|   THE NORTH POLE (November  17, 2008) -- Greetings everyone from the North Pole!

I hope you are all doing well and getting ready for the holiday season. We only have 38 days to go until Christmas, so time is running short and we are working hard. For the elves that means building toys and for me it mostly means going over my list and checking it twice.

I do receive quite a bit of e-mail -- and of course letters this time of year -- and sometimes I receive request for the names of those on the Naughty and Nice List.

Well, of course I must explain that I can only tell you if you are on the Naughty or Nice List. I cannot reveal any other names of friends or family members -- it has to be kept confidential or secret.

Of course, the best that anyone can do is to be on their best behavior at all times and if you do that, then you can rest assured that you are on the Nice List -- which is the place you want to be this time of year.

Also, for those believers in school, it's very important that you always study hard, listen in class and do your very best at your school work. A good education is so very important and you should always do your best in school and learn as much as you can. It will only help you when you grow up and it becomes time for you to get a job.

Did you know that the elves all have college degrees? It's true. They do fine work, but that wouldn't be possible had they not gotten a good education and paid attention in school.

Well, I must get back to my list, so I hope that you will be helpful to others, listen to your folks and teachers and keep the Spirit of Christmas in your heart always. Bye for now!

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|   THE NORTH POLE (November  6, 2008) -- Hello everyone! I hope you are doing well. As you might imagine, we are very, very busy here at the North Pole.

Christmas is getting closer every day, so we are working extra hard to ensure that we are ready for our very special Christmas mission.

Fortunately, thanks to the work of the elves, we have everything back up in working order in the workshop and it's full steam ahead toward Christmas Day!

The reindeer are getting into flying shape for our special Christmas Eve mission. They have been training hard since October 1 and Elf Connie is working closely with them, as she always does, to ensure they are ready to go on Christmas Eve.

It's a very special time of the year here at the North Pole. There is always a lot of work to do, but it is always very exciting, too, with the Christmas music playing all through the workshop and everyone very, very busy as well.

We are all very anxious for Christmas, as I am sure you are, too, and we look forward to the big day and all of the joyous celebration that goes along with it.

As you go about your daily routine, please remember to be good, treat others as you would like to be treated and keep the Spirit of Christmas in your heart always. I will talk to you all again soon. 

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|   THE NORTH POLE (September 29, 2008) -- Oh my! Just 86 days to go until Christmas! Can you believe it? I hope you all are doing good and I am sure you are quite busy these days, too!

We've had a few production problems this past week with some of our equipment breaking down, but we now have everything fixed, thanks to Elf Jacob and his crew for getting everything fixed and back up and running!

Never fear, young friends, we will be back on schedule soon and everything will be ready to go for our Christmas Eve mission.

The reindeer will begin serious training for the Christmas Eve mission on Oct. 1 and will train hard up until Dec. 1, when they will ease up a bit, so they will be at full strength on Christmas Eve.

So, if you happen to glance at the sky think you see a flying reindeer, well, you might just be right. They reindeer will be taking to the air and flying over different parts of the world as they build up their strength for the big night.

Remember, be good, treat others as you would like to be treated and keep the Spirit of Christmas in your heart always. I will talk to you all again soon. 

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|   THE NORTH POLE (September 15, 2008) -- Greetings everyone and thank you for stopping by!

Well, I am sure you are all very busy with school -- for those of you that are in school -- or playing with friends for the rest of you.

Of course, we are very busy in the workshop here in the North Pole getting ready for Christmas Eve. It's hard to believe that we have just over 100 days to go! My, how time flies!

Now, I know that might seem like a very long time to some of you, but you know what? It will fly by quickly. Before you know it Halloween will be here, and then Thanksgiving is right around the corner, and then of course, my personal favorite holiday -- Christmas!

Have you started thinking about what you want for Christmas yet? Yes, it's a little early, but soon the Christmas catalogs will be coming out and your eyes will get very big as you look through the catalog. Or when you go with your folks to the mall and see all of the interesting toys, books and other things they have to offer.

And while that is great, I want you all to also think about what you can do to help others have a Merry Christmas this year. There may be many people who do not believe they will have a happy holiday for any number of reasons. Maybe you can help and I don't mean by spending money for a gift. But rather by being kind and helpful to others and share your Christmas cheer with them.

