LTUE is coming up…

LTUE is held in Provo, UT in February every year, this year it’ll take place from 14-16 February.

A little background- Life, the Universe, & Everything: The Marion K. “Doc” Smith Symposium on Science Fiction and Fantasy originated at Brigham Young University and has grown and changed a lot over the last thirty years. LTUE is a three-day academic symposium on all aspects of science fiction and fantasy. Comprised of panels, presentations and papers on writing, art, literature, film, gaming and other facets of speculative fiction, LTUE is a place to learn all about life, the universe, and everything else you love.

Looks like I’ll be on a few panels this year, if anybody is interested, schedule HERE

A couple of these should be rather ‘interesting’ considering whom else is on the panels. It’s also a chance to catch up with friends, other authors, and it’s a learning experience for me every year. With over 200 panels, it’s always a hard choice as to which to attend… sigh…

Wish I could clone myself, as there are at least five panels that are scheduled against other panels that I want to see.

 

Oh my aching…

Butt…

An hour of this, then an hour of more ‘sedate’ driving through Napa Valley…

All that so that PP and I could watch my grandson play basketball for Sierra JC, so another hour and a half sitting on hard wood bleachers!

He started as a freshman, scored 18 points, got 2 blocks, 1 steal, and 6 or 8 assists. I didn’t count the rebounds… LOL

And this one is a breakaway. He is #5 in Black

One of his ‘stutter’ shots… 🙂 He is #5 in Black

Then it was 2 hours back up to the house, and I did a lot of standing up… LOL

Time with family…

Stopped at Mel’s Diner for lunch after the cluster### of a trip out here, and he got a burger in a Camaro basket, which he played with more than eating the burger… LOL

Kaya on the other hand, didn’t even wake up… LOL She didn’t know I was here until about dinner… And she was grumpy because she’d gotten TOO MUCH sleep, sigh.

But a late Christmas has been celebrated, gifts given and received, and now the kids are tearing around the house on their little push scooters, chasing the dogs and being chased by the dogs. And the dogs are chewing my shoelaces, or nipping at my fingers when I try to keep them off the shoes… Sigh…

The dominance games between the pups are interesting too- In the house, Koda seems to be the aggressor, but put them outside and it’s Karl that’s getting her down. I don’t know how this is going to end, but it’ll be interesting… LOL 

And now, I’m off to see my older grandson play basketball.

More puppies…

Vito’s replacement(s)…

Koda and Karl, Koda is the black one, Karl is the tan one.

And those suckers have some SHARP little puppy teeth!!!

Light posting and commenting, since I’m out with the kids and grandkids for a few days for a delayed Christmas.

‘One’ grand was glad to see me… And one, not so much… Matter of fact, she slept the entire time! LOL

 

Twas the day AFTER Christmas…

Remember this…                                                                               

image001According to the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, while both male and female reindeer grow antlers in the summer each year, male reindeer drop their antlers at the beginning of winter, usually late November to mid-December.  Female reindeer retain their antlers till after they give birth  in the spring. Therefore, according to EVERY historical rendition  depicting Santa’s reindeer, EVERY single one of them, from Rudolph to Blitzen, had to be a girl.

We should’ve known… ONLY women would be able to drag a fat-ass man in a red velvet suit all around the world in one night and not get lost.

Now go try to find the replacement batteries the kids need for the toys, and look in the fridge to find what’s left from yesterday’s dinner to munch on today… 🙂

Merry Christmas!!!

I’m sure the kids had you up at oh dark thirty…

A Christmas tree with a ‘twist’…

IMG_1928

A closer look at the ‘starfish’ and it turns out they are REAL starfish! 🙂  Very nicely preserved, but the real deal!!!

If you’re wondering where this is, it was a tree in a hotel in Okinawa a couple of years ago  And it’s a neat way to ‘use’ the local environment. This is a helluva lot nicer than my scrawny little tree I dust off and put up every year…LOL

I hope your Christmas tree is as pretty and the packages underneath are all real!

Santa’s on the go…

Jeff MacNelly was a friend of the military, and especially of the Navy.  He did a number of ‘special’ cartoons over the years for those of us who served…

This is one of my favorites…  Sadly he passed way too young in 2000 due to lymphoma.shoexmas

Author unknown, but a damn good one…

This one goes out to Alma, Brigid, Frito, Flake, JD, Jim, Juvat, JP, Joe and all the other aviators out there…

‘Twas the night before Christmas, and out on the ramp,
Not an airplane was stirring, not even a Champ.
The aircraft were fastened to tiedowns with care,
In hopes that come morning, they all would be there.

The fuel trucks were nestled, all snug in their spots,
With gusts from two-forty at 39 knots.
I slumped at the fuel desk, now finally caught up,
And settled down comfortably, resting my butt.

