'TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS...the original 1st published 23rd 1823..188 years ago today.

                         TWAS  THE  NIGHT  BEFORE  CHRISTMAS , WHEN ALL THROUGH THE HOUSE
                         NOT  A  CREATRURE  WAS  STIRRING  NOT  EVEN  A  MOUSE.
                         THE STOCKINGS  WERE  HUNG  BY  THE  CHIMNEY  WITH  CARE
                         IN HOPES  THAT  ST.  NICHOLAS  SOON  WOULD  BE  THERE.


                         THE  CHILDREN  WERE  NESTLED  ALL  SNUG  IN  THEIR  BEDS
                         WHILE VISIONS  OF  SUGAR-PLUMS  DANCED IN  THEIR  HEADS.
                         AND  MAMMA  IN  HER  ' KERCHIEF,  AND I  IN  MY  CAP,
                         HAD  JUST  SETTLED   OUR  BRAINS  FOR  A  LONG  WINTER'S  NAP.

                         
                         WHEN  OUT ON  THE LAWN  THERE  AROSE SUCH  A  CLATTER ,
                         I  SPRANG  FROM  MY  BED  TO  SEE  WHAT  WAS  THE  MATTER .
                         AWAY  TO  THE  WINDOW  I  FLEW  LIKE  A  FLASH  ,
                         TORE  OPEN  THE  SHUTTERS  AND  THREW  UP  THE  SASH .


                         THE  MOON  ON  THE  BREAST  OF  THE  NEW  FALLEN  SNOW 
                         GAVE  THE  LUSTRE  OF  MID-DAY  TO  OBJECTS  BELOW .
                         WHEN , WHAT  TO  MY  WONDERING  EYES  SHOULD  APPEAR ,
                         BUT  A  MINATURE  SLEIGH  AND  EIGHT  TINY  REINDEER .


                         WITH  A  LITTLE  OLD  DRIVER ,  SO  LIVELY  AND  QUICK
                         I  KNEW  IN  A  MOMENT  IT  MUST  BE  ST . NICK .
                         MORE  RAPID  THAN  EAGLES  HIS  CURSES  THEY  CAME ,
                         AND  HE  WHISTLED , AND  SHOUTED , AND  CALLED  THEM  BY  NAME !


                        " NOW  DASHER !  NOW  DANCER !  NOW  PRANCER !  AND  VIXEN !
                         ON ,  COMET !  ON ,  CUPID !  ON , ON  DONNER  AND  BLITZEN !
                         TO  THE  TOP  OF  THE  PORCH !  TO  THE  TOP  OF  THE  WALL ,
                         NOW  DASH  AWAY ! DASH  AWAY !  DASH  AWAY  ALL ! "
                  

                         AS  DRY  LEAVES  THAT  BEFORE  THE  WILD  HURRICANE  FLY ,
                         WHEN  THEY  MEET  WITH  AN  OBSTACLE , MOUNT  TO  THE  SKY .
                         SO  UP  TO  THE  HOUSE - TOP  THE  COURSER  THEY  FLEW ,
                         WITH  THE  SLEIGH  FULL OF  TOYS ,  AND  ST . NICHOLAS  TOO .


                         AND  THEN ,  IN  A  TWINKLING ,  I  HEARD  ON  THE  ROOF
                         THE  PRANCING  AND  PAWING  OF  EACH  LITTLE  HOOF .
                         AS  I  DREW  IN  MY  HEAD  , AND  WAS  TURNING   AROUND ,
                         DOWN  THE  CHIMNEY  ST. NICHOLAS  CAME  WITH  A BOUND .


                         HE  WAS  DRESSED  ALL IN  FUR ,  FROM  HIS  HEAD  TO  HIS  FOOT ,
                         AND  HIS  CLOTHES  WERE  ALL TARNISHED  WITH  ASHES  AND  SOOT .
                         A  BUNDLE  OF  TOYS  HE  HAD  FLUNG  ON  HIS  BACK ,
                         AND  HE  LOOKED  LIKE  A  PEDDLER ,  JUST  OPENING  HIS  PACK .


