McSpocky's January Holidays Party

McSpocky, My favorite drink is Vodka. It used to be wine because I grew up drinking it when we had dinner at grandmom and granddad's house. He used to make his own wine. It was too dry but I developed a taste for it in my youth. Passed to Vodka and other mixed drinks every now and then.

Abby thanks for the international display.

genevieveva, while there was booze in our house, for our white friends, drinking it was not allowed in our family. Not too much tolerance for alcohol my Dad said and he was right. I tried a Black Russian at an office party once many years ago and don't even remember getting home. I drink a single glass of Chardonnay every once in a while now but, if I drink 2, I get a buzz that is very uncomfortable so, 1 is the limit. I'm really a cheap date!! :>)) Happy New Year to you and yours and everyone else too.

FINutmegger; Wow, I was a cheap drunk but you beat me. No one in my family were big drinkers. When young we could party but it was never a habit. My father entertained but rarely drank. He passed before I was out of school.

I was shocked when I got old enough to realize that some would get addicted to drinking. A eye opening experience to watch happen to another soul. Sad....... I grew up and moved to a farm and we had a lot of parties when I was young. Our place was were everyone showed up and were feed. They worked for their food when I got home from working in those days. It was an amazing group of souls. They were test subjects while I learned to cook. I saw all kinds and enjoyed them all. Problems or not as long as they helped with the garden. I used to work all day, gather food all evening, can and freeze for winter, and feed all there. It was a part of my life I value. Saw more life at a small farm than expected. I never drank much except for rare occasions which I still get reminded of to this day. I did like to have fun and play jokes on anyone and everyone including those I worked with. A fun time of youthful growth. I went to college later after I save some money. As usual, I partied when I could but was normally too busy living. Another part of my life. It is ongoing.

Happy New Years to all.

Happy New Year, Soph!

Party Hearty!

Happy New Year's morning!

McSpocky- Happy New Years-- And to all the party people ! Party and be safe...

Such an inspiring video, Nina! It's some of the best filming I've ever seen!

Hope you have a beautiful 2012!

WW, you're a great friend too! Happy New Year to you!

WW, you're a great friend too! Happy New Year to you"

Darrah- My Friend- Thank you for all your insight and helpful direction this year!

It's a party! See you all soon... only 7 hours until 2012!

common sense- That's from your perspective. Some of us have to wait a little longer. Happy New Year---

Awe, thanks Darrah and Spocky. I placed another video just as beautiful on my site today. No one seems to visit, so I seldom post anything. Maybe I am doing something wrong? Or maybe my seeds are boring.... lol

Do you have the New Years Party URL? My browser crashed and I cannot get FF up and running. I had bookmarked it there.

I was going to ask if anyone looked at the global map and time zones yet? I keep forgetting that some are still waiting for the New Year.

I hope those still celebrating, waiting or finished, all have a wonderful, joyful and healthy 2012 new year.

Wow Nina loved the video.

A beautiful video clip, Nina. Thank you for that link.

Darrah, can you imagine the clean up needed after their ball drops? I would think of that. Well, I hope they get paid overtime. Nice take home pay for the new year.

I was watching the Nightly News and saw all the confetti! It's probably going to take a week to clean up.

But it was so exciting to watch the goings on in NYC last night. I was just sitting here (without the TV near me) and of course it had to be at 11:50 that it occurred to me to search for it online! LOL

I almost felt like all of newsvine was going to miss it if they didn't read my comment in the next 10 min! OMG!

Did you get enough sleep, gene? I don't know about you, but it feels a little strange when we begin a new year.

Darrah, I rarely get enough sleep but last night it was. Thank you. You know you are a newsvine junkie when you think of it in the middle of a wonderful fireworks display or check it as soon as you get up at 4am. I know I am a news junkie here.

The new year will be reality the first time I write a check and mess up the date.

Been thinking today. I think I am going to motivate myself to get back into fixing up this place. I have been sitting here since last night thinking about the changes I would like to see. Changes that will make daily home activities easier. Two years ago, I actually added a 10' x 28' extension/addition to this place. Still can not believe I did it alone except for putting in the windows. I need to add a few little things and finishing touches. I have decided to save for other projects that will make this family get away a bit nicer. Now I just hope I manage to get it done.

