Thursday, December 31, 2015

What Are You Doing...


As for us, this year we're with the terrier presented to us by dear Mr. Addams in a rare non-macabre mood. Although I don't think, knowing Our Little Condo as I do, that there will be much in the way of festivities to lure us to the windows.

Wednesday, December 30, 2015

Onward and Upward with the Arts



I wonder, a lot, if I spend too much time online, to the detriment of filling my mind, such as it is, with better things.

Sunday, December 27, 2015

Birthday Girl: Illusions


The extraordinary creature born Marie Magdalene Dietrich was a belated Christmas present to the world some 114 years ago today.

Saturday, December 26, 2015

Box It Up - I'll Take It


Sometimes I think it's really on Boxing Day that we ought to be getting presents. Failing the gentleman himself, those fetching little boots might do nicely.

Friday, December 25, 2015

Have Yourselves a Mamie Little Christmas



A very Merry day to all, from Mr. Muscato, Koko, Boudi and me, with a little help from Ike and Mamie's 1960 Christmas greeting - a Café tradition, on and off, since 2009. There's just something about those calligraphic bangs that sends me into gales of giggles.

Thursday, December 24, 2015

Redux: Heavenly Peace


I first posted this on Christmas Eve of 2013. As fast away this old year passes, the old world I was raised in feels ever further away - as far away on this warm December evening as a snow-covered lawn all those years ago. What the next year brings us, none of us yet can know, but I still hope for a measure, just a measure, of that himmlischer Ruh.

Another time the year goes 'round; another chance to revisit one of my earliest memories...

Three Little Girls with Three Little Curls


We'll revert to the traditional this evening, but here to get us through this most hectic day of the year, a salutory lesson:

Tuesday, December 22, 2015

Saturday, December 19, 2015

Monday, December 14, 2015

Sunday, December 13, 2015

And Now, a Word from our (Holiday) Sponsor


Hard to believe it's just a couple of years before little Susie there will be demanding cha-cha heels and knocking over the tree.  A sentiment that, on opening her fourth Hoover household appliance, Mum can more than sympathize with.

And what the hell did a Keymatic do?

Thursday, December 3, 2015

'Tis the Season


Well, it's time to kick off the festive season, and with that comes traditions - few dearer to me than starting off each year with this little gem as the first Christmas song I listen to on purpose (as opposed to all the elevator music that's been being pumped out hither and yon since something like the week after Labor Day).

Wednesday, December 2, 2015

All My Darling Daughters


So my new office, now that the good people of Golden Handcuffs Amalgamated International have moved our exiguous little unit up closer to the mother ship, as it were, is rather centrally located. Because we are in Our Nation's Capital, it's come as no surprise that one thing that means is that we are near museums.