When I posted an article in December about our "Charlie Brown Christmas Tree", our customer Ivo, in Belgium took action. He's probably never seen the Charlie Brown Christmas Special (watch my favorite scene below), but he saw our sad tree and tried to cheer it up.

SAD TREE:

Did he ever! Last week we got the nicest Christmas tree ornament we've ever seen. Check it out. He made it himself.

And now our Christmas Tree is Happy.

Na, that's not it. Actually, here it is:

Thank you Ivo and Mike for your kind well wishes.

Charlie Brown Christmas Tree footage:

This year there appears to be 3 "Official Go Topless Days". (one has nothing to do with Jeeps, so let's get that one out of the way first, so you guys can concentrate when I get to OUR All Things Jeep Go Topless Day! )

1. NATIONAL GOTOPLESS PROTEST DAY is Sunday, March 9th and is a nationwide event in favor of men AND women being able to be topless in public places (that allow it, of course.) http://www.gotopless.org/ is the website that talks about it. While I won't be marching at this one, I am completely in favor of it.  Why shouldn't women and men have the same tan lines when they leave the beach at the end of the day?

2. Next, the hardcore Jeepers at http://www.jeepforum.com/ wanna prove that they can have a grand time freezing their butts off, and are hosting a Go Topless Day on Feb. 3rd. (It should be about 2 degrees here that day, so I am definitely not going topless. I'll admit, I am definitely *NOT* a hardcore Jeeper. Here's the thread on this one:

http://www.jeepforum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=636743

Jeepforum.com is a great resource for any Jeeper. I send people there all the time when they ask me some esoteric question about the finer points of their particular vehicle. It's a great community and there's a whole range of sane and crazies over there. ;)

3. And finally, my favorite day

Worldwide Go Topless Day - May 9th (maybe it will be a little warmer) sponsored by us. Last year we had almost 5000 Jeep owners worldwide participating. There were events all over the world and locally we had an event and managed to cut the top off an XJ without bleeding.

This year will be bigger and better. We have Go Topless Day T-shirts already for sale and contests, prizes, local events and all will be posted ongoingly here and on our Go Topless Info Page.

So put it on the calendar. If you don't have one yet, I recommend these.

I used to live in Stamford so will still read the local paper there online to keep tabs on what is going on with old schoolmates, etc. To my dismay, this is what I read yesterday.

"

Theft of Jeep doors was a crushing blow

Staff Reports Posted: 12/26/2008 01:00:00 AM EST

To the editor:

To the person(s) who vandalized my Jeep on Dec. 9 where it was sitting in the Springdale train station, and stole the doors: I would like you to know some things.

First of all, I am a person, not some invisible entity. The day before you vandalized my vehicle, I was let go from my job after nearly nine years of employment. I am a single parent struggling to put my daughter through college. I am recovering from foot surgery and it is very painful to walk. I have no savings and nothing else of material value to my name but the Jeep and my condo, and I am one of many people who are struggling and behind with mortgage payments.

So now, because of what you personally did, I cannot drive the vehicle. I cannot afford to replace the doors because - guess what? - they weren't covered by my insurance; the price to replace them both is at least $1,500. So I am forced to walk in snow and slush and am in agony at the end of the day because of my foot. So I'd also like you to know that you ruined my Christmas. You've also made it 10 times harder for me to attend job interviews. But then again, job interviews are probably something you wouldn't know about.

And now, what about you? Without meeting you, I can safely say that loser, low-life and petty criminal would all be apt descriptions.

Next time you think about vandalizing a car - that is, if you think about anything at all - try to remember it is a real person you are hurting. And you have hurt me a great  deal.

Amy Lamborn

Stamford "

I'd hate to think this was a Jeep person who did this, but seriously, who else would find value in them, specifically. Ugh. In the middle of winter, no less.

I have no contacts in the "hard parts" world of Jeep doors. Anyone have any ideas on how we can help this women get some doors on her Jeep?

Like every other retailer on the planet, we are offering a free shipping promotion right about now. It's free shipping on orders over $40 and the coupon code you need to use is:

 candycane

See http://www.allthingsjeep.com/free-shipping.html

for more info.

Also, we are now in the mousepad making biz! They are all listed on our Jeep Mousepads Page (scroll to bottom of page for all of them) Keep those mices happy with a fun Jeepy mousepad.