I was looking at the celebrations we have in January. Did not know about several of them. I hope 2012 is wonderful for us all.

How can you put Justin Bieber in that group? He's way too young for this party......

I still have my Authentic Davey Crockett Coon Skin Hat from when I was 4 years old. And I have a Coon Skin Jacket/coat.

I like the guy trying to open the glass case in the grocery store!

I don't remember how to use Facebook...But then I've never been on Facebook.

McSpocky; LOL. Being that drunk has to be extremely painful the next day.

I usually planned for a blitz event. I was taken by surprised years ago by two drinks. Karen and I went out on one of our girls night out. During one holiday, a group of our superiors at work unexpectedly invited us to their party. The host (our boss) gave us a mixed drink and a shot on the side as soon as we arrived.

A few sips of the delicious drink, blow my head back. Drinking the shot blow our heads off even Karen's. She was better at handling liquor. Turns out, this was a well planned pay-back by everyone at the party. Karen and I were infamous for practical jokes on peers, bosses, everyone in the chain of command. We did not discriminate. As hoped, we gave everyone a wonderful show and plenty of material to use. Our boss was crazy enough to let Karen ride her son's four wheel motorcycle. Of course, I was easily talked into getting on with Karen. She used a dirt mound before a creek to launch the bike and us into the air just making it to the other side. Insanity of my 20's. We spent the rest of the evening sobering up from 2 unusual drinks so we could get Karen home to rescue her babysitter. The worse revenge was those ladies never told us what was in either drink. We were only told the shot was a combination of 5+ different liquors. Wicked and excellent joke.

gen-

It's a wonder we are still alive, isn't it?

LOL

Tina, It amazes me every single day. Made it to a brand new year. Whoopie......

Still laughing, gen! I have work tomorrow, and I'm still laughing...! Payback's a bitch, but she's always funny!

cobalblue; when you're right - you're right! payback is definitely an unforgiving female mega beo'cha". Sorry, don't know how to say or spell bitch the way my sister's daughter says it. Calling just to ask her that question seems risky. In trying to sound cool, I might be using a term that is even more insulting. How would I know at my age?

If we were lucky, our youthful days were a wealth of personal experiences. Would not trade those seconds - learned from each. An amazing emotional ride in a very rapid pinball game.

I like the term "sunny beach"

(get it?)

Yeah, that's good Tina! I can hear me now the next time someone cuts me off: "Why you lousy, rotten, knuckle-draggin', beer swillin', piece o' crap sunny beach!!" Yep. That's me sitting in my next traffic jam. Nice touch. I like it, Tina.

You can pinch their little heads off too while you are at it. Works for me.

Morning everyone. Got me a fresh cup of coffee and my tabs up so I don't get confused while I'm floating and Cob, I didn't spill any beer. LOL

FFR, that's a fine bit o' balancing you got there! You're right. You didn't spill a drop of beer! Here ... I've got some Jamieson's here for our coffee. Salud!

OOH thanks Cheers- mmmm that's so goooood.

Tina, that is great. Love it and hope I retain it for later. Thank you.

FFR, you mean pinch their little heads like this?

Yes and I did it with great pleasure as hard as I could and saying what Cob said. Try it sometime.

Everyone looked so happy which was nice to see again. Thank you.

Here's mine!

Cobalt's Resolution

Love and Forgiveness . (That's the resolution)

cobalt- Hilarious!

mightyj- I'm all for that resolution!

ear...............OOOOOOOOOOOOOCough Hack hack I'm ok now

Got it. Hack hack, cough..

'Ere...

Don't bogart it, guys!

Bogart! Teehee ... haven't heard that in a while~ Yeah, pass the doob, man...

You can never be to late or too early for one of these parties

I LIKE that in a party! May as well camp out Jan. 31 for the February one.

The dilemma of being in two places at once!

Love It!!!

That's no dilemma. You may turn and face yourself being two places at one.

Happy January, FFR, and notsojingo.

Happy January everyone. Boy was I confused.

It's also humiliation day. How appropriate.

notsojingo, Thanks for the FR. I Accept with honor.

