Naturally, one of the most important things for your spring break is to find cheap spring break hotels, right? We provide the lowest price on hotel rooms, book online and ask our expert for the perfect cheap spring break hotels which will make your spring break something to remember forever.

Cheap spring break hotels not only have prices which you can pay, but have amenities and conveniences to make your stay more enjoyable. You can get genuine hospitality and personal service which is a matter of tradition of these nice hotels. And this gets even better, if you have a fixed budget for your spring break, we’ll set up an easy monthly payment plan for you so that you won’t have to come up with a large amount all at one time. You don’t need to worry about the price when the important thing is to relax, forget all your problems and rest after months of hard work and the pressure of college and midterms and have the best time ever and fun all day and night.

Of course it is also important that you feel as comfortable as if you were in your own house, or even more than that. That is why, even though we are talking about cheap spring break hotels, it doesn’t mean that they are small or that it may not be enough place for everyone. These hotels are among the best spring break hotels you can find, we offer you the most comfortable and beautiful rooms that are big enough for all of you. So it doesn’t matter how many people is traveling with you, you will not have problems of space, at all.

But probably you may be thinking that since they are cheap spring break hotels there won’t be many things to do. Well, think again, you will have plenty of activities including scuba diving, excursions, horseback riding on the beach, mountain biking, and much more. You won’t know where to start and surely you will want to experience it all. There is absolutely no way you will be bored here, you can be sure of that.

If you are wondering about what to eat or how good the service will be, we can tell you that the food is very nice, and we offer first-class service, and these cheap spring break hotels have the casual yet entertaining atmosphere you are hoping for. You definitely must try it. And if you are celebrating a special occasion, we can make it even more memorable!! You will be so pleased with everything you will find here that you will be returning sooner than you thought.

Make finding cheap spring break hotels be one less thing you have to worry about, and focus in what you really want, relax and have real fun.

A Herrera is a freelance writer for travel topics.

http://www.breckenridge-spring-break-college.com/breckenridgespring/14/spring-break-hot-spots.html

It’s the time that you’ve been waiting for all year long. You have an uninterrupted two weeks away from work. While it should be a time of non-stop relaxation, the idea of your vacation is already beginning to stress you out. You wonder if you’ll return from your trip more frustrated and agitated than when you left.

At this point, you’re stressed out about the cost of the trip…whether your plane will arrive in time for you to take your cruise…if you’ll have enough clothes for your journey…how to keep your children in line during the trip…and whether you will actually enjoy yourself. Instead of being a soothing trip away from it all, your vacation is quickly becoming a major stress event.

It doesn’t have to be this way. You can enjoy a vacation that carries with it a minimum amount of stress. However, it will not happen without some concerted effort on your part. In essence, you must work to have funand the sooner you realize that, the less stress you’ll encounter.

A relatively stress-free vacation requires a great deal of advanced planning. To begin with, you should develop a budget for your vacation, based upon how much money you’ve saved. Resist the temptation to charge it all on your credit card. Otherwise, you’ll have to endure a great deal of financial stress once you return from your trip. Once you’ve established a budget, be sure to stick to it. Overspending will simply exacerbate your stress.

Next, you should seriously consider booking your vacation through a travel agent. The agent can do a great deal of the planning for you. An experienced agent will also know the pitfalls you’ll want to avoid. He or she is in the business of making vacationers happy, so the agent will have extra incentive to make sure that your vacation goes well.

As you plan your trip with your travel agent, there are some key questions you should ask yourself. For instance, would you enjoy an adventure-related vacation, such as riding the rapids or going to a dude ranch? Or are you more interested in shopping and sightseeing? Is your idea of a relaxing time a flight through the clouds or a cruise along the waves? The more information your agent has about your personal preferences, the better able he or she will be to plan a vacation that’s relaxing for you.

Determine in advance exactly how much time you’ll need off in order to ensure that your vacation is a success. If you allot too little time, you could find yourself begging your boss for additional time as your vacation comes to an end, causing both you (and your boss) additional stress. Also, don’t allot so much time that you’ll become restless. You’ll want a vacation that gives you a respite from your daily duties, but that does not leave you feeling completely out of touch.

