Question:

Santa how did you get to be so fat with so many white whiskers?

Answer:

It's the Side Effects of the little Red and Green Capsule.
Introduction:

I'm Santa AL and I impersonate Santa Claus. I have impersonated Santa since 1992. As a Ph.D. Handyman I was doing some fixture work at PPD in RTP where Steve Milliken used to coordinate the human pharmaceutical studies for new drugs. Steve knew me as a handyman.

In one of Steve's Studies, the drug was an Anti-Depressant for Diabetics. He needed a healthy 50-year-old plus male as a control subject. He invited me to apply to become a study candidate. I did, being self-employed, in need of money, and willing to contribute my body to medical research. I passed the physical. I weighted in at a dainty 210 lbs. Pretty good for my height of six feet, two inches and for the shape I'm in. There were six other male subjects in the study.

The six-week study began in the Spring of 1992. The Red and Green Capsule was the drug being tested. Two capsules, three times a day, daily blood samples, and one required meal at the facility, with weekends on the site for blood drawings every four hours, three meals a day catered by the famous Dips County Kitchen of Chapel Hill. There was an open deli style refrigerator.

Over six weeks, I ingested 252 little red and green capsules, gave 2 liters of blood, and ate all the good North Carolina down home county cooking I had appetite for.

I never learned the name of the drug, in the little red and green capsules. I do remember I was a control in diabetic anti-depression study.

However, I did learn that the drug in the little red and green capsules has two major side effects: 1 - weight gain and 2 - hirsutism.

Remember, I weighed in at a mere 210 lbs when the study began. By the end of the study six weeks later I weight 230 lbs and was shaving twice a day.

I got my final payment and bonus for completing the study. The bonus was enough for to get some new used tires for my pickup truck. I joyously went on my way, happy to have to done my part for pharmaceutical research.

By the late summer of 1992 I had to stop shaving. It was just taking too much time. My hirsutism worsened. I just decided to let my facial hairs grow. I had also gained another 20 lbs and was now at a fit weight of 250lbs.

By September 15th, 1992 I had a long white beard, weighed 270lbs, and my belly shook like a bowl full of jelly when I laughed, which came out, Ho, Ho, Ho. It was then a friend suggest that I go to The Mall to see if I could get a job as a Mall Santa. I got hired. Now, I'm a seasonal worker. Thanks to Steve and his little red and green capsules.

Steve, as you know Santa AL impersonates Santa Claus through out the Triangle Region of North Carolina. And I would like to bring to you his Season Greetings.

Santa is more than the signal to start Holiday Shopping. Santa is the Spirit of the Season, the wick in the menorah candles, the magic stocking stuffer, the caller for joy in Kwanzaa and Father Frost. Santa sy mbolizes love and care for the children and the needy, celebrates the birth of the Son, and the joy and ho pes in beginning a new year.

So, Peace, Love, Joy, and Happiness to ALL!
From, SANTA.

Question:

How did a third century Roman Church Bishop became a twentieth century marketing agent.

Answer:

A Brief History of St. Nicholas/Santa Claus

Nicholas was born in the 3rd century, about 284 A.D. in the ancient southeastern Turkish town of Lycia, after his parents' early death he entered a Lycian seminary and dedicated his life to Christ. At an early age he was appointed bishop of Myra in Asia Minor. His generosity to the poor and successful conversions of citizens to Christianity angered Rome. Nicholas was imprisoned and tortured. When Constantine became emperor, he freed Nicholas, who in 325 attended the first church council at Nicaea. Saint Nicholas' care and concern for children and his generosity were legendary.

In 354 AD the Bishop of Rome declared December the 25th the day to celebrate the birth of Jesus, and the Christ Mass begun. St. Nicholas had died on December 6, 342, but mysteriously appeared on Christmas Day as a skinny old man with a cascading white beard in bishop's red and white robe, twin peaked miter and shepard's crook. He rode an unwilling donkey and would put small toys and sweet treats in children's shoes in exchange for the hay they left for his donkey. So, St. Nicholas slowly rode through eleven centuries of Europe history.

During the Protestant Reformation beginning in 1500's St. Nicholas was banned and went underground to become the British Father Christmas or the French Papa Noel, who did not regard children nor the poor, but sponsored adult parties of drinking and amour.

