CHRISTMAS IN DA BAY, BRA !

MARDI GRAS COUNTDOWN = 132 DAYS

WORD OF THE DAY - MIDNIGHT MASS - mass that begins sometime before midnight on Christmas Day; this ceremony, which is held in churches throughout the world, marks the beginning of Christmas Day. A popular joke is to ask what time Midnight Mass starts, but in recent years some churches have scheduled their "Midnight" Mass as early as 7 p.m. In Spanish-speaking areas, the Midnight Mass is sometimes referred to as Misa del Gallo ("Rooster's Mass"). In the Philippines, this custom lasts for nine days, starting on December 16 and continuing daily up to December 24, during which Filipinos attend dawn masses, usually starting at around 4:00-5:00 a.m.

FUNNY THIS. NOT HARDLY EVER AT MIDNIGHT ANYMORE? DOESN'T MAKE SENSE. LIKE OUR TAX CODE.

TODAY FOUND ME LISTENING TO SOME BENNY GRUNCH CHRISTMAS MUSIC ON MY NEW ...... I POD ! YES, T REE HAS AN I POD. TRY TO CATCH UP CLYDE AND CLYDINE.
THIS BROUGHT BACK SOME FOUND MEMORIES OF CHRISTMAS IN DA BAY. HD. I KNOW CHRISTMAS IS A BUMP IN THE ROAD TO MARDI GRAS, BUT I FEEL THAT MANY OF MY READERS WOULD LIKE A LITTLE INSIGHT INTO OUR CHRISTMAS CELEBRATION. SO, BEAR WITH ME. MARDI GRAS SEASON IS COMIN ON STRONG.

BAY ST LOUIS (BSL) IS A SLEEPY LITTLE TOWN ON THE COAST OF MISSISSIPPI. 45 MINUTES EAST OF NEW ORLEANS, IN HANCOCK COUNTY. WE TALK AND ACT LIKE NEW ORLEANIANS MORE THAN OTHERS IN MISSISSIPPI. EVEN VERY DIFFERENT THAN THE RICH FOLKS IN HARRISON AND JACKSON COUNTIES. YA KNOW, WITH ALL THEIR CASINOS, AND CONDOS, AND GORENFLO'S. OUR TOWN MOTTO IS "A PLACE APART".
WHEN I WAS LITTLE, BSL WAS A MOSTLY FISHING COMMUNITY WITH MANY SUMMER RESIDENTS AND PERMANENT TRANSPLANTS FROM ACROSS THE LAKE (PONCHATRAIN). THEN WE GOT A CASINO, AND A LITTLE MONEY, AND THINGS WERE BOOMING. THEY ARE DIFFERENT SINCE HURRICANE KATRINA. BSL IS MORE LIKE MY CHILDHOOD NOW THAN SINCE MY EARLY TEENS. BUT ANYWAY, JUST A LITTLE BACKGROUND INFO FOR YOU ALL.

CHRISTMAS IN DA BAY IS LIKE CHRISTMAS IN NEW YORK, NOT SO MUCH. AVERAGE TEMPERATURES DURING THE HOLIDAYS RANGE IN THE LOW 40'S (LOWS) TO THE LOWER 60'S (HIGHS). VERY WARM. FOR CHRISTMAS. SHORTS AND FLIP FLOPS WOULD BE ACCEPTABLE FOR CHRISTMAS DAY IF YOU DIDN'T HAVE TO DRESS UP TO GO TO EVELYN'S AFTER MORNING MASS. AND TAKE PICTURES WITH THE WHOLE FAMILY. ESPECIALLY SINCE YOU WILL NEVER SEE THE ^*&$%#^ PICTURES AGAIN. EVEN BEFORE KATRINA TOOK THEM ALL. THEY MUST GO TO SOME FACEBOOK PAGE IN THE SKY ?
FISHING IS GREAT DURING THE HOLIDAYS AS WELL. IT IS JUST A GREAT TIME OF YEAR. ALL THE REDNECKS ARE CHASING DEER WHILE WE FISH AND DRINK BEER. I MEAN SPREAD HOLIDAY CHEER.
ONE OF MY FAVORITE THINGS TO DO DURING THE HOLIDAY SEASON IS TO LOAD UP MY MAMA'S MINIVAN (YEP) WITH MY FRIENDS AND AN ICE CHEST. WE THEN RIDE AROUND SPREADING HOLIDAY CHEER, AND LISTENING TO BENNY GRUNCH.
IF I WIN DA LOTTRY FOR CHRISTMAS, ME AND HERBIE DERBIE GETTIN MORE THAN A WINDOW UNIT AT THE CAMP OUT IN LITTLE WOODS. AND ALL MY LADY FRIENDS WILL BE SENT ON THE GRANDEST CRUISE OF ALL. TOP SHELF. I WILL CHOOSE THE DESTINATION SINCE I KNOW ALL OF MY LADY FRIENDS COULD NEVER AGREE ON A DESTINATION. GUYS, WE WILL GO SOMEWHERE SPECIAL AS WELL. WE CAN DECIDE WHEN THE TIME COMES.

