Working With The Feds

I just wanted to thank everyone for an awesome, hilarious, and relaxing Christmas Day. That one Christmas Day I spent with my family was a wonderful respite from what I have been doing at work. The games we played at the big table were challenging, yet rewarding. I can't believe you guys got me out with "put hands in lap". I'm usually really good at Simon Says.

But now, I'd like to get this weight off my shoulder and tell you what I really do. I know for years I've been telling everyone that I'm an accountant working for a Not-for-Profit agency, but I'm really an undercover secret agent trying to protect our country from terrorists and people from Utah (ummm... mormons I think). Saving the pretty chickee-babies from oncoming trains just comes with the territory.

What I really deal with, day in and day out, are nasty looking terrorists with bad hygiene. For awhile I was looking for Osama Bin Ladin, now I know you've probably never heard of that name before, but for the non-news watchers, he's what we call in the business, "a bad guy". For years he's been trying to be the majority owner of the New York Yankees (who wouldn't). A few years ago he devised a devious plan sending airplanes into some of our buildings. You might of heard about that. I was really close to catching him, but he got away.

Now it's personal, because he took my best friend with him. Muffy the sheep was my partner and the only one that truly understood me. And now she's gone.

Well, I may be feeling sad about Muffy. But I'm feeling redeemmed about the Yankees signing Johnny Damon. Who knew he could be this good looking. For years I've been tracking his every move thinking he was part of Al-Quada. Talk about profiling. Boy, am I red in the face. And now the Red Sox don't have a lead off hitter or centerfielder. What shall they do? Ahh, it's goood to be a Yankees fan.

Well, I'm off to catch the bad guys. I really feel good about letting everyone know what I do. Hopefully no one is mad that I've held back this infomation from you. I've have a new partner and we're leaving first thing tomorrow morning for Joplin. I don't know what for. I'm sure Charlie the Squirrel will fill me in on the plane ride down.

We did it!!!

Never doubt her authority!!!

Just a FYI family; we were a blog of note for this week. Way to go!!! The following blog was written by Grandma, so we felt it was necessary to post what she wanted. Only a few corrections were made.

"Alas, Alack and Blast, Christmas is past! I was asked to write a blog to finish off the holiday season so here it is:

Daughter Betsy gave me a set of the pictures taken on the "Finding the Falls" trip. Most of them were great but a few of them posed a little problem for me. I had to do something because they were pictures of me! I got the brilliant idea to save up some money so I could attend some modeling classes. Maybe they can teach me to keep my lips closed and maybe they could show me how to make my eyes look sultry. That should make me look less astonished in a picture. As for the hair, I think I will get a wig (Shirley Temple's wig has a nice curl). As long as the kids have a great time, I guess I can stand it. Christmas at Sue's is always picture taking time and each of the gang always carry that dangerous weapon, the CAMERA. Luckily they let me sit just in case I nodded off through this ordeal.

All kidding aside, our day with the family was just wonderful. The buffet had delicious food and the dessert table was full of scrumptious calories.

It always amazes me how they can come up with always the right gift. They do this year after year. They really surprised me this year with a trip to Texas (to visit my niece), a beautiful necklace (with me and pops wedding picture), stationary, stamps, a new phone, DVD's (my favorite movie Meet the Fockers), and sweatshirt. Thank you all so very much.

We all decided to start a different tradition this year; called the Pirate Game. It was a blast watching everyone fight for gifts; especially Jill and Kristen. There was a little cut throat going there. But they managed to avoid fristicuffs. We all had a lot of laughs.

One of our Holtz traditions is to watch a Christmas Story. The laughter from the television room is boisterous and quite catching. After the movie, I was ready to go home and collapse in my easy chair and try to relax.

All in all it was a very wonderful day and even though one star was missing, the day was a complete success. I have decided that I am the most fortunate of mothers, grandmothers, and great grandmothers, to have lasted this long and to have such a loving family; who takes excellent care of me. I hope they know that I love each and every one of them, in-laws, out-laws, any laws. You are all very special to me. Thank you for giving me such a great Christmas.

Love and a Happy Healthy New Year to all who read this and also to those who don't.
GRAM

Merry Christmas to ALL, and to ALL a goodnight!!!!!

