Happy Happy, Joy Joy

--- Munch Munch, Slurp Slurp

Alla buddies appeared to have had a good time last night, with much food and drink and good cheer. All praise the brave Alpers, who have elevated hosting to a fine art. How pleasant to be at a single table in a quiet space, rather than scattered about the center of a boisterous restaurant somewhere. Some observed that by meeting in a private space, rather than become ruder and rowdier we were actually better-behaved than usual (the praising by faint damns).

In the Swap, a the strong old wind of flatulence is apparently now blowing in the direction of blasphemy - nay, even heresy! With a crossbreeze of ancient or mystical technologies, and a nod of the head to anti-royalist sentiments. Ah, progress.

One sad note, of course, was Duncan's unfortunate absence, but we all wish him good health, and look forward to seeing him at the LobstahChowdah Centenniel, if not before. We hope that the NintendoSonyStation VII that Flip sagely scored for Duncan at the Yankee Swap made it home safely to him, and that he is happily playing all 19 games that came with it. Oh, wait a minute, that last bit was from the minutes of the 2036 SANE Holiday Dinner -- never mind! We still missed him in 2006, tho.

Speaking of "Yankee Swap," this is an event desperately calling out for a new name. Other than the inexpensivitude of the gifts, there is hardly anything Yankee about it. Latvian Double-Cross? Capitalist Market Factor Maximization? Think about it.

Thank you, also, from the heart of the editor's bottom, for the gracious gifts: he will attempt to corral his commas and carefully consider which apostrophes are apropos and which are apostates. More on the novel business at it unfolds. Please note, however, that such reward and/or bribery will be largely ineffective: after a while, the commas will gradually flood back and rest assured that every one of you will appear, warts and all, in whatever weak attempt at fiction (finktion?) pours out of my syrup-fast fingertips. Hmm... I wonder if ES&L has a chapter on mixed metaphors... Or differentiating between slander and libel...

--- New New, Biz Biz

I am currently soliciting suggestions for the next meeting: When, Where and Whaddya Doin? Pls respond with musings on the following:

1) Tuesdays still "the day"? What weekday eves are bad for you? Etc.

2) Assuming Tuesdays (until morphed otherwise), which of Januberry's Tuesdays (2nd, 9th, 16th, 23rd, 30th, 37th, 44th, etc.) suits your particular fancy?

3) What shall we do with ourselves? A new project aching to be done the very first time? An oldy-but-moldy project whose time has come again?

4) Where to meet, where to meet... Paintballing would likely have to be done outside, or in Betsey's studio; knife-throwing practice at Molly's; but ordinary paper shuffling, carving or beading (forzample) could happen nearly anywhere.

5) Why does the porridgebird lay its eggs in the air?

One of these questions is not like the other. Discuss.

May All Your Holidays be Happy Ones

Rocky Rococo