Famous First Words: T'was the night before Christmas... A Visit From St Nickolas by Clement Moore
Let's both be naughty and save Santa the trip. / Along with the three wise men, the shepherds, and the others who showed up at the manger, there was also a fellow on a white charger, wearing a suit of armor. But he didn’t have as good a publicity agent as those other guys, so he never got as famous as the others, only one Christmas song celebrates his part in the proceedings, “O Holy Knight.”.
Joyeux Noel ..... Buon Natale
..........Jeremiah was a bullfrog.........Three Dog Night …..Joy To The World
Glory to god in the highest and on earth peace, good-will to all --Luke 2:14
It is a beautiful Christmas Eve morning. The temperature is 51°F with a light southern breeze. The sun is shining through gossamer clouds winding like lace across the blue sky. The pavement is wet with dew and smells like a rain; the grass glistens with dew but the ground is not wet. It does not smell of fresh rain. The local murder of crows flies by and wishes us Merry Christmas with raucous voices. Puck barks a greeting back to them. A distant dog joins the conversation but Puck doesn't respond. We make it to the end of the cul-de-sac and sniff every blade of grass along the curb without getting our paws in the wet grass. Not a single car comes or goes during our walk and the noise of motors on other blocks seems muted and far away. With a final farewell bark we return to the house. It smells of brewing coffee and spent incense. Puck settles into his bed for his early morning nap and I fix coffee – today is Café Carmel – and sit down to write to you. What a great Christmas Eve.
Merry Christmas to all, ePistliers
First Funniest Thing I Read of the Week: If you're out today, be nice to the retail workers. It's not their fault you waited until Mary's water broke to shop. --Submitted by RHOZ
If I were the Grinch, I'd steal you. / Deck us all with Boston Charlie. --Walt Kelly / My kids said they want a cat for Christmas. Usually I serve turkey.
Frohe Weinachten … ....... Vrolijk derstfeest
..........We're dancing to the rhythm of your heart.........Rend Collective …..Joy
Gifts I Would Give You If I Could #1: All the time you need to do all the things you want to do
Trivia Questions: Do you know – or can you guess – from which country these Christmas traditions come?
^ Where (or when) was the very first recorded decorated Christmas?
^^ Where is the tradition of ringing bells on Christmas Eve to announce the devil's death enacted?
^^^ Which country celebrates La Noche Buena?
^^^^ Where is the Jolabokaflod (The Christmas Book Flood)?
^^^^^ Where does Christmas Eve dinner have to wait until the first star appears in the sky?
Big Hello: Namaste - Hindi https://www.omniglot.com/language/phrases/hello.htm
Extra Funniest Thing I Read of the Week: Velociraptor = distranceraptor divided by timeraptor
Second Funniest Thing I Read of the Week: Liz Cheney is hunting for culprits; we've all heard how hunting with a Cheney goes.
Max Picture of the Week: Max and the complex Christmas picture: Max is exercising with the person on tv. The tree is behind a fence. So are the presents.
Fake Library Statistics of the Week: The "Librarian Diet" is eating only one holiday treat each time you pass the break room. https://www.facebook.com/FakeLibStats/?fref=ts
Wanna make this a not so silent night? / Hipster Santa would prefer you leave out coconut water and a gluten free macaroon.
Wesołych świąt Bożego Narodzenia. … ......Feliz Natal
..........You move me.........Depeche Mode …..My Joy
Gifts I Would Give You If I Could #2: The apology you deserve but never got.
Moonbeam: The free thinking of one age is the common sense of the next. --Matthew Arnold
Meditation Seed of the Week: What is the ugliest Christmas ornament you ever owned or saw?
Next Funniest Thing I Read of the Week: A guy goes into his dentist’s office, because something is wrong with his mouth. After a brief examination, the dentist exclaims, “Holy Smoke! That plate I installed in your mouth about six months ago has nearly completely corroded! What on earth have you been eating?” “Well... the only thing I can think of is this... my wife made me some asparagus about four months ago with this stuff on it... Hollandaise sauce she called it... and doctor, I’m talkin’ DELICIOUS! I’ve never tasted anything like it, and ever since then I’ve been putting it on everything... meat, fish, toast, vegetables... you name it!” “That’s probably it,” replied the dentist “Hollandaise sauce is made with lemon juice, which is acidic and highly corrosive. It seems as thought I’ll have to install a new plate, but made out of chrome this time.” “Why chrome?” the man asked. “Well, everyone knows that there’s no plate like chrome for the Hollandaise!”
