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BS: Mudcat Tavern 2007 Holiday escape
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Subject: BS: Mudcat Tavern 2007 Holiday escape From: Stilly River Sage Date: 21 Dec 07 - 10:46 PM The knob turns, the door slowly opens into a pitch dark room. Not even the beer lights are on behind the bar. A hand reaches in and gropes the wall, discovering and flipping on the switch. The tavern is washed with mellow indirect lighting. Dust motes drift in the air and the stools are all neatly tucked under the bar, with chairs turned up on the tables. The weekend is here, along with the long holiday break. Too much money has been spent, as usual. Sage is bushed, and there is way too much to do. She has to put have a dinner party tomorrow night that she learned about last night. It will be held in her messy house. One of her best friends just wrote and sent a photo of the beach near his new retreat in Puerto Rico. She isn't near anyplace that looks as cool as this. She's stuck in a prairie in the winter. She needs a drink. And a nice dinner. And to stay up all night cleaning house and cooking. So of course, she needed to stop by the Mudcat Tavern to fortify herself, and see what's cooking out back. "Anybody here?" |
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Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat Tavern 2007 Holiday escape From: Stilly River Sage Date: 22 Dec 07 - 03:33 AM The Mudcat Tavern is unusually, absolutely eerily, quiet, for a change. . . A few covered dishes were neatly arranged in the refrigerator, rendering a splendid meal of a rich and savory stew accompanied by a crisp salad of romaine and blue cheese dressing, washed down by a splendid red wine. A very fat calico cat creeps in the not-quite-closed door and hops up into the lap of the lone individual who is relaxing in an overstuffed recliner near the fireplace. A shadow in the rafters might be a duck getting a little more comfortable on the broad beam. A thick rope extends from an unusual winch and a harness, resting on one end of the beam, forlorn without the excitement of a tree to suspend and support during the usual tavern excitement. A warm, saltwater breeze gusts through the southern door. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat Tavern 2007 Holiday escape From: Liz the Squeak Date: 22 Dec 07 - 03:42 AM Oh bugger... who left the tap running in the Ladies? And why are there sucker marks across the wall up there? I thought this was going to be a quiet place to relax and gird my loins for the fray that is 'tidy the dining room or we'll be eating in the bathroom'. Looks like I'm going to have to get that extra bucket after all... LTS |
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Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat Tavern 2007 Holiday escape From: Megan L Date: 22 Dec 07 - 04:00 AM Truck pulls up at the door a couple of handsome young men with dark hair and big brown eyes begin unloadingit. There are boxes of oatcakes and boxes of cheese, shortbread and flaky Westray bicuts oh and of course some boxes contain the fine islan malts Scapa and Highland park along with fruit wines and Skull splitter beer. I am only afraid that Thorfinn and Magnus will stop the truck at the nearest beach don their skins and swim home Selkies are fine as deliverymen just as long as they dont see water. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat Tavern 2007 Holiday escape From: gnu Date: 22 Dec 07 - 04:17 AM I'll partake of some the cheese and shortbread cookies, please. And hot water for my tea as I brought my own, thanks. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat Tavern 2007 Holiday escape From: Liz the Squeak Date: 22 Dec 07 - 04:28 AM What, no tablet?!!! I've got tablet... my Secret Santa gang of 3 gave me tablet! (for those who don't have Scottish Phrase book - tablet is a big piece of toffee fudge) There's a knock at the side door, the one to the north. Mack and Jean-Claude-Paul-Francoise have got us a little something in their truck. Just hope it's not polar bear poo for the roses again... it was ages before anyone realised where the smell was coming from - we all thought it was Bert! What is Mack doing with that hoist?? Ooooohhh!!! It looks like the tree has arrived. LTS |
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Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat Tavern 2007 Holiday escape From: Megan L Date: 22 Dec 07 - 04:37 AM oh oh 15 foot ceiling 20 foot tree quick liz dig a hole in the floor i'm sure no one will notice. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat Tavern 2007 Holiday escape From: ranger1 Date: 22 Dec 07 - 09:58 AM Have no fear, ranger1 and her trusty shovel and ice chopper thingie have arrived from the snowy reaches of southern Maine! One sip of some nice single malt and wow! That hole got dug quick! Bandit! Quit sniffing the kitty's butt! |