Be sure to find out from the travel agent just what kind of weather you’re likely to encounter on your trip. One of the most stressful aspects of a vacation can be finding that you are unprepared for the weather. Find out exactly what kind of temperatures you can expect, whether there is likely to be wind, and how likely it is that it will rain. In this way, you can prepare yourself for the type of conditions you’re likely to encounter.

Be generous with your packingbut not overly generous. In other words, make sure that you pack everything you’re likely to need, but don’t pack non-essentials. You’ll want to make sure that you have enough clothes to last your entire journey, since it might be hard for you to find laundry facilities along the way. But you don’t want to be so weighted down that you can’t move your suitcase. Also, be sure to leave room in your suitcase for the souvenirs you’ll want to buy for your friends and family members.

A vacation should be the most relaxing event of the year. That’s why it’s important that you try to make it as stress-free as possible. By maintaining a sensible budget, doing some extensive planning, and asking for help if you need it, you should be in a position to reduce your stress level considerably. Bon voyage!

Christos Varsamis is a Marketing Consultant at www.settinglifegoals.com . Get your Free E-courses “How to Create Minisites That Make Money in Just 24 Hours + Secrets of Internet Millionaires” at www.cbmallclickbank.com & www.cbmallgr.com

Now that the hustle and bustle of Christmas is around us, this may be a good time to sit back, relax, and contemplate what would be the best gift that we could give this Christmas.

We are often told that wisdom is passed down through the ages, so I would like to take you on a little journey back to the time of the Magi and see what truths we can glean from their wanderings.

Follow me, if you will to the Book of Matthew, Chapter 2, verses 1-12. (I will place the text here so that you can refer to it as needed: Taken from the King James Version)

NOW when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east toJerusalem,
2. Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.
3. When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalemlace with him.
4. And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born.
5. And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judaea: for thus it is written by the prophet,
6. And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Judea, art not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel.
7. Then Herod, when he had privily called the wise men, enquired of them diligently what time the star appeared.
8. And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, Go and search diligently for the young child; and when ye have found him, bring me word again, that I may come and worship him also.
9. When they had heard the king, they departed; and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was.
10. When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.
11. And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down and worshipped him and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh.
12. And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way.

What are some lessons that can be gleaned from the previous passage: Well, to start, we notice that it was the light which drew the Magi to Christ.

The Bible tells us in Mt.5:14-16 that Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. 15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. 16. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

This is exactly what happened with the Magi; They saw the light and it was that light which drew them to Christ. Is your light shining brightly? Are others being drawn to Christ through you?

It was this light, which caused them to search:

The Wise men could have stayed where they were, but they knew that they would find God ONLY IF they followed the light.

God Promises us in Jeremiah 29:13,14a
And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart. 14. And I will be found of you, saith the Lord:…

And what did they do when they found Him? They Worshipped Him!
The word worship, comes from the Greek word PROSKOONEH’O. It means: To Adore- To Fall Down Before God in Awe.

An Example of this type of worship can be found in Revelation 4:10-11
The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying, 11. Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.

Worship is not just saying, “I Love you Lord” with your mouth, but with your whole being. Ezekiel 33:31 tells us …With their mouths they show much love but their heart goeth after their covetousness.

Many at Christmas say “I Love You Lord” but in their heart they are more concerned with what to buy so and so.
At Christmas We Can Get More Caught Up With Christmas Presents Rather Than His Presence!

We must be careful not to get caught up with the tradition of Christmas and forget to truly worship Him of whom Christmas is all about.

And Lastly: They opened their treasures and presented Him with gifts of Gold, Frankincense and Myrrh. These were COSTLY gifts!
We think nothing of spending money for an extra special gift for someone we love. We will diligently seek for just that perfect gift.

The Question Is,
WHAT GIFT HAVE YOU FOUND FOR JESUS?

He is the one who loves you so much, He was willing to die for You. John 15:13 says,
Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends

Now Please take note: I am not saying that Christ Expects you to kill yourselves for Him! What he does want is your life, but in the sense of a life that is dedicated to Him. It is a matter of giving up your way of thinking and doing things and taking on His ways, by learning of Him and acting the way He would have you to act.

While we think of our families and the gifts we will give them, let us not forget about Christ and what gift is the most fitting for Him.

