I hear they're getting Adam Sandler next year...

My Christmas tree, now up, is simultaneously
*very crooked
*very stable.

I will live with this creative tension.

Greetings to all.

Happy Christmas to all (also Happy Hanukkah) and to all a good morning! The Boy and I are off to church, me to sing and he to read a lesson in the Christmas pageant. He did not volunteer but was called, so he will serve. [What? he says.] Today I'm icing cookies and my lovely Black Cake, courtesy of Laurie Colwin through Nigella Lawson, fine cooks both. Also making pies. Then off to Christmas Eve late mass. I hope to lurk and perhaps post between icings.

Thanks to all who commented about the dog problems. I think an electic fence, perhaps backed up with hogwire underneath the chain link eventually, is our first choice. As was said, an invisible fence only works if the dog is trainable and I fear we've missed that window. I absolutely agree that we're not optimum dog owners. These are yard dogs, out all the time except extremely inclement and cold weather (then they get crated in a sun room). We have more than one so they keep one another company; Evil Dog is the only one who's ever regularly dug out.

Have a splendid day, today and tomorrow! Oh yes, very funny Kit too.

Taking a break here from cooking for Xmas eve (started at 9:00 AM), not sure I'll be able to post later today.

I wonder - have they started testing Santa's reindeer for steroids? They're still knocking it out of the park very late in their careers...

Anyway, I just wanted to stop in and plant a tune cootie:

Have yourself a merry little Christmas,
Let your heart be light
From now on,
our troubles will be out of sight

Have yourself a merry little Christmas,
Make the Yuletide gay,
From now on,
our troubles will be miles away.

Here we are as in olden days,
Happy golden days of yore.
Faithful friends who are dear to us
Gather near to us once more.

Through the years
We all will be together,
If the Fates allow
Hang a shining star upon the highest bough.
And have yourself A merry little Christmas now.

[bc gives a great big Jim Lange/Dating Game kiss to the Boodle]

bc

To: E. Scrooge
Re: Buyout
Please note the signed copy of your buyout offer and noncompete agreement. As stated in this document, you are now obligated to deliver the cashier's check for the entire lump sum you offered, and the first pension quarter sum, within 48 hours. My legal staff assures me you have no possible legal standing to refuse to do so.

Having said that, my staff also assures me the noncompete claus is a pure myth, it will be unrecognized and unenforceable.

Ho ho ho!
Merry Christmas
Kringle

How about new holiday stories: the camel beer party?

A Christmas party in Ireland was completely ruined when a camel broke in, ate all the food and then (gasp) drank all the beer.

Gus the even-toed ungulate snuck out of his stable while his keepers at the Mullinger Equestrian Centre were getting spritzed up for their annual Christmas do, reports the Metro newspaper.

Before they knew he was missing, the 11-year-old Moroccan camel had scarfed down 200 mince pies and 150 sandwiches, and quaffed seven cans of Guinness.

By the time Gus was done partying, the place looked like a "chimpanzee's tea party," said headkeeper Robert Fagan.

The Christmas revelry was postponed for a few days while the staff cleaned up and restocked the beer.

http://www.canada.com/edmontonjournal/news/business/story.html?

Or Grampus Krampus?

As Christmas nears, Austrian children hoping for gifts from Santa Claus will also be watching warily for "Krampus", his horned and hairy sidekick.

In folklore, Krampus was a devil-like figure who drove away evil spirits during the Christian holiday season.

Traditionally, he appeared alongside Santa around Dec. 6, the feast of St. Nicholas, and the two are still part of festivities in many parts of central Europe.

But these traditions came under the spotlight in Austria this year, after reports last week that Santa -- also known as St Nicholas, Father Christmas or Kris Kringle -- had been banned from visiting kindergartens in Vienna because he scared some children. ...

But Friedrich conceded there had been few known cases of "Krampus trauma".

He said Krampus remained a popular custom probably because "there's a phenomenon of finding fear attractive" [Is Karl Rove really Krampus?] , pointing for example to the frequently frightening, sometimes gruesome, plot twists in the classic fairy-tales of the Grimm brothers.

Sometimes, Krampus can get carried away -- in some towns in the Tyrol and Salzburg areas, some of the horned devils have lost control after downing a few too many beers or schnapps.

"In Tyrolean communities ... the Krampus actors have to wear a number so everyone can know who the bad guy is behind the mask, just in case," said Friedrich.

http://in.today.reuters.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=entertainmentNews&storyID=2006-12-06T184927Z_01_NOOTR_RTRJONC_0_India-279221-1.xml

bc:
Anyway, I just wanted to stop in and plant a tune cootie:

Have yourself a merry little Christmas,
Let your heart be light
From now on,
our troubles will be out of sight

Frank Rich today's NYT:

Time made the right choice [for its 2006 "Person of the Year" cover], albeit for the wrong reasons.

As our country sinks deeper into a quagmire -- and even a conclusive Election Day repudiation of the war proves powerless to stop it -- we the people, and that includes, yes, you, will seek out any escape hatch we can find. In the Iraq era, the dropout nostrums of choice are not the drugs and drug culture of Vietnam but the equally m*sturbatory and narcissistic (if less psychedelic) pastimes of the Internet. Why not spend hour upon hour passionately venting in the blogosphere, as Time suggests, about our "state of mind or the state of the nation or the steak-frites at the new bistro down the street"? Or an afternoon surfing from video to video on YouTube, where short-attention-span fluff is infinite? It's more fun than the nightly news, which, as Laura Bush reminded us this month, has been criminally lax in unearthing all those "good things that are happening" in Baghdad.

As of Friday morning, "Britney Spears Nude on Beach" had been viewed 1,041,776 times by YouTube's visitors. The count for YouTube video clips tagged with "Iraq" was 22,783. Not that there is anything wrong with that. But compulsive blogging and free soft-core porn are not, as Time would have it, indications of how much you, I and that glassy-eyed teenage boy hiding in his bedroom are in control of the Information Age. They are indicators instead of how eager we are to flee from brutal real-world information that makes us depressed and angry. This was the year Americans escaped as often as they could into their private pleasure pods. So the Person of 2006 was indeed you -- yes, you.

The curse of being too organized is that it is not yet noon and I have gone as far as possible in preparations for both tonight and tomorrow, short of showering and getting dressed. Times like this I start wondering if I should bake that one last goodie that I previously decided our waistlines didn't need. So I'm writing this instead.

I missed a great photo last night. We babysat for a few hours and when the girls first came in, while I was talking to my daughter, I looked into the living room and there they sat, in the two rocking chairs in front of the fire in the fireplace, rocking away. At least I have it stored in my mind's eye.

Very funny kit, Joel. Love that part about the Bratz dolls, they are really hideous. Glad the girls are into Webkinz this year.

And to harken back to "yesterday's" kit, Bad Sneakers.... you will tell us years from now how "every year, my granddaughters would rock in my living room by the light of the Christmas tree..."

Off for some last-minute shopping (yes!). Who was it that said they always forget the stocking stuffers?

Happy Christmas to all!

TBG

Here's an old poem of mine, for all of you but especially for College Parkian:

Oh, Christmas Tree!

Our Christmases are always merry,
Our holidays filled to the hilt.
Except we always get a tree
That has a truly slantwise tilt.

Is it our biorhythms or Karma?
Or something inbred in our genes?
Why is it every single Christmas
We get a lovely tree -- that leans?

Merry Christmas, everyone!

I used to buy the stuff for the stockings, but forget to actually fill them. Sheesh. I do that with little gifts I buy early - forget to put them in the package to send across country. Organized I am not.

I like the sort of melancholy Christmas songs, like "I'll Be Home for Christmas". This is one of my favorites, too. A Seattle radio station, KMTT, plays it. It's called Stop the Cavalry - sounds like a German drinking song to me (which I don't usually like) - and here are some lyrics (which I have to say I never fully got till I found them today):

Hey, Mr. Churchill comes over here
to say we're doing splendidly
But it's very cold out here in the snow,
marching to win from the enemy
Oh I say it's tough, I have had enough
Can you stop the cavalry?
I have had to fight, almost every night
down throughout these centuries
That is when I say, oh yes yet again
Can you stop the cavalry?

Mary Bradley waits at home
in the nuclear fall-out zone
Wish I could be dancing now
in the arms of the girl I love
Wish I was at home for Christmas

Full lyrics and audio here:

http://bookish85.vox.com/library/posts/tags/xmas/

http://bookish85.vox.com/library/audio/6a00cd9700115b4cd500cdf7e8fe07094f.html

Merry Christmas & Happy Holidays, everyone!

I'm behind about a day. On Friday I finally forced myself to go to the emergency room (why was that so difficult?) with chest pains and a hurting left side. I couldn't leave without laying out my will, etc., and typing out a list of phone numbers, bank accounts, etc. for my executor friend. (High drama). I spent 5 hours being monitored, tested, and came out clean, they think it's GERD. The doctor pointed out even they often couldn't tell the difference without the testing, so going in was the right thing. I'm looking on this as my visit from the ghost of Christmas future, and mending my ways. I'm happy to be looking back at 2 good EKGs instead of hovering above (?) and listening to friends say, "She thought it was indigestion."