Will catch up with everyone later. It's 2:00 and I have to get up by six .

notsojingo, perhaps you would like to share my NY resolution:

Cobalt's Resolution

As soon as the shrooms wear off...I'm All In!

;-)

Check with gen, notso...you'll find her at 19.6. She'll be on our Grey Goose Flight No. 420, arriving Hawaii 4:20 pm.

LOL exactly! lost in the party shuffle......

LOL, Thank you, thank you, thank you. I get lost all the time. Bless you all for adding me to the Grey Goose. I would be so depressed if you all arrived in Hawaii and I was lost in a darn airport. I could see what would happen to me when I show a typical Italian emotion in an airport now. Believe me, that would cause years of therapy.

It is a time to party.

Our Limo is the Giant Pineapple!

I never saw such a big pineapple. There's room for all of us!

Grey Goose w/pineapple, please. Thanks Bahtendah.

Where is js-445607? She could lead us kids around to all the best spots, I bet!

She could show us her Snand Man and take us whale watching.

Fighting- Don't feel bad: confused is my natural state.

gen- paisana!

WOO HOO Tina's here. Time to start heading to the airport. Are you packed?

YOO HOO! Effie! Ahm heah! Am Ah correct in assuming awl three of us girls were flying out to Ha-wa-ee? On the golden flying pineapple limo or whatevah it is?

Am awl packed. Got mah Ha-wai-an shirts n lil sandals to show off mah ankles. Oh no, Ah plumb fergot sun screen, since it has well nigh been forevah since Ah last SAW hide nor hair of Old Sol. Ah hope the hotel shop has some on hand.

It's a 747-Stretch, so the more, the merrier! Tan Don't Burn will not apply until reaching the Island, Dahlings!

Where is js-445607? She could lead us kids around to all the best spots, I bet!

Oh heck yeah, she could. I have an idea!! Let's all get really disgusting, sloppy, Baywatch-Star-hamburger-on-the-floor-eatin' drunk and surprise her! Really late when they're fast asleep so we can really surprise her! She'll like that.

I'm ready for some Adventure!!!!!!!!!!!

I hope we get lei'd at the airport first thing!

Me too. It's been years since I've been Lei'd.

Ah blush to admit, since this will be mah very first tahm in lovely Hawaii, it will also be the first time I will be lei'd. Oh ahm so embarrassed, ah hope ah don't go to pieces on the tarmac. (hope they're gentle)

We had this for supper

And it was WONDERFUL, fast, quick and easy to make.

Minnie Dahling, Ah've been lei'd in Flahda but taint nevah believed I'd evah go ta Hawaii to git myself lei'd years latah. I hope you enjoy youah first time and we'll all be watchin to make gosh dawn suah those who lei ya aah gentle when they lei yew on the tarmac.

I get lei'd on a regular basis...

But never on a tarmac!

Tina I tried to send you a FR but a message came up that your name is not there. Send me one OK?

OK

Thanks. I guess that means we accept each other .((((Tina))))

This was my Hawaii super. Served with a smile, fresh food, drinks, and lasted a long time.

I'll bet he did...

(((Fighting)))

Anyone else need a hug?

They are my specialty!

Thanks Tina (((((Group)))))

What did you have for dinner? Did you honor the holiday? Any requests?

((((((((((((MCSPOCKY))))))))))))

I would LOVE a hug, but I just finnished my fourth bowl of beans, so be ready for anything!

Missed getting in on the Party recently, but am just recovering from three days of bad headaches, so it is great to be able to PARTY AGAIN!!!

YEOWCH! I can't imagine, notso. Here, c'mere. Forget that 12 hour thing I said earlier...I mean, if the Royal Family can put up with it, so can I. Let me take a deep breath before I go in for that hug you so richly deserve...

If They Can, So Can I

Three days of bad headaches, Notso? Cum here... join the Club... I can empathise here Big Time.... Three day Headache Club are for the brave, those that have courage to go where man fears... the place where only few dare to tread.. (now, where have I heard those words before...?). Anyway, Big Hugs... you are initiated!!

jingo, I hear ya, I woke up a midnight with a BITCH of a migraine, still have a bit of it nagging me. time for a hot shower and more drugs :)

(excedrin migraine is all that is working nowadays unfortunately -- built up a tolerance to the prescription stuff that used to work) :(

(((((Belle)))))

belle,

When I get a migraine, Ok nobody laugh at this.

