Mudcat Christmas Tavern 2018 & MMario Wake

Subject: RE: Mudcat Christmas Tavern 2018
From: Tattie Bogle
Date: 23 Dec 18 - 12:26 PM

Sen organised the fire on 18th December, and the sofa: so fa so good?
"Fire in the Tavern" - somebody shouted "McIntyre".... Keep the home fires burning, but only in the grate, please.
Oh the Scots know what to do with Scooshers, aye right: we got soaked at our local panto!

Subject: RE: Mudcat Christmas Tavern 2018
From: Senoufou
Date: 23 Dec 18 - 12:57 PM

Just ensure that MMario doesn't sit too near the fire because he's on oxygen. (Hope you're okay MMario.)

Where's that blooming Steve eh? We had him down to do the cooking for everyone as he's an ace chef and knows lots of lovely recipes.
I asked him on another thread to mosey down to the Tavern, as it's time he got some food preparation done.

Please don't tread on the two Siamese cats who are stretched out on the rug. They're so old and decrepit they won't be able to get out of the way. They'll sing for the company later on.

Have we got ale for the Border Morris side? They should show up fairly soon.

Subject: Mudcat Christmas Tavern 2018
From: GUEST,The Galactic Overlord
Date: 23 Dec 18 - 08:59 PM

Why, my slaves are trying to enjoy themselves! I so like to see that, as it gives them good memories. Now get back to work!

Subject: RE: Mudcat Christmas Tavern 2018
From: Senoufou
Date: 24 Dec 18 - 05:48 AM

I am the Pan-Galactic Overlady, and here is a supersonic remote-controlled potato peeler. Please get started on the spuds.

Subject: RE: Mudcat Christmas Tavern 2018
From: Charmion
Date: 24 Dec 18 - 11:09 AM

I brought fruitcake and Brussels sprouts -- and they're delicious, I promise.

It's Christmas Eve already and the Nine Lessons & Carols is on the radio. Time to break out the brandy; sun's over the yardarm somewhere.

The Border Morris are taking off their boots in the porch, while the Guignolée troupe throw snowballs at their backsides, achieving snow down the neck in at least three cases.

Subject: RE: Mudcat Christmas Tavern 2018
From: Donuel
Date: 24 Dec 18 - 05:25 PM

Who else would be in possession of a sonic potato peeler?
Scentofou is the new Dr. Who. imo

Subject: RE: Mudcat Christmas Tavern 2018
From: Senoufou
Date: 24 Dec 18 - 06:21 PM

Either that, Donuel, or the new Dr What!

Subject: RE: Mudcat Christmas Tavern 2018
From: keberoxu
Date: 24 Dec 18 - 09:51 PM

or Mrs. Whatsit, from A Wrinkle In Time?

Subject: RE: Mudcat Christmas Tavern 2018
From: GUEST, Chongo Chimp
Date: 25 Dec 18 - 01:02 AM

No funny stuff, see? I'm Chongo Chimp, private eye from Chicago if you don't know me and I don't want no funny stuff. I just want whiskey. About a barrel. Then I'll leave. But I got a Chicago typewriter for anybody who tries somethin'. Now git back to yer doings.

Subject: RE: Mudcat Christmas Tavern 2018
From: keberoxu
Date: 25 Dec 18 - 08:39 PM

. . . and the dodo bird?

Subject: RE: Mudcat Christmas Tavern 2018
From: Rapparee
Date: 25 Dec 18 - 10:12 PM

He watches, a flagon of Dingle Whiskey in his hand, the other hand covering so the squirter fight doesn't dilute it. He is backing slowly toward the fire hose.

Suddenly, from the hole where the top of the Christmas tree extends through the roof, a flight of angels -- no, not angels, but angles flies through. Right, obtuse, all the various angles, and he thinks that they know all the angles.

Subject: RE: Mudcat Christmas Tavern 2018
From: Rapparee
Date: 26 Dec 18 - 01:44 PM

Squiddy, silently but squishily, seats the squid self in the pit of lime jello.

Subject: RE: Mudcat Christmas Tavern 2018
From: Senoufou
Date: 26 Dec 18 - 01:56 PM

Hahaha Chongo, I had to Google 'Chicago typewriter'and discovered it's a machine gun! I learn something new everyday. :)

Rap, I challenge you to repeat that after having imbibed several whiskies.

The Morris dancers are in full swing. Hook Eagle, playing 'Far Canal'.
(It only dawned on me quite recently what Far Canal actually is! Husband twigged straight away of course.)

Squiddy is waving all his tentacles in time to the music. Siamese cats are licking at the lime jelly/jello. Strangely enough they seem to like it.
We all need FOOD! Where HAS that blooming Steve got to eh? I might have to rustle up some finger food. Who will donate some fingers?