Let's pretend to be presents and get laid under the tree. / I never believed in Santa Claus because I knew no white dude would come into my neighborhood after dark. --Dick Gregory
Crăciun fericit. … ....... Geseënde Kersfees
..........Everything is on the wing..........Bonnie “Prince” Billy …..Joy And Jubilee
Gifts I Would Give You If I Could #3: The ability to talk to animals. ~~This might be a curse instead of a gift – not sure.
^ The city of Riga, Latvia holds the claim as home to history's first decorated Christmas tree, back in 1510.
Almanac: It is Friday, December 24, 2021. The moon will be in the last quarter on Sunday and is in Virgo. It is Christmas Eve and Egg Nog Day.
Among those born on this day were Johann Ernst Hartmann (1726), Kit Carson (1809), Henry Russell (1812), James P Joule (1818), Mathew Arnold (1822), Juan R Jimenez (1881), Howard Hughes (1905), I F Stone (1907), Adam Popovich (1909). Fritz Leiber, Jr (1910), Anwar El Sadat (1918), Ava Gardner (1922), Mary Higgins Clark (1927), Anthony Fauci (1940), and Mary Ramsey (1963).
On December twenty-fourth Wolsey was appointed Lord Chancellor of England (1515), Treaty of Ghent signed ending War of 1812 (1814), Silent Night was sung for the first time (1818), the first US Negro hospital was founded (Savannah, 1832), fire devastated the Library of Congress (1851), Aida premiered (1870), Caruso gave his last public performance (NYC, 1920), the London Colosseum opened (1922), La Zapatera Prodigiosa premiered (Madrid, 1930), the National Council of Negro Women was founded (1935), the first televised opera aired (Amahl & the Night Visitors, 1951), Laos gained independence (1954), and Mikhail Gorbachev resigned as head of the Soviet Union (1991).
Night Sky, 12/24: The Jupiter-Saturn-Venus line at dusk slowly continues to evolve. Saturn is now a little closer to Venus; a month ago it was closer to Jupiter. And the whole line is sliding farther to the lower right. http://www.skyandtelescope.com/observing/sky-at-a-glance/
Another Extra Funniest Thing I Read of the Week: Who knew there was such a fine line between prosperity theology and wretched excess. --Submitted by MMS
Image of the Week: Puck in his Christmas finery.
This Week: Saturday, December 25 – A'phabet Day aka No “L” Day & Christmas
Sunday, December 26 – Boxing Day & Kwanzaa, Day One & National Thank-you Note Day
Night Sky, 12/26: Orion shines orange Aldebaran with the large, loose Hyades cluster in its background. Binoculars are the ideal instrument for this cluster given its size: its brightest stars (4th and 5th magnitude) span an area about 4° wide. Higher above, the Pleiades are hardly more than 1° across counting just the brightest stars.
Monday, December 27 – Howdy Doody Day & Visit the Zoo Day
Tuesday, December 28 – Holy Innocents Day & Endangered Species Act Day & Pledge of Allegiance Day
Wednesday, December 29 – Tick Tock Day & YMCA Day
Night Sky, 12/29 : Mars, far and faint at magnitude +1.6, is very low in the dawn this week far below high Arcturus. Mars is crossing upper Scorpius.
Thursday, December 30 – Bacon Day & Falling Needles Family Fest
I must be a snowflake, because I've fallen for you. / You're either Buddy the Elf or the Grinch. There is no middle ground.
Eedookh Breekha ...... .... shubho bôṛodin
..........Now my morning has broken.........Bastille …..Joy
^^ According to old English folk tales, the Devil died when Jesus was born. So some towns developed a Christmas Eve tradition of ringing the church bells near midnight to announce the Devil’s demise. In England this custom was called tolling or ringing “the Devil’s knell.”