So, what do you think? Should our government bail out the automobile manufacturers. Or should we let them deal with the consequences of bad behavior?

I teach my kids about actions and consequences. But that's small potatoes. If they don't get their laundry done, the consequence is that they can't watch the Spongebob Christmas Special. It doesn't affect anyone else and no one loses their job. But if we let the manufacturers deal with the consequences, it impacts so many more people. Thousands lose their jobs, some many businesses are at risk. But those big three automotive manufacturers have now asked for $34 billion in government loans before the House Financial Services Committee. $34 BILLION DOLLARS! Astronomical numbers I can't even get my mind around. It's simply disgraceful that it has come to this and my gut says no, don't give them the money, make 'em go to bed without watching Spongebob, but my head says yes, give them the money. I don't want to see the after effects on the people of the country. Then again, my head says no and my gut says yes. It's a tough one. What do you think?

Walk into any bricks and morter retail store this time of year and you can' t miss that it's the Christmas season. Trees, lights, wreaths, stockings, candy canes and so on. But walk into our warehouse and what do you see? Just this ugly little plastic tree with a single ornament on it. It's sad, really. We're too busy to decorate and too exhausted to care. But then what shows up in the mail this past week but a package from our Secret Santa Mike down in lovely Hawaii. And he sent us an ornament. It's a happy, warm looking Hawaiin beauty hula-ing herself happy because there's presents. Mike is one of our absolute best customers and we love him for sending this ornament to us. He buys a lot from us (we like that) and he sends care packages full of Hawaiin goodies for all the tired little All Things Jeep elves. There's one thing we don't like about him, however. He's never sent us airline tickets. ;(

So maybe there's some other loving, giving, All Things Jeep customers that would want to send us an ornament to help us decorate our Christmas tree? It could even be a pizza-stained folded napkin with a snowman drawn on it with the crayons that they give the kids at the chain restaurants (the ones where all your kids ever eat is chicken fingers and french fries.) OR, a hand painted clay model of one of our Jeeps (96 XJ, 83 CJ, 07 JK, 89 Comanche) complete with the 7 slot grille.

Either way, we'd love to proudly display any ornament made by a customer.

(I suggested that I try this tactic to help us get more in the holiday spirit here, and everyone laughed at me.) But, like Charlie Brown, I have faith.

 Send anything to:

All Things Jeep

Ornaments for Charlie Brown Tree

Two Shaker Road, Unit F101

Shirley, MA 01464

Jeep girls do it in the mud and Chantelle proves this with her answers below. Like mud? Read up.

1. What are you currently driving? model? year? color? etc.
1998 Jeep Wrangler Sport (Red) & 2007 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon (Black).

2. Tell us your favorite modication you have made to your current Jeep.
        2007 having a 5 1/4" lift all round with 37" tires.

3. When dd you get your first Jeep and why did you choose a Jeep?
Received the red Jeep for my birthday in September '06... Always wanted one and I was surprised with it!  Then we took it out 2 days later and hit a tree at Rausch Creek Off-Road Park.

4. Where's the most interesting place you've had your Jeep?
In the corn fields at Oak Ridge Estate in VA and at Big Dogs.

5. What is the most interesting thing you've DONE in your Jeep?
 With the participation of my club(www.hardrockcrawlers.org) I
learned from the seasoned vets how to install lifts, etc.  On the '07 Jeep my husband and I did all the work!

6. Ever get arrested while in the Jeep?  For what?
       Nope.

7. What music do you listen to while driving the Jeep?
        Everything from country to pop.

8. How many Jeeps have you had in your lifetime?
        2

9. If you could win any Jeep, past or present, what Jeep would you want to win?
        Jeep Rubicon... They are an amazing vechile!!!

10 Does your Jeep have a name? What is it?
'98's name is Pookie... '07's name is still in development.
 

12. Is it a boy or a girl?   Both girls

13. Tell us about any stickers or custom work you have on your Jeep? 
  '98 Jeep - www.hardrockcrawlers.org, Big Dogs (2)...
'07 Jeep - East Coast (jk-forum.com), Texas chrome emblem and flip flops

14. What's the most unique thing about your Jeep?
        Right now, it looks like an insect!

15. If you are a member of a local Jeep or off-road club, give a shout out to the club here:
 www.hardrockcrawlers.org and don't forget...

www.project-jk.com
www.jk-forum.com

16. If you were a Super Hero and your Jeep had extradinary powers, what would those powers be?
 It would have the power to turn rocks into mud and create mud on the spot... I think I like MUD!

