A Few of FR's Finest.Every Day.12-22 to 25-06..Polar Express - Christmas Weekend

December 22, 2006 | Dolly Howard

[DollyCali]

The magical train ride found in the Book and the Movie are the backdrop to the glorious adventure held nightly for 5 weeks in NE Ohio as part of the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railway (CVSR) offerings leading up to Christmas .

The story in a nutshell: A little boy, Jammie clad in jammies(FReeper material ) doubting Santa’s existence any longer, is whisked away one night on a magical train, that picks him up AT HIS HOME & takes him to the North pole where he views the magic of Santa, the elves and the life there. It is a short book with wonderful art work & was released in 1985.

At the Ohio Polar Express, this is captured in the several hour ride that parents & kids alike arrive in Jammies to participate in the fun. Thanks to the Polar express we now have a new dress category to add to Business casual etc. There will be Nighttime Jammies perhaps!

So very much goes on behind the scenes. For the ride of several hours for youngsters in wonderment along with their parents and grandparents, there is an amazing amount of ground work that is done. Professionals and volunteers all work together to make this a memorable part of the participating family holiday experiences. Many US cities have similar programs, we feel fortunate to be one of them.

Do you just decide THAT day, hey, lets go for the train ride tonight? Well, no NOT EXACTLY. The ride is sold out in late Summer and tickets chosen by lottery. There are actually two trains that converge in the North Pole. One begins in Akron heading North & the other begins in Independence heading south. They arrive at the N Pole about 15 minutes apart to gaze out the window at the merriment of Santa’s workshop, all the elves dancing (town folks, who have caught the spirit, Santa on sleigh, drummer boys, reindeer etc.

The deluxe Saint Lucie train car.which goes out each night is a luxury charter smf is sold out for next 3 years.. To say this activity is “in demand” is perhaps an understatement. This popular train, which runs in part through the Cuyahoga Valley National Park holds several other Christmas related series of Rides Mr. Jingeling's Holiday Express and Christmas Tree Adventure (train to neaby Peninsula & pick out /buy tree, return

In the story Polar express (as viewed in the movie) Director Robert Zemeckis revolutionized the art of animated film in 1998's WHO FRAMED ROGER RABBIT by dropping cartoon characters into the same frame with flesh-and-blood actors. In THE POLAR EXPRESS, live action and animation have merged seamlessly, resulting in sparkling super-realism. A landmark technique Zemeckis and his Sony Pictures Imageworks team call "Performance Capture" perfectly suits the tenor of this wondrous children's Christmas story by Chris Van Allsburg

A disillusioned little boy, just old enough to doubt the existence of Santa Claus, has the adventure of a lifetime one fateful Christmas Eve. Clad in his pajamas, he climbs aboard a magic train to the North Pole, driven by a kindly train conductor (voiced by Tom Hanks who starred in both of Zemeckis's Academy-Award winning films FORREST GUMP and CASTAWAY). Among myriad jaw-dropping moments, the train plummets brakeless through crystalline mountains in a simulated roller coaster ride. Going off the rails, skidding sideways, and snaking violently across a frozen lake, the train arrives at the North Pole (a vast, glowing city of brick buildings)

At that moment, the car carrying the kids detaches and they're sent tumbling down never-ending chutes and slides until they land in the middle of Santa's Workshop.

In the body of the thread are pictures/commentary from the last regular “run” of the season. Try to check back regularly for new additions. Your are invited to join in the “magic”

[MEG33]

~Joy To The World~

May You Know The Wonder Of Christmas
Merry Christmas To The Finest

[DollyCali]

Thank you Rus!!! I too am now attending a church at a movie theater (cinemark).. it will NOT move on or build. It is called the church for people who "don't like church"..

absolutely spirited, spiritual worship & the minister is young & one of the finest, fiery, biblical accurate preachers I have experienced in Ohio..

The music however is NOT traditional. It is 3 electric guitars, one keyboard & one drummer. Several vocalist/worship leaders. Multi media galore. Nice to have the trailers for The Nativity Story utilized as part of service also the past few weeks.

gotta run. but do always appreciate your sharing with us Rus.

[The Mayor]

Hi Dolly..

Sounds like a good place to hear Gods word, I would have a tough time with the music.

[The Mayor]

Merry Christmas to you Meg!

[alwaysconservative]

Thank you, Dolly; that is truly beautiful. I know that you and FR have been a source of comfort this year for during two stunning losses and a very difficult patch with my mother's health.

