Well, since I extended the original invite, I guess you're all coming over to my place. I'll supply the champagne and coffee and tea- I'm suggesting you bring your most decadant, gooey, fulfilling dessert-recipes please if it is one you make yourself, or a description if it is from your favorite dining emporium. Mucho calories required! Book-Something that touched your heart. Something that lingered after you closed the covers. A title that you remember with either secret-smile fondness or regret for something that ended before you were ready...like your first love. It needn't be a love story-just something that touched your softer emotions in some way. I'll expect you on February 14th! (but you can start shopping for your party togs now!) Cece

OK People!!! When you feel as if you can manage to move, there's the annual Oktoberfest going on in the city today. Lots of food (if you can stand more)lots of beer (just in case you didn't get all you wanted last night and this morning) and music from an OOMPAH Band. The Big thing every year is the Weiner Dog Races. They had over 200 of the darling racings last year. It's down at the River Front Park in the Historic District. You can hang around here as long as you like, just eat up all the leftovers and drink all the booze and tidy up the place. I'm going to take a long nap. Thanks everyone for making this a blast...a literal one thanks to Dynomutt. I'm sorry I didn't mention that you should be careful about sparks and all that dry marsh grass. My husband says you can keep those pants....he doesn't want them back..ever! I took scads of pictures for those on the RP that had to stay home. Unfortunately, I left the camera on the railing and it got dumped in the water when someone got a little too excited. I really didn't think my belly dancing was THAT good!! That Pig Roast was exceptional.. I simply must get me one of those roasters for when all the grandkids come over. Then I would have an excuse for making them eat outside. That little thunderstorm that popped up was rather exciting, wasn't it? You'll have to admit that 30 mminutes of watching lightning over the marsh was not your usual party entertainment. But, it was over quickly and the moon came out just beautifully. Take care on the way home, Aggie a

Siobhan, many thanks for taking the trouble to organise this exchange. And thanks to everyone for their many different cards and book marks. I kept mine displayed separately from the other 'family' cards! Is your postal system in chaos/meltdown? (I know the UK one is) some cards arrived from the US within 3 days and others posted on the same day took 3 weeks. ;-( I think Martin's card was possibly lost in the post . . .

OK - here is the original one at last! My apologies for the delay. It's been edited so it reads a bit better, but I've made no attempt to correct scansion or spelling! The Night Before Christmas - RP - 2004 'Twas the week after Christmas And all through the house Are half-eaten goodies.... I feel like a louse! The black bags of rubbish are put out with care In hopes that the dustbinman soon will be there. (PS: for US readers substitute "garbageman" for "dustbinman"; for PC US readers substitute "environmental recycling operative") But long before then the cats and the foxes Have scattered the bottles, tins, paper and boxes And all the street knows of your horrible vices The beer, and the wine, the chocs and mince piecis. And still under the tree from both Santa and me are mounds of toys for my girl and my boy. While I in my kerchief and he in his cap Would love to settle down for a long winter's nap, But the neighbors have put their decorations away And I don't think Santa will be back with his sleigh. So up to the housetop my dear one has gone While I'm in the living room having a moan As I undo the tree, the mantel, the tables; Must *not* stop to read all the Santa Claus fables. Then from the teen's bedroom there came such a noice Of a thumping of bass and a wailing of voice; I ran to the foot of the stairs with a frown And shouted in rage, "Turn that bl**dy thing down!" "No," screamed my teen, and my face turned red. I stormed up the stairs to knock sense in his head. But before I reached the top of the flight, I heard a crashing sound in the night. Old St. Nick on the roof top, I wondered, No, 'twas a burglar. We were getting plundered. As I drew in my head at the sound of the crash My head hit the window In a bone-splitting "SMASH!" It wasn't a burglar As I had suspected Just our least favorite son Who was feeling rejected. Where's your spirit of Christmas?! I heard myself bellow... We've been waiting for a week You ungrateful fellow!!! Behold! At the sight of him, I stared and I shook! He was clean, shaved and pressed! A right spiffy look! I couldn't believe how well he was dressed! Hi Mom! He greeted me, And grinned ear to ear. His look had defeated me Then he told me with cheer... MY drug test was clear and my parole officer loves me, My grades are all stunning and and Dad doesn't bug me. I knew in a moment this must be a trick. this kid's been a problem since late '96. More rapid than relatives Returning my gifts, He insisted he'd changed And would heal family rifts! But I had decided to paint the town pink And dressed in my diamonds, my thong, and my mink... The town's hottest night-spot refused me admission So I sat at the roadside and wrote a petition . . Be careful with asking, my inner voice said; (Believe me, I'm wishing they all would drop dead!) When what to my wondering eyes did appear? But a...