Ivansmom, you go on the black cake. I always wanted to make it, but never did. I love Laurie Colwin's books. I think her daughter works on the food network.

dmd, all my best wishes on your dad's recovery.

Again, I hope everyone has a stellar and happy holiday.

I am shocked to hear of this recent commercial acquisition. For given that whole "knows if you've been bad or good" business, I always naturally assumed that Santa worked for the government.

RD, thank you for yesterday's "Caught Daddy on the Achenblog". Substitute Mommy and you have my house; my spouse and offspring remain bemused at my continued affinity for Joel's wit and observations, and my imaginary friends also so inclined. Santa was always contracted out; government regulations would never support the sleigh with reindeer.

dbG, the black cake is surprisingly easy to make. It is a little off-putting to bake it in brown paper and parchment paper for almost 4 hours, but not hard. The only complexities are making the fruit/rum/Madeira mixture and the marmalade/marzipan/icing (I make royal icing, can't find rolled fondant here) final step. Last year I made a double batch of the fruit/alcohol mixture and it really DOES keep for a year -- this year's cake should be strong but good. My family thinks I'm crazy but they appreciate the effort.

I'm so happy. At first I was upset that I couldn't get the Redskins game on the TV down here, and then discovered I can listen to Sonny and Sam on the Internet, almost live (there seems to be a one-minute delay), which I am doing now. (And I'm boodling while watching "Blazing Saddles" on Cinemax; how's that for multi-tasking?

Kinda wish Loomis had included the link for that Britney Spears video. *big sigh* Oh, never mind, here comes the wife.

Cooley just scores--Skins up, 21-14. Yee-hah!

Don't know what's on the sports news up there in the Upper 49, but down here it's a bullfight clip of a big bull named El Pajarito that leaped into the stands in Mexico City and gored a bunch of people before somebody killed it. Pretty impressive...though they keep re-running it in slo-mo about ten times an hour.

As soon as Blazing Saddles is over (any minute) I'm taking the laptop poolside for the second half.

Later, dudes.

>fruit/rum/Madeira mixture

Now that's what I call holiday spriits!

The litigation over the Plaintiff Yagnebbler is nothing compared to the damage control that will have to be done once the new photos of Cupid and Vixen reach wide circulation on the internet.

Drive-by kudos for RD for his song (reminded me of that Achenblog classic "All I want for Christmas is some font options, please") and dr for the memories.

Merry Christmas, everyone!

dbG, so glad it all worked out fine. Yes, indigestion beats heart attack any day.

We're glad you're here with us, reflux and all!

Merry Christma all, have a wondeerful holiday, hug your loved ones.

Dad still touch and go, but improving.

dmd... I'm so glad you checked in. Merry Christmas to you and your whole family--especially Dad.

From all of us stuck at work Merry Christmas, and a Happy non-denominational holiday season to all!

So it's Christmas Eve again. I'm sitting here nursing a glass of Shiraz. My father-in-law is watching television. My mother-in-law is talking with my wife at the kitchen table. The boy is playing video games, while my daughter snuggles with the dog and watches.

If it weren't for the extended family, and the unusual amount of red and green throughout the house, it could be any night. But it is not. It is Christmas Eve. So many dreams and hopes have been focused on this night. The barrier between present and past seems nebulous.

Soon it will be time to put out the stockings. For in the tradition there is a moment when we all remember.

It's Christmas Eve.

And suddenly we will all believe in magic.

I've finally got my sister's computer working and re-connected to the internet. Five hours and a two hour converstion with a nice chap in India called Jaheed. Besides making me a local hero it lets me wish you all a MERRY CHRISTMAS and a wicked Festivus.

Thanks, RD, for your magic reminder. It is Christmas Eve (you'll have to imagine the italics). The Boy has cleared off the hearth, so I guess we still believe in Santa, who will surely surely come. Between 12:30 and about 5 am, most likely. The pies are cooling, the cookies are (almost all) iced, the cake is double-iced, the spaghetti is cooking, and I'm looking forward to an eggnog with brandy while watching the tree. Then the Boy & I are off to late Mass (Episcopalians don't start at midnight) to carry the incense boat and sing, respectively. A Merry Christmas to all, and to all a Good night.

Merry Christmas everyone. bc..loved reading and singing the words to Merry Little Christmas especially cause gay still meant happy :-). dmd--best wishes for your dad. And one more comment: my oldest son graduated from college last weekend..BA in Economics and has a job lined up back in the DC area. We did it! I am so proud. One to go. Truly a merry Christmas in my family. And hopefully yours, too.

Merry Christmas everyone......I am off to work......Have a safe and happy day!!!

It's 85 degrees here and a steady trade wind is blowing in from the east across the Yucatan, and under these conditions it was a little difficult tonight at dinner to listen to the canned music playing "Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow." Nevertheless, there is a very large part of me that wishes I was home, that the stockings were hung along the mantel, and that tomorrow after breakfast we were heading 20 minutes up the road (preferably in winter coats and through one -- but only one-- inch of snow) to visit some of the grandkids as they open their presents.

Tonight they had a special turkey dinner with cranberries, stuffing and gravy, etc., here, and I must say, they did it very well. There was a 3-foot tall ice sculpture in the middle of the dining room of a giant penguin (they don't get a lot of penguins here in Mexico, but who am I to nit-pick on Christmas Eve?).

I have my family in my thoughts, along with all of my imaginary family, especially dmd and her dad, Cassandra and the g-girl, and Nani and her grandkids sitting on their porch swing down there in Amarillo listening to some Willie Nelson and maybe some Christmas doo-wop. And I've asked Santa to drop off an especially succulent dogbone for Wilbrodog.

Merry Christmas, everybody! We're all ready here, Santa should be coming any time now. Last night was my mother's family party, and we had a great time.
We've started a new tradition. The host family gets a pinata and the kids hit it till it spills its candy guts. Lots of fun, and everybody has to stand back during the whacking. Little Elizabeth Cade had her first birthday this week and is toddling. She's a good baby, was happy the whole three hours. Of course she got lots of loving and all the food she could stuff in her mouth...

My daughters are home; we all went to church this morning and then to communion this afternoon, so it really must be Christmas! I'm starting to catch the mood now that I have the time.

Glad to hear that your dad's improving, dmd.

Blessings to all!

I see it's seven minutes after midnight on the east coast: officially Christmas. I've been doing some writing today and tonight, and it's going pretty well. So let me be the first: Merry Christmas to everyone, and to everyone, good night.

I just fell through the ceiling while pretending to be Santa and his reindeer.

Stomp stomp stomp jingle jingle HO HO HO WOOOOAH! SUMANABRASTERFRASTERMTHR OWWWWW!

If only a video camera had been present, this just may have been a $10K "America's Funniest Videos" clip.

But no...

My only hope at this point is that I don't have to keep ice on my nether parts during Christmas dinner at Mrs. Toon's mother's.

In the meantime, I've brushed the drywall and insulation off of our bed and am trying to come up with a cover story to tell Little Bean in the morning (she bought the whole stomping/jingling/ho-ho-hoing bit, btw).

Looking at the martooni-sized hole in the ceiling, all I can think is that I am such an ass.

But a well intentioned one.

and if you don't believe me, here's a pic of the damage...

http://www.danghippie.com/images/oops.jpg

My new middle name is definitely "Ass".

Good morning and Merry Christmas everybody!

The next few hours will bring what my kids have been waiting for all year long.

Let the magic begin...

My family is asleep. I've got a roof over my head, a cup of coffee, my guitar, a big fluffy dog right at my feet, an internet connection, and plenty of fun loving, imaginary friends. I'm happy!

Merry Christmas to everyone! Santa saves my house for last. Since my son stays up unitl 1 am on the computer, Santa arrrives right as my dog needs a morning walk.

Tough hearing about the buyout. I remember working for that cheery chubby elf before he started spending Christmas in Mojitaville.

http://livebythefoma.blogspot.com/2006/12/christmas-elf.html

But it just may have been a false Christmas memory. Those are epidemic around here.

Loomis, both bc and I have already riffed on our joint award as POTY.

http://livebythefoma.blogspot.com/2006/12/you-phemism-of-year.html

And never, ever, mention a video of Britney Spears naked on the beach without a link.

danghippie,
At some point you get a little too old for Christmas cosplay. Which of course ties into the blogpost I plugged just above. Leave the reindeer effects to professional foley artists and stick to eating the cookies left out for Santa.

Ho ho ho, everybody.

Trying not to be a downer Christmas morning, but I note with some sadness that the Godfather of Soul has passed:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/12/25/AR2006122500049.html

May have to break out my James Brown and the Fabulous Flames 45s at some point today.

bc

Merry Christmas, my friends. I'm up and moving about, and I've thanked God in my heart that He has allowed me to see another Christmas. The g-girl is still sleep after coughing half the night. Her mother is here, and presents are under the tree. I can't wait for the g-girl to get up and open up her stuff. She will be so excited and happy. My grandsons did not come, they're expecting their cousin from California, so they decided to stay and enjoy him. He's their age, so that should be fun for them.