Matthew 10:37-39 tells us,
Any one who loves his father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me, and anyone who does not take up his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.

ARE WE WILLING TO SPEND THAT MUCH?
IT IS COSTLY!
BUT WHAT A PERFECT GIFT TO GIVE HIM

Let us give our lives to Christ this Christmas and live our lives all year through in fellowship with Him.

“O COME LET US ADORE HIM, CHRIST, THE LORD”

This article is bought to you by Sharron”>Sharron Myers
Sharron Myers has been a teacher of Spiritual Truth for over 30years.
She also is a Certified Aromatherapist and PersonalDevelopment Consultant.
Be sure to check out her site:http://www.sharron-myers.com
To Live the Life You Want, Learn the Skills You Need
http://www.sharron-myers.com

It’s 3 months before Christmas and if you want to get away from
home during this holiday season, it’s time to make plans to
ensure a stress-free Christmas vacation!

Some people may traditionally prefer to go where the snow is,
where it’s freezing, and where Santa has no problems wearing
ultra-thick clothes.

I recommend going where the sun shines the whole day, where you
can frolic on white sand beaches and swim in the warm sea, where
you can go shopping in exotic stores wearing only a pair of
sandals and Bermuda shorts and a Hawaiian shirt.

Excited already? Well, read on and find out more about these 5
islands that you’re bound to want to visit during the Yuletide
season.

Exotic Seychelles
Seychelles was once referred to
by British General Charles Gordon as the site of the Garden Of
Eden and it’s difficult to disagree with him. Its pristine white
sand beaches, turquoise blue water, and exotic blend of flora
and fauna can easily make you think that this is the garden the
Bible refers to.
Activities: beach, diving and
snorkeling, sailing, honeymoon, wedding, island hopping

Ave. temperature during Christmas: 24C-31C

Tenerife Spain - Cultural & Wildlife Vacations
Who
says the whole of Europe is a winter wonderland during
Christmas? Go to Tenerife in Spain’s Canary Islands and you’re
in for a big surprise. Dubbed as Europe’s winter playground,
Tenerife, is referred to as the island of eternal spring. It is
home to Spain’s 2nd highest peak, the Volcano Teide, has a
flourishing national park, and of course some of the
archipelago’s best beach hideaways.
Activities:
Visits to archaeological sites, art and natural history museums,
explore the Guimar Pyramids, nudist beaches, visit the national
park
Ave. temperature during Christmas: 19C-23C

Holidays Down Under - Fraser Island Australia
If
you want to be just a stone throw away from the Great Barrier
Reef, be ensconced in wildlife, explore tropical rainforests and
laze on pristine beaches, Fraser Island is the place to be. This
World Heritage Site is rich in flora and fauna and is the
world’s largest sand island.
Activities: wilderness
safari, rainforest treks, dolphin watching, camping,
fishing
Ave. temperature during Christmas: 20C-29C

The Caribbean Beat In Barbados
It’s the Caribbean
island where dignitaries such as Tony Blair and Bill Clinton
indulge in holiday pleasures. And you too can go this Christmas
and see what the island has to offer. Bask in the beauty of this
delightful Caribbean island; experience its very unique culture
which was formed by the distinct and unique influences of the
British and the Africans. And laze on its 95 kilometers of
unspoiled white sand beach.
Activities: beach,
water sports, underwater exploration by submarine, golf, cave
exploration, island safari
Ave. temperature during
Christmas: 24C-28C

Solitude In Fiji
Explore one of The Pacific’s
beautiful and more popular islands, Fiji. Be right on a tropical
island and not miss Christmas at all! You can easily go to
Christmas-focused community activities if you really miss the
yuletide season and experience Christmas with a Fijian twist.
And if you really want to get away from it all, just go to beach
or laze in your very own bure ( thatched hut )

Activities: diving, beach, spa, snorkeling, island
cruise, wildlife exploration
Ave. temperature during
Christmas: 23F -29F

Unique “Drop-A-Hint” Plan Sends Your Gift Wishes Via E-mail

Sure, they love you and each year they try their best to find you the perfect gift. But let’s be honest, sometimes they need a little help. Here’s your chance to let your husband, parent, or special someone know exactly what you want. Sign up now for our Bragelet’s Drop-A-Hint feature and get the gift you long for at a price you can afford. You simply fill out the “Drop-A-Hint” form and your gift selection is e-mailed to your loved ones complete with ordering details. They can then sign up for our newsletters and be advised of upcoming specials so the next holiday you might really be surprised.

