“Christmas, my child, is love in action.
Every time we love, every time we give, it's Christmas.”
~~ Dale Evans Rogers


Hi all,

Before we get to the newsletter, I have a bit of a "programming note."  The next newsletter (478) is due on Dec. 18th.  I highly doubt I'll have the Christmas story finished by then.  So... there will be a special, extra newsletter (479) going out on Christmas Day.  I'll then likely wait until Jan. 8th to send JABB 480.  But there's a chance I'll send it on New Year's Day because that would line us up better for the Valentine's story.  We'll see!

God bless,
Jenni


Christmas Traditions Matching Game

See if you can match each Dyeland/Friend/TBAA character with one of their favorite Christmas traditions.  Answers are at the very bottom of the page.  Please note that it's merely *one* of their favorite traditions.  I think there'd be a bit too much duplication if I listed their very favorite.

1.  Buying ugly Christmas sweaters from thrift stores for Andrew!  And then seeing him model them, of course!

2.  Enjoying orange rolls on Christmas morning!


 3.  Making Froot Loops garland with the kids.  And snacking on a few Loops as we go, naturally.

4.  Sipping peppermint mochas, with a certain legendarily named fellow, by the light of our Christmas tree.

5.  Gulping down an endless supply of Dad's warm butterbeer. 

6.  Making a new piece for everyone's nativities. 

7.  Getting to see all my precious grandbabies!

8.  Leading our caroling sing-a-long... and trying to tune out Miss Wings' contribution.

9.  Watching Clay and the twins duel over who has the best lights display at the farm.

10.  Sitting on the patio apartment with my new bride and admiring the lights of the city while Bing Crosby plays in the background.

Answer key:


Andrew    JenniAnn    Joshua    Kemara and Sean    Kylie    Max    Monica    Peter    Raquel    Tess
 

And now another edition of...

JABB: The
            Drinking Game

In this fourth iteration, I've added a few more items which I've put in bold and yellow at the bottom of those items that already appeared in an earlier version.

My Public Service Announcement
(borrowed from JABB 425)

Do NOT play this with an alcoholic beverage.  Well, I spose you could if you're a slow reader, of age, and only intend to look at a couple newsletters/stories.  Otherwise, I highly recommend cocoa.  Although, I spose, even with that you'd have to pace yourself.  Ditto for my beloved tea and coffee.  Water... water would be good.  Just too bad that water doesn't have caffeine.  ;-)  Whatever your chosen beverage, I hope you enjoy it responsibly! 

So here we go!

Take one sip if:

~ An angel other than Andrew is mentioned in a newsletter.
~ Hair of any variety is discussed/mentioned.
~ A newsletter just plain gets sappy.
~ Some holiday (real or made-up) is being celebrated.
~ A Dyelander says something swoony about Andrew.
~ God is mentioned.
~ A specific TBAA episode is mentioned or alluded to.
~ The newsletter is composed of any sort of list (top ten, You Know You're a BLANK If..., this newsletter).
~ There's a dedication to John at the bottom of the newsletter.
~ You found the page's easter egg!
~ The newsletter or story contains the phrase "God bless."
~ Jenni makes an excuse for the lateness, brevity, or lack of proofing in the newsletter/story.
~ Anything Irish is mentioned or portrayed in a story.
~ A fictional store, restaurant, etc. is mentioned (i.e. St. Genesius' Community Theatre, Adrian's, Lily's Loot, any of the places of worship.)
~ Food is mentioned/consumed.
~ A lil Friend or other child character says or does something adorable.
~ A newsletter feature is one that recurs (i.e. this drinking game, "Ask a JABB Co-Founder," "Ask Andrew," etc.)

Take two sips if:

~ Dyeland serves as setting for a story.
~ A random character from some other TV show, movie, or book that in no way involves John Dye is included.
~ Someone calls someone else by a nickname or term of endearment (ex: "Angel Girl," "Sweet Boy," "My own")
~ Two or more characters have a touchy-feely, sappy moment.
~ The AOD Band gets a mention.
~ The newsletter/story has scenes set in Dyeland but NOT in Willowveil Castle.