I wash or wet my hair, and in a very dark room I sleep under a hair dryer-putting a cold pack on my feet, works like magic

I'm wired backwards -- I put one of those cold gel packs in a towel and put it over my eyes after taking a hot shower...toes HAVE to be warm for me :)

the towel works double benefit -- blocks out light and keeps the cold pack from being too cold

I hate that my friends get headaches. I just don't get them unless they're self-induced. My Mom had migraines, and they're awful. We could tell when she had a bad one because she'd cut her own hair. Her hair hurt her. That makes me close to tears. Luckily, she had a hair person that could fix her up in a jiff. And I took a regular Excedrin once and it had me shaking from the strength of it; I can't even imagine taking an Excedrine Migraine.

And I'm thrilled you found a solution to your headaches, MJL. But how on earth did you come upon it???

Thanks for the kind thoughts, and I SOOOOOO wish none of us could relate to these monster head spears. Light sensitivity ones are my worst enemy, but none are our friend, that is for Damned Sure!!

I will have to dig out my hair dryer from the 70's, MJ!!! <<~~~~***DISCO HAIR***~~~~>>

LOL! I Luv U Guys!

notsojingo, the sound blocks out everything

Belle, I had a friend who did the same thing, didn't work for me so I reversed it , that 's me half assed backwards.

phew...usually it's me that's backwards -- I can even drink a full caffeinated soda then go right to bed. my body is used to that to the point where caffeine makes me sleepy now :P

me too, and I don't even have to get up and peein the middle of the night :) :)

ear..........OOOOOOOO

Thanks, FFR! [cough, cough....] Ah, good wake up. 'Ear ... anyone?

Is that the Hazy, sure :o}-

I was just out watching everybody's garbage cans, they are apparently having a meeting at the end of the street, cause that's where they all are.

Real strong winds here today.

Is it as cold where you are as it is where I am? The sun is shining so that's a good thing.

It was 37 degrees when I woke up. Wanted to stay in bed with another blanket.

Not quite that cold, it may have hit the upper 40's here, but the wind has picked up and has a real bite to it and we won't get much above 60. There are some freeze warnings for tonight inland, which will make for some cold frogs and gators :o)

Little hand waving back and forth here. Any shrooms or anything?

That's my girl, gen!!!

Leb- It barely reached 50 degrees today and is windy. Frogs are easier to skin if they are cold if you're planning frog legs for dinner. Freeze warnings for tonight here and probably colder than you are going to see. Have to get the bottle of Brandy out. Want some?

Cob and Gen, Hope there's some coffee left for me. I'm freezing.

Here FFR, I just took this throw out of the dryer. Throw it over your shoulders while I go get you some Bailey's and coffee. After I rinse my mouth and wash my hands. The skinning of frog legs made me throw up in my mouth a little, but then so do memories of some of dates I've been on.

Oh man, remind me to tell you about frog giggin sometime out in the glades, what a hoot :o)

Brandy sounds dandy and unlike candy, won't rot your teeth.

I went gigging too a long time ago. Lots of mosquitoes and water moccasins and those glowing eyes of the Gators and they said there was nothing to worry about. You could not pay me to eat those legs at the time. They looked like tiny baby bottoms. Now I love them but I still refuse to skin them.

BTW Leb it is 42 degrees now and 35 at Blue Springs N. of Orlando. I knew my squirrels were gathering acorns for a reason.

Thanks Cob. for the warmth and for washing your hands first and for not throwing upo in my cup of coffee. : )

Leb, you are such a good poet you need to visit Cob and me at MinnieApolis page. All three of us came up with poems with words that rhyme with Jagermeister and Baileys. And they said it couldn't be done.

Thanks FFR :o)

How cold is it?

It is so cold, that tomorrows early highlight will be out back looking for the Iguanas that lost their grip during the night. I'll be armed with my camera lol

Do they land like cats or or on their backs? :)

it's now 39.9 degrees

Plenty of coffee for anyone dealing with this cold. I just made another pot. It is cold here. I was not expecting it to get this cold. Should of paid attention. I was waiting for it to heat up today. I did not even pay attention to comments made here. Someone should of slapped me hard. What a fool I am sometimes. I had plants I should of protected. Poor babies.

