Where Santa is Now

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Hi.

I’m Joel. I’m an elf. I live at the North Pole.

This is the first entry of my new column – an exclusive here at SantaTrackers.net.

Honestly, I’m not sure I want to do this. You see, I’m what they call a reluctant elf.

My Dad is an elf. My grandparents are elves. My great-grandpa was an elf. And his father was an elf.

But I’m not sure I want to be an elf.

You understand, right?

Well, maybe you don’t. Most of you were not born at the North Pole. Most of you have not lived day-in and day-out all the days of your life in the world of elves.

Sometimes I just want to be a regular person.

But enough about me. Let’s get down to why I’m here.

My elf job is one so many elves want – except me. I don’t hate my job. Honestly I don’t. I just don’t think I deserve this job.

My official elf job is to work on Santa’s office staff. My role there is to track Santa. Hahaha, that’s a joke. I track Santa in the sense that I keep his calendar. So, it’s my job to tell Santa where to go all the time.

Some think that is funny when I say that. But the truth is that Santa is a very, very busy man. He needs elves like me.

Santa actually has a very large office staff. Most really important people do. In Santa’s case, his staff is necessary to keep him moving to all the places he needs to go, to meet the right people he needs to be with and to keep him on track with all the stuff he wants to do.

My job just happens to be his calendar.

Some people – even other elves – think this is a privileged position, like working in Santa’s workshop. They think that because I see Santa almost every day (I travel with him a great deal) and that I know almost everything he is doing at any given that I’m important and that my entire days must be filled with candy canes and sugar plums.

But believe me. It’s not at all a big deal. It’s work. A job.

What I do is important. But it’s not important like being a doctor, or a teacher or one of those jobs where you get to help a lot of people.

The job I do helps one guy. That guy happens to be Santa Claus.

I know it is a privileged thing I do. After all, how many elves can say their direct supervisor is Santa himself?

But from where I’m coming from it isn’t all that special.

I grew up here at the North Pole. My Dad worked in Santa’s workshop for many years. He was the lead woodworker. He worked side-by-side with Santa for decades on a billion kagillion projects.

As a kid, Santa came to my house. He ate BBQ with us. He pooped in our bathroom.

Yeah, not your ordinary Santa experience.

You see, living at the North Pole, at least in the eyes of people who have never been here, is like living in a snow globe. They think it is all Christmas all the time. They think eggnog flows in the rivers, that candy canes grow on trees and that Rudolph actually talks to people.

He doesn’t, by the way. He’s actually a very shy and private guy. He glows that red nose at people who approach him in public as a way to say “STOP!”. They never do though. Rudolph can’t catch a break when people are around. He just wants to be left alone most of the time.

I get him.

Living at the North Pole is not the picnic you think it is.

And neither is being Santa’s calendar guy.

Some days I think I am the only guy in the world that still uses a pencil. Santa’s calendar is filled with eraser marks because his schedule always changes. I use a lot of pencils and it’s usually the rubber end.

All this is my way of saying things aren’t always holly berries and Christmas trees at the North Pole and in the life of a working elf.

That’s all. I still want everyone to have a Merry Christmas.

But at the same time I envy those who can just hang their stockings and wait for Santa to come one night every year.

That does not mean I hate my elf life.

It just means sometimes I want to be just Joel – normal guy. Boring dude. Mr. Ordinary.

So what is Santa doing now?

Well, he’s packing his bags.

And so am I.

Every November, right after Halloween, Santa hits the road. He is intent on meeting with people, especially children all over the world.

Between now and Christmas Eve Santa will be “out there” – well, except for a few times he comes back to the North Pole, like Thanksgiving. He’ll be here for all the traditional stuff we do on Thanksgiving.

And I will be with him. The calendar guy has two jobs with Santa on the road – I get to keep the calendar and I get to, um, help the reindeer find a place to do business. Hey, someone’s got to do it and when Santa is on the road he doesn’t have his whole staff with him. Just those he needs. So we double up on duties.

My job here in writing this column, ironically, is to share with you what it is like to live at the North Pole.

Of course, between now and Christmas I’ll be writing this on the road.