Maybe you could make a special Christmas card for them. Or share some traditional holiday fruits and nuts with them. Maybe your family can share Christmas dinner with them. There are any number of ways to reach out and help those in need.

Please be on the lookout for others you can help and then spread your Christmas Spirit. It will be the greatest gift you can ever give!

I will talk to you all again very soon. Now, back to the workshop!

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|   THE NORTH POLE (September 1, 2008) --  Hello everyone and thank you for stopping by!

We are now less than four months away from Christmas -- just 114 days -- and once we get past August, the time seems to go very quickly, especially when you have to worry about getting the toys made, the reindeer in tip-top shape, and the Christmas Eve route planned and tested.

Whew! Sometimes it makes me tired just thinking about it all. But not to worry, we have always managed to have everything ready for Christmas Eve.

Oh, there have been problems we have had to overcome in the past, but you know what? The elves are very resourceful and very smart and they always seem to come up with a way to save the day.

You can't imagine how many times the elves have saved Christmas. Last year we had some production problems and I was afraid children in Australia might go without toys at one point, but thanks to the elves, we were able to get everything fixed and get all of the toys made for Christmas Eve delivery!

Just like everyone else, we have problems and challenges we have to overcome.  so whenever you feel like giving up, just remember we all have that feeling at one time or another, but whatever you do, NEVER give up!

You can overcome any challenge. I have faith in you!

Remember, be good, treat others as you would like to be treated and keep the Spirit of Christmas in your heart always. I will talk to you all again soon. 

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|   THE NORTH POLE (August 20, 2008) --  Hello everyone and welcome to Santa's blog.

I am sorry it has been awhile since I have written, but it's a very busy time here at the North Pole as we have just 127 days until Christmas -- can you believe it? Time flies quickly when you are building toys, video games and all of the other things that we make for delivery every Christmas Eve.

I know that many of you that are school age have either gone back to school or will be heading back very soon. I know that you all had a fun time this summer and maybe are not so eager to get back to the classroom, but remember how important it is for you all to learn as much as you can. Make it a fun experience -- like  a game -- to learn all you can about your subjects. Trust me  -- many years down the road you will be glad that you paid attention in class and soaked up all the knowledge that you could.

Another thing that is very important is to keep in mind that you should always be on your best behavior in school. Be kind to your classmates and respectful of your teachers. Remember, I am always watching, so I will know if you have not been on your best behavior.

Now, one good thing about school starting is that soon Halloween will be here, followed very soon by Thanksgiving and then of course, my personal favorite holiday -- even though I have a lot of work to do -- Christmas!

Remember, be good, treat others as you would like to be treated and keep the Spirit of Christmas in your heart always. I will talk to you all again soon. 

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|   THE NORTH POLE (July 14, 2008) -- Hello everyone, thanks for stopping by for a moment.

Well, July is here and of course there are many celebrations of "Christmas in July" around the world. Hallmark is debuting their 2008 Christmas ornaments and the countdown is on to Christmas!

While summer means vacations for many in the world, here at the North Pole we are working hard to make sure that everything is ready to go on Christmas Eve.

The workshop is going at full speed and will continue to operate in that manner right up until the most magical night of the year.

For children, summer means time away from school to spend with friends and to visit relatives. It's a fun time and a chance to play sports or go to camp.

I hope you all are having a very, merry summer and while you enjoy your time off, please remember to carry the Spirit of Christmas in your heart always.

Be good and kind to others, and helpful to those who need help. Visit an elderly neighbor and if nothing else, just spend time with them and talk to them. You might be amazed at what you can learn!

And remember to help your folks, be cheerful and carry a song -- maybe a Christmas song? -- in your heart.

Thank you for visiting and I will talk to you again soon.

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|   THE NORTH POLE (June 2, 2008) -- Hello everyone and welcome to Santa's blog.

It's been awhile since I have posted anything new, but while you are enjoying the end of the school year and your summer, we are working on getting everything ready for Christmas 2008.

It's much more relaxed around Santa's workshop these days since we still have six months to go before Christmas, but we also know that the next six months will fly by very quickly. Just like your summer vacation!

The elves are busy working on this year's toys and technology for boys and girls around the world and I think you will not only be surprised, but very pleased with what will be available this coming Christmas season.

I've been doing this for many, many, many years, but I am always amazed at all of the new toys that come out each year.  The elves are quite advanced in all technologies, in fact  today they are learning about new advances in micro-processors. The learning never ends -- even at the North Pole.

