The Christams Eve Mouse

THE CHRISTMAS EVE MOUSE

by Glenn Bartley, 12/23/2006

The Christmas Eve mouse, crept through my house, searching for a treat,
The family cat, slept soundly on its mat, dreaming of a mouse to eat.
The three family dogs, all slept like logs, in bed with mama.
I still awake, some wine did take, and sat alone in my pajama.

Was that a squeak, or just a leak, of steam that started all?
It mattered not, no matter what, it had commenced the brawl.
The cat awoke, as if at the last stroke, of the midnight knell.
It clamored straight, with bounds great, hoping a mouse to fell.

This of course, created a great source, of clamor and of clatter.
No command spoke, but the dogs awoke, to see what was the matter.
Down the stairs, as if chasing hares, they ran away at full speed.
Along the hall, as if heeding a call, to answer a primal need.

Startling the cat, who had been nosing a hat, that had fallen from hook on door.
Who sought the source, the mouse of course, who scurried under hat on floor.
Then the cat loudly meowed, and the mouse was wowed, and it ran fast away.
The dogs gave chase, toppling a vase, bought as a present for Christmas day.

Then the cat it sprang, as if with a bang, and pounced underneath the tree.
The mouse was there, the cat missed by a hair, and the mouse ran up to me.
On my face was a frown, but soon a smile as I looked down, and I saw so cute,
The beast was all dressed, as by now you may have guessed, in a Santa suit.

For a measly crumb, the beggar had come, with an empty bag o’er his back.
I scooped him up, and gave him to a crumb to sup’, and another for his sack.
Back on the floor, he stayed a moment more, then made some sort of sign.
Then on that strange night, I saw such a sight, a sight so very fine.

A family of mice, all looking so nice, all adorned in Christmas clothes,
Came out into the light, it was a wonderful sight, I saw before my nose.
Each wriggled its tail, and without fail, each bade me a Christmas Merry.
I felt fine, as I drank more wine, wondering if was made of a magic berry.

Then away they crept, and soon I slept, the rest of the eve through.
Was I dreaming a dream, that to me did seem, just too much of a real lu-lu.
Well when I awoke, not a word dare I spoke, about what me had befallen
If my wife dear, heard this as I have told here, the nut house she’d be callin.

An Essay On Internet Begging

Internet Begging is a subject that I really do not fully comprehend. Its not the fact that people use the Internet as a way to try to gain money through begging or otherwise asking for it, without selling a service or a product that confuses me; it is more the fact that people readily part with their money when scoundrels at worst, and people who really don't need the money at best, ask/beg us for ours. I have been guilty of this myself - no not begging for it in some underhanded way - but rather giving it to those who apparently have done just that!

Now don't get me wrong. If someone is truly in need of the money, and I do mean IN NEED OF, then I find nothing wrong with their asking for it. If they offer us something in return for the money we give them, then it is all the better to their credit as having some scruples in the matter. For example, if a blogger, who blogs for us every day, or close to daily, amuses or gives us interesting writings that we feel are worthy of recompense when that person needs the money - then fine - I see nothing wrong with it.

Heck, I do not even see it as all that bad if someone asks for money who just wants more of it to buy things that are luxuries, that is so long as the person asking for it makes it quite clear to potential benefactors that this is why they are asking, and that the beggar gives us something worthwhile in return such as a great blog. At least that type of beggar is being honest. While I might not give to someone who has money and asks for more just to buy more toys, so to speak, I don't necessarily consider that type of person to be a scoundrel just because they asked/begged for the money.

The thing is though that there are evidently many on the Internet who ask or beg we give money to them, and ask we donate by way of things like Pay Pal links on their sites or blogs, or by sending checks or money orders through the mail, who obviously either REALLY DO NOT NEED the money, or who do not use the money toward the end for which they claimed it would go - YET THEY CLAIM THEY ARE POOR, OR THAT THEY ARE IN DIRE NEED OF FUNDS.

The type I am speaking about often complain about not having jobs, about being down and out financially, about having sudden financial hardships, and so on. You know what I mean - don't you. For example someone may say that they are between jobs and their vehicle just got smashed up in an accident by an uninsured driver, and they themselves did not have collision insurance. So they ask/beg us to help them out. This of course could be on the up and up; but all too often it seems like a low down trick the get us to donate. All too often the guy has been between jobs for years; yet all to often the guy is spending money like it was dust in the wind.

Yes the persons vehicle may have gotten whacked and destroyed, yes the person maybe between jobs, but if you read their other postings you come to learn that they have recently and repeatedly done extravagant things that must have cost lots of money, and they are soon planning to purchase a luxury item that will also cost a lot of money. That is ballsy, but some are even more brazen that that. In fact some of them routinely boast about the extravagant life styles they lead by way of showing pictures of luxury purchases, or by way of trip logs of their vacations, or by way of showing pictures of their beautiful homes, and so on and also boast about the great paying jobs they have! Can you imagine that, being so brazen as to boast about how much money you earn, and then still begging for money - but some do it - all the while telling us how badly they are in need of it, the it being our money.