Former Preantepenultimate Thing I Read of the Week: Sanity Saver: The last kid out of bed in the morning gets to open the first present. --Submitted by RHOZ
Moonbeam: Every government is run by liars. --I F Stone
Video of the Week: The Silent Monks sing the Hallelujah Chorus
Ollie's Very Own Picture of the Week: Ollie on cowbell for the Jayhawks
Yet Another Extra Funniest Thing I Read of the Week: Imagine how excited Barn Owls were when humans invented barns. --Submitted by ma of va
Not So Late Night Snacks of the Week: Christmas trees, in general, are found to improve your mental well being but the benefit falls off sharply when you buy a fake tree This is because an artificial tree is far less likely to fall on the family member causing your mental health problems. --Peter Sagal Wait Wait Don't Tell Me 12/18/21
How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace. --Romans 10:15
Favorite Christmas Quote of the Week: ...a kid so stoned even the cows knew it. --Stephen Gaskin
You must be an evergreen, you look good all year around. / Reindeer games: I'll see your five golden rings and raise you three French hens.
Chag Molad Sameach ...... .... Linksmų Kalėd
..........Life is the answer to all the questions.........Soul II Soul …..Joy
^^^ In Peru, December 24th, which is known as La Noche Buena (“the Good Night”), is the main day for celebrations. After mass, families go home to feast, open gifts, and toast each other at midnight. The most important decorations are pesebre– Nativity scenes intricately carved from wood or stone. Gifts are spread around the manger rather than a tree, and it’s considered lucky to be the one chosen to put the figurine of baby Jesus into the manger on Christmas Eve.
Former Antepenultimate Funniest Thing I Read of the Week: According to a new poll, this year the majority of people started their Christmas shopping before November. Mostly because nobody has known what month it is since March 2020. --Jimmy Fallon
Still Another Extra Funniest Thing I Read of the Week: .It's perfectly OK to talk to yourself and it's perfectly OK to answer yourself. But it's totally sad that you have to repeat what you said because you weren't listening. --Submitted by ss of kc
Collective Nouns of the Week: An assembly of toys and a chorus of angels
Wacky Uses for Common Products: Clean a stainless steel sink. Sprinkle Arm & Hammer Baking Soda on a damp sponge, scrub the sink, and rinse clean. https://www.wackyuses.com/wacky/armhammer.html
Puzzle of the Week: Last week's challenge came from Michael Shteyman, of Freeland, Md. Think of a major US city in two words. Insert an L in the exact middle of the second word. Now read the first word forward and the second word backward, and you'll name two things associated with this time of year. What are they? --NPR Puzzle Sunday 12/19/21
I can tell you're quite the elf-a male. / Last year I gave you my heart. This year you're getting socks.
Maligayang Pasko .......... Meri Kirihimete
would cradle you tight in my arms, always.........Snow Patrol …..You Are My Joy
Gifts I Would Give You If I Could #4: A Feeling of peace so profound it makes you a bit sleepy
^^^^ People in Iceland will often exchange books on Christmas Eve, then spend the rest of the night reading them and eating chocolate. The tradition is part of a season called Jolabokaflod, or “The Christmas Book Flood.” As a result, Iceland publishes more books per capita than any other country selling most of them between September and November.
I've Lost Count of Extra Funniest Things I Read of the Week: Always Jingle All The Way...Nobody likes a half-assed jingler. --Submitted by PsyDe
Former Penultimate Funniest Thing I Read of the Week: I watched a Hallmark movie backwards. A woman in an ugly Christmas sweater dumped her loser, small town boyfriend to pursue a law career in NYC where she lived happily ever after in pencil skirts and amazing shoes. --Crystal Lowery
Name That Poet Of The Week: I made myself a snowball As perfect as could be, I thought I'd keep it as a pet, And let it sleep with me...
Vintage Players One Liner of the Week: Have you ever noticed: The Roman Numerals for forty (40) are XL
You must live at the north pole, because you're so cool. / Santa: Before you laugh at children for believing in me, remember there are adults that believe Donald Trump won the election.
