What's cookin ..............

I have had a number of requests to share some "old"...... basic, recipes that I have collected over the years. Some go back a long way, a few generations, many from the turn of the century. Almost all will be basic, no frills, no "food network" seasoning, just basic, good food, easily prepared.

The first I remember preparing for myself, and occasionally our mailman, who I often waited for with a plate of food .... this was in the late 30's. Food was prepared at 319 South Brown Street in Dayton, Ohio, in our old kitchen, on a gas stove, cold foods stored in our old double door Frigidaire. I think it was similar to the one in the above photograph, the timing is right and it was an electric. Many in our neighborhood at the time were still getting ice delivered.

I remember frying bacon, then cutting up some potatoes and chopping some onion to put on top. I wish I still had that old skillet, a thin iron skillet with a covered handle, about a six inch skillet. I learned to "flip" a skillet at an early age.

I remember our poor old mailman, a very gracious person, would stop on his rounds and sample some of my cooking. He did end up retiring after a long and industrious career, so my cooking did not hamper his career.

I have a small collection of old church cook books, PTA cook books and some old recipes that accompanied some old cooking utensils, plus some old family recipes.

I make make a link page out of this so that they are all retained in one place .... still working on it. Pending surgery will cause some breaks in continuity.

Oh ..... I see now ....

Our good friend, Jim Madison, who was visiting us from his home in Oklahoma, received a text from his wife, this morning ..... it said, "Windows frozen, won't open."

Jim sent a text back, "Gently pour some lukewarm water over it and gently tap the edges with a hammer." Something he had successfully done in the past.

A few minutes later, he received this text reply, "Computer really messed up now."

Living with "frequent" potty breaks

I don't like the word "pea" unless used in reference to the vegetable. Never have for some reason. "Pee" also I don't care for. So, I am in a dilemma, I now, thanks to my kidney stone hardware, tubes, etc., do it frequently, sometimes every ten minutes, at night, every two hours.

Not a pleasant subject to write about, but it is something that at this time, dominates my life.

On visits to Walmart, first this I do, use the bathroom. Then, I know, I have about ten minutes to shop, and, then, another visit to the bathroom. I am on a first name basis with the folks in that back department that offers access to the bathroom.

Quality of Life ...... Not sure what my "Quality" is, right now. For nine minutes or so, not too bad, my Quality is interrupted about every ten minutes or so with a visit to .... well, you know. So, it is difficult to attach an overall "quality" to my life at this time. But I see the Doctor in three days, will know more then what can be done with my two BIG stones.

1/29/15

January is almost gone, but we are building up to Televisions Biggest Day,, their greatest show, the Super Bowl. I remember when it was just a football game. The center of attention was the game, the two teams, and then, television realized its potential and it hasn't been the same since. Little talk about the teams, just the commercials. Four or five million for a brief commercial. It didn't happen over night, it has taken many years for it to grow.

I remember many years ago, not sure which game, but we were visiting out on the farm at my wife's Grandmothers. I was sitting out on the front steps with her Uncle. All of the talk on TV and in the press was about the game, a lot of hype. I asked her Uncle if he was going to be watching the Big Game. "No, our TV went on the fritz a few months ago, and we just ain't had it fixed yet." It put it all in perspective for me, and I have never forgotten his comment.

TV has been able to expand the football season, pre season games in August ...... and now February, and half of a year of football, and all those ads. The games are merely a venue, a vehicle, to carry television ads. They have taken a game, where some guys got together on a Sunday, and played a game of .......... football ........... back in the 20's, and turned it in to the show it is today. Ads, broken occasionally by the game. Most games today, there is a man on the field, colored sleeve, in contact with the TV van. When his arm is raised, the game stops, the ads air. His arm comes down ... let the game begin.

Not to mention .... clothing, logo clothing, billions in sales. Normal, rational people pay a lot of money, to be able to walk around in an over sized football jersey ... with someone elses name on the back ........... saying to the world ...... I am a fan. And, who convinced them they should be a fan and do this ..... television. How great is that ..... perpetual motion.

