¡Prospero Año Nuevo A Todos!

Christmas Tales Of Padre's Family: Rashomon Kurisumasu: The Flaming Pudding Toss.

Today the Lovely Mona shares her award-winning version of the Tale of the Flaming Pudding Toss

Every Christmas, my mother-in-law Connie makes a killer rum pudding-cake. This has been a long tradition before I came into the family. The sweetness mixed with the rum is a taste to die for. It's so moist it almost melts in one's mouth while the taste buds become elated by the fabulous flavor. I have to admit, Connie knows what she's doing when it comes to cooking desserts.

Connie is short, has dark almost black hair, and is always immaculate and proper. She was a beauty in her youth and has become a handsome woman. She knows what's right and wrong and will say exactly what is on her mind. She also does everything the right way. She even had her children in the proper order; boy, girl, boy, girl. I had two girls with no intention of trying for a boy. I heard about that for several years until she finally decided I was serious about not getting pregnant again. She keeps her house so clean one can truly eat off the floor. As stern as she may sound, she has a great sense of humor and is fun to be with.

One year, we were gathered at Connie's sister's house in Santa Cruz, California for the big family Christmas bash. Aunt Sally had a lovely home in an upper middle-class neighborhood. The living room was lush with Christmas decorations. One end led to the well-kept backyard through a sliding glass door. Another door lead into the large blue and yellow kitchen that paralleled the living room.

My two daughters, Tara and Anne, were young--ages four and two, respectively. There were other young cousins for them to play with as well as lots of aunts and uncles. Everyone was dressed in their nicest festival outfits except for Sally's young adult sons. They typified the surfers one sees on television; tan, sun-bleached hair, muscular bodies, and good looking. Everyone is good looking in my husband's family. It's a requirement, per my mother-in-law. I was told when I was pregnant that my children had to be beautiful because anything less would be unacceptable. I'm sure she was half joking.

"Is there anything I can help you with?" I asked Connie and Sally as we were in the kitchen after we feasted on a delicious late afternoon lunch. They were finishing up cleaning the skink and drain board.

"Here," Connie said as she gave me the bottle of rum. "Open this, Mony dear. We're getting ready to serve the rum cake." Connie gave nicknames to everyone in the family.

I looked at the bottle. Eighty-proof alcohol seemed hight to me, but I know little about rum. "It's open," I informed her as I placed the bottle back on the round table next to the excellent looking rum cake. I couldn't wait to have some and had saved room for it.

"We want to make sure we have a nice flame this time," Connie explained to me pleasantly. I'm sure you remember how it fizzled out last year. We don't want that to happen again." I remembered how disappointed she was the year before when the flame kept going out.

I watched her pour the clear rum on the cake, drenching every pore. There was even some rum on the plate like a little moat surrounding a castle.

"That's not too much?" I asked.

"No, dear. It'll be fine." She was so knowledgeable and always knew what she was doing. I let it go as my attention turned toward Sally.

"Are we ready?" Sally inquired as she was just finishing cleaning the sink after putting the dirty dishes into the dishwasher. Like her older sister, everything was immaculate at all times, even at parties. "I can carry it in, Connie. Mona, go tell everyone the cake's coming."

Obediently, I walked through the kitchen door into the living room. "The rum cake is coming. Be ready!" I tried hard to make my small voice heard over the loud rumble of chatter. This family loves to talk whenever they get together. They are a high energy, loud, enjoyable people. They love to laugh, argue, and tease each other.

As we waited with anticipation for the delicious cake, Anne cuddled into my arms. We were all talking at once to each other when Connie announced in a lovely alto singsong, "Here comes the flaming pudding."

We happily faced the kitchen door as Sally carefully walked in with the famous flaming pudding-cake, parading through the living room toward the antique coffee table in front of the couch. Our faced changed from joy into horror when we saw the blue flames dancing not only above the whole cake, but also on the plate which Sally was trying to carry.

"Sally, be careful," someone said with a lot of concern in her voice.

"Put it dow, quickly on the table," someone else suggested urgently.

