Yes, Ohio, there is a Santa Claus!

Leading off, I am well aware that the Virgina whom was addressed on the September 21, 1897 editorial page of The (New York) Sun was not the Commonwealth of Virginia but rather 8-year old Virginia O'Hanlon.  However, that creative juxtaposition better suits my purpose today.

Santa, known for rewarding all the good little boys and girls with presents and also for giving lumps of coal to those degenerates who are deserving of such, gave Cincinnati fans throughout Reds Country the pleasantly unexpected but justly deserved gift of a bus ticket out of town for one Drew Stubbs.  Stubby, for his part, found a big ol' lump of coal in his formerly Red Stocking hung by the fireplace with care - a lump of coal with Cleveland stamped across its dusty surface.

Speaking of lumps of coal/Cleveland, that fraudulent sham of a Rock N' Roll Hall of Fame finally saw the merchandising light and named every one's favorite Canadian power trio RUSH among its 2013 class of inductees.  A long overdue recognition, certainly, and criminal that luminaries of vacuousness like ABBA have been honored at all, let alone before RUSH.  Joining RUSH as 2013 honorees this year are Public Enemy.  I for one cannot wait to hear them jamming together on a Xanadu/Get the [expletive deleted] Outta Dodge medley!  Just imagine; Chuck D and Geddy Lee sharing one mic.  That concept makes my eyes spin like a dial telephone (credit: Marty Brennaman).  Could be the start of a whole new collaborative opportunity;  By the Time I Get to the Temples of Syrinx, or maybe By-Tor and the Snowdog Gonna Work It Out.

The forgoing has all been prelude to what follows next, my first effort at posting photos to this blog:

 

 

 

That's former Cincinnati Red Dave "The Cobra" Parker aka "Parkway" at center, graciously posing for a photo with my brother Lou and me at RedsFest 2012.  The native Cincinnatian "Cobra," seated for this photo, is a big dude.  Parker was robbed of the 1985 National League MVP award.  I told him as much.  Playing that year for Cincinnati, Parker led the NL in doubles and RBI (with 125, top that Jay Bruce!) hit .312/.365/.551 (are you reading this, Jay Bruce?) and finished 2nd in MVP voting.  The player named NL MVP in 1985?  Willie McGee.  Criminal!  As we know, almost without exception the BBWAA is populated with morons.

 

Christmas at The Ranch

 

As you might know, Lou's birthday is Christmas Eve.  In the photo above, he is buried under a veritable avalanche of gifts.  Alison, at left, feigns disinterest in Lou's crushing plight.

 

My niece Maria, above, models one of my Christmas gifts; a game-used 1978 Cincinnati Reds St. Patrick's Day green batting helmet.  Somewhere in Boone, North Carolina, Kristan just switched her monitor display from color to black-and-white.

My niece Anna, above, sporting the bumble bee knit hat I gave her intently studies some book which I did not give her. 

What Christmas dinner can be considered complete without.....

..... Mexican Coca-Cola?!

I bought a case. 

Who wants one?  They're going fast!