Subject: RE: Mudcat Christmas Tavern 2018
From: JennieG
Date: 26 Dec 18 - 02:29 PM

The giant wombat quietly shuffles into the pit to join Squiddy.

Their combined volume makes the lime jello ooze over the sides of the pit and across the floor.

Subject: RE: Mudcat Christmas Tavern 2018
From: Mrrzy
Date: 27 Dec 18 - 11:39 AM

Something between a large hedgehod and a baby pygmy elephant crawls in and goes over and lies down behind the comfy couch.

The elephant and the hedgehog find a table and order cocoa, extra hot.

Subject: RE: Mudcat Christmas Tavern 2018
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 27 Dec 18 - 02:33 PM

At this time of year the Gnomes reflect on why they no longer have leaders. The last one was King Henry who, as people know, was referred to as King Hal. Of course, when it was proved that his lineage was false he became known as the false king. It became a joke when the Gnomes all knelt in honour of the false king and proclaimed

"We all pay homage to faux king Hal..."

Subject: RE: Mudcat Christmas Tavern 2018
From: Senoufou
Date: 27 Dec 18 - 02:46 PM

Hahahahaaa Dave! And then they all danced Far Canal to Hook Eagle Morris music!

Subject: RE: Mudcat Christmas Tavern 2018
From: Donuel
Date: 27 Dec 18 - 03:07 PM

Is that the faux King Hal of the Lingus family?

Subject: RE: Mudcat Christmas Tavern 2018
From: Donuel
Date: 27 Dec 18 - 03:16 PM

or Con Hal Angus?

Subject: RE: Mudcat Christmas Tavern 2018
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 27 Dec 18 - 04:42 PM

Kinda lingers...

Subject: RE: Mudcat Christmas Tavern 2018
From: Rapparee
Date: 27 Dec 18 - 06:55 PM

Late, but still welcome, he rolls in a 100 gallon (Imperial) of eggnog, made from the infamous recipe of Mute Peiter, the bartender who kept his mouth shut (not that he couldn't talk, he just didn't have anything to say). Non-plastic straws are distributed to all.

Subject: RE: Mudcat Christmas Tavern 2018
From: Bee-dubya-ell
Date: 27 Dec 18 - 07:50 PM

Thank God! Eggnog! The supermarkets seem to turn the eggnog tap off at precisely midnight on December 25th. And they won't turn it back on until mid-November of the following year. You think that hundred gallons will last that long?

Subject: RE: Mudcat Christmas Tavern 2018
From: Rapparee
Date: 27 Dec 18 - 09:03 PM

There's more where that came from.

Subject: RE: Mudcat Christmas Tavern 2018
From: Senoufou
Date: 28 Dec 18 - 04:11 PM

I used to love Warninks Advocaat. But I never mixed it with anything (I believe people drink what's called a Snowball, which is Advocaat and lemonade)
A tiny egg-cupful neat was very nice. But I don't drink nowadays :(

Subject: RE: Mudcat Christmas Tavern 2018
From: Rapparee
Date: 29 Dec 18 - 11:31 AM

A moment of reflection and the toasts: MMario passed away last night.

Subject: RE: Mudcat Christmas Tavern 2018
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 29 Dec 18 - 11:33 AM

He always made the best roast aurouch. The place will never be the same. :-(

Subject: RE: Mudcat Christmas Tavern 2018
From: Senoufou
Date: 29 Dec 18 - 12:16 PM

So very sorry to hear this. Rest in peace MMario.
Condolences to his family and friends.

Subject: RE: Mudcat Christmas Tavern 2018
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 29 Dec 18 - 02:58 PM

Perhaps this should shift from the Christmas Tavern to the MMario wake and move back upstairs?

Subject: RE: Mudcat Christmas Tavern 2018
From: Rapparee
Date: 30 Dec 18 - 03:37 PM

Why not? He often visited the Tavern, most recently this one on December 21.

Subject: RE: Mudcat Christmas Tavern 2018 & MMario Wake
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 31 Dec 18 - 12:23 AM

MMario had a special rub and prepared aurochs like no one else could come close to. When he came out from behind the bar to sing he charmed the cats and the ducks out of the rafters and the squid slid to the shallow end of the jello pit to listen. He even managed to charm Nurse Ratched when he wasn't parsing singular and plural noun forms. His last posts were playful, to do with food and this fabricated place we revive and renovate every so often.

