HUSH !!!!!!!!!  Santa has been spotted over Pittsburgh............ Had to take dip in his normal route.. Snow and ice in the north east coast.. He is taking the scenic route this year....... 

Fairchild Air Force Base here in Spokane reported a low-flying and identified object around 1:30 this morning. Fighters were scrambled appropriate precautions were taken turned out it was  Santa however he had a tail didn't look like it was a good set of people and  they were close to him. Have no fear the Air Force took care of them Santa is safe again this year. The last thing we saw was a sleigh and eight reindeer swooping off into the atmosphere and we heard HO HO HO. And the last thing we saw was a hand in the distance waving goodbye!

Barbara,  I enjoyed your note. Sounds like your spirits are recovering. 

(On the other hand,  what are you taking for pain? )

It is good to hear from you.  :lol: 

Thank you all for the nice words . Yes Marcie its a busy month here in December wife's b-day the anniversary then Xmas n New Years n yes being Santa . Lol . But you know how that is being Santa .

Thank you Z . Don't know if I can get another 35 years out at my age Ha but we are sure gonna try .

And John I have to say ye got me again Lad with the cracker ? Haha . But I kinda have a guess its a good thing . Lol . And you met your wife Xmas eve that's an easy one to remember for ye . And she sounds like a fine Lady . Don't forget the day you met or the Peelers in the family might throw ye in the pokey !!!

Robert a cracker means a real fine gal, another romantic Northern Ireland one is "Shes well hammered together" and they say its the French and Italians who can charm the ladies. LOL.

Lol . Ok John thanks for clearing that one up . I think we both pulled a Cracker John . I bet the Ladies there like a romantic saying like "she's well hammered together" Haha . I can think of a couple from here hope it's ok to say them "she's built like a brick _ _ _ _ house" or of course "she's my better half "

Its a wonder romance over here works at all, Its like the joke about the guy who places an ad in the singles page. "would like to meet lady 35/40 blonde and must be from farming background with own land and tractor" ps please send photo of tractor!!

Haha John yes there is something like that here about riding and owning a Harley n please send picture of Harley ! Lol

Now I have to give it te ye, their is some thing about the beat of a Harley that's just good for the soul

It's mighty COLD outside and very windy.......  We got 5 inches of snow, nothing to complain about tho-- When my son moved that big tree limb, his back is still hurting..

But people are still going to venture to New York for the count down. Ahhhhhh  Youth........... My neighbors kids are going.. 

John how is the weather over there?   I know Robert is enjoying the warmth-- Lucky!! 

I think we lost Barbara... Robert, check at Denny's if you would be so kind........  

Off to get a few inches cut off my hair.. :-)    :-(          

A little snow, if the East coast of the States gets snow we seem to get it a few days later

where about are you located in London? Is it London? 

A lot quieter than that Northern Ireland

Not quiet here....... My husband said "what did u do to your hair? here did it all go??????"  I guess he like it curly..  ??

What is with you men anyways?  I ask do u like my hair? "yes" then I get it shorter for a better liking--, and I get this?? 

I just was a beautiful sight !!  I was sitting outside (yes, Robert, I had a cig.) The moon, the snow, and trees, were in a shade of blue.. And a deer walked by me to finish the picture..  Such an amazing creature.. So powerful, yet so graceful...... Then another one followed... 

 Okay,  I am ready to tell the "pass it on" story. 

I grew up in Brooklyn, N.Y. ,with the accent and with the attitude. We got married and moved to Houston, Texas. 

We had a  massive culture shock. New York to Texas.  That year,  Sima and I as newlyweds learned a lot about others. 

The year was up and I got my next job 600 miles away, in Louisville,  Kentucky. I had to move in the least costly way. That was to tow a Uhaul behind my 11 year old clunker. I loaded up and left on Sunday afternoon. 

[I am leaving out a lot of details ]

Traveled North through Texas in August heat. No air conditioning! . Got 'smart' and wore a thin Tshirt and shorts the next day. When I got into Arkansas, the Ozark mountains made my car complain. So I am doing 45 mph on a superhighway.  Speed limit was 70 mph.  Got  up to 55 on the downhill side.

Then, my tire blew .

I wrestled the car and trailer to the side of the road. Rolled to a stop and got out. Walked around to assess the situation. I needed to change the rear tire. To get to the spare tire, I would have to unhitch the trailer  {don't ask why }, offload the trunk, dig out the spare .etc. etc . etc. 

I looked up to the cloudless Arkansas sky and said,"God, please help me". I proceeded to start the process.  All of a sudden,  this humongous boat of a car pulls in behind me. And this 6'6"  REDNECK with a porkpie hat climbed out and walked over. "Son, he drawled,  what's the problem ?"

This is the mid seventies.  I looked like a hippy. He looked like a  hippy hater. It was the Ozarks. Yipes!!!

I responded  (very respectfully), that the tire was flat. He turned around and went to his trunk, opened it and reached in. 

The thought,  that he was going to bring out a shotgun and shoot the hippy , ran through my mind . Instead , he came back with a can in his hand. He handed it to me.  I looked at it. It was a  can of FLAT FIX...I was astounded  and reached for my wallet to pay him.

He said "Son, you can't pay me, you have got to PASS IT ON." 

This made a tremendous impression on me. It changed my outlook  and empowered me to not be afraid of 6'6" Rednecks with porkpie hats.

The story of how and when I fulfilled my promise is for another day. 

Seen yer story when at the loo around 3pm, had a cup of tea and sat down to read, really enjoyed. shows ye can,t judge the book by the cover. Looking forward to the next chapter.

Ps. 3am, plus flat fix is a life saver!!

Good Morning All

John ye are right about the sound of the Harley . Some people have a stereo on there's and listen to music while riding I don't have that on mine . Just to hear the pipes is enough for me sometimes I will lug it a bit other time I will get on it just to hear the different sounds . Yes the fix a flat does come in handy .

Marcie sounds awful cold there but I'll bet the snow is beautiful and I sure don't have deer walking by my house . Yes I am enjoying the warmth here looking for the 80's today it is nice but sometimes it would be nice to see the snow . I will look for Barbara when I get my next Grand Slam maybe she is just picking up a bunch to bring to the lounge . Seriously though I hope she is doing ok . Marcie so you cut your hair and Tom doesn't really care for it tell him like I tell my Norma . The difference between a good hair cut and a bad hair cut is about 2 weeks ! (not that yours was bad) And I saw that you had a ciggy at least its so cold there you can't have to many ......

Hey Z that was quite a story I could just picture it as you were telling it I got a kick out of it . And I too will be looking forward too will be looking forward to the next chapter . Z  I don't know if you know who Charlie Daniels is but he did a song called Uneasy Rider in 1973 it is one of my all time favorites and your story reminded my of it . If you get a chance you tube it I think you might get a kick out of it . Maybe you could kinda relate it to your story .

Some folk won,t get it but the sound of an engine can be like music, I worked years ago with a Fiat 110/90 tractor, 6 cylinder turbo with a straight pipe!! Ah Robert getting goosebumps just thinking about it lol