When the radio lit up with noise and with chatter,
I turned up the scanner to see what was the matter.
A voice clearly heard over static and snow,
Called for clearance to land at the airport below.

He barked his transmission so lively and quick,
I’d have sworn that the call sign he used was “St. Nick”;
I ran to the panel to turn up the lights,
The better to welcome this magical flight.

He called his position, no room for denial,
“St. Nicholas One, turnin’ left onto final.”
And what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But a Rutan-built sleigh, with eight Rotax Reindeer!

With vectors to final, down the glideslope he came,
As he passed all fixes, he called them by name:
“Now Ringo! Now Tolga! Now Trini and Bacun!
On Comet! On Cupid!” What pills was he takin’?

While controllers were sittin’, and scratchin’ their head,
They phoned to my office, and I heard it with dread,
The message they left was both urgent and dour:
“When Santa pulls in, have him please call the tower.”

He landed like silk, with the sled runners sparking,
Then I heard “Left at Charlie,” and “Taxi to parking.”
He slowed to a taxi, turned off of three-oh
And stopped on the ramp with a “Ho, ho-ho- ho…”

He stepped out of the sleigh, but before he could talk,
I ran out to meet him with my best set of chocks.
His red helmet and goggles were covered with frost
And his beard was all blackened from Reindeer exhaust.

His breath smelled like peppermint, gone slightly stale,
And he puffed on a pipe, but he didn’t inhale.
His cheeks were all rosy and jiggled like jelly,
His boots were as black as a cropduster’s belly.

He was chubby and plump, in his suit of bright red,
And he asked me to “fill it, with hundred low-lead.”
He came dashing in from the snow-covered pump,
I knew he was anxious for drainin’ the sump.

I spoke not a word, but went straight to my work,
And I filled up the sleigh, but I spilled like a jerk.
He came out of the restroom, and sighed in relief,
Then he picked up a phone for a Flight Service brief.

And I thought as he silently scribed in his log,
These reindeer could land in an eighth-mile fog.
He completed his pre-flight, from the front to the rear,
Then he put on his headset, and I heard him yell, “Clear!”

And laying a finger on his push-to-talk,
He called up the tower for clearance and squawk.
“Take taxiway Charlie, the southbound direction,
Turn right three-two-zero at pilot’s discretion.”

He sped down the runway, the best of the best,
“Your traffic’s a Grumman, inbound from the west.”
Then I heard him proclaim, as he climbed through the night,
“Merry Christmas to all! I have traffic in sight.”

Tis the season…

This one has a special meaning to all those who served…

Twas the night before Christmas, he lived all alone

  In a one bedroom house made of plaster and stone

  I had come down the chimney with presents to give

  And to see just who in this home did live

 

  I looked all about, a strange sight I did see

  No tinsel, no presents, not even a tree

  No stocking by mantle, just boots filled with sand

  On the wall hung pictures of far distant lands

 

  With medals and badges, awards of all kinds

  A sober thought did come through my mind

  For this house was different, it was dark and dreary

  I found the home of a soldier, once I could see clearly

 

  The soldier lay sleeping, silent and alone

  Curled up on the floor in this one bedroom home

  The face was so gentle, the room in such disorder

  Not how I pictured a United States soldier

 

  Was this the hero of whom I’d just read?

  Curled up on a poncho, the floor for a bed?

  I realized the families that I saw this night

  Owed their lives to these soldiers who were willing to fight

 

  Soon round the world, the children would play

  And grownups would celebrate a bright Christmas day

  They all enjoyed freedom each month of the year

  Because of the soldiers, like the one lying here

 

  I couldn’t help wonder how many lay alone

  On a cold Christmas eve in a land far from home

  The very thought brought a tear to my eye

  I dropped to my knees and started to cry

 

  The soldier awakened and I heard a rough voice

  Santa don’t cry, this life is my choice

  I fight for freedom, I don’t ask for more

  My life is my God, my Country, my Corps

 

  The soldier rolled over and drifted to sleep

  I couldn’t control it, I continued to weep

  I kept watch for hours, so silent and still

  And we both shivered from the cold nights chill

 

  I didn’t want to leave on that cold, dark, night

  This guardian of honor so willing to fight

  Then the soldier rolled over, with a voice soft and pure

  Whispered Carry on Santa, all is secure

 

  One look at my watch and I knew he was right

  Merry Christmas, my friend, and to all a good night

 

  By:  Major Bruce Lovely, adopted from a similar poem

  by Anonymous.

++++++++++

Twas the Night Before Christmas in Yonkers

 

   ‘Twas the night before Christmas,

    Da whole house was mella,

    Not a creature was stirrin’,

    Cuz I had a gun unda da pilla.

