Best Barry KuKes Podcasts (2024)

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CHAPTER NINETEEN - CHRISTMAS FOR ERNIE 16:09

1y ago16:09

16:09

6:00 am December 25th “Daddy? Dad? Hey Dad, you awake?” asks the super excited 6-year-old of Harry. “I am now. Ernie, it’s… what time is it anyway?” Harry stammers and then looks at the clock on his nightstand. “6 o’clock? Ernie, it’s way too early to get up. Go back to sleep for a couple of more hours,” Harry said. “But it’s Christmas, Dad. Santa …

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CHAPTER EIGHTEEN - TWO SOULS ON DIFFERENT FLIGHTS 20:57

1y ago20:57

20:57

Once outside, Caitlin and Rose stood in silence and disbelief. The warm winter night was now hot. Over 100 degrees and the sky was bright with what looked like fire. The sound surrounding them was that of a tornado of fire, filling their ears with a loud streaming freight train-like sound effect. They placed their hands over their ears to block out…

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CHAPTER SEVENTEEN - GUESS WHO’S COMING TO CHRISTMAS 21:29

1+ y ago21:29

21:29

At the front door stood Patrick and Megan McCann, Rick’s parents. “Patrick! Megan! What are you doing here?” asked Susan. “Susan? Carin’s sister? What are you doing here?” asked Megan. “I live here. This is our home. The kids are incredibly happy here. If you are here with a plan of stealing our kids away from us, you are in for the fight of your l…

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CHAPTER SIXTEEN - 6:00 PM CHRISTMAS EVE TWO 7:25

1+ y ago7:25

7:25

As the church bells chimed for the sixth time, the doorbell rang. Harry took a deep breath and said, “Okay, here we go.” He opened the door, and there stood Martha. “Merry Christmas, Hill Family!” she exclaimed. “Merry Christmas, Mrs. Kennedy,” replied Harry as he hugged Martha. “Who ordered this warm weather? I was pulling out my winter coat for t…

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CHAPTER FIFTEEN - CHRISTMAS NUMBER TWO 7:23

1+ y ago7:23

7:23

A year had passed, and life continued for the Hill family. Each, a year older and for a few wiser as well, but the subject of conversation persisted in being would Rick and Carin be joining the family this second Christmas at the magical house on Festive Lane. “For December 24th in Chicago, the weather feels more like Florida than Illinois,” said H…

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CHAPTER FOURTEEN - TIME TO DEPART 11:55

1+ y ago11:55

11:55

6:00 pm Christmas Day As the church bells rang out, the guests at the house on Festive Lane began to gather their belongings and bid their hosts a good evening until next Christmas. Harry, Susan, and the kids stood by the front door and wished each guest a Merry Christmas and safe travels to their place on the other side. Guests would leave in the …

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CHAPTER THIRTEEN - MY WHAT? 30:39

1+ y ago30:39

30:39

With a puzzled look on his face, Harry asked, “What’s that you say? It sounded like you said he was my son.” “That’s what I said, and that’s who he is. Ernest, this man is your father. His name is Harry,” said Martha. “Daddy? Are you dead too? My momma told me my dad had died in a war,” said Ernest. Harry stood there dumbfounded and looked at Susan…

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CHAPTER TWELVE - CHRISTMAS DAY 8:11

1+ y ago8:11

8:11

7:00 am- As the sun shines into the master bedroom, the interior is bright and bold. Harry squints to see the alarm clock on his nightstand. “7:03? It’s Christmas morning, for Pete’s sake. Why can’t I ever sleep in? If it’s not the kids, it’s Max. (Max pushes the door open and enters the room, jumping up on the bed.) Speak of the devil. Susan, are …

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CHAPTER ELEVEN - CHRISTMAS EVE NIGHT 11:10

1+ y ago11:10

11:10

As the hours passed, Susan's immediate family, Harry, and the kids talked to the magical house visitors. Susan had explained the circumstances of the evening to Rose, Caitlin, and Victor. As predicted, Caitlin questioned Susan why their parents hadn’t come to the house for a visit. When Susan explained a grieving period, Caitlin immediately pointed…

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CHAPTER TEN - SURPRISE VISITORS 15:32

