Wishing everyone a safe and Happy New Year, and may 2026 be better for all of us!
And don’t forget to eat your traditional new years meal!!!
Southern style in my case… Yum!
9
The last day of 2025!
It’s been a year… hoo boy, has it ever!
Let’s hope 2026 is a better year for all of us!
Now the ‘important’ part is the food tomorrow night. The following depends on where you are in the world…
Southern US
- Black-Eyed Peas: Represent coins and abundance. Alternate is Hoppin’ John which is a combination of black-eyed peas, rice, and ham plus spices.
- Collard Greens: Symbolize cash and financial prosperity.
- Cornbread: Represents gold.
- Pork: Symbolizes progress.
Asian Traditions
- Long Noodles: Represent longevity; should not be broken.
- Dumplings: Shaped like ancient Chinese gold/silver ingots to represent wealth.
- Fish (Whole): Symbolizes surplus and abundance.
- Rice Cakes (Nian Gao/Ozoni): Represent prosperity, progress, and improvement.
- Spring Rolls: Symbolize wealth.
Global Traditions
- Pork/Sauerkraut: Common in German and Eastern European traditions for good luck and progress.
- Grapes: In Spain, eating 12 grapes at midnight represents 12 lucky months.
- Lentils: Popular in Italy as they resemble coins.
- Ring-Shaped Cakes: Doughnuts or bundt cakes are often served to symbolize coming full circle.
This is the Southern Living recipe for Hoppin’ John from HERE. It will feed quite a few folks…
Ingredients
- 6 thick-cut bacon slices, chopped
- 4 celery stalks, sliced (about 1 1/2 cups)
- 1 medium-size yellow onion, chopped (about 1 1/2 cups)
- 1 small green bell pepper, finely chopped (about 1 cup)
- 3 garlic cloves, chopped (about 1 Tbsp.)
- 1 tsp. chopped fresh thyme
- 1/2 tsp. black pepper
- 1/4 tsp. cayenne pepper
- 1 1/2 tsp. kosher salt, divided
- 8 cups lower-sodium chicken broth
- 4 cups fresh or frozen black-eyed peas
- 2 Tbsp. olive oil
- 1 1/2 cups uncooked Carolina Gold rice
- Fresh scallions, sliced
However you choose, enjoy the evening and ring in the new year!!!
The CF in Minnesota isn’t going away…
The first stories ‘leaked’ to the Intarwebz, then Nick Shirley dumped a 40+ minute video about the ‘child care’ centers…
FBI Director Kash Patel announced on Sunday that the Bureau has “surged” investigations into fraud in Minnesota.
Patel’s announcement comes after a journalist exposed rampant fraud among some in the state’s Somali community, an issue that has garnered national attention over the past month.
In a post on X, Patel noted that “even before the public conversation escalated online, the FBI had surged personnel and investigative resources to Minnesota to dismantle large-scale fraud schemes exploiting federal programs.”
Full article, HERE from Town Hall.
Which has forced the MSM’s hand, to a certain point, but even the few stories are mostly sob stories about how the Somalis are being ‘targeted’ for enforcement…
What people seem to not want to understand is that this level of corruption is a WAY OF LIFE for most Africans! Their whole culture revolved around stealing from others to enrich ‘their’ family.
‘Their’ family means literally their direct family, followed by their tribe, followed by other Somalis. As far as they are concerned, it’s them against everybody else, and they will use anything they can to win.
The Somalis have not ‘acclimatized’, ‘assimilated’, or anything else. They’ve huddled up by family and tribe, excluded any American influences, and continued their Somali lifestyle in MN.
Now that the fraud is becoming too big to hush up, it will be interesting to see how various agencies, along with various .gov organs respond.
To start the week…
For all those special ladies in our lives!
MIRROR, MIRROR ON THE WALL???
A look in the Mirror:
Age 3: Looks at herself and sees a Queen!
Age 8: Looks at herself and sees herself as Cinderella/Sleeping Beauty.
Age 15: Looks at herself and sees herself as Cinderella/Sleeping
Beauty/Cheerleader or if she is PMS’ing: sees Fat/Pimples/UGLY “Mom I can’t go to school looking like this”!
Age 20: Looks at herself and sees “too fat/too thin, too short/too tall, too straight/too curly” – but decides she’s going anyway.
Age 30: Looks at herself and sees “too fat/too thin, too short/too tall, too straight/too curly” – but decides she doesn’t have time to fix it, so she’s going anyway.
Age 40: Looks at herself and sees “too fat/too thin, too short/too tall, too straight/too curly” – but says,”At least, I’m clean” and goes anyway.
Age 50: Looks at herself and says, “I am” and goes wherever she wants to go.
Age 60: Looks at herself and reminds herself of all the people who can’t even see themselves in the mirror anymore. Goes out and conquers the world.
Age 70: Looks at herself and sees wisdom, laughter and ability; goes out and enjoys life.
Age 80: Doesn’t bother to look. Just puts on a “purple” hat and goes out to have fun with the world.
Send this on to all the women you are grateful to have as friends. Maybe we should all grab that purple hat a little earlier!!
I got nothing, so I’m taking a day off, see y’all Monday.
I still think it looks like a public trash can…
The Obama Presidential Center is breaking its silence after years of criticism over its unconventional design, with an Obama Foundation official now addressing public questions about the project.