Who's working the bar? We each need a stout beer to raise in his honor. And to sing a few songs. I'll start:

Of all the money that e'er I spent
I've spent it in good company
And all the harm that ever I did
Alas it was to none but me
And all I've done for want of wit
To memory now I can't recall
So fill to me the parting glass
Good night and joy be with you all

If I had money enough to spend
And leisure to sit awhile
There is a fair maid in the town
That sorely has my heart beguiled
Her rosy cheeks and ruby lips
I own she has my heart enthralled
So fill to me the parting glass
Good night and joy be with you all

Oh, all the comrades that e'er I had
They're sorry for my going away
And all the sweethearts that e'er I had
They'd wish me one more day to stay
But since it falls unto my lot
That I should rise and you should not
I'll gently rise and softly call
Good night and joy be with you all

Subject: RE: Mudcat Christmas Tavern 2018 & MMario Wake
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 31 Dec 18 - 04:54 AM

A joint venture by MMario and I resulted in one of the "quick links" at the top of the page. Here is a link to how it got underway and, in honour of Leo, I shall raise a glass to him and all absent friends this very evening.

Russian Folk Songs

The Gnome stood on the bar and glared until the tavern was silent. With hushed tones he quoted, who else on Hogmanay, Rabbie himself.

“Here's to us, wha's like us. Damn few, and they're aw deed.”

Subject: RE: Mudcat Christmas Tavern 2018 & MMario Wake
From: GUEST,Sandra in Sydney to lazy to re-set her cooki
Date: 31 Dec 18 - 05:29 AM

behind the magic door here in the Land of Oz its New Year's Eve & the 9pm Sydney fireworks have recently finished but in a few hours the midnight lot will burst forth in a live stream & if that's not magic, what is?

I'm listening to mmario Loudly Bellowing Carols & eating dinner which include some very buttery crumpets, which go down as well on a hot humid Sydney night as in a cold northern hemisphere tavern

Subject: RE: Mudcat Christmas Tavern 2018 & MMario Wake
From: Amergin
Date: 31 Dec 18 - 07:34 AM

The Musician’s Requiem

Look around the old tavern
at the ever increasing number of empty chairs,
the cushions still carrying their imprint,
the tables, their place at the bar
still bear the circle rings
of empty glasses.

In half hidden corners
sit their instruments,
their guitars,
their banjos,
their dulcimers,
their fiddles…

each crying to be held,
to feel the kisses of fingertips,
but the passing years lay dust on their frets.

Let us raise one last parting glass,
and sing one more song…
before our voices, too,
stretch into the quiet.

“But since it falls unto my lot
That I should rise and you should not
I'll gently rise and softly call
Good night and joy be with you all”

Nathan Tompkins

Subject: RE: Mudcat Christmas Tavern 2018 & MMario Wake
From: bbc
Date: 31 Dec 18 - 08:35 AM

Leo, you'll be missed, but your company, through the years, was sure appreciated! Rest in peace, my friend!

bbc

Subject: RE: Mudcat Christmas Tavern 2018 & MMario Wake
From: GUEST
Date: 31 Dec 18 - 01:03 PM

His partner behind the bar and in the kitchen, the alligator, cries real tears, none of that crocodile stuff. I'm sure there's a lot more tears shed from anybody who knew a singularly genuine, kind and beautiful soul. So long, Leo, a lot of things in here and elsewhere in Mudcat will never be the same. Your prescence leaves a big empty space.

Subject: RE: Mudcat Christmas Tavern 2018 & MMario Wake
From: Rapparee
Date: 31 Dec 18 - 02:55 PM

He rolls in the hogsheads of beer, wine, and porter; these are followed by barrel after barrel of small-batch single malt of various descriptions.

"Do not cease mourning, but smile and drink up! MMario would like it that way! And let there be song!"

Subject: RE: Mudcat Christmas Tavern 2018 & MMario Wake
From: Rapparee
Date: 31 Dec 18 - 03:34 PM

Sing, like MMario would like it!

Subject: RE: Mudcat Christmas Tavern 2018 & MMario Wake
From: GUEST, Giant Squid
Date: 31 Dec 18 - 07:06 PM

Finally emerges from the deep end of the jello pit as voices are raised in song, irreverent and joyful, funny and poignant.

"A clydsedale? Is that where all of the beer they sell at the tavern down the road (the one without a jello pit or time/space fluctuations) comes from? I knew there was a reason I liked this place better."

Subject: RE: Mudcat Christmas Tavern 2018 & MMario Wake
From: GUEST,The Galactic Overlord
Date: 31 Dec 18 - 08:06 PM

Now my plans go forward! Submit, for the only one who could thwart me is gone! Shame, that. I'll miss him. The rest of you

SUBMIT!!

Subject: RE: Mudcat Christmas Tavern 2018 & MMario Wake
From: GUEST,keberoxu
Date: 31 Dec 18 - 08:58 PM

... and there goes the neighborhood.

