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I made a trip to the Dodgeville Public Library last Tuesday night for some Christmas Carols done beautifully by Dave and Matty Olson and there was a visit by Santa at the end of the program. When Santa came in, librarian Carol Gleichauf stood up front with him and told the kids they could come and talk with him. She also said afterwards they could have some "delicious cookies from the bakery". I made it a point to tell her that I couldn't believe that she used the words delicious cookies and bakery in the same sentence!
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Thursday I shoveled snow from the sidewalk in the morning from the Chronicle office and nephew Ryan shoveled twice during the day. Friday morning I think he, brother Pat and I shoveled at least 10 more inches from the sidewalk. Boy we had a lot of snow come down!
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During the snowstorm I heard a call come over the scanner for a county snowplow to come to a particular road to plow a path for a doctor who had to get to the hospital and deliver a baby!
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Also during the snow I called my buddy Terry Carroll who was working out on Bennett Road (former Humane Society building) at Ederer's Dairy Supply and Hardware. He said he was looking out of the window and was watching traffic navigate the round-a-bout. All of a sudden the snow was coming down so heavily and blowing so much he couldn't see the round-a-bout any more!
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I failed to mention our "Penn State Bet" when it took place back on November 24th. That's one I have with a Penn State alumni (Bob Kopf) when the UW Badgers play Penn State in football and I lost this year - even though I shouldn't won. What did I lose? Well, because the Badgers lost I had to eat a "Humble Pie" and you'll never guess where that pie came from? That's right. my late buddy's place - the "Not So" Quality Bakery!
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A while back I received this poem from an "OLD" friend, Ron Dentinger, in the form of an email. I thought with the New Year approaching next week it was a good time to share some of his "sick" humor!

This beautiful poetry will put a little culture into your miserable life. (that was his line to me)

Two pickpockets met on a subway train,
each picking the others pocket.
The woman crook got his pocket book,
the man got her diamond locket.

Admiring each other, they feel in love,
they married for better or worse.
And they wished for a child who could snatch a bag
or pilfer a Scotsman's purse.

Their wish came true, and a boy was born,
a slick-looking, sly-faced mite.
But all was not good, 'cause his hand was crippled
and his fingers were closed up tight.

The heartbroken parents hurried the child
They went straight to a specialist;
They offered him watches and valuable gems
if he could just unclench the fist.

First thing he did was to tie a string
to a wristwatch with a shinny jeweled band,
and wave it steadily, back and forth,
just over the boy's crippled hand.

As the fingers opened, the Mother and Father
began to dance and sing.
For there in the palm of the baby's small hand,
was the midwife's diamond ring!
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