                         HIS  EYES  HOW  THEY  TWINKLED !  HIS  DIMPLES  HOW  MERRY !
                         HIS  CHEEKS  WERE  LIKE  ROSES ,  HIS  NOSE  LIKE  A  CHERRY !
                         HIS  DROLL  LITTLE  MOUTH  WAS  DRAWN  UP  LIKE  A  BOW
                         AND  THE  BEARD  OF  HIS  CHIN  WAS  AS  WHITE  AS  THE  SNOW .


                         THE  STUMP  OF  A  PIPE  HE  HELD  TIGHT  IN  HIS  TEETH ,
                         AND  THE  SMOKE  IT  ENCIRCLED  HIS  HEAD  LIKE  A  WREATH .
                         HE  HAD  A  BROAD  FACE  AND  A   LITTLE  ROUND  BELLY ,
                         THAT  SHOOK  WHEN  HE  LAUGHED ,  LIKE  A  BOWL  FULL OF  JELLY !


                         HE  WAS  CHUBBY  AND  PLUMP ,  A  RIGHT  JOLLY  OLD  ELF ,
                         AND  I  LAUGHED  WHEN  I  SAW  HIM , IN  SPITE OF  MY  SELF !
                         A  WINK  OF  HIS  EYE  AND  A  TWIST  OF  HIS  HEAD ,
                         SOON GAVE  ME  TO  KNOW  I  HAD  NOTHING  TO  DREAD .


                         HE  SPOKE  NOT  A  WORD ,  BUT  WENT  STRAIGHT  TO  HIS  WORK ,
                         AND  FILLED  ALL THE  STOCKINGS ,  THEN  TURNED  WITH  A  JERK .
                         AND  LAYING  HIS  FINGER  ASIDE  OF  HIS  NOSE ,
                         AND  GIVING  A  NOD ,  UP  THE  CHIMNEY  HE  ROSE !


                        HE  SPRANG  TO  HIS  SLEIGH ,  TO  HIS  TEAM  GAVE  A  WHISTLE ,
                        AND  AWAY  THEY  ALL  FLEW  LIKE  THE  DOWN  OF  A  THISTLE .
                        BUT  I  HEARD  HIM  EXCLAIM ,  'ERE  HE  DROVE  OUT  OF  SIGHT ,
                        ' HAPPY  CHRISTMAS  TO  ALL ,  AND  TO  ALL A  GOOD  NIGHT ! '

                              THE  POEM ,  'TWAS THE  NIGHT  BEFORE  CHRISTMAS  [ A  VISIT FROM  ST .  NICK ]
                              
                                  BY  CLEMENT  CLARKE  MOORE  [ 1779- 1863 ]   FIRST  PUBLISHED  DECEMBER  23 RD  1823
                                              
                                               CLAIMED  IT  ON  1844  FOR  HIS  OWN.........



       ...AND  YOU  ALL THOUGHT   I  WAS  GONNA  DO ALITTLE 'GRINCH  SATIRE ' ON   IT ...OR  MAYBE  SOMETHING  LIKE THIS  ......

                  TWAS  THE  NIGHT  BEFORE  CHRISTMAS ,  AND  ALL THRU  THE  PAD
                  NOT A CREATURE  WAS  STIRRING  , AND  WELL ,  THAT  AIN'T  SO BAD.
                  THE  STOCKINGS WERE  HUNG  BY  THE  CHIMNEY  WITH  CARE ,
                  IN  HOPES  THAT  THE GOVERNMENT  WOULDN'T  TAKE IT'S   SHARE .

                  THE  CHILDREN  WERE  ON   THEIR  COMPUTERS , ENOUGH SAID !
                  WITH  MORE  VISIONS OF  IPADS ,  IPHONES , AND  XBOXES  DANCED IN  THEIR HEADS .
                  THE 'OL LADY  IN  HER  NIGHTY ,  AND  I'M  AT  HALF  MASTED ,
                  HAD  JUST  SETTLED  OUR  DIFFERENCES  TO  WHO'S  TO  TAKE  THE  LAST  BLAST !