1+ y ago15:32

15:32

The house on Festive Lane was once again filled with over fifty guests, all deceased but allowed to return for twenty-four hours due to the magic of the Christmas House. Some of the guests had been dead for only a short time, like Doris. Some had been dead for over a hundred plus years. In most cases, Harry and Susan didn’t even know the visitor be…

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CHAPTER SEVEN - THANKSGIVING DINNER 16:40

1+ y ago16:40

16:40

Victor parked the car on the driveway because the garage floor area was cluttered with boxes and extension cords due to the decorating mission. “Wow, it looks great, Uncle Harry and Aunt Susan. You put up all the lights since I left? I was only gone for an hour or so. You guys are fast!” said Victor. “Your aunt was a great help since she is fearles…

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CHAPTER EIGHT - THE FIRST CHRISTMAS EVE 25:58

1+ y ago25:58

25:58

Thirty days had passed since the Hill family celebrated their first Thanksgiving at the Festive Lane home. Unfortunately, Lindsay’s mother, Doris, had also died during this brief period. She was placed in a hospice center on December 2nd and passed away in her sleep on December 5th. Lindsay was at her side when her mother drew her last breath. Vict…

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CHAPTER NINE - THE HOUSE GUESTS 12:13

1+ y ago12:13

12:13

As the doorbell's tone faded into silence, Harry, Susan, and the kids all stood frozen in anticipation and disbelief. Susan stood up and walked to her father. She reached out her hand and poked him in the shoulder. His physical body was real. “Daddy? Is it really you?” she asked. “Yes, sweetheart. It’s really your mother and me. Your sister could b…

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CHAPTER FOUR- THE DAY BEFORE THE FIRST THANKSGIVING 10:27

1+ y ago10:27

10:27

About seven months had passed leading up to the first anniversary of Rick and Carin’s passing. Thanksgiving was but a day away, and the tension was building in the house on Festive Lane. Harry and Susan had discussed taking the kids away to Hawaii or Florida for the holiday to change the setting as much as possible. Still, a friend of Susan’s who i…

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CHAPTER FIVE- THANKSGIVING DAY 7:17

1+ y ago7:17

7:17

It was a bright and sunny morning on this Thanksgiving Day, although a bit on the cool side with a temperature in the low 30s. Harry walked out to see if there was any mail from the previous two days. Harry would get so involved in working from home he would forget about almost everything else, including getting the mail and taking a shower, which …

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CHAPTER SIX- THE LETTER 21:43

1+ y ago21:43

21:43

Susan removed the letter from the light pink envelope and could smell Carin’s scent on the stationary. The fragrance brought her back to an earlier time when she and Carin were in high school. “This letter is scented. Carin scented the letter for me. Aw, isn’t that sweet? It smells just like her, too,” Susan noted. “I wouldn’t know. I never sniffed…

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Chapter Two- Welcome to 148 Festive Lane 10:13

1+ y ago10:13

10:13

As Harry, Susan, and the children entered the home at 148 Festive Lane, Michael offered them hot chocolate and some freshly baked cookies. “Oh no, thank you, Mr. Carter; we won’t be here that long. We just wanted to take a quick look around,” said Susan. “Don’t be silly. Come on, have some hot chocolate. Please let me take your coats. Come in and s…

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Chapter Three- The Carters are Out, and The Hills are In 18:32

1+ y ago18:32

18:32

Michael followed a moving truck to a new yet smaller home in Algonquin, IL, at the end of March. Algonquin was a lovely middle-class suburb just 60 miles west of Lake Forest. Michael sold the house on Festive Lane to Harry and Susan Hill, who believed the home would be a fresh beginning for the three children they had taken into their family due to…

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Chapter One- A New Adventure for the Hills 11:59

1+ y ago11:59

11:59

This is the first chapter of the sequel to The Christmas House. This book is The Christmas House II, Martha's Return. The story continues. It was a cold day in March, even for Chicago, but the sky was a bright blue, and the frigid winds embraced the city as it has done for hundreds of years. A brisk 18 degrees above zero was not the best day to be …

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Chapter Twenty Three- The Last Christmas 37:42

