I hope everyone has a joyous New Year. It's new year's eve, the time we reflect on the past year and make plans for the upcoming 12 months. Every year we see a list of notable deaths from that year. Although not notable, this past November my family lost two brothers. My cousin John and his brother, Jerry, died just three weeks apart. They were two of the biggest characters in a family of characters and will be missed by everyone. My heartfelt condolences go out to Dave, Craig, Brian, Andy, GerryAnn, Eric, Sean and their families. This must have been a hard Holiday season for them.

Yvonne De Carlo, best known as Lilly Munster, died in January. As did Ron Carey (Officer Levitt, Barney Miller ), and Pulitzer winning humorist Art Buchwald. In Febuary, Anna Nicole Smith, listed as model and sometimes actress. Bobby Rosengarden, Jazz drummer; bandleader for "The Dick Cavett Show." My Uncle Tom played in that band. Brad Delp, lead singer with the band Boston, died in March along with Calvert DeForest,( Larry "Bud" Melman on Late Night with David Letterman) and stand up comedian Richard Jeni. With April came spring, baseball and the passing of novelist Kurt Vonnegut, Hawaiian crooner, Don Ho and Bobby "Boris" Pickett, the voice of Monster Mash. Charles Nelson Reilly in May, Liz Claiborne in June. Opera diva , Beverly Sills died in July, so too did cartoonist Buck Brown and Tammy Faye Messner. Tommy Makem went home on August 1st. Game shows won't be the same without Merv Griffin. What can be said about Marcel Marceau who passed on September 22. In October we lost the last of the rat pack, Joey Bishop and Sir Lancelot himself, Robert Goulet. Motorcycle daredevil Evel Knievel and Mr Wipple, Dick Wilson died in November. I remember the December night in 1980 when John Lennon was murdered. I cried because a part of my childhood went with him. This December we lost Dan Fogelberg and part of my adolescence. The first time I saw Fogelberg in concert was at the Palace in Albany in 1977. I was sitting in the upper corner of the balcony with Mary Beth, when this man walked onto the stage, alone, sat at a grand piano and started to play "Netherlands", I fell in love with his music and Mary Beth that night. I still am a fan of his music and I haven't seen Marybeth in 20 years.

Looking forward is a bit harder.

Time to make the resolutions. I know they only last a few months, weeks, days or even hours, we still make them. So here are mine. I will try to be more tolerant of other people (this one is sure to fail). I will try to save money. I will lose weight. I will meet the right woman (I have a better chance of saving money). What are your New Years resolutions? Anyway, to all, Have a Happy New Year. I wonder where Mary Beth is?

AOH Meeting: Thursday night at the K of C. E-Board at 6:30 and Division at 7:30. I hope to see all the members there.

Christmas Week

Mike and I watched his favorite Christmas movie last night, Die Hard. How can this be a Christmas movie you ask, so did I. Michael pointed out that it all takes place on Christmas Eve, it features Christmas music and the last line of the movie, the limo driver says," If this is how they spend Christmas I got to be there for New Year's".
So here is my list of must watch Christmas movies and specials.
1. It's a Wonderful Life Jimmy Stewart and Donna Reid in the Frank Capra classic
2. Charlie Brown Christmas I noticed that there are two more Christmas specials with the Peanuts gang but they should be put in the same category as CaddyshackII and Arthur II, never to be seen.
3. White Christmas Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye great holiday stuff
4. Mr MaGoo's Christmas Carol What better way to have the kids learn Dickens
5. How the Grinch Stole Christmas the cartoon not the movie
6. National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation For anyone who ever had to put up Christmas
lights
7. Scrooged Bill Murry in the Scrooge role is great. David Johansen as the ghost of Christmas past is outstanding.
8. Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer No Christmas is complete with out this one
9. Frosty the Snowman Happy birthday
10. Miracle on 34th Street. The original one with Maureen O'Hara and Natale Wood
There are more and I'm sure I missed some but these are the top ones. How about yours?

Christmas Week

After yesterday's music list, today was going to be Christmas Specials and Movies. That got put off till tomorrow so I can tell you about my son. Most of you know that I moved from a four bedroom house to a two bedroom apartment last June. Many of the things that I own are in storage, including my Christmas tree and decorations. I don't have a fireplace anymore so the stockings are also in storage. I have been working so much that I have not found the time or the energy to get the tree. I thought that ,well the kids are old enough and they are only going to be here on Christmas eve so why should I put up the tree. Well I came home today to fine the most beautiful 4' Christmas tree in the middle of the living room. Michael was in Ekert and all the Christmas stuff was on sale. Doesn't matter to me how much he spent, it is truly the thought that matters. I guess I should find a nice present for him this year.
Tomorrow, get ready to share your list of movies and specials.

Christmas Week

What's Christmas without music, although, a lot of people would like to do without "Grandma got run Over by a Reindeer". If you were going to put together a cd of Christmas music what would be on it. Think about it and submit your list in the comment section. Here's mine.

