The Lower 48 (Plus 2)

Memorial Day, 2014: Taps for the Fallen

2014-05-26T00:00:00.000-04:00

God Bless America.

R I P Heroes.

Honoring America's Heroes - July 4, 1776 - Present

It's Vacation Time! Explore America From Sea to Shining Sea!

2013-06-02T12:09:00.002-04:00

It's already June meaning it's vacation time!

The Fruited Plain

While our attention may be focused on warmer weather and all the grand activities that accompany it (gardening, camping, fishing), we should also remember that vacation time for tens of millions of Americans is also rapidly approaching.

The United States is a glorious land with so much to see that it can be a daunting task to figure out just where the heck we want to spend our vacation.

I am here to help you in making that very difficult decision.

Each state of the Union, except Washington State, offers for free an Official State Travel Guide that showcases that state's natural beauty, history, events and points of interest. Most, if not all, of the guides also come with brochures that have information on food and lodging as well. Each site also offers one (or several) free email notifications about upcoming events and travel specials.

The price is right (FREE!) and the information invaluable, so click here and order the state travel guide of your choice.

You can now book your vacation trip on The Lower 48 (Plus 2)! Simply click on the ad images for Hotels.com at the top of the page or Expedia in the right side bar. It's that easy!

From sea to shining sea, the Lower 48 (Plus 2) await you!

A Tribute to America's Heroes: Memorial Day, 2013

2013-05-27T00:00:00.001-04:00

God Bless America.

R I P Heroes.

Honoring America's Heroes - July 4, 1776 - Present

How You Can Help the Victims and Live Coverage of the Oklahoma Tornado Recovery

2013-05-22T12:54:00.002-04:00

Americans are stunned by the horrific damage and deeply saddened by the loss of life caused by the EF-5 tornado (the strongest tornado classification) that leveled hundreds of homes and killed at least 51, including ten children and two infants, in the Greater Oklahoma City area this past Monday, May 20.

Where There Once Were Homes

You can find continuing live coverage of recovery efforts in the affected area here.

A Facebook Page has been set up so that people in OKC can let friends and relatives know that they're safe or can ask for assistance in locating others.

WTSP has created a page that list the agencies where you can make a donation to help out the victims of this disaster. The list includes the American Red Cross and the Salvation Army.

Today, we are all Okies and as such, we will band together to help those in need and comfort those in sorrow. It's the Oklahoma Way.

May God bless and console the people of Oklahoma City, Moore and all locations devastated by this monster storm.

The Podunk Poets - The Unofficial Official Band of The Lower 48 (Plus 2)!

2013-03-27T10:37:00.000-04:00

Country Music. The Official Music of The Lower 48 (Plus 2)!

I mean real Country Music - Merle Haggard, George Jones and Loretta Lynn. That kind of Country Music.

Not long ago I was introduced to a band, in Los Angeles of all places(!), that plays exactly that kind of Country.

Introducing The Podunk Poets: Cindy Jollotta & Kelly Kidd - Vocals, Patrick Generosa - Drums, Doug Carrion - Bass, Jake Kelly - Guitar

And a 1 and a 2 and a 3....!!!

Now that's Country!

I became familiar with the Podunk Poets through one of the band members, Cindy Jollotta. I have known Cindy for about six years, although I have only seen her in person two or three times. Cindy is my wife's cousin and I was made aware of her (Cindy's) music through my wife. When Heather, my wife, told me that Cindy was a singer, I thought, "Yeah sure, so what?". Then I heard Cindy sing. Holy smokes!

Cindy does this thing called Bedhead Theater. She explained it to me in an email, "Bedhead Theater is something I started doing last year to keep me playing the piano every day. Basically, I wake up, immediately come downstairs, and play a song. So, often I look ridiculous and my voice is raspy, but that is sort of the fun of it."

Bedhead Theater

You take an angelic voice like Cindy's and pair it up with the dulcet tones of Kelly Kidd, throw in some extraordinary musicians like Patrick, Jake and Doug and you've got a recipe for greatness.

More Podunk Poets!

The Podunk Poets are all over the internet, so contacting them to book a gig or perhaps order some Podunk Poets swag, is as close as the click of a mouse!

Find the Podunk Poets on: Facebook, Twitter (@ThePodunkPoets), YouTube, and Reverb Nation.

I had so much fun listening to the band while putting this post together, I hereby proclaim The Podunk Poets The Unofficial Official Band of The Lower 48 (Plus 2)!

Family Vacations Are Coming! Plan Yours w/FREE State Travel Guides for All 50 States!

2013-03-15T12:47:00.001-04:00

Today is March 15 and that means that we are just a few days away from the First Day of Spring!

The Fruited Plain

While our attention may be focused on warmer weather and all the grand activities that accompany it (gardening, camping, fishing), we should also remember that vacation time for tens of millions of Americans is also rapidly approaching.

The United States is a glorious land with so much to see that it can be a daunting task to figure out just where the heck we want to spend our vacation.

I am here to help you in making that very difficult decision.

Each state of the Union, except Washington State, offers for free an Official State Travel Guide that showcases that state's natural beauty, history, events and points of interest. Most, if not all, of the guides also come with brochures that have information on food and lodging as well. Each site also offers one (or several) free email notifications about upcoming events and travel specials.

The price is right (FREE!) and the information invaluable, so click here and order the state travel guide of your choice.

From sea to shining sea, the Lower 48 (Plus 2) await you!

Hero Cop Pulls Man From Burning Car - w/Rescue Video!

2013-03-13T00:00:00.000-04:00

Hero. A common word describing common people performing uncommon acts of valor.

Today, I present to you an Honest-to-God American Hero.

Urbandale, Iowa Police Officer Zac McDowell.