SMI - 1/24/15

Went to OSU yesterday, for a visit with Kidney Stone expert Doctor Knudsen. Result, I go back in two weeks for an Ultrasound and another visit that is done. Had a real shock yesterday, one consideration concerning what can be done ...... my age .... first time I had heard that, TOO OLD for .

The Renal Ultrasound will be performed in the Stephanie Spielman Center. She was the wife of Chris Spielman, OSU football great, who I have seen play, also played in the pros, and her fight with Breast Cancer was followed by many. I'm sure I will enter her building experiencing some emotions.

I have .... almost .... decided to leave my body to the OSU Medical school. I have had so many surgeries, Appendectomy, Vagotomy, Kidney Stones (3), Cyst in Colon, Triple Bi Pass, more Kidney Stones and Laproscopic Surgery for a Hernia, actually he did 16 holes, rather than the one he was going to do. The hospital got rid of him. I am thinking of getting a tattoo listing all of the above so some student does not miss anything, and knows my medical history.

The first Doctor I saw yesterday, not sure of his name, in doing some research of the staff, the only one from Illinois, which he mentioned to me was a Doctor Chad Gridley, so it may have been him. Anyway, he was wearing a similar pair of shoes. I rarely am attracted to a mans shoes, but these, I thought, were stunning. If I were younger, and, wore something other than $5 tennis shoes from Walmart, would definitely have a pair of these. On second thought, I would have to shop around at other places, these were a bit on the pricey side, real quality, but a bit much for my price range. I think, a tap on the shoe will link you to their site.


GREAT NEWS RECEIVED THIS MORNING - Hi, Unc. Thanks for update....what a long process but they must run their tests! Hang in there!(referring to my Kidney Stones)
Kyle is recovering well from the lumpectomy on Thursday and will get biopsy results and her customized therapy plan next week. She will have radiation for sure, but perhaps no chemo... to be determined... but her spirits are good and hopefully she will finish with an “all clear” in a few months. Love, - Janie

Kyle is my Niece, one the youngest of my brothers three children. She and her sister Jane and her daughter Becca came down for our 50th. first I had seen her in many years, and had never seen her daughter. She is raising two great children. That damnable Cancer

I have been remiss in posting more, but personal health issues combined with major concerns about the health of my wife has taken precedence over everything else. Every waking hour I am concerned about her, Survival and taking the steps necessary for survival dominate our days, and we are probably in much better shape than many are. I have had, in the past, a number of conversations with my Dad about .... Quality versus Quantity .... of life. As a physician, I think he often weighed that dilemma, in his day of practicing medicine, it was much more often in the hands of the physician than it is today. I think today it is Quantity, at all costs.

A Health, or lack of it, UPDATE

A few have asked, so here is a health update.

Quality of Life: 50%

Reason: TWO Kidney Stones, one on each side, LARGE ones.

Reason for Quality of Life: Old, for one thing, some sort of a tube sticking out of my left side. Two Stents ... Bathroom break (a nice way of saying it) about every ten minutes, sometimes less. No appetite, lost 20 pounds.

Ambition level: 10%

Problem for the Day: I have a doctors appointment on Friday, in Columbus, Ohio, at the OSU Hospital with one Doctor Knudson, a Kidney Stone Specialist.

The Problem: Getting there. My dear wife, who has Afib, and is a source of great concern, wants to go with me. One time, not long ago, she accompanied me for a test, I was signing in at the Surgery Desk, a nurse took one look at her, put her in a wheelchair, and took her to Emergency. She spent her time there while the tests were performed on me.

I "lose" a little each day, I feel like something is gradually "poisoning" my system, possibly some leakage from all of my plumbing problems. As of today, I am not even sure I am going to be able to, or feel like, going on Friday.

So, I am not confident enough to go by myself, so I need someone to take me there, wait, and bring me home, and someone to babysit my wife while I am away.

Old age is ....... well ..... old age, a problem of its own.

I can relate to this ..........