~ Adam comes off as the voice of reason.
~ Flannel is mentioned.
~ A character cries.  (If multiple characters are crying in the same scene, take one sip per crying character.)
~ Any of the following are mentioned: any variation of Beauty and the Beast, Harry Potter, Jesus Christ Superstar.
~ A story has a flashback or flashforward.
~ Any character who resides in a Sibling City shows up.
~ A non-TBAA angel makes an appearance.
~ Vincent acts all fatherly with someone.
~ A pet makes an appearance either in a story or a real pet is mentioned in a newsletter.
~ There's a vampire!


Take three sips if:

~ Andrew is narrating or authoring the newsletter.
~ JenniAnn twists her ring around her finger or Andrew drags his hand through his hair.
~ A non-Andrew John Dye character is mentioned.
~ Someone brings up Andrew’s pocket watch or it's "shown."
~ A turkey is mentioned.
~ Andrew actually refers to Touched by an Angel or any of its cast members.
~ Someone mistakenly thinks Andrew is in danger or is leaving and panics.
~ The author passive aggressively takes a swipe at Tess, Monica, or Rafael.
~ Anyone from the Bible makes an appearance.  Eat some Froot Loops if it's Joshua.
~ Violeta is hyper.
~ Adam provides any sort of meat-like substance.
~ Someone is confused by a character's relationship with another character and/or completely misconstrues it.
~ A character is enjoying any of the following: red velvet cake, coffee, chai, orange juice and/or ginger ale.
~ Any portion of Ruth 1 is recited.
~ Someone starts waxing poetic about anam caras.
~ Andrew and JenniAnn share a dance.  Actually, make that any couple shares a dance.  Be sure to add an extra sip if it's Kemara and Sean performing Irish dance.
~ Violeta gets upset or weepy.
~ A saint is featured or mentioned.
~ A character alludes to Andrew's breakdown.
~ Someone has a dream/nightmare or talks about one they had.

Take four sips if:

~ Any adult character's parental unit(s) excepting Father/Jacob make an appearance.
~ Andrew watches or reads something in the company of Dyeland characters.
~ A demon shows up.
~ The newsletter/story looks to be over 8 pages long.
~ Characters are playing football or Andrewopoly.
~ The green shirt or white shirt pictures are brought up.
~ Anyone mentions or alludes to the "three week promise."
~ The newsletter or story is, at least in part, about an actual social issue.
~ A pregnancy or adoption is announced.
~ Someone gets married, engaged, or has a blessing ceremony.
~ Joshua shows his scars to someone.
~ The ol' red caddy makes an appearance.
~ Joshua's true identity is revealed to someone.  (Exception: Take only one sip per person if you're reading "The Carpenter," "The King," or "Chrysalis" which is the upcoming trafficking story.  Otherwise, you won't be feeling well!)
~ The cure for vampirism is mentioned.

!!!!!  You have clearly disregarded my sage advice at the start if any of the following are happening:

~ Joshua is trying to mount a stage version of The Life of Brian.
~ Violeta is voicing her utter dislike for one Hugh Jackman.
~ Andrew and JenniAnn split up and the latter really does sue the former for reckless abandonment of a human.
~ Belle is sporting a lovely yellow dress and waltzing with a hairy dude.  (Actually, you may have just started watching Disney's Beauty and the Beast in that case... And, ha, now you get to take two sips!)
~ Adam has opened up a butcher's shop which serves up actual meat...
~ The gang decides to leave Dyeland and move to Poughkeepsie because they like how it sounds. 
~ Dyeland passes a bill banning the consumption of caffeine.
~ The Friends have a horrid disagreement and split St. Genesius' in half.  Opponents aren't allowed to cross to the other side.  Plays and musicals end up with really bizarre staging.
~ Biff, the missing apostle, shows up.  (giggle... I couldn't resist a good Lamb reference.)
 


This newsletter is dedicated to John Dye for giving me so many, many reasons to drink caffeinated beverages!

JABB Portal
JABB TOC

JABB 478

(Photo Credits: The photograph used on this page is from Touched by an Angel and owned by CBS Productions, Caroline Productions, and Moon Water Productions.  It is not being used to seek profit.)

1.  JenniAnn, 2.  Kemara and Sean, 3.  Joshua, 4. Monica, 5. Max, 6. Andrew, 7. Raquel, 8. Tess, 9. Kylie, 10.  Peter