However, the Dutch had kept the St. Nicholas tradition alive, for he is their patron saint of sailors, because of his calming effects upon the seas. He was the mast head on the first Dutch ships to land in America in 1625 to found New Amsterdam, later New York (1664) after the British took over the city.

The Dutch spelled St. Nicholas, "Sint Nikolass" which when Anglicized became "SinterKlass" and the small toys and treats went into stocking, not shoes. In 1823 Major Henry Livingston Jr.'s poem the Night Before Christmas began the modern Santa Claus. The slow moving donkey of Christmas Day had been transformed into the highflying reindeer of Christmas Eve; the skinny bishop had become the biggest elf. The spirit of St Nicholas was alive again in the world as love, care and concern for children, in the celebration of the birth of the Christ Child.

In America, during the 1870's Santa Claus got big and fat and prosperous looking. Thomas Nast, cartoonist for Harper's Weekly Magazine, created a series of Christmas drawings over 22 years, which gradually evolved Santa into the pot, bellied life size Salvation Army Santa, ringing his bell on the corner for the poor and needy.

Again in New York the Christmas of 1885 Santa became the handmaiden of retail capitalism. Santa first appeared in a department store in New York to listen the Christmas Wish List of gifts from his visitors. Santa's appearing in advertising has become the official symbol of the beginning to the "holiday shopping season".

Those who couldn't visit Santa where sending their wish list letters to Santa at the North Pole, another one of Nast's inventions.

Coca Cola Christmas 1930 introduced their Seasonal Sales Santa who has become the American Standard for what Santa is suppose to look like and his appearance.

In 1939 Santa got a new reindeer, Rudolph, the Red Nose Reindeer, thanks Robert May ad executive for Montgomery Ward, Chicago. 2.4 million copies of the "Rudolph" poem were distributed by Montgomery Ward Santas nationwide. Johnny Marks put the poem to music, and in 1949 Gene Autry sung it( bless his departed heart). Now, Santa has to answer questions about Rudolph. Like, When and under what conditions is Rudolph the lead reindeer?

Reflections on the 2006 Christmas Season from the Santa Set at Crabtree Valley Mall Raleigh, NC by SantaAL.com

Please note that at the time this was written, Santa AL expected to be returning to Crabtree Valley Mall for the 2007 season. However, due to a labor dispute with Digital Memorys, this is no longer the case and Santa AL will not be a mall santa at Crabtree Valley Mall in 2007.

The Setting

DigitalMemorys.com of Peachtree City, GA had the 2006 Santa Set Photo contract with Crabtree Valley Mall (CVM) Raleigh, NC, as they had for several years. Santa AL Capehart, Pittsboro, NC and Santa Dwight Compton, Cedar Grove, NC have been mall tag team Santas for over a dozen years. Digital Memorys in a verbal agreement engaged Santa AL and Santa Dwight for $30 and hour to be on the Santa set according to an agreed upon schedule. 2006 was the fourth year for the tag team at CVM. The schedule was coordinated with the mall. It began Saturday November 11th at 8:30am and ended Sunday December 24th 6:00pm. The last two weeks require 11 hrs on the set with two half hour breaks at 2p and 5:30pm. Crabtree Valley is considered by some to be the best mall in the Triangle, after South Point in Durham.

The Santas own and care for their suits. Santa AL and Santa Dwight wear custom cut and classic tailored Santa suits with rabbit fur trim and full collars purchased from the renowned Santa Claus Suit and Accessories Co. Santa & Co., LLC., St. Clair, Michigan. The catalogue identifies them as the "Super Professional" suits. Each Santa has his own pair of custom Santa boots with fur trimmed tops. The Santas have a similar appearance and have been mistaken for one another.

The Helpers

Digital Memorys hires and trains the Santa set personnel. Depending upon the anticipated visitor traffic flow there can be one to four helpers. Santa with a team of good Helpers can make the set 'hum and sing' as visitors share the Spirit of Christmas. The Helpers tasks include setting up the camera, booting the computer, opening and putting the cash drawer into the cash register, check the credit card and phone line, ordering, stocking and managing photo display accessories, photo paper, ink cartridges, making bank deposits and interacting with the mall's customers. Helpers earn $7.00 an hour, Team Leaders earn more.