I read too that James Brown has died. I was shocked and sad. James Brown goes back a long ways, and I still enjoy his music when I can hear it. He had a glorious career, although not without trouble.

Slyness, Mudge, Error, and Nani, I have called on you so much this year, and you always answered. And not just you, but everyone here has offered kind words and assistance where it was needed, and I do thank you much.

dmd, dbg, I'm so sorry that your holiday has the event of sickness in it, but as always you are in my prayers. And I hope that you can enjoy the holiday as well, along with your families.

JA, and to all, a Merry, Merry, Christmas, and all the best for the New Year. And may that best include the realization that God loves us so much more than we can imagine through Him that died for all, Jesus Christ.

KB, thank you for remembering me also. I have truly enjoyed those tokens. I hope you and family are doing well, and that Xmas and the New Year will be all you ever dreamed and desired.

TBG, I went to see my father yesterday, and upon arriving, I hugged and kissed him. My father and I have a rough relationship, but I try, and I think he does too. I often think about you and your father, and I believe your relationship with your father was so good. I've never really had that with my father, so I know your memories are dear, and very precious. You, too, are in my prayers, embrace those memories, and cherish them because they are precious. I told my dad that I hoped he had many more Xmas's and he pointed out how old he is, (almost eighty) so I figured he's been thinking about the time.

Oh, TBG, I wish my dad could live forever, but I know that is not the case. Although it has been rocky, my desires and thoughts for him are for good things. He's seems to be in good health, walks two or three times a week, and still driving. And I do thank God for that, and much more.

I guess I just want you to know that I'm thinking about you, and thinking about your dad too. And I don't say this to upset you, just to offer my kindness and good thoughts your way, albeit it clumsy.

Delete the second "it".

Superfrenchie, if you're lurking, I was glad to hear from you. Merry Christmas to you and family.

Loomis, best wishes, and a Merry Christmas to you and family.

bc, have yourself, a Merry Xmas and a Happy New Year.

And RD, love the poem, and the song. You and I are often at odds, but that doesn't change your status with me one bit. I truly consider you my friend. You're one smart cookie, and I know that. And it good to have smart friends, even when they call you up short. I don't take offense, it is a learning experience, as they all are.

Ivansmom, what would this blog be without you, and the Boy. The g-girl and I took the book to church for her Sunday school class. We take that book to bed at night. Thanks so much. Don't forget to put me on your Rolex. I don't know where life will take me this year, but my mouth may make the trip hard.

dmd, good thoughts always for you and family.

bad sneakers, some say you're Nani, I don't know. It really does not matter. Why allow a name to get in the way of a good friend. Looking forward to the New Year, and your insightful posts.

yellokt, the book campaign could not have been done without you. The children thank you and so do I. And we thank all of you for your contribution to that worthy cause. Have a good Xmas and a Happy New Year.

Pat, hope you've enjoyed those sky reports as much as I've enjoyed giving them. When I walk to that lake in the morning, and look around me, my heart just sings, and I feel so close to my Creator. I love the scenery and taking in that picture, and coming back, giving you that view. I don't know about you, but for me, I see it with wonder and thanksgiving. It is marvelous and glorious, and in my heart I am so thankful to God and His Son, Jesus for that view, and for allowing me to see it.

Martooni, have a good Christmas and a Happy New Year. Leave all your troubles in this year, and start fresh in the New Year. That little bean you talk about will be grown and gone before you know it, and you will wonder how fast time does fly. Let that time be good time for you and her. It has to be for you. Can't put it on someone else, it has to be you.

Wilbrod, Merry Xmas and Happy New Year. I have never met a deaf person with as much spunk as you, and I love it. I simply love that in your face approach. It takes courage and knowing yourself. I'm working on mine, but I will keep up with you. Give Wilbroddog my best too.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!
MERRY CHRISTMAS!
MERRY CHRISTMAS!
MERRY CHRISTMAS!
MERRY CHRISTMAS!
MERRY CHRISTMAS!
MERRY CHRISTMAS!
MERRY CHRISTMAS!

sonofcarl, have a good Xmas and a Happy New Year. I really enjoy your post, and the pictures were beautiful.

College, you sound like a young person, I could be wrong, but I like your comments. I hope the New Year is good to you, and good for you.

Mostly, thanks a bunch. The music is on time, and thank you for that concern that is always in your comments. It is wonderful, and so are you.

boko, have a good Xmas and an even better New Year.

I think I've got everybody. If I left someone out, don't hold it against me, just can't remember. I love you all, and hope you day, and the New Year is good.

Joel Achenbach, good cheer. The best to you and family. They're always teasing you about your hair, but when I've seen you on the Internet thingy talking, you look so boyish and young. And that's not a bad thing, but it took me back. The writing and the picture did not match in some respects in my mind. The writing at times seems to come from one that is ancient. And skeptical. But it's all good. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. And this kit is odd, but enjoyable. It has to be hard work to write something new everyday, very hard, but you my friend, meet that challenge very well, exceptionally well. Are you teaching anyone this trade? This is a gift that should be shared, and our children certainly cannot get enough of knowing how to express themselves.

That is it. Just wanted to talk this morning. I can hardly wait for the g-girl to get up and start tearing up paper. I may not be able to check in later, I hope so. Thank God in your heart, enjoy your families, and try to get some rest during the holiday.

Peace and love to all.

Merry Christmas to all my REAL friend on Achenblog! I'd try to name you all, but I'd leave somebody off and feel bad.

What a special place this is...hugs and kisses to everybody!

Hi Cassandra,

You wrote this Christmas Cookie to me:
"College, you sound like a young person, I could be wrong, but I like your comments. I hope the New Year is good to you, and good for you."

Dear Cassandra! I am 46 and to be 47 in mid January.

I thought of you (and others here) last night at Christmas Eve Mass. At the Student Center, the Near-Midnight Mass is now at 8:00. This is easier, of course. But I do miss the frozen evenings growing up in Montana, we we went home to bed at about 12:30 Am. Our French-Canadian neighbors went home to complete repasts, featuring a meat pie pastrie that tastes lovely even cold on the next day.

Still Christmas comes, doesn't it? Into our hearts, inviting us to be love and light for others. I did not sing descant for the first time in many years, since Gregorian Chant is so "old school." The Carols were energetic and fine, so I was content to be in the folding chairs. I did, however, hit the high note on "O Holy Night" because I had a small glass of the good whiskey that tastes of smoke and peat and all things foggy in the North of Irelant.

I know this Christmas is hard for you, at the loss of your ex-husband. I know that God is well-pleased with your kindness and care for him, despite the end of the marriage.

Others here nurse quiet hurts and sadness, made more poignant by the lights and stories. My grandfather died on Christmass Day (after Mass but before the meal and gathering). My dear cousin died suddenly when we were both 13. My son carries this genetic illness and I happy to say that he is 14 and so far so good. But the hardest loss is my mother seven years ago on the Solstice to be buried on Christmas Eve Day.

I thought of them last night, as we all do, at holiday moments.

But I also thought of imaginary friends, because this ability to be a cyber-tribe is truly astonishing. For all the crap on the internet, let's work hard here and other places for understanding, connection, compassion, and indeed FUN.

Nollaig Shona Dui
......which is pronounced as 'null-ig hun-a dit'. Gaelic for Good Christmass.

God Bless and keep you.

Merry Christmas to all!

Cassandra, I'm just a bit defensive sometimes is all. I've learned lots of important things from you too.

Santa gave me a Presario Notebook for a combination Birthday/Christmas present. I've wanted one ever since I was but a wee boy. Now I just have to get the wireless connection working. (I hear that can be tricky.) Then I will be able to surf from the bunny room. A dream come true.

Nellie (Whoa!)

Did you write this gem? I just printed it out to add to the family box of holiday stuff, since this year's tree is a doozy.

Two neighbors, while sitting near the fire yesterday, eating a few treats, wanted to get up and right this wrong!!!!!!

Stable and crooked.

I think we can all forgive ourselves for being a tilt. Stability, a good thing.

Merry Christmas everyone! Thanks for the kind words Cassandra, I consider it a huge compliment that you would think I'm Nani. Alas, I couldn't hold a candle to her.

We had a great Christmas Eve at my daughter's house. The granddog came. She doesn't like riding in cars and she is used to a very (I mean very!) small house, so she was a bit skittery for the first hour. I think she's agoraphobic. Too many hor d'oeuvres, lots of food. Everyone liked their gifts. Granddog's flatulence pills kicked in just as dinner was done and hilarity ensued, along with a complete evacuation from the dining room. Another memory to add to a growing list of Christmas Eve's good times.

