It looked like him, and sounded like him, but , then, that’s the last place I would expect to see Tom Cruise. Was that really him? or a really good look-a-like?? anyone knows?

Winter Wonderland — not exactly. But Seattle is especially festive during the Christmas holidays, and a great destination to combine shopping with a special getaway.
From Seattle Center to Westlake Center to the Pike Place Market, the usual visitor attractions become just a little more special on a chilly winter’s day. Throngs of excited, bundled-up families and couples sample the seasonal offerings at Westlake such as Quest carousel rides, or the kettle corn and elephant ears nearby. Vendors make balloon animals for the kids while loud Christmas music blares in the background making sure no one misses out on Seattle’s holiday spirit.
Make it an overnight trip and it’s even better. First, you’ll be sure to see the numerous Christmas lights along downtown streets including the famous star on Macy’s, the Space Needle lights and many other special seasonal touches. And, by staying overnight, you can turn a shopping trip into a true getaway.
Our base of operations was a Seattle landmark, the Edgewater Hotel. Maybe you remember that the Edgewater was famous during the Sixties when the Beatles stayed there and fished right out their window. In fact, it became the obvious choice for many famous rock groups that came into town during that period to play for one of Pat O’Dea’s spectacular rock concerts.
Today the Edgewater has a classic elegance that combines the best location in Seattle with an updated interior design that evokes the Northwest’s rich Native American heritage. The first thing we saw when entering our waterfront room was a Washington State Ferry – just out the window and across the waters of Elliott Bay. Our view made us feel like we were traveling on a cruise ship with nothing but water between us and the ferry. This, of course, is the major attraction of the aptly-named Edgewater – a location literally out on the water with incredible views of Puget Sound and nearby islands.
Our room featured many Northwest accents such as a log headboard on our comfortable king-size bed, bark trim and a wood panel above the corner fireplace, Native American designs on the carpets with knotty pine baseboards, and Indian characters and designs on the wood-frame entertainment center. In the bathroom, a large claw-style bathtub looked awfully inviting, while the modern colors and fixtures made the room look like something you would see in a magazine on interior design. The floors were amber quartz slate, while the room also included a glass-enclosed European spa shower.
With a room at the Edgewater – which features a constant parade of boats just outside your window — there is the temptation to just stay there and enjoy the endless sights and sounds. But our main objective this trip was to check out the city’s Christmas activities, so we walked over to Pike Place Market, just a few blocks from the hotel.
The market is one of Seattle’s most recognizable symbols – right up there with the Space Needle. That probably has something to do with the way TV sports announcers always make a point of showing footage of the market while broadcasting Seattle Seahawks or Washington Huskies sports telecasts. Typically the shot is one of the fish handlers throwing King salmon – thus we were pleased that, upon our arrival, the fish were indeed flying. Just like the 50 or so other visitors standing around watching, we had seen for ourselves the famous Pike Place Market fish throw.
Those fish handlers in their sweat suits, hoodies and aprons aren’t the only reason to stop by the market at Christmas time. The market goes all out in its decorations and, in fact, has Christmas trees available – not that we wanted to cart one back to the Edgewater. Take a walk just north of the first fish market and you enter a beehive of activity where it seems like just about anything you want is for sale – fresh fruits and produce, honey, herbs, dried flower bouquets, jams and jellies, nuts, fruits, chocolates, tee-shirts, purses, you name it. There actually are several fish markets in the same building, as well as restaurants where you can dine on fresh fish before you even leave the market. .
Just across the street from the market, in front of the Starbucks, a musical group called Slimpickens was warming up the crowds with lively 1930’s style music played in a four-piece configuration: guitar, stand-up bass, violin and washboard. Dressed in 30’s garb, the group also seemed to be getting a Depression-era response to their music: lots of smiles and toe-tapping, but not many coins dropping into their prominently placed cup.
Along about here we encountered Piroshky, Piroshky, a tiny take-out restaurant serving up fresh Russian piroshkies for just under $5. These were just baked and, if you’re wondering, the piroshky is a little like a flakey turnover filled with meat, cheese or other fillings. They’re delicious and, for us, provided a quick and inexpensive lunch.
Some friends of ours went instead to Von’s Grand City Café, just a few blocks from the market on Pine Street where the meal was fine but they reported back that this was the first time they had encountered canned champagne. They ordered a split of champagne and the can that was delivered to their table had a straw attached – which our friends said reminded them of the fruit drink boxes they get for their kids. Of course that’s what visiting the “Big City” is all about – experiencing new things.
A few blocks from the market is Westlake Center, a modern, multi-story shopping center with upscale stores and – because of its location near Macy’s and Nordstrom — the epicenter of retail activity downtown. It’s here that, for just $2 each way, you can hop on board the Monorail – originally built for the 1962 Seattle World’s Fair – and zip over to Seattle Center where their Winterfest celebration has continual holiday entertainment and one of the coolest model railroads and miniature Christmas towns your kids will ever see.
Soon it was time to head back to the Edgewater, where we watched the fog roll in and marveled at how the few sailboats that were out on this wintery day were able to dodge the Washington State ferries. Thank goodness for foghorns and radar, we would guess. Just a few minutes walk from the Edgewater is the Spaghetti Factory, where we enjoyed a tasty but inexpensive dinner.
The night was restful and, when the sun came up the next day, the skies were blue and the views from our room were like a picture postcard. No need to lose that view while having breakfast — downstairs at the Edgewater we stopped in for a hearty meal with the best views in town at the hotel’s award-winning Six Seven restaurant. We were pleasantly surprised at the reasonable prices, given the restaurant’s prime location and upscale reputation.
More downtown exploration was on tap for our second day, with no shortage of merchandise available at unusually good prices. Soon it was time to go home, but it wasn’t like a trip home from the mall in which you’re exhausted and swear never to go shopping with the multitudes again. Yes, we’d accomplished our Christmas shopping all right — but we also felt invigorated by an unforgettable holiday trip to Seattle’s Winter Wonderland.
For more information on Seattle, go to www. visitseattle. org or phone 206-461-5840. For more information on the Edgewater Hotel, please visit www. edgewaterhotel. com or phone 1-800-624-0670.

