December 30th, 2004
The vote is in. Amazing results. You wouldn't believe it in a zillion years. Anyone have a van??? Check it out:
I guess nobody voted on a spot. Hmm. New Years could be a very quiet night, or a very loud and crazy one. It just depends on what people decide to do.
December 24th, 2004
'Twas the
night before Christmas, and all through the houses
Everyone was still stirring, not quiet like most mouses
When all of a sudden wow! Who did appear?
Why it was old Saint Nicholas filled already with Christmas Cheer.
Out came the bottle from under his coat.
It was big, it was heavy, and dark like a moat.
He had a great beard - a sea captain's gloat
And he ho ho ho'd mightily and sat on the stove.
"Oh Donner, Oh Blitzen," He bellowed out loud...
"Oh Sleepy, and Goofy and... uh, Mickey!" he looked at the crowd.
For looking around he noticed at first
His dinner was no where-no sign of Bratwurst.
And further he saw round little eyes filled with awe!
Nightgowns a shimmer under held candles in paws
He'd done it again... he thought with a grimace
"It's that damn bottle!" Would cry old Mrs. Nicholas...
"The wrong house! Not again! Would he never listen?"
So he got up from his seat and he turned towards his sleigh
when he felt the most tiniest hand on his leg
A slight tug, maybe twice on his pants then he looked
Down upon a slight child with a book
"Hello again Santa. You gave me this book!.
I'm glad you came back to sign it-see? Look!"
Then she pointed at the page with a big smiling face
His white hair, long white beard and shiney eyes all a glaze
So he laughed, picked her up and asked for a pen
Signed his name, ho-ho-ho'd and was off again
December 23rd, 2004
I'm off for a few weeks. Yup. It's time to clean out the garage, play with the new gifts I won't get for Christmas, try on the shirts that don't fit and wonder where it all went wrong... Who knows... perhaps the new year will bring mysteries beyond our comprehension. Maybe life will overfill with all things right and good. Uh huh. But just in case it doesn't, we could always start off the new year on the right foot.
I dunno about you guys, but a party sounds good to me. Who wants to throw a party at their house? Or, does renting a beach place or mountain place appeal to any of you? Or perhaps we could talk The Stooge into a party at his mansion?? Am I the only one who wants to do this crazy party thing? Are there others out there?
I may just rent a place at the beach and invite people to drive down. Bring a sleeping bag. Bring munchies and stuff to drink. Bring a rain coat because you don't think you'd be planning a beach trip and not have it be good weather.
It's supposed to snow around here Sunday or Monday. The weather guys don't know for sure, but they've warned us that our Christmas white will be a little late, if at all. Since I'm off, I say let it snow. But I'll be thinking about you guys who have to work in that crap. I remember last year. We may as well have lived inFargo.
How do people live in Fargo? 10 below is normal to them. Howling winds are restive. Snow drifts are miles high and pose no problem what so ever. But out here in Podunk Oregon, a little rain has people freaking out and causing more fender benders than even State Farm has time to take care of. It's pathetic. My hat's off to Fargo and it's environs.
Please take the time to vote this period, as some of you may not want to meet at all due to the meeting's proximity with New Years Eve. Hmmm... If you know of a party everyone can crash, let us know. If you want to rent a party palace, let us know. If you want to be left alone, too bad. We're going to bother you worse.
December 15th, 2004
There aren't that many shopping days left in the month. Of course, you could go out shopping any old day, but we're talking about shopping for Christmas presents. If you're like me, your Christmas shopping takes up a healthy chunk of at least five pay checks, and takes about all the spare time you have left in December. Each year I promise myself as soon as I think of the 'ordeal', that I will leave the wrapping and giving to Amazon dot com, or best buy dot come, or some other reputable online merchant. That way, I can have all my Christmas shopping done by early October, in the mail and sitting under the lucky recipient's tree by Halloween. I've thought these evil thoughts for years now, since online shopping became a reality.
Not once have I succeeded in this dream. So once again, here it is 2004 already, and I'm out hitting the streets, fighting for a parking space, wondering if what I got was good enough, or sparkly enough. I could kick myself yet again.
Thank god for Happy Hour. At least I don't have to go Christmas shopping. The winner is Cucina Cucina. A popular place amongst our Tribe. They sure have great food. I think their Happy Hour sucks, but that's just me. No good prices on beer, other than two pints, not the majumbo size. Sheesh. BUT, the location is convenient, and the appetizers are cheap enough so what the hell...
Take a look at the voting results. They're kind of interesting.
December 8th, 2004 HANNUKA
It's come to my attention that the Christmas season can be awful damn busy. Everyone runs around with their heads cut off trying to find the cheapest, or most expensive gift for their intendeds, loved ones, bosses, secretaries, girl friends, mistresses, well, you get the picture.
Not having been asked when I wanted to have it, or more importantly, whether I wanted to have it, some unscrupulously cheerful person posted next to the time clock a notice that upon the 18th of December, an office Christmas party would be held at The Old Market Pub. Not a bad idea, thinks I. But wait a minute! That's the day after OUR meeting! Dammit! Who the hell can afford to go out swizzling two nites in a row??
Well, poker party or office party be damned. Full speed ahead on the Happy Hour meeting. Who knows? Maybe work will be sufficiently productive to allow for a two nites in a row dabble in the holiday spirits. One never knows. I've only had two twelve hour sessions at work this week, but you never know what next week will bring where we work.
In any case, this will be the second year in a row that our work has chosen a brew pub worthy of the name for the seasonal get together. Cooler heads have prevailed in that account. Next year, I think I will post the damn notice my self, and make sure it's on an off weekend, well in advance of any opportunities to purchase those important last chance gifts you've put off usually for reasons related to which stinking day you get paid. AND, not on a Tribal weekend.
December 7th, 2004
Thanks to Two, we have a new Recon for another establishment. Keep 'em coming! You all don't just sit at home, do you? When you go out to some place, write a short note about your experience and send it in to this page so I can add it to the comments already written, or create a new space for it. You don't have to be eloquent. You don't have to know grammar, or spelling. Just throw your comments my way, and I'll take care of the rest.
December 1st, 2004
The vote is in, and Nacho Mamma's wins out. Check out the results here. Another month has gone bye, and if you missed any of November, you can always read it again in the Archives.
One of our Eastern Tribal Members has a birthday this date. When last contacted by phone, The Traveler was about ready to catch some Z's after a heavy day of ransacking the east coast town of Quincy. We should be so lucky. However, as you can tell by the photo below, the bedrest was well deserved.
The Traveler does the Frog at the Pond
Yes, apparently this type of rabble rousing behavior is typical of otherwise well meaning east coast adults on their birthdays. Here's the gig: The setting is a local park. Walk up to the friendly red building with the loud frog on the outside, and order not a hotdog or a coke, no! There is no innocent fare at this establishment! At the Frog's, you make your choice of adult beverage, mixed and squirted from a safe distance into your awaiting gullet!! Unbelievable!!
You'd think
that with so much excitement stuffed into one day, a simple trip out to Portland
would be child's play... In any case, HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO THE TRAVELER!!
Come see us some time for crying outloud.