SO, WE HAVE THE PEOPLE, THE BOOZE, THE MUSIC, AND A DRIVER (LOVE YOU MAMA). (TYPICAL CONVERSATION AS THE CAR ROLLS OUT. YES, WE ROLL) YOU WILL HAVE TO FIGURE OUT WHO SAYS WHAT.
WHERE YA'LL WANNA GO TONITE? CHIRTMAS CARD LANE OR CHRISTMAS CARROL LANE? WHAT ABOUT AL COPELAND? WE COULD GET SOME DANNY'S AND RIDE OVER TO SEE HIS MONSTROSITY OF A CHRISTMAS LIGHT DISPLAY, AND GET SOME POPEYE'S. YA'LL BEEN TO CHRISTMAS IN THE OAKS YET? I HEAR IT'S SPECIAL THIS YEAR. YA KNOW MARDI GRAS IS ONLY 5 WEEKS AWAY. YOU RIDIN THIS YEAR? HERBERT, YA'LL GOT THE BEADS YET? GET THAT WINE FROM YOUR DAGO NEIGHBOR? IS IT MY TURN OR YOURS TO BUY THE BEER? WESLEY GONNA BE THERE? (EARLY SAYS "ALRIGHT YOU BUNCH A DRUNKS, I GOT TO BE IN BED BEFORE 10. EVEN THOUGH I DON'T SLEEP UNTIL TWO.) LET'S STAY OVER THIS WAY TONITE. HEATHER HAS A HEADACHE AND WE DON'T WANT TO MISS TACO BELL BEFORE IT CLOSES. WHAT'D YA'LL THINK ABOUT THAT HOMILY TODAY. PRIEST "X" SURE WAS LONG WINDED TODAY, HUN. DON'T HE KNOW WE GOT TO RIDE AROUND TONIGHT AND LOOK AT CHRISTMAS LIGHTS. LET'S HIT THE LIGHTS ON THE BEACH AND THEN THE 2 CHRISTMAS THEMED LANES. BUT WHAT ABOUT DA PASS? I HEAR THE HARBOR LOOKS NICE. AND RAMSEY'S REALLY DID IT UP RIGHT. WELL, YA KNOW DEM RICH FOLKS FROM ACROSS THE BRIDGE. ALWAYS TRYIN TO SHOW OFF. I WONDER WHERE FAT BOY IS TONIGHT (YA KNOW, HIM). THINK YOU'LL HAVE A DATE THIS YEAR FOR THE BALL? WHAT ABOUT ONE OF THEM KOSKAN GIRLS? THEY GREEK, AND GOOD LOOKIN'? DON'T WORRY SON. AS EV SAYS, THE GOOD LAWD KNOWS WHAT YA NEED, HUN. IF I HEAR THAT ONE MORE TIME, I AM GOING TO PUKE. I GUESS HE THOUGHT I NEEDED OVALTEEN AND CANNED CORN/PEAS. EVERY NIGHT. OH, AND JEANS TO THE FACE. YOU KNOW WE NOT THE FAVORITES. WHO YOU THINK IS GOING TO HAVE TO TAKE CARE OF HER? HEY COCKAHOE, WHEN YA MOVIN BACK FROM THE GREAT WHITE NORTH? WE MISS YA DOWN HERE BUD. REMEMBER THAT TIME WHEN I SAW JEFFRO AT LUNCH? AND HE SAID, DO WE LOOK LIKE 1 DINNER ROLL KINDA PEOPLE? WE DON'T HAVE THE THEME YET FOR THIS YEAR, BUT MY SOURCES ARE SAYING SOMETHING IN LINE WITH VALENTIMES. T REE, THINK YOU'LL FINALLY BE ABLE TO BUY SOMETHING FOR A WOMAN THIS VALENTIMES? DON'T WORRY, THE GOOD LAWD KNOWS WHAT YOU NEED. YA KNOW. YA KNOW. LOOK AT THAT DISPLAY. BET HIS OLD LADY MADE HIM DO THAT ? SHOOT. SHOOT. SHOOT. YOU PAID YOUR DUES YET? GETTING CLOSE. KING CAKES WILL BE READY IN ABOUT 10 DAYS. YA KNOW. THEY START ON THE EPIPHANY. (JAN 6 FOR YOU NON CATHOLIC TYPES). CAN'T WAIT FOR THAT GUMBO AND SHRIMP DRESSING. YES LAWD. EV PUTTIN ON THE FULL DISPLAY? YOU KNOW SHE WOULDN'T DO IT ANY OTHER WAY. 4 MEATS. AND 12 VEGETABLES. AND FRUIT SALAD WITH POUND CAKE. DID YOU GET YOUR CANDY? AFTER I SPENT TREE DAYS MAKIN THE SHIT, I DIDN'T EVEN GET ANY DIVINITY. SINCE I AM ON THE BOTTOM OF THE LIST....... YA'LL READY TO GO HOME. YEA. SEE YA TOMORROW NIGHT? YEA. BOURBON AND HOT PEPPERS? YEA. TOM, YOU GONNA GET INTO THE SCOTCH LIKE BIG JOHN ON PARADE DAY? DON'T KNOW. I TELL YA WHAT. IF THAT LIL SUMBITCH GETS INTO THE SCOTCH AGAIN THIS YEAR, HE WILL BE YOUR RESPONSIBILITY ! I AM DONE WITH HIS ASS. LOVE YOU TOO MAMA. NIGHT. NIGHT BRA. YOU FISHIN' IN DA MORNIN'? YEA. TROUT REALLY BITIN. THANK YOU EARLY.

IF ANY OF YOU ARE IN DA BAY DURING THE HOLIDAYS, PLEASE LOOK ME UP. WE WOULD LOVE FOR YOU TO DO THE HOLIDAYS WITH US, COAST STYLE. IF WE LIKE YOU, YOU MIGHT GET INVITED TO THE BALL AND PARADE. AND YOU WOULDN'T WANT TO MISS THAT.

WITH HOLIDAY CHEER,
T REE