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Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat Tavern 2007 Holiday escape From: Megan L Date: 22 Dec 07 - 10:05 AM Bandit be careful if the kitty doesnt have long lags its my missing selkie I sent it towards a lighthouse but it hasnt been seen since so he might not take to kindly to cold noses . |
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Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat Tavern 2007 Holiday escape From: wysiwyg Date: 22 Dec 07 - 10:23 AM 2007 Holiday escape Good idea! Hardi and I escaped our usual smalltown area yesterday to do some NONCHRISTMAS SHOPPING and discovered a wonderful Indian restaurant that we had not known was only an hour away. !!! Actual walking down pretty sidewalks and aimless browsing in stores! We decided this MUST become an annual mid-Advent "leave-Advent-behind" tradtion, which we will repeat in Lent as well! ~Susan |
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Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat Tavern 2007 Holiday escape From: SINSULL Date: 22 Dec 07 - 10:53 AM HELLOOOOO??????? I knew I would find someone in here. Hey Bandit! Alice would like a cold-nose butt nuzzle. But wash your nose before you come near me. I will start with a nice cup of oolong. Any sign of Micca or Jacqui? I hoped to wish them both a Merry Christmas and share a glass of something good, maybe hot cider with a splash of rum. Any chance we can keep this year's festivities under some kind of control? No Jell-O pit; no cranky squid; no scratching cats; no Liz getting stuck in the Ladies...which reminds me. Did Liz spend the year in the Ladies? That's where she emerged from... |
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Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat Tavern 2007 Holiday escape From: SINSULL Date: 22 Dec 07 - 11:23 AM Oh LOOK! A magic wand! A wave and...everything is neat and clean and smells like peppermint and pine. There's a blazing fire in the hearth. The glasses are clean; the tables shining and set and waiting for MMario to fill them. The bar is stocked. There is fresh ice, egg nog, mulled wine. even the bathrooms are sparkling clean. Look - real towels! And little blue blocks in the urinals. (Someday someone will have to explain to me why there are little blus blocks in the urinals...targets?) Think I'll slip this little gadget into my pocket. My house could use a wave. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat Tavern 2007 Holiday escape From: Rapparee Date: 22 Dec 07 - 01:12 PM The horse gallops up the ribbon of moonlight across the purple moor and the highwayman comes riding, riding up Ye Olde Inne doore. "Whoa, Trigger...er, Silver...er, Tony...ah, Champ...STOP GODDAMMIT!" he yells. And the horse does stop. Suddenly and completely, throwing the highwayman over his head, his rapier flipping neatly from its scabbard and burying itself point first in the crest of the new-fallen snow. The rider strikes his dismount, give himself a "10" and the horse a dirty look. His mount looks innocently away; the highwayman re-sheaths his sword and walks to The Olde Inne doore. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat Tavern 2007 Holiday escape From: Micca Date: 22 Dec 07 - 02:45 PM ah, it is cold enough for the almost Legendary ginger wine and Cider "winter warmer" (you know, who put the "interr"in the winter warmer?) Take a Uk 1/2 pint of (hard) Cider (the closer you can get to Scrumpy the better) and take a good swig, then top up (replace) the removed volume with Stones Green Ginger Wine, It tastes WONDERFUL and is warming as drinking a paraffin Lamp, only problem is they taste of MORE and after a few (some times as few as 3) you pass out fairly abruptly . So I'll have one of those please, and have a Large Highland Park handy should I start to snore!! |
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Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat Tavern 2007 Holiday escape From: SINSULL Date: 22 Dec 07 - 02:47 PM and the horse you rode in on, Rapaire. Had to say it before Micca arrived. Sit down and mind yer scabbard. Just polished the floors and tables, you know. What would you like to drink? And shall I fetch some hay and water for that horse? He really ought not to be in the Jell-O Pit, you know. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat Tavern 2007 Holiday escape From: ranger1 Date: 22 Dec 07 - 03:09 PM Bandit! Put down the squid! It is not a squeaky toy! Nor is Auntie Liz, for that matter, even if she does sound like one! Go sit down by Uncle Micca and behave yourself! Micca, pour me one of those concoctions, will you? |
