Christmas Eve Jumble Spoiler – 12/24/14

Sergeant Rayene Stewart Simpson decorating a Christmas tree in Korea, 1953. Simpson was later decorated with the Victoria Cross while serving with the Australian Army Training Team Vietnam in 1969. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Visual Description:  The family tree tradition.

LEMPI  =  IMPEL,  GRPUE  =  PURGE,  DUGERT  =  TRUDGE,  ICOSAF  =  FIASCO   —   Giving us:  IPEPURTUDSC

Clue/Question:  When they added ornaments to the Christmas tree, they – – – 

English: A bauble on a Christmas tree. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Answer:  SPRUCED IT UP

(Maybe they Scotch Pined it up!  Or Douglas Fir’d it up.  I like the expression spruced up!  Too many of our tried and true idioms seem to be waning in popularity.  Too much urban/pop speak is taking over our vernacular, in my opinion.  ‘Tis a sign of the times, I suppose.  It’s kind of a cyclical/generational kind of thing.  I suppose the language will survive, despite today’s . . . and tomorrow’s inanities.  End of grumpy old man rant.

There were no new clue words today, while all of the jumbles came across as new, to me.  I thought they were an eclectic bunch, even though I had no trouble in unscrambling any of them.  I can tell a lot of thought went into today’s answer letter layout.  Nothing given away.  Nothing obvious.  The cartoon makes for a nice middle class holiday postcard, with only a hint of self-promotion.

I hope everybody can be with friends and family this holiday season.  Merry Christmas, my friends.  Be well, be joyful and do good.)   —   YUR

Related articles

• It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas at the White House (washingtonpost.com)
• What You Didn’t Know about Your Christmas Tree This Holiday Season (scienceworldreport.com)
• Living Christmas Trees, Choose the Right One for Your Region (writedge.com)
• Humbugs: Christmas Trees May Be Trimmed With ‘Hitchhikers’ (wsj.com)
• Consider these points in making selection of a Christmas tree (thetimes-tribune.com)
• Oh Christmas Tree, Oh Christmas Tree: What Species Are Thee? (shanekeven.typepad.com)
• Choose the holiday fir for you (northcountrypublicradio.org)
• Celebrities and their Christmas trees: An inspirational list (tnnegypt.com)
• It’s the Tannenbaum: How to find the right real Christmas tree (digitaltrends.com)

Season’s Greetings Cryptoquote Spoiler – 12/24/14

“Have a Happy Christmas and enjoy this Holiday Season.”   —   Your Puzzle People

(Sounds like warm and wise advice to me!  Be . . . joyful and do good, my friends.)   —   YUR

Related articles

• Christmas and Holiday Seasonal Photography (photovide.com)
• The Hope Tree (create-with-joy.com)
• 12 Days of Christmas PETS is coming (ritalovestowrite.com)
• Selected Holiday Season songs and other winter songs, index (songbook1.wordpress.com)
• Christmas Foods Around the World – Part 3 of 3 (englishteastore.com)
• Spend Christmas Eve with some cats and dogs at Pet Helpers (charlestoncitypaper.com)
• Merry Christmas and Happy New Year~by Marigold Page (ourpoetrycorner.wordpress.com)
• Merry Christmas (peoplestrusttoronto.wordpress.com)

Glorious exceptionalism (an anthem for being different)

Don’t be “the norm”, people! Only Norm is The Norm. Be: The Bob, The Art, The Hal, The Lesley, The Jenn, The Linda Lee, The Wimpy, et al ! Be yourselves.

Perspectives on Life, the Universe and Everything

you standout
from the crowd
believe deliverance
trust in difference

come on
you stand,
standout
from the crowd

what is holding you back
have courage, sail
you will, unarguably, fail
many times,
most of the times

just believe,
standout
standout
from the crowd
from the crowd

pick yourself up
dirt will disappear
a new you appear
bask in glory

standout
from the crowd
they are waiting
standout
from the crowd

doubters, shouters
hooters, looters
will feel sorry
for what they did,
they should

standout
standout
from the crowd
you deserve it!

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