News departments are dumb like this.

You see, and maybe I have already blown it with that statement, but I’ve applied for a different elf job. I want to be a news guy. I like the idea of writing. I may even ask to give that radio or podcast thing a shot.

Anything that doesn’t require a pencil.

But, like most elves, I have to earn it. That means waiting a long time. Taking opportunities as they come. Showing I can do other things while I’m still doing the same old thing.

That’s just how it rolls for elves who want to do different elf things.

I’m sure some of you can understand. I’m sure some of you want to do something more or different than being a tracker elf.

Do any of you want to be the calendar elf for Santa?

Hahaha. I’m just kidding.

I love my job.

Elf Joel at the Pole

Night Time Flights in Sector 3

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Hello fellow Trackers of Sector 3!

I just received word from Flight Command that the test flights of Santa’s sleigh are headed back to our sector. I’m am also told the schedule will include a special emphasis on night flights (after all, Santa flies almost exclusively in the dark).

The track record of seeing sleighs in flight is always better at night. We have about 10 reports from night flights for every 1 report we get during the day. I think the sun makes a flying sleigh really hard to see.

As of right now, I have no reporting assignments for you.

However, as the test flights get closer I might. So pay attention to the map.

Thanks.

Sector 5 Elves Needed to Report

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Happy November, Elves!

With Santa’s Sleigh taking a test flight dip into Sector 5 I was expecting to get a report request. Well, I got one but it wasn’t for anything to have to do with Santa’s Sleigh.

Flight Command has told me they want to see a Public Observance Report from Sector 5 now that Halloween is over. Please click on this link to access the report.

Freelance elves can use this link to report.

I’m not expecting Santa’s sleigh to be in our sector very long. I would expect them to keep mostly to Canada this time around but it appears to me they are on their way to somewhere else. I haven’t heard anything from Flight Command about this current round of test flights.

You’re doing a great job, elves! Thank you for your ongoing efforts.

 

Elf Chat Scheduled

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Elf Chat this week welcomes Elf Crash Murphy on Saturday, November 5th at 6pm EST on SantaTrackers.net.

Elf Crash Murphy serves as Santa’s eye-in-the-sky reporter. For more than a decade he has followed Santa on Christmas Eve and reported his activities during the Tracking Santa Around the World Show on Kringle Radio. Elf Crash has been instrumental in the development of the Santa Tracker program at the North Pole and works year round in the Elf Community at SantaTrackers.net. He is co-host of the Santa Tracker Podcast as well as the North Pole Podcast with Elf Frank Myrrh.

The chat this week will focus on Santa tracker elf questions for the upcoming tracker season.

If you cannot make the chat we encourage posting your questions for Crash below and we will make sure he answers them during the chat.

Elf Chat

Improvements Seen in Elf Reports

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I have reviewed the progress so far in each Sector. I have met with each Elf Supervisor. I am pleased to report that thanks to change initiated by Santa after last Christmas that we find ourselves way ahead of last year in terms of information we have and the preparations we are making for Santa’s flight around the world.

We are doing this with fewer elves but with greater reporting.

So far, freelance elves outnumber North Pole elves by a factor of 12 to 1. That is why we have seen such a rapid increase in reports in the past four weeks. Freelance elves, which are the only new elves we are allowing this year, have started joining us, as they do every year, in massive numbers in every sector.

Even though most of them are new and relying on Elf University for their training the quality of reports coming from freelancers is vastly improved over a year ago. We are seeing very good results in every sector so far. On the whole, freelance elves have sent in 84% more reports with an average quality score of 5 (on a scale of 10). The number of reports per elf so far received from the freelance ranks is about 3.1.

But the real progress is being shown among experienced North Pole elves. Those elves have sent in a whopping 231% more reports and their quality score is over 8 (on the same scale of 10). The average number of reports from our North Pole elves is 7.3.

I can tell you now, based on these early reports, it has to be a big goal after this Christmas to turn more freelance elves into North Pole elves.

Each Sector Elf Supervisor reports they are working with many candidates. None of them will make it before Christmas, but several have the opportunity to be invited into the Elf Community in the New Year if they keep up the work they are doing now.