A lady left a meeting several days ago, She couldn't find her keys. She quickly checked all of her pockets, her pocketbook, and looked everywhere.

They weren't in her pockets. Suddenly she realized she must have left them in the car. Frantically, she headed for the parking lot. 

Her husband has scolded her many times for leaving her keys in the car's ignition. 

He's afraid that the car could be stolen. As she looked around the parking lot, she realized he was right. 

The parking lot was empty. she immediately called the police. She gave them her location, confessed that she had left her keys in the car, and that it had been stolen. 

Then she made the most difficult call of all to her husband: "I left my keys in the car and it's been stolen." 

There was a moment of silence. She thought the call had been disconnected, but then she heard his voice. "Are you kidding me?" He barked, "I dropped you off!" 

Now it was her turn to be silent. 

Embarrassed, she said, "Well, come and get me." 

He retorted, "I will, as soon as I convince this cop that I didn't steal your car!"

Predictable ..... You bet

First, let me say I was an Ohio State, or a Buckeye Fan for many years. I was born one, had everything Scarlet and Gray, I even did the Bike ride of New York City, the Five Borough Ride, with a tape player on my bike, playing music by the Ohio State Marching Band. We spent part of our honeymoon, 50 years ago, at an Ohio State game in Columbus.

And then, Woody left, I did not like the way they got rid of Earle Bruce, will never know why they hired John Cooper, and, most of all the FANS became completely arrogant. Obnoxious and arrogant.

I dropped off of the Fan list at Ohio State.

And now, they somehow win a National Championship, against all odds. It has happened, they just could not win the title, now, primarily the fans have to belittle the Oregon team they beat. Facebook and a flood of bumper stickers etc., are flooding the airwaves. "Our Third String Quarterback beat YOUR Heisman trophy winner," is just an example. They could not win, anything, graciously.

I have never heard anyone refer to an Ohio State fan as ..... gracious ..... that is a shame, a great institution .... but such arrogant fans .... many of whom probably could not spell the name of the institution ..... 

Tressel, the Boz make for a rare Hall of Fame controversy

Easy, just "Lower the Bar." .... any other school but OSU, this would not happen. Another Travesty.. I wonder what happened to the old "file" from Youngstown State. It is that "Methodist Minister" image that won the NCAA over, and some pressure from OSU.

DALLAS (AP) — Jim Tressel will become a College Football Hall of Famer while he is still being punished by the NCAA.

Tressel won't be the first inductee to the college hall with a black mark on his resume, but the National Football Foundation went outside of its comfort zone when it selected the former Ohio State coach as part of its latest class.

Nominated for the Hall of Fame by Youngstown State, where he won four Division I-AA national titles from 1986-2000, Tressel has two years remaining on the punishment he received from the NCAA for withholding information about an investigation of his players while at Ohio State.

Also among the class announced Friday by the NFF was Brian Bosworth, the outspoken Oklahoma linebacker who was suspended for his last college game for failing a test for performance-enhancing drugs.

NFF chief executive operator Steve Hatchell said Tressel's missteps were carefully considered by the panel that reviews nominees.

"It was not hidden," Hatchell said. "Frankly, the people that are involved know all about the NCAA issues. So it was openly discussed. The feeling was what he had done coaching-wise at Youngstown State was strong enough."

Tressel will enter the hall as part of its Divisional Class, meant to honor players and coaches outside college football's top level, now known as FBS but once called I-A.

Do I Believe ........... You bet I do ......

Ohio State, or, The Ohio State University, will be the First National Champions under the new system. I have somewhat predicted that since the beginning of the season, or, at least after they started winning, after their loss.

When TV decided on this format, their first decision,, who, should be the first to win?

Notre Dame was the first on the list, then Michigan, then Ohio State. These were the oldest, with a tremendous "fan base" that had a chance and were most deserving. Then, OSU lost, Michigan was out and it looked like ND was also out of the running. Their only hope was that OSU could turn their season around, with Urban Meyer and the talent they had, this was a possibility.

