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MERRY CHRISTMAS ALL

... And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”
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DATELINE: BEND, OREGON

From November 13-18, Kelly and Margaret McCarty traveled to Oregon to visit with Chris, Amanda, Alexa and Cooper. The couple chose November as they figured it would be safe travel instead of February which is when they usually travel. They flew into Portland on the 13th, rented a car to drive through the mountains to central Oregon. On the morning they departed on their car ride, a blizzard started up. Although driving was trecherous, they wanted to stop a couple places along the way, including their first stop at the Vista House. This is a building on a cliff overlooking the Columbia River. Driving cautiously through the wind and snow up the mountain, they reached the top. Upon parking the car, they could see the Vista House, with a person standing outside of it. Kelly tried to open his car door, but it wouldn't open. Margaret just about got her arm tore off opening hers' as they realized quickly the winds were blowing from 60 to 100mph on top of the mountain. The couple huddled while hunched over making their way toward the house. Kelly's cap blew off his head and over the cliff. They both grabbed the railing while climbing the final steps to the house. When they got to the top, the man they saw earlier said "It's Closed! We thought "Boy, that information would have been more useful ABOUT 5 MINUTES AGO!" Anyway, Margaret said she wanted to try to go around back to see the river over the cliff. Kelly said I'll wait here. For the next 15 minutes, neither one moved, as the wind was hurling Kelly against the building, as Margaret gripped the railing with both arms. Kelly said, "I'm Done... Let's get back to the car." Both stood in place frozen in fear. Kelly got the guts to get back to Margaret, where she promptly came up with the best line of the trip. She said "Maybe if I logroll, I can make it to the car!". Well... Kelly put his capless head down and wrestled the wind making it to the car. Margaret did the same (no logroll thank God). In the car, Margaret said, "Maybe we can drive around back by the cliff and find your hat." I said that it must have been a few miles down the river by now, so we tentatively headed back down the mountain in the car. Although we did not take video on the mountain, the same phenomenon happend a few years ago highlighted on the news.

After much silence, Margaret suggested we stop at Multnomah Falls near the Dalles. Having to really go to the bathroom, Kelly obliged. They wound their way through the slick side roads and made it to the waterfalls, but the buildings were closed because of the weather. Thank God, the bathrooms were left unlocked. The two took some selfies of themselves and the falls for the authorities to identfy their bodies.

Back on the main drag, the remaining 3 hour drive turned into 9 hours. The couple saw many trucks and cars that had crashed, slid off the road or were stalled, but the rental Toyota Corolla that the Michigan Mcs were relying on finished the trek to Bend. 

Once in Bend, we had a very lovely visit. Chris and Amanda were wonderful hosts. In all, Central Oregon received 11 inches of snow, which made the school cancellation day on Friday a fun day for Alexa, Cooper and the grandparents, as they played in the snow and even built a minature mountain on the grass and slid down that hill on sleds. Kelly and Margaret would like to thank the Bend Mc's for all their hospitality. I think for our next visite, we will be looking at more like July or August.... Not November.

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Cooper finds his play house in the back Margaret and Cooper pull Alexa Amanda gets Alexa ready for a ride
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The next day, she goes head first Cooper like the ride The Prince and Princess of Mount McCarty

DATELINE: NEW YORK CITY

Three days after the return from Oregon, Margaret hopped a plane to spend a few days in New York City with her sister Marianne. A good friend of theirs had a time share a the plush Hilton Gardens Hotel on 57th Street, and couldn't use it for that week, and offered it to the sisters. In NYC, Margaret did a lot of sight seeing. On the first day, she and her sister met up with 2 friends from New Jersey that Margaret and Brad met in Australia a several years ago and have kept in touch since. They had dinner together. The following day, Margaret went to the Museum of Natural History where they filmed the movie "Night At The Museum" with Ben Stiller and Robin Williams. Margaret wishes she could have stayed longer, but she wanted to make the TMZ bus tour. She got to see all the spots she has read or heard about in the tabloids. The following day, the sisters walked on the High Line. The High Line is an elevated freight rail line transformed into a free, public park on Manhattan’s West Side. They had a good walk and a good time. Later that evening, they checked out the holiday lights at Macy's, Barney's and Sak's. Ohhhh... Ahhhhh. The follow day, they went to see the Broadway Musical Beautiful by Carole King. It was ... for lack of better words... beautiful. Some of the cool restaurants they dined at during trip were Rue 57, Heartland Brewery, and the Food Hall in the Plaza Hotel. A storm blew on the final day causing a blizzard on the entire east coast, but luckily, the airplane carrying the two sisters was only slightly delayed on their return trip to Michigan.

Margaret with NJ friends Lori and Chris View from the room Cocktails before going out for the evening
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Margaret on the High Line Tree at the Plaza Hotel The TMZ Bus Tour
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DATELINE: OLIVIA TURNS 1

NEW YEAR'S 2015 RESOLUTIONS
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LANGUAGE
Eliminate unnecessary words, especially "the month of" before January, February, March, etc. This means you, Mario & Rod!