Quality remains our watchword. If you put forth good information in your reports you WILL advance in your elf career. It’s as simple as that.

We are only in the tens of millions of reports Santa says that he wants. The target this year is 1 billion reports. We are just getting started.

But for where we are at right now, as we near the end of October, things are going very, very well.

What will November and early December look like for trackers?

Just follow the lead of your Elf Supervisor.

All of this is happening just as Santa said it would.

Thank you for your efforts.

Elf Roger Star

 

Heads-up for Sector 1

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Fellow Trackers!

North Pole Flight Command has now confirmed that the test flights of Santa’s sleigh will once again be over the skies of Sector 1 very soon.

We are yet to see an “official” sighting of Santa’s sleigh during the test flight phase and I believe this next round of flights in our sector may provide good opportunity.

The best possibility of seeing a sleigh in flight is actually at night and I have been told there will be a lot of night time flights in Sector 1 over the next week or two.

Please keep your eyes peeled.

I’d love to score a sighting!

If you do see one, don’t forget to get a photo if you can and make sure you use this report.

Thanks!

Alert! Elf Status Update

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Hi elves!

I’ve been to a couple of interesting meetings lately. I have reason to believe things are going to get interesting.

So, just to prepare myself I’m asking each of you to please file an Elf Status Report as soon as you can. I need to know how many of you out there are paying attention and might be ready for some projects.

These are interesting times!

If you are a North Pole Elf, please use the report at this link.

If you are a Freelance Elf, kindly use the report at this link.

I look forward to hearing from you.

 

The Truth About Elf Bernard

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Elf BernardElf Bernard is the head elf at Santa’s workshop. I went over to the workshop this week to meet with Elf Bernard and to get an update on how the work is going there.

Elf Bernard is not the dude you think he is.

First of all, he’s a very smart elf who has worked for Santa for a very, very long time. Bernard’s profile at SantaUpdate.com, which has been there since 1991, gives a pretty accurate assessment of what Bernard is like.

But Elf Bernard has an image problem.

You see, in 1993 a movie came out called The Santa Clause, which proved to be very popular. In that movie the head elf in Santa’s workshop is named Bernard.

It’s just a movie and none of it is true but many people around the world think that the Elf Bernard in the movie is what the real Elf Bernard at the North Pole is like.

That is not true. The real Elf Bernard is nothing like the movie version.

You see, the real Elf Bernard, since that movie came out, gets a lot of mail. Most of it comes from little girls (who think Bernard is cute) or from people who have elf questions that only Elf Bernard can answer.

Elf Bernard – the real one – insists that he is not cute and he has no interest in answering all the mail he receives. The real Elf Bernard, he says, is a working elf. He carries a hammer, he works with his hands, and he gets things done for Santa.

And the real Elf Bernard absolutely detests that movie.

“No other movie has set back the image and understanding of Santa, the North Pole and elf life like that movie,” Elf Bernard said.

He said the movie distorts life at the North Pole, it totally makes reindeer look stupid and that even as a message of what Christmas is all about the movie is harmful.

Bernard is very opinionated.

But that does not mean he does not like Christmas movies. He just does not like Christmas movies that pretend to know about Santa, elves, reindeer and the North Pole.

He said he has never seen a good Christmas movie with any of that and he said if he had a say in what elves watch he would ban all those movies.

In fact, his favorite Christmas movie is A Christmas Carol, which never even mentions Santa or the North Pole.

But he really hates all those Santa Clause movies. Those, he said, are really bad movies.

In the movie, all elves look like children. That’s not true either. But real elves at the North Pole – who generally LOVE the Santa Clause movies – actually like the idea that everyone thinks elves look like youngsters. They think that’s funny.

But not Elf Bernard.

He’s kind of a stickler. Elves working in Santa’s workshop are expected to look neat. They wear uniforms there and Elf Bernard has them all color coded based upon their skill level. An elf in a red costume, for example, is certified in several critical areas of toy building. But an elf in a blue uniform is an elf who has fewer skills and one who shouldn’t be around certain types of tools.