"It's going to burn your fingers, Sally, put it down!" exclaimed another.

We could see that her fingers were getting burned as the cascade of blue flame started falling from the plate, when she suddenly let go. The pudding fell to the floor, rolling a little, catching the carpet on fire where it landed. The extra rum spilled everywhere and flames were scattered about the floor. We all jumped up to stomp out the flames on the carpet as they began to spread. Sally's husband kicked the cake like he would a soccer ball into the kitchen, scorching the pale yellow linoleum as it rolled across the floor. Connie rushed into the kitchen, picked up the flaming pudding and dropped it into the freshly cleaned sink. She was like Wonder Woman in action.

Meanwhile, in the living room, Anne was screeching in my arms as I was trying to stomp out the flames closest to me. I suddenly thought of Tara and searched the room for her while stomping out fire. She was outside standing in the middle of the lawn, peering through the opened sliding glass doors. Her fingers were at her mouth and I could tell she was afraid. Right then, as I quickly glanced around the room, I decided to let the rest of the family take care of the fire and I would protect my children.

I ran outside to calm Anne and Tara while telling them that everything was going to be all right. It occurred to me that the fire could have an emotional impact on them, especially Anne since the flames were under my feet as she was in my arms. I knelt next to the girls and talked to them soothingly as we watched the chaos inside.

Everyone was stomping on the fire trying to keep it from spreading. It was total mayhem as they were trying to save the house. They were all stomping as if their lives depended on it. Sally's husband finally brought out the fire extinguisher and sprayed the foam on the flames, putting most of them out. I watched my husband Michael stomping out the last of the flames and it was safe to enter the house again.

We were abuzz with what happened. As we recovered from the shock of nearly losing the house, we viewed the damage. There was now a large burned section on the once beautiful sea-green carpet. The yellow kitchen floor had a long straight, black dotted uneven line where the pudding had rolled. The smell of the burned carpet lingered in the air. No furniture was damaged.

I went into the kitchen to look at the cake in the sink. It wasn't burned at all from the fire. Anne, still with fear on her sweet face, was still holding me tightly around the neck.

"We were all looking forward to eating that. At least there're other deserts," I commented to Connie.

"I'm serving it anyway. Hand me that knife over there on the counter," she declared with a grin and a spark of laughter in her voice.

I gave her the knife and with one hand brought her the dessert plates. I put Anne back on the floor assuring her that she was all right and she could go see her daddy. She wobbled into the living room where the rest of the family was gathered.

"Rum cake, anyone?" I asked smiling as if nothing happened to it while I handed out plates of the pudding with a fork. I had some takers, but not everyone.

"You must be joking. I'm not touching that," Michael told me, "especially not after it's been kicked across the floor."

"Your mother cleaned it off in the sink. It's fine. Besides, there's enough rum and sugar in it to kill any germs," I retorted as I ate my piece. It was delicious. All that extra rum in it made it the best i had ever eaten.

"We have insurance and I was planning to get a new carpet and redo the kitchen anyway. This is really quite lucky, Sally told us smiling. Her attitude amazed me.

The rest of the afternoon went on without any more problems. That party became legendary in our family as "The Flaming Pudding Toss Christmas Party."

Tomorrow: Tara Mobley, mother of the World's Most Beautiful Granchile™, relates the tale from the view of a child

Tuesday Miss Bebé, The World's Most Beautiful Granchile™ Blogging: Krispen Edition

It was a Thomas The Tank Engine Krispen for Miss Bebé. She loves her dat Thomas.


She also got a red wagon, yay!!! Now she can earn her keep, dragging the groceries home from the Supermercado!


Berkeley Babies drink hot cocoa from their wagons, cuz it's cool!

Christmas Tales Of Padre's Family: Rashomon Kurisumasu: The Flaming Pudding Toss.

For the next three days, three different versions of the Tale of the Flaming Pudding Toss (an actual event) will be posted. We start with Padre's version:

Sit down, my child, and Padre will tell you the story of the Flaming Pudding Toss.