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Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat Tavern 2007 Holiday escape From: Liz the Squeak Date: 22 Dec 07 - 07:19 PM Raven kitty has reverted to type and is playing with the balls on the Christmas tree... having pried them from his needle-like clasp, he's now on my lap, wondering a)why he's in the Ladies and b) why there's a cold nose up his butt. I think he likes the latter though... LTS |
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Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat Tavern 2007 Holiday escape From: curmudgeon Date: 22 Dec 07 - 08:46 PM I'll be having a rum and shrub, if you please. Thanks be to Micca that I learned of the medicinal properties of thi concoction, especially when it's cold and damp. Just the one though as I must stuff the stove with wood still, and retire at a decent hour - Tom |
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Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat Tavern 2007 Holiday escape From: Stilly River Sage Date: 23 Dec 07 - 02:08 AM I've finished cooking and cleaning after the rushed dinner party. Had a nice hot mug of mulled cider--I'll go curl up for a nap in the coat closet. Don't worry about me; I'll be right as rain in a couple of hours. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat Tavern 2007 Holiday escape From: Micca Date: 23 Dec 07 - 02:48 AM Tom, Rum and Shrub!! perfect, we made it with Wm Hicks 125 proof (7 years in sherry casks) rum once, it was absolute NECTAR, made your hat damp tho' (it was the steam shooting out of my ears!) Tami, I would seriously reconsider you brash acceptance of a glass of the "winter warmer" If I was you, it is reminiscent of being embalmed |
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Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat Tavern 2007 Holiday escape From: Liz the Squeak Date: 23 Dec 07 - 03:00 AM Says he who smells like one embalmed several centuries ago.... Someone relight the Solstice bonfire, the world has gone blurry again. Either it's the foggy doos or my glasses need cleaning. LTS |
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Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat Tavern 2007 Holiday escape From: gnu Date: 23 Dec 07 - 07:12 AM May I have some more hot water for my tea bag, please? Someone knocked my cup over with thier wand. No... no need for a wipe. Someone cleaned it up already. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat Tavern 2007 Holiday escape From: Linda Goodman Zebooker Date: 23 Dec 07 - 09:08 AM I'd love a concoction of organic tea flowers. You place a dried flower in a glass teapot, add boiling water, and it opens up to a full bloom. Very delicately scented. The fog is creeping in all right; I can barely see the squid. A mouse has just run in and scurried up the wall. It's hiding behind the brass plaque with the picture of William Shakespeare. All the cats are riveted with attention on it. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat Tavern 2007 Holiday escape From: Stilly River Sage Date: 23 Dec 07 - 11:55 AM From beside the heap of Sage's winter coat in the corner, the sleek brown and white athletic pit bull terrier Cinnamon leaps for the plaque and the mouse. Deftly catching the mouse in her big mouth, she bounces to the floor, and after getting a warning glare from the cats that she's intruding in their game (and knowing what a cat bite on the noggin feels like*) spits it out onto the floor. The cat and mouse chase begins. Sage awakens from a long nap buried in the coats in the tavern's hall closet. The door to the recovery ward is open a crack, but none of the beds appear to be in use. She pushes her way back into the tavern. "A cup of strong Yorkshire Gold tea, please. And ibuprophen." *Clementine deftly delivered a bite on the top of Cinnamon's bony nose when the pit caught her by the leg two years ago at christmas. The bite was so hard the cat broke her own jaw, but she was otherwise uninjured. The vet bills broke my holiday budget. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat Tavern 2007 Holiday escape From: Alice Date: 23 Dec 07 - 02:27 PM Faintly the sound of Tango music comes from a dark corner, the door opens and Alice slowly enters, takes the rose from her teeth and says, " |
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Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat Tavern 2007 Holiday escape From: Alice Date: 23 Dec 07 - 02:28 PM Eight years have gone by and I am still searching for a Tango partner..." |
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Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat Tavern 2007 Holiday escape From: Rapparee Date: 23 Dec 07 - 04:32 PM Tripping merrily over his scabbard, the highwayman makes his way to the bar and sings out, "Good barkeep, good friend! A mug of flip if it be not too much trouble...and if it is, mulled wine. And a Double-Stuffed Oreo cookie for my rusty teed, er, trusty steed. Gracias a Usted." |
