Cyber Week...

...has come and gone...and so far, so good...

We're not counting our Christmas Chickens before they've hatched...

...but those Christmas chickens do sorta look like they have already hatched...and to be honest I've forgotten where I was going with this...so now might be a dandy time to create a distraction...

...and move on...

Here are a couple of earlier versions of the famous Tin Lizzie...the 1912s in particular caught my eye...

...the blue one is a Touring model and the red one is a Runabout with a pickup bed.

Which one do you like?  I think I'm partial to the blue Touring model.

However I won't be rushing out to buy one right away...Ol' Blue is for sale at the bargain basement price of $45,900.

Li'l Red?  Another 10 grand will make you the proud owner of...yep, $55,900.

Someday, mebbe...

In case you've been wondering...yes...it IS just about time to Panic...

...less than 2 weeks until the big day.

Have you put the tree up?

Finished decorating yet?

Gone gift shopping?  Wrapped them?

Sent out those Christmas cards you told yourself you'd do this year?

Christmas cards from the RetroChristmasCardCompany

Sang enough Christmas carols?

Drank the requisite amount of hot chocolate with peppermint candy canes?

Been kissed under the mistletoe by that special someone?

Let's face it, you're probably way behind in the Holly and Jolly department, but never fear...to cheer you up in your losing struggle, we now present the winning entry of our annual and world famous Christmas Poetry Contest! *

* winner was chosen at random from entries submitted by people who author a blog entitled Atomic Monster Cafe

Enjoy!  No, seriously...do it...

'Twas (less than) 2 Weeks Before Christmas...

...and every mouse,

had fled frozen fields

for the warmth of my house.

My wife found their droppings

and said “I'm not pleased,

to think that these varmints

are taking their ease

“inside my warm dwelling;

this outrage won't stand!

What will you do?”

Then I raised my hand...

“These mice, they are finished!

Kaput and kersplatz!

No way they'll survive,

for we have three cats!”

And then we beheld

our fat felines, all three:

Kitty,

and Zoey,

and the useless Smokey.

Disciples of Garfield,

were these pointless creatures,

with sleeping and eating

their dominant features.

No help would be coming

from those worthless saps,

so I scrounged all around

til I found an old trap.

And later that night,

before mice came a-creeping,

I set the cruel deadfall

then got busy sleeping.

So early next 'morn,

at dawn's early light,

I sprang from my bed
to find what I might.

But what did my wondering
eyes finally see,
but a clean, empty trap
and a note left for me:

"Thanks for the cheese,

but what would be better,

instead of old muenster,

could we have fresh cheddar?"

"And what's with this platter?"
my mousy pals asked.

"We might have been killed

if we hadn't been fast!"

'Twas then that I thought
of the great Robert Burns

and his famous lament
to a mouse that he turned

Out of warm hearth and home
as he plowed in his field.

Did I want to partake

in his life time of guilt?

The best laid plans
it is easy to see,

Gang aft agley

and I think you'll agree

There was nothing to do
but give them their cheddar.

After all, it was Christmas,

and what could be better

Than showing the love

God has for His swarm,

by letting them stay

inside where it's warm?

Then out went the trap
in the cold, winter, night;

we're quite overrun

but I guess it's alright.

So to quoth from St. Nick

on his annual flight,

Merry Christmas to all,

and to all a Good Night!

(original artwork by Diane Dempsey, RetroChristmasCardCompany)

We are officially at the terminus of this edition of the Atomic Monster Cafe...

...but I don't want to hear any whining...we already established you're way behind on your Christmas duties, so chop chop!

Get out there and get Merry!

later, mcm fans...

A Date...

...which will live in infamy...so spoke President Franklin D. Roosevelt to a joint session of Congress on December 8th, 1941.

And so it has down through the decades.

December 7th, 1941...Japan bombs Pearly Harbor, declaring war on both the United States and Great Britain.

Thus began 4 long, bloody years of war, defining a generation, its psyche and culture, and altering the course of history.