Fiery Crash

An 18 year old man was doing doughnuts (driving in circles at an unsafe speed) in his car in a church parking lot when things went very wrong.

The man lost control of his automobile while performing the stunt and crashed into an air conditioning unit. The collision resulted in the man's car bursting into flames.

Luckily for 18 year old Ian Waseskuk police officer Zac McDowell responded to the call.

Raw Video

TheBlaze.com posted this dramatic video of Officer McDowell not taking into account his own personal safety, braving inferno-like flames and billowing smoke to perform one of the most selfless acts of courage I have ever seen.

Fortunately, neither Waseskuk or Officer McDowell were seriously injured in the incident, but Waseskuk will face charges after a brief stay in a local hospital.

H.E.R.O

It is young men like Urbandale, Iowa Police Officer Zac McDowell that make up the fabric of this great country - ordinary men facing extraordinary circumstances, reacting with uncommon valor.

Simply put, Zac McDowell is an American Hero.

Son of Honest Abe: Robert Todd Lincoln, An American Story

2013-03-12T09:48:00.001-04:00

Robert Todd Lincoln (Age 22)

A few days ago I got an email from my Mom. The subject of the email was Robert Todd Lincoln, son of the 16th President of the United States.

It's an incredible story.

Who Was Robert Todd Lincoln?

He was the only child of Abe and Mary Lincoln to survive into adulthood - with his three brothers having died from illnesses at young ages. Believe it or not, Robert lived until 1926, dying at the age of 83. But along the way, he lived a remarkable life.
For starters, he begged his father for a commission to serve in the Civil War, with President Lincoln refusing, saying the loss of two sons (to that point) made risking the loss of a third out of the question. But Robert insisted, saying that if his father didn't help him, he would join on his own and fight with the front line troops; a threat that drove Abe to give in.

But you know how clever Abe was. He gave Robert what he wanted, but wired General Grant to assign "Captain Lincoln" to his staff, and to keep him well away from danger.
The assignment did, however, result in Robert's being present at Appomattox Court House, during the historic moment of Lee's surrender.

Then, the following week, while Robert was at the White House, he was awakened at midnight to be told of his father's shooting, and was present at The Peterson House when his father died.

Little Eddie died at age 4 in 1850 - probably from thyroid cancer. Willie was the most beloved of all the boys. He died in the White House at age 11 in 1862, from what was most likely Typhoid Fever.
Abe grieved the hardest over Willie's death. It took him four days to pull himself together enough to function as President again. Lincoln had a temporary tomb built for Willie, until they could return home with his body to Springfield , and he often spent long periods of time at the tomb.

I guess Tad was a real hellion. None of his tutors could control him, which is why he grew up unable to competently read or write. He was a momma's boy, he had a lisp, and was probably mildly retarded.
He died at age 18 in 1871, most likely from the same thyroid cancer Eddie had died from, suggesting a genetic flaw.

But - back to Robert, following his father's assassination, he moved to Chicago with his mentally ill mother, and brother Tad, who was 12 at the time. Robert finished law school and practiced the craft for a time, while constantly struggling to keep his Mother in check.

As she had done as First Lady, Mary went on shopping binges that far exceeded common sense, driving what was left of the family fortune into bankruptcy, and leading to violent disputes between Robert and she.
Robert also had torrid battles with Mary to keep her from destroying Lincoln's private papers, not just for their financial worth, but for their historic value also, with Mary forever trying to tear them apart and burn them in fireplaces.

In fact, her irrational behavior (she was probably schizophrenic) grew so destructive that Robert had to have her put away, with his signature signing her into a psychiatric hospital, where she stayed locked up for three months. Mary never forgave him for it - and they remained estranged from then on - until Mary died at age 63 in 1882.

Worth noting, as a deceased President's wife, Mary had petitioned Congress for a pension, and she got one! She received $3,000 a year, a sizable sum back then.

Of profound interest, as an adult Robert wrote there was a lot of distance between his father and he - caused mainly by Abe's being absent so much of the time during Robert's formative years. Abe was forever gone on state wide judicial circuits, or campaigning for office - or serving in the state legislature.

Robert writes that his most vivid memories of his father were seeing him pack his saddle bags to be off again. Nonetheless, Robert respected his father - and he wept obsessively the night he was killed.

Abraham Lincoln, II on His Death Bed

In 1868, Robert married a senator's daughter and they had three children -- two girls and a boy, Abraham Lincoln's only grandchildren. Their son, whom they named Abraham Lincoln II (but whom they called "Jack") would die in 1890 from an infection arising from having a boil pierced under his arm. He was 15 at the time, and at left is a blurry, but still remarkable photo of him lying in bed, shortly before he died.

The two daughters, however, lived fairly long lives, one living until 1938 to die at age 69, and the other until 1948, dying at age 72.

The last direct descendent of Abraham Lincoln would be the child of one of Robert's daughters - Abe Lincoln's great grandson - a guy named Bud Beckwith, who died married but childless, in 1985.

In his own right, Robert made quite a life for himself. He got into politics and was highly regarded in those circles. In fact - he served as Secretary of War under President Garfield - and, incredibly, was with him when Garfield was shot at the Washington train station!
And then - some years later, Robert would also be present when President McKinley was gunned down in Buffalo ! If you were President, you'd probably be leery about having him around, wouldn't you?

In later years he would serve in other political appointments and ambassadorships, and later became president of the Pullman train car company, a booming enterprise back then, and a position he would hold for the rest of his life.

Worth noting, Robert was an avid amateur astronomer, and even had an observatory built into his Vermont home (which is better described as a mansion), but the telescope was so well built and powerful that's it's still used today by a local astronomy club!

In the photo at right is Robert (far right) appearing in his late 70's at the dedication of the Lincoln Memorial in 1922.