The Helpers' customer work includes greeting the visitors, determining if they want a photo, getting the photo package order, the child or visitor's name, introducing the visitor and Santa, getting the visitor on to Santa's lap or positioned for the photo, reminding the visitor to smile, taking the photo, again asking the visitor to smile, (often several digital photos are taken so the purchaser has selection options), helping the purchaser decide on which photo, or set of photos, printing the photo, selling additional accessories of picture frames and other display paraphernalia, receiving the payment, issuing a receipt and wishing the customer 'Happy Holidays' - 'Merry Christmas'. The Helpers perform this customer interaction over and over again for as many as 30 to 50 times an hour. The Helpers have to be on their feet during the entire shift. The work is physically and psychologically demanding nd consoling disappointed parents and grandparents.

The Helpers have Team Leaders who are responsible for security of the cash register and maintaining a count of the visitors. This year all visitors were counted on an hourly basis, those who purchased photo, those who "just" visited, and those who took their own photos. Some visitors who took their own photos also purchased the company's photo, others took their own photo only, and some just came to visit. 'No Santa pictures, Thank you'.

Helpers who have had children of their own seem to be most successful in understanding and dealing with the young visitors. Some17, 18, and 19 -year-old college students have to be reminded to take the next step in the visitation process, don't seem to be motivated by customer satisfaction, and find the work too demanding, and leave the job at their Christmas Break. The best helpers engage the visitor in a personable and friendly way, introduce the visitor to Santa, get them onto Santa's knee, remind them they are there to get their picture made (smile) and to give Santa their Christmas Wish List, after the photo is taken.

Santa receives the visitor's wish list while the customer reviews the photo options and makes a selection. Because of the nature of the digital camera technology the purchaser often is looking for the "perfect picture" and asks for another take, and then "Just one more". One morning the first mother in line brought her three children to visit. It took 15 minutes to get a picture that she would accept, but she still was not satisfied, and the line kept getting longer. Other visitor will often return to the original or the second photo. A successful Helper is openly friendly, articulate; customer oriented, patient, business like, and has a quick eye for the photographic moment.

The Photo Package

The Rudolf, basic photo Package A, is, 1-5 x7, 2- 3.5x5, or 4 wallet size for $12.99 plus tax. The Santa Special, a 1-5x7 and an acrylic Christmas motif frame, is $22.99 plus tax. In addition there are five package options topped by The Family Special - $32.99 plus tax and for an additional $7.99 will include a Photo CD. Other frames and options include a 5x7 Pewter Frame for $14.99 down to $2.49 for a key chain. Customers have left the Santa Set with over $150.00 of digital memories.

The Santa Set

Crabtree Valley Mall owns, puts up, maintains and cleans the Santa Set which is on the first level across from the steps and elevator to the food court. The junction is the connecting corridors from the parking deck, the main mall, Sears and Macy's at the west end of mall. The set is nearly two stories tall, a gazebo type green metal frame stands on top of four large white square columns with the a huge wreath hanging just to the back of the Santa Throne. The front corners of the set have two 5 foot white column stands with 6 foot standing rotating reindeer with garlands hanging from the top of the gazebo to the top of the rotating reindeer stand. There is a giant Christmas tree behind the Santa throne. The "snow" is artistically strewn with large gaily wrapped boxes, the tops of which are collapsing from the weight of the large ornaments. On the mall's second level above the Christmas tree is a 6-foot tall polished aluminum Hanukkah Menorah. Happy Holidays!

The Santa Set is surrounded by a 3 ft high metal, interlocking enamel finished, fence with short, square, white connecting columns like those supporting the gazebo. The fence is around the snow, presents, the huge Christmas tree, other decorated trees, two story gazebo, a display table, the camera-computer stand and printer table. The back of the cash register is a part of the fence; it faces traffic flow in the middle of the junction. At the east the set has a decorated 'Entrance' arch with gate. To the west, the exit has its own gate. Customers receive their pictures while standing outside of the set.

Santa Set Traffic

The Gazebo with the Santa throne is in front of the Christmas tree with the huge wreath hanging over the throne. The entrance arch is to the immediate left of the Santa throne. The visiting traffic came in toward Santa's left shoulder. Santa turns left to greet visitors over his shoulder. By the end of the day, Santa AL would have a severe strain in his neck after repeatedly looking to the left to greet people.

