Atomic Monster Cafe: One Week To Go...

...and all through the land...people clamored to know, "O, when will it end?!"

"The answer's contained in the statement, my dear,

"Just 7 more days 'til Christmas is here!"

So hurry and watch those shows on TV!

The halls all need decking; you must trim the tree!

But somewhere amidst all the sparkle and shine,

The tumult and chaos that's stealing your time,

Take a moment or two for calm meditation;

Remember the Reason for this celebration.

The lights and the glitter are all well and good,

The ornaments, presents, songs and the food...

But when you consider the Grand Scheme of things,

They're really just heralds for our Newborn King.

So sing and be merry with those that you love,

But never forget God's gift from above.

With shepherds and Angels we echo it still,

"Glory to God, peace on earth and good will."

As the big day approaches we've been watching so many Christmas movies non-stop, they've all started to blend together...

We actually haven't watched any Christmas movies at all, not even The Bishop's Wife, which is one of our favorites.

Instead we've been pulled into mini-series like this one:

...a glossy mystery set in 1930's London about a black jazz group that briefly becomes the toast of high society.

It's very well acted with absolutely gorgeous art deco sets and lively original jazz numbers...

...but you can feel in your gut their brief entrée to the rarefied air of the silk stockings won't last.

This is after all the 1930's, the decade of fascism, and the elite's fascination with The Louis Lester Band...

...soon turns tragic.

When it does, the upper crust's true colors are fluttering in the breeze anon for all to see...

...as they hang the scapegoat out to dry, closing ranks to protect their own.

And while the story devolves into a not so puzzling "who dunnit", yet the strong acting and well formed relational underpinnings hold your interest 'til the final credits roll.

This one is worth a look, even though there's nary a Christmas tree nor Santa Claus parade anywhere in sight.

I've made reference to all the majestic oak trees we have around our home...

...and I love having them, not just for their grand beauty but also for the welcome shade they provide in the summer.

But they hold their leaves late into the fall season, and when they do finally drop we have a TON of leaves on our yard...way too many for Karen and I to get rid of by ourselves, so a local yard service brings in their mega-blowers...

...and after most of one day, voila! Clean yard.

They had just finished that task earlier this week, when yet another major wind storm blew through...

...with gusts up to 79 mph.

Considering a category 1 hurricane has winds of 74 mph, that's quite a blow.

Besides blowing Buster Keaton's umbrella away, it also blew every remaining leaf in the neighborhood into our yard...

All of those areas had been clear, but here we go again.

Heavy sigh...

I checked the local listings and guess what?

Instead of Lucy, Mod Squad or Sonny & Cher (with Jack Palance and Ed McMahon), it's time for a promenade through the parting shots department...