A footnote. Abe Lincoln once said he doubted Robert would do very well in life. Beyond the fact that Robert was able to live in a mansion, he was several times offered the chance to run as President or Vice-President, with his every time refusing the offer. So, Old Abe's assessment of his son was way off the mark, wasn't it? Of course, who knows how much being Abe's son influenced Robert's success in life?

Anyhow, and now for the most incredible thing there is to know about Robert Lincoln's story.

In his 20's, Robert was standing on a train platform in Jersey City, buried among a crowd of passengers attempting to buy sleeping births from a haggard conductor, when the train suddenly moved. Robert was standing so close to the train that it spun him around and sent him dropping into the space between the train and the platform -- a perilously tight place to be -- against a moving train threatening to crush him!
Suddenly - a hand grabbed Robert by the neck of his coat and pulled him up onto the platform, a quick action by a solidly strong man who saved Robert's life. And you know who that man was?

It was Edwin Booth - the brother of John Wilkes Booth who had murdered Robert's father!

Closing

Are all the claims in this story, especially towards the end, true? If Wikipedia is to be believed, the answer is a resounding yes!

No matter, I found the story to be fascinating. And I hope you did too.

A Houston Police Department K-9 Hero Needs Your Help

2013-03-08T14:50:00.000-05:00

Alpos - Houston PD Hero

Sadly, a common story.

He loves donuts, but can’t have them now.

Worked all his life.

No pension.

While protecting others, stabbed on the job.

Recovered and kept going.

Only to get old.

Read the rest at PhilosoperMouseoftheHedge.

March 6 1836 - The Fall of the Alamo

2013-03-06T10:16:00.000-05:00

Today marks the 177th anniversary of probably the most significant event in Texas History.

On March 6,1836 the Alamo fell, and with it some of the most legendary men to ever live - Davy Crockett and James Bowie being the most recognizable.

The Battle

On February 23, 1836, the arrival of General Antonio López de Santa Anna's army outside San Antonio nearly caught them by surprise. Undaunted, the Texians and Tejanos prepared to defend the Alamo together. The defenders held out for 13 days against Santa Anna's army. William B. Travis, the commander of the Alamo sent forth couriers carrying pleas for help to communities in Texas. On the eighth day of the siege, a band of 32 volunteers from Gonzales arrived, bringing the number of defenders to nearly two hundred. Legend holds that with the possibility of additional help fading, Colonel Travis drew a line on the ground and asked any man willing to stay and fight to step over — all except one did. As the defenders saw it, the Alamo was the key to the defense of Texas, and they were ready to give their lives rather than surrender their position to General Santa Anna. Among the Alamo's garrison were Jim Bowie, renowned knife fighter, and David Crockett, famed frontiersman and former congressman from Tennessee.

The final assault came before daybreak on the morning of March 6, 1836, as columns of Mexican soldiers emerged from the predawn darkness and headed for the Alamo's walls....

Read the rest of this amazing story at TheAlamo.org.

In addition to Crockett and Bowie, there were roughly 185 more defenders of the Alamo, and while not nearly as well-known, are no less heroes than their more famous compatriots. These men, including a Black Freedman, came form all over the world to settle in Texas and were among the first to take up arms against a brutal dictator, General Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna, in the name of Texas Independence. The list of Alamo defenders includes the names of men from England, Ireland, Denmark, Germany and other states and territories of the United States.

It is the Battle of the Alamo that, in my mind and in the minds of tens of millions of my fellow Texans, binds us together as a unique and proud people. One hundred seventy-seven years later we honor and revere the men who, even, or maybe especially, in defeat, left future Texans a legacy of bravery, courage, honor and duty that serves as a constant reminder that Freedom isn't free. The cost of Liberty demands of a free society vigilance and, at times, the Ultimate Sacrifice.

Remember the Alamo and God bless Texas!

March 4 1789 - Meeting of the 1st Congress of the United States

2013-03-04T08:54:00.001-05:00

This date is one of the most important in the history of the United States of America. I bet you a dollar to a doughnut that if you asked a hundred people why this date is significant to our country's history, one, maybe two, would know the answer. I sadly admit that I am firmly ensconced in the former group. You wanna know how I learned of this date's importance? On my Twitter time line. (Hat tip to @Blueberrier0341 via @Snarky_Basterd)0...thanks!)

March 4, 1789

The Place: New York City.
The Event: Meeting of the 1st Congress of the United States of America

Eleven states were represented by nine of twenty-two Senators and thirteen of fifty-nine Representatives. There were only eleven states represented because North Carolina and Rhode Island had yet to ratify the United States Constitution.

History.com has more.

Quoting Hank Williams, Jr, "Every time we solve a problem, ten others take its place, but you won't see those refugees goin' the other way, welcome to the USA today..."

I wouldn't have it any other way.

God bless America.

March 2 1836 - Texas Declares Independence!

2013-03-02T11:48:00.001-05:00

Today is Texas Independence Day.

I am a Texan. As such, I hold this day in a reverence superseded by only the Holiest Days of my Catholic Faith. You see, being a Texan is not so far removed from being of person of Faith. Being a Texan is not just a birthright, it's a spiritual thing, a state of mind. For non-Texans, the best way I can equivocate this is to compare it to being an American, with a little extra pride and a touch of bluster thrown in for good measure.

Former Houston Oilers coach and legendary Texan Bum Phillips' Grandpa perhaps said it best when he told a young Bum that "Texans are forged of a hotter fire".

Following, you will read of men, Texans, forged of a hotter fire. Men, who against great odds gave us Texas. Men whose courage and bravery were exceeded only by the Natural yearning for Freedom and self-determination embedded in each human's soul. Men over matched by superior firepower willing to give their lives for what God had bestowed upon them - inalienable rights that guide the destiny of free men. Men on a mission for a cause greater than temselves. Heroes. Texans.