                  WHEN  OUT  ON  THE  LAWN  , I  THOUGHT  I  CAME WITH  A SHUTTER ,
                  IT  WAS  JUST  MY  NEIGHBORS  AND  NO UTTERS.
                  AWAY  FROM  THE  WINDOW  I FLEW  AS  I  FLASHED ,
                  TORE  AWAY  THE  BED SHEETS , I  THEN  I  JUST  GASPED.

                  THE  MOON   SHOWN  ON  HER  BREASTS  LIKE  THE  NEW  FALLEN  SNOW ,
                   GAVE  THE  LUSTRE  OF  GREATNESS  TO  THE  OBJECTS  BELOW.
                  WHEN  WHAT  TO  MY  WONDERING  EYES  SHOULD  APPEAR ,
                  BUT  A  MINIATURE  SLEIGH ,  AND  EIGHT  REPUBLICAN   QUEERS.

                 WITH  A  LITTLE  OLD  DRIVER  [ IF YA KINOW WHAT I MEAN ]
                 I  KNEW  IN  A  MOMENT  IT  MUST  BE  OBSENE !
                 MORE  RAPID  THAN  EAGLETON  HIS  CORSETS  THEY  CAME ,
                 AND  HE  WHISTLED , AND  WHISTLED , THEN CALLED  THEM  BY  NAME !

                 ' NOW  BACHMANN   AND  PHALIN , NOW  COME  ON  ROMNEY AND  PERRY  !
                  COME  ON  STUPID OR  GINGRICH OR  HUNTSMAN  OR  WAS  IT  PAUL  ?
                  TO  THE  TOP  OF  THE  POLLS  TO  THE  TOP OF  THE  CONGRESS  HALLS  ,
                  NOW  DASH  AWAY ,  DASH   AWAY , BEFORE  LAST  CALL !

                 THEY  DON'T  DARE SAY  A  WORD , BUT  WENT  STRAIGHT......
                 AND  FILLED  ALL THEIR  POCKETS  WITH  PLENTY  OF  CASH ,
                 AND  AWAY  THEY  ALL FLEW  FLEW  AND  LEFT  BEHIND  THE  TRASH.
                 BUT  I  HEARD  THEM  EXCLAIM  AS  THEY  WERE  WELL OUT  OF  SIGHT :

                        " HAPPY  NEW  YEAR  TO  US  , BECAUSE  TO  US  IT'S  ALRIGHT..!!




  ......SORRY...I  HOPE  YOU  ALL STILL  HAVE  AGREAT  CHRISTMAS  AND  A  HAPPY  NEW  YEAR !! 



                        

                        

              


               TO  THE  TOP  OF  THE  PORCH !  TO  THE  TOP  OF  THE  WALL ,

...size matters ...Part 2....

   Billionaire investor Warren Buffett is calling on the megarich to pay more on taxes. Stateing that: " My friends and I have been coddled long enough by a billionaire-friendly Congress, it's time for our government to get serious about shared sacrifices." He also noted that Washington L egislators "feel compelled to protect us much as if we were spotted owls or some other endangered  species." He said he knows many of the megarich well and most wouldn't mind paying more in taxes.
   Upon hearing this Michele Bachmann stated that she can totally relate, even though she doesn't consider herself and her husband, Marcus, one of the megarich, she said she loves owls and is a big fan of  Jimmy's song's especially Margaritaville. She said her and her husband also like to listen to Elvis, who she recently wished a happy birthday to on a campaign stop in South Carolina, while playing the Elvis tune 'Promised Land'. That did however turn out to be somewhat appropriate since that day, August 16th is the anniversary of Elvis's death, not his birthday, which is Jan. 8th, 1935. Being used to stumbleing over cultural references before, like the time in June when she kicked off her presidental campaign in Waterloo, Iowa, calling it the home of actor John Wayne, when in fact is the home of John Wayne Gacy , the serial killer. She just brushed that off saying that they both had killer careers.
  