 

    When up on da roof

    I heard somethin’ pound,

    I sprung to da window,

    To scream, “YO! Keep it down!”

 

    When what to my

    Wanderin’ eyes should appear,

    But da Don of all elfs,

    And eight friggin’ reindeer!

 

    Wit’ slicked back black hair,

    And a silk red suit,

    Don Christopher wuz here,

    And he brought da loot!

 

    Wit’ a slap to dare snouts,

    And a yank on dare manes,

    He cursed and he shouted,

    And he called dem by name.

 

    “Yo Tony, Yo Frankie,

    Yo Vinny, Yo Vito,

    Ay Joey, Ay Paulie,

    Ay Pepe, Ay Guido!”

 

    As I drew out my gun

    And hid by da bed,

    He flew troo da winda

    And slapped me up side da head.

 

    “What da hell you doin’

    Pullin’ a gun on da Don?

    Now all you’re gettin’ is coal,

    You friggin’ moron!”

 

    Den pointin’ a fat finga

    Right unda my nose,

    He twisted his pinky ring,

    And up da chimney he rose.

 

    He sprang to his sleigh,

    Obscenities screamin’,

    Away dey all flew,

    Before he troo dem a beatin’.

 

    Den I heard him yell out,

    Two, tree times, I expect

    “Merry Friggin’ Christmas to all,

    And you’s better show some respect!

++++++++++++

T’was the night before Christmas – Old Santa was pissed

He cussed out the elves and threw down his list

Miserable little brats, ungrateful little jerks

I have a good mind to scrap the whole works

I’ve busted my ass for damn near a year

Instead of “Thanks Santa” – what do I hear

The old lady bitches cause I work late at night

The elves want more money – The reindeer all fight

Rudolph got drunk and goosed all the maids

Donner is pregnant and Vixen has AIDS

And just when I thought that things would get better

Those assholes from IRS sent me a letter

They say I owe taxes – if that ain’t damn funny

Who the hell ever sent Santa Clause any money

And the kids these days – they all are the pits

They want the impossible …Those mean little shits

I spent a whole year making wagons and sleds Assembling dolls…Their

arms,

legs and heads I made tons of yo yo’s – No request for them They want

computers and robots…they think I’m IBM!

If you think that’s bad…just picture this

Try holding those brats…with their pants full of piss

They pull on my nose – they grab at my beard

And if I don’t smile…their moms think I’m weird

Flying through the air…dodging the trees

Falling down chimneys and skinning my knees

I’m quitting this job…there’s just no enjoyment

I’ll sit on my fat ass and draw unemployment

There’s no Christmas this year…now you know the reason

I found me a blonde.. I’m going SOUTH for the season!!

++++++++++++

I think Santa Claus is a woman….

I hate to be the one to defy sacred myth, but I believe he’s a she.

Think about it. Christmas is a big, organized, warm, fuzzy, nurturing social deal, and I have a tough time believing a guy could  possibly pull it all off!

For starters, the vast majority of men don’t even think about selecting gifts until Christmas Eve. Once at the mall, they always seem surprised to find only Ronco products, socket wrench sets, and mood rings left on the shelves.  On this count alone, I’m convinced Santa is a woman.

Surely, if he were a man, everyone in the universe would wake up Christmas morning to find a rotating musical Chia Pet under the tree, still in the bag.

Another problem for a he-Santa would be getting there.  First of all, there would be no reindeer because they would all be dead, gutted  and strapped on to the rear bumper of the sleigh amid wide-eyed, desperate claims that buck season had been extended. Blitzen’s rack would already be on the way to the taxidermist.  Even if the male Santa DID have reindeer, he’d still have  transportation problems because he would inevitably get lost up there in the snow and clouds and then refuse to stop and ask for directions.

Other reasons why Santa can’t possibly be a man:

    – Men can’t pack a bag.

    – Men would rather be dead than caught wearing red velvet.

    – Men would feel their masculinity is threatened…having to be seen with all those elves.

    – Men don’t answer their mail.

    – Men would refuse to allow their physique to be described even in jest as anything remotely resembling a “bowlful of jelly.”

    – Men aren’t interested in stockings unless somebody’s wearing them.

    – Having to do the Ho Ho Ho thing would seriously inhibit their ability to pick up women.

  – Finally, being responsible for Christmas would require a commitment.

I can buy the fact that other mythical holiday characters are men………Father Time shows up once a year unshaven and looking ominous.  Definite guy.

Cupid flies around carrying weapons.

Uncle Sam is a politician who likes to point fingers.  Any one of these individuals could pass the testosterone screening test.

But not St. Nick.  Not a chance.

Enjoy your time with your families, and take a moment to remember those who are far from home this holiday season, standing the watch wherever they may be.