Texas Independence Day

In the early 19th century, the initials "GTT" sometimes were found carved in haste on the doors of homes abandoned by folks fleeing unpaid debts and other life problems. The three letters were shorthand for "Gone to Texas," the frontier sanctuary of choice for folks in these kinds of unfixable fixes. The three letters have found a place in our state's lore and legend. (Houston Chronicle)

On March 2,1836 "Texas became a republic. On March 1 delegates from the seventeen Mexican municipalities of Texas and the settlement of Pecan Point met at Washington-on-the-Brazos to consider independence from Mexico. George C. Childress presented a resolution calling for independence, and the chairman of the convention appointed Childress to head a committee of five to draft a declaration of independence. In the early morning hours of March 2, the convention voted unanimously to accept the resolution. After fifty-eight members signed the document, Texas became the Republic of Texas. The change remained to be demonstrated to Mexico."

Sam Houston

The Battle of the Alamo would soon come. Her defenders including Davy Crockett and James Bowie, would fall at the hands of the Mexican Army lead by General Santa Ana. A few weeks later came a battle that would change Texas, and perhaps the World, forever - San Jacinto.

Thus was born the Republic of Texas.

May the Spirit of Texas live forever in the hearts of men.

God bless "The damnedest lady you ever saw" (John Wayne)

God bless Texas and Texans - a land and a people forged of a hotter fire.

Tomb of the Unknown Soldier + VIDEO: Changing of the Guard During Hurricane Sandy

2013-02-26T15:02:00.000-05:00

I recently became aware of a very good blog called "The Political Commentator". It turns out that the guy who runs TPC, Michael Haltman, is a fan of my main blog, Dumbass News. Why a smart guy and Big Time Blogger would like the silly stuff I write about on Dumbass News is beyond me, but there is no accounting for taste (or lack thereof) I suppose. :)

I subscribe to The Political Commentator so I get an email alert whenever Michael publishes a new post. Today, I got the usual notification telling me of a new article at TPC. I clicked on over and what was posted touched my heart and ignited my feelings of pride, gratitude and unwavering respect for those who selflessly serve our country in the United States military.

Fellow Americans, The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier

Sentinels

Michael wrote, If you ever wondered about the men and women who serve as Tomb Guards at the Tomb of the Unknowns, here are the answers to the most frequently asked questions (FAQ)!

After receiving an email that went through a laundry list describing the Tomb Guards who march at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier located within Arlington National Cemetery, I began to wonder.

Some of the answers sounded a little farfetched so I decided to go to the source. From Tombguard.org, here are the answers to some frequently asked questions: FAQ at The Political Commentator.

Changing of the Guard During the Storm

Presidents Day & Presidential Trivia

2013-02-18T00:00:00.000-05:00

It's Presidents Day!

Rather than take a historical look at Presidents Day, I thought it would be kinda cool to explore some Presidential trivia as provided by a new book called The Smithsonian Book on Presidential Trivia.

Presidential Trivia From the Book via WaPo

The first lawyer to win the White House? John Adams, who would be succeeded by 24 other men possessed of legal training, heaven help us. Moreover, at just 5’4″, Adams remains our shortest president.
The only commander-in-chief never to wed? James Buchanan, whose fiancée broke their engagement after a quarrel, and then broke his heart when she apparently took her life. Buchanan also penned the first presidential memoir, although “Mr. Buchanan’s Administration on the Eve of Rebellion” was hardly a Civil War-era blockbuster.
The first president with fulltime Secret Service protection? Teddy Roosevelt, whose other distinctions include being saved from an assassin’s bullet by an eyeglass case and 50-page stump speech in his pocket; inspiring thousands of adorable toy “Teddy Bears;” creating the first White House press room for reporters and being one of the Mount Rushmore Four.

Pretty neat stuff, huh?

From George Washington to Barack Obama and 42 other Presidents in between, you can discover more Presidential Potpourri and facts about First Ladies on the Washington Post's website.

***If you'd like to order The Smithsonian Book on Presidential Trivia, you can do so here.***

Uniquely American New Year's Celebrations

2012-12-31T13:34:00.001-05:00

As we bid a fond adieu to 2012 and welcome the arrival 2013, I thought that this would be a great occasion to celebrate the New Year with some of the more unusual New Year's festivities from around the United States. And believe you me, there are some doozies out there.

Through the use of my mastery of Google-Fu, I found some unique ways that Americans say goodbye to the Old Year and howdy to the New Year.

For Example...

And last, but certainly not least, in my wife's hometown of Eastport, Maine (The Easternmost City in the USA):

The Great Sardine Drop - This year end festival is an international event featuring the Maple Leaf Drop honoring the arrival of the New Year an hour earlier in the neighboring Canadian province of New Brunswick.

How will you be celebrating the transition from 2012 to 2013? We'd love to know, so leave us a comment and tell us about your plans!

We'll see you in 2013!

Happy New Year!

Texas Statehood: December 29, 1845

2012-12-29T00:00:00.000-05:00

In their first election after Texas won its independence, Texans voted overwhelmingly in favor of annexation to the United States. However, throughout the Republic period, no annexation treaty was approved by both countries.

With nothing solid to indicate that Mexico accepted the defeat at San Jacinto (Treaties of Velasco were ignored by both the Republic of Texas and Mexico) and fearful of a second attack by the powerful Mexican army to the south perhaps joined by the Comanches and Apaches, Texas again petitioned to become a State of the U.S.

Thus begins the story of how the Republic of Texas became the 28th State of the United States of America.

It's a fascinating tale about a fascinating place.

Although I am now living 2000 miles from the land of my birth, she is forever in my heart and I am forever her Son, separated by time and distance yet connected by Fate and Destiny.