    On another news note Kraft and Sara Lee went to court over hot dogs, stated " let the wiener wars begin. There's never been anything of this scope..in the entire history of hot dogs."  After hearing this Rep. Wiener ..[you remember him]. said he's still in the fight of his life for that claim that Todd Phalin claims that size does matter. He noted the the photo op. with Michele Bachmann attempting to put down a large sausage just proves it!
    Michele is not fased , now that she realizes that Sara Phalin's maiden name is 'Lee' , she will now stand-up for all the wieners in the world, possibly useing it in her next campaign speech when she goes to Chicago, home of both companies.

    Myself , I don't find much deference in using using any particular brand name, what's in a name...make my hot dog a 'Nathan's', please......

From..In From the Storm ...to..Out in the Storm...

...Well it's been a couple of interesting days on Face Book, with my computer not exactly performing the way it should on that particular forum. But hey, what else is new...I'm glad you asked...it just so happens that not only did I steal a dream sequence away from Candy...which she might be upset with me since I haven't heard from her, although I did warn her twice that I was going to 'borrow' from her email.....I now have another little ditty that she relayed to me, that I don't think she'll mind me using.

   ...She mentioned to her son Marc , that she was reading my blog and he reminded her of a funny story: I was visiting them at the apartment on Aspetuck Ave. , Jean Callahan and Mike Frisbee were there as well. It was snowing hard and we all decided to sled down Aspetuck. She reminded me that it was a steep hill, and we all got on big pieces of cardboard and I decided , apparently following some 'herb' omelets that I made, that it would be fun to 'surf' down the hill. I was flying..until I hit something under the snow that sent me airbourne. I landed & plowed through the snow all the way to the Green. Then I just lay there. Jean, Mike, and Candy were laughing so hard she thought that they would all pee their pants!! Marc thought that I was dead, and went running over to help me. He reached me just as I stood up , shook myself  like a giant bear, and roared ! To this day Candy is surprised that we didn't trumatize him for life!    ....well maybe we did...he's a Republican..!!

IN FROM THE STORM...BARRY, THE BOUGH, & BEYOND....

  As I mentioned before, it would be hard not to come back & do another ditty on the Bough. On what I would consider a 'normal' day at the computer, just perussing around the internet, FB, email, etc. all of a sudden there she was..with that ever so bright smile that beamed her happy go lucky personality, Candy. That's Candice Meile Luther, now. A fresh face from the days gone by, & most can remember her as the gal on Bank Street, running a small but vibrant business called : In From The Storm. She has joined forces w me in this great world of the internet. Upon revealing ourselves  w the gusto of two dogs in heat., we finally settled down to what we actually knew, which was stories from the past. Dropping many names the will soon fill this blog w farmiliar faces, only one stands out in a story she related to me from a dream she had.........

    " I have to tell you something weird. The night before I found you on FB I had a dream about Barry Quiaoit at  the Golden  Bough. Just a conversational encounter; I was wearing a dress, which I almost never did, and he complimented me. He was rushing back to the kitchen from the dining room and  I was returning from the ladies room. It was one of those small, pleasent encounters that are so nice but you never remember. But I dreamed it exactly as it happened. My dress was a beautiful blue, his pants black, shirt white. I remember the glow of light from the dining room and the muted sound of the diners. I hadn't thought of the Bough or Barry in many, many years and then there you were the next day and your blog with his name. Funny how these things happen!"

    Now I have to reflect a moment on another story from the Bough that Barry himself told of an encounter there in the back hallway , behind the bar. I know some of you remember him telling us how he saw an old man pass in front of him from the bar wall , then disapearing thru the opposite one. This ,as the story goes , was a man who died in the Nurseing home that this building was at one time, among other things, like an Inn in the 1700's that had a passage way for the 'Underground tunel' for slaves.
  
    Those who chose to believe in these things or not to , is up to you, but don't you think it gives some creedense to the fact that alot of our loved ones are still looking over us? I know it's hard for me to let Barry, John Henry, and so many of our friends and family go....so with some of these tributes and parties like the one last Saturday, we will all sleep alittle easier...sweet  dreams.......

