Gangleader, a.k.a. Soartstar

On New Year’s Eve, the gangland mastermind pictured here held a party at her house in beautiful Edgemere for the purpose of strong-arming me for the grand total sum of $9.00 in American money. Great food was served along with champagne and the conversation was relaxed and easy, as if among friends. Only later did I realize this was merely a ruse to get into my purse. She was aided and abetted by other gangsters that include:

Gary Got Bucks B, known miscreant and card sharp

She was Lynne Morin when I bagged groceries for her father and now she's an elusive criminal figure that lives on a rural estate

Tall Ed, notorious in certain circles for taking your money as well as your girlfriend, he's been known to be armed and dangerous.

Unknown willowy blonde who dislikes Scatology

George the Greek, has houses and cars and no visible means of support; works in tandem with willowy blondes

GOING BOWLING

The Ultimate Webmaster has a fast pipe and whipped me through the technology paces on his mothership of Apple products but couldn't manage a Pokes' victory

It was good to see Tom and Brenda in Stillwater; I would have preferred a bowl win on top, but it's OSU after all.

In between, however, we stopped to watch the Oklahoma State University cowboys get their asses handed to them by ducks from Oregon. Joining in the Poke Choke “Wait Until Next Year” celebration were two old and cherished friends from parts nearby.

CHRISTMAS WITH THE GRANDKIDS

My daughter and her family came to Oklahoma for the holiday from Tucson and they all but brought Christmas with them because the grandchildren are six and eight years old and that’s the perfect age for the wonder of Christmas. We got to do a little of that at my house on Christmas Eve when Santa pulled off a technological stunt to bring his surprises from Arizona right into my living room while the grownups prepared to bring Christmas cheer to a family of five that were in dire need of assistance (thank you Kristi and Robin at Mayflower Congregation).

GK, my younger grandchild, got a Nintendo DS, much to her surprise after leaving a secret message to Santa in Ariz.

My grandson Parrish got Bakugan stuff from Santa

Although my son in law brought his family to Oklahoma this year as a result of the bad health of one of his brothers, I was glad because I got to see them all. In fact, I got more of them this year than I usually do and I was very thankful and grateful to my daughter and her husband for making those arrangements. They have Christmas Eve with me before going with Rebecca’s mom to midnight mass at the Episcopal Church and then they toddle down to Mom’s house for Christmas morning when I get to see them again.

Mom-A-Tron home for Christmas

This reminds me of how proud I am of my daughter who has the blogging fever like her father. While their homepage has been on the blogroll at right for some time now, she also has her own blog: Mom-A-Tron and I visit it often because she’s so funny and eco-serious.

HAS IT BEEN SINCE THANKSGIVING?

Mom cooked a holiday dinner for us

My mother had a quiet Thanksgiving dinner of Cornish hens rather than turkey for a couple of her friends and for me and my sister, Susan, who also lives here in town. I took a full plate of food to a shut-in some of you know as MCARP, who I believe was afflicted with the dreaded fuzzy blanket and i-Phone fever at the time.

My sister Susan came out of hiding to have holiday dinner on Thanksgiving with Mom, Mom's buddies and me.

Sister Susan seemed more relaxed and happy than I’ve seen her in a long while and she chatted during the holiday meal with humor and intelligence. I can only guess the meds have kicked in for her just like for her siblings. We made it through the meal and afterwards without firing weapons at anyone, including Mom and her friends. I’m sure Mom was giving thanks for that as well. For myself, I was giving thanks that Obama was elected despite the votes of these former Hillaryistas and the entire red army of votes in every single county in this misbegotten state.

NOTICE

Please adjust your contact lists appropriately: I will no longer receive email at my old msn address; my new email address is john@johnrlong.com .

AN INVITATION

Last, but not least, there will be an Inaugural Ballz celebration at my house on Jan. 17, the Saturday before Obama is sworn into office. It’s BYOB since I don’t drink, but there will be food, poker playing and a finale you won’t want to miss — the burning in effigy of the current Worst. President. Ever. Before that, we’re going to throw shoes and shoot BBs at the life-sized image I’ve had ever since Oz scared the hell out of me one April Fool’s Day a couple years back. I may take a shot or two with the BB gun at Oz now that I think of it, but likely not. Think 7:30-ish and you can come and go as you please.

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