X-rated, But Not Really

"‘Xcuuuse me!" –Steve Martin

GRAB YOUR spoons! It’s time for

another serving of ABC Wednesday,

Photo credit: Getty Images
a weekly alphabet soup,

this "go", heavily seasoned with letter number twenty-four. For several more bowls of the "X" chowder (a looksee at other participating bloggers’ entries), there’s sure to a potful still simmering on the virtual burner. Just give the sidebarring button a click —>

is for...

eXcuses,

those of which there will be none for NOT
following through on my this year’s

NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTIONS:
(Keeping in mind, NOT to "should" on myself,

because, hey, who needs that kind of pressure?)

Go greener.

Curl up with good books.
Read them.

Drink more milk.

Take pictures.

Wear dresses.
(And possibly carry along large plants.)

Wag more, bark less.

(a brin-over from last year)

What gives, Guy?
Google "Auld Lang Syne,"

BECAUSE

what in the heck does that mean, anyway???

THREE WORDS:

Photo credit: Getty Images

Confetti tossy and bottom upsy,
SparkleFarkle~~~~~*

Rest peacefully, my Mollo and sweet ZuZu.

She Will Show Me Her Love In the Light of the Stars

“Tinker Bell” by Diarmuid Byron-O'Connor

"YOU KNOW THAT PLACE between sleep and awake, the place where you can still remember dreaming? That's where I'll always love you, Peter Pan. That's where I'll be waiting." — Tinker Bell, Hook

I wished so hard

that ZuZu would live forever,

but yesterday, she had to leave.

Please tell me the sun will shine again.
SparkleFarkle

Rest peacefully,

Sweet Zuzie
and my Mollo.

Welcome, Oh Warm and Fuzzy Day!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY,

Photo credit: RubyLane.com
Love’s Pure Light
(It’s no wonder shepherds quaked at the sight!)
Baby Jesus!
and
HAPPY
Jack Handey
FRIDAY, too:

"I GUESS ONE of the funniest memories of my grandfather was the time I was at his house and that tied-up man with the gag in his mouth came hopping out of the closet and started yelling that he was really my grandfather and the other guy was an imposter and to run for help. Who was that guy?! Oh, well, never saw him again." –Jack Handey

MAY YOUR DAY be merry and bright!
AND, ON THE OTHER end,



HANG IN THERE.

Even though you’ll be experiencing times when you’ll want
to pull your hair out, knots and all, today, it’ll be worth it.

ON THIS CHRISTMAS morn, just keep in mind God will grant us the strength to "make it through" our why-must-it-be-ALL-of-them-at-once relatives, because, hey, by evening, when you’re in the comfy-safety of your own home (Don’t forget to use the locks. That’s what they’re there for, as your sister-in-law, who might follow you home in an effort to extend the day even longer –or, possibly, just to get on your last nerve-- might take offense at strategically placed barbed wire.) and breathing the deepest sigh of relief, you’ll re-realize, they are what make for your fondest memories. Also, remember there’s a real likelihood you might not get what you really want for Christmas. That’s okay, too. Whatever you end up unwrapping, it’ll make for loads more fun to look back on.

ONE WORD:

Photo credit: ashnikes
Doesn’t this look like Nick Lachey retaining fluid?
Keepsake!

SO, GRAB A CUP of cheer on your way out the blog. It’s in the punch bowl (<– a family heirloom) placed above my valediction, and go have yourself some holly jollies!

Fondly,
SparkleFarkle~~~~~*

Rest in peace, my Mollo. And thank you, God, for ZuZu being able to share Christmas with us (<— The greatest gift!). I love you, Zuzie.

Twas the Night Before

NOT A CREATURE is stirring,

not even a...

It won’t be long now! —>

LIKELY, the same holds true for you,
when I say the

Artist: John Martin
anticipation
is killing me!

LOL!

Merry, Merry Christmas Eve!
SparkleFarkle~~~~~*

Sleep in Heavenly peace, my Mollo.

Ho! Ho! Ho! Who Wouldn’t Go?

"Up on the Rooftop" by Scott Guftafson
Click! Click! Click!

GRAB YOUR spoons! It’s time for another serving ABC Wednesday, a weekly alphabet soup, this "go", heavily seasoned with letter number twenty-three. For several more bowls of the "W" chowder (a looksee at other participating bloggers’ entries), there’s sure to be a potful still simmering on the virtual burner. Just give the sidebarring button a click —>

is for...

