Twas the night before Thursday 191!

[Cinder & Smoke]

"My Dad" never used to know the words, either!
He carried a pretty good TUNE ... his version of the words was sometimes "unique".

No one here doubt that for minute!! We'd love to hear it anyway!!
And while you're at it, how about some OLD pics from your more active firefighter days??

We have a bit of a time-warp going on here ...
The original "Dad" who didn't know the words was Phred's Dad ... many years ago.
He'd sometimes "agree to go" with us to Christmas Eve Services ...
and liked the BIG Church PIPE Organ sound ... so he'd "sing along" -
without too many referrals to the Hymn Book!

But I (Phred) will admit to attempting to "sing" in the Church Choir - before I realized I could NOT "sing".
I too, like my Dad, enjoyed the BIG Sound the Pipe organ produced -
and the Church Music Director / Organist just LOVED to *crank it up* and
rattle the Church windows at every opportunity! He'd pull all the Stops and Options
on about every piece he played - made that organ sond like a 100 chair Orchestra!

Annnnd ... as a Kid's Choir "Member" - I got to sit in the Choir Seats -
right UNDER the Pipe Loft --- darn pews would VIBRATE when ole Mr. Watkins
would Let 'er RIP! I always wondered if he knew that the louder he played,
the "better" some of us sounded!

/s/ Phred

[slick]

I haven't been feeling it because of my separation, and also because I won't be going home to my family this holiday like I always do. I'm feeling a bit lonely and out of place this year

Karen, my dear friend. If I could, I would send you a plane ticket and you could rush up here and we could celebrate the holidays together. I'll be with family on Christmas Day but I always feel out of sorts over there too. How about we just sit around, laugh and giggle and have a few lemon drops. You can sleep on the hide-a-bed in the living room and Max can wake you up in the morning.

It's all here waiting for you sweetie. {{{hugs}}}

Bartender, can I please get a Lemon Drop for my commute home??

[cyber-sibes]

*comes bursting in the door singing Fa-la-la-la-laaaaa...la-la-la-laaa!*
Hi everybody! sorry I'm soooo late getting in - been running around doing errands all day. Hubby drove in from Rhode Island last night - got back safe and sound! (that's the only positive thing about not having snow). Here's an invitation for anyone feeling kind of lonley- ...you are welcome to hang with us. Most every holiday we gather an "impromptu family" to celebrate with - we would be honored if you would join us! It can be a pretty eclectic group, but it's always interesting I can only stay a few minutes - have to go to work at the mall tomorrow morning. Have to work on christmas-Eve morning too H H H. I'll just set this plate of butter balls here on the bar for y'all to enjoy. Could I have a hot chocolate for the road?

[RedHedd]

*comes bursting in the door singing Fa-la-la-la-laaaaa...la-la-la-laaa!*
I'll just set this plate of butter balls here on the bar for y'all to enjoy.

Ah yes, my Mitzi does look cute, doesn't she? Even if she IS a butterball! I'll have a cuppa 'nog and a gingerbread cat. Wrapping's almost done! Today's my last day at work for the year! YIPPEE!

[wolflady]

Karen, my dear friend. If I could, I would send you a plane ticket and you could rush up here and we could celebrate the holidays together. I'll be with family on Christmas Day but I always feel out of sorts over there too. How about we just sit around, laugh and giggle and have a few lemon drops. You can sleep on the hide-a-bed in the living room and Max can wake you up in the morning.

It's all here waiting for you sweetie. {{{hugs}}}

Bartender, can I please get a Lemon Drop for my commute home??

Thank you so much slick, this means a lot. This sounds wonderful.
**hugs**