It's a beautiful morning here, bright blue sky with just a bit of fading near the horizons. The grass is still green, giving a good indication of how unseasonably warm it has been here so far this winter. I feel so 'with it' as "S" gave me an IPod Shuffle. Now just gotta figure it out. Luckily I'm on a Mac so it should be easy. Getting ready to throw the roast beast in the oven. Roast potatoes, green beans, acorn squash and Yorkshire pudding will complete the traditional dinner here. I think my SIL, my daughter and I could just eat the Yorkshire pudding by itself, to heck with the rest of the meal.

Hope everyone is having a great day!

Cassandra, thanks for your sweet words and I'm glad you are getting along with your father. I remember you saying that many of the problems women have stem from their relationship (or lack of, really) with their father.

My sisters and I are so lucky to have had a wonderful, loving father all of our lives and it made my life richer to have been able to take care of him when he was old. You have that chance now and I know you'll get that same satisfaction.

Merry Christmas to you, Cassandra, and to the ENTIRE ACHENUNIVERSE!

Merry Christmas, everyone...

Let's just say that my butt is *extremely* sore after the "ceiling incident" last night. I apparently managed to drop straight down in a straddling manner on a joist. To add insult to injury, I will be the one who has to patch that hippie-sized hole.

Aside from my black and blue bottom (which Mrs. Martooni refused to kiss-and-make-better, btw), Christmas Morning has been pretty much as expected. Little Bean loves her new tool belt (and the 50 piece play toolset to fill it) and Mrs. Martooni is happy with the gift card I got her for a massage and manicure at a local day spa.

I, of course, am the happy recipient of a six pack of new underpants (unfortunately, they're not padded).

Hope everyone is enjoying their holiday... (and thanks, Cassandra, for the good wishes).

I think I'm going to try to squeeze in a nap before heading off for turkey at Mrs. Martooni's Mom's house.

Peace and love and all that...

martooni... Oh gosh. What can I say? A great new Christmas memory for you and the bean.

Best Wishes to all and have Merry Christmas.

TBG..thinking of you, and wishing you the very best this holiday season.

Merry Christmas to everyone! Thanks for the Christmas comments, links, and the Martooni disaster pix...

Sad news about the Godfather of Soul. I'm glad that I got to see him in concert, years ago, when he was already into his 50s but still doing splits on stage, still the hardest workin' man in show business. I think his music has aged very well, it doesn't sound at all dated, and I'm not sure there's anything more fun in the world than dancing to "Sex Machine." (Well...)

We've had a wonderful Christmas morning, though I worry that we've pretty much cleared out the inventory of most of the Big Box, department and specialty stores in the Mid-Atlantic Region.

I'm off all week but feel free to post comments anytime. Happy holidays...Joel

I'm going to borrow a page from the amazing TBG and wish a Merry Christmas to the whole Achenuniverse!

Thanks to all.

College Parkian --

Glad you liked the poem. It is from quite a few years ago, when it was in honor of a particularly gnarly (see original definition at dictionary.com) Scotch pine.

Nice to see all the comments on Christmas morning. We have sunshine and some blue sky here, which is about the best present of all. The hummingbirds and pileated woodpecker have been by.

We had a very nice Christmas Eve and morning. We open one present on Christmas Eve - my husband got me a beautiful Pendleton blanket and our son sent us wind chimes with a lovely blue glass globe. I'm feeling high from the Frango chocolates. And I'm hoping to get through one more day of being on call without something horrible happening.

Hope everyone has a wonderful day.

Mostly, Do your humming birds stay aound all day?
Our bird is inconsistant. Most days she is here at daylight at the feeder and then rotates between the feeder and the top branch of our unbrella crab apple tree, which is eye level above my monitor about 20 feet away. When she is on the tree limb she seems to be looking right at me. But like now she has been gone for a couple of hours. Last week when the fog was freezing on the tree limbs she would be there all day until dusk. Then she was gone for a few days. I suspected someone else had a better feeder but all our neighbors are more than a quarter mile away. Then she has been back the last three mornings. The last two days we have been having showers with the temperature in the high 40's. She sits in the rain lookin up and seems to be chirping. Anyway do your's stay around all day or are they gone for sometime?

bh, my hummers just zip in and out. Sometimes they sit in the trees for a bit. Sometimes, like today, one flies onto the deck and looks in the sliding glass door. I usually see them once or twice a day when I'm at home, but when it was so cold, they came back time after time and spent a long while at the feeder. Lately two have been coming at the same time and fighting over the feeder - which has 4 perches, and there's another one out in the yard. They do that funny chirp too - usually I hear them before I see them, if I'm outside.

Still sunny! I spend some time cleaning up dead branches and redistributing dirt that the mole has piled up.

Merry Christmas, everybody!

I'm completely drained after three days in the Keys and the traditional opening presents/Christmas dinner/phone calls to everybody in the extended family, once we returned home. I'm very tired and very happy, and I hope you all are the same.

Peace on Earth! Joy to the World! And so on!

Reprinted without permission from last year's Christmas Boodle:

It's the night before Christmas
And the Boodle is dark
But I think I will post this
As kind of a lark
I know I don't post much
Till after four-thirty
But I still read the Boodle
(Unless it gets wordy)
I wish to you all
A fine Christmas Day
(And this includes those
Who don't swing that way)
To Nani, and Tim, and to Achenfan
To Mo and to Sara
And that guy from Siam
To Loomis, JW, BC and DR
To Cowtown, Curmudgeon,
(whoever you are)
And to all the rest
Whose names I won't list
I read all your posts
(Except those that I've missed)
So goodnight to all.
(Gosh, look at the clock!)
And Peace to all fans
Of Joel Achenbach

Posted by: RD Padouk | December 24, 2005 09:32 PM

Oh TBG - You know you always have permission.

I'm just sad that some of those names are no longer present on the blog.

Got my Presario up and running. It's like, all wireless and all. I can feel my standard of living going up even as I type.

RD, you're stuck now. This just means you're Boodle-able all the time, anywhere in the house.

Or you'll get the urge to visit that mega-church down Braddock Road that advertises the free wi-fi in their coffee shop.

RD, I left my PowerBook in the garage a few minutes and it was lifted by the groundhogs, who now order all manner of merchandise and have it delivered to 58b.

Doubtless your lagomorphs are of better breeding, but be careful just the same.

I didn't WANT to laugh at Martooni's tale, but I did. Thanks for providing me a bellylaugh at your expense, and I hope the soreness does not last. But it's the story that cracked me up after me totally and completely blowing the gifting logistics. My package delivery helper is not only not in town, but not arriving for 4 more days. Far too long to return bearing my gifts to the out-of-town relatives. How embarrassing. In short, I needed a laugh, came here and got one.

RD, "surfing from the bunny room" cracked me up earlier. Glad TBG found the poem from last year - very nice.

The company is gone, the big meals are done, and all that's left is sweet memories and the mess. Because the memories are far more important, I will leave the mess for another day, and will spend the rest of the evening putting the memories of the season in order.

A sweet young man gave me these quintisentially Canadian gifts, the Tea Pot and the Tea cup, and the Canadian boodler community will know what I mean when I say I wanted to go jump in a snowbank with some buddies.

http://holiday.timhortons.com/en/

Tomorrow I plan to watch movies, look at the Seed catalogues, the first of which arrived Friday in the mail, and sip on my tea in a most civilized manner.

Last night I was at a cousin's house and his sister's four-year-old son is a firm believer in Santa. One of the other adults took him out on the deck and pointed at something in the sky and said that it was Santa and his reindeer. The kid went wild, running around the house for about ten minutes shouting that Santa is coming, Santa will be here soon, we need to go get ready for Santa, and so forth. Eventually he calmed down, but I'm sure he was quite happy this morning and still convinced that the Santa last night delivered his booty from this morning.

Last week I went to pick up a package at the Post Office. When I walked in I saw a bunch of small children along with a few adults. There's an elementary school about three blocks from the P.O. and this was a class of first or second graders each of whom got a stamp from one of the clerks and very happily (if not always with great accuracy) placed the stamp on the hand-written envelope addressed to Santa at the North Pole. The clerk, along with the rest of us, had a small smile on his face while this was going on. The kids were well-behaved and many of them had a sense of wonder in their eyes, maybe slightly amazed that this thing called a Post Office existed and they could actually send a letter off to Santa.

Those are two of the better memories I will take from this busy Christmas.

Merry Christmas to all of you fine imaginary friends, good night, and sweet, sweet dreams.

Finally got back to my apt, bare except for debris and of course a PC all set up to boodle. So I am. Wilbrodog needs more sleep and has had less caffeine than I did. so he has stolen my bed for a nap, much deserved after 2 days dealing with kids who insist on playing with him instead of letting him sleep. Yesterday it was 7 kids, today 2 but they wanted to play fetch with him for over 20 minutes, and I finally called it quits when I caught the boy falling down and Wilbrodog looking ready to jump n hump, I put him on a downstay so he could calm down and indicated the kids should be told enough is enough.

But based on his track record, he will likely sleep for 12 hours straight. Should the sleep be interrupted for forays to drink and eat, he will act deflated and ready to collapse again.

I'll give him a hour or so and then give him the heave-ho. It is christmas after all and he's sleeping on a red and green spread. How can I say no... at least until I'm ready to go to bed myself?