Bragelets were designed because Moms Love to Brag! More than just another piece of jewelry, this is a true reflection of you and your family and the pride and joy you feel towards them. Bragelets offers the finest in custom made jewelry including Mother’s Bracelets, Birthstone Bracelets, Name Bracelets and Charm Bracelets for Kids, and Baby Brags ®, the perfect keepsake or christening gift for the newest member of the family. All styles all custom-designed to your unique personality with the finest sterling silver letters, 14K gold-filled beads and Swarovski crystals.

But keep in mind gift giving is not just a once a year thing done at the holidays. You can present a special gift anytime to let someone know you truly care and make every occasion special.

Here are just a few of our Gift Giving Ideas:

For New Mommies — Bragelets ® New Mommy Bragelet ®
Dads, here’s your chance to show your wife just how much you care and how much you appreciate that nine months of sacrifices she made. It has everything from this mom’s new world rolled into one great bracelet with six charms included: Baby bottle, “spit happens” bib, pacifier, baby blocks, It’s a Girl OR It’s a Boy charm, baby booties and of course, the baby’s name in sterling silver block letters.

Baby Brags ®
The perfect keepsake or christening gift for the newest member of the family. It can be worn on their ankle first and then on the wrist for many years to come. In silver or gold, pink or blue, with porcelain letters spelling out your baby’s name. It’s a sweet tradition and looks great in a shadow box or baby book.

Mother’s Bracelets
What a great gift idea for the mom, wife, or grandmother in your family. Our mother’s bracelets are as special as the names you have chosen for each one of your precious children. All styles are made with the highest quality sterling silver and 14K gold-filled beads available. See how everyone marvels at the bracelet you wear with your children’s name on it.

Lilbrags
Just like their Mommy, little girls love jewelry. And what they love even more is seeing their name on it. Bring a smile to her shining face with a special bracelet designed just for her. Better yet, surprise them with matching mother and daughter bracelets.

Family Birthstone Bragelets ®
The perfect solution for moms with large families or Grandmas with lots of grandchildren. Make it a family affair with Mom and Dad’s birthstones on the outside and the children in the middle. Or perhaps one Austrian crystal for each spoiled rotten grandchild. Add a charm to make it extra special.

Soccer Mom’s Bracelet

Moms why not show off what you are best known for — carpooling!! That’s right. — All you Soccer Moms out there unite! We have the classic “Mom’s Taxi” charm sure to be a hit at any PTA meeting.

Charm bracelets
These are HOT! HOT! HOT! Back by popular demand and gaining in popularity among the young and old alike, these bracelets will delight every age group. Looking for the perfect gift for your preteen or teenager, look no more — this is it.

Breast Cancer Bracelet
Sterling silver beads and pink Austrian crystals with hearts for love and cause ribbons to remind everyone how important this cause really is. With every purchase, Bragelets will donate $5 to the National Breast Cancer Foundation to help find a cure.

So save your loved ones from wandering the malls at the last minute searching for the perfect gift. Sign up now for “Drop-A-Hint” and have an e-mail sent to them of exactly what you’re looking for. Don’t forget to do some shopping at our site too while you’re there. The prices are great and the service is exceptional. Bragelets at http://www.bragelets.com

Diana Ennen is the author of numerous books including Virtual Assistant: the Series, Become a Highly Successful, Sought After VA, Words From Home, Start, Run and Profit from a Home-Based Word Processing Business & the Home Office Recovery Plan. She specializes in publicity and book marketing and is president of Virtual Word Publishing http://www.virtualwordpublishing.com and http://www.Publicity-VA.com. Articles are free to be reprinted as long as the author’s bio remains intact.

The Thanksgiving turkey - why is it the cause of stress for so many people? I know I am not the only person who has viewed that turkey as my enemy on Thanksgiving because Butterball turkey has a hotline that receives thousands of calls each year from people with various turkey questions. The hotline typically starts operation by mid-November and runs until Christmas. The hotline is even available on Thanksgiving Day.