17. If you could chose one new gift for your next birthday, would it be:
    - a new 2009 4 door Jeep Wrangler Rubicon
    - a fully restored, 1941 Jeep Willys
    - world peace
    - a million dollar gift certificate to www.allthingsjeep.com
    (this is a loaded question, we do hope you all choose world peace)
        Why can't I have it all?
   
18. What are your 3 favorite products available for sale at
www.allthingsjeep.com <http://www.allthingsjeep.com/> ?
        Any apparal, jewerly (love the jewlery) and the kids clothes!!


Chantelle Kern
Lusby, MD

Heidi's entry into our Customer of the Week made us sit up and take notice. She drives a Jeep Patriot! And she's enthusiastic enough about it that we felt she could take any ribbing you want to give her about not driving a "real Jeep". In fact, based upon her responses below, we bet her next Jeep will be a Wrangler. Here's Heidi's story:

1. What are you currently driving? model? year? color? etc. 2008 Jeep Patriot, Jeep Green of course

2. Tell us your favorite modication you have made to your current Jeep. Putting the Jeep seat covers on.

3. When dd you get your first Jeep and why did you choose a Jeep?  This is my first Jeep which I got last year (I specially ordered it before the 2008 were available).  I am from a long line of GM employees and buyers, I was tired of vehicles that couldn't stand up to what I needed.  I decided that only a Jeep would do...  I WAS RIGHT!!!  I am hooked and will never go back.

4. Where's the most interesting place you've had your Jeep?  I can't say, because it was illegal to be where it was!

5. What is the most interesting thing you've DONE in your Jeep?  Transported 8 animals 125 miles (one way) to be spayed and neutered.  Talk about a lot of noise!!!  

 6. Ever get arrested while in the Jeep?  For what?  Not yet!!!

7. What music do you listen to while driving the Jeep?  Everything... Old Blues to Rock & Roll.

8. How many Jeeps have you had in your lifetime?   This is my first, but not my last!

9. If you could win any Jeep, past or present, what Jeep would you want to win?   Any -- Aren't they all fantastic?!!

10 Does your Jeep have a name? What is it?  Josie the Jeep  
11. If it doesn't have a name and you had to name it, what would you call it? 

12. Is it a boy or a girl?  Definitely a girl.

13. Tell us about any stickers or custom work you have on your Jeep?  I have a replica Black Bear paw print on the lift gate as if the bear had swiped at the vehicle as it went by.  There is also a replica Brown Bear paw print in the spot where one had actually left a print in the dust & dew.  Of course there are a few other stickers, Life Is Good, Key West Mile 0, Paved Roads - Another fine example of unnessary government spending, Sloppy Joe's (Key West Bar), a couple animal rescue, and of course ALL THINGS JEEP sticker.

14. What's the most unique thing about your Jeep?  It's the only one in my family of GM drivers. But everyone loves it and is always asking if they can drive it.


16. If you were a Super Hero and your Jeep had extradinary powers, what would those powers be?  That I could drive it under water.

17. If you could chose one new gift for your next birthday, would it be:
    - a new 2009 4 door Jeep Wrangler Rubicon
    - a fully restored, 1941 Jeep Willys
    - world peace
    - a million dollar gift certificate to www.allthingsjeep.com
    (this is a loaded question, we do hope you all choose world peace)  It would definitely be World Peace, because once there was World Peace it would be much easier to get the other items any way!
    
18. What are your 3 favorite products available for sale at http://www.allthingsjeep.com/?   How can I REALLY pick only 3?????? 

Here's Nathan (from Ontario, Canada or Michigan, US, I'm not really sure!) I love his comments but almost didn't give him this prestigious title due to his totally sexist comment about women and money. ; )  But love his Jeep so here he is!

1. What are you currently driving? model? year? color? etc.
2003 Jeep TJ Rubicon, Khaki Metallic with Khaki Top and Interior. 

2. Tell us your favorite modication you have made to your current Jeep.
I just stretched the wheelbase 6" over the winter, and I LOVE the added stability and climbing ability!