It is pretty disgusting when you stop to think about it. You really have to, or should, wonder - where in Hades are they getting the money for these luxuries. You should also be wondering why in Hades are they not using the money they would need to spend on extravagant items on the badly needed vehicle instead – that is at least the vehicle they claim they need so badly, and for which they claim there is a shortage of funds. Why are they not using their own money more wisely? Well because they are, in my opinion, scoundrels - dirty rotten scoundrels at that. They seemingly live by the credo of a man who was quite possibly one of the most reprehensible connivers of all time- P.T. Barnum, who was reputed to have said: "There's a sucker born every minute". Or maybe they live by this one, a sentiment expressed by W.C. Fields, in one of his many acting roles, when he said: "If we should ever separate, my little plum, I want to give you just one bit of fatherly advice: Never give a sucker an even break". Well, guess who is that sucker my friend – the you and I who give dishonest scoundrels our money – that’s who!

There is also another saying: "A Fool And His Money Are Soon Parted". Sure, it is nice to be charitable, but charity should be given to those who truly are in need of it. After all, need is part of the basis for charity. It is also said: "It is Better To Give Than To Receive", and that may be so, but I would rather give to someone who deserves receiving rather than to someone who is trying to connive me or swindle me out of my money. I don't need to play the fool for a scalawag. I don’t know about you and your money, but my money has been honestly earned, and I have lots of bills of my own, as well as a few desires that cost money to fulfill. I spend my money on my wants though usually only when my needs have been fulfilled. I spend my money on other people’s needs usually when I can spare some of mine, often interfering with me obtaining things I desire. I even sometimes give to others when sparing my own money means doing without some of my needs, but then only so long as I believe the other person is in dire need of assistance.

I have in the past, made the mistake of giving to those who really did not need it though they begged for it as if they did, yet they spent money on unnecessary items with reckless abandon. I played the fool for them, I was the sucker of the moment. From now on though, I will be a little more careful about how I give my money to those who beg for it by way of the Internet blogs. My money was hard and honestly earned, and while it is not hard to spend it, I intend it to go toward honest ends either when I spend it, or donate it to those in need.

All the best,
Glenn B

Winter Solstice...

...is upon us, or should I say happened yesterday. That means the sun was furthest from the equatorial plane. What does that mean to us, not much except that now, in the Northern Hemisphere, the daylight hours begin to grow longer. Some people find that hard to beleive, that is there is actually more daylight each day, but it is true even if only by seconds on some days, or a minute or so on others. It takes a while before it becomes readily apparent that indeed the sun is shining upon us longer each day; yet even the ancients knew this to be true - at least those who had nothing better to do than pay attention to such things insteasd of doing an honest day's work.

I for one kind of like to remember this is what is happening each time the Winter Solstice rolls by here in the northern half of our world if only because it is a bit uplifting for me. It hints of Spring being on the way, even though it also means that official Winter has just begun. Stay warm, and here is wishing for a white Christmas.

All the best,
Glenn B

Let's Hope The Brits Have Got It Wrong...

...and that they have gotten it wrong because they have done a great job of rounding up terrorists.

What I am hopeful they have wrong is this:

"It will be a miracle if there isn't a terror attack over the holidays in London,"

Let's hope that miracles really do happen.

The quote came from an article that I found through a link at www.MichaelSavage.com, the artcile being:

London Braces for Attack; 'Miracle' If There Isn't One

The article itself, is located at ABCNews.com @ http://blogs.abcnews.com/theblotter/2006/12/london_braces_f.html, and accroding to it the British have been feverishly working an investigation of terrorist activities, involving six "active plots", that to date of the article (December 21) has aparently resulted in some arrests. Yet, they are, or were, still seeking 18 suspected terrorists, all working together, and all believed to be potential suicide bombers. They believe the attack being planned, is planned to be much larger than the attacks on the British subway system last year, and they think it will come before January 1. Yes folks, I got that right, as per the article, they think it will happen. Not very promising for the Brits.

Hopefully they have got that last part wrong. Hopefully they will have arrested, all those involved before any of them get to pull it off.

If it is going to happen, my guess would be it will either happen today, or on New Year's Eve. Today is a big shopping day (at least here in the US and I imagine also so in the UK), and the last day for working blokes to be at work before the holiday. That means the city streets and subways, and buses will be full of decent ordinary folks, and they would all be prime targets for dirtbag, Islamo Fascist, terrorist suicide bombers. It is imperative that the British citizen keep alert, and ready to take some action in the face of danger should it take place. Hopefully some of them have, in some way, prepared themselves and will have an action plan should bombings take place. Even more hopefully, the British authorities have done a bang up investigation, and have already eliminated the immediate threat. Then, beyond almost all hope, the British will have awakened to the fact that Islam is, at the very least, the tool of the enemy, and at the very most is the enemy, and they will deal with it accordingly.

Here is hoping they, the good British Citizens and other good folks in the UK, stay safe from terrorism, now and always.

All the best,
Glenn B