A workshop elf is one who has put in a lot of time as an elf. Most elves there have decades of experience and a new elf hardly ever gets assigned to Santa’s workshop. For most, the certifications needed for toy building takes years to accomplish.

It’s a serious thing and Elf Bernard is a serious elf. After all, Santa’s main job, that of a Gift Bringer, is very dependent upon the quality of gifts and toys that he delivers. Santa needs a serious elf like Elf Bernard as the head elf in his workshop.

And that is why the real Elf Bernard does not like the movie Elf Bernard. He’s too young and he’s not serious enough.

Elf Bernard does not like all the mail he gets from little girls. “I’m a married man,” Elf Bernard says. “My dear wife gets upset at those letters and she opens all my mail. I do not like when she gets upset.”

Elf Bernard’s day begins very early in the morning. He gets to his office by 4:00 a.m. and he spends a lot of time planning and organizing. He keeps a big white board in his office with all kinds of numbers on it. He writes it out himself and he won’t let anyone else look at it. Elf Bernard says the “big board”, as he calls it, is his “to-do list”.

By 6:00 a.m. Elf Bernard is “walking the floor” of Santa’s workshop, talking mostly to supervisors about their plans and goals for the day. Every elf knows that Elf Bernard is going to visit every department within Santa’s Workshop every morning.

Elf Bernard is a master toymaker, just like Santa. He likes to sometimes stop on his walk and help with making something. He asks lots of questions. He has to approve all the materials used in making toys and he is known for changing things in an instant.

Elf Bernard “walks the floor” until about Noon, when he stops to take a break. Mrs. Bernard usually comes and brings Elf Bernard lunch and they sit together in the lunchroom at Santa’s workshop.

Lunch is only 30 minutes. Then Mrs. Bernard leaves and Elf Bernard meets with Santa, either in person or by video, depending on where Santa is.

Then Elf Bernard takes a stroll over to the Purchasing Department, where he meets to discuss the supply of lumber, plastic, metal and hardware all used at the North Pole. I asked him why he goes there every day and Elf Bernard says that if Purchasing isn’t on their game it affects his ability to keep Santa’s workshop moving.

And nobody sits still in Santa’s workshop. Ever.

Elf Bernard says an idle elf is a lazy elf and nobody in Santa’s workshop is ever idle. It runs 24 hours a day and elves are constantly coming and going on and off shift. They work 12 hours at a time.

But not Elf Bernard. By the time 3:00 p.m. rolls around Elf Bernard is back in his office, meeting with different department head elves. Everyone knows Elf Bernard and, frankly, many of them are afraid of him.

He’s not mean. He is not even gruff. He’s just all business and he has very high standards.

He also works very hard. He stays until 6pm every day, six days a week. Elf Bernard rarely takes a vacation. It has been like this for decades.

Elf Bernard also does not like the News Department at the North Pole very much. It took me 7 months to get an appointment with him and he would only set aside about 15 minutes for me. Honestly, I think he lost interest in me after about 30 seconds.

He won’t do an interview on the radio or on any of the podcasts.

He does not like elf reporters like Trixie or even Elf Crash Murphy. Elf Bernard says they “ask too many questions”.

I tried to explain to him that is their job and that, like them, it’s my job to tell the world the truth about Santa, the North Pole and elf life through the news we produce.

Elf Bernard apologized to me and explained that what we in the News Department do is just fine.

“Some elf has to do it,” he said.

But he lacks patience for it because he does not feel Santa’s Workshop is something that should be talked about a whole lot outside of the North Pole.

In fact, I had to agree NOT to say certain things about Santa’s Workshop before Elf Bernard even allowed an appointment with me. And I got a surprise visit from North Pole Security on the morning of our scheduled interview.

But he was very generous to me, too.

Elf Bernard gave me a very personal view of Santa’s workshop. He walked me around. He told me stuff. I understand why he and North Pole Security are concerned about what we might say. I get it.

But I also know interest is very high about Santa’s workshop and about, yes, even Elf Bernard.

And Elf Bernard does not like that.