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Jimmy Kimmel shows a clip from Peanuts Christmas special, as revised by Tom Cruise … Kimmel Peanuts Christmas Cruise humor

FORT LAUDERDALE, FLA. (October 1, 2009) â?? Vacationers looking for a great price on a Caribbean escape this fall can take advantage of MSC Cruisesâ?? â??Last-Minuteâ? deals on select Caribbean cruises, starting at $249.

MSC Cruises features 5- and 10-night Caribbean cruises to the Southern Caribbean, Eastern Caribbean, and Panama on MSC Poesia as she sails roundtrip from Fort Lauderdale during her inaugural 2009-10 Caribbean season:

All rates are cruise-only, per person, double occupancy for U. S. and Canadian citizens; government fees and taxes are additional and cannot be combined with any other offers or promotions. Offer is subject to availability. All cruises offer just a $100 per person deposit. The â??Last-Minuteâ? offer is available on new bookings made by October 31.



MSC Poesiaâ??s season will also include a variety of 7- and 10-night Caribbean itineraries, as well as special theme cruises and Christmas and New Yearâ??s sailings.

There are many wonderful features of the festival known as Christmas and one of the most interesting is the act of obtaining and gifts. Christmas Offers Mobile offered this process better now with lots of fantastic activities.

Christmas is one of the most famous events in the world. Each year, the world rejoices, while shivering in the chill of winter, but still likes to hear songs sung by kids and wonderful gifts for friends and family. The work of decorating the Christmas tree with father and son to start a huge fir tree in his house. The whole family is set then use innovative ideas on how to decorate the tree to make it look more beautiful. Thus, the purple bells, doves figures and figures of Santa, along with the colored balls and bright lights, the Christmas star on top. The cookies are delicious baked goods and the stockings are hung with the expectation of receiving gifts from Santa Claus are some of the features of this festival.

The mobile phone industry has also evolved their offerings to their Christmas specials and, therefore, celebrate the spirit of Christmas with wonderful gifts along with mobile phones offer your Christmas present.

There are many things about these special offers, except the gifts are given to the user. One characteristic of these offerings is to be cheaper during the Christmas period and many festivals, special offers, promotions. Phones that are present on Christmas offers phone belonging to the most popular brands like Nokia, Sony Ericsson, Samsung and gifts are also given the products manufactured by companies that are well known. All these parents also have the Christmas spirit embedded in them with bids under way in this season in a more wonderful than they are.

Most deals are offered through websites and the feast of Christmas is reflected in the user's mind, especially in the field of web design with colors that are associated with the spirit of Christmas and many offer many features to be with all members present to remind them that Christmas is knocking at your door. This feeling is also present in many mobile phone deals with Christmas gifts also reflected the spirit of Christmas. Most agreements are normally given in this period are many new features in them as innovative widgets with fantastic new features and many new features it offers as a gift.