Throughout her history, Texas has nurtured a special breed of people, a people that former football coach Bum Phillips described as "forged of a hotter fire." Coach Phillips went on, "The same spirit that made 186 men cross that line in the sand in San Antonio damned near 165 years ago is still in you today. Why else would my friend send me William Barrett Travis' plea for help in an email just a week ago, or why would Charles Stanfield ask me to reprint a Texas Independence column from a year ago? What would make my friend Elizabeth say, "I don't know if I can marry a man who doesn't love Texas like I do?" Why in the hell are 1,000 people coming to my house this weekend to celebrate a holiday for what used to be a nation that is now a state?

Because the spirit that made that nation is the spirit that burned in every person who founded this great place we call Texas, and they passed it on through blood or sweat to everyone of us.
You see, that spirit that made Texas what it is is alive in all of us, even if we can't stand next to a cannon to prove it, and it's our responsibility to keep that fire burning.

Forged of a hotter fire. That's me, that's you and that's millions of Texans from her very first people of ten milennia ago to the guy next door who just arrived from California and is now a Texan by choice. Bonded by an insatiable desire for freedom and a fierce yearning for independence, we are all the children of the damnedest lady you ever saw.

By the Grace of God, we are Texans.

God Bless Texas!

For God So Loved the World...

2012-12-25T00:00:00.000-05:00

Enter His Gates With Thanksgiving...

'Twas the Night Before Christmas - The Classic

2012-12-24T00:00:00.000-05:00

'Tis the day before Christmas and all through the place,
Everyone woke with a smile on his face,
Outdoors there's snow on the ground,
Ready to welcome the Man who is round,
The children, all happy, are dancing about,
Greeting the day with a squeal and a shout,
With Yuletide chores that we still must do,
We wish you the best, Merry Christmas to you!

I just made that up. :) It serves as a prelude to the real deal. The timeless poem that has been part of the American Christmas Tradition for almost two hundred years. With that, I happily and merrily present to you, dear friend, a Christmas Classic.

'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 Mama in her 'kerchief, and I in my cap,
had just settled our brains for a long winter's nap.

When out on the roof there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from my bed to see what was the matter.
Away to the window I flew like a flash,
tore open the shutter, and threw up the sash.

The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow
gave the lustre of midday to objects below,
when, what to my wondering eyes should appear,
but a miniature sleigh and eight tiny 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, 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 on 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 bowl full 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!"

I got this copy of the poem from blackdog.net. Click the link and scroll past the poem to the bottom of the page and there's a nice little history of the Yuletide standard.

To all of you, I wish the Merriest of Christmases. May God bless you and your loved ones with happiness and prosperity for all your days.

Feliz Navidad,
Toby

'Twas the Night Before Christmas - Texas Style

2012-12-23T00:00:00.000-05:00

On Bubba and Leroy and Jim Bob and Gus

'Twas the night before Christmas, in Texas, you know.  
 Way out on the prairie, without any snow.  
 Asleep in their cabin, were Buddy and Sue,  
 A dreamin' of Christmas, like me and you.  
   
 Not stockings, but boots, at the foot of their bed,  
 For this was Texas, what more need be said,  
 When all of a sudden, from out of the still night,  
 There came such a ruckus, it gave me a fright.  
   
 And I saw 'cross the prairie, like a shot from a gun,  
 A loaded up buckboard, come on at a run,  
 The driver was "Geein" and "Hawin", with a will,  
 The horses (not reindeer) he drove with such skill.  
   
 "Come on there Buck, Poncho, & Prince, to the right,  
 There'll be plenty of travelin' for you all tonight."  
 The driver in Levi's and a shirt that was red,  
 Had a ten-gallon Stetson on top of his head.  
   
 As he stepped from the buckboard, he was really a sight,  
 With his beard and moustache, so curly and white.  
 As he burst in the cabin, the children awoke,  
 And were so astonished, that neither one spoke.  
   
 And he filled up their boots with such presents galore,  
 That neither could think of a single thing more.  
 When Buddy recovered the use of his jaws,  
 He asked in a whisper, "Are you really Santa Claus?"  
   
 "Am I the real Santa? Well, what do you think?"  
 And he smiled as he gave a mysterious wink.  
 Then he leaped in his buckboard, and called back in his drawl,  
 "To all the children in Texas, Merry Christmas, You-all"

Yes, Virginia, There Is a Santa Claus

2012-12-22T00:00:00.000-05:00

Francis Pharcellus Church

With Christmas Eve just two days away, I wanted to be sure to get a couple of Christmas classics posted before The Big Day. This is as classic as it gets and is as timely today as it was over a century ago. It's a question that as children, we all faced at one time or another, "Is there a Santa Claus?" Do I believe in Santa Claus? As long as my little girls are little girls and my grand children are children, and if I'm lucky enough to live to see my great-grand children when they arrive, you damn right I believe in Santa Claus. Could billions of children around the world all be wrong? Of course not. :)

Eight-year-old Virginia O'Hanlon wrote a letter to the editor of New York's Sun, and the quick response was printed as an unsigned editorial Sept. 21, 1897. The work of veteran newsman Francis Pharcellus Church has since become history's most reprinted newspaper editorial, appearing in part or whole in dozens of languages in books, movies, and other editorials, and on posters and stamps.

"DEAR EDITOR: I am 8 years old.
"Some of my little friends say there is no Santa Claus.
"Papa says, 'If you see it in THE SUN it's so.'
"Please tell me the truth; is there a Santa Claus?

"VIRGINIA O'HANLON.
"115 WEST NINETY-FIFTH STREET."