The path through the Santa set was a zigzag in, up and then across. After having their photo the visitors departed by walking toward the camera and turning right for the exit. This pattern may have slowed down the traffic flow for many folks dawdled along, spending too much time with their strollers between the Santa chair and the camera. A simple in and out pattern would have the visitors park their strollers toward the exit at Santa's right and not in between the camera and the Santa throne. A suggestion would be to have the entrance arch and gate and the exit gate opposite one another placed in front of the gazebo columns.

Another traffic concern was the flow coming into the set. In 2006 there was no barrier fencing between the entrance arch and the first column, consequently youngsters waiting in line, would often escape to play in the "snow" that covered the floor. Often parents used the 'snow' and gifts as a setting for a photo with Santa in the background. The kids would stand in the 'snow', in front of colorfully wrapped boxes with Christmas ornaments on top. Sometimes the children would lean on the boxes, and consequently the gifts boxes began to collapse and show wear. As the line of visitors got longer it would wrap around the Santa set toward the outside of the exit. This kept the line out of the mall's traffic flow and visitors could see Santa at work.

In 2005 the entrance arch was to the left of the first gazebo column with a fence to guide the traffic to the front gazebo column. The Santa throne was toward the middle of the gazebo, which made the distance between the chair and camera shorter with less walking for the Helpers.

In 2006 for the first time at the exit was a table with other freebies, information, handouts or little contests that people stopped to view. The table gave mall merchants an opportunity for more marketing. It seemed like a good idea.

The Santa Throne

The Santa Throne works. The throne or chair is wide enough for parents to hold a squirming two year old and it is wide enough to put Santa in the middle with several visitors on either side. The arms of the throne allow for reluctant visitors to be with Santa without having to touch Santa. The color is green, the trim is white, and the Santa suit is red with white trim. These colors seem to provide a good contrast for the photos.

The Santa throne seat cushion was replaced from 2005 because it had disintegrated and the seat was very hard. For the 2006 season the seat was re-upholstered, but it did not last the entire 44 days of the season. The seat needs a denser upholstery cushion that can support the weight of a working Santa and his visitors for the entire season.

In what appears to be a large gift box on the floor near Santa is a cleverly hidden electric fan to cool Santa. The fan must blow on him at all times. The Santa suit is very warm and prevents loss of body heat a result of wearing a fur trimmed, satin lined red wool suit while doing active interviewing and hoisting lap sitters.

Shopping mall air is notoriously dirty. In 2005 the fan blades accumulated a 1/4-inch of dirt. It was nearly impossible to clean the blades because the protective cage requires mechanical tools to disassemble. In 2006 instead of having the dirty air blowing into Santa's face, a 16x20 air filter was taped inside the fan box behind the blades to cool Santa with filtered air. Filtered air nearly eliminated the sudden and embarrassing Santa sneezes from air borne irritants being blown up into his face. In 24 days, halfway through the season, the filter had to be replaced; it was filthy. The fan did not move enough air. It would have been more comfortable to have a second fan.

Santa's big and tall, red bag with the gold lining holds the handouts to the right of the throne. In 2006 there were a variety of handouts: everything from coloring pages of a Christmas tree decorations to coupons for a free Aunt Annie's cinnamon pretzel. Having something to give out seems to be important and very much expected by Santa's visitors. Santa wears white dress gloves. The gloves make it difficult to flip through a stack of coloring sheets and it becomes a real time sink. Picking up other items and separating them to pass out one at a time at the conclusion of the visit is also time consuming. To reach into the bag requires a shift on the Santa seat and a movement of leaning far to the right while still having a visitor on his left thigh. This movement introduces stress to Santa's hips, thighs and back and is very fatiguing. Santa does this to facilitate the process of getting the handouts into the hands of the visitors and to wish them a Merry Christmas in their departure. This clears the lap for the next visitors. When Santa is visited by a school group he will have one of the teachers help with the handouts or give a teacher enough copies or items that can be subsequently distributed.

Having a variety of handouts further slows the traffic flow. In 2005 Panera Bread provided the coupon 'rainbow' glasses and the handout process went quit well. There were no options of a coloring sheet or a cinnamon pretzel coupon. This year, pausing to choose a choice of coloring sheet of an ornament, a Christmas tree, or a Santa Claus slowed the traffic flow. Consideration needs to be given to standardize the handout as much as possible, to eliminate the confusion, to facilitate traffic flow and to give every visitor a remembrance.