The end of the season, the lopsided wins, "YES" ..... move them up, get them in the final four, which happened, and now they are playing ...... ah ..... from out West ....... the Northwest, trees .... Oh, yea, Oregon, and, the cherry on the top of the Sunday, they are the Ducks, and OSU is ..... the Bucks. A match made in heaven, no, not really, it was made in the executive office of some very articulate television executive, who has already received his bonus and is in Antigua, basking in the sun.

In my opinion, this was a "done deal" .... months ago.

And, the Michigan - OSU rivalry was petering out a bit .... that same TV Executive made a call to California, chatted for a while .... and ..... Harbaugh goes to Michigan .... and, the rivalry lives, soon, as bright as when Woody and Bo were at it .... who wins ........... TV, again.

Do I think that TV, who gives BILLIONS of dollars to the academic world has any say in what happens. You bet I do .......... remember that guy down on the field, when his arm is raised ..... the football stops .......... when it comes down ............ the game resumes.

I don't even want to get in to the world of Professional Athletics. I remember years ago, in Tijuana, watching Jai Ali matches .............. during the "warm ups" the participants are watching the tote boards to check out the odds ..... I learned early, money talks.

Brunch with the Terrorists

Live, from France, TV, two locations, gunfire, grenades, and vehicles, hundreds of vehicles, some ambulances, some, unknown. I am sitting here, drinking coffee, in Newark, Ohio, watching what is going on in Paris.

What a great world we live in. Confusion reigns. I love these "reporters" .... they are able to ramble on and on, talking, saying noting, but repeating the same thing over and over.

Update, looks like all the "terrorists" are dead. As they say, "the two brothers." The other, is someone they were aware of.

The scene on TV, hundreds of vehicles, many ambulances, or similar looking cars, helicopters, in the air and on the ground ..... a "textbook" conclusion to the crisis.

I remember years ago, someone made the statement that we were entering .... "The Age of Terrorism." How true that statement was.

My breakfast this morning was ..... different .... a cold meatloaf sandwich, actually, I only had two "heels" left, so they were used. Hot, the meatloaf was a little "mushy." A night in the fridge, nice and firm, good sandwich.

I wonder what we will see tomorrow??????

Some food for thought ........

The "gay boy" you punched in the hall today, committed suicide a few minutes ago.

That girl you called a slut in class today, she is a virgin.

The boy you called lame, he has to work every night to support his family.

That girl you pushed down the other day, she is already being abused at home.

The girl you call fat, she is starving herself

The old man you made fun of because of the ugly scars, he received them fighting for our country.

The boy you made fun of for crying, his Mother is dying.

YOU think you know them, you don't. 

There is no excuse for BULLYING in any form.

Sunday - 1/4/15

Gloomy outside, chilly and rainy, bleak, dreary, about the same as I am, this morning. I am at about 60 percent this morning, no hurts from anything, still have this tube in my back, just not up to par. Now about 1:15 PM and I am almost ready for bed. Still doing some internal bleeding and I think it wear me down some.

Who won in college football this season? In my opinion, the BIG winner was television. The OSU-Alabama game one of the highest viewed sporting events in history, and I imagine that will pale in comparison to the upcoming game, the Bucks and the Ducks. A game made in heaven. There was some controversy at the end of the season as to whether Ohio State should be included. It could have gone either way, but .......... for some reason ................ Ohio State won out, the result, a matchup made in Heaven, OHIO State versus Alabama. Ohio State has the LARGEST following, I wonder if that had anything to do with their decision?

So far, everything has fallen right into the lap of television. I must admit, I wonder how many decisions are made ...... with their help? I will guarantee, however, that the Oregon/OSU game will break all records for Ad Sales, Revenue, Apparel Sales and viewers. Now do you see why OSU is playing?

I have not checked the news yet, probably more about the airplane crash, obama on vacation, North Korea ..... I wonder if obama is, in fact, the leader of the wold's strongest nation, or if he is just deceiving himself in to thinking that .... "Well, we used to be ...... why aint we now?" .... "Ah, we be gonna do so sanctions agin them .... what we got they need? ..... what? ...... what you mean nuthin!"