He says he is not an elf that likes to have the spotlight on him. Many elves do like that but Elf Bernard insists on saying “I’m just an elf who works for Santa”.

If Elf Bernard had his way, nobody outside of Santa would even know his name.

Well, that explains a whole lot about Elf Bernard, does it not?

He’s a serious elf. He’s a GREAT elf.

I did get a chance to talk to Santa about Elf Bernard.

Santa smiled when I told him what I had learned and what I wanted to say in this article. Santa then told me something I never expected to hear.

“I love Elf Bernard,” Santa said. “I mean, I love him like a brother. His heart is pure gold. I want to be like Bernard in every way. You make sure the world understands that Elf Bernard is my head elf in the workshop because of his heart.”

Have you ever heard Santa speak that way?

No wonder nobody here really thinks much of the Elf Bernard of the movies.

He’s much better than that.

Santa’s workshop, by the way, is doing very well. They are ahead of schedule, Elf Bernard told me.

And that’s all we need to know right now. It is good news indeed.

Chimney Inspections Due

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Elves of Sector 4 – hola!

North Pole Flight Command has instructed me to begin collection of Chimney Inspection Reports within our sector. We are hoping to have these completed and turned in by November 19th.

If you are not a North Pole Elf, please use the freelance elf report form found at this link. Don’t forget to put your elf name on it! If you are an elf, use THIS REPORT.

Just as a reminder, chimney inspections are done FROM THE GROUND. Please do not get on a roof or climb a ladder for this assignment. Photos of the chimney help, but are entirely optional.

Please remember that the purpose of a chimney inspection is to report on whether or not you think the chimney will be safe for Santa to use. You can usually tell that from the ground. If the chimney is cracked, missing bricks or is otherwise in disrepair you will want to report that. Santa generally will not use a chimney if there is any sign of damage.

For some in our sector a chimney is NOT a standard feature of a dwelling. That’s okay. If there are no chimneys in your area, just report that.

Santa is quite comfortable and able coming into a home via a window or a door.

If you have people who ask you questions as an elf it is okay to tell them how Santa gets inside. Most people tend to think it works like some movies show – that somehow Santa squeezes into a pipe or portal that turns into a fireplaces as he descends into a house.

This is false, of course.

Santa conforms to all physical laws and does not change in size or shape in any way. If he cannot fit down a chimney he does not use it.

As an elf you can answer questions. In fact, we encourage you to do spread the truth about Santa and to help people with their questions as much as you can. Help is just what elves do.

Thank you for your service and please let me know if you have any questions.

Questions from Students and Teachers

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Santa Trackers Podcast
Santa Tracker Podcast
Questions from Students and Teachers
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Questions from students and teachers are featured in the newest episode of the Santa Trackers Podcast. I have been talking with school teachers from around the world for several months and answering their questions – well, most of their questions.

This episode features questions Elf Crash Murphy answers – and that’s because he follows Santa on Christmas Eve to report news of Santa’s flight on Kringle Radio. As expected, Crash’s experience proves very useful in answering some very tough questions.

I have more questions – but we’re saving those for an episode that will be appearing soon as part of the North Pole Podcast at SantaUpdate.com.

Do you have questions? Don’t be afraid to message them to me here on SantaTrackers.net or in the comments below. Your question might get featured on a podcast!

Elf Trixie

Elf Moe Makes an Announcement

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Elf Chat on Sunday, October 2nd, featured Elf Moe, who’s usual role is that of standards enforcement here on SantaTrackers.net. He also has served as a backup to Elf Max on administrative duties. In this important chat Elf Moe discusses with Elf Ernest the current situation with Elf Max, who has been ill these past several months.