1+ y ago37:42

37:42

The story doesn't end with this chapter. To listen to the sequel, The Christmas House II, Martha's Return, visit www. minicooperproductions.com for options to download the book. Thank you for investing some of your time to explore the lives of the Carter's and Martha Kennedy. A prequel is under development called, The Christmas House 1845 - 1997. E…

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Chapter Nineteen- A Test of Faith 24:24

1+ y ago24:24

24:24

May 2nd 148 Festive Lane 10:00 a.m. As Sharon drove up to the front of the house and parked across the street, she noticed Michael’s red pickup truck was parked in the driveway. A smile came to her face as she pulled down the visor and checked her makeup in the vanity mirror. As she opened the car door and placed her long bare legs on the street, s…

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Chapter Twenty- A Critical Night for Michael 13:25

1+ y ago13:25

13:25

222 East Pleasant Street Apartment 326 Evanston, IL 10:30 p.m. Sharon slid her key into the lock of the eggshell-painted door with the number “326” displayed at eye level as Michael stood behind her. “This is a pretty nice building for being so old. You can tell a lot of renovation work went into keeping it up to code. I like the ornate trim and co…

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Chapter Eighteen- The First Step 14:32

1+ y ago14:32

14:32

April of the Following Year Lake Forest, IL Over the last four months, Michael struggled with many challenges. His faith in life, love, and God was still uncertain. He tried to focus his energies on rebuilding the house, hoping his faith would come along in time. With every wooden two by four that was nailed and every brick laid, Michael rebuilt th…

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Chapter Seventeen- Michael's Struggle 19:37

1+ y ago19:37

19:37

Early December Evanston, Illinois A few weeks passed since the demise of Michael’s friends and family. The funerals were held a few days after the explosion and attended by many of Arianna and Michael’s friends. Most were work-related associates who paid their respects to Michael as they passed five closed caskets in the Lake Forest Funeral Home. S…

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Chapter Sixteen- Thanksgiving It Is Not 22:22

1+ y ago22:22

22:22

Festive Lane Thanksgiving Day Three years later Several years passed, and the Carters were very fortunate during this time. It had been five years since they first purchased the magical house on Festive Lane. David grew by leaps and bounds as he quickly approached his sixteenth birthday. Nicole had become a beautiful young lady with a very proficie…

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Chapter Fifteen- Another Year Passes 20:34

1+ y ago20:34

20:34

148 Festive Lane Christmas Eve- One Year Later 6:00 p.m. “Chime, chime, chime, chime, chime, chime.” The grandfather clock announced that it was once again 6:00 p.m. on Christmas Eve, exactly one year later. David ran to the front door and swung it open. “Merry Christmas, David!” yelled a group of eight people. “Merry Christmas,” David shouted back…

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Chapter Fourteen- The Surprise Guest 10:58

1+ y ago10:58

10:58

Christmas Night 6:10 p.m. 148 Festive Lane Michael and Arianna stood on the step in front of the house, shivering and calling out to David. Arianna’s tears froze on her face as she openly wept. Michael yelled out at the top of his lungs, “DAVID!” Suddenly, a small image appeared from out of the darkness and moved toward the house. “Wow! It was so c…

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Chapter Thirteen- Christmas Day Revelations 27:14

1+ y ago27:14

27:14

Christmas Day-December 25th 148 Festive Lane 6:55 a.m. Michael was sleeping soundly, spooning with his lovely wife as they lay in their king-size bed under the warmth of a down comforter. His eyes opened slowly as the aroma of freshly brewed coffee titillated his nose. Still half asleep, Michael thought Arianna had gotten up and made breakfast unti…

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Chapter Twelve- The Reunion 43:44

1+ y ago43:44

43:44

"DAD!” David screamed as he ran into the house and Michael's arms. "David, David... we were so worried about you!" Michael replied ecstatically as he knelt on one knee and hugged David tightly. "Where have you been? My God, you're soaking wet! Is it snowing that hard out there?" Before David could answer Michael, Arianna burst into the room. "David…

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Chapter Eleven- Christmas Eve 10:46