Construction began in 2021, and Chicagoans have had mixed reviews about the design for the 225-foot-tall structure. The gray, mostly windowless building is on Chicago’s South Side and will serve as a presidential center and museum.
Obama Foundation Deputy Director Kim Patterson said the design of the building was a specific choice, including its lack of windows.
Full article, HERE from Fox News.
In addition to being well over budget, it’s also butt ugly. But that’s just ‘my’ opinion.
Over the years there have been a number of ‘questionable’ decisions apparently made by various folks involved with the foundation, including some interesting disbursements of funds and the lack of certain supposedly inviolate funds to back the whole mess.
And since it’s in Chiraq, I won’t ever be visiting in, so let them do what they want, I don’t care…
Feel for the parents out hunting more batteries for the kid’s toys…
The Day After Christmas
Twas the day after Christmas, and all through the house,
Every creature was hurtin’ even the mouse.
The toys were all broken, their batteries dead;
Santa passed out, with some ice on his head.
Wrapping and ribbons just covered the floor,
While upstairs the family continued to snore.
And I in my T-shirt, new Reeboks and jeans,
I went into the kitchen and started to clean.
When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from the sink to see what was the matter.
Away to the window I flew like a flash,
Tore open the curtains, and threw up the sash.
When what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But a little white truck, with an oversized mirror.
The driver was smiling, so lively and grand;
The patch on his jacket said “U.S. POSTMAN.”
With a handful of bills, he grinned like a fox.
Then quickly he stuffed them into our mailbox.
Bill after bill, after bill, they still came.
Whistling and shouting he called them by name:
“Now Dillard’s, now Broadway’s, now Penny’s and Sears
Here’s Robinson’s, Levitz’s and Target’s and Mervyn’s.
To the tip or your limit, every store, every mall,
Now chargeaway–chargeaway–chargeaway all!”
He whooped and he whistled as he finished his work.
He filled up the box, and then turned with a jerk.
He sprang to his truck and he drove down the road,
Driving much faster with just half a load.
Then I heard him exclaim with great holiday cheer,
“ENJOY WHAT YOU BOUGHT…….
YOU’LL BE PAYING ALL YEAR!”
And many thanks to those who enjoyed the spread below and their contributions to make it happen! And we have leftovers…
By the way, the pic is missing the ‘taters’ and gravy, and three more desserts! And it was ‘so’ good… burp…
I wish each of you joy and happiness in this Christmas season. Enjoy the time with family and friends.
Please take a moment and remember those who serve, not only the military; but the law enforcement, fire and EMS personnel who are out there today. They serve to protect us and help us live in freedom another day.
A Sailor’s Christmas-
Twas the night before Christmas, and he lived in a crowd,
In a 40 man berthing, with shipmates so loud.
I had come down the exhaust stack with presents to give,
And to see just who in this rack did live.
I looked all about, and a strange sight I did see,
No tinsel, no presents, not even a tree.
No stockings were hung, just boots close at hand,
On the bulkhead hung pictures ………of far distant lands.
He had medals and badges and awards of all kinds,
and a sobering thought came into my mind.
For this place was different, it was so dark and dreary,
I had found the home of a Sailor, this I could see clearly.
The Sailor lay sleeping, silent and alone,
Curled up in his rack, dreaming of home.
The face was so gentle, the berthing in such good order,
But not how I pictured a United States Sailor.
Was this the hero whom I saw on TV?
Defending his country so we all could be free?
I realized the families that I’ve seen this night,
Owed their lives to these Sailors who were willing to fight.
Soon round the world, the children would play,
And grownups would celebrate a new Christmas Day.
They all enjoyed freedom each month of the year,
Because of the Sailors, like the one lying here.
I couldn’t help but wonder how many lay alone,
On a cold Christmas Eve, on a sea far from home.
The very thought brought a tear to my eye,
I dropped to my knees and started to cry.
The sailor awakened and I heard a rough voice,
“Santa, don’t cry, for this life is my choice.”
“Defend the seas this day, the peace do I keep.”
The sailor then rolled over and drifted to sleep,
I kept watch for hours so silent, so still,
And we both shivered from the night’s cold chill.
I didn’t want to leave on that cold, dark night,
This guardian of honor so willing to fight.
Then the Sailor rolled over and with a voice soft and pure,
Whispered, “Carry on Santa, it’s Christmas..All is Secure”
Modified by Jim Fuqua, USN Retired
My traditional post-
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.
Author unknown, but a damn good one…
This one goes out to Brigid, Frito, Flake, Juvat, JP, JimJim, Wing, 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.”
TSO brings the goodness…
I hope this night finds you safe in home and hearth with family. Say a prayer for those in the military on duty world-wide who protect our freedoms…
The tree is up…
Not so much… my actual tree… all 2 feet of it. Hey, I don’t have kids or an SO that cares…
So cue up all those Christmas movies…
Miracle on 34th Street
White Christmas
It’s a Wonderful Life
Die Hard
A Christmas Story (and Ralphie!)
Gremlins
The Muppet Christmas Carol (the kids loved it)
The Santa Clause (kids loved that one too)
Holiday Inn
A Christmas Carol (original version)
A Charlie Brown Christmas (one of my favorites)
What say you? What was/is your favorite?