I watched a program where the Iguanas just froze in place. Not even move off the bank. Cats are smarter:-))

I just came back from putting a Ceramic Heater in the utility room for the feral cats and put a furry blanket on the floor. Hubby remembered to bring the new key lime tree in but forgot to cover my tomatoes and peppers. They are predicting a freeze for 3-5 hours where I am. I also just remembered that I didn't get the mail today so had to do that. What a beautiful Sky tonight but too cold to stare at it without a blanket.

It's now 36*

Hey Lebowsky! Sounds like a lot of us are in the same cold front!!

45 feels like 39.

What time is it where you are? It's 3 here'

It was 3 am here at the same time it was 3 am there!

;))

It's 33.5*. Too early to get up but after a couple hours sleep I'm wide awake having coffee. Anyone else up?

Lebowsky, I hope you didn't get hit in the head by one of those Frozen Iguanas. Where's the photos you promised.

We put our Christmas tree out by the garden when we left for Chicago for New Years but when we returned it was nowhere to be found.

Probably in a field 2 or 3 miles down the road.

Thanks McS. That's pretty cool. We have a Weather Station on our roof that is connected to hubby's computer. He is active in Ham Radio and is one of the weather reporters on the Hurricane Watch Net and for the National Weather Service when we are having storms.

Your link means I won't have to get up and look.

Crap it was cold this morning, and when I went out in search of the illusive Iguana in the park across the street, camera in hand, nothing but disappointment. None to be found, laying on their backs, little clawy feet pointed to the sky, eyes glazed, nothing.

When I got home, to my surprise, a couple of the little buggers figured out how to beat the cold. :o)

Actually that pic is from an article I wrote back in Oct. Meet the New Neighborse, I was actually glad I didn't find them frozen. I would have felt obligated to take em home and warm them up.

Glad you didn't find them feet up too. It is still dang cold outside. All the kitties were sleeping on the blanket when hubby took the food to them. We leave the door ajar so they aren't trapped. They use a litter box so no worry about accidents.

I have been reading your articles so had seen the photos. I like the one about your telescope too and the link to the group. I finally got one last year but haven't played with it enough. Mine has camera capability but I haven't tried to use that feature yet.. It's a Rokinon

I couldn't resist playing with that name you were discussing . It just popped in my head. I thought the name suited our ex leader. LOL

It has actually warmed up here a tad, the wind has lost it's bite.

No worries about the name game lol it was FlNutmegger that figured it out or shall i say proposed the theory. But it is funny. FlN's article comment: #1.3

Ahhhh telescopes and astronomy..... all my life.

Thanks for taking me to FINs article. LOL

I am glad I used that name appropriately though I had no idea what you were talking about. I had a mental picture and before I knew it I posted my comment. I was so hoping I had not upset anyone. I knew it was funny but did not belong in your article. But then again if you had not said the name - oh well. It does suit him and I always thought he was an alien anyway and would be on the first flight to Mars because he wanted to get home.

I loved Astronomy when I was in school and I learned Celestial Navigation before we started Cruising. That was before GPS. I used a sextant, Celestial Navigation Tables and I still have my old star charts . The tables I used went to 2000. There they stopped just like the Mayan Calendar stops this year. Remember Y2K?

I grab a blanket and sit outside getting ate up by skeeters whenever there's a meteor shower . I got so excited when I got a telescope for Christmas last year(2010) which I had not asked Santa for and had not even mentioned wanting one in years. I've now seen Saturn's Rings, Jupiter's Moons and the Blue Moon and hope one day to learn more about the solar system. I never put the telescope away. It's ready at a moments notice in the corner of my living room. Hubby's not interested so it's just me out there looking.

I use to stay outside at night when I was a kid. I still make a wish on the first star I see and on occasion I even Howl at the moon.