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Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat Tavern 2007 Holiday escape From: MMario Date: 23 Dec 07 - 07:59 PM A top hatted, mutton chopped gentleman(?) in an extremly soggy greatcoat enters via the side door marked "Do not open". Tossing the soddon wool over the nearest coathook he goes to the bar and hooks up an intevenous caffiene shunt; and sighs blissfully. 1842 sure is WET this Christmas! |
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Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat Tavern 2007 Holiday escape From: curmudgeon Date: 23 Dec 07 - 08:46 PM I'm back, and I need another rum and shrub, but less shrub please. The 50/50 mix is just too sweet. The highwayman should really doff that rapier in favour of a basket hilt backsword. The rapier is all fine and good on foot, but on horseback? This tavern , with all creatures great and small, puts me in mind of the Sunday afternoon hoots at the Stone Church back in the '70s. It was a real familyy folk beeer allhall where folk would come with kids, dogs, and even cats. Have to drink up now. the stove needs tendingg, and herself will be needing medicating. Wassail - Tom |
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Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat Tavern 2007 Holiday escape From: GUEST,Rapaire Date: 23 Dec 07 - 09:21 PM The highwayman uses a schiavona for fighting on horseback. But that's second choice to this. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat Tavern 2007 Holiday escape From: Stilly River Sage Date: 23 Dec 07 - 09:55 PM Brrr! It's cold outside. Is anyone cooking anything big outback? Aurock, bison, blue whale, whatever? |
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Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat Tavern 2007 Holiday escape From: Bee Date: 23 Dec 07 - 10:01 PM "Haven't visited this tavern before." Bee steps inside, one brown tabby slinking around in front, scared loking white fluffball peeking out from behind her snowcovered boots. "Been by before, but the place sorta fades in and out of a thick fog..." She drops in a chair with a groan. "I'm so tired I could just fall asleep right now, but there's more housecleaning awaiting - somebody please hand me an Irish coffee - heavy on the Irish, please. And... why is there a squid here?" |
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Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat Tavern 2007 Holiday escape From: Stilly River Sage Date: 23 Dec 07 - 10:12 PM Because the jello pit got too cold for him to hang out in. Someone cleared out the jello and turned it into a hot tub this fall, and that was too hot for him. He's probably a candidate for the recovery ward. The guy just can't get comfortable. There is an unusual haze drifting off of the hot tub--time to lower the heat to simmer is my guess. I wonder if MMario has been poaching salmon in it again? |
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Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat Tavern 2007 Holiday escape From: Charley Noble Date: 23 Dec 07 - 10:14 PM It's not just any squid, Bee. This is the Christmas season, and I'm sure you've heard of the Three Wisemen. Well, this is the Wise Kraken! click at Your Own Risk! I'd like a rusty nail, please, and spare me any conversation. Charley Noble |
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Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat Tavern 2007 Holiday escape From: Stilly River Sage Date: 24 Dec 07 - 03:11 AM Somehow I've missed the term "kraken" or "wise kraken" over all of these years. Learn something new every day. I'll skip the calamari snack. Instead, I'd like a plate of hot open face turkey sandwich, please. Don't scrimp on the gravy. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat Tavern 2007 Holiday escape From: GUEST,Giant Squid Date: 24 Dec 07 - 03:30 AM You skip the calimari jokes and I'll skip eating cats as a snack. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat Tavern 2007 Holiday escape From: My guru always said Date: 24 Dec 07 - 03:31 AM The old stray Tabby slid through the cat-flap that had been installed at her request since the Tavern was last open and heaving with Once inside she paused to look around and washed her tail thoughtfully. 'Well, my ears & whiskers, there do seem to be a lot of other cats in here this year. Nice to see the youngsters keeping up the tradition of chasing mice but I'm feeling a bit too weary to join them just now. Let's see, who's looking friendly and has a nice lap?' Sidling over to the fireplace she delicately deposits herself on the cosy lap already occupied by a very contented calico cat. 'Would you mind me joining you my dear? It's been a long year and I'm in need of some peace and comfort.' With just the right amount of sniffing, purring and the occasional tongue-wash, the two cats settle down contentedly for a cat-nap, twitching occasionally as they dreamt of roast auroch, salmon and bowls of baileys. The lone individual at the fire slowly stroked the cats, sipped from his glass of Port & Brandy and started to hum a gentle song... |