3. When dd you get your first Jeep and why did you choose a Jeep?
I got my first Jeep when I graduated high school.  I had always wanted a Wrangler, so it was my first car.  I immediately started wheeling at Jeep Jamborees, and I now own my 3rd Wrangler.  I don't really know what attracted me to them at first, but the top-down wheeling is one of my favorite things that I have ever done, and I get to do it quite a bit every year!

4. Where's the most interesting place you've had your Jeep?
The top of Green's Mountain in Ontario, Canada

5. What is the most interesting thing you've DONE in your Jeep?
Don't really know how interesting it is, but had it on its side in July 2003 on a night trailride with 10 other Jeep Jamboree guides!

6. Ever get arrested while in the Jeep?  For what?
No

7. What music do you listen to while driving the Jeep?
Mostly country music, but I will listen to pretty much anything with a good beat that is fun to sing/yell along to!

8. How many Jeeps have you had in your lifetime? 
Three, all Wranglers, a 1990, 1991, and my 2003.

9. If you could win any Jeep, past or present, what Jeep would you want to win?
I would love to have a fully restored CJ-6

10 Does your Jeep have a name? What is it?
 No

11. If it doesn't have a name and you had to name it, what would you call it?
I call it Rubi sometimes, but just because it says "Rubicon" on the hood...

12. Is it a boy or a girl?
Must be a girl because it goes through money so fast!

13. Tell us about any stickers or custom work you have on your Jeep?
I have a WranglerForum.com sticker on the rear of the rollbar because I am a moderator on that forum.  I have done a bit of work to the Jeep:  Tube fenders in the front, and comp-cut corners in the rear.  I stretched the wheelbase 6", off of a 6" Full Traction Long arm kit.  It has a custom roll cage that is tied to the frame at 6 points.  And some other stuff...

14. What's the most unique thing about your Jeep?
Sometimes it decides that it doesn't want to start on the first try!

15. If you are a member of a local Jeep or off-road club, give a shout out to the club here:
I am a member of the London Area Jeep Owners Club out of London, Ontario Canada

16. If you were a Super Hero and your Jeep had extradinary powers, what would those powers be?
It would be able to leap tall buildings in a single bound.

17. If you could chose one new gift for your next birthday, would it be:
    - a new 2009 4 door Jeep Wrangler Rubicon
    - a fully restored, 1941 Jeep Willys
    - world peace
    - a million dollar gift certificate to www.allthingsjeep.com
    (this is a loaded question, we do hope you all choose world peace)
    Alright, we will go with world peace...   Kinda like the 2009 Rubicon though, not gonna lie!

18. What are your 3 favorite products available for sale at http://www.allthingsjeep.com/?
Since I am getting ready to have a little boy in December, the Jeep camo overalls shorts and T-shirt is adorable.  You guys have some great baby/toddler stuff!!  I also love the "Native species" shirts, and the Jeep seatbelt purse!

A local furniture company up here in the New England used to advertise their "Sofa with a Secret". Anyone know what I'm talking about? Jordans Furniture had these sofas where the cushion on the soft arm lifted up and inside was storage area for your chips and dips. I think one version even had a in insulated "secret" so you could drink your beer and store your empties and never have to get up off your butt. They were super popular.

In any case, we've just found the off-roaders version of the "sofa with a secret". It's the tire cover with a secret from PakkRatt. We call it the PakkRatt Tire Cover Storage Solution. From the outside, just a simple, heavy duty black tire cover.

But then you notice a zipper near the center of the tire cover. Unzip it, and voila - storage space you didn't know you had!

This Jeep storage solution takes "negative space" that you didn't use before and turns it into storage for your tools and recovery gear (or snacks and toilet paper, your choice!).

There's hooks to keep things organized and even a small zippered pocket inside for little things like hand tools and gloves. And keep your tow hook handy by simply wrapping it around the cover and holding it secure with the built-in straps.

If you've ever had a rollover out on the trail and have had a tough time getting to your recovery gear, you'll instantly see the benefit to the PakkRatt Storage Solution. And if you never go out on the trail, then just think of what a great place this is to store the chips for your picnics. No crushing!

The PakkRatt Tire Cover Storage Solution is available for tire sizes 30" up to 40" and starts at $159.99.