VIRGINIA, your little friends are wrong. They have been affected by the skepticism of a skeptical age. They do not believe except [what] they see. They think that nothing can be which is not comprehensible by their little minds. All minds, Virginia, whether they be men's or children's, are little. In this great universe of ours man is a mere insect, an ant, in his intellect, as compared with the boundless world about him, as measured by the intelligence capable of grasping the whole of truth and knowledge.

Yes, VIRGINIA, there is a Santa Claus. He exists as certainly as love and generosity and devotion exist, and you know that they abound and give to your life its highest beauty and joy. Alas! how dreary would be the world if there were no Santa Claus. It would be as dreary as if there were no VIRGINIAS. There would be no childlike faith then, no poetry, no romance to make tolerable this existence. We should have no enjoyment, except in sense and sight. The eternal light with which childhood fills the world would be extinguished.

Not believe in Santa Claus! You might as well not believe in fairies! You might get your papa to hire men to watch in all the chimneys on Christmas Eve to catch Santa Claus, but even if they did not see Santa Claus coming down, what would that prove? Nobody sees Santa Claus, but that is no sign that there is no Santa Claus. The most real things in the world are those that neither children nor men can see. Did you ever see fairies dancing on the lawn? Of course not, but that's no proof that they are not there. Nobody can conceive or imagine all the wonders there are unseen and unseeable in the world.

You may tear apart the baby's rattle and see what makes the noise inside, but there is a veil covering the unseen world which not the strongest man, nor even the united strength of all the strongest men that ever lived, could tear apart. Only faith, fancy, poetry, love, romance, can push aside that curtain and view and picture the supernal beauty and glory beyond. Is it all real? Ah, VIRGINIA, in all this world there is nothing else real and abiding.

No Santa Claus! Thank God! he lives, and he lives forever. A thousand years from now, Virginia, nay, ten times ten thousand years from now, he will continue to make glad the heart of childhood.

This article can be found on a million websites, but I chose to get it from an excellent site called Newseum. If you enjoy reading about history and would like to see what the news coverage of an event was at the time it
happened, Newseum is an absolute treasure chest of nuggets like this..

NJ Town Hit by Sandy Re-named "Oklahoma Gas & Electric" for a Day

2012-12-19T00:00:00.000-05:00

Amidst all the talk of stuff like the fiscal cliff and the political scandals that tear at the very fabric of our great country, it's a welcome relief to get some good news to share with you on Lower 48 (Plus2).

Are you ready to feel good about your fellow Americans? Good. I am too.

One People

You'll find many friendly regional and state vs.state rivalries in the USA. Rivalries like Texas-Oklahoma, Ohio-Michigan and North vs.South. While many jabs are thrown back and forth in these engagements, they are generally friendly and at the end of the game, contest or competition, both sides are willing to sit down with the opposition and have a beer or break bread. The same can be said when disaster strikes.

My point is that in spite of whatever our differences may be, in a time of tragedy or emergency, there is no real animosity between groups of Americans. Our instinct is to bond together as One People and face adversity head on with a steely resolve and kick its ass.

Such is the case with Hurricane Sandy.

Sandy

In the wake of tens of billions of dollars in damage and untold suffering and hardship from Hurricane Sandy, a happy story emerges from one of the hard hit areas of New Jersey.

A New Jersey city temporarily took on the name of a utility company to honor the work of its employees following Hurricane Sandy.

OG&E, NJ for a Day

The city of Glen Rock temporarily renamed itself Oklahoma G&E, N.J., for a 24-hour period in honor of Oklahoma Gas and Electric Co. crews who worked to restore power to the city after the October storm.

Mayor John van Keuren said the town's proclamation celebrated the workers' "great compassion and fortitude and graciousness while performing the repairs in an efficient way."

"Because the residents of Glen Rock appreciate the speed with which the OG&E crews responded to our need for power restoration, and because the residents of Glen Rock value the professionalism of their work," the proclamation reads.

This story is a perfect example of what happens when our fellow Americans are confronted with hardship. The unaffected instinctively and immediately cast aside any variances that may contrast one part of the country with another, their focus and tenacity to overcome disaster directed squarely at the challenge at hand, laser-like in their intensity, compassionate in their execution.

One disaster. One People. One America.

Christmas Shopping: A Curse on All Men

2012-12-17T09:22:00.003-05:00

Here's a story I wrote two Christmases ago. It is as true today as it was then.

The photo warning above should have raise a large red flag for you. You ask, "What, pray tell, could have a man in such a sour mood at The Most Wonderful Time of the Year?" You wanna know what's got my Fruit of the Looms in a wad at The Most Wonderful Time of the Year? The Most Wonderful Time of the Year has my drawers all twisted up in a Palomar Knot, that's what!

Let me splain.

I went Christmas shopping again to day with my wife and Bailey the Three Year Old. Having spent the great majority of my adult life as a bachelor, and damn good one, I have done very little Christmas shopping over the past thirty-five years. The main reason for that is that I was always working somewhere far from my family. I never had enough time off to make a trip back home anywhere near feasible. So, I had no reason to do much Christmas shopping. Back then, nobody owned a computer, so online shopping was nonexistent. Now that online shopping is so easy and convenient, I'd rather do that than go all over town looking for the latest money wasting toy that one or both of my little girls must have or they will be cast asunder by their friends and classmates.

Before I go on any further, I gotta say up front that I HATE SHOPPING! I am a guy. If I need to go shopping for anything, I make a list, go in the store, grab the items on the list, pay and leave. I like it that way. My wife, on the other hand, is not quite that shopping-efficient. Over the last four and a half years that I have lived in Maine, I have tried every method known to mankind and a few others not yet made up, to get Heather to be a little more organized about shopping. I am an abject failure at trying to do so. I don't easily admit defeat, but I have given up on trying to make an efficient shopper out of my wife. I'd have better luck trying dig another Panama Canal with a teaspoon. Therefore, here I sit a defeated man.