Waiting and watching!
Watching and waiting!

WILL YOUR EYES be fixed "up" as soon as the sky begins to dim on Christmas Eve? (Remember, S. Claus has

Illustrator: Susan Jeffers
miles to go before he sleeps,

so it’s never too early to set your sights.) I know that’s definitely how you’ll find me: vigilantly searching between the stars or, hopefully, between snowflakes, again, this year-- just as I have ever since I could. And my daughter Puppet will be doing likewise, joining in with happy anticipation! It’s... It’s... It’s magical! LOL! Am I sounding like

Drew Barrymore?

COOL! I love Drew Barrymore! She and I go waaay back. I was her Scream Coach in

E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial.

YOU MIGHT SAY I helped launch her career.
Drew has high regard for Santa, too.

NOW WHERE was I? Yeah, uh-huh. Magical truly covers it! And last Christmas proved to be most incredible: Shortly after midnight, Puppet and I actually thought we heard sleigh bells! WHAT AM I SAYING?!?! We DID hear sleigh bells!!! After a long waiting and watching, watching and waiting, she and I decided it was time to let the Sugar Plum Fairies do their annual dance. As soon as I closed the livingroom blinds, and Puppet replenished the Santa’s Plate cookies we’d feasted on earlier (YOU'RE RIGHT: nobody touched the carrots we'd left for Prancer and the rest of the crew.), we headed up to bed. We had barely climbed the first step, when our ears met with the muffled sound of jingle bells outside and momentarily overhead! So exhilarated and surprised and fulfilled I was --all wrap up into one-- that I nearly wet my pajamas! Puppet will never forget it (the jingling, NOT my almosty pee-pants) either!

ONE WORD:
Believe!

SPEAKING OF winter chimney activity, this old photo (1945) shows a Santa Claus chimney entrance to a snow cabin in Crater Lake National Park. As it went, but I don’t know if it still does, when a snow cabin was covered by a MAJOR haul of the white stuff, the Santa Claus chimney allowed snow survey technicians (National Resources Conservation Service) to climb down into the cabin to spend the night without having to dig down to the cabin door. Man! Can you imagine the

"207 Pancakes" (sculpture) by Elizabeth Demaray
breakfast
you could have serve this guy the next day?

I BET you’ll never guess how I’m exiting this blog. IHOP!
SparkleFarkle~~~~~*

Rest in peace, my Mollo.

Jingle-Jangle, Ding-a-Ling, or Just Bing-Bong -- I Love to Hear 'Em Ring!

"OH, RING THOSE Christmas bells! Ring those Christmas bells! While they chime, we'll have a happy time, so ring those Christmas bells! –Peggy Lee, "Ring Those Christmas Bells" (1953), words and music by Marvin Fisher & Gus Levine

FOUR WORDS:

Jingle

all

the way!

THE GIST BE thist (<–- Yeah, I know it’s not a word, but a girl’s gotta rhyme when a girl’s gotta rhyme!): Today’s blog installment has been me being a smitch Donovan Leitch-y (Get it? "They call me Mellow Yellow, quite rightly." <–- Yep. Sometimes, I actually DO make myself sick.), this fine and fabulous morning! (I’m thinking pretty positive for a chaotic Monday– Christmas week to

boot!)

THAT IS to say, welcome to my participation in

sponsored by Just B :) ,
where the frolic is all about
posting a little yellow, or a lot!

Oh, what fun it is-ly,
SparkleFarkle~~~~~*

Rest in peace, my Mollo.

Sparklehemian Wrapsody

SIX WORDS:

(Presently, NOT this. Kinda makes your teeth hurt just looking at it, dudn’t it?)
The Nightmare Before Christmas:

(When filled, this be Yuletide "Gold." When I was smitchle, I was amazed at how much this little holder resembled Santa Claus’ mode of transportation, and thought for sure it was a Christmastime "On Purpose" from 3M, which became so endearing that it stayed that way after the holidays. My Aunt Myrtle would become naughty, NOT nice, whenever she needed the cellophane tape and found me playing with it in the snow.)
EMPTY DISPENSER!!!

(FOR A LOOKSEE at what others are up to, today, phrased or sentenced in six words, click the SIX WORD Saturday button in the passenger’s seat —>)

SO, HERE I AM, up to my eyeballs in

What do you mean, you don’t dress up to wrap presents???
gifts in need of "swaddling clothes",

when the unthinkable happens.