Subject: RE: Mudcat Christmas Tavern 2018 & MMario Wake
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 31 Dec 18 - 09:59 PM

Give him a double whisky and he'll settle down with the squid. He just comes here to play in the jello.

Subject: RE: Mudcat Christmas Tavern 2018 & MMario Wake
From: wysiwyg
Date: 31 Dec 18 - 11:03 PM

Greg (Hardiman the Fiddler AKA Hardi) and I are having a bit of a private wake for Leo. We're incorporating him into our now-famous semi-geezerly New Year's Eve of all-night escapist TV films/hockey accompanied with a series of presentations of creative but simple finger food. Leo was so excited about our Jan. 1 retirement that it's only right we include him tonight.

Two new traditions in his honor will begin tonorrow-- brunch cocktails of cream with either brandy or scotch and espresso.

Leo was one of several Catters who first met us via a Mudgather and later came back for relaxing weekends on thir own, which this big old farmhouse has hosted so well-- lots of space for quiet alone time. Very often his particular visits included cookathons where the 3 of us would alternately cook together in the roomy farm kitchen and take turns whizzing up treats to surprise the others. One simple but VERY effective surprise was the mug of superstrong espresso with a big scoop of ice cream filling most of the mug space. I recall vividly his various facial expressions of delighted approval as each sip included more and more of the melting ice cream. (The last "sip" is via spoon.)

In those years, Greg was never off duty from emergency room pastoral visits, but now this sort of treat can be laced with the good stuff-- and be our annual Leo Special. We'll toast to our marriage tonight at midnight as he would wish us to do-- but to Leo tomorrow at brunch (turkey/tater/Swiss cheese hash with poached eggs).

We're also contemplating serving a brandy/cream-soaked cake with brunch tomorrow, which we will also name for him (Leo's Retreat), and repeat each New Year.

Maybe by tomorrow I'll be able to cry.

~S~

Subject: RE: Mudcat Christmas Tavern 2018 & MMario Wake
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 31 Dec 18 - 11:19 PM

I never met him but enjoyed all of the banter and food talk below the line, and the music discussions above. There will be good stories to tell about all of those real-time events people attended with him and I look forward to reading them. Laughter will follow - as it should. It's part of healing.

Subject: RE: Mudcat Christmas Tavern 2018 & MMario Wake
From: Mrrzy
Date: 01 Jan 19 - 09:07 AM

The thing behind the couch wakes up, and regrets it. So long, Mmario.

Subject: RE: Mudcat Christmas Tavern 2018 & MMario Wake
From: Severn
Date: 01 Jan 19 - 07:01 PM

I submitted to the Over-Lowered, but my idea was rejected. Either my thoughts are too deep, or he has been over-lowered too deep and is in over his head and beyond his limit. Mmario would have had nothing to fear and would've shrugged him off.....

Subject: RE: Mudcat Christmas Tavern 2018 & MMario Wake
From: GUEST,The Galactic Overlord
Date: 02 Jan 19 - 09:28 AM

Aw, pooie! Sev is here. I have never been able to rule anything when Sev is there. BARKEEP! Gimme a Pan Galactic Gargle Blaster or two!

Subject: RE: Mudcat Christmas Tavern 2018 & MMario Wake
From: Senoufou
Date: 02 Jan 19 - 09:52 AM

The Old Lady and the Smiling African Man would like everyone to join us in singing 'Rolling Home'. It's always struck her as a lovely song for remembering a much-loved person and also imagining the Next Stage.
The two elderly Siamese cats will play guitar and a mandolin.

Rolling Home by Roy Bailey

Subject: RE: Mudcat Christmas Tavern 2018 & MMario Wake
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 02 Jan 19 - 11:31 PM

From MMario's sister this evening:

Services will be January 19th at 10 am for Leo’s memorial at
St Mark’s Episcopal Church in Penn Yan, NY. 14527

Subject: RE: Mudcat Christmas Tavern 2018 & MMario Wake
From: Tattie Bogle
Date: 04 Jan 19 - 10:30 AM

The scarecrow (Tattie Bogle) pours herself a large A Bunadh and joins in "Then pass the bottle round, and let the toasts go free" -
"Free toast?" says Squiddy
"There's a land of milk and honey waits on the other side" - we hope so!
99................

Subject: RE: Mudcat Christmas Tavern 2018 & MMario Wake
From: Senoufou
Date: 04 Jan 19 - 12:14 PM

Just heard this morning that our 100 year-old neighbour Dougie died on Christmas Eve. So The Old Lady and the Smiling African Man will be thinking of him too as they eat their free toast.

Appropriately, this should be post no 100.