Once upon a time, long ago, probably around 1982, the family all gathered for Christmas at Aunt Sally's place in the Santa Cruz Mountains. Not the last place she lived in, and not the place in Scotts Valley; the OTHER place. Yes, it was a kinda suburban track home.

Now, Padre's mother is a bit of an Anglophile. Well, she's into her Celtic heritage, too. She be a white woman. And while Padre is more proud of his Shoshone and Lakota heritage, he loves him dem Celts, también. But Gramma Connie is into that English-Irish-Scottish stuff. She was REALLY into it back then in the 80's.

As I said, the Johnson side of the family had all gathered at Aunt Sally's for Krispen, as Aunt Sally herself called Christmas when she was a little, tiny girl, and, in the family tradition, was never allowed to forget it. Aunt Sally and Uncle, er, what was his name? Cripes, I can't remember! Well, heck, he ain't my uncle now; John is my uncle! Although I still consider Former Uncle Nameless' kids as my cousins, cuz they were cool. Well, let's see, Aunt Manny and Uncle Kenny were there, Aunt Cella and Uncle Steve, cousins Matty and Josh, and Chandra and Andy. Oh yeah, and Great-gramma Johnson. Uncle Sammy and cousin Heathery-poo were there. I think that was everyone. Aunty Margie and Uncle Wes may have been there, which would mean cousins Marky and Kenny would be there, too, but it's been a long time and Padre's memory is fading, unless he's thinking about the theological issues of the fourth century. Oh yeah, he's GREAT with that stuff but can't remember who was at Christmas in 1982. Sheesh! And, of course, Padre, the Lovely Mona, and little Tara and Anne were there, too.


We had a wonderful meal; lots of good food, and the children opened presents, and oh, what a wonderful Christmas it was! Gramma Connie had prepared a lovely Plum Pudding (Gramma Connie can bake like nobody's bizness!). And, as is normal with any foody and creative cook, she wanted the presentation To Be Perfect (we were all unaware of Martha Stewart, and quite happy about it, I might add!). Grampa Jim splashed some clear rum on the pudding. Gramma Connie splashed some clear rum on the pudding. Aunt Sally splashed some clear rum on the plum pudding. I don't think any of them had discussed this rum-splashing with the others. Then, Gramma Connie artistically placed the holly on the pudding, Grampa Jim lit the rum, and, with it all flaming, our hostess, Aunt Sally, slowly walked into the living room carrying the pudding-laden platter into the living room while we all sang, Now bring us some figgy pudding, now bring us some figgy pudding, now bring us some . . .OH MY GOD!!!! Flaming rum was dripping off of the platter and onto the shag carpeting, onto the over-stuffed furniture, and bursting into little fires! The adults screamed, the babies wailed, and, Aunt Sally, trying to balance the entire flaming mess, suddenly poured the pudding onto the carpet, where it burst into even higher flames!! Grampa Jim, being composed and cool as always, kicked the flaming pudding from the living room back into the kitchen, from which this hellish dessert had first emerged! It skidded across the carpet, leaving a flaming trail, then across the kitchen floor, smashing into the wallboard at the sink. Those of us in the living room were stamping out fires and comforting weeping children, whilst laughing hysterically. Then, as she is wont to do, Gramma Connie went into the kitchen, picked up the pudding, which was no longer flaming, put it under the faucet, patted it dry with paper towels, then, replacing it on the platter, brought it out and said, "Who wants plum pudding?" Many passed on dessert that year.

And that, my child, is the tale of the Flaming Pudding Toss, which has been told every year ever since that fatal Krispen.

Tomorrow: the Lovely Mona's version

Ayer en Parroquia San Cristóbal

Yesterday, at the 7:30am service, our Choirs performed the Cantata Everlasting Lord. The cantata took the place of the sermon, which is fine with me! I didn't get away unscathed, however; I was the narrator, so I was still up in the pulpit, just not saying anything I wrote.