The Santa Visitors

Because Santa AL is scheduled for weekday mornings and mid days, most of his visitors are mothers with infants and toddlers, preschoolers, school children, special needs youth and some adults. Students from the North Carolina School for the Blind come for a visit, which means touching, and feeling him, listening to Santa's voice, and sharing their Christmas wish list. The teachers of Raleigh Learning Together Center bring entire classes (20 ? 35 students) of 3 and 4 year olds and their digital or disposable cameras and will take a picture of each youngster on Santa's knee. To expedite the class visit Santa has one of the teacher's introduce and help the youngster on to his lap while another takes the picture. Santa hears the visitor's request, usually limited to 1, 2, or 3 items. Santa hopefully has already given the handouts to the teacher's aid who is managing the exit traffic. Depending on the other visitor traffic flow the students are invited to sit on the floor at the throne to hear the poem 'The Night Before Christmas' with illustrations by Douglas Gorsline — Random House. Santa invites the lead teacher to come and sit on or stand by the arm of the throne. Santa will ask, in a BIG stage voice, 'Is this Ms. Smith?' The students reply 'Yeess'. 'Tell Santa what does a cow say?' 'Moooo.' 'What does a pig say?' 'Oink, Oink, Oink.' 'What does a duck say?' 'Quack, Quack.' 'What does Santa say?' 'HO, HO, HO!' Santa, students and teachers speaking together fill the mall with the Spirit of Christmas. After reading The Night Before Christmas, Santa may entertain a question or two and give group hugs. From the Crabtree Valley Mall Santa Set these students take away a positive, memorable, and educational experience in sharing the Spirit of Christmas.

2006 was the first year Colerain Elementary School students from Ahoskie, NC visited CVM. Three busloads of 1st and 2nd graders, having ridden 2 hours and 30 minutes, came to Raleigh to see Santa Claus. Rock Ridge Elementary School in Wilson, NC, visited Santa at CVM as they have for the past three years. Two or three bus loads every other day for a week. Santa wants all the teachers, parents, and chaperons to have an opportunity for a photo. Everyone leaves with a special memory and warm remembrance of their Santa visit in Raleigh at CVM.

Other visitors may include an au pair with a youngster or two and grandparents who think their 18 or 26 month old grandchild would look 'Precious' on Santa's lap. And, that the best way to get Precious on the lap is to introduce Santa and toddler with a face to face, eye to eye contact. Even a smiling Santa can appear fearsome. 95% of such approaches are unsuccessful and often involve lots of screaming, crying and struggling. However, if the youngster is in the parents or grandparents lap they settled down enough to get a picture, but the smile is seldom forthcoming and the adults often don't want to be in the picture. A lot of time is spent trying to make sure to get the right picture and the right smile and its always one more, "Now smile". With more than one youngster, even more time is spent trying to get all the children smiling simultaneously.

Santa advises parents and grandparents that about 90% of the children, between 13 months and 36 months, do not want, nor are willing, to visit alone with Santa. As the child gets closer to age three, if they are articulate, and can speak well, they are more likely to visit. They have something to say are in a position to communicate their wishes and to relate with others. Toddlers under age three are seldom willing to have more than a fleeting moment to sit and smile on Santa's knee. Over the past 16 years the age of Santa's youthful visitors has diminished from 10 to 12 years old to 7 and 8 years old. Technology has demystified Santa. Now 9 and 10 year olds will not sit on Santa's knee; but may stand off to the side during their younger sibling's visit. Santa will learn their name from the siblings and issue an invitation by name to have a conversation about their Christmas wish list followed by giving the handout. This invitation gives the older child an opportunity to talk with Santa. Santa's youngest visitor for 2006 was a five day old infant and the record for the oldest visitor continues to be 100 years.

When the visitor is an infant and is comfortable in Santa's arms they are usually left with Santa while the parent or grandparent is selecting the digital photo that they want to have printed. Santa holding the infant will sometimes take this as an opportunity to bless the child. Santa say,' Santa Claus as Saint Nicholas blesses you (name) that you may grow in health, wisdom, and prosperity and help bring peace to the earth as we prepare to celebrate the birthday of the Prince of Peace. Santa loves his good girls and boys. Santa is proud of you.'