Thanks McSpocky. I'm glad you approve. Thanks for the message. One of these days I'll know what I'm doing. LOL

MMMmmmm Hot Chocolate for everybody!!! With an Additive

FFR I'm still waiting to hear back from 58 on that one, I ended up sending links to the 2 articles and comment you saw, that should do it. It started when I said. Pssst,,, That's Former President Bush :o)

Anyhow, thats pretty cool your the navigator, a great skill to have. I have a million star gazing stories to tell, some involve street lights and lasers, thanks to my creative sons.

Have you ever looked into star chart software, talk about hitting the learning accelerator. I currently use The Sky. I dialed in an observatory in Cypress to help Teresa after she read one of my articles, and one in AU for Abby :o)

Anybody get out to look for the Quadrantids last night? I was too comfy.

You read my mind. I've had too much coffee so was thinking how good hot chocolate would be. Thanks.

Was 58 serious about not getting it? I'm still wondering what possessed FIN to come up with that. LOL

I did not want to get lost at sea. While in Port when we bought our first sailboat ,we listened to the wife of the commodore of our yacht club calling for help via VHF Radio to the coast guard because he had fallen and hit his head and she had no idea where they were. Navigation was his job. She knew how to steer by a compass but little else. It took the coast guard 11 hours to find them because she didn't know if she was North or South of the port and she couldn't see land.

So I took lessons from a woman who had sailed around the word. We spent months taking sights with the sextant before I thought I was ready to try it for real off shore.It was pretty cool. Of course daytime you use the sun and night time you use planets or stars. But I felt confident that if I threw hubby overboard I could find my way to some island and hide.

I have some programs but have not loaded them yet . I did link to one site , I think at Science.com that led to an observatory when I first got the telescope. It may be bookmarked or on a disk.

It was too cold for me last night. I went out for about 3 minutes and came back inside. The sky was so clear! I was shivering too bad to even think about getting the camera.

We spent months taking sights with the sextant

so THAT'S what you're calling it now...

You should try it sometime. : o)

Ahhhh telescopes and astronomy..... all my life.

I love astronomy! I was just outside right this second. Crisp and clear. What is that planet north of the moon? I'll Google it, but I thought you might know. You can really see Betelgeuse and the reddish tint to it is so pretty. I think you can see it so well because it's so clear and still. Hardly any winds.

I saw it last night and you are right about the sky being so clear. I didn't look to see what's available right now. I have street lights in front so have to go out back and the neighbors porch light is on. My house is on a corner lot.

I loved astronomy, SiFi and had a huge party for the first shuttle launch. Everyone humored me. I want my jetson's car any day now. Dang it. I was so bummed to watch the last launch. I loved the night time blast off. It would reflect off the lake and I had a grand view without any crowds. I would take sparklers and everything with me. Nuts, I know. I hear they are working on a new shuttle but less expensive and time consuming. I hope that is true. Even if I am in doggy heaven by then, I will watch it some how.

Hey, gen! I'll see you up there. I too have asked God to send me to pet heaven if there's a different heaven for pets. If they do, it'll be top notch and first class because animals are such unconditional loves.

I believe it was Jupiter last night. Here's the site I regularly go to if I need to know what's up there: Night Sky I'm on a corner lot too, FFR. Unfortunately, that means I have a street light pretty much in front of my house and my backyard and the two yards that abut mine have lots of trees at the fenceline. But last night it was so clear, you could almost touch the stars. Gorgeous.

Early in the evening tonight, Jupiter (binocs will let you see the 4 Galilean moons) is the bright one overhead, 2 nights ago Jupiter was in conjunction with the moon (dancing). Tonight the Moon will be just east of the Pleiades (7 sisters) and that will make them hard to see. In the WSW the bright planet is Venus. Imagine a line between Jupiter and Venus.

10 degrees (20 full moon widths) up from Venus going towards Jupiter is Neptune (binoculars maybe on a dark night or telescope).

32 degrees (64 moon widths) from Neptune going towards Jupiter is Uranus (need a scope for that LoL).

From Uranus it is almost 30 degrees back to Jupiter. Cool huh?

As your looking back up from Venus to Jupiter, and tilting your head back, be careful not to fall over backwards lol This is just after the cocktail hour after all.

Thanks for the info.It will be great knowing I'm not sky watching alone and have someone to tell me where to look.

Frost this morning glistening in the sun. We're above 40*F.