Martooni, that's definitely a christmas to remember-- hopefully not permanently. Sleep with ample pillows.

Cassandra, thanks for the compliment. I know some with as much or more spunk, just it doesn't always show ;). I am acquainted with a deaf artist near my age who is black, who uprooted from Kentucky to move to DC. She is having a hard go of it financially since she's working 2 part time jobs but she's trying to get herself established, selling illustrated cards, etc. She basically said God inspired her to come to DC.
She is an excellent illustrator, I must say. I'd have her illustrate books for me. I hope things go well for her, I saw her work only recently and I was very impressed. She could illustrate signs in a children's book very well, and so much more. Very elegant carciature with minimal linework and lots of detail.

Anyway... can't say she didn't make me think of you ;).

Merry Christmas night everyone. I spent the day with my extended family -- even more extended now with Baby Molly, only 5 days old.
I am officially a great aunt, and I felt like the ghost of my mother, fretting that the baby might be cold, or in a draft, or someone might not be holding her correctly. I cannot imagine how neurotic I'll be when (and if) I become a grandmother!

While sitting around waiting for my brother to finally call us to the table, we told funny family stories and sang James Brown songs, trading memories of times when and where we saw him perform. When we did the math, we learned that I was the first to see the act in 1965 at the Boston Arena. Think of it: both Bob Dylan and James Brown the same year. Am I a living legend...or a living relic?

I hope everyone's Christmas was perfectly wonderful and peaceful and that next year will be much better world-wide than the last several.

Wilbrod, what in the world were you doing running around bare (except for some "debris," whatever that means)? Isn't it pretty chilly up there? Can't you find something to wear besides debris? You'll catch your death of cold.

Please, put some clothes on.

Merry Christmas and Joyeux Noël to all!
This is the season but it was hard to get into the spirit amongst all this greenery.
No snow here and no snow in Quebec City where I am heading tomorrow for the parent's 50th anniversary. The grass is green for crying out loud, it is just unbelievable. The dog loves this climate change thing; it went for a short swim in the Outaouais on December 25th. Our usual Christmas day walk involves slipping and sliding on the ice along the river, not enjoying the sun on our face in the midst of vocal mallard ducks demanding to be fed. We are just hoping for a white New Year's day now. The old dog's jump in the river reminded me of the first time it went swimming almost exactly 10 years ago.. The pup, about 4 months old at the time, surprised me by jumping in a small creek we were walking avery night. Being a good lab and all the pup was a great swimmer on his first try. The problem was that the temperature was well below -20C and that we were about a mile from home. And so I carried a wet shivering puppy in my coat for the last half mile.

'Twas my apartment that was wearing debris, Mudge. You have unbared my lack of grammatical grace tonight, nothing else.

Move on, folks, nothing new here to see at Wilbrod's Secret.

RD: //Got my Presario up and running. It's like, all wireless and all. I can feel my standard of living going up even as I type.//

Thank you, and everyone else, for a charming end to a charming day. This totally made me smile.

Good night, and God bless us, every one.

I hope everyone who celebrated it had a nice Christmas.

bc

And Martooni, I love the festive Holiday moonroof you installed, but I was hoping for something a little more...martooni shaped, if you know what I mean (e.g. a siloutette of a long-haired guy spread eagled). Take the Wile E Coyote Christmas all the way.

Seriously, I'm glad you're OK.

bc

SCC: silhouette.

Bah. Humbug.

bc

Oh martooni,

I feel for you and can empathize with your unfortunate but humorous episode. Hey, you tried!

Use ice the first 48 hours then heat. It has been 3 weeks since my black and blue buttaster :-). I don't have a ceiling to repair ... so sorry ... but(t)kinda glad to know I'm not the only one to admit my blunder!

Shreiking Denizen, So sorry you have no snow. Here in Colorado we still have snow from last week's big blizzard. Big mounds of it everywhere from the plows and the drifts. It still looks like the artic in many places. I guess it's fairly typical for us every few years. Can't say the greenhouse effect is working here right now.

The weather...always an interesting phenomenon.

Morning all, finally have a little time to comment. Loved hearing about all your Christmas events, Martooni hope you feel better but I hope you understand it is hard not to laugh at that story, little bean will have a great tale to tell all her life.

Weather here has been anything but Christmas like beautiful sunshine Christmas Eve, followed by quite heavey rain Christmas and still today.

Kids had a great time opening their presents and visiting with relatives.

Until yesterday we had very little idea how my dad was doing, heart was better but a little slow to recover, and the kidneys arer still recovering but also there was a concern that because of the damage the attempt to fix the heart may have triggered a stroke. However, when I saw him yesterday he seemed to recognize me and would respond to a few questions and even tried to speak once, after I left my brother visited a few hours later and said that he had even more interaction. So hopefully he is finally on the mend.

It was a tough time finding the christmas spirit, but the kids helped and your stories helped. Despite all it was a lovely Christmas.

Blessings all.

I will never again complain about having to do minor drywall surgery.

The amaryllis thing went off perfectly. Four for Mom's living room! Liked the varieties, too. pink-and-white San Remo and very pink Amalfi, with shorter flower stems.

Good morning, friends. I know I shouldn't have pulled out names from the boodle to give personal comments because my memory isn't that good, and that means I left some people out, which I did not mean to do. Please forgive me, just could not think of all the names. I don't mean to overlook anyone, just means Cassandra is an unthinking person. Slyness, you got it right, and I got it so wrong.

shrieking, dr, and everybody else, put a plug in my mouth.

I've taken the garbage to the curb, and all the boxes and gift wrapping paper so I guess Christmas is officially over. Some of the holiday decorations are still up so it still feels like Christmas.

It is cloudy and cold here. Not a bright sunny day. I thought about walking, but just could not push myself out the door.

I am thinking about some of the events that have happened in my life this year, going over them in my mind. It seems no matter the year there is always some sadness somewhere lurking about. But there is also joy, happiness, and loving, although these jewels seem to be fleeting. I'm a little sad because we have a tendency to think of what we've lost, and just don't want to think about the future. Thinking perhaps the future is going to be so much like the past, and many times it is. Yet some days there is gladness, quiet, a calm in the storm, and I don't know about you, but I do cherish those moments.

I hope to talk with you, my friends here in the days to come. And if that isn't possible, please know that you will certainly be a part of my thought process, if that is working. Moving forward means aging, and aging means some things are lost. In the case of the boodle, I will fight to keep my memories very much alive.

Enjoy the rest of your holiday, and prepare to be dazzled and rejuevenated(sp) for the coming year. God loves us so much more than we can imagine through Him that died for all, Jesus Christ. And that my friends is the dazzle.

Merry Post-Christmas, Cassandra!! *HUGS* I knew I was included, never fear. :-)

I'm a little surprised neither my e-mail or dead tree inboxes collapsed whilst I was away, but work goes on.

And the phone rings... *SIGHHHHH*

Happy Holidays to all!!!

:-)

Cassandra I hope 2007 will bring you much more joy and happiness than sorrow. It has been a crazy year for me and I am looking for 2007 to be filled with more stability and joy, the same wish goes out to you.

'Morning, Cassandra. Welcome back, scotty.

Martooni, if one is going to have a blue bottom, I strongly suggest doing it my way (with a paint roller) than your way. Just a suggestion.

And while I'm at it -- *clears throat, hits all-caps key*

HOW 'BOUT DEM FULDULFYA IGGLES!!!!!!!! YOWZA!!!!!!!! What a sweet Christmas present; I only wish I had been able to watch the game, which wasn't on down here.

(How'd you do, bc? Unfortunately, I picked Dallas and Miami. I don't mind losing the Dallas pick, though. Miami I mind.)

Here's a positive story from Iraq, I'll take what I can get these days:

===================

BAGHDAD - The flowers appear overnight, and in the unlikeliest of places: carnations near a checkpoint, roses behind razor wire, and gardenias in a square known for suicide bombings.

Sometimes, U.S. armored vehicles hop a median and mow down the myrtle, leaving Baghdad parks workers to fume and reach for their trowels. When insurgents poured kerosene over freshly planted seedlings, landscapers swore a revenge of ficus trees and olive groves.

It's all part of a stealthy campaign to turn the entire capital into a green zone.

Jaafar Hamid al Ali, the Baghdad parks supervisor, leads the offensive. He's got a multimillion-dollar budget, along with 1,500 intrepid employees and a host of formidable enemies. There's the fussy climate, salty soil and nonstop violence that killed 30 of his workers in 2006. Every fallen gardener, Ali said, is a martyr in the struggle to beautify Baghdad.

"My principle is, for every drop of Iraqi blood, we must plant something green," he said. "One gives disappointment, the other gives hope."

http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/16317799.htm?template=contentModules/printstory.jsp

What is it with Boodlers and (black and) blue bottoms anyway?

*heading off to little boy Boodler's room to make sure I'm not contributing to the phenomenon*

:-)

'Mudge, I actually got to enjoy the first half or so of the Iggles game as I was flying back to IAD, courtesy of jetBlue's DirectTV service. Very cool. Methinks the NFL's finally getting used to Romo.

