Christmas season really stinks for Big Red and the funnel cake business.  We struggled through the worst week of the year and will probably do just as bad this week. Thursday at the auction was a complete bust.  Even worse than Thanksgiving week.  With only two loins sold, I barely covered expenses. Then the weekend at Walmart in Waynesboro was just as bad.  Between shutting down early on Saturday because of the ice storm and 50 mph winds on Sunday when I didn't even open, Friday was our only day.  And it was horrible--about one third of what we usually do at a Walmart. Oh, well.  S*** happens. The only interesting item for the whole week was at the Holiday Inn in Fredericksburg on Wednesday night.  I decided to go to the bar and wait for Peggy, and use a little of the old bourbon theropy for my sore back.  Much to my surprise, Santa Claus was sitting there having a cocktail.  I admit that was a first for me.  Drinking with Santa.  I always thought it was breakfast with Santa.  Guess not, at least in Fredericksburg.  I wonder what he did with the reindeer?  Do they like martinis? On a more serious side, I'd like to thank all of you for following our exploits during the year and I appreciate all of the comments made from time to time.  I promise to continue with more through the New Year as I hope to undergo some major expansion. To each I wish you a wonderful holiday and terrific 2008. Especially to our cruise friends, I leave you with the following: 'Twas the night before Christmas, and far out at sea Our vessel was sailing, as smooth as could be The stockings were hung from the balcony chairs With hope that St. Nicholas would find them out there The children were nestled all snug in their uppers Having just settled down from a Christmas Eve supper And ma and myself, we were covered in aloe A bit too much sun, in a pool, warm and shallow When up in the sky, there arose such a clatter I leapt from my bed to see what was the matter To the sliding glass door, I flew like a flash Well, more like a saunter, and less like a dash And what to my skeptical eyes should appear But a great shiny sleigh, and eight flying reindeer They circled our ship, from starboard to port As the moon lit the driver, a jolly old sort Who called to his team, in a happy retort "Now Dasher, now Dancer," so on and so forth We raced through our cabin and into the hall To the very top deck, in time for us all To be awed by the sight of Old Santa's sleigh As he lightly touched down, by the midnight buffet With a bundle of goodies thrown over his back He rose in the air and dropped down the smokestack Santa went straight to work, and later we learned He found every child's cabin, from the bow to the stern Insides and oceanviews, balconies and suites Santa filled every stocking, with toys and with treats Until all his deliveries had been handled with care Then he noted he still had a minute to spare So he surfed the wave rider, with nary a fall While Dasher and Dancer scaled the rock-climbing wall And Prancer, who had always been fond of the cold Tried the ice-skating rink, a sight to behold And then with a whistle, Santa summoned his team And he bade us farewell, silent nights and sweet dreams And I heard him exclaim, as he flew out of view Merry Christmas to all, and to all, a good cruise. By Alan Fox, with appreciation and apologies to Clement Clarke Moore, author of 'Twas the Night Before Christmas.

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