I see what China has accomplished, North Korea, other countries, and I see the shape we are in, total and complete chaos, and I have to wonder what we "lead" in.

The people who have chosen to protect us are being gunned down on the street, rioters and looters are having a field day, questionable shootings. Nightly shootings and killings in Columbus, Ohio, so I imagine this is happening around the country. Only certain shootings are singled out, shootings that support the agenda of a few, a few whose existence depends on racial unrest.

I have seen a few instances where the country pulled together. WWII we all pulled together, 9/11, the majority pulled together, there were those who cheered the event.

If a space ship, from Jupiter threatens our existence, as long as they were neither white or black, but green, with one eye .... then, we might all pull together, as a nation, as one people ...... other than that, pray.

4 large objects detected in AirAsia wreckage hunt

PANGKALAN BUN, Indonesia (AP) — Indonesian officials said Saturday that they were confident wreckage of AirAsia Flight 8501 had been located after sonar equipment detected four massive objects on the ocean floor.

The biggest piece, measuring 18 meters (59 feet) long and 5.4 meters (18 feet) wide, appeared to be part of the jet's body, said Henry Bambang Soelistyo, chief of the National Search and Rescue Agency.

Though strong currents and big surf have prevented divers from entering waters to get a visual of the suspected fuselage, officials are hopeful they will find many of the passengers and crew inside, still strapped in their seats.

There were 162 people aboard the plane, but after a week of searching, only 30 bodies have been found floating in the choppy waters.

The Airbus A320 crashed Dec. 28, halfway into a two-hour flight from Surabaya, Indonesia's second-largest city, to Singapore. Minutes before losing contact, the pilot told air traffic control that he was approaching threatening clouds, but was denied permission to climb to a higher altitude because of heavy air traffic.

It remains unclear what caused the plane to plunge into the Java Sea, though bad weather appears to have been a factor, according to a 14-page report released by Indonesia's Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency.

"Flight 8501 appears to have been trapped in bad weather that would have been difficult to avoid," the report said.

Obamas drop $1K for meal at Hawaii restaurant that charges $500K for membership

By Cheryl K. Chumley - The Washington Times - Friday, January 2, 2015

President Obama and first lady Michelle Obama spent a leisurely couple hours at Vintage Cave Honolulu, dropping an estimated $1,000 on a meal with wine at an upscale restaurant that actually charges $500,000 for those who want to buy a membership.

Mr. Obama passed on the membership at the Vintage Cave Honolulu, but he did order the price-fix menu at $295 per plate, Mediate reported. And, according to Honolulu Magazine, “the total bill for two, with wine, will approach $1,000.”

The restaurant bills itself on its website this way: “One can enjoy exceptional food and wine at the hands of gifted masters of the culinary arts. ‘Chef’s recommendation’ commands a gravitas guaranteed to satisfy the most discerning palate. Seasoned sommelier’s conduct the process of pairing wine and food with true finesse and style. Secure in the natural embrace of the cave-like environment, guests are encouraged to relax, ‘hit reset,’ and escape the ordinary.”

The meal comes as Mr. Obama continues to be riddled with criticism about the optics of his presidency — including a hastily assembled presser in mid-2014 about the Islamic State beheading of U.S. journalist James Foley, and then moments later hitting the golf links.

Shortly after, Mr. Obama took to “Meet the Press” with Chuck Todd to explain his actions.

He said: “It’s always a challenge when you’re supposed to be on vacation. Because you’re followed everywhere. And part of what I’d love is a vacation from the press. But there’s no doubt that after having talked to the families, where it was hard for me to hold back tears listening to the pain that they were going through, after the statement that I made, that you know, I should’ve anticipated the optics [of golf].”

He also said to CNN that he was aware “optics … matter. And I’m mindful of that.”

This seems OBSCENE to me, when so many are homeless, jobless, and hungry. It is akin to a slap in the face of the American public ...... "Don't do as I do, do as I say" I think it indicates their total disregard for the American People ..... WE WILL TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS AS LONG AS WE CAN ...... Screw You, America, we WILL do as we please .........