The phone offers Christmas are also seen as excellent means for the implementation of some new technologies and commercialization of this technology is doing by adding a touch of this festival, normally mobile customers are attracted by the offers special. Consequently, new mobile phones with different features for forms and societies view of Christmas time, as one of the most effective opportunities to introduce new products in the mobile market. With Christmas shopping becoming an integral part of human activities, shopping sites see a lot of traffic during the Christmas period and therefore is a very capable of being viewed by many people who visit these websites.

The bells, therefore, cancel the night before Christmas, with the anxieties of many children who are raised about his concern that his wishes will be granted. Mobile companies are now doing a good deed by offering these, offering features gifts, such as game consoles, which are usually at the top of the many letters written to Santa Claus to the North Pole address. So mobile phone is very wonderful Christmas for many souls for a good time.

Xmas is over, the Tree is down, The New Year has begun and its still Winter, its wet and its cold and your body says

OK I am Ready for Sunshine? A Tan. Swim and Sunbathe. A Glass of wine in your own Jacuzzi? Breakfast is an Orange or Grapefruit picked from your own Tree.

How about Sunny California in January February or March for Unbelievable Prices.

A 3 Bedroom 3 Bath Villa with your own Pool and Spa with Incredible Mountain and City Light Views. Starting at $1500 a week (Dollars) and going really Upscale to a 5 Bedroom 4 Bath for $2950 a week. ( Sleeps 8-12)

We have a selection of Condos for $1000 and up a week also. Plus we have special Couples rates and Honeymoon Packages. . And Guys what about a Golf Trip for you and a Cruise for the Lady we have those combos also. How about those anniversaries, Special Occasions, Family reunions we cater for them all.

So Margaritas anyone ?????

Top your Vacation off with a 3/4 or 7 Day Cruise to Mexico starting at $545 a person for a Balcony Cabin ( less for inside and onsite cabins -no

Balcony) Visit Cabo San Lucas , Puerto Vallarta and Mazatlan. Pay Dollar Prices instead of pounds.

To Find out more and to Book a Vacation to Palm Springs , Rancho Mirage or Palm Desert or a Cruise to Sunny Mexico or a combination of both or just an inquiry for a future Date Please email Carole on mailto:Palmspringsinfo@aol. com or visit http://www. PSVC. net and take a look at our /www. homes-seekers. net“> beautiful Homes and Condos and email for Special promotion Rates.

Happy Holidays to one and all from

Carole

Your ex Brit California and Cruise Connection

Your Vacation also comes with Free chilled wine upon arrival and Ladies, a FREE Spa Treatment at a nearby Aveida Spa compliments of Hi=Lights Day Spa and the Palm Springs Vacation Connection. Book now and the first 10 Bookings also receive Dinner for 2 at a Top Steakhouse in the Valley.

Everyone is working hard for you and it’s challenging times. People are all feeling a bit down after 2 years with no proper summer and now the credit crunch. Take them all out for something different this festive season. The office Christmas Party is always a good one to show your appreciation and cheer everyone up. Try something different for 2008 – a London Boat Party.

The River Thames in London is a magical place at Christmas, with the boats all decorated and the Christmas lights. A cool crisp evening is enhanced when you can nip into a warm cosy cabin after a refreshing blast on the outer decks. London glides by as you party onboard one your Thames Party Boat.

The office Christmas Party is a difficult one to get right – the venue needs to be good value for a large group and you need to keep an element of control over food and drink consumption. The beauty of a Thames Party Boat for your Christmas Party is that everyone arrives and gets on together. Also everyone leaves together unless you have a scheduled pier call during the cruise! You choose the menu and limits on the bar so you retain complete control and everyone has a great time.

There are many options for entertainment to make your Thames Christmas Party Cruise that extra bit more fun and memorable. You could consider casino tables, a disco, pick pocket magician or maybe a belly dancer! For a more civilised cruise a live band, maybe Jazz or Metal, again the choice is there.

Before choosing your venue it is worth getting 3 quotes and viewing a few different boats from some different companies. Often the problem is finding a boat available on the date you want to have you Office Party. The most popular Thursday and Friday evenings are usually snapped up very quickly and leave the less favourable Mondays and Tuesdays which suit some better than others. It has been known for some companies to choose to have a Christmas lunch party lasting until 4 or 5pm. People are well lubricated and ready to go on for the evening or get back to the family. A daytime Thames Boat Charter is also cheaper so it can be very appealing!