The cantata was well received because the choirs did a great job! Our director and organist, Profesor Reynaldo Taylor worked with the adult choir and the Lovely Mona and Padre worked with the Coro de los Jóvenes and they didn't rehearse together until last week. The cantata was in English, so the Lovely Mona concentrated on helping the kids sing in English and they did very well.

At the offertory, Miss Sadie Taylor, daughter of el Profesor, sang Oh Holy Night. Everyone loved it so much that she received a standing ovation. Well, that's just not done at the offertory, is it? Thank God we're not in los Estados Unidos! Then we moved on to the Holy Eucharist, as one would expect. All in all, another one of those St. Christopher's high-energy, joyous Choral Eucharists.

Photographic evidence follows.
Photos of the cantata were taken by Miss Sadie Taylor, and the Lovely Mona took the other photos, as usual

Profesor Reynaldo Taylor directing

El Coro de Jóvenes joins in for a few numbers


The Narrator. He looks kinda grumpy, doesn't he? I think he's reading "And Joseph said unto the shepherds, "Get that kid with the drum outta here! The baby's trying to sleep!!"




Miss Sadie Taylor singing Oh Holy Night


Another smokey procession!

Mr. Vincent Smikle, who turned 90 years old the day before

Coffee Hour photos

It's An Engrish Krimble!

Since I am a Rabble-Rouser and I think it is very important, AND since there have been only about ten people reading this blog for the past week (and all ten are the Coolest People On The Planet), I figured I'd post these


This whiskey is nasty!


I think the whiskey may have had something to do with this Christmas expression

Happy Birthday, Matty Boy!

It's Matty Boy's birthday, and all the animals get to wear hats!
I can't remember how old he is today, but I'm sure it's pretty old, 'cuz he's younger than I, and I'm really, really old.
¡Feliz Cumpliaños, Matty Boy!
Go over to Lotsa 'Splainin' and tell to him "Hippy Birfdei on you!"

Feast of John, Apostle and Evangelist

John, son of Zebedee and Salome and younger brother of James, grew up along the shores of the sea of Galilee. Both John and James were followers of John the Baptizer, and John and Andrew were present when John the Baptizer saw Jesus and said, “Behold the Lamb of God!” John was probably one of the earliest disciples of Jesus. Jesus called John and James “Boanerges” which means “Sons of Thunder” and they, along with Peter, where in the Inner Circle of the disciples. These three were blessed with the experience of seeing Jesus transfigured and talking with Moses and Elijah. When the women returned to tell the disciples of the empty tomb, both Peter and John ran to check out their story and John reached the empty tomb first. It was John who recognized the Resurrected Jesus sitting on the beach when they were fishing. According to the gospel attributed to John, Jesus gave the care of his mother, the Blessed Virgin Mary, to John as they stood at the foot of the cross. It was either James and John or their mother who asked Jesus if they could sit at his right and left when he entered his kingdom. We have no idea if they sit on either side of Jesus, but we do know that they shared the same cup as Jesus, the cup of persecution. James died the death of a martyr, but although John died in Ephesus at a very advanced age, he did suffer persecution. Tertullian and Jerome claim that during the persecution of Domatian, John was dipped in a cauldron of boiling oil outside the Latin Gate of the city of Rome. He was unharmed and was exiled to the island of Patmos to work in the mines. It was there that he received the vision which he wrote down and is named the Apocalypse of John the Divine, or the Book of Revelation.

John was the most prolific writer of the Twelve who followed Jesus; only the Apostle Paul left us more writings. John has a gospel attributed to him, the vision of the Apocalypse is attributed to him, and three letters to the Church in Ephesus are attributed to him. According to bishop Eusebius of Cesarea, the fourth century historian, John wrote his gospel because the other three gospels did not deal with the deeds of Jesus at the beginning of his ministry. Eusebius said that John’s gospel was accepted by the Church from the earliest days, as well as the first epistle attributed to him, but that the other two epistles are not accepted by everyone. There was still disagreement as to whether the Apocalypse should be accepted as scripture in the fourth century; Eusebius writes: “In regard to the Apocalypse, the opinions of most men are still divided.” As I mentioned earlier, John moved to Ephesus upon his release from Patmos, and he became a very important part of the Church in Asia. St. Jerome writes that towards the end of John’s life in Ephesus, he was so weak that he could no longer preach or even stand. His young disciples would carry him into the church and, with great difficulty, the Apostle would say: "My dear children, love one another." Some of those in the congregation once asked him why he always said the same thing, why he repeated the same words, and the Apostle answered, "Because it is the precept of the Lord, and if you comply with it, you do enough " He finally died in peace in Ephesus, at about ninety-four years of age. As far as we know, John is the only one of the Apostles who died of old age rather than receiving the crown of martyrdom.

