When my family moved here in 1976 from Upstate NY, the first thing that took us by surprise in Louisiana was the popping of firecrackers on Christmas.  What?  The celebration of Jesus’ birth is supposed to be peaceful and reverent, right? 

Hell no.  In The South, as long as it comes from the heart, it doesn’t seem to matter what form partying takes.  We like it like that.

I have since embraced this celebratory mindset.  And yet, as southern as I have become, I can’t bring myself to ignite a brick of Black Cats in the name of The Lord.  Not that there’s anything wrong with it. 

Do you do this?  Why set off artillery shell paks on Christmas and not Mardi Gras?  Just wondering.   

“Under the microscope, I found that snowflakes were miracles of beauty; and it seemed a shame that this beauty should not be seen and appreciated by others.  Every crystal was a masterpiece of design and no one design was ever repeated.  When a snowflake melted, that design was forever lost.  Just that much beauty was gone, without leaving any record behind.”–Wilson “Snowflake” Bentley/Photographer, 1925

“Is there any truth to the rumor that we had to go 16:9 to accomodate Jody’s hair?”  –Clay Kirby 10-22-08

“The worst thing in the world is a caffeinated drunk.”  –Stephanie Samuels 12-18-08

“Studies show that men who stay at a healthy weight are 300-percent less likely to have fart…uh…heart failure than those who are obese.”  –Sherri Talley, on air 12-23-08

It’s the week of Christmas.  Maybe you have family in town.  You can’t eat every meal at home.  It’s just humanly impossible to do that and remain sanely intact.  So, where do you take them?   

The old Strawn’s is a tradition for us.  The waitresses there remember me setting my now college age son on the table in a baby carrier.  He gets embarrassed when I do that now. 

Anyway, local favorites?  Traditions?  What do you eat on Christmas morning?  I’m so nosy.     

“Oh, I’ve never been to Heaven, but I’ve been to Oklahoma.  They tell me I was born there, but I really don’t remember.”

“Your kiss is like the innocence of a prayer nailed to the door.”

“Because you’re mine - I walk the line.”

“So I kicked and I cussed that ole East Texas road - I throwd rocks at my truck which had busted my nose.  You add insult to injury -What do you get?  You get a bus stop full of honkies that don’t ever forget.” 

Your favorites? 

I stole this idea from my cousin, Kristin Talley, who asked for 16 random things.  Jump in.

1. I love this list.
2. I talk for a living.
3. I have two chicken pox scars on my face.
4. I have an under-developed artistic side.
5. I need a vacation.
6. I’m late to a meeting because I’m doing this.
7. I have an incredible work ethic.
8. Because of no. 7, I won’t be able to list 16 things.

Thanks for closing out another topic, Suzie!  You and John Smoltz are good at stuff like that. 

Okay, what do you want for Christmas? 

I can’t think of a thing, because I usually think only in terms of giving.  Is there no end to my goodness?  But, if I were forced to make a list, I might put on it a sewing kit for my ripped abs of steel.        

Hazel and Jimmy are getting new, laminated AARP cards and a box of Chuck Norris-autographed Huggies. 

Layoffs.  Recession.  Restructuring.  Uncertainty.

How are you responding?  Or are you at all? 

My sister and I are tackling ways to downsize and survive ‘09.  We’re trading down on vehicles, refinancing, spending smarter and learning new skills on the job.

This latest picture of Suzie and her fiance’ has me concerned that she’s taking our efforts too far, though.   Su, I know the house note on the bottle is low, but where am I going to stay when I come visit?  And the whole clothing-downsizing effort you’re rockin’ there…hmm.