I have trees and the neighbors have trees too but I have a big patio open on three sides. As long as the planet is above the roof line I shouldn't have a problem. I'll be sure to be in the chaise lounge if I have to lean back too far.

I just returned from spending an hour outside wrapped in a blanket shivering so bad that all the planets and the Moon were dancing while I was trying to focus through my binoculars. My blanket got wet from the dew. 89% humidity. It is too cold. I had six cats doing figure eights around my ankles trying to trip me. So I gave up.

You were right on with your directions Leb, so Thanks. It is a crystal clear night sky tonight.

Where is my Jamesons and coffee?

OH, Effie, cold plus damp is just no good. Come on ovah to the bah, girl, and wahm yourse'f with a bit of libations. Will ordah the coffee-plus ahead and save a seat for ya.

Wow, that is high humidity FFR, it's only maybe 20% here and my lips are like cobble stones. I was out just at 6:30 and was glad to see things where I thought lol I do verify and it is clear here.

More Hot chocolate here :o)

When I was a kid (way back when) I used to go out into the back yard on summer nights and gaze up at the stars.

Now there are too many lights.

I remember several years ago we were driving through Arizona at night and I could see one shooting star after another over the desert. I'll never forget it.

I can still identify all the constellations.

I'm here. Thanks for saving my seat. It's 49* and I'll have a mocha latte with Brandy and just a tad of Kahlua to sweeten it, Bahtendah. I'm thinking about moving further south. This global warming thing isn't working here.

Bahtendah, after you finish Effie's drinkie, Ah'd like one of the same. Thankee, keep the change.

Okay, my out of this world buds, I just pulled in the driveway from work. I just put down my purse. Would you guys go outside and look west. Where's Lebowsky? I hadn't noticed it, but when I pulled into my driveway, there she was in all her splendor~! Low in the sky...huge. Bright. Gorgeous. Run run run! Go look before it rises and we can't see the Jupiter for the trees. [Or is that supposed to be forest we can't see for the trees?]. Effie [by the way Minnie, I hope you don't mind that I took your nickname for FFR, but it has been making me laugh for days now and I absolutely love it...], if you've not yet caught pneumonia, get yersef some Jamieson's. Oh. And coffee. Yeah. Coffee.

Wait for me!!!I'll be right back. Gotta see this.

signed-Effie

Leb is probably out there jumping up and down... What a Sight. I wish I had a roof that I could open up. Man, I miss my sailboat!!!!!

Is that Venus, Neptune and Jupiter lined up? I had planned to do some research today but again got trapped into doing something for someone else. I wish I had a time machine so I could go play and be back before I was missed.

West? ~8:00pm Venus the planet setting? Venus since it is closer to the sun has phases like our moon and right now it is 81% full. Good binocs and you could see it is not quite round. It is a little more spectacular when around 50% full.

Did I guess right, or are you talking about something else?

I don't know what she saw. There's too many trees. I thought I was looking at Venus to the SE. Maybe I should go look at your directions again?

I was almost sure it was Jupiter since it's so big. But I knew you'd know! I'm getting so excited. You educated-guessed right indeed, Lebowsky. It's a Friday night, it's about 60 degrees, it's still and clear. I work on the 22nd floor; I wish I would have looked outside before I left work. Floor to ceiling windows throughout. Dang it. Sometimes, just sometimes, I wish I was smart instead of really really pretty. How do you manage being smart AND pretty, Effie? I would find that exhausting.

By the way, you're smart and pretty too, Lebowsky.

Oh look. It's 4:20.

Just before 7:00pm Syrius the brightest star is just coming above the horizon to the ESE in the constellation Canis Major, the Big Dog following Orion his master The Hunter. At that time Jupiter is just overhead, now at 9:30 he is west and the closest bright star to it is Alrescha mag 3.8 in the constellation Pisces at about 16 moons away or 8 degrees south. Is that cool or what :o)

Cob, I just went to the link you posted and if I read it I just might get smarter. I use to know this stuff but as they say if you don't use it you lose it. Now that all the old folks are gone, maybe-just maybe I can start making up for the good times I missed taking care of them.

WOW!!!!!