I have been making turkey for Thanksgiving for over 20 years and last year I finally got some tips that gave me a moist flavorful turkey that everyone at my Thanksgiving dinner actually had second and third helpings!

Over the years it seemed like I had tried just about every method of trying to cook the turkey. When I was first married I tried the traditional pan roasting method. But I forgot to buy my turkey until the day before Thanksgiving. And I bought a big one because I wanted to be sure to have enough turkey for everyone. Because I waited too long to buy my turkey and because I bought such a big one it wasn’t thawed by the time I needed to cook it, but I tried cooking it anyway. I ended up with a dry turkey overcooked on the outside and barely done in the middle. Oh, and I had lots and lots of leftover turkey because nobody liked it.

The following year I was busy with a baby and again forgot to buy my turkey in time to get it thoroughly thawed so I was up most of the night before Thanksgiving running cold water over my turkey to get it thawed. The turkey ended up turning out okay but I was so tired and crabby by the time I served dinner that I didn’t care whether or not the turkey was done.

Then a few years ago I got the bright idea to deep fry my turkey. Several people recommended it to me. They said a deep-fried turkey was delicious. I thought, “Deep-fried food is delicious. My turkey problems are solved!” So I bought a turkey fryer and two big containers of peanut oil for frying that turkey. But I didn’t buy any marinade to inject into the turkey against advice from lots of people.

My husband was in charge of deep frying the turkey in the garage while I was finishing up the side dishes in the kitchen. The directions said it would only take 30 minutes to deep-fry the turkey. Because we wanted the turkey to be nice and hot for dinner, my husband didn’t start cooking it until about 40 minutes before dinner. That seemed about right to us. I don’t know exactly what happened but that darn turkey took a whole lot longer than 30 minutes to cook. Instead of having turkey as our main course, we had it as a very late dessert! We thought that was okay though because the turkey looked deliciously brown and crispy when it came out of the fryer. But because we hadn’t seasoned it at all, it was pretty blah and bland. We learned the hard way that when everyone we ask recommends injecting a turkey with a marinade for flavor before cooking it, that it is probably a good idea. That year my Thanksgiving turkey cost me well over $150 when I calculated in the cost of the fryer, the oil, and the turkey. For that amount of money I could have ordered our entire Thanksgiving dinner from a local restaurant.

The next year I was listening to a local radio station one morning in early November when the female morning show host started talking about how she made her Thanksgiving turkey. She said the recipe was a little involved but that it made a delicious turkey. I was ready to give it a try. I downloaded and printed the recipe, all three pages of it. Making that turkey was like taking care of a baby for nearly two days. It had to be seasoned and put in brine; patted dry; seasoned again; then put in another brine to soak. Then I finally got to cook it. I was so proud of that turkey. I thought it was going to be the best tasting turkey ever since it was the most work I ever put in making a turkey. But that didn’t happen. Nobody liked the flavor of the turkey so I again had lots of leftovers that nobody wanted to eat.

At that point I decided I wasn’t meant to cook a turkey. A turkey and I just didn’t get along. So for two years I didn’t make turkey. But for some reason my family thought it wasn’t Thanksgiving without turkey. I wasn’t sure why they missed it. It never tasted good. Then I realized what it was. The Thanksgiving turkey was a yearly joke at our house and when I didn’t make one there was nothing to complain about. The turkey jokes couldn’t be made.

So last year I tried yet again. But I talked to my son who was taking a culinary arts course at the time for tips. He assured me he could help me make a better turkey. And he did. Our turkey last year was great. And making it wasn’t complicated. It was so tasty and so easy to make that I make turkey every couple of months.

THANKSGIVING TURKEY SIMPLIFIED

Ingredients:

One 5-6 pound turkey breast, thawed and patted dry
1 tablespoon kosher salt
1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
10-12 sprigs fresh thyme (or 1 package from your grocer’s produce case)
1 cup water

Place turkey in a roaster. I use a Nesco roaster, but you can also bake it in the oven. Pour the water in the bottom of the pan. Sprinkle the turkey with the salt, pepper and garlic powder. Place the thyme springs on top of and around the turkey. Cover and bake according to the directions on the turkey package.