Elf Max is on medical leave at this time, meaning other elves will be here on SantaTrackers.net to help out for a while. Here is the recap of the chat:

Elf MoeMoe here!  Reporting for duty
Elf ErnestHello, Moe. Sparse crowd today!
Elf UlanHello, Elf Moe!
Elf ErnestDidn’t you tell anyone there was a chat today?
Elf MoeHi Ulan!
Elf ErnestMoe…
Elf MoeOk, Ernest…ready
Elf ErnestWe’re going to be recording today’s chat folks
Elf ErnestWe have something of an announcement to make
Elf UlanOkay
Elf ErnestDo you want to do this, Moe?
Elf MoeYes, I got it.
Elf MoeSome of you have sent me messages in recent weeks regard the notable absence of Elf Max.
Elf MoeWe will address this as carefully as we can, to protect his privacy and to secure his standing.
Elf MoeSeveral months ago Elf Max got very ill. He spent some time in the hospital. He visited with his doctors and received some tough news about his condition and treatment options.
Elf MoeHe felt it best to submit his resignation and Santa rejected it. But, as is necessary, Elf Max has been unable to attend to his elf duties.
Elf UlanI’m sorry to hear that. I worried him
Elf MoeI want to make clear that Max is doing well. He’s had some serious treatment and still has more to go.
Elf MoeHe stops in now and then when he can.
Elf MoeBut he has not been able to do all that he wants to do.
Elf MoeIn recent weeks, several of us have been receiving training to help cover for Max while he is out.
Elf MoeIt is anticipated that Elf Max will be only working now and then between now and next summer. Santa has approved his leave and he will be back when his health permits in his usual position.
Elf MoeWe owe Max a great deal.
Elf MoeWhile he is out, I will be working as the primary contact here at SantaTrackers.net
Elf MoeOthers will also be stepping up to help out, notably, Elves Harold Starr, Frank Myrrh, and Crash Murphy. Elf Ernest will also be around more to lend a hand.
Elf MoeWe are no substitute for Elf Max and we all still have our own usual duties to perform.
Elf MoeWe just want all tracker elves to understand.
Elf MoeThe focus in the coming 12 weeks should be on your elf supervisor anyway. The rest of us will be handling site support and the posting of news as required. We will, of course, try to answer your questions if you would please direct them to one of us instead of Max.
Elf ErnestThanks, Moe. Great job.
Elf ErnestIs there news to share today for SantaTrackers?
Elf MoeThat’s really about it. The hard news will be handled by Elf Harold and Elf Trixie, mostly. I’ll handle site updates. We are working on a chat schedule with various elves for the next few months.
Elf ErnestOk, very good then. Are there any questions for Elf Moe today?
Elf MoeLooks like a short and sweet chat today, Ernest
Elf ErnestWell, hold on a sec, I have a few questions sent to me
Elf MoeReally? Ok, fire away
Elf UlanThank you, Elf Moe. Does Elf Max need a surgery?
Elf ErnestRegarding the moderation of new elves, how is that affecting things for tracking Santa this year?
Elf MoeElf Ulan, I’m not aware entirely of Elf Max’s medical situation. I just have heard it is serious. I understand he is on a treatment plan, which I think means medications. He has very regular doctors appointments. But I haven’t heard of any surgeries, no.
Elf MoeErnest, the new plan put in place to have new elf applicants work as freelance elves for 90 days means there will be NO new elves joining the elf community before Santa launches this year
Elf MoeThat is good news for the community
Elf ErnestYes, it seems rather peaceful
Elf MoeYes, we are getting many new signups but reporting from freelance elves seems challenged.
Elf ErnestWhen do you anticipate new elves in the community?
Elf MoeNot until next year. We have many freelancers working towards their qualifications. I think that means our new elves here will be strong once they qualify
Elf UlanOkay, I hope he will be going to feel better soon
Elf ErnestHow do you think the reporting is going this year so far?
Elf MoeThat is more of a question from Elf Roger. However, I can tell you that I was in a meeting this week where that was discussed and they seem to be happy with it so far
Elf ErnestSo that number of reports is not LOW?
Elf MoeNo, in fact, they are thrilled with it. And the quality of reports are MUCH MUCH better
Elf ErnestWow, that’s really good news.
Elf MoeYes, I think if Elf Max would have been here that news would have been shared earlier and better. I promise I’ll get better at sharing that kind of information.
Elf ErnestThank you, Elf Ulan, for thinking of Elf Max. I’m hoping he might feel well enough soon to join us for a chat some time
Elf MoeYes, we all pray for Elf Max.
Elf ErnestMoe, a question has been sent in regarding what elf supervisors will be asking of elves this year. Can you speak to that?
Elf MoeYes, I can. I attended that meeting too.
Elf MoeThe Elf Supervisors right now are not asking for a lot. But come November the requests will pick up a little. They are wanting information as it is needed, not dumped all at one time.
Elf ErnestWhat will Christmas Eve look like for tracker elves?
Elf UlanYes, I pray for him. And he can get anytime our community update too.
Elf MoeSanta and Roger actually met with the Elf Supervisors to discuss that. It will be a little different on December 22nd, 23rd and 24th…but it will still be busy for all tracker elves out there
Elf MoeElf Ulan – Elf Max does check in via his iPad all the time. Santa has got him on work restriction so he isn’t supposed to do things but he still allows him access to see what people are doing and saying. Sometimes Max gets bored and he calls me to do stuff
Elf ErnestSo trackers should still anticipate being needed on December 22nd, 23rd and 24th?
Elf MoeYes, most definitely.
Elf ErnestWill there be a tracker elf conference this year to talk about that?
Elf MoeYes, there will be. But we aren’t ready to announce it. Santa has some ideas about the right date.
Elf UlanOh, that’s good. I feel relieved that he can check it^^
Elf ErnestOk, we will wait for that news.
Elf MoeYes, for Elf Max it’s a tough time. But he WILL be tracking Santa like the rest of us on December 22nd-24th.
Elf ErnestOk, Moe. That’s great. And it’s all I have for now. Any last questions for Moe?
Elf MoeSorry, I’m not the best chatter. Looking back this chat seems a little depressing.
Elf ErnestOh no! You’re fine Moe
Elf ErnestThis wasn’t easy to talk about. Please don’t feel bad. You did a great job.
Elf MoeWell, thanks.
Elf UlanWill you often come to our community in the future?
Elf MoeI promise we’ll get Elf Crash or someone in here to chat real soon.
Elf MoeYes, Elf Ulan. I will be around as much as I can
Elf ErnestI look forward to it, Moe. Thanks again!
Elf MoeThanks everyone!