I want to finish by relating a story about the Apostle which Eusebius credits to Clement of Alexandria. This story gives us great insight into the nature of John: "Listen to a tale, which is not a mere tale, but a narrative concerning John the apostle, which has been handed down and treasured up in memory. For when, after the tyrant's death, he returned from the isle of Patmos to Ephesus, he went away upon their invitation to the neighboring territories of the Gentiles, to appoint bishops in some places, in other places to set in order whole churches, elsewhere to choose to the ministry some one of those that were pointed out by the Spirit. When he had come to one of the cities not far away, and had consoled the brethren in other matters, he finally turned to the bishop that had been appointed, and seeing a youth of powerful physique, of pleasing appearance, and of ardent temperament, he said, 'This one I commit to thee in all earnestness in the presence of the Church and with Christ as witness.' And when the bishop had accepted the Charge and had promised all, he repeated the same injunction with an appeal to the same witnesses, and then departed for Ephesus. But the presbyter, taking home the youth committed to him, reared, kept, cherished, and finally baptized him. After this he relaxed his stricter care and watchfulness, with the idea that in putting upon him the seal of the Lord he had given him a perfect protection. But some youths of his own age, idle and dissolute, and accustomed to evil practices, corrupted him when he was thus prematurely freed from restraint. At first they enticed him by costly entertainments; then, when they went forth at night for robbery, they took him with them, and finally they demanded that he should unite with them in some greater crime. He gradually became accustomed to such practices, and on account of the positiveness of his character, leaving the right path, and taking the bit in his teeth like a hard-mouthed and powerful horse, he rushed the more violently down into the depths. And finally despairing of salvation in God, he no longer meditated what was insignificant, but having committed some great crime, since he was now lost once for all, he expected to suffer a like fate with the rest. Taking them, therefore, and forming a band of robbers, he became a bold bandit-chief, the most violent, most bloody, most cruel of them all. Time passed, and some necessity having arisen, they sent for John. But he, when he had set in order the other matters on account of which he had come, said, 'Come, O bishop, restore us the deposit which both I and Christ committed to thee, the church, over which thou presidest, being witness. But the bishop was at first confounded, thinking that he was falsely charged in regard to money which he had not received, and he could neither believe the accusation respecting what he had not, nor could he disbelieve John. But when he said, 'I demand the young man and the soul of the brother,' the old man, groaning deeply and at the same time bursting into tears, said, 'He is dead.' 'How and what kind of death?' 'He is dead to God,' he said; 'for he turned wicked and abandoned, and at last a robber. And now, instead of the church, he haunts the mountain with a band like himself.' But the Apostle rent his clothes, and beating his head with great lamentation, he said, 'A fine guard I left for a brother's soul! But let a horse be brought me, and let some one show me the way.' He rode away from the church just as he was, and coming to the place, he was taken prisoner by the robbers' outpost. He, however, neither fled nor made entreaty, but cried out, 'For this did I come; lead me to your captain.' The latter, meanwhile, was waiting, armed as he was. But when he recognized John approaching, he turned in shame to flee. But John, forgetting his age, pursued him with all his might, crying out, 'Why, my son, dost thou flee from me, thine own father, unarmed, aged? Pity me, my son; fear not; thou hast still hope of life. I will give account to Christ for thee. If need be, I will willingly endure thy death as the Lord suffered death for us. For thee will I give up my life. Stand, believe; Christ hath sent me.' And he, when he heard, first stopped and looked down; then he threw away his arms, and then trembled and wept bitterly. And when the old man approached, he embraced him, making confession with lamentations as he! was able, baptizing himself a second time with tears, and concealing only his right hand, But John, pledging himself, and assuring him on oath that he would find forgiveness with the Saviour, besought him, fell upon his knees, kissed his right hand itself as if now purified by repentance, and led him back to the church. And making intercession for him with copious prayers, and struggling together with him in continual fastings, and subduing his mind by various utterances, he did not depart, as they say, until he had restored him to the church, furnishing a great example of true repentance and a great proof of regeneration, a trophy of a visible resurrection."