If baking the turkey in the oven, remove the cover during the last 30 minutes of cooking to brown and crisp the skin.

After taking the turkey out of the roaster or oven remove the thyme springs from the turkey and discard them. Let the turkey stand for 10-15 minutes before slicing and serving.

Dorrie Ruplinger is the publisher of http://www.thanksgivinginfozone.com which provides information and resources about Thanksgiving.

Revitalize yourself as you rediscover the real spirit of Christmas. It can magically transform your life!

1. Celebrate - Christmas is time to celebrate YOU! Uplift yourself with memories of the joys you discovered and successes you achieved over the year. Spend moments in gratitude for these wonderful memories. This is how you celebrate you!

2. Wish Creation - Make wishes on the eve of Christmas. This is a special time as it is the night when the Star of Bethlehem magically appeared. Look for the first star as night falls before you make your wishes. Then blow a magic energy kiss with each wish for its manifestation in the coming year!

3. Start Afresh - Decide today to let go of the past. In every single situation no matter how challenging is an opportunity to make lemonade out of a lemon. Choose to find the gift in the message that the situation or person brings. If you feel stuck look at the quality being presented. This is the learning for you to work on this quality in your own life! Now let the situation go by not giving more focus and energy to it and be grateful for the opportunity to evolve through this learning.

4. Forgiveness - This is how we connect deeper with each other. Make it a ritual before the festive meal to spend a moment one by one going around the table asking for forgiveness for something you did or didn’t do during the year. It will connect you all at a heart level! Don’t miss this opportunity to build bridges and set yourself free. Forgiveness truly revives the ‘real’ spirit of Christmas.

5. Discovery - Spend time discovering a new element of who you are. A great way to do this is to put your-self in new situations. Go volunteer, join a new club, try a new activity!

6. Support - Who’s your best support at Christmas Santa Claus or you may know him as Saint Nicholas. Think about his qualities kind, generous, loving, forgiving. He is solution orientated and always looking for and finding the best in all he meets. Support yourself by focusing on ways to develop these qualities in you.

7. Gift Giving - You are the gift! Learn to give of yourself. This is how we reinforce the presence of love in our lives. Where ever you go you leave your energy, your mark. Leave the spirit of Christmas this holiday with your positive inspiration and uplifting energy.

Re-connect with yourself, family and friends and go create some good old days. Memories that warm the heart and rekindle the ‘loving’ spirit of Christmas!

Visit http://www.HoHoHoChristmas.com for tips and tools for reviving the fun, magic and real meaning of Christmas. You can also subscribe to f*r*e*e gifts and reports from The HoHoHo Expert, Bernadette Dimitrov, author of The HoHoHo Factor!

Sometimes a movie-maker really gets it right and produces a film for all time. It requires a brilliant script, a dream cast, a gifted director and an outstanding photographer and technical staff. Put them all together and you can produce magic. Bob Clark and Gene Shepherd did just that in The Christmas Story. All the more surprising when you realize that Bob Clark had also produced the Porky’s movies.

It’s hard to say that A Christmas Story is better than It’s a Wonderful Life, Frank Capra’s masterpiece with Jimmy Stewart and Donna Reed. Wonderful Life has always been one of my favorite movies. Good ole George Bailey was an example for us all. How could anyone resist someone who had gone through so much undeserved hard luck to triumph in the end? Stewart himself considered it to be his favorite movie. Even so, I found it increasingly difficult to watch it as time went by. The movie was incomplete. I kept wanting to see George and Uncle Billy pay a visit on Old Mr. Potter to get their money back.

Apparently I wasn’t the only one. Saturday Night Live once had a great skit that dealt with just that. In the black and white vignette, George and Billy storm Potter’s house and dump him out of his wheelchair to make him produce the cash. I know that George never would actually do such a thing, but I still enjoyed seeing it happen. As great as the the cast and story were, though, what I always liked most about the movie was the setting. The old cars and storefronts and the inside of the Bailey House always brought back warm memories of the way things were when I was a kid.