In 1945, if a 16 year old boy fooled the Army recruiter into letting him join, that "boy" turned 90 this year.

So the Greatest Generation has very nearly vanished from this earth.

If you're lucky enough to know one of them, count your blessings, care for them, and thank them for saving your world.

Searching for a segue...

My mcm aluminum Christmas tree was looking a bit under dressed with its bare feet showing...

...so I ordered a tree skirt from RetroLifeStyleCompany

Looks good, right?  But while I was admiring it, Ms. Grinch showed up and stole it!

I know it was her because she left these behind...

Found out she put the tree skirt under her tree!

Da noive!

What choice did I have?  Ordered another one for mine.

That's an American Flyer train, by the way...

Gotta love a train underneath the Christmas tree.

The Diva of Christmas Decorating continues her assault on Hare Manor, both inside...

...and out...

...there's little to be done other than shelter in place and wait it out...at least it hasn't been snowing when we're out there hauling boxes and standing on ladders.

Almost time for the dreaded Christmas Letter again...

...if you're on the naughty list, I apologize in advance...it's an annual compulsion I can't seem to shake.

If it helps, you should know I am in therapy...

...but he's getting a letter, too...

And that dear readers...

it's the thought that counts...

...is a wrap for this edition of the Atomic Monster Cafe.

As always we thank you for your time and only wish we could have monopolized more of it.

later, mcm fans...

Happy Thanksgiving...

...a day when we give thanks to God in heaven...just as the Pilgrims did in November of 1621 for His gracious provision and mercy.

For many, the day has become little more than a time for overeating, watching football, arguing with relatives and planning their assault on the bastions of retail the day following.

But the origin of the day is rooted in giving thanks to God, plain and simple.

And though many there be who deny it, this is an historical reality, the evidence of which is George Washington's original Thanksgiving proclamation written on October 3rd, 1789.

To wit:


By the President of the United States of America, a Proclamation.

Whereas it is the duty of all Nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey his will, to be grateful for his benefits, and humbly to implore his protection and favor-- 

and whereas both Houses of Congress have by their joint Committee requested me to recommend to the People of the United States a day of public thanksgiving and prayer to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many signal favors of Almighty God especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness.

Now therefore I do recommend and assign Thursday the 26th day of November next to be devoted by the People of these States to the service of that great and glorious Being, who is the beneficent Author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be--

That we may then all unite in rendering unto him our sincere and humble thanks--

for his kind care and protection of the People of this Country previous to their becoming a Nation--

for the signal and manifold mercies, and the favorable interpositions of his Providence which we experienced in the course and conclusion of the late war--

for the great degree of tranquility, union, and plenty, which we have since enjoyed--

for the peaceable and rational manner, in which we have been enabled to establish constitutions of government for our safety and happiness, and particularly the national One now lately instituted--

for the civil and religious liberty with which we are blessed; and the means we have of acquiring and diffusing useful knowledge; and in general for all the great and various favors which he hath been pleased to confer upon us.

And also that we may then unite in most humbly offering our prayers and supplications to the great Lord and Ruler of Nations and beseech him to pardon our national and other transgressions--

to enable us all, whether in public or private stations, to perform our several and relative duties properly and punctually--

to render our national government a blessing to all the people, by constantly being a Government of wise, just, and constitutional laws, discreetly and faithfully executed and obeyed--

to protect and guide all Sovereigns and Nations (especially such as have shewn kindness unto us) and to bless them with good government, peace, and concord--

To promote the knowledge and practice of true religion and virtue, and the encrease of science among them and us--

and generally to grant unto all Mankind such a degree of temporal prosperity as he alone knows to be best.

Given under my hand at the City of New York the third day of October in the year of our Lord 1789.

Go: Washington

So Happy Thanksgiving, y'all...hope it's a good one for you and yours.

My friend Larry is up north for Thanksgiving with his family, and also doing some deer hunting...and he sent me this pic of what he's seen so far:

...but the problem is he needs to put on his X-mas X-ray glasses...