You see, while you might get tired of learning in school, you never really stop. There are always new and exciting things to learn about and you should try very hard to learn as much as you can. Why, you ask? Well, the more you learn, the more opportunities you will have in the future, so it's very important that you pay attention in school and listen to your teachers and always do your very best. Who knows? Someday you might want to apply for a job at the North Pole, so you have to learn as much as you can now to prepare you for that special opportunity in the future!

Well, I have to get back to checking the list -- twice, you know -- and I think I smell some freshly baked chocolate chip cookies!

Remember, be good and treat others as you would like to be treated and keep the Spirit of Christmas in your heart always. I will talk to you all again soon.

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|   THE NORTH POLE (April 11, 2008) -- Hello everyone and thank you for stopping by Santa's blog.

Do you know who the Vendequm are? If you do, then you are to be congratulated because not many people, outside of Christmas historians and Clausologists know that the Vendequm are better known around the world as elves.

More than 3,000 Vendequm live at the North Pole in the ice mountains under the North Star and work year round building toys, training reindeer, designing and constructing buildings -- every job imaginable.

The unique and most amazing thing about elves is that they love to work -- they live to work.

They don't enjoy days off or vacation time. They prefer to work all day, sleep for about an hour, and then go to work again. There are no other beings like them in the entire world.

The elves amazing ability to work at incredible speed made it possible to create gifts for children around the globe. But one of the most important things the elves brought to Santa Claus was the ability to manipulate, or travel through time.

If it weren't for the elves knowledge in the area of time travel, Santa would never have been able to deliver gifts to children around the world in one night.

With the help of the elves, Santa is able to travel at a great rate of speed and make his deliveries. The faster Santa travels, the more time slows down for him.

Everything seems to be moving at a normal rate of speed, but in human time, Santa is going faster than the speed of light. That is also why -- only in very rare circumstances -- no one catches Santa delivering gifts on Christmas Eve.

How is Santa able to do this? He doesn't really know all of the details. All he does know that it works -- and has worked for over 1,800 years.

So you see, the elves have more to do with the annual Christmas Mission than anyone else. If it weren't for the elves, Santa Claus would never to be able to make and then deliver toys around the world on Christmas Eve.

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|   THE NORTH POLE (March 15, 2008) -- Hello everyone and thank you for stopping by my blog.

You know, giving gifts is my area of expertise. I have done it for quite a few years, as a matter of fact. And I have received all kinds of requests over the years. Everything from real cars and trucks to simple toys. But a couple of years ago I received a request for a simple letter from Santa to a young girl in Slovenia. A letter from Santa was the only thing that she wanted for Christmas and she wanted to get it in the mail, postmarked from the North Pole.

Well, this young lady had been very good. She had worked hard in school and she visited her Grandma several times each week and helped her with chores and other things that needed to be done.

So, I got right to work and wrote her a personal letter and got it in the mail to her, complete with a North Pole postmark.

She received the letter on Christmas Eve and was thrilled with the gift, keeping it with her at all times, showing it to her friends and of course, sharing it with her beloved Grandma.

So you see, a gift does not have to come with a large price tag or even shiny paper and fancy ribbons and bows. A gift needs to be given with love, and if you do that, then you will understand the powerful Spirit of Christmas, which is what the Christmas Season is all about.

Remember, be good and treat others as you would like to be treated and keep the Spirit of Christmas in your heart always. I will talk to you all again soon.

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|   THE NORTH POLE (March 3, 2008) -- Hi everyone and thank you for stopping by Santa's blog!

We are quite busy here at the North Pole getting ready for next Christmas. Now, you might think it is a very long ways off, but we less than 300 days to go, so the workshop is busy with activity and elves moving about. We are going to have some exciting new toys for next Christmas that I am sure you will enjoy!

You should also know that the elves in the Naughty and Nice Center are constantly monitoring the behavior of boys and girls all around the world, so you should always be on your best behavior.

It's always fun to receive gifts at Christmas, isn't it? Sure, everyone loves to receive, but did you know it is just as much fun to give?

Oh yes, the feeling that you get when you give to someone else, be it a gift, or a helping hand, is the best feeling you can ever have. It's one that you should try to carry with you throughout the year.