Bob Clark created the same effect in A Christmas Story, which was set in 1940s Gary, Indiana. From the first shot, with the children standing in wonder in front of a department store toy window, I was transported back to my childhood. My folks would bring me downtown to see the toys in the Dayton’s Department store window. I was dazzled. I remember I had to wear a clunky snow hat, but I never pressed my nose against the store window, I was too afraid of germs, but boy did I take my time taking it all in.

Ralphie’s house was right out of my neighborhood, too. We had a breakfast nook and didn’t eat at a table except on special occasions, but the rest of the kitchen was the almost exactly the same. It was great to see the old appliances again. My earliest childhood memory was of a Tide box and sure enough, there it was sitting on Mrs. Parker’s counter. My Dad didn’t swear, so he wasn’t like Mr. Parker, but I sure knew men in the neighborhood who were like the character Darrin McGavin played. And my mother was as sweet as Melinda Dillon, Ralphie’s mother. The school looked exactly the same as Cooper Elementary, where I attended. Ralphie’s machinations to get a bb-gun were similar to the lengths I went to get a pair of Roy Rogers cowboy boots. The only difference was, I never got them. I had talked Grandma into buying them for me, but my Mom stepped in and messed up my plans. I really knew deep in my heart that Grandma couldn’t have afforded to spend the $15 to buy them.

Ralphie and his friends talked exactly the same way I remember us talking. I never issued a triple-dog-dare, but I sure knew what it meant. I even remember someone sticking their tongue on an iron railing. We even had a neighborhood bully like Skut Farkas. His name, believe it or not, was Clem Klingelhut. Funny and sweet as the movie was, there was enough vinegar to keep it from cloying. The mean Santa Claus and his slide were one of the high points of the entire show.

My son and I watched the movie together, laughing all the way through. I immediately started talking it up to all my friends and even treated one of my customers to dinner and a viewing. None of them had heard of the movie, but all of them agreed it was one of the most enjoyable movies they had ever seen, and mostly for the same reasons that I liked it so much. Most of them wouldn’t go so far as to say it was better than Wonderful Life, but I thought so. It was far less depressing. And I didn’t leave the theater wishing mean old Mr. Potter hadn’t gotten away with his evil deed.

John Anderson is a giant fan of nostalgia, a movie buff from his earliest ages. He is also the author of The Cellini Masterpiece, published under the pen name of Raymond John. He welcomes any qeustions or comments and has the first chapter of his novel at http://www.cmasterpiece.com.

When thinking about vacation destinations this year, why not consider an Alaska Fishing Vacation? One of the most beautiful states in our country, and in addition to so many other fun activities, Alaska offers fantastic fishing! Trout, halibut and of course, the ever famous Alaskan salmon are just a few of the varieties you will be able to angle on your trip.

They say that fishing in Alaska is different from fishing anywhere else in the world and that an Alaska Fishing Vacation is an angler’s dream come true. And it can be as easy as obtaining a fishing license. Did you know that Alaska fishing offers twenty-one different species of sport fishes including five kinds of wild Pacific Salmon? You can head out on your own for one of the awesome lakes or streams, or take a charter boat out to some remote backcountry waterway. Most fishing locations are accessible by road, but those more secluded settings are still easy to get to by air taxis or charter services. Some destinations even include local tour guides that can be hired to lead you through your exciting journey.

One way to plan your trip is with a vacation package and there are many available. The Alaska fishing experience offers day trips and extended stays as well. Think about how relaxing it would be to end your day of abundant fishing in some great, rustic lodge in the woods. Enjoy a hearty meal and then kick back on the porch and listen to the peacefulness of the wild and soak in the beautiful surroundings. Talk about stress relief!

Different areas of Alaska provide different types of fishing. A stay in the South-Central town of Anchorage will give you the opportunity to catch some of the world’s best King Salmon just a few hundred yards from your hotel. In the middle of Alaska, known as the Interior, the Grayling, Pike and Lake Trout are plentiful in its waters.

Check out Alaska.com for great Alaska Fishing Vacation packages and also tips on how to plan your trip. There is also a link to purchase your fishing license online. It doesn’t get much more convenient than that. So do yourself a favor and make sure to visit one of America’s most bountiful and majestic destinations, and have yourself the fishing adventure of a lifetime!

alaska fishing vacation Planning that once in a lifetime fishing trip to Alaska? Then your search is over. Let us do all the work for you. With a bevy of useful information that will make your alaska fishing vacation unforgettable.