The Photo

The two primary reasons for visits with Santa are to tell him about your Christmas Wish list and to have a photo made with him. In 2005 the photo company allowed visitors to take their own pictures without requiring them to purchase one from the company. Now with the increased popularity of digital camera technology more and more people take their own pictures. With digital photography there is instant feedback. One takes the picture, looks at it, and decides to take another one, or not. Consequently, folks who are not paying for a company photo are taking Santa's time and slowing the traffic flow by taking a picture and then taking one, two or three more until the photo is acceptable. Obviously folks in the line want the line to move along; but when their turn arrives they forget about the long wait. The rational seems to be 'I waited for my turn, now I'll take all the time I want'. The Helpers help by saying something like 'there are other visitors waiting to see Santa, or that's enough now'. Anything to help keep the line moving.

For the 2006 season the photo company sought to put in place a policy of a two-photo limit for those taking their own pictures. Some other national photo companies do not allow anyone else to take pictures of their Santas. By limiting to two photos the company sought to accommodate visitors with their own cameras while discouraging long solo photo shoots. However the policy did not take into account the nature of the visit and fast cameras.

It takes time for the youngster to begin to relax, smile, and give their Christmas List. By that time the anxious parent has taken two pictures and is heart broken when at the end of the visit the youngster is hugging Santa and they are reminded they have already taken their 'two' pictures. At that point conflict would begin to arise. 'That is the picture I want and it didn't take any more time to take it than the visit itself'. There ought to be someway to help keep the visitors moving along without insulting them. They also need to recognize that Santa's time is not free.

Video cameras introduce another set of issues for the two-photo policy. Usually the father or the grandfather is operating the video camera beginning with pictures of the entire Santa set, the youngster in line, approaching Santa, close ups of the visit with audio and then backs out to a fade away departure. The photo phone has also introduced surreptitious photo taking. Not allowing Santa photo taking may be a determining factor as to the type, market, and quality of the customers visiting the mall for their Santa photo.

Visiting with Santa for a photo is a family tradition for many families. Mom places all the photos on the mantel. The picture provides a record or a snapshot of the growth, development, and changes in the family over the years. Hopefully Santa is the constant in that picture.

Other Factors in the Santa Claus Work

The Weight

In addition to the wait, there is the factor of weight. This decade has more over-weight children than in past years. And, it seems the heaviest visitors want to sit on Santa's knee. If the child is tall enough to be seen in the picture without being on his knee, Santa will have the child lean up again his knee. The child also seems to appreciate not having to be embarrassed trying to climb or be set on Santa's knee. Once the visitor is tall enough to back up and put their backside on Santa's knee then lifting is not required. This season a heavy 72-year-old grandmother arrived in a wheel chair pushed by her very heavy daughter being followed by her very heavy granddaughter. They had come for a grandmother-granddaughter photo with Santa. Granny had to be coaxed up to her feet so she could turn her bottom to sit on Santa's knee. And there she sat for a combination of pictures. There wasn't enough Santa for all three to visit at once. When Granny finally got back into her wheel chair Santa had a sharp pain across his lower pelvis and no feeling in his left leg. Another consequence of have so much weight on Santa's legs, lap and body is the nighttime cramps, especially in the legs. A night's sleep can be interrupted several times with calf and/or hamstring cramping that has to walked out, messaged and otherwise treated before a return to bed.

An estimated 100,000 lbs of visitors cross Santa's lap in a season. Santa has found that Triangle pose from yoga is most helpful in realigning the thighs, hips and pelvis. Santa will do a few stretches every hour or so. Every two hours or so he will take a three minute potty break at the Dunkin Donut Shop. To keep himself hydrated he sips about 8 oz. of water each hour from his water bottle. Santa talks a lot. To keep his sinuses open and mouth lubricated, he holds a honey-lemon flavored Halls cough drop under his tongue. During the 2006 season Santa AL lost nine pounds from job stress and dehydration caused by perspiring in the hot Santa suit and the unseasonably warm weather.

