hilltops, three kings rode away.
Hmmm, just the thing—three royal fillet.

With a bellow that shook the whole desert landscape,
The dinos charged forth; there’d be no escape.
The kings saw them coming and tried running away,
But hunting down kings was simple child’s play.

Melchior was munched, and Caspar gulped down;
Balthazar eaten whole (except for his crown).
T-Rexes stood grinning while spitting out jewels.
For wise men it seems, taste exactly like fools.

The dinos discussed then what they should do next,
Three well-fed and happy tyrannosaur rex.
“That babe’s been a boon to our fate here tonight.
We should thank him profusely; it’d only be right.”

“We need to bring gifts, for He too is King.”
“I think that I’ve got it! I know just the thing!”
The dinosaur ripped out a nearby pine tree,
And lickety-split, soon there were three.

Each of the T-Rexes held their trees by their stems
And covered them over with jewelry and gems,
The trees in the moonlight did sparkle and glow
Gifts for a king, theirs to bestow.

Three crowns topped the trees; silk sashes hung ‘round;
Such riches and gilt were sure to astound.
The dinos with trees made their walk to the stable.
In a story turned legend and then turned to fable.

How three starving T-Rex, on a cold winter’s night
Walked out of the darkness by a single star’s light,
How they brought trees of beauty for the newly-born child;
How they bestowed them and then went back to the wild.



-------

Yes, it's Sacrelicious. 

 

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