Santa was very kind to me and my family, particularly since we were able to gather 5 of 6 siblings for a belated wedding reception sort of event on the 23rd. VERY cool. Even cooler than picking up a 1GB memory card for the digital camera at a great price.

Whatever happened to a Festivus BPH on the 28th, anyway?

:-)

'Morning Cassandra! Welcome back Scotty!

I'm still working through the 2nd season of The Monkees - we may have to do a joint review. Short form: expensive but worth it.

I think we're still on for the Dec 28 BPH, aren't we? Slyness may be able to make it, I hear.

Anyway... I'll be there on Dec 28. Anyone care to join me?

Error, just say when and where so I can bring the red shirts, monster masks, capes, wool hat and the "Frodis Room" sign.

:-)

We missed a white Christmas but it's snowing now, so we have a white Boxing/Feast of St. Stephen Day.
Turkey, pickle, olive, cranberry sauce, and stuffing sanwiches should hit the spot. I have lots of time before the "best by" date on the eggnog but I can't find one on the bottle of rum. I'd better get cracking.

Good King Wenceslas looked out on the feast of Stephen,
When the snow lay round about, deep and crisp and even;
Brightly shone the moon that night, tho' the frost was cruel,
When a poor man came in sight gath'ring winter fuel.
"Hither, page, and stand by me, if thou know'st, telling,
Yonder peasant, who is he? Where and what his dwelling?"
"Sire, he lives a good league hence, underneath the mountain;
Right against the forest fence, by Saint Agnes' fountain."
"Bring me flesh, and bring me wine, bring me pine logs hither:
Thou and I will see him dine, when we bear them thither."
Page and monarch, forth they went, forth they went together;
Through the rude wind's wild lament and the bitter weather.
"Sire, the night is darker now, and the wind blows stronger;
Fails my heart, I know not how, I can go no longer."
"Mark my footsteps, my good page. Tread thou in them boldly:
Thou shalt find the winter's rage freeze thy blood less coldly."
In his master's steps he trod, where the snow lay dinted;
Heat was in the very sod which the saint had printed.
Therefore, Christian men, be sure, wealth or rank possessing,
Ye who now will bless the poor, shall yourselves find blessing.

TBG;

I'm in for the 28th, and crossing my fingers on possibly needing two chairs at the table.

:-)

Mudge, nothing wrong with picking Dallas at home - that qualifies as a real upset. Good for the Iggles. I had Dallas too FWIW. I did pick the Jets last night though, Miami traditionally posts losing records in December, and the Jets had everything to play for.

I took time out from some other stuff to post this, gotta run.

I'm in for the 28th, I think./

bc

If you build a cheeseburger... Wilbrodog will come.

And I'll supervise. I can make the 28th. After that, I'll be on the move.

Good morning and a happy after-holiday to all. I MAY go in to work today, but I brought a case home so may read here; or I may just take the whole thing off. Who knows? Ivansdad is back, the Boy has no school, and I want to try and pry them away from the computers. Yesterday was a beautiful clear day, blue sky, sun, and a vicious north wind that kept us all indoors.

Thank you everyone for the holiday memories, stories, and ruminations. DanghippieMartooni, ouch. Just think what fun you'll have telling Little Bean about this in a few years when she can bear the thought that it was you & not Santa. Thanks for re-posting RD's poem from last year, which was new to me. Ho ho ho. Thanks for your kind words, Cassandra. The way I look at it, every day and everyyear are new. Some are better than others, but one might as well take the chance to be positive about the future. Optimism can definitely be a learned trait, by the way; I made a conscious choice somewhere along the line to be prepared for the worst but expect good, and it has done wonders for my outlook on life.

RD, boodling from the bunny room - hah! Seriously, what kind of lagomorphs do you have, can they live indoors in cages, and are they good pets? The Boy & I have begun the slow process of promoting an indoor pet for him, and it looks like either a lizard or a rabbit. [I don't like rodents, but may make an exception for such a large rodent.] We'd get a cat, except they make Ivansdad sneeze and it hardly seems fair to trade him for a cat.

Time for a holiday mini book report. I finished reading the new Michael Connelly and Tony Hillerman novels, with mixed verdict. The Connelly, "Echo Park," was great: he and his hero, Harry Bosch, were in top form. And Connelly managed to plug two L.A. restuarants (not Musso & Frank's Restaurant, which I visited and loved), as is his custom. Connelly also leaves a wee bit of a cliffhanger; during this novel there is an election for DA and city council going on in the background, and Harry's old police dept. nemesis, Irvin Irving, is running for city council. At novel's end, Harry gets the bad guys (what? you think that's giving anything away? Hah!) of course, but the election still hasn't been held. So we don't know who the new DA will be, nor do we know if corrupt fixer Irvin Irving gets elected and will imperil Harry's future (but two guesses). And Connelly manages to throw in his usual twist or two.

Alas, I have bad news for Tony Hillerman fans (and I am one). Tony is getting pretty old, and he pretty much phoned this one in. The hero is good ol' Lt. Joe Leaphorn, now retired, and Leaphorn seems to have left his intelligence and his good sense back at the office with his map and pins. It's not so much that the reader can spot the bad guy by chapter 3, it's that Leaphorn CAN'T spot him until way, way too late--and even then seems to have forgotten everything he ever learned as he does one improbable thing after another. Kinda sad that both Leaphorn and Hillerman have lost it.

Am now plowing through "The Grand Idea." Yanno, that Achenbach feller can write pretty well; there may be a future for him in that line of work.

Sorry to miss the BPH; we'll be landing at Washington National right about then. Hoist a cerveza for me. Then it's back to the grindstone Friday for a grueling two-thirds of a day (we'll probably get an "early out"; god forbid yer federal gummint should put in a whole day three days before New Year's), and then we're going down to Williamsburg for the weekend. So I'll only get that two nights back in my own warm, comfy bed, but I'm sure looking forward to it.

SCC (sort of): Neglected to mention the title of the Hillerman: "The Shape-Shifter."

Re: "Stephen Loomis" in the movie "a Good Sheperd"--about the Central Ineptitude Agency...more later--discounts beckon.

Ivansmom, I don't like rats or mice either. However hamsters smell less (to me anyway) than either. But my mom couldn't stand my hamster, that I recall. Hamsters live 3-4 years maximum, most commonly 2 years or so. They do thrive on mealworms which are gross enough for boys to love. (It looks like gagh to me).

My mom was ok with the school rabbits, but she said I could keep the hamster, but no more bunnies after spring break was ended. Part of the problem was that the cages leaked, but the biggest problem was their behavior.

Bunnies are emotionally sensitive animals and will go sour with rough handling. Also, they need to be spayed or neutered even if you only have one bunny-- let's just say our school bunnies gave us a good lesson in jailhouse homosexuality and fear-aggression.

My teacher didn't know much about keeping bunnies and she let us take the bunnies out of the cage. After inept handling, they started to kick at us and bite. (they were 1, 2 at that age).

The other teacher who also had 2 rabbits-- kept them in separate cages, and only allowed himself to move the rabbits in and out of cages and they were wonderfully sweet. One was 20 years old, he said, and the other one was 13.

I'd say guinea pigs are much more kid-friendly than rabbits-- they don't do much but they are indeed trainable, and I've never seen a guinea pig be as aggressive as a rabbit-- they can't be, they just scamper. (Our school guiena pigs taught us about incestous matings, but that's another story.).

Lizards need heat and shade etc. They're okay, I always prefer them in the wild myself, and you need to be OK if one gets loose. All reptiles can carry salmonella, BTW.

Chinchillas are large rodents, related (and similar in size) to guinea pigs but much cuddlier and with very soft fur (they're used for fur coats, sigh).

Good luck whichever you decide... every pet has its pros and cons, and being educated and teaching your son is the best way to go no matter what.

(Wilbrodog of course votes for a bunny.)

Thinking of Santa's performance review, the Seattle earthquake several years ago wrecked enough chimneys, that I think an enterprising researcher used aerial photography to assess the shaking by examining the chimney-fall pattern. Sort of like reconstructing hurricane Andrew's wind swath by studying fallen trees and smashed houses.

Just now, the movie reviewer at Slate noticed that among the news items broadcast in the "Children of Men" was a report that the seige of Seattle was in its hundredth day. Wonder if Redmond is inside or outside the perimeter?

I have a little plaque that says:

"I got a cat for my husband. It was a fair trade."

Scotty, I guess I was thinking of "DVD review" rather than "musical revue", but that's not a bad idea. It's times like this I pine for my '67 Tempest. It would've made a great base for a new MonkeeMobile.

4 'toons... One I don't really get, but 2 I found funny.

http://www.deafdigest.com/davideo.html

By the way, I was expecting to see this subtitled "Go West, Young Man, and when old, come back East only when you're ready to die."

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/12/25/AR2006122500491.html

Although mice are not men. Mice are nocturnal by nature and constant exposure to daylight 24 hours a day will kill mice. (One wonders if they exist in symbosis with mold or something. Wouldn't surprise me.)

