Labor Day

It's not just for Hot Dogs.  Here's Krugman.

H/T to Karlo

Holy Coleoidea!

I had a beautiful cephalopodian Bumpa-grandduaghter moment on Christmas (aka Cephalo-Festivus*) eve.  Nine-year-old Samantha had requested a fish from Santa Claus.  Her mom was adamant that no such fish would be forth-coming.  (As an aside, it was revealed that Santa will only deliver animals of any kind with prior parental approval.)  Sam was equally adamant the she was going to get her fish, and went around singing "I Want A Fish For Christmas," providing her own original lyrics to this tune.

Big sister Amanda (age 14) piped in, saying, "How could Santa deliver a fish?"  Evidently, his sleigh is not properly equipped for transporting them. 

"Well", I suggested, "think about how Santa gets from Scotland to Nova Scotia."

"He crosses the sea," Amanda replied, warily.

It was then generally - albeit reluctantly - agreed that he could at any random moment just swoop down and scoop a fish out from the drink.  "Actually," I said, "I was thinking more of a squid."

The look of disdain on Samantha's face was worth the price of admission, all by itself.

Pressing on, I asked, "If you got a squid, what would you name it?"

After a moments thought, Sam replied, "Squidward."   I thought that was quite good; but her dad interjected, "What about Squidney?"

On that cue, I started riffing about the squid's long, flexible tentacles.  Middle sister Rebekka (age 11) was sitting next to me on the couch, and from the corner of my eye, I saw the light bulb go on over her head.  We looked at each other and said, in perfect unison: "Squid don't have any knees."  The infamous Bumba-Bekka mind meld was in full force.

Then we high-fived amidst the groans.   It was fabulous.

After all that quieted down, I told Sam to call me on Christmas morning (but not too early) and tell me if she got her fish.  (In my exalted position of bumpahood, I had some inside information.)

When the call came she was one excited little girl.  Santa brought her an aquarium, and all the required accessories, along with a gift card to a pet shop, where she could choose her own fish.

That Santa - what a guy!

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* Find the explanation in comments here.

Feelin' Grinchy

My arrangement of Mr. Grinch.

What I'm Thankful For

First off for my family - my lovely wife, who is my greatest supporter, biggest fan, and the love of my life; for our offspring, who gave me an anchor and enriched my life in more ways than they can possibly know; for our 11 smart, talented and beautiful grandchildren, who have been bringing us joy for a decade and a half, and give me hope for our future; for my mom, always there for me in a time of need, and still going strong at 90, and my sister, who brings us both strength; for nephews, nieces, cousins, and in-laws, who I don't get to see as often as I would like.

I love and appreciate you all.

I'm thankful for free speech, and the opportunity to exercise it that this blog provides; and for anyone who stops by to read, especially if you leave a comment.

I am very fortunate to have grown up where and when I did, as part of the only generation for whom the American Dream was a realistic expectation.  I'm thankful for the New Deal, that made America great, and the Great Society, which greatly reduced poverty, and moved us in the direction of equality and opportunity for all. I'm thankful for the opportunities I had: affordable education, a robust economy so I could find employment in young adulthood that was more than just a job; for American industry that gave me a career and a pension, for Social Security that allows me to have a comfortable retirement.

In my youth, my father often tried to impress on me how lucky I was to have all of these dreams, opportunities and expectations.  I did not get it then, but I do now.  We bumped heads - a lot - and I can't say it was all my fault.  But he gave me perspectives I otherwise would not have known, a foundation in duty and responsibility, a passion for education, and a healthy skepticism.

Dad's been gone a long time.  Our relationship was never easy, but he did a lot for me.  Rest easy, dad.  I'm thankful for you, too.

And, of course, for music, the great natural anti-depressant; along with all my musical friends and fellow noise-makers.

Oh - can't forget all my friends at the Crossword Corner.

Peace, love and joy to all on this Thanksgiving day.

Kellemes Karácsonyi Ünnepeket és Boldog Új Évet

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

(H/T to Kristen)

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More on Noel

It's when to see Nick at Night!