FaceBook can't be all that bad.....

  As most of you know , I have put my grievances in on the fact that FB isn't all that it's cracked up to be. But recently I found that some people  have effectively used it to some degree of  credibility. For instance the highend banter between David & Dimi on the issue of the Buchmanns leaving their Church & their beliefs behind, so that they can go on with their lives in an orderly fashion...although bashing Gays isn't that orderly in fashion these days. But since Marcus Buchmanns' a Pychclogist , it's fine under his assumtion.
   Also I like the fact that our own Dougy Bear has always contributed to the pages of this fine read with his insight at all levels...Music, politics..i.e.: the Bachmanns role in the Tea Party & not to be left out;the Tea Pot Party, which the Buchmannns have no commitments to, or for that mater hasn't a clue to what it's about or who Willie Nelson is. It might just help if they did partake, might just snap them out of  'it'.
    Now, there's a revelation that Michelle has recurring Migraines , that might deter any disions she has to make during her campaigne, or even most importantly IF shes elected. When recently asked about this delemma , she shot back with a defiant : "..not now I have a headache....!!!!!"

John Henry & Jack Long cross the border...back in the U.S.A.

   We rode  hard that night to reach the boarder , Mother Nature, threw everything she had at us : wind , rain, hail, & alittle snow for good measure. I guess she thought if we were going to make it safely accross to Montana, she was going to give us a challange. This of course helped are chances with the Mounties, since it was harder to follow our tracks.
   This thing with the law was all a misunderstanding in the first place. After we delivered the horses, we went to a farmiliar saloon where a friend of ours worked , I met Millie in the States when she ran a run down Hotel in Casper Wyoming. Nice enough gal with a heart of gold and a temper to beat all hell. Well it's that temper that got her in trouble, and she had to leave town in down right hurry. She ended up here in Calgary when she came to visit us on another trip, ended up staying and running the Saloon. Good thing since she vouched for us after things settled down and the Mounties returned home not being able to catch us. Even though our names were cleared, after they caught the rustlers that  they thought were John & I , it'll be a long time comming before we see our darling gal Millie.

    John & I made it to the Continentel Divide, where we made camp high in the mountains so that in case they were still pushing their luck to get us while we were still in the States, we had the advantage. It was a good spot to just take some time and reflect on the hectic past few months.
   

...size does matter...

   A recent dispute between the two 'First Dudes' to be, Marcus Bachmann & Todd Palin, in an interview with News-Corp. Sarah Palin pointed to the iconic beef snack , Slim Jim, as an example of of how food inflation poses a problem for the American economy, saying her husband, todd, paid $2.69 for it at a gas station.
   There's no category for Slim Jims, of course, but did find that beef had risen 10.2% , but Todds has only risen 2.8%. But with even a 10.2% increase in beef , does not explain the 2.8% in Todds. So Sarah went directly to ConAgra, which makes Slim Jims. Teresa Paulson, a ConAgra spokesperson offered a possible explaination, " Mr. Palin  might have been reaching for one of our Monster Sticks, which offers double the meat. It's possible that todd Palin was at a store that disregarded ConAgra's sugested size."
   Sarah Palin's anedote offers spice, but not alot of meat. So this leaves the two wanna -be  first dudes in a delemma: does size really matter? Both decided to rely on an outside dependable source to get all the answers, they turn on the T.V. to the Fox News.
  
   In yet another unrelated Tea Party exclusive,  the 'Blue Hair' Tea Party of Florida, said there should be no restrictions on boating where defenseless Manatees swim, saying that if they were'nt so damn fat they would be able to get out of the way of a boat cruiseing 50 mph. There was a swell of reaction to this statement , mostly from the Male segment of the party, saying they have all that water to swim in, why do they have to stay right here under my boat? They also noted that if they weren't so big they wouldn't bein the way.....with all agreeing that SIZE does mater.

   News-Corps owner Rupert Murdooch jumped all over the strories , saying that: "This is what my company needs , it's good 'ol Grey hair values to shed some light on what's wrong with the World today."