So for next Christmas why not think of ways that you can help others -- volunteer with a local charity, help an elderly neighbor or someone else who is in need. You don't need to spend large amounts of money to bring joy to someone else, while helping them at the same time.

These small acts of kindness may very well ensure that you have the best Christmas you have ever had this year!

Remember, be good and treat others as you would like to be treated and keep the Spirit of Christmas in your heart always. I will talk to you all again soon.

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|   THE NORTH POLE (February 17, 2008) -- Welcome everyone and thank you for stopping by to read my blog.

I don't know about you, but it's hard to believe we are already halfway through February! We have just 312 days left until Christmas as of Saturday, so time is moving quickly as it always does. I hope you are all doing well. Everything here at the North Pole is running smoothly and we are well on our way to getting things ready for Christmas 2008.

The elves who work on my sleigh are constantly trying to come up with more ways to make it fly better and faster each year. They are now working on a way to streamline the sleigh so it cuts through air better and reduces the work the reindeer have to do each Christmas Eve in pulling the sleigh around the world -- you know, those wonder reindeer aren't spring chickens anymore!

I am excited about the possibilities with the improvements to the sleigh for this coming Christmas -- I can't wait! Mechanic Elf Mike has wonderful ideas to make the sleigh better and faster, so I know he will come up with something grand.

Light snow is falling as I look out my window this morning and it's 24 below zero. It's a good thing that I enjoy cold weather!

Remember, be good and treat others as you would like to be treated and keep the Spirit of Christmas in your heart always. I will talk to you all again soon.

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|   THE NORTH POLE (February 9, 2008) --  Hello everyone and thank you for visiting.

It has been a very difficult week for a lot of people in the United States, who were affected by severe storms. Many lost loved ones as well as their homes.

While many people, who lost all of their belongings in the storms struggle just to survive, there are others who are on the scene trying to help with supplies and shelter for these victims.

Agencies such as the Red Cross are on hand helping with disaster cleanup and relief efforts. The Red Cross also had a blog, which is helping to provide the latest information and images from the areas devastated by the recent severe weather, which you can read here.

If you can I hope you will show your support for their efforts, or if you can volunteer to help, I hope that you will. Every little bit helps. And please, keep these people -- the victims and the volunteers in your thoughts and prayers as they deal with an almost overwhelming situation.

Remember, be good and treat others as you would like to be treated and keep the Spirit of Christmas in your heart always. I will talk to you all again soon.

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|   THE NORTH POLE (February 1, 2008) --  Hi everyone and thank you for stopping by!

I always like to reflect on Christmas at this time of the year. What made last Christmas so good? What could we all work on to make this coming Christmas the best yet?

Well, I have always believed that the best way to make for an unforgettable Christmas is to help others, especially those in need.

There is no greater joy in life than lending a helping hand to someone else less fortunate.

Many times we all get caught up in having "things" while there are so many who have little or nothing. When you take a moment to aid these folks -- young and old -- you are like a shining star in their life.

These good deeds don't have to cost a lot of money -- a helping hand with a chore for an elderly person  -- can be a bigger help than you could ever imagine. I know many folks who volunteered at their local city mission or homeless shelter for a day.

This type of work tends to give us all a better idea of what the true Spirit of Christmas is all about.

Why not plan ahead for this Christmas and contact your local charities to see what you and your family can do to help make the Christmas season a little bit brighter for everyone. It will be the greatest gift you can ever give -- yourself. 

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|   THE NORTH POLE (January 25, 2008) --  Greetings everyone!

Thank you for taking time to stop by my blog today. Can you believe that there are only 334 days until Christmas?

Now, I know that might sounds like a lot to many of you, but for those of us preparing for the Christmas season and especially Christmas Eve, it all goes by quite quickly.

I know many of you are wondering if we are at work on making toys and many other things for this Christmas, and the answer is yes.

We are back at work full-force here at the North Pole getting things ready for Christmas 2008. Another important question I get all the time, but also this early in the year is whether I am already checking the Naughty and Nice List twice.

Again, the answer is yes. Remember, we are always watching, so it pays to always do your very best to be good and kind to others. And don't forget to be helpful as well. It certainly can't hurt.

Everyone is always very concerned about the reindeer after our long Christmas Eve journey. Well, let me assure you that they are all doing just fine. They normally rest and do very little up until March, then they start working out and preparing for Christmas Eve.

