Happy Holidays To All!

I would just like to wish everyone that reads this blog (and even those that don't) the very best this holiday season and high hopes for a great 2005.

May all of my friends and family get the gifts that they want and need, may others get what they deserve (we know who they are).

Below is the poem I wrote years ago that I included with this year's Christmas cards. Consider this a Christmas card for all of you blogsters.


A Visit From St. Nickeless

'Twas the week before Christmas
And all through the bank
Not a creature was stirring
'Cept the night watchman, Hank.

The money was nestled
All snug in the vault
So the things yet to happen
Were nobody's fault.

The night, it was silent
The air, it was still
And despite central heating
The place had a chill.

When out of the darkness
A muffled sound rose
That startled poor Hank
From his light-headed doze.

He looked all about
But found nothing amiss
Then he heard from below
A pneumatic hiss.

Past personal finance
And off to his left
He arrived at the staircase
All out of breath.

As quiet as cat's feet
He crept down the stairs
And was scared almost silly
By a deafening blare.

The holiday Muzak
Came suddenly on
As the lights overhead
Gave a luster of dawn.

Hank was confused
And unsure of himself
But he knew that he'd lost it
When he spotted the elf.

How many there were
Hank just couldn't keep track
They were loading up money
Into a large sack.

The pneumatic door
On the vault stood wide open
And the figure inside
Was beyond mortal copin'.

As the figure turned towards him
Hank felt suddenly sick
For he knew in a moment
He was facing St. Nick.

The elves, they kept working
Ignoring poor Hank
'Til Santa called out from
'Way cross the bank.

"Hey, Murray! Hey, Leo! Hey,
Farley and Gene!
Prepare to depart
I'm afraid we've been seen.

Hank pulled out his pistol
Took aim, then a pause
And decided he just couldn't
Shoot Santa Claus.

"Why?!" Hank exclaimed
As he holstered his gun
"Because", Nick replied,
"I needed the funds."

"You think that the gifts
And the goodies are free?
They may be for you, but
they're sure costing me."

"There's food for my reindeer
and wages for elves
and me and the missus
need some for ourselves."

"I only take money
from big corporations.
I like to think of it
as Christmas donations."

"Besides," Nick assured him,
"no one will find out,
and I didn't touch anyone's
Christmas account."

"The computers will register
nothing amiss.
My holiday magic will
make sure of this."

And so he gave Hank a
Nice bundle of cash
Winked at his elves. then
they left in a flash.

Hank said to himself, as
He turned off the lights,
"MERRY CHRISTMAS, ST. NICK.
YOU'RE DOIN' ALRIGHT!