Glad to hear about all of the joys of the season from everybody. I've also been praying for the folks that need God's healing touch, as well. I took everyone's advice about how to sooth my boo-boo of ruining some Christmas tree decorations. A fresh, replacement mop head, a new broom, and whole 'nother scrub bucket. Boy, that hit it out of the park......

........

OK, ladies, just playing around. Don't rip my face off. I might be a maroon, but I ain't a jerk, usually. The advice you gave me about getting the Mrs. some bling was VERY well received, and I am very gratefull for it. I'm not a bling kinda guy, so it was a bit hard for me to step into the bling store, where the wolves were lined up in a row, drooling at the sight of fresh meat. I kept telling myself, "Hey, the Achenladies know their stuff, so, I'll trust them on this one." Yep, you were right. Hit it out of the park.........

Thanks, all, for keeping my bottom in your thoughts. For obvious (and humanitarian) reasons, I will refrain from posting any pictures of the "real" damage. ;-)

*Advance pun alert*

I am now the "butt" of many jokes here at home.

Let's just say that this incident was an even better gift for Mrs. Martooni than the day spa gift certificate I bought for her.

What makes it even more fun for her is that she has witnessed my grace on other occasions.

For instance...

I actually slipped on a banana peel at the flea market. After a valiant attempt at "balancing", I ended up flat on my back in a huge mud puddle (I call it "mud", but there were horses around and I really don't want to know).

The other big one happened this summer at our County Fair. I was innocently walking along eating a delicious sausage sandwich smothered in peppers and onions and sauce when I suddenly found myself slipping and sliding and doing my now famous "dance" to remain vertical. Somehow I managed not only to remain upright, but didn't lose a single bit of my food either. We then looked to see what I slipped on and -- drumroll, please -- it was a TOOTHBRUSH. What in the heck a toothbrush was doing on the midway in the middle of a bunch of toothless carnies is beyond me, but my foot found the dang thing and took it for a ride.

Anyway... I do appreciate the advice (ice, then heat, next time try applying the "blue" with a paint roller). In the meantime, I'm heading back to the office with a pillow graciously provided by Mrs. Martooni.

missed the boodling due to familial obligations this xmas... i'm at work now - alone... with a skeleton crew of users... *sigh* i'm bored...
mom's husband's mother came to visit from slovokia (she speaks very very little english)- it was a little apprehensive as she was told that my mother (and I) were younger than we actually are (my mother's husband is much younger than her and, actually, younger than me) so i was expecting, well... hostility... but she was very sweet and didn't seem to mind at all. she made a wonderful sauerkraut soup (!!) that ended up killing my gut xmas morning but as was well later on... we did a spanish mass xmas eve with the children doing the manger scene - i could barely understand the service but it was nice and the kids were adorable.
martooni - i'm sorry about your derriere but i absolutely LOVED the story and spit my water out when i saw the pic!
mostly - i was on call for xmas too - thankfully, i wasn't called either... (wouldn't that have just SUCKED???)
error - i always knew you were just tooo cool! i loved cbgb's - i had some friends play there a cpl of times and saw joey ramone there a bunch! (and martooni - my docs stuck to the floor as well)
i hope everyone had an EXCELLENT xmas! i got some wonderful gifts - a video ipod from mom and a beautiful necklace that my cousin made - same cousin was also able to come home from san fran and it was great hanging with her, but i didn't get to see my new niece due to miscommunication on when the family was going to get together.. ah well....
HAPPY BOXING DAY! here's a belated xmas greeting to everyone...
http://www.elfyourself.com/?userid=c019b04ea9659d0504faebfG06122608

big hugs to all my "imaginary" friends in the achenuniverse

(and yes, i'll be there for the 28th bph)

did i commit boodlecide or is my brower taking boxing day off?

Sorry, I accidentally boxed up the boodle while packing. I think it hasn't suffocated yet, but it needs a lot of brandy, a pillow and some encouragment while it recovers.

Hamsters, guinea pigs and chinchilla are all rodents, and possession of any would violate the "no rodent" rule. The worst thing about having a snake would be keeping the rodents to feed it. I do not object to feeding it rodents, you understand, and find the prospect of an experiment involving mice and 24-hour exposure to sunlight intriguing. NO rodents.

I may actually do some work here soon.

actually ivansmom - snakes are easy animals to keep! i have a hybrid king/corn snake - there's the heat and humidity that you have to worry about but they only need to be fed like once every two-three weeks... i buy mice-on-ice or gourmet rodents (mice that have been raised in a "clean" environment and flash frozen to reduce suffering)... the only thing about snakes are they can have a tendency to be delicate - that's why they recommend frozen mice - live mice have teeth and claws that could hurt the snake and wild mice carry disease - also, you can't use ANY cleaning products on the snakes tank - there are some new products coming out that are "safer" but have to be diluted heavily - other than that, a big bowl of water for drinking and regulating the humidity, a heating pad and/or heating lamp and a locking cage and you have a relatively easy pet... (it's also pretty cool when they shed)

Ivansmom,
My brother used to raise rare / exotic snakes in his basement. The big boys: pythons, boa's, etc., the kind you had to have a license for. He also had to raise large quantities of mice, as buying them from the store quickly proved too costly. The snakes were indeed pets, those who were vegans learned to beg during dinner prep. time, like any other animal. Only they would crawl right up on the countertop, and literaly "get in your face". Ugh.

The entire family considered it great entertainment to watch them feed on a live mouse. (Only live ones would do, of course.) Dinner would get tossed into the large aquarium, which was already occupied by the dinee. After the second it took to realize his status as lunch, the mouse would do an imitation of the cartoon character "Speedy Gonzalez" around and around the tank. The snake would just watch, patiently. When the mouse stopped to catch his breath, as the snake knew he had to do, glup!

My brother wasn't bothered too much with house guests, BTW. He did have a problem finding somebody to come in an feed his collection if the family went away for a vacation. Hey, just think about what keeping a snake in the office would do for your reputation. I smell a Supreme Court justice nomination!!

I know somebody who has a friend who keeps big boys of python indeed. He raises money for rainforest conservation by showing the snakes at fairs and other public speaking events. One thing he tells kids that snakes, especially pythons, make bad pets.
(His snake is big enough to eat a goat-- he feeds his snake before doing any demos just to be sure no kids get gulped down).

I don't know anything about corn snakes. If they're too tiny to eat other pets or your children and unlikely to grow large enough to, they should be fine.

don - i love pythons but they can have a tendency to get too big... but they have beautiful coloring!
the only problem i had when i went on a 12 day vacation was finding a pet sitter for my cat who wasn't afraid of snakes. i fed and watered him before i left and assured her that she would not need to interact with the snake in any way shape or form. she was fine with it and even enjoyed watching him after a while...
corn snakes are the best "starter" snakes - they are more docile and are non-venomous and don't get very big (they can get long, mine is over 6 feet but they don't get wide like pythons) yet can live up to 20 years...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corn_snake

New movie idea:

Snakes in a Boodle

Mo, I used to want a snake for a pet. Then I realized I'd be unlikely to have anybody visiting me, at all, but I still think snakes are cute in their way-- meaning in cozy cages, not directly underfoot on a mountain trail where rattlers are known to lurk.

Cat-sitting and snake watching wouldn't have bothered me.

eep - i think that was a bit of a BOOO - nah wilbrod, he's not big enough to eat a cat (esp MY fat cat) or a child - he's just big enough to eat an adult mouse - prolly not much bigger... he's prolly not quite as wide as a half dollar (remembering a snake can open it's mouth to twice it's width)

I wonder why, in the garden of Eden, it was the serpent who was considered the most beautiful of all the creatures. Of all the wide range of animals there, why did the snake prove to be the one who could bamboozle Eve?

don - could it be b/c they have such vibrant colors? some similar to jewels? (emerald, ruby, etc) - you know how women are about BLING! *grin*

this is almost exactly what my snake (napoleon) looks like... http://www.lowergroundreptiles.net/collection/junglecorn.html

Cassandra, no worries. I know your heart fills all the corners, and thinks of all the people.

My family is all together today in Saskatoon, carrying on a long tradition of having our Christmas on Boxing Day. My paternal grandparents started it so that all their daughters could get to their in-laws for Christmas day. My mom, and most of Dad's siblings do it too for just the same reason. All over Saskatchewan my family is eating dinner right now and every one of us is thinking of Grandpa's little wood stove in the basement and playing bingo in the parlor.

Anyway, I sit here far away, that 5 hour drive is just too long this year, and I miss them.

It should be noted that everything has a bright spot, even missing on the big family dinner.

By the time I get out there in mid January, my apetite will have recovered enough that I will do justice to my moms great cooking, splendiferous salads and supremely decadent desserts. Right now about all I could manage is a little broth.

mo, is a hybrid corn snake one that burns ethanol and uses electricity to boost horsepower when going uphill?