Test Flights Fail in Hurricane

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North Pole Flight Command just posted a stunning update: the test flights of Santa’s sleigh have failed during purposeful test flights into Hurricane Ian. Evidently Flight Command saw the catastrophic storm as an unusual opportunity and sent the test flights right into the path of the hurricane.

It didn’t go well.

Another version of the sleigh – Version 5 now, I think it is – had already been ordered and will be sent to somewhere in the southeast of the United States tomorrow. I’m told that this new version will test further over the next couple of days to “take advantage of the unsettled weather” before it will transition to Sector 2, where it will basically begin the flight testing routine over.

I have been reminded that this kind of thing is normal and nothing to worry about with more than 85 days remaining until Santa’s launch.

How have the reports been flowing from Sector 5 during this test run of the sleigh? Elf Pinky says the reports have been VERY strong and they have some real possibilities of actual photos of the sleigh in flight. She needs to confirm them before sharing but I’m convinced that one of our tracker elves actually did capture it. (Although Pinky did get LOTS and LOTS of photos of Jupiter this week, which was prominent in the night skies, that some thought was a sleigh).

What can trackers in Sector 2 anticipate as the test flights shift to their area?

I’m told night flights are the first order of business. That means sleigh visibility will be better.

Will the flights shift to further big weather events like new hurricanes? North Pole Flight Command says to bet on it. This is one of the more serious efforts in testing the sleigh and there could be a lot of storm chasing over the next two months. That is part of the reason why your weather reports are so important.

Some are writing in expressing great concern about Santa’s sleigh.

Many are concerned at the North Pole, too.

But I would just emphasize, once again, that Santa and the lead elves who head up the test flight project are not worried about Santa’s sleigh. There is plenty of time to work out the issues and some of what you’re reading here in the news is “normal” – it just doesn’t get shared much on a site like SantaUpdate.com. As elves, you should be able to handle tough news. So we share it here and hope that you will keep it “between us”, as other elves, rather than taking your concerns to the world on social media.

Elves don’t panic, okay?