The Vezere river is a tributary of the Dordogne, and the two
meet near Les Eyzies-de-Tayac before the Dordogne continues on
toward Bordeaux and the Atlantic ocean. Near the village of
Montignac, about 30 kilometers upstream on the Vezere, are some
excellent and unique venues, including the famous Lascaux cave.
Here are four that can be visited in one day.

1. Lascaux II- Lascaux is considered to be the number one
prehistoric site in all of Europe. The paintings on the site
date from 17,000 to 15,000 years ago. Shortly after that the
cave entrances were closed by mudslides or other natural means,
and thus the paintings were perfectly preserved until the modern
era. The cave was rediscovered in 1940 by two local boys who
were chasing their dog, and several years later it was opened to
the public. However, in 1963 it was closed again, as it was
discovered that too many people in the cave were causing the
paintings to deteriorate. Since then only a few scientists,
scholars or art historians per day were allowed in for several
hours maximum. For the past few years even those limited visits
have been stopped, as new signs of further deterioration have
been observed. The French government, however, took up a 10 year
project to make an exact duplicate of the cave. This effort,
which opened in 1983, uses exactly the same pigments that were
used by the Cro-Magnon artists thousands of years ago, and is
dimensionally accurate to less than one inch of error. It is
called Lascaux II, and is located only about 400 yards from the
original cave.

The quality of the artwork is the main reason that Lascaux is
considered the finest example of prehistoric cave paintings.
Done with only oil lamps for light and using high scaffolding,
the prehistoric artists who created this site were highly
accomplished artists. Most of the guided visits to Lascaux II
are conducted in French, but there are tours in English on most
days. One needs to call the Lascaux ticket office in Montignac
or the Montignac Office of Tourism to find out if and when there
is an English tour on any given day. If you have a group they
will probably set up an English tour for you and other English
speakers, but this needs to be arranged in advance through the
ticket office. Even though Lascaux II is a replica and not the
original, it is very well done, very informative, and not to be
missed. 2. St. Leon sur Vezere- This is another of the “Most
Beautiful Villages of France”. Built in a picturesque loop of
the Vezere river, this charming village possesses two castles
and one of the finest Romanesque churches of the Perigord. The
church was part of a Benedictine priory which was founded in the
12th century. It was built on the ruins of a Gallo-Roman villa.
The remains of one of the villa’s walls can be seen on the river
side. There is a picnic area next to the church on the banks of
the river, and a café is nearby as well. This is an excellent
spot to have a pleasant lunch or a refreshing drink.

3. La Roque St. Christophe (St. Christopher’s Rock) is a huge
Troglodyte cave complex. For about a half mile in length this
majestic cliff rises vertically above the Vezere valley to a
height of over 250ft. It is like a huge hive with about 100
caves hollowed out of the rock on five tiers. Excavations have
proved that the cliff dwellings were inhabited from the Upper
Paleolithic Age onwards. In the 10th century the cliff terraces
served as the foundation for a fortress which was used against
the Vikings, and again later during the Hundred Years War. It
was subsequently destroyed during the Wars of Religion at the
end of the 16th century. The self-guided tour explains the
evolution of human life at La Roque St. Christophe, which took
place over many centuries . In fact even Neanderthal fossils
have been found at this site and at other locations nearby.

4. Chateau de Losse- This renaissance chateau sits on the right
bank of the Vezere river, and it has a large terrace that
overlooks the river and offers picturesque views. The chateau is
well known for its excellent furniture and tapestries, which can
be seen on the guided tours. The tours are in French, but
foreign language guides are available, and these are easy to
follow so one does not miss anything. The tours are quite good,
and one can also visit the well kept gardens and stroll around
the outside of the chateau in the former moat area.

As stated earlier, these four venues in the Vezere Valley near
Montignac can easily be visited in one day, since they are
relatively close and do not take too long to visit any of them.
If one is staying nearby, in Sarlat, for example, only about 25
kilometers away, a visit to these sites is well worth the
effort.