E güeti Wïnâchte .......... Meri Kirihimete
..........Love like ours will never grow old.........Stevie Ray Vaughan …..Pride and Joy
Gifts I Would Give You If I Could #5: Permission to be imperfect
^^^^^ On Christmas Eve in Poland, dinner cannot begin until the first star appears in the night sky, symbolizing the sight of the star of Bethlehem. But tradition dictates that the breaking of the oplatek– a Polish Christmas wafer– also has to happen before everyone can eat. An oplatek is a thin, tasteless wafer that is typically rectangular in shape and is often embossed with a traditonally Christmas symbol, such as the Nativity or the Star of Bethlehem. Once everyone is gathered around the table, each person will break off a piece of the wafer as they wish each other Merry Christmas, along with wishes for peace and prosperity.
My Own Writing of the Week: Hidden in Spirit
Come sing with me a merry song and I will play for you
the harp that dwells within your soul.
Come play with me a happy song and I will stir for you
the pipes that lay silent in your mind.
Come laugh with me a joyful song and I will set to music
the quiet melodies in your spirit.
Poet of the Week: Shel Silverstein Snowball
Former Final Funniest Thing I Read of the Week: New Movie Idea: Small town farm boy goes to the big city and falls in love with a hotshot lawyer woman who convinces him to move into the city and start hating Christmas.
Final Extra Funniest Thing I Read of the Week: Imagine you miss a payment on a Tesla and it just drives itself right back to the dealership. --Submitted by INRITH
Answer to Puzzle of the Week: Santa Fe → Santa, elf
Today's Peace of History, December 24, 1935: Extraordinary educator and political leader Mary McLeod Bethune (1875-1955) founded NCNW as an “organization of organizations” to represent national and international concerns of Black women.
Call me Rudolph, because you just sleigh me. / I know what I'm getting for Christmas, fat. I'm getting fat.
Hyvää joulua .......... Veselé Vánoce
..........Let it move you, let it move, let it move you.........For King And Country …..Joy
Gifts I Would Give You If I Could #6: Freedom from fear (and a fun pair of socks)
Masthead of the Week: Friday ePistle December 24, 2021, ePistle eVe. Online at: http://fridayepistle.blogspot.com/ Exclusive editor: Christine Smith. 2511 Morningside Dr. Lawrence, KS 66047
Strange Fact of the Week: Christmas was originally celebrated as an adult form of "trick or treat," but with the "treat" consisting of booze and the threatened "trick" consisting of bodily harm or destruction of property.
Moonbeam: It is so small a thing to have enjoy'd the sun. --Matthew Arnold
Cost of War:
As of 12/23/21 Military Costs of War since 2001: $2,937,575,675,806.
As of 12/16/21 Military Costs of War since 2001: $2,936,378,997,958.
As of 12/23/21 Homeland Security Costs since 2001: $1,092,709,430,830.
As of 12/16/21 Homeland Security Costs since 2001: $1,092,096,596,936.
As of 12/23/21 State Department War on Terror Costs since 2001: $166,637,371,624.
As of 12/16/21 State Department War on Terror Costs since 2001: $166,073,110,623.
As of 12/23/21 Interest on War Debt since 2001: $1,024,538,770,275.
As of 12/16/21 Interest on War Debt since 2001: $1,022,962,910,144.
As of 12/23/21 Veterans Care since 2001: 2,191,525,019,174 .
As of 12/16/21 Veterans Care since 2001: 2,179,584,236,613 .
As of 12/23/21 Total Cost of Wars since 2001: $7,412,991,947,553.
As of 12/16/21 Total Cost of Wars since 2001: $7,397,097,854,512.
https://www.nationalpriorities.org/cost-of/
"Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness." --James 3:18
..........Let the angel voices sing.........George Fredrick Handel ….Joy To The World
Nadelik Lowen....K K KKrismas Chibai
Yule do. / Janet was traveling to Seattle on business. Knowing how the winter weather is in that city and lacking the proper clothing, she went to a local outdoor shop to buy wet weather boots. Not finding what she was looking for at several stores, a salesman finally suggested that she go to Rudolph’s.“Rudolph’s?” Janet said. “Do you mean the Russian specialty store?” To which the salesman answered, “Rudolph the Red knows rain gear.”
Famous Last Words: Peace, I implore you! Peace, peace, peace! --Aida
May Peace enlighten your holidays
And Joy permeate your celebrations
prairie mama
christine
Last Laugh:
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