NYPD prepares for Wenjian Liu, Rafael Ramos funerals to be attended by up to 25,000 U.S., Canada police, authorities say

Some 20,000 to 25,000 cops and law enforcement officials from across the United States and Canada are expected to gather in New York City in coming days for the funerals of slain NYPD officers Wenjian Liu and Rafael Ramos.

The task of planning and coordinating the massive funerals has fallen on the NYPD's ceremonial unit, a special squad of officers led by Lt. Tony Giorgio.

The unit, which handles arrangements for officers and city officials, has grown from less than a handful of staffers 25 years ago to 15 officers today. Each precinct contributes one officer to the special squad to serve as pallbearers.

Eight of them, culled from various precincts, will lift and carry the coffins at the funerals and cemeteries. Giorgio, a licensed funeral director, is schooled in the delicate art of carrying coffins at shoulder height -- the way Julius Caesar was carried after his death.

Immediately after Liu and Ramos were fatally shot in an ambush Saturday in Brooklyn, Giorgio and his staff began holding a series of meetings to sort out the enormous logistics, he said.

"It is a production," said Giorgio, 53, a 32-year veteran of the force who lived for a time in Merrick.

Department protocols aside, he stressed that the wishes of the Liu and Ramos families are the main focus. "We are there for them," he said.

The Pentecostal service for Ramos is scheduled to start at 10 a.m. on Saturday at Christ Tabernacle Church in Glendale, with interment at Cypress Hill Cemetery on the Queens-Brooklyn border.

Services for Liu will be in keeping with his Asian heritage and will be scheduled pending the arrival of relatives from China, Giorgio said.

Giorgio studied funeral traditions for different faiths and cultures in mortuary school at what was then SUNY Farmingdale. That training has come in handy as the department grows more ethnically diverse and the ceremonial unit is charged with coordinating funerals for a broad array of faiths and traditions.

Giorgio was highly visible leading the pallbearers during the February 2013 funeral for former Mayor Edward Koch at Temple Emanu-El in Manhattan.

With huge crowds expected for the Liu and Ramos funerals, Giorgio said the department is coordinating road closings, opening up emergency lanes and arranging for EMS units if mourners become ill or overcome with grief.

Though he has handled hundreds of police funerals, Saturday's slayings jolted Giorgio.

He said, "These two officers were assassinated because of who they were."

This is a Tragedy ........ so sad

They didn't want Grandma to be alone on Christmas ....................

WASHINGTON COURT HOUSE, OHIO — A woman and three grandchildren staying with her for Christmas are feared dead inside the remains of a house engulfed by fire, authorities said Friday.

Fayette County Sheriff Vernon Stanforth said the single-story ranch-style house was destroyed and the site was very hot and unstable some six hours after the blaze was reported just after 4 a.m. He said firefighters were sifting through the smoldering debris to try to locate the four missing people.

"The house is totally destroyed," Stanforth said.

He said family members are being informed of what he called "just a tragic, tragic" fire. He didn't have the ages of the children who were spending Christmas night at their grandmother's house.

"To lose three children and a grandparent, it's devastating to the family," Stanforth told The Associated Press by telephone. "The fact that it's the holidays makes it even worse for the community."

County and local fire departments are at the scene with the state fire marshal's investigators near Washington Court House some 40 miles southwest of Columbus. There was no immediate word on what might have caused the blaze.

President Obama's Hawaii vacation: Day 2

The motorcade carrying President Barack Obama to play golf at Marine Corps Base Hawaii passes a waving child in Kailua, Hawaii, Saturday, Dec. 20, 2014. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

KAILUA, Hawaii (AP) — How President Barack Obama spent the second day of his holiday vacation in Hawaii on Sunday:

—POLICE SHOOTING: Obama called New York City Police Commissioner Bill Bratton on Sunday morning to offer condolences for the killing of two New York City police officers and support in the coming days and weeks, White House spokesman Eric Schultz said. The officers were ambushed in Brooklyn, New York, on Saturday. During the conversation, Schultz said Obama reiterated his call for the American people to reject violence and "words that harm, and turn to words that heal — prayer, patient dialogue and sympathy for the friends and family of the fallen." The president also called Philadelphia Police Commissioner Charles Ramsey, a co-chair of the President's Task Force on 21st Century Policing, asking him to explore ways to engage law enforcement officials across the nation, the White House said.

