You Can Run...

Nothing lasts forever, and so I couldn't stay away from the news indefinitely. Though I gotta say, it was good to take a break and I'll use that tack again when things are just too too. Today I'm going to focus on secondary stories, cuz I'm sure everyone has seen the big stuff:

Corzine can't find over a billion dollars:
 http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2011/dec/08/jon-corzine-mf-global-boss-congress

NASA can't find moon rocks:
http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/nasa-loses-moon-rocks-space-objects-report-article-1.988898

Mexican drug dealers get their weapons from US gun dealers:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/dec/08/us-guns-mexico-drug-cartels

Gingrich's sister backs Obama:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/dec/08/newt-gingrich-gay-sister-obama

OWS takes on tv's SVU:
 http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/occupy-wall-street-protesters-shut-law-order-svu-set-depicting-ows-article-1.989070

Unemployment claims drop, but we know that doesn't mean things are better:
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/09/business/economy/us-unemployment-claims-dip-to-9-month-low.html?src=busln

Fracking contaminates water:
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/09/us/epa-says-hydraulic-fracturing-likely-marred-wyoming-water.html?_r=1&ref=science

Rick Perry is desperate, and maybe nuts:
http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/rick-perry-rips-obama-war-religion-ad-criticizing-president-don-t-don-t-article-1.988699

RIP Colonel Potter:
http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/brattleboro/obituary.aspx?n=harry-morgan&pid=154934625

And here are suggestions for holiday movies still unmade:
http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/12/09/the-true-meaning-of-the-season-holiday-movies-wed-actually-watch/?ref=arts

On a very local note, the Overflow Shelter at the Baptist church on Main St. needs volunteers. Even if you can give just one shift, you'll be helping out a lot of people. There are a record number of those needing shelter and not enough volunteers to go around. Please help if you can.

Remembering John

31 years ago tonight I was drying my hair with a towel in the little house in PA when Ted Koppel announced that John Lennon had been shot. I stood there, staring at the little TV. It was one of those moments when time stops, when you can't believe or take in what you're hearing. But as the seconds ticked by and the death pronouncement was made, it sunk in.

They showed footage. St. Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital and The Dakota building where he lived. Both familiar to me. I saw exactly where he was when that bastard shot him, had stood there myself many times. I'd seen John and Yoko a couple of times on 72nd St and in Central Park over the years. Native New Yorkers don't freak out at seeing the famous, they're just there. You say something to whoever you're with, and smile that you're all New Yorkers, famous and ordinary alike in sharing a hometown. And one piece of filth had taken away our brother, our pride and joy. Our John, who'd fought so hard to stay in our hometown, was killed right there at his own building.

If  John had lived, he'd be 71 now. Hard to picture because to me he'll never age past 40. Though 40 didn't seem so young to me then, it does now.

For those who are still wondering what happened:
http://whatsupatupstate.wordpress.com/2011/12/07/dr-david-halleran-the-surgeon-who-tried-to-save-john-lennons-life-recalls-the-events-of-dec-8-1980/

http://www.biography.com/people/john-lennon-9379045

The Day John Lennon Died:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tyR9sdlt4Dw

Much Ado About Nothing

For all the hoopla, you'd think we'd be dealing with Winter Weather Advisory results. Nope. Not a bit. It rained all right, so hard that the noise of it hitting my back steps annoyed me. But I did fall asleep at some time, and woke up late this morning to look out the window and see- nothing. It's sunny and windy today. Chilly but not freezing, people are walking around in shirtsleeves so it's warmer than 20. All that build up and we get a nice day.

Not so nice in Scotland:
  http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/home-news/scotland-braces-itself-for-90mph-hurricane.16089110
Hope you're okay, Annie Oatcake.

Waiting to hear from Phoe, but I may start pulling out the boxes searching for the ornaments. If I don't get going I could seriously end up sitting around all morning. Not so painy today. Even my fellow Hobbits are out and about and walking fairly well. Off I go to get a second cuppa, catch up on my blogging pals and then it's Tree Time. So nice to function! 

Weather Worries

Have to admit I'm a little gunshy about all this rain. Watching the gutter fill here inspires a feeling of dread in my stomach which is not entirely unfounded. However, the weather widget on iBrattleboro says:

"Rain or snow this evening. Then snow after midnight. Total snow accumulation of 4 to 8 inches. Much cooler with lows around 30. North winds 5 to 10 mph. Increasing to 15 to 20 mph withgusts up to 30 mph after midnight. Chance of precipitation near100 percent."

Well they got the 100% precipitation right. It's pouring out there. It's close to the full moon. IF the temp drops...and IF the temp stays dropped, we'll see.

I'd rather see ice and snow than water, for a while anyway. Hope I wake up to a winter wonderland.

Spirits of Christmas Past

I just read 4 blogposts in a row about Christmases past. Looks like we're settling into that reminiscing part that defines Christmas in our noggins for our lives. Then I spied a "What's your family Christmas Tradition?" thread on the Guardian site:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2011/dec/07/family-christmas-traditions

And in the comments below saw this great story:

"My Mum gets pissed three times a year - her birthday, one wildcard and Christmas day.
Not being a prolific drinker it also means, for that day, the rest of the family imbibes her rather uncultured choice in booze - Asti Spumante, Cinzano or (if it's been a good year) Tia Maria.

"After declaring ''how much she enjoys seeing everyone together'', and then ''is it just me, or is this wine a bit strong'' and finally ''i like feeling like this'', she'll tire herself out roaring with laughter at whichever Wallace and Gromit is on, before passing out on the sofa halfway through attempting to pull a cracker by herself.

"I'll never get tired of it."

Which reminded me of my ol' Mum, Marge the Sarge, when I was a teenager. Mom was a teetotaler all year- except Christmas Day. And like the commenter above, we blind-eyed her bottle of  Asti Spumante, Bali Hai or Creme de Menthe. We drank more sophisticated stuff. And started way before dinner.

With the first glass she'd start singing and dancing around the house. By the second glass she was giggling at everything. By the third she was sentimental and weepy. And by the end of the fourth she'd be muttering about the mess in the kitchen while slowly climbing the stairs to "use the girl's" after which we didn't see her again til the next morning. But we'd hear her overhead wending her way down the hall to bed after a last, "Merrrry Christmas!" over the bannister as she passed the stairs.

There's a lot I'd give to live that sort of Christmas again. Because while Mom was getting tipsy, the rest of us were barbarians and she didn't care. That was the secret magic of Christmas.