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Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat Tavern 2007 Holiday escape From: GUEST,RaVen kittie Date: 24 Dec 07 - 06:35 AM Pushing his Egyptian nose in through the cat flap... "Mmmm... where did that cold nose get to? What's this??? Who is this 'Bandit' creature? Was it his nose?? Hmmmmmmm.. I like this place. " "Can I curl up here for a bit? I've been poorly this morning... I think it was the cheap biscuits I stole from the house over the back." RaVen snuggles up to the other cats. He's sociable like that. Until he yaks on the stairs. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat Tavern 2007 Holiday escape From: gnu Date: 24 Dec 07 - 06:44 AM I say. Some hot water for my tea and I'll share Aunt Charmaine's date filled sugar cookies. Best cookies I ever had. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat Tavern 2007 Holiday escape From: SINSULL Date: 24 Dec 07 - 08:17 AM Another wave and the cat yak is gone but so is gnu's tea. Sorry about that. Harry Potter makes it look so easy. Dare I try to fix the BatGoddess's arm? HMMMMMM Bippity Boppity Boo Boo Gone! Uh Oh... |
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Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat Tavern 2007 Holiday escape From: GUEST,RaVen Kittie Date: 24 Dec 07 - 08:32 AM "Hey!!! What happened to my lovely tail? It's my pride and joy, like a fluffy black snake that I hold proudly over my back, and now look at it...." Raven looks round at his bottom. "It looks like a flippin' pompom!!! What have you done to my lovely tail?? Ooohh... hair scrunchies... KILL!!!" |
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Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat Tavern 2007 Holiday escape From: Rapparee Date: 24 Dec 07 - 12:38 PM Over in the corner he nurses his shandy, plotting small deeds and great trivialities. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat Tavern 2007 Holiday escape From: Stilly River Sage Date: 24 Dec 07 - 01:12 PM The tree begins to tilt. Several customers look up to see the upper branches filled with ducks. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat Tavern 2007 Holiday escape From: SINSULL Date: 24 Dec 07 - 01:21 PM And one little duck is wearing a giant plume - oh no! It's the cat's tail. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat Tavern 2007 Holiday escape From: ranger1 Date: 24 Dec 07 - 01:58 PM Bandit quickly sits on his own fluffy plume of a tail, looking at Auntie SINS in alarm and wondering how quickly he could chew the wand into toothpicks. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat Tavern 2007 Holiday escape From: lady penelope Date: 24 Dec 07 - 05:02 PM "Christmas is coming The goose is getting fat If you haven't got a goose Then you'll have to eat the cat...." Ho bleedin' ho.... Right, a pint of glayva please and NOBODY offer me bleedin' ice to go in it..... Hah bum hug.... |
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Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat Tavern 2007 Holiday escape From: SINSULL Date: 24 Dec 07 - 05:16 PM Christmas is coming The goose is getting fat - YIKES! That's one cold goose, Bandit. Go warm your nose in the fire or I will be forced to wave my wand at you...and your little girl too (shades of Oz) |
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Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat Tavern 2007 Holiday escape From: MMario Date: 24 Dec 07 - 05:51 PM Who accused me of paching salmon in the hot tub!?! I'll have you know I would *never* poach salmon in the hot tub. But it *was* the only place big enough to make the court buillion for the poached Nile crocodile. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat Tavern 2007 Holiday escape From: Tinker Date: 24 Dec 07 - 08:04 PM Ahhh, Time to put the feet up.... Nibbles are all out for the kids, small gifts and new pajamas have been given out, We made it through yesterday's Christmas padgaent with 30 kids(most under 6) But I need one of those hot cider drinks before I start wrapping presents. I could use a few of gnu's cookies for Santa tonight. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Mudcat Tavern 2007 Holiday escape From: Stilly River Sage Date: 24 Dec 07 - 08:22 PM Has anyone wandered out to that Puerto Rican beach? How's the water? |