John is also called the Apostle of Charity, a virtue which is very much on our minds at this time of year. I will leave you with these words from John’s first epistle, which remind us why we remember him today:"Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the parent loves the child. By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments. For the love of God is this, that we obey his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome, for whatever is born of God conquers the world. And this is the victory that conquers the world, our faith. Who is it that conquers the world but the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?"

Shed upon your Church, O Lord, the brightness of your light, that we, being illumined by the teaching of your apostle and evangelist John, may so walk in the light of your truth, that at length we may attain to the fullness of eternal life; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Friday Red Mr. Peanut Bank and Gallito Mescalito Blogging: A Holiday Tradition Part III

Red Mr. Peanut Bank Well, Bunrab, tonight's the night! Are you ready?
Bunrab, the Filthiest Toy in the House As ready as I can be. The rehearsals went much better than expected, and they've decided not to use wires on the angels, gracias a Dios! Are you ready to be the Narrator?
Red Mr. Peanut Bank Of course! I love being Narrator.


Mr. Chompy's Chewed-up Squeaky Kitty Toy Well, the sleeves are okay, but I'm having trouble holdin' dis stick ting.
¡El Toro! ¿Parecer una oveja? ¿Esta traje engañar a nadie?
Red Mr. Peanut Bank Hello Santa, hello Mr. Chompy's Chewed-up Kitty Toy, hola ¡El Toro! Are you about ready?
Santa Yes, it's show time! All the costumes are fabulous and our cast are ALL STARS!!!
Red Mr. Peanut Bank Well, good, because these two are on first.

Santa No problem!! Kitty, you are a beautiful shepherd, and all the sheep will follow you anywhere!
Mr. Chompy's Chewed-up Squeaky Kitty Toy Tanks, Santa! Yer not too bad yerself! I gotta get to da stage.
Santa And you! YOU! You are the wooliest little lamb I've ever seen! Yes you are! Yes you are!!
¡El Toro! ¡POR faVOR!


Red Mr. Peanut Bank Welcome to Padre Mickey's Dance Party's Christmas Pageant! We hope that you enjoy all the hard work our cast has put into this production.
Bunrab, the Filthiest Toy in the House, whispering Psst! Don't forget las celulares!
Red Mr. Peanut Bank Oh, yes! Please turn off your cell phones and pagers, or put them on vibrate. Also, this pageant is for entertainment purposes only. Please, no wagering! And now, our pageant.


Red Mr. Peanut Bank, off camera In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flocks by night.
Mr. Chompy's Chewed-up Squeaky Kitty Toy, whispering No you stand dere, and you, you go ovah dere. An you, jest stan' still!
Ahem, Oh, what a beautiful, quiet nite. I suppose dat nuttin' 'citin' will happen tuhnite.
¡El Toro! Baa. Baa.
Squeaky Gorilla Baa skeek Baa

Red Mr. Peanut Bank, off camera Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.
Mr. Chompy's Chewed-up Squeaky Kitty Toy Wut da ...
¡El Toro! BAA!! BAA!!
Squeaky Gorilla BAA! skeek BAA!!
Guatemalan Apocalyptic Angel Yikes! What is that in the sky?

Red Mr. Peanut Bank, off camera But the angel said to them
Wooden Kuna Doll Do not be afraid; for see----I am bringin' you good news of great joy for all de peoples: to you is born this day in the city of David (pero not in Chriqui, el otro ciudad David) a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord.

