When you get a second please update your link for this blog. The new address is http://kusleika.com/breakfast/
I still have some work to do…but thankfully the hard part is done.
We are moving this blog from WordPress.com to HostGator.com. Should be up and running as normal on 12-29.
Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house.
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,
in hopes that St Nicholas soon would be there.
The children were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads.
And mamma in her ‘kerchief, and I in my cap,
Had just settled our brains for a long winter’s nap.
When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.
Away to the window I flew like a flash,
Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.
The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow
Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below.
When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But a miniature sleigh, and eight tinny reindeer.
With a little old driver, so lively and quick,
I knew in a moment it must be St Nick.
More rapid than eagles his coursers they came,
And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name!
“Now Dasher! now, Dancer! now, Prancer and Vixen!
On, Comet! On, Cupid! on, on Donner and Blitzen!
To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall!
Now dash away! Dash away! Dash away all!”
As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,
When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky.
So up to the house-top the coursers they flew,
With the sleigh full of Toys, and St Nicholas too.
And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof
The prancing and pawing of each little hoof.
As I drew in my head, and was turning around,
Down the chimney St Nicholas came with a bound.
He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot,
And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot.
A bundle of Toys he had flung on his back,
And he looked like a peddler, just opening his pack.
His eyes-how they twinkled! his dimples how merry!
His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!
His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,
And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow.
The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,
And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath.
He had a broad face and a little round belly,
That shook when he laughed, like a bowlful of jelly!
He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,
And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself!
A wink of his eye and a twist of his head,
Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread.
He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,
And filled all the stockings, then turned with a jerk.
And laying his finger aside of his nose,
And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose!
He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,
And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.
But I heard him exclaim, ‘ere he drove out of sight,
“Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good-night!”
By Clement Clarke Moore 1822
For those of you that love eggnog!
From Bacon Bits, eight rules for buying gifts for that special lady. For example:
Rule 2: NO Pajamas or Clothing.
I don’t know what makes men think that women want pajamas as a gift. The last thing your woman wants to hold up on Christmas is an extra large “Little House on the Prairie” night gown. The message you’re sending is “Here honey…you look tired”. Pajamas look like an easy gift idea, but they’re bad news.
If you’re not nodding in agreement after reading Rule #8, then you just haven’t been straight very long.
Nancy likes to post cartoons, most of which are pretty funny. If you think this cartoon is funny, then you are truly a nerd.
Are you laughing yet? If so, go read What’s your favorite programmer cartoon at stackoverflow.com.
Christmas is just a couple day’s away and I am singing the blues.
It has been 7 years, 8 months and 2 days since my older brother Fabian past away. He died suddenly. He discovered he had a brain tumor on Thursday had surgery on Saturday and passed on Sunday. Even with all the time that has gone by, I still miss him. There isn’t a day that goes by that I don’t think of him and some day’s I think of him more than others. This holiday season has me thinking of him often. It’s strange, I could be washing the dishes, driving down the street or walking up an aisle in the grocery store and he just comes to mind. It’s not anything I see or do that makes me think of him, he just pops into my head. Some day’s the thoughts make me smile and some day’s the thoughts make me sad. The thought that haunts me the most is the thought that I have out lived my oldest sibling. He past when he was 39, I am now 40.
It’s difficult to talk to people about the loss for several reasons.
- Some people have been lucky enough to never have to experience such a tragedy.
- Talking about him brings up to many emotions and regrets for me.
- It has been 7 years.
Every now and again I will know someone who has lost a loved one and it hurts to empathize. The situation breaks my heart. It’s like re-opening a wound that just will not heal right. I want to be able to show my sympathy, but I can’t because the flood gates will open and all hell will break loose. It is so much easier for me to avoid the situation all together. I’ll look at the scar and move one. I’m such a coward! (I know 
)
I personally believe that it is easier to accept a person’s death when they are older and it’s expected. But when they are in the prime of their life and then they are gone? It is tough to get a handle on it, I’m not sure I ever will. There have been many, many times I have thought of what I could have done, what I should have done and it just makes me sad. I have one too many regrets and there is nothing I can do about it except do my best not to have any regrets with the others I love in my life.
This past Sunday we had our family Christmas at Dick’s mom’s house.
Grandma Vera, doesn’t she look great?
Charlie and Mathew playing the guitar. I was truly impressed with both of them.
Here is Andrew giving the guitar a try.
Here is Grandma Vera with her great grandkids.
Grandma Bonnie has tons of squirrels in her yard. They kept coming to the window, it appeared as if they wanted to see what in the heck all the ruckus was. I decided to feed these guys some almonds and peanut brittle. They loved the peanut brittle.
Geni is a pretty cool web application for creating a family tree. It’s very easy to add nodes and you don’t have to know anything but the person’s name. Here’s mine from a distance
And a little closer
I can share mine with other people and they can add to it and change it.
What is your favorite Christmas song?
Mine is Little Drummer Boy.
When I was at the Denver Airport back in November I saw a sign similar to this one.
It reminded me of a bathroom I recently visited. Where if I had known people actually squatted like that I might have done it.
A few weeks ago Andrew had his football party at the Amazing Pizza Machine. Dick and I were not going to wait around while Andrew played games for a couple hours. While he played games we went to this shit hole of a bar that was on the same strip mall as the pizza place. I don’t recall what the name of the bar was, but I think it was the Pheasant. Dick and I were just sitting having a few drinks and out of no where…wham! I really, really had to go pee…I had to break the seal. And you know what happens once you break the seal…..you gotta go every five minutes.
I went to the bathroom and the very first thing I noticed was the stench…it smelled like pee and vomit. Trust me it was nasty. I thought about turning around and walking out….except for the fact that I really, really had to pee. I bit the bullet, held my breath and went into the furthest stall, I shut the door and did my thing, all the while making sure not to touch the seat with any part of my body. Come to think of it I am surprised they had toilet paper.
When I was done doing my thing, I went to wash my hands and let me tell you I was scared. I was turning red from holding my breath for so long. I needed to breath, I covered my mouth with my shirt and exhaled. The next thing I noticed was the sink, it looked like it hadn’t been cleaned in months. There was hair in the sink, water stains on the vanity, and the faucet and knobs where white with hard water stains. It was gross! Luckly there was also papper towels, but no soap, go figure.