I don't want to give you the wrong impression, I really do like Christmas a lot. Especially since I have two daughters young enough to enjoy all the guessing games, shaking the presents under the tree to see if they can "see" what's in the box and, of course, getting woke up at 4:00AM, preparing to stumble down the stairs to see what treasures Santa has delivered. I KNOW what Santa delivered(!) I have the register receipts to prove it! But, for the sake of my children, every Christmas Day, I wake up when they come into mine and Heather's bedroom sounding every bit like the Grambling Marching Band as they burst through the bedroom door. I love my kids and I would do anything I could to make them happy, so I jump out of bed, as best an arthritic middle aged man can do, and go downstairs to see all the Christmas goodies I am all too familiar with. There is one more major reason I have learned to be more actively involved with Christmas shopping. If I don't go when I am told to go, I will no longer be one with my gazebos. Heather promised me that. And after fifty-four years together, my gazebos and I have grown to be quite happy with the gazebo status quo.

Having said all that, I wish just once, that my gazebos and I could sleep in on Christmas Morning without the threat of a gazebo-ectomy looming large. Until then, I stand a conquered man, gazebos thankfully intact.

Veteran Makes Christmas Merry for Soldiers

2012-12-17T00:00:00.000-05:00

Christmas Across the State***

I wrote this piece two years ago, but it as timely today, if not more so, as it was then.

I have mentioned that when it comes to serving in or showing support of the United States Military, Mainers are second to none. Literally. Per capita, Maine has the highest percentage of active and retired veterans of all fifty states in the Union. I know that to be true because I have substantiated it before, I just can't remember where. So you gotta trust me on this one. Most of the people I know in Maine are members of Heather's family and off the top of my head, I can name seven men that have served or are serving as I type this, and that's just a small part of her family. I know that's a bit anecdotal, but it also is representative of the larger group,the total population of the state.

Your average enlisted man/woman in the military is not exactly raking in the dough. Sure, they get some good benefits, but many of our bravest also have families to take care of. In a trying economy, like we are currently experiencing, it's all the more difficult to make ends meet for service members.

There is an organization here in Augusta that is a beacon of hope for military personnel during the Christmas season. I discovered an article in the Lewiston-Auburn area newspaper the Sun Journal that tells the story of Christmas Across the State and the man behind it, Kerry Birmingham, himself a Viet Nam Vet.

"We've been doing this for well over a decade," said Birmingham, who oversees a Maine National Guard program that grants Christmas wishes for needy military families. "We've never seen so many."
Last year, "Christmas Across the State" helped about 60 military families with presents, he said. This year, the number of requests could reach 80.

Daniel Hartill, a Staff Writer for the Sun Journal, gets the props for a job well done for bringing Christmas Across the State to the attention of the masses. Read the entire article on the Sun Journal web site.

Isn't that article a perfect example of selflessness, patriotism and a damn fine man? Daniel, again I thank you for your work in bringing this to the fore, and to Mr.Birmingham, I salute you, Sir, for your service to our country and for your continuing efforts to make sure our Bravest and Finest young people are looked after during the Christmas Holiday. God bless you and may God continue to bless the United States of America.

I'm sure that there is an organization similar to "Christmas Across the State" where you live, so please consider lending them your support. Thanks.

Merry Christmas!
***Photo shamelessly swiped from the Sun Journal ***

Christmas Across America: Christmas Movies to Watch Online

2012-12-14T11:27:00.000-05:00

Watching Christmas movies with your family is a nice way to spend an evening together during this time of year. I did a little internet sleuthing and I came across this particular list that features some of the all time Christmas Classics and some of the dumbest movies ever made. Since being generous is a yuletide mandate, I'll be nice and just post the list without any of my own commentary, instead relying on the opinion of whoever reviewed them. They are all available for free online, so unaltered, here's the list:

Santa Claus Conquers the Martians: Kids help Santa defeat Martians who threaten to take away Christmas.
The Polar Express: A child finds the true meaning of Christmas.
Holiday Inn: Irving Berlin, dancing, and music; can't get better than that.
Miracle on 34th Street: Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus.
It's a Wonderful Life: One of the most classic Christmas movies of all time, with Jimmy Stewart and Donna Reed.
Scrooge: A Christmas Carol from 1935.
A Christmas Carol (1971, Richard Williams): The excellent 1972 animated version of the Charles Dickens classic.
Mystery Science Theater: "Santa Claus": After Mike and the 'bots exchange gifts, they get to watch a movie where Santa Claus has to outwit Satan in order to deliver gifts.
The Star Wars Holiday Special: A really awful movie about Star Wars and the true meaning of Christmas.
Babes in Toyland: Starring the comic duo of Laurel and Hardy.
The Great Rupert: A squirrel helps a poor vaudeville family led by Jimmy Durante Christmas by stealing cash their landlord has stashed in a wall.
Christmas Do-Over: Christmas only comes once a year...or does it?
Benji's Very Own Christmas Story: The dog's version of Christmas.
The 12 Dogs of Christmas: Dogs celebrate Christmas, of course.

That's a diverse list of movies, so you can watch any or all of them at your leisure. There are a few more movies on this link to about.com that would require some extra "egg nog" to actually sit through, so use your own discretion. :) Merry Christmas, y'all.

Christmas Across America: The True Story of St. Nicholas

2012-12-13T10:58:00.000-05:00

Less than two weeks from today, we will celebrate the birth of the Son of Man. In honor of this Holy Day, I wanted to pay tribute to a disciple of Jesus whose name we speak on a regular basis at this time of year, but how much do we really know about this man, a true Son of God? This wonderful and great man was born into a wealthy family, yet with the death of his parents, he did not use his wealth for himself to gain power and influence, instead he became a priest and did with his fortune that which would please and glorify God. He traveled all over the country of his birth, helping the needy, especially children. This man, being a priest, never married and had children of his own, but he loved them all as if he was the father of each one, much as Jesus did.