...and then he'd see this:

...big difference, yes?

(note: do NOT shoot Yukon Cornelius)

And speaking of coming in for a landing...

...we've managed to negotiate another wildly successful edition of the Atomic Monster Cafe.

Hey, don't let the photographic evidence to the contrary fool you.

As Groucho Marx famously asked, who are you going to believe?  Me, or your own eyes?

later, mcm fans...

Welcome...

...Willow Jean...the first child of my grandson Marcellus and his wife Rileigh.

It's amazing when you think of it, but who could have guessed they'd have the world's most perfect baby?

Way to go, y'all!  Nailed it on the first attempt.

Besides being that rarest of our clan's offspring (i.e., a girl) she also has the honor of being the lightest at birth, weighing in at a diminutive 4 lbs and 12 ounces.

On the opposite end of that scale is my #4 son, Chris, who burst onto the scene 35 years ago at a whopping 12 lbs 2 ounces.  The nurse told us he was the only baby they'd delivered who arrived wearing a helmet and shoulder pads.

Willow also has the distinction of being my first great grandchild, something for which I may never forgive her.

I can't possibly be that old.

Welcome, Young One...may you enjoy God's love and kindness as you walk with Him along Life's challenging path.

This past week the leaves finally got busy doing their Fall duty...

beautiful colors right outside my workplace in GR

...and unfortunately that includes falling...

...all over my yard...

...anyone got a rake?

I recently purchased some Christmas cards online, and of course I bought them from the Retro Christmas Card Company, run by mid century modern connoisseurs Brent and Diane Dempsey.

Here are just a few of their cards...

...they have many, many more, all of them flush with mid century modern holiday charm.

Check them out, you'll be glad you did.

While I was on their website I looked at their blog, and they recently completed an uber cool upgrade to their beautiful mcm home:

They put in a gorgeous fireplace!

This was no small task, as you can see from their starting point:

Very cool project and very well done.

Apparently I spoke too soon about my last round of golf for this year...turns out it was no such thing as I was able to squeeze in another 9...

love the reflections in the water...and thankfully my gutta percha stayed out of the water this time...

...and I did ok...hit my mashie pretty well, putted with some proficiency...

...and didn't have to go swimming to retrieve any stray golf balls...

...though the course was still plenty wet.

Even managed to par the short par 3...

...as well as the short par 4...

...swatted a 40 yard niblick within 18 inches of the cup.

In spite of the crowds, TV cameras and all that money on the line, I steadied my nerves and stroked it in for par...a bona fide mi'racle*

* mi'racle   noun
  mir-a-cle, | \ my-ra-kul \

 1. contraction of minor and miracle; thus pronounced "my-ra-kul".
 2. a surprising but not supernatural occurrence, i.e., no laws of nature were broken during the production of this event.

e.g., miracle: me leaping over a tall building in a single bound.
        mi'racle: me carding a par on a short par 4

And who knows, at this rate I might even manage another round before the snow flies.

The big day is now less than a week away...

...and treat bag prep continues...

...I've got about 65 made and will probably make another 50 or so.

Considering the weather forecast of cold and possibly snow, we may not give them all away....but better safe than sorry.

Also need to work on putting batteries in various props as we prepare for "the walk of fear"...

It will be a little different this year...a couple more entries, a few adjustments...just hope the weather's not so bad that no one sees it.

Some parting shots on your way out the back door...

[What?  You think you can waltz in and out of the front door?  Cheeky...]

true dat

continuing with the theme...

...coffee lovers' autumn delights...

...signs, decor and clock in my favorite coffee shop, Joe-2-Go...

our 2 little fawns are growing up

#2 son Ryan down in Florida sent me a Romeo y Julieta cigar...

..."hecho en Cuba"...pretty good smoke...

All of us here at the Atomic Monster Cafe...

...would like to say "thank you" for stopping by, wiping your feet before  you came in and knowing enough not to overstay your welcome.

Now shoo...we've got important things to do...

later, mcm fans...