You know Dasher and Dancer
And Prancer and Vixen
Comet and Cupid
And Donner and Blitzen

But do you recall
The most famous reindeer of all?

The most famous reindeer of all didn’t even exist until 1939 and more shocking is that when he first arrived on the scene, his name wasn’t Rudolph.

In the 1930’s Montgomery Ward stores had Santa give away coloring books to the children who visited Santa. Executives decided it would save money if they created a Christmas storybook and publish it for the handouts instead.

Robert L. May worked as a copywriter for Montgomery Ward. He was given the task of creating the storybook and he wrote a charming story about a shy, oddball reindeer who didn’t fit in with the rest of the crew. Rollo’s bright red nose made them laugh at him and tease him.

Montgomery Ward executives liked the story, hated the name. They insisted that May find another name for the reindeer; Rollo was too carefree. They weren’t crazy about the second suggestion, Reginald, either.

Finally Robert May came up with a name that pleased the company - Rudolph. In a brilliant move, May asked for the copyright to the story.

Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer was immortalized in a song recorded by Gene Autry in 1949 and has been the star of his own Christmas special.

Robert May continued to work for Montgomery Ward and retired nicely on the royalties earned from Rollo, ahem, I mean Rudolph, the Red-nosed Reindeer.

Did you know that a Calorie is the amount of energy needed to raise the temperature of one kilogram of water by one degree? Does that really matter?

Anyone who has tried dieting (read, everyone) has become intimately acquainted with the Calorie. We know there are 4 Calories in a gram of protein and a scary 9 Calories in a gram of fat. We know how many Calories of our daily allotment that donut would use up and how the remaining Calories leave us with the unsatisfying choice of only cucumber slices or some type of watery gruel for dinner.

Who invented the Calorie, or discovered it or whatever they did? James Hargrove, associate professor of foods and nutrition, University of Georgia attempts to answer that in an article to be published in December’s Journal of Nutrition. In it, Hargrove explains how the calorie came to be and how the science of nutrition first began in the US.

A quick search at Amazon gives 34,302 results for books having to do with Calories. There were titles on counting Calories and Calorie counts (which is different) and then the books that say Calories don’t count.

I liked the title Foods That Cause You To Lose Weight. I am just assuming you can eat more negative calories than you can positive ones. Maybe they can even cancel them out…I should find my junior high math book…

My favorite has to be Lose weight while you sleep: 4 strategies and 52 simple things you can do to help you burn more calories while at rest . There’s a concept I can get behind, a kind of active napping that relieves guilt and makes you thin.

The new and updated 2007-2008 edition of Unbelievably Good Deals and Great Adventures that You Absolutely Can’t Get Unless You’re Over 50 is available November 17.

The newest edition of this proven bestseller is completely revised and updated with even more information about trips, discounts, clubs, programs, and special perks for anyone over 50 and makes it clear that life doesn’t begin until you reach your fifth decade. Bargains for fifty-somethings include airfares, hotels, car rentals, vacations, and college educations for free or almost free.

A great birthday gift idea for anyone you know who is a bargain-hunter hitting their half-century mark.