Plus . . . 

Keeping track of how Santa keeps track.

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Six Word Saturday 12/25

Step son Tom is leaving Afghanistan!

Best Christmas present ever - for sure.

Trip home takes about a week.

Merry Christmas* to my electronic friends.

*Or Happy Holidays - you can chose. 

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Christmas Music Blogging

Continuing the review of music I've played recently, here is a good performance of Leroy Anderson's CHRISTMAS FESTIVAL.   Recording is a bit fuzzy, but the playing is wonderful.



And now for something completely different . . . . (WoW! - this is really good.)

MERRY CHRISTMAS, EVERYONE!

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Christmas eve Music Blogging

Another delightful piece that we played earlier this month.  The Polonaise from "Christmas Eve" by Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov.

MERRY CHRISTMAS, EVERYONE!

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Haiku Wednesday - Noel

Noel I 

Noel is the French
Word for Christmas. It simply
Means nativity.

Noel II 

A time for giving,
And to be forgiving, and
to be forgiven.
 

Noel III (No "L") 

For believers a
New start.  For others a hole
In the alphabet

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The NEW Story of Christmas - Fully Digitized

Link

H/T to Judy D!
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Shadow Shot Sunday - 12/19

Play for me, Lauren,

In this cold, bleak midwinter,

A new song of joy

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They're Banning Kids in Florida for Wearing Red and Green!*

If you hear it on Fox, there's a good bet it's faux!

The Colbert Report	Mon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c
Blitzkrieg on Grinchitude - Gretchen Carlson & Christian Nation CHRIST-mas Tree<a>
www.colbertnation.com
Colbert Report Full Episodes Political Humor & Satire Blog</a> March to Keep Fear Alive

* To understand the real horror and repression of the godless liberal fascist war on Christmas, you must sing the title of this post to this song:





H/T to Beale, who is in a really bad mood.

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Six Word Saturday 11/27

Kids went home -- house is quiet.

For reference, see yesterday's picture post.)

Nobody to play cars with me.

(See next scheduled Mellow Yellow Monday.)

Thanksgiving in Bumpaland

Abby made this to hang on our door.

Abby and Grandmom

Lauren

Josh

Nate

Em

Danny

Ryan

Alexa

The Back-scratch Brigade

Kids on the Couch

Just a part of why I am thankful and blessed!
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Sunday Music Blogging - 4th of July

I have no idea who Jaycie is, but this is pretty sweet.

Republicans: All Wrong, All the Time, Pt. 13 - Health Care Costs

To help put the lies and hypocrisy of the Republicans in perspective, we'll show Rachel Maddow's  BEST GRAPH EVER.

That's right, folks, the 2001 and 2003 budget busting  Bush tax cuts, which were passed through reconciliation, cost the country a huge pile of cash.   In contrast, the Senate Health Care Reform Bill - which might be passed via reconciliation some day (or week) soon is a net money saver.

Who knew?  Not anyone who's listened to any Republican or right winger spew their lies on the subject.   In every political discussion that's taken place in recent years, the right has been totally out of touch with reality.

Are they liars, tools, fools, slaves to ideology, delusionally insane, or just plane stupid?  Alas, there is no sure way to know.

Here is more truth from Rachel.

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Hello 2010

Happy   New   Year!

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Sunday Music Blogging - Post-Christmas Edition

Despite the relentless positivism and terminal perkiness, I rather like this song.  And with Brenda Lee it's actually perfect.  If you don't believe me, go to YouTube and catch Dean Martin singing it.

And for the jazz lovers among you, a great Thad Jones tune:


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Christmas Music Blogging

Some Classics, and one not so much.



Glenn Miller - Classic!




Chrismas Time is Here - Classic



The Christmas Waltz - Classic



Make what you want of former hockey great Igor Larianov's semi-lovely daughters lip-synching and pseudo-strumming gesticulations.  It's for a good cause, so deal with it.



And finally, by way of compensation, here is the Velvet Fog himself, singing his own composition: the best Christmas Song, EVAH!  Classic.