Twas the Night before Christmas

Twas the night before Christmas , when all through the house
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse;
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,
In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there;

The children were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of sugar-plms danced in their heads;

And gramma in her kerchief and I in my cap;
Had just settled down for a long winter's nap,
When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from my bed to see what was the matter.
Away to the window I flew like a flash,
Tore open the shutterrs and threw up the sash.
The moon on the breast of the new- fallen snow
Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below,
When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But a miniature sleigh, and eight tiny reindeer,

With a little old driver, so lively and quick, (named Floyd)
I knew in a moment in must be St. Nick

More rapid than eagles his coursers they came,
And he whistled, and shouted and called them by name;

"Now, Dasher! now, Dancer! now, Prancer and Vixen!
On, Comet! on Cupid! on, Donder and Blitzen!

To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall!
Now dash away! dash away! dash away all!"

As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,
When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky,

So up to the house-top the coursers they flew,
With the sleigh full of toys, and St Nicholas too.

And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof
The prancing and pawing of each little hoof.

As I drew in my hand, and was turning around,
Down the chimney St. Nicholas came with a bound.

He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot,
And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot;

A bundle f toys he had flung on his back,
And he looked like a peddler just opening his pack.

His eyes-- how they twinkled! His dimples how Merry!
His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!

His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,
And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow;

The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,
And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath;

He had a broad face and a little round belly,
That shook, when he laughed like a bowlful of jelly.

He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,
And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself;

A wink of his eye and a twist of his head,
Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread;

He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,
And filled all the stockings; then turned with a jerk,

And laying his finger aside of his nose,
And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose;

He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,
And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.

But I heard him exclaim, ere he drove out of sight,
"Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good- night."

Grandmere au chutes du Niagara

Well here it is our last 72 hours, our countdown to our family Christmas. Hard to believe this started with an email on October 20th! My day today with Gramma came about as I had taken a few days off to finish up for our big day, but being the ultimate procrastinator, whatever I had to do would wait. So I called her at 9AM and said, meet me downstairs, we are going on a roadtrip! She was enthusiastic, and willing! Living so close to a foreign country, I felt international waters were the best opportunity for a memorable "BLOG", so it was off to Canada, but first a trip to our favorite haberdashery so she is dressed the part. Really, its just a stop at Target, and a beret for our trip! Every stop at Target turns into a shopping adventure! Here is gramma still looking for that special gift for that special "blogger" Please take note of the absolute annoying look on her face in picture number 2, there was no popcorn!

Finishing up in Target and heading for the border, I was stopped because the Librarian and her clerks need christmas candy. Could we stop at Tops? And oh by the way could you grab me some tums and a scratch off? MMMM my response, no and no. Now you guys know that I did.

Candy being delivered by Santa's little helper!

Mission accomplished and off to the border. OK the line stretched all the way to Terre Haute. Plan "B" OK gram how about a trip to the Falls? She looked at me and said well you know, I can not remember the last time I saw the falls! So it was off to the American Falls! This is how she toured the falls, she never left the car! She made jnna clean off the window so she could see better! These are pictures of the gorge along NU.

As we cont. on our journey we encountered many tourists. Oddly enough we spotted these Yankee fans from South Korea, visiting the falls for the very first time! Can you believe it they are Yankee Fans!

Along on our journey we did encounter some familiar faces. Mustafa has moved to the falls and is performing at a waste recepticle by the Cave of the Winds.

For those of you who have the opportunity, the falls really is breathtaking in winter. Ice covers everything and turns it into a crystal palace, and the sound of the rapids and the wind drowns out everything. However, we all know how dangerous icicles can be! They have been known to kill people.

If you go, please take precautions! As we got closer to the Falls, Gramma did venture out of the comfort of the cavalier.

Daughter Jenna and I got so caught up in the beauty of the falls we kind of forgot about gramma. I think she will thaw by Sunday.

below is the Horseshoe Falls.
Here is a shot of the mighty rapids taken from the Goat Island bridge. Here is a shot of Jenna trying to jump off the Goat Island bridge after receiving a text message from Lois, that her thuringer had gone bad, could she stop and get another 3 slices?

Please note that the Canadians are always charged more, no matter where they are. That is the great American way!

Every adventure ends with lunch, at least with gramma they do. Bob Evans is one of her favorites! Her empty glass is always replaced, without ever being asked. Please note she does not have her beret on!
It was a fun filled day. And Gramma is a great sport, she will do, or pose or wear or wave or smile or frown or whatever we ask her to do.
Counting down............................................................................................