Effie~! That is so wonderfully weird!!! I was born and raised in California; my sister got a fantastic job offer here in Texas. My parents moved here with my then 15-year-old brother a year after. Fast forward ten years; I had been working at the same place for just shy of 20 years [started there when I was 19]. My Dad had to have a leg amputaton so I took a leave of a year; within that year, his other leg was amputated. I told my work adios and took care of my parents for seven years until their passing seven months from each other. [They just missed each other.] I couldn't NOT do it. Best parents on earth; I had no children; I had a great [and still do] honey that totally understood my commitment and supported me thoroughly. And I would do it again in a heartbeat.

So not only do we have the ditziest neighbors on earth who cannot for the life of them figure out how to open their garage door without electricity [and call in sick for that...for cryin' out loud!], but we both took care of our folks. Shoot; I put a baby monitor in my Dad's room. Rude awakening. Never knew moms didn't sleep. It may look like their sleeping, but they're not. I heard one little sigh and I was wide-eyed-sit-straight-up-not-even-an-eye-rub awake. Weird, weird, weird. I don't have kids. I never knew moms didn't really sleep-sleep. I've mentioned this before somewhere, so if I'm repeating myself, please accept my apologies.

Gosh, you're awfully patient with my ramblings. I need to get back to my twelve-step; you already know I'm a member of On N' On Anon.

Lebowsky is great at showing us around the stars... those if you who hav'nt - check out Lebowsky's articles, and all the information in there. By the way, is Lebowsky a He or a She?? Someone said He somewhere, so I am confused....

Do you guys know Michael (Astronomy.FM)?

He'd enjoy this Party, I am sure!

Peace

[by the way Minnie, I hope you don't mind that I took your nickname for FFR, but it has been making me laugh for days now and I absolutely love it...]

Why, cobalt, Ah am jes' pleased as punch that you lahk mah nickname for our mutual fren'! Ah am shoah that Effie herself would approve, so you go raht ahead and call her Effie! Heck, we can ALL call her Effie, I give mah permission en masse!

Oh, and BTW if you all are tracking that budding romance between Venus and Jupitah? They ah on course for a conjunction in mid-March, they ah, yes they is. Now, some of mah acquaintances buh-leeve that Jupitah is gonna pop the question of Miss Venus at that tahm. But Ah am less optimistic, since Ah have seen many close passes of these two and it seems to me that Mr. Jove just thinks of her as a good-tahm girl and nothin' mo. And that is a real shame, it is.

I think of Venus as friendly, not slutty - poor dear. Then Jupiter better be as pure as the driven snow, I say!

Well let's hope that Mr. Jove wises up fast before he loses the best thang that evah happened to him, that's awl Ah can say.

You're in luck, robin. In 2014, they plan on combining the two holidays. They were having trouble like you see here twice a year. Officials are hoping combing them will cut down on squirrel problem drinking by fifty percent. Appreciate Your Squirrel On Beer Day

No more squirrelly, just squirrelled. Thats funny :o)

Combine the two in yet another way: Fat Squirrel Ale. Good for what ales ya. (couldn't resist)

Better: squirrel away a beer stash for those times when you are snowed in.

We used to go salmon fishing in this place in Alaska (the name escapes right now), but above the river a little aways was this really cool bar. This lady would get a plate of peanuts and pour brandy over them and set the plate outside. Then the squirrels would swarm out of the trees to get their daily brandy fix.

I like the idea of combining Squirrel Day with Beer Day. But the squirrels got to get their own damn beer.

Beer Day sounds like something the McKenzie brothers would come up with.

Eh, hoser?

how aboot a jelly, eh?

Got your tuque?

Holy sheep dip Tony, glad you made it :o)

Put your sleigh away for the winter Santa Tony? I think you left my Christmas gift on it. Happy New Years anyway.

LOL

I was wondering why I heard screaming and crying. I thought it was the Reindeer complaining about the long hours again. Hope somebody feed him or I got another mess to clean up ;)

yeah...you'd think PETA would be all over that reindeer abuse -- working an animal 24 hours straight? Santa must REALLY hate his animals!! :P

Tony, are you trying to tell us that's you in that truck? Are you tryng to pull the wool over our eyes??

Ha! That is a priceless photo, Tony!

belle-

They probably already have addressed that issue!

LOL

LOL

I'll never tell :P