The Schedule

Santa is on the set November 11th to December 24th with Thanksgiving off. The last two weeks require 11 hrs on the set beginning at 9am and ending at 9pm with two half hour breaks at - 2 and 5:30pm for lunch and supper. The lunchtime break for the Helpers is the change over for the tag-team Santas. Santa AL will have been on the set from 10 or 9am until 2pm. Santa Dwight starts at 2:30pm and goes to 8 or 9pm. The Santas are portly, older men approaching 70 years old. Santa Dwight got his second knee in 2006, and is recovering from heart surgery in 2007, and has kept his diabetes under control. The work is shared on a daily basis, except on weekends. Santa Dwight did solo Saturdays and Sundays beginning on Friday evening after checking into the motel across from the mall. Santa AL has a schedule of evening and weekend events and travels through out Central North Carolina during the season. This year's experience proved recovery from two solo days in a row to be very difficult. These old men's recovery rate has slowed. Most photo companies try to schedule one Santa, perhaps two, at one mall. However, this Santa tag-team may need to add a third Santa for 2007.

The Flash

Some new digital cameras do not require a flash to take an exposure making it hard to know if the picture has been taken or not. Otherwise, Santa will have seen 6,000 to 10,000 flashes a season. The trick is to look at the camera and not the flash, but the flash is momentarily blinding and uncomfortable. The effect of flash after flash on Santa is to feel shell-shocked by the end of the shift. Santa's eyes have become red, dry, bleary, and difficult to focus.

The Common Cold

The common cold is an occupational hazard for Santa. Up close and personal contact with thousands of children has the consequence of being exposed to the common cold. This year Santa used AirBorne, an herbal cold prevention supplement, and daily nasal irrigation. In the 16 years of playing Santa, 2004 was the only year Santa AL did not have a cold. In 2006 Santa's cold came two weeks before Christmas. The cold was nursed with Theraflu, Sudafed, Zicam, Ibuprofen, and chicken soup. Dry sinuses were very susceptible to the mall's noxious air with painful sudden sneezes, red runny eyes, sore throat and achy body. Every year Santa gets his flu shot before season starts.

The Christmas List

Electronic games and toys headed the lists this year. Xbox 360, Sony Playstation Portable, Nintendo's Wii, gameboy, roboraptor and etc. Barbies and bicycles slipped down the list. The American Girl dolls are maintaining popularity. Since 2005 as many girls as boys have asked for Thomas the Tank Engine. When a visitor asks for a bicycle, Santa asks if they have a bicycle helmet. If not then he suggests that it be added to their Christmas list. If they do have a helmet they are reminded to use it. NC state law requires all bicyclists under the age 14 years to wear a helmet or their parents are subject to a fine.

For some children their letter to Santa is there first attempt at printing and signing their name. Santa encourages lists. A list gives an opportunity to evaluate options and to set priorities. When asked what they desire most as a gift it is seldom the number one item on they list. Sometimes it is the last item. If the list is long Santa reminds them that he cannot bring them everything and asks for a priority of the three most desired items. Santa cannot deliver live pets or animals without the full consent and involvement of parents. I want a puppy for Christmas. What do you parents say? They say, two dogs are enough, but I want a puppy of my own. Santa can't do it without your parents help. Is there something else you would like Santa to bring you? And of course 'Have you been being good'? Some parents return after the Santa visit to retrieve their child's Christmas Wish list.

98% of Santa's visitors will say, they have been being good. Santa says, he wants them to continue to be good and they do that by doing what their folks ask them to do and by doing good thing for themselves. Like, eat their fruits and vegetables, drink their milk, brush their teeth, go to bed on time, us their seat belt or safety seat when they ride in the car, and when they ride on a bicycle they should always remember to use their helmet to protect their smart brain.

Television

Santa AL was interviewed by Kim Denardo for her television report on Christmas shopping on NBC Channel 17. Santa AL also appeared in CVM's Christmas Commercial, which aired 30 times on ABC Channel 11. In Charlotte WSOC-TV Channel 9 aired Queen City Appliance advertising commercial featuring Santa AL.

Finally

From most reports 2006 at CVM seemed to have gone well. Visitors were generally pleased except those who were called on taking more than two photos. Visitor traffic was moderate to good, the general spirit of the place seemed to be upbeat, and folks appreciated being wished a 'Merry Christmas',' Happy Holidays', Happy Hanukah', 'Joyous Kwanza', Feliz Navidad' and 'Happy New Year'.

Some suggestions for 2007 include reupholstering the Santa seat with more dense foam, design the entrance and exit onto the set opposite one another so that the path is straight across the set. The baby carriages and strollers can be moved directly across the path between camera and Santa. Purchase and use a second fan for cooling. Employ and keep good Helpers. And, engage a third Santa to fill in and provide for backup.