1+ y ago10:46

10:46

Arianna sat at the kitchen table, feeding Nicole when the phone rang. She jumped to answer it. “Hello?” “It’s just me, hon; any word yet?” asked Michael. “No. The only one I have heard from is you,” she replied. “Michael, come home. You have been up all night. You must be exhausted. Is Jack still with you?” she asked. “Yes. We are at a donut shop h…

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Chapter Nine- A New Beginning 26:17

1+ y ago26:17

26:17

November 27th Thanksgiving Day 5:00 p.m. Traditionally, Lake Forest residents decorate their homes for Christmas no later than Thanksgiving Day just because they wish to enjoy the fruits of their labor for the entire holiday season. This year was no exception. The homes were decorated to the extreme. Hundreds of hours were invested in each house as…

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Chapter Ten- Two Days Before Christmas 20:22

1+ y ago20:22

20:22

December 23rd Lake Forest, IL 3:00 p.m. A snowy, gray Saturday afternoon brought shoppers by the thousands to downtown Chicago. Of course, it was the last few days and the last weekend before Christmas, and time was running out. The stores were open a few hours later today to accommodate their customers' last-minute shopping needs. This winter star…

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Chapter Eight- The Renovation 43:50

2y ago43:50

43:50

Michael kissed Arianna and Nicole goodbye as he was dropping David off at summer camp and then off to the job site. The last few months had been hectic at the Carter residence. Michael spent most of his time working at home and the job site while Arianna was busy caring for Nicole and David. Jack and Wanda remained a constant support channel for th…

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Chapter Seven- Settling in at 148 Festive Lane 17:39

2y ago17:39

17:39

Chapter Seven- Settling In at 148 Festive Lane May 3rd Good Samaritan Hospital 10:00 a.m. It was a glorious day for early May in Chicago. The sun shined brightly and warmed the air to a delightful 68 degrees as Michael and David drove to the hospital to bring Arianna and baby Nicole home for the first time. Having recovered nicely from the night of…

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Chapter Six - The Move Continues 13:37

2y ago13:37

13:37

Michael pulled onto Festive Lane. He drove down the block for about a 1/4 of a mile until he approached the driveway to the house. The address on the mailbox read, “1-8” because the four had fallen off and never been replaced. Michael drove past the old iron gates at the front of the driveway and then backed the truck up so he could unload into the…

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Chapter Five - The Move 27:15

2y ago27:15

27:15

April 30th Lake Forest, IL Since the closing, Michael, Arianna, and David spent every evening and weekend at the house at 148 Festive Lane. Cleaning, tearing down wallpaper, ripping up carpeting and tile floors, rodding out plumbing, and doing whatever else they could that did not cost hard cash, only hard labor. Michael inspected the furnace thoro…

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Chapter One - Christmas Eve 16:11

2y ago16:11

16:11

Not your typical Christmas novel. Amazon reviews- 5.0 out of 5 stars A Delightful Christmas Story The Christmas House was the embodiment of the Christmas Spirit. Magical, wondrous, full of the warmth generated by the company of family and friends during good times and hard. This book hits you with a healthy dose of reality, but it also takes you on…

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Chapter Two - Christmas Day Approaches 21:50

2y ago21:50

21:50

December 24th 148 Festive Lane 11:45 p.m. The party was still going strong as the grandfather clock ticked closer to midnight, and the advent of Christmas Day would soon find its way to the dilapidated old house. Martha was sitting in a large dark burgundy upholstered Queen Anne-style chair. She struggled to keep her eyes open, but it was of little…

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Chapter Three - Martha’s Birthday 14:33

2y ago14:33

14:33

February 11th 148 Festive Lane Martha’s Birthday 3:35 p.m. Several months passed, and despite numerous showings and a half dozen Realtors representing the property, Martha was still without a buyer for the house. Over thirty interested and potential buyers inspected the house. Many made generous offers of over $4.3 million for the prime location of…

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Chapter Four - The Closing 18:04

2y ago18:04

18:04

April 9th Lake Forest, IL Martha remained extremely busy during the months preceding the closing. Before moving into the small studio apartment that she found in nearby Morton Grove, there was much to do. The apartment was in a retirement center and was fully furnished. She realized that she wouldn’t need any old and worn furniture left in the hous…

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