"Get your pump on"

When my sister informed me that my cousins Jeff and Adam were unable to write the blog tonight, I figured I would step up and take the responsibility.
I have been extremely anxious to go out to Bob's Pump and Pull...So I decided to take a drive out there to see exactly where it is. This way if Mr. Anonymous wants to come, I can give him accurate directions.
My day started early because I had no idea where Bob's was located. I thought I would bring Grandma along so she could enjoy the long drive.
My investigative instincts told me that the best place to get directions to Bob's Pump and Pull would be a truck stop of course! All of the truckers were very nice to me and even offered to give me a ride to Bob's. One particular trucker named Willie Stroker (seen below), who was quite smitten with Grandma, knew exactly where Bob's Pump and Pull was.

Unfortunately, Willie Stroker didn't give us very good directions and by one o'clock we were still in search of Bob's. By this time Gram was in need of some food so we stopped at this diner to eat.

Sherrill was our waitress and it turned out that she knew exactly where Bob's Pump and Pull was because thats her baby's daddy.








After leaving the diner, we quickly found what we were in search of. The bar was hidden off the thruway and in the middle of the woods. Gram and I decided to go in and rest after the long drive. We ordered a couple of beers for ourselves and found a place to sit in the crowded bar.
Our waitress, seen below, promptly brought over our order.

As we surveyed the room Gram noticed a squirrel at another table who looked a lot like Mustafa, one of the witnesses from the "incident." At first we didn't believe it was him because it was reported that he died in a hit and run a couple of weeks ago. Upon interrogation, it was found out that the squirrel was in fact Mustafa. After a couple of beers, the squirrel loosened up and told us that he was placed in the witness protection program until his testimony in court about what happened the day of the "incident" was complete. Turns out that during the trial phase, someone tried to run Mustafa off the road. When the police interviewed the squirrel, all he could remember was a green malibu leaving the scene of the crime.

After awhile it started to get dark out and it looked like Grandma was ready to go. As you can see, she had a really good time at Bob's Pump and Pull.

Published by Jill.the.Thrill

Buffalo Sabres 4 Pittsburgh Penguins 3 in OT

Whoever thought that one week to Christmas, a stadium filled to capacity of 80,000 people would sell out? The three Koch's threw on layers upon layers of clothing and trecked out to the Ralph. I worked many Bills games in the past, but this was my first one this year; and what an experience. As Jill was driving to the stadium, I was in the passenger seat contemplating on jumping out at exit 54 and hitch hiking to my uncles house. But, she was in the passing lane going 80; and I thought it would hurt just to much.

Our journey began pulling into the Ralph and paying $15 to park. You could get 3 beers for that money at stand 329. Cookie immediately asked for a receipt and we were on our way. As Jill gassed the vehicle a NYS sheriff deputy threw himself in front of the car and said "STOP"!!!! Three sheriff cars and three buses zoomed into the parking lot. It was the Denver Broncos arriving in style, two Laidlaw buses, and one short bus. I was screamed to stay back by a sheriff and that no pictures were allowed. Boy, did I fool him. I snapped one from my cell phone.

We found the closest parking spot, not near any bonfires and braved the sub zero temperatures and walked towards the Ralph. The parking lot has strict rules of opening up four hours before kickoff. These loyal fans were drinking since 1 pm then tailgated in the parking lot.

When Jill and I got to the gate, I showed my ID and was immediately patted down. I asked him if I could have his "digits", and he said "No maam, I have to touch everyone." With my head down, I quickly grabbed a Sports Service hoodie and a hat. (They treat their employees so well in zero degree temperatures). My assigned task was pizza. But, I spent more time with the drunks than I did making the pizza.

I am very proud of Jill and my father for working the front counter. They get screamed at, proposed to (Jill does), hit on (Jill does); anything for a cup of beer with the least amount of foam in it. I found one die hard Bills fan who allowed me to take his picture. He is a good friend of Jill's and it only cost me my food vouchers. (Note George in the background).

WGR radio requested that everyone wear orange and black in protest of the Bill's season. Even the ushers were in the proper attire. Two minutes into the 2nd quarter, beer was immediately cut off. This caused quite a stir in 329. A riot began to form and protesters began to chant "We want beer and the Bills Stink." One unruly customer threatened dad with a lawsuit because of the sign. We did learn something viable last night. One loyal 329 customer informed Jill that he could Heinekein beer from a janitor for $1.

I did find two drunk people who allowed me to snap their picture for blog purposes. They said their names were Dick and Chewy. (Real names have been withheld for their protection per their request).

As requested, here is a picture of 120. There are a few empty seats, and the fans seemed somewhat under control.

All in all it was a great time. I hardly worked, took breaks when I wanted to; and captured the moment as best I could. It's important to note that George had perfect attendance for 5 straight years. He even received a souvenir for his accomplishment. I have Grandma duty today. I will post more pictures after my day with Grandma.