I found a very good story on the life of this servant of the Lord, and I wanted to share it with you, in hopes that you'll, in turn, share it with someone else, maybe a child. You see, this man was later canonized as the Patron Saint of Children and Sailors (because of his concern for ships and sailors). Without further delay, I present to you....

The Story of St. Nicholas

A Christmas stocking refers to an empty sock or sock-shaped bag that children hang on Christmas Eve in the belief that it is to be filled with presents by Santa Claus. The gifts are generally of a small nature, consisting generally of small toys, goodies like candies and fruits, coins or other such items that are often referred to as stocking stuffers or stocking fillers. The bigger gifts are wrapped in present papers and placed near the Christmas tree.

The tradition of Christmas stockings is said to have originated from the actions of a kind noble man named Nicholas, who was born in 280 AD, in Patara, a city of Lycia, in Asia Minor. While still young, his wealthy parents died in an epidemic. A true follower of Jesus Christ's principles, Nicholas became a Christian priest and used all his riches to help the poor, the needy, the sick, and the suffering. He dedicated his life in the service of God and was made Bishop of Myra at a young age. Bishop Nicholas became known throughout the land for his kindness and generosity. A true celibate, Nicholas never married and had no children of his own. But he loved children greatly and often gave gifts to the kids of his hometown. This is why, he became known as the gift giver of Myra. A rich man, he traveled across the country helping people, giving gifts of money and other presents. However, Nicholas always gave his gifts late at night, so that his identity would remain a secret. He did not like to be seen when he gave away presents, so the children of the day were told to go to sleep quickly or he would not come! Nicholas was eventually named the patron saint of children and sailors (because of his concern for sailors and ships) and came to be known as Saint Nicholas.

Through the centuries many stories and legends have been told of Saint Nicholas' life and deeds. One popular account tells us of a poor peasant who lived happily in a small cottage in Patara, Saint Nicholas' hometown, with his wife and three daughters. But their happiness was short-lived when the wife suddenly died of an illness one day, leaving the poor man and his three daughters in despair. All the burden of household chores now fell upon the daughters while their father trudged on with his life with a heavy heart.

When the daughters reached a marriageable age, the poor father became even more depressed for he knew he could in no way marry them off to good men. In those days a young woman's father had to offer prospective husbands something of value - a dowry. Without a dowry, this poor man's daughters were unlikely to marry. The helpless father looked around desperately for some solution while her daughters did their own cooking, sewing and cleaning.

Meanwhile, Saint Nicholas had come to know of the poor peasant and his daughters. Knowing the financial condition of the father, the kindly saint decided to help him. But he wanted to do this secretly. So he went to the peasant's house one night with a bag of gold and waited for the family to go to bed before he could throw the bag through the open cottage window.

That night, after finishing their washing for the day, the daughters had hung their stockings by the fireplace to dry. Little did they know that their benefactor was hiding nearby, waiting for them to go to sleep. A little later, as they turned of the lamps and fell asleep, St. Nicholas tiptoed to the cottage window and peeked inside. In the light of the moon, he saw the daughters' stockings hanging close to his reach. He carefully put in his bag of gold in one of the stockings and went away as stealthily as he came.

When the father found the bag the next morning and opened it, he was ecstatic. There was enough gold in the stocking to pay for the dowry of one daughter. It seemed like a godsend to him. Who could have sent it, he wondered. With this timely gift the father was able to provide for his eldest daughter and saw that she got married to a nice groom.

On another night Saint Nicholas set off with one more bag of gold, and threw it carefully into another stocking, so that the second daughter was provided for.

When his daughters excitedly brought the bag to their father the following morning and opened it, he could not believe his eyes. With this gift the father was able to marry off his second daughter too.

But by this time, the father had grown eager to discover his mysterious benefactor, and next night he kept on the lookout. Then, for the third time Saint Nicholas came with a bag of gold upon his back and walked on to the window. The old lord at once recognized his fellow townsman. He fell on his knees before the kindly Bishop, cried out in joy and gratitude and thanked him with all his heart. With his blessings of Saint Nicholas, the poor father was able to see his three daughters get married. He lived a long and happy life thereafter.

And this is how the tradition of Christmas stockings is said to have started in the European countries. It is also believed that Santa Claus is actually an alteration of this same Saint Nicholas, Santa standing for Saint and Claus for Nicholas.

Since then children have been hanging Christmas stockings or putting out shoes, eagerly awaiting for gifts from Santa Claus. Originally, children simply used one of their everyday socks, but with time special Christmas stockings were created for this purpose. Today, Christmas stockings of a wide variety of styles and sizes can be found in gift stores across countries. There are also special Christmas stockings available in the market.

In modern culture, Christmas stockings are also a popular homemade craft. Some families design unique stockings for each family member. Many families create their own Christmas stockings stitching the name of each family member to the stocking so that Santa knows which stocking belongs to which family member.

In some countries, the contents of the Christmas stocking are the only gifts that a child receives at Christmas from Santa Claus. Western Christmas tradition dictates that a child who behaves badly during the year will not get a gift in their Christmas stocking and will receive a piece of coal instead.

In many places, the Christmas stocking is to be stuffed by a gift that will stimulate the five sensory organs. Traditional celebrations of Christmas demand that the stocking be hung on the fireplace mantel. However, since many contemporary homes do not have fireplaces, stockings are hung in almost any location.

Today, children all over the world continue the tradition of hanging Christmas stockings. Kids of all nations look forward to Christmas and when the stockings are hung, they know the most anticipated time of the year is not far behind.