—MORE GOLFING: Obama returned to the Marine Corps Base Hawaii on Kaneohe Bay late Sunday morning for a second-straight day to play golf with friends. Joining him on the clear, sunny day were Joe Paulsen, Preston Heard and Bobby Titcomb, the White House said. The round of golf lasted less than three hours.

—FAMILY BEACH TIME: Obama followed up golfing by joining his family and friends at Bellows Air Force Base beach, the White House said. As the motorcade pulled into the air station, it passed an outdoor barbecue chicken stand, where some onlookers waved and snapped photos.

— DINNER WITH FRIENDS — The White House said the Obama family later went to dinner with friends at Morimoto Waikiki, a Japanese restaurant created by Masaharu Morimoto of "Iron Chef." It is one of their favorite dining spots on the island of Oahu and dinner there has become a vacation staple for them.

It had to be Walmart ....

I pulled into the crowded parking lot at the Super Walmart Shopping Center and rolled down the car windows to make sure that Goldie, my Labrador Retriever Pup had fresh air.

She was standing at the steering wheel, looking at me, and I wanted to impress upon her that she must remain there. I walked to the curb backward,

Pointing my finger at the car and saying emphatically, "Now you stay. Do you hear me?" Stay! Stay!"

The driver of a nearby car, a pretty blonde young lady, gave me a strange look and said,

"Why don't you just put it in park?"

One I remember ................

Between Kidney Stones, Afib and old age, we are "skirting" Christmas this year, so have been reflecting on some memories of past years.

One that comes to mind involved me being Santa for our local Merchants Association. I was old and whited haired, so I got the job, and, the suit fit. Dave Longaberger of basket fame had purchased a local theater, and let us use the entrance to set up our Santaland.

I think I was a good Santa, I really never grew up, so I easily related to the kids. I did a deep Santa voice, and was perceptive enough to use some obvious clues. I would see someone in the family wearing a sweatshirt, let's say from Licking Valley ..... "Hi Bobby" .... the parents would give the child's name to my elf, who would write the name on a small blackboard, so I knew each ones name. "Hi Bobby ... let's see, ...... do you still go to Valley?" ... Eyes would lite up a bit ..... "How'd he know that?"

I got lucky a few times too. "Didn't I bring you a sled last year, you had your tree over in the corner there, and as I recall, I put it under the tree there, and some other presents."

One Mother that we knew, her kids were getting a little older ..... at that age, where .... well, she fed me some information, thought her daughter was a little young to be getting serious about some young boy. When they entered the theater, I casually waved at them, "Hi Sarah, Hi Billy" .... and went on talking with the child on my lap. I saw their expressions, a little awed that I waved and knew their names. When Sarah got on my lap .... well, she was awed ..... Santa knew things that, well, only Santa would know. Her Mom told me later, as they were walking out Sarah looked up at her and said, "Now that was the real Santa Claus."

One evening, Santa was getting ready to head home, it was cold and snowy out, and young girl in a tee shirt and jeans came in, carrying a maybe 2 or 3 year old, who was also sparsely dressed. They obviously had little. Nice young Mother, cute little girl. Well, before they left, I had  elves helping me that night. One elf had, in her car, a Christmas gift for her Granddaughter, a nice Winter coat, which suddenly appeared. Others brought items in, the Mother also received a coat, one that an elf had been wearing. A nearby drug store was open, diapers appeared and other clothes appeared, some toys.

Mom and baby left loaded down, tears flowing from everyone. I am sure that all involved remember that incident each year, Santa and his Elves, did good stuff that night ....................