Florida is stuffed with beautiful snakes. Black racers are pretty good at being invisible, yellow rat snakes are among the prettiest, and eastern indigos are impressive if you're lucky enough to see one.

Pythons have become a serious problem.

http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/herpetology/FL-GUIDE/onlineguide.htm

uh oh - i think we may be above the fold and here we are slacking on our boodling or talking about snakes! such an impression we are making! *tsk, tsk*

Sorry about wandering off topic; I'll quit. The boss just sprung the doors to my cage early, anyway. Hhsssss :-)

BTW, nbr. 2 daughter, the aircraft mechanic, got me Joel's book on Washington for Christmas. She was frustrated that she could find any other books on the primary market. I had to explain what the "secondary market" is. Kids, love 'em.

dr, did I miss something, I have only had a chance to skim so it is quite possible, do you have the flu? If you do hope you recover soon.

With all that is going on forgot to mention that for christmas I received two fabulous gifts from my little one a home made piggy bank (paper mache pig) and the older one made a log cabin scene based on a story - this we will complete together. The dad was a big help for these projects - nothing could have been more special.

I almost think he has been lurking and got inspired!

I think most of Joel's books are available only on the black market.

Please forgive me; we are in Day Two of All Gilmore Girls, All the Time.

TBG, has that Gilmore Girls marathon resulted in an increase in the speed of your conversations around the house accompanied with a steady supply of coffee? :-)

//all Gilmore Girls, all the Time//

What is it about watching a whole series in contiguous time frames?

In g-school I went home @ lunch to catch *The Beverly Hillbillies*, when I lived close to work, *Northern Exposure* and *Profiler*.

But seeing a show a day is totally eclipsed by a marathon. Blockbuster by mail has been a boon. x years of *Law & Order,* *Party of Five,* *La Femme Nikita,* *SportsNight* and *Alias* marching through the tv I watch when I'm rowing every day. It's just . . . seductive.

I like MASH marathons. I think its the fact that at least one show is bound NOT to be one that you've seen 100 times. Otherwise I can't do marathons more than 2-4 hours maximum.... If they do a Scrubs marathon when I can watch it, I may see how long I can go.

I received the "SportsNight" complete series DVDs for Christmas two years ago, and have been through it twice. That was such a good show--in fact, at the time I think it was proclaimed "the best show you've never seen," because it had low ratings. It was written by Aaron Sorkin, and produced by Thomas Schlamme, the guys who brought us West Wing, and so of course it features much the same rapid-fire dialog of both West Wing as well as Gilmore Girls. In fact, I wonder what a conversation between Aaron Sorkin and Amy Palladino would sound like, and whether any third party listening in could possibly follow it. You'd need to tape-record it and play it back at half-speed. But it might be worth the effort.

I've seen MASH so many times in re-runs, I'm actually burned out on it. I think maybe I could watch a "Taxi" marathon, though. Haven't seen it much in re-runs, and the Reverend Jim still kills me.

Maybe part of the appeal is that you have it on when you want it, and it doesn't stop before you're ready. I know there are some nights I'm totally in the mood for something specific and only that.

Book comment: I liked the latest Hillerman, even though I agree it isn't his best effort. Even a bad Hillerman is worth reading. I like the evocation of the landscape and people as much as anything, as I am very fond of the Big Reservation.

>mo, is a hybrid corn snake one that burns ethanol and uses electricity to boost horsepower when going uphill?

I'm just wondering how they do the regenerative braking...

Mudge, you watch more rain delay MASH than I do. Also, I grew up not being able to understand M*A*S*H and watching my siblings laughing at it.

So I really haven't seen it all yet. When I do, then I'll probably be burn out. I've seen plenty of Taxi, I saw a lot of Taxi reruns (captioned) on cable for a while. I haven't seen all the Latka stuff but definitely a lot of it.

I could stand a WKRP in Cinncinati marathon, I think.

But I gotta see some Gilligans island-- captioned and in a marathon. Again, that's a show that I was shut out from watching as a kid. Just for the firsthand opinion on Gilligan.

Without captioning, it's just a lot of Gilligan getting hit by coconuts and shouted at by the Skipper.

(Somehow I suspect that S'nuke sees his joint duty with you as shop stewards in a similar light.)

SCC: burnT out. Senility, I tell you.

Wilbrod... believe me: you didn't need captioning to figure out exactly what was going on on Gilligan's Island.

Was never a Gilligan's fan; never watched a whole show all the way through.

And BTW, although I throw coconuts at scottynuke from time to time, I don't shout at him. Not my leadership style.

So um, I pretty much got the plotting in one, eh?

(Since it is a Canadian holiday, I must end all questions with an "eh?")

But how does that song go, eh?

"If it wasn't for the brave efforts of her crew, the Minnow would be lost at sea", eh?

A random thought-- is "eh?" possibly a clipped version of "oui", eh? I was always told from a little girl that oui sounded like "we" with a very small w at the start.

Apparently it is the only french word my mom knows fluently. Such language loss is the life of a second generation immigrant, eh?

I am also told that the Canadian account tends to consist of slight clipping of the broad "A" vowels and slightly longer o's than the local accents in those parts.

I mentally played this in my head and realized that this may be driven more by the cold than any French influence, though.

It doesn't pay to open your mouth too wide in an "A" too long and lose crucial heat in -40 degree weather, eh? Likewise, if you're always blowing on your hands to keep warm, a slightly longer "oo" is going to come automatically.

By this hypothesis, then when it's cold, everybody sounds more Canuckstani, eh?

No, but you curmudge at him, Mudge.

I only saw Sportsnight a couple of times - I'll have to check it out. I hardly ever rent videos - do they have series like that at Blockbuster? I suppose I could check online, eh?

I'd like to see Felicity (the series, not Huffman, who was in Sportsnight) again. It was kind of an uneven series - sort of hated the concept that she followed a boy to college - but I liked many of the actors. I had a weird last season, which I never quite understood because I missed some episodes.

Saw Dreamgirls today. It was very enjoyable. The theater was pretty full, and there was spontaneous applause and lots of laughter. Jennifer Hudson steals the show - and Eddie Murphy is very good.

SCC - It had a weird last season. I probably have too, too, but I meant the series.

And I used "eh" before I saw Wilbrod's use of it. Being so close to Canada, it's become part of my speech pattern. I took that American dialect test recently, and it thought I was from Minnesota - although I don't have as flat an "A" or as round an "O" as they do (I don't think).

mo (and other snake lovers)... no offense, but whenever I see a snake, I reach for a shovel and start whacking until it quits twitching.

Blame it on conditioning from Hollywood, but snakes just creep me out and are not welcome in my home or allowed to sun themselves or otherwise hang out on my property. I know that most varieties are harmless and are actually beneficial (eating up other pests and varmints), but they say the same thing about bats and I say "guano" to that.

On a lighter note (or should I say, "a more cushioned note"), my injuries from my Christmas Eve escapades in the attic are not quite as painful as they were and I've even started work on the repairs to the bedroom ceiling. Of course, I grabbed a too-small piece of drywall to cover the hole, but I at least got the hole squared up and prepped for patching. Details at http://www.danghippie.com

Otherwise, we're getting ready for Christmas Dinner 2.0 -- this time with Mrs. Tooni's out-of-town brothers and their wives and children who couldn't make it for 1.0 (for a beta, I think we did pretty darn good). My plan is to get home from work as early as possible so I might medicate myself properly for a protracted session of couch-potatoing and dealing with irritatingly "precocious" step-nephews and their overly-proud brooding hen of a mother.

I like smart kids. I just don't like smart-ass kids who may or may not be smart, but act like they are only because their mothers say they are and you're expected to buy the farce at face value. I'm so tempted to put a "PULL" sign on the garage door that only opens if you "PUSH" just to see how long it takes before they short-circuit and melt into puddles of gibbering goo.

>Without captioning, it's just a lot of Gilligan getting hit by coconuts and shouted at by the Skipper.

Um, well there *is* a lot of that either way. I have the whole series and I have watched it several times. It's safe to say I'm a fan. It's a joy to watch a really really clean copy after all those years on UHF or whatever.

Of course if I was actually IN the tropics like Mudge I might spend less time with the vaunted Ginger vs MaryAnn question, and more time with the Juanita question.

The thing to remember is Bob Denver was in the American consciousness already as Maynard G. Krebs.

More at:
http://www.bobdenver.com/Maynard_s_CoffeeHouse/Maynard_G__Krebs/body_maynard_g__krebs.html

I was a smart kid... and a smart-ass kid.

I would ask you not to judge kids too much by their mother. Most mothers feel compelled to brag on their kids. Besides, it beats the mother verbally bashing her kids (which does happen).

Some mothers just think their kids are geniuses because they can program a vcr, you know?

Good luck, keep the kids busy and out of the room, and keep feeding the mother so she can't talk ;).

Martooni, danghippi, etal,

Inlaws, can't live with 'em, can't kill 'em. Here's a couple of old Cubmaster tricks to slow the young Einsteins down:

(1) Make them stand against a wall, perpenticular to it, shoulder and edge of foot touching th