I'm almost too superstitious to say that 2007 couldn't possibly be any worse, but I am very hopeful that it will be much better.

[Billie]

108 is a (made me stop & soak it all in one)...Striking!

Thank you, Maj!

[Billie]

Happy Birthday, Jesus

Happy Birthday, Jesus! Thanks for lending us your ear!
I know it isn’t pleasant watching what we do down here.
I must request a favor, even though I shouldn’t ask,
Considering how poorly we performed a simple task.

You told us very long ago that we should, “Love each other.”
But instead of one big family, we’re brother killing brother.
I offer no excuses, we do the best we can,
Sometimes it is so difficult to love our fellow man.

We learned a lesson recently, to not ignore our neighbors,
That they might need some help when they set out to do their labors.
Their task of living gently, and with loving in their hearts,
And deciding for themselves who’d be in charge there in those parts,

Was not made easy by a few, not a solitary one,
Who thought that all of goodness was provided by a gun.
When guns are used you have to counter them with force,
And those who live that way will die that way, of course.

Our soldiers are reluctant, they don’t force our way on others,
For the Army is a teacher of the fact that men are brothers.
But we can’t, and won’t stand idly by while other folks must suffer,
We’ll take our chances with the guns, and that good guys are tougher.

Three-hundred million people, here in the U.S.A.
Will need your blessings and some strength, not just on Christmas Day,
Please guide us and sustain us, and help us see the light,
That’s more important to us than some snow on Christmas Night.

And when you pay attention as we call on you today,
Please keep in mind that there is one thing left to say,
You showed us how to do right, and respect those who are just,
Please keep us in Your thoughts as we pursue that which we must.

Protect the soldiers as they work to bring in all the lambs,
And help us to make sure that there are no more Viet Nams,
Where good men worked too hard, and we let stuff get in the way,
Please guide our hearts where they should be on this our Christ Must Day.

NicknamedBob . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . December 24, 2004

[Billie]

[Billie]

[NicknamedBob]

Thank you, Billie. Post 147 came out just beautifully!

Merry Christmas to you and all my FRiends on Free Republic!

[Billie]

[dutchess]

Beautiful thread dolly! Merry Christmas sistahs and brothas and finest friends! Great news here...we picked up my computer last night and it works AND they were able to recover all my data, pictures, FR stuff. They installed a new harddrive and it is superfast. "Backup" is now my best friend.

Sad to say, Fred the cat passed this morning. She was laying by my computer chair stretched out very peacefully. (I actually thought she was sleeping.) She was well over 18, totally deaf and signs of senility so I am comforted knowing she is romping around at rainbow bridge. May you all have a blessed Christmas!!!

[Billie]

[Billie]

Wonderful news about your computer. A little sad about Fred, even though I know she lived a long and happy life in the dutchess household.

I remember when she came and interviewed my goldfish. :)

[laurenmarlowe]

 

Merry Christmas to The Finest

 

[Majie Purple]

Your 115 is very cute!

[Majie Purple]

Thanks much Dolly...
You too!

[.30Carbine]

My Christmas card to all my FRiends here at the Finest: a poem I wrote when I was a brand new Christian. (It was published locally!)

The Meaning of Christmas

The meaning of Christmas - it should be made clear -
Has little to do with eight magic reindeer;
Has little to do with boxes with bows,
Or little St. Nick with his little round nose.
Giving gifts to each other has always been nice;
Decorations are fun, but will not suffice.

The meaning of Christmas? It's Jesus, the Son;
A reminder to all of the True God, the One
Who sent us His Gift of peace and good will.
God loved us so much He let Jesus be killed
By false ones who still go on falsely today
In spite of God's Lamb having shown the True Way.

When Jesus was here He said, "Do as I do;
Do unto others, let them do for you;
Judge not, because your own judgment is near;
Walk with your talk; keep your eye clear."
It matters but little how we praise in His Name,
What matters is that we acknowledge He came.

So what is the meaning of Christmas, my friend?
Peace, and on earth good will to all men.
Rejoice! For once born the Word does not end:
Jesus came once and will come back again!
For now, seek the Comfort He sent from above,
Keep Christmas all year, live in peace, and with love.

[Majie Purple]

((((Mornin' Bernie!
Thanks for remembering that.(re: a miss not a sir.

& so very moved am I that that pic was chosen for
the tribute cd.

You and yours have a wonderful;merry Christmas too!))))

[Majie Purple]

Beautiful sight!
Joy to the world indeed!
Merry Christmas to You & yours as well dear Meg.