Mary-

That was one fine party, and I hope you had time to enjoy some of it. There were truly amazing quanities of food, some of it conventional goodies but there was also the scallaped potatos, the marinated fish (which I usually pass on), and the Eritrian lamb stew, spicy or wimpy, with injera that I brought from the wonderful Asmara Restaurant in Portland, 51 Oak St, between Congress and Free streets (tell 'em Charley sent you!). And the steamed pudding & hard sauce, not to mention a lovely and tasty mousse (not to be confused with the moose head on the wall).

I can never have enough singing but there was lots and lots of singing and most folks were leading songs that were not within our usual sea music repertoire. I love our sea music but a change was really nice!

Kendall appeared to be having a hysterical time, and every once in a while we'd convince him to share why. I managed to prod him into telling the story of the little boy who was rescued by an out-of-stater after falling through the ice, returned to his mother, who hours later appeared at his cabin door and asked "But where are his mittens?"

Judy launced a new shanty about some mytical character named "Charley Noble." Mary led several lovely temperence songs, including "The Drunkard's Child;" but for a while I thought she'd never get through it with Kendall convulsing in hysterics. I sled "Dead Dog Cider" and got some fine chorus support. Jeri sang her "Diamond" songs which she refuses to e-mail me even after repeated requests. You would think that the huge number of songs I've sent her would get me something but, no, she values quality! Linn regaled us with "We Never Speak of Aunt Clara" and Nor and Eli led several lovely songs but I think one of my seaonal favorites has to be "Oh, Cold & Misery!"

Gordon led one of our favorite John Warner songs "Wind in a Million Leaves" with the compelling question "Must we make a desert with our own cruet hands?"

And Tami led the wonderful parody of "Will you go, Lassie, Go!"

Judy did Les Barker's "History Man," just to cheer us all up as the old year was drawing to its close. I started out with Si Kahn's "New Year Eve" tribute to burnt out organizers.

Someone else better fill in!

I bet the dogs are still hung over!

Cheerily,
Charley Noble