Atomic Monster Cafe: December 2023

Saturday, December 23, 2023

It's Christmas Eve...

...and all is calm....downright sedate in fact.

But years ago, 'twasn't so...

...five sons made sure of that.

We trimmed the tree...

...while carols played, admiring Christmas lights.

We read about St. Nick's big trip...

...around the world that night.

We marveled as three Christmas Ghosts...

...gave Scrooge an awful fright.

And cheered his reformation,

O what a joyful sight!

Then off to bed if not to sleep...

...not much rest sublime.

I'd do it all again tonight...

...could I travel back in time.

But time and tide, so Chaucer wrote,

...for no man tarry they.

And now my sons, once little boys,

...have grown and moved away.

It's true this night has changed a bit,

...much calmer than before.

But now - as then - we celebrate...

...the advent of our Lord.

In spite of a snow storm to kick off the week, there will be no white Christmas this year...

...temps in the 50's have returned and there's nary a snowflake in sight.

kinda going the wrong direction

That’s fine with me...I'll swing my hickories for a while, then most of our children (and their kids) will gather with us over the next couple of days.

Lord willing, a good time will be had by all.

One that won't be with us...

Ryan, 1981 - 2021

...is my 2nd son Ryan; he celebrates Christmas in heaven now.

I do so look forward to seeing him again, but for the time being that remains a pleasure denied.

Until the day of our happy reunion I soldier on, giving thanks to God in heaven for the gift of His Son and the chance to share another Christmas with loved ones here on earth.

I hope you do, too.

As Cole Porter opined musically so many years ago:

"You do

that voodoo

that you do

so's time to

23 Skidoo!"

(it's possible he may have tweaked the lyrics a bit on the <final version>)...

"For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not." [ Romans 7:18 ]

yes, he does have a water dish

"apple pie without some cheese is like a kiss without a squeeze"

apparently their mother never taught them it's impolite to stare

as Der Bingle crooned, may your days be merry and bright, and may all your Christmas verdicts be "not guilty"

without Christmas there would be no Easter, and without Easter "...we are of all men most miserable." [ I Corinthians 15:19 ]

lowered the flag due to 40mph wind gusts, but Santa and his team weathered the storm without issue

Francis Pharcellus Church just rolled over in his grave

As we close up shop at the Atomic Monster Cafe on this Christmas Eve, we leave you with our Christmas greetings:

Merry Christmas, mcm fans...

* Crass Commercialism Corner *

In the "so convenient you can't stand it" department, you can purchase my books on Amazon.com.

Get your paperback books here:

Papa's Model T: The Genesis

Papa's Model T: The Rescue

Papa's Model T: The Long Count

Papa's Model T: The Gray Ghost

Papa's Model T: The Tin Goose

Papa's Model T: The Amateur

Papa's Model T: The Dipper

Papa's Model T: The Bambino

Loved Of My Father

Red Train Christmas

TAT

Last Flight

A Stillwater Christmas

Crescent Moon Paradise

Time Slip Island

7 Fridays

Chrysalis

Born Out Of Due Time

Get your ebooks here:

Papa's Model T: The Genesis

Papa's Model T: The Rescue

Papa's Model T: The Long Count

Papa's Model T: The Gray Ghost

Papa's Model T: The Tin Goose

Papa's Model T: The Amateur

Papa's Model T: The Dipper

Papa's Model T: The Bambino

Loved Of My Father

Red Train Christmas

TAT

Last Flight

A Stillwater Christmas

Crescent Moon Paradise

Time Slip Island

7 Fridays

Chrysalis

Born Out Of Due Time

Sunday, December 17, 2023

This Is That...

...<time of the year>...or so sang Jack Jones about Christmas on this 1967 vinyl LP from Firestone.

Great album and great memories from my childhood, and of course I spin it regularly this time of year.

No, it's not the same one my folks had back then, but in keeping with the spirit of the boomer generation -

"When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I bought all my toys back on ebay."

(with apologies to the Apostle Paul, see I Corinthians 13:11,12 for the actual quote)

- I did just that: found it on ebay a few years ago and have been enjoying it -

- at Christmas (again) ever since.

And now, as a tip o' the hat to the inexorable forward march of time, let's do this:

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 always remember God's gift from above.

With shepherds and Angels we echo it still:

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

Our unseasonably mild weather continues, so you know what that means...

...I'm still whacking wiffle golf balls in my back yard, struggling to apply some of Moe Norman's "hit 'em straight" magic to my wayward swing.

And while it is a struggle, there are occasional glimpses of progress:

a recent session, practicing with my brassie...

...yielded this tight grouping of 4 in a row

Of course, I could include some pics where the little white balls are so far apart they don't even fit in a wide angle lens shot.

I'm never going to be a great golfer - you can't put in what God left out - but I can be a better golfer than I am now...it just takes patience and practice.