The Christmas Eve journey always tires them out and sometimes they even catch a cold or the flu, just like the rest of us, so January and February are good months for them to rest, eat and get better. And yes, we always make sure they get plenty of fluids if they are ill.

Old Donder has a bit of a cold, but is getting better. All of the other reindeer -- Rudolph included -- are doing just great.

Well, I must get back down to the workshop. Elf Tim is working on a new suspension system for one of our motorized toy cars -- I love it when elves think outside the box.

I will talk to you all again soon and remember to carry the Spirit of Christmas in your hearts always.

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|   THE NORTH POLE (January 17, 2008) -- Hello everyone! I hope you are having a good week. This is the time of year when we are preparing everything for Christmas, which is just 342 days away.  I like to take a moment to look back on the past Christmas and how much fun it was, even though it was quite hectic.

As always, there were many special moments and one of those occurred when I made a special trip to see some senior citizens in Kansas City, Missouri.

These wonderful people live at the Swope Ridge Geriatrics Center. I joined some employees of Sprint and we spent an entire day visiting with the residents, handing out gifts, singing Christmas carols and taking a lot of photos.

It was a grand event and everyone was filled with Christmas cheer. There were three separate Christmas parties held that day and each one just got better as the day went along.

It has been said that Christmas is for children, but I don't believe that to be true. I believe that Christmas is for everyone and the spirit of the season brings a sparkle to everyone's eyes and you can just see the child inside come out in every adult. To have an opportunity to be part of that experience is something this Jolly Old Elf will never forget.

In all my travels past and all my travels still to come I shall never meet better people than I did at this event. These people are filled with stories and wisdom and they love to visit and share their stories -- and I for one, loved to listen to them.

I have been invited back to visit my friends again in December and I plan on being there. I wouldn't miss it for the world.

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|   THE NORTH POLE (January 11, 2008) -- Hello everyone! Thank you for stopping by for a few moments. I appreciate it very much. I hope that you are enjoying the gifts you received for Christmas. Did you enjoy receiving gifts at Christmas or did you enjoy giving gifts to others more? It is always thrilling to receive a gift that you have wanted so much, but there is something even more special about giving a gift to someone. When you see the expression on their face -- the happiness -- there is nothing quite like that. As you grow up and get older, it becomes more enjoyable to give gifts to others than to receive them yourself. It is so satisfying to give to others that you want to repeat it over and over again. But you don't have to buy things for others all the time. It's the little gifts -- the common courtesies -- 0that unfortunately are all too rare these days that can make the biggest difference.

Helping carry in groceries, holding the door for someone, saying "please" and "thank you" and taking out the trash are just a few of the things that can make such a big difference to another person. These are small acts of kindness that you can do every day and in turn, brighten someone's day.

The little things mean so much, don't let those opportunities pass by. Remember, Christmas isn't just a day, it's a frame of mind. That feeling, that spirit shouldn't be for just a few weeks each year, it should be for every day of every week of every year. Make doing small acts of kindness a habit -- it's the best habit you can ever have.

Remember, be good and treat others as you would like to be treated and keep the Spirit of Christmas in your heart always. I will talk to you all again soon.

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|   THE NORTH POLE (January 8, 2008) -- Greetings everyone from the North Pole. I hope you all are off to a good start to the new year. I know we are all excited about Christmas, even though we have 351 days left to go. Time flies, especially when you are making toys for all of the good boys and girls around the world.

I hope that during this past Christmas season that you were generous with your time and shared your Christmas Spirit with others. That's a wonderful thing and I want you to try and keep that up all through the year. I know it can be a difficult thing to do at times, but it is important for all of us to do our very best to help others in need and try to lift the spirits of of those that need it.

The old saying, "You reap what you sow" certainly applies. If you show kindness to others in your everyday life, that kindness will surely come back to you when you need it most. Small acts of kindness are very powerful things, so you never know what might come from a simple act that you perform.

I try to base my life on small acts of kindness and secret giving. That's not to say I am perfect -- even Santa Claus can have days when things don't go as he would hope. But the important thing is to keep doing your good deeds no matter what and you shall be rewarded in the end.

That's why I always say you should carry the Spirit of Christmas in your heart all through the year and I hope that we will all try to do that. Wouldn't the world be a much different place if everyone did that?

I will talk to you all again very soon. Now, off to find some hot chocolate and a cookie -- or two! 

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