Wooden Kuna Doll This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger.
Telly Tubbies Ina manger! Ina manger! Da Messiah! Da Messiah!


Red Mr. Peanut Bank, off camera And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying
The Heavenly Host Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace among those whom he favors!


Mr. Chompy's Chewed-up Squeaky Kitty Toy Whoa!!
¡El Toro! BAA!! BAA!!
Squeaky Gorilla BAA! skeek BAA!!
Guatemalan Apocalyptic Angel Wow! They're really good!


Red Mr. Peanut Bank, off camera When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another
Mr. Chompy's Chewed-up Squeaky Kitty Toy Hey! Let us go now tuh Betlehem and see dis ting what takes place, which da Lowd maked known tuh us!
Guatemalan Apocalyptic Angel Sounds good to me! Plus, it's cold out here.
¡El Toro! Baa. Baa.
Squeaky Gorilla Baa skeek Baa
Guatemalan Apocalyptic Angel What is that noise?
Mr. Chompy's Chewed-up Squeaky Kitty Toy Don' ask!


Red Mr. Peanut Bank, off camera So they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the child lying in the manger.
Gallito Mescalito Shrie Miss Egyptian Hippo of Love SHUSH! Not now!

Red Mr. Peanut Bank, off camera When they saw this, they made known what had been told them about this child
Mr. Chompy's Chewed-up Squeaky Kitty Toy No! Really! Dere wuz angels an' everting!
¡El Toro! Baa. Baa.
Squeaky Gorilla Baa skeek Baa
Guatemalan Apocalyptic Angel No, it's true! I saw it with my own eyes, and let me tell you, I know all about angels!


Red Mr. Peanut Bank, off camera And all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them.
Farm animals Yeah, that's some story! Angels, ya say?
The Mighty Moose of Vermont Mooooose. Mooooooose. I am a cow! Mooooose.

Red Mr. Peanut Bank, off camera But Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.


El Penguino Is this thing over yet? 'Cuz I'm sweatin ta def in this bankie!!!

Red Mr. Peanut Bank Please give our cast a round of applause!


Red Mr. Peanut Bank That ends our program for the evening. There is chicha, sorril, and empanadas in the lobby. Merry Christmas, and Good night!
Miss Egyptian Hippo of Love Okay, now!
Gallito Mescalito ¡¡¡SSSSHHHHHRRRRRIIIIIIIIEEEEEEEEEKKKKK!!!

Friday Random Top Ten: Regular Edition

Ya pushes "shuffle" and ya takes yer chances. . .

1. After All David Bowie
2. Soul Love David Bowie
3. Feelin' Groovy Simon and Garfunkel
4. Working Undercover For The Man They Might Be Giants
5. Missa Assumpta Est Maria (Palestrina) The Tallis Scholars
6. El Mensaje Los Fabulosos Festivals
7. There She Goes Again The Velvet Underground
8. Margaret Madder Rose
9. Innocent When You Dream (Barroom) Tom Waits
10. By The Wayside A Cruel Hoax

So I thought I try without the Krispen stuff, and I gits double Bowie! One song by Simon and Garfunkel is enough for me, as well as with TMBG right now. I'm always happy to hear some Palestrina. El Mensaje is some Panamanian Funk from 1972; it's sung in English. You can't go wrong with either The Velvet Underground or Madder Rose, and the Tom Waits cut has always been one of my favorites. The Cruel Hoax number is something I wrote based on an annoying phrase that Travis and Lexie sang all the way to San Francisco one night for a gig. They just kept singing, "By the wayside, where the dead people go!" over and over and over and over and so I wrote this song. No, it's not on YouTube and only Very Special People own copies of it. Well, it IS on the Compilation album San Jose Is Ground Zero; We're Number ! but it may be hard to find copies of said vinyl recording, and I'd have to find everyone involved to re-release it.

Watcha listenin' to? Tell me about it in the Comments.