Since boo-hooing to the one

("That’s no elf, lady, that’s your husband a HUMBUG!"

said my yet-to-get-her-driver’s-license-daughter, Puppet.)
Santa’s Helper,

who could possibly go to the store for me for more scotch tape, proves to be unsuccessful, it looks like I’m going to have to fire up the jitney and make

the trek
myself.

SEVEN more WORDS:
Rats! Has anyone seen my sleigh keys?

Runner-ing on empty,
but heck and after all, "‘Tis the Season!"

LOL! Ho! Ho! Ho!
SparkleFarkle~~~~~*

Rest in peace, little Mollomar.
Photo Credit: Gift Wrapper: George Marks/gettyimages

P.S. Thank you, again, for the ZuZu words of comfort. This morning finds our kit-kat doing remarkably well, all things considered. We continue to pray for a miracle. (Diagnosis/prognosis listed in related blog’s "Comments." Click "ZuZu" for the details.)

Shouldn’t We Be Pronouncing It “Poin” Cone This Time of Year?

HAPPY
Jack Handey
FRIDAY!

"INSTEAD OF PUTTING a quarter under a kid's pillow, how about a pine cone? That way, he learns that 'wishing' isn't going to save our national forests."
--Jack Handey

THE

day of days
is almost here! (--->)

HERE'S HOPING
(and praying)

(This, especially for my kit-kat, ZuZu, who is sick in bed.)
Santa

grants you more than NOT nearly enough
from your "I’ve Been Good, Bring Me This"

wish
LIST!

My "All I Want for Christmas" equals
FIVE WORDS:

Be be better soon, ZuZie.

Welcoming any and all kitten prayers (and thanking you ahead of time for them),
SparkleFarkle~~~~~*

Sleep in Heavenly peace, my Mollo.

"Poin" cone image credit: Mooey Christmas and Udder Things

P.S. An "I Have to Come Clean" for you: I intentionally posted this Jack Handey Friday installment a day early, in hopes a deluge of "Please, Dear God, Help Sparkle’s Beloved Cat" messages might be sent Up for ZuZu, that way. Again, much appreciated. SF~~~~~*

Spinning Wheel Got to Go ‘Round

GRAB YOUR spoons! It’s time for another serving ABC Wednesday, a weekly alphabet soup, this "go", heavily seasoned with letter number twenty-two. For several more bowls of the "V" chowder (a looksee at other participating bloggers’ entries), there’s sure to a potful still simmering on the virtual burner. Just give the sidebarring button a click —>

is for...

View-Master

EVEN AS A CHILD, I found myself taking the path marked "Waaay too Literally," now and again. Probably, lots of "again." For instance, I remember once when my Knuckle Matt (a house painter by trade with a MAJOR stockpile of exciting, high ladder stories) was embellishing relating a near death experience, that of which included his "life flashing before his eyes." With that being said, and while my uncle continued on about picking himself up, dusting himself off, and climbing to an even higher rung, because that was his "Hokey Pokey" ("That’s what it’s all about!" –Knuckle Matt), and then wonder out loud what we’d be having for supper that night, I busied myself thinking, "Hmm. If such is the case (<-- The Flash), I want mine reeling by on a View-Master." I knew it to be a slow moving, better yet, an at-your-own-pace vehicle, when it came to slide shows. Surely its "screening" would buy me a smitch more time on Earth, and further, the enough gee-whiz-I-hope crucial minutes needed for

my then hero

to arrive in an ambulance that would speed me to our local hospital, where I’d be later breathing a sigh of relief.

TWO WORDS:

Lookeen good!

YEP AND NO KIDDING, for several years after
hearing Matt’s story, I made certain

that thing
was within easy reach, because, hey,

you never know.

For your viewing pleasure: a vintage View-Master disk, whose title could

easily be that of the one plugged in for me, when it’s time for my "blast off."

. . . . . .

WELL, HUH.

Talk about pretty creepy.
LOL!

BUT NO MATTER how it "plays" in the end,
there's one thing I do know for sure:

My ride to Heaven is going to be in

This, accept headed in the direction of Up.
"It’s the O-O-ONLY way to fly!" --Santa Claus and Wally, Western Airlines (luxury flights division)
Santa’s sleigh!

Man, if you're lucky, you’ll be able to shake this goofball blog installment off and have a mighty fine rest of the day.

Ho! Ho! Ho!ping for the best,
SparkleFarkle~~~~~*

Rest in peace, my Mollo, who likely went to Heaven via the sleigh. I just know it.