Dear Santa:

I am simply overwhelmed with joy at having heard from you. I don't know how much you know about me so I'll tell you a bit.

My family is from The Irish bronx and of recent Emigration. We are a fairly musical family with everyone playing an instrument or four. I was born in NYC and lived there through 1990. I am now in exile in Los Angeles, having moved here when I sold a Screenplay in 1990. I kicked about the film Industry in various postions and my Husband is still employed that way. I got rather disgusted with it and settled down to a quiet life of working from home.

We have a rustic cottage in an old part of Hollywood. it was originally home to workers at the Charlie Chaplin Studios about 10 blocks away (now owned by A & M records and the scene of many music videos). Our cottage is a bit crumbly around the edges and we are always trying to fix it up one way or another. It was built in the 1920s which makes it quite old as Los Angeles is concerned but rather young to most Mudcatters.

I have no children sadly and so I have a dog, a big blonde Alsatian whose name is Dude, but we call him Puppers. I have a couple of cats in the cottage and one cat UNDER the cottage. Most homes like mine were built atop a four-cornered foundation so air can flow underneath in summer and keep things cool. INKY, my subterranian cat, rules the under-part of the cottage.

I love to garden and am currently embarking on a grand re-design of the front yard. I've just gotten a huge shipment of bulbs from Holland and we're digging trenches all along the fence to lay in the White & yellow Alliums I bought. I'm going to put center mounds of white oriental lillies.

I also LOVE to cook. I collect heirloom recipes that have been passed down within families. I often publish articles about food, cooking and ethnic Cuisine. I also collect antique and/or old cooking utinsels and gadgets. I recently got a 50 year old Potato masher that made me SO happy. My next quest is to get one of those Cherry Stoning machines you clamp onto your table edge. Nothing would make me happier than to recieve a recipe from YOUR family that is greatly cherished.

I am relatively new to Mudcat ads an active member, having only hung out here for a couple of years. I did not begin participating in full until last year some time. Therefore, any old Mudcat memorabelia would be so nice.

And... I am dying for a tape and/or CD of that "Beatnik Prevert" song about Hildebrants Chicago Bust.

Hows that?