WORLD PEACE

Eliminate unnecessary wars, especially Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria, Ukraine, Washington, D.C., etc.
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ANOTHER METRO YEAR
We've come a long way since the basement steps. Congrats, Editor Kelly and Editor Emeritus Dennis.

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DATELINE: PLANES, TRAINS & AUTOMOBILES

Here are some of the travel destinations this past month from our readers...

 Kelly & Margaret traveled to Oregon and to Ohio to visit their kids and grandkids.
 Margaret traveled to New York City to do some holiday shopping.
Steve, Kristen, Megan and Jenna traveled to Florida for Thanksgiving.
Larry traveled to Southern California.

Are you traveling? Why not send us your destination and pictures. Send them to submit@mccartymetro.com

Dear Editor. Where can I find the results of the annual Christmas Name Draw? Curious in California

ED NOTE: I believe that would be in our Christmas 1999 issue.

Dear Editor. It was great and so much fun to be a guest at Rick's Martini Bar. It was wonderful seeing Kelli Maroney again, she is such a talent! - Sharon Farrell

ED NOTE: Thank you Sharon for being such a delightful guest with Jerry and Kelli on the podcast. Cheers!

Dear Editor. Thanks for all the family health updates and keep them up.  By the way, how are you feeling? -Donald S. Temrowski

ED NOTE: According to one of our writers, my wife may be calling you in the very near future.

Dear Editor: I am a reporter and beat writer for the Metro, and I did not get a Metro Christmas bonus this year. Hey! If any of your readers are looking for any last-minute gift ideas for me, I have one. I'd like Kelly McCarty, my boss, right here tonight. I want him brought from his happy holiday slumber over there on Sussex Avenue with all the other rich people and I want him brought right here, with a big ribbon on his head, and I want to look him straight in the eye and I want to tell him what a cheap, lying, no-good, rotten, four-flushing, low-life, snake-licking, dirt-eating, inbred, overstuffed, ignorant, blood-sucking, dog-kissing, brainless, hopeless, heartless, fat-ass, bug-eyed, stiff-legged, spotty-lipped, worm-headed sack of monkey crap he is! Hallelujah! Holy crap! Where's the Tylenol? -G.R. Coorespondent

ED NOTE: What looks good on paper isn't worth it when you see how it affects the people you depend on. Hey GR... I am going to send you the same bonus as last year.... and add 30%. Merry Christmas.


We want to hear your questions, comments, rants, or editorials.
Just submit them anytime during the month to to mccartymetro@gmail.com for inclusion in the next issue.

GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN - THOSE WHO HAVE PASSED AWAY SINCE THE LAST ISSUE

Tom Magliozzi, 77, automotive expert and radio personality (Car Talk), complications from Alzheimer's disease. Richard Schaal, 86, actor (The Mary Tyler Moore Show, Phyllis, Trapper John, M.D.). Ernest Kinoy, 89, writer (Roots, Dimension X, The Defenders), pneumonia. Alvin Dark, 92, baseball player (Boston Braves, New York Giants) and manager (San Francisco Giants, Cleveland Indians), Alzheimer's disease. Pat Quinn, 71, ice hockey coach and executive (Philadelphia Flyers, Toronto Maple Leafs, Vancouver Canucks). Marion Barry, 78, politician, Mayor of the District of Columbia (1979–1991, 1995–1999), cardiac arrest. 

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AND FINALLY... DATELINE NORTH DAKOTA

The state of North Dakota has named a new publicly-owned landfill after President Barack Obama. In an overwhelming 35-10 vote, the state Senate advanced a bill naming a 650-acre site currently under construction after the nation’s 44th president. Governor Jack Dalrymple is expected to sign the measure into law Tuesday. When completed, the Barack Obama Memorial Landfill will be the largest waste disposal site in North Dakota, and the 17th largest in the United States. It will be especially rich in toxic waste from the local petroleum and medical industries. “We wanted to do something to honor the president,” says Republican State Senator Doug Perlman, who was the lead sponsor of the bill. “And I think a pile of garbage is a fitting tribute to Obama’s presidency. “We originally planned on naming it after a nearby mountain. But then someone jokingly suggested we name it after Obama. I never thought and idea like that would actually pass. But I was pleasantly surprised.” The president is hardly popular in North Dakota. The most recent poll in December 2013 found that Obama has a 35% approval rating in the state, although that figure may have fallen further in the year since.

Yet even considering the political climate, seasoned observers are surprised that two Democratic lawmakers voted for the bill’s passage. “I guess people expected me to oppose this landfill thing because I’m a Democrat. But honestly I don’t really care anymore. Maybe this small act of protest will wake him up.” Ordinary citizens in the state also seem to approve of the government’s choice.

MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR!
THE McCARTY METRO WILL BE BACK ON YOUR CYBERPORCH IN FEBRUARY

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