1. White Christmas Bing Crosby
Without question the number one song on any one's list. No one can or should sing this song like Bing.
2. The Christmas Song Nat King Cole
Again a song that should be on every one's list. Written by the Velvet Fog himself, Mel Torme but made famous by Nat King Cole.
now things start to blur, the next eight are in no particular order but are songs that I like.
3. The Most Wonderful Time of the Year Andy Williams
4. Linus and Lucy Vince Guaraldi Trio
Nothing puts you in the mood like this tune
5. Oh Holy Night Martina McBride
Unlike White Christmas and The Christmas Song, Oh Holy Night can be sung by many different artist. Right now I am enjoying Martina's version.
6. Frosty the Snowman Leon Redbone and Dr. John
You have to hear this version.
7. Baby it's Cold Outside James Taylor and Natilie Cole
Another song done by many, give a listen to Leon Redbone and Zooey Deschanel
8. Santa Claus is Coming to Town Bruce Springsteen
I can't make a cd without Springsteen
9. Holly Jolly Christmas Burl Ives
Sam the snowman from the classic Christmas special, Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer
10. Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer Gene Autry

I stopped at ten when there are so many others to choose from. Bob and Doug's Twelve Days, the Chipmunks. A great version of Ava Maria by.... wait for it....Michael Bolton. I'll be Home for Christmas, Elvis with Blue Christmas and of course the classic, Jingle Bell Rock.
So let's see your list.

Christmas Week

Well it's crunch time. Christmas is just one week away. The malls will be packed the shelves a bit less crowded. I always find last minute shopping easier because you have less of a choice, "Do you have this sweater in green? No, are you sure this is the only one left? Well I guess this will have to do". You see, Christmas has become the time to buy buy buy. We all shop like crazy to get the hot item each year without any regard to the true meaning of Christmas. I won't go into a long theological rant about the true meaning of Christmas because anyone that has been around for the last 40 years or so knows the true meaning of Christmas, Charlie Brown. What Christmas has become is a mad dash for over a month of trying to get everything for everyone so you can relax with family for one day. Less then a day if you work for the Post Office. At 9pm on Christmas day the night shift reports to work so that everyone can get their visa bills on the day after Christmas. Not that this blog was meant to be a rant about the Post Office but.... I have worked for the PO for the better part of 25 years. Christmas comes and goes each year but the way that management runs around like a chicken without it's head you would think that this was the first time. Today is a big day at the PO for the workers. They have to post the work schedule for the Christmas holiday today. You see, since we all don't have the same days off a holiday at the PO last three days. Christmas is the 25th, unless your day off is the 25th. If your day off is Tuesday then your holiday is Monday. Unless of course you have Monday off also, the your holiday is Sunday. So for each Holiday a schedule is posted a week ahead of time saying who is working. Now I understand that Sunday (my day off) is the last day to get the mail out to be delivered, so I have no problem being forced to work my day off. Monday is a different story. Any mail that we sort on Monday will sit till Wednesday. So why will they force any extra workers on Christmas Eve? Because they act like this has never happened before. That's enough about the PO, except, my Christmas wish is that my children never have to work for a company like the USPS. I want my children to have careers not jobs. I want them to be able to travel to one of their siblings home for the holidays. Notice the s, I want my kids to be able to stay a few days with their families and gather for huge meals and long conversations. Sitting around a living room, (drinking and laughing, they are Curran's) telling stories of Christmas' past as the children sit on the floor listening to what their Grandfather had to do to make a nice Christmas for their parents. "Remember the time dad took us to the strip club for Christmas" I guess I see too much Hollywood. But it comes all down to what Christmas should be about and that is Family. Spend time not money. Enjoy the laughter forget about the gifts. the greatest gift you can give at Christmas is your love. http://picasaweb.google.com/saratogairish/ChristmasMemories

I posted some photos of past Christmas' so if you would like to see just click here.

The new administration has taken over. This past Thursday night the new officers for the Commodore John Barry Division were sworn in by New York State President Matt Nelligan.
Brother Chris Templin and his crew (Sarah and Jeff) put on a great feast for all. We had a good showing of members and guests. The new e-board consist of the following. Members of the Red Sox Nation, Brian Murphy, Vice President; Chris Bergman, Financial Secretary; Dick Sheldon, Chairman of the Standing Committee. Members of the Yankee Universe, Steve Curran, President; Rob Przedwiecki, Recording Secretary; Jeff Carney, Marshall; Chris Templin, Sentinel. The lone Celtic (in football not basketball) fan, Emmet Kelleher.
Yes you read that right, Steve Curran is President.
I plan on making a few changes, nothing life threatening just a bit cosmetic. Like when you move into a new place and slap a coat of paint on the living room just so it reflects your personality a bit. The first change is we are going to a two meeting a month schedule. One meeting Will be the usual Division meeting, the second will be a cultural event. Our first event will be the third Thursday in January when we will invite your families and the public to a night of Irish dance lessons with the Wild Irish Acres Dance school. Other events planned are a night of singing and Irish movie night. The second change is a change in personnel. I plan on replacing a few committee chairmen with some new blood to get those committees more active.
If you would like to see some of the photos from the Installation check this link. http://picasaweb.google.com/saratogairish/Installation

It's December at the PO so I'm off for another 12 hour day. Check back here for I plan on updating more often with Division news.
Reminder, the pagan Christmas bonfire will be next Sunday at the Cummings plantation, check the newsletter for time and directions.
Michael is also performing at the Spa Little Theater in HMT production of "the Snow Queen". The show opened last night and runs through next weekend.