Following suggestion from the groovy zaadz Ambassadors team, I'll attempt to upload an all time favorite bluegrass video. Origanally posted over here at MOG - if you want to check it out.

The one below is "Bye Bye Blues" and located in zaadz You Tube search. Its from the same show as "Make Me a Pallet on Your Floor" - my favorite:

At least the young ones :) - I want to get this posted since the week is nearly gone!


Somewhere along the line, I got coaxed into playing Santa Claus. It began 15 years ago and I'd reckon I've worn the crazy red suit a half dozen times. My wife is a pediatric nurse and it started with me making the rounds on Christmas when she worked. The kids I visit are at Sacred Heart Children's Hospital in the town I call home. Some are real sick.

As the day approached, this year was a little different. Number 1 - she wasn't working (thought I might get out of it :) Number 2 - the hospital sprung for a new suit (the old one was getting quite ripe) and Number 3 - I hadn't made my annual trek to watch the real Santa hold the little rascals on his lap. Always on the look out for tips, I MUST watch the terror on a previously "I'm in charge!" 3 year old. It ain't Christmas without it. None of this has much to do with the joy I experience each year but makes for part of a good story.

But this year I experienced a first! Santa got his picture taken with a cell phone - can you imagine?!?! We (or the staff) are not allowed to take pictures of kids but parents and/or guardians can - privacy thing, don't you know. As if Santa doesn't know everything anyway HA! (at the very least whose been naughty or nice)... As I strolled into the room here's a 1year old dressed in the most darling deep red Xmas outfit. We had passed her mom in the hall a little earlier. Mom wasn't feeling all that thrilled about another day in the hospital. But Santa walks in? Land sakes, do eyes light up. She says "Can I take your picture?" "Ho! Ho! Ho! - of course!" and then she says "Here!"

Now I don't know about you, but when someone says "here" my arms open up - at the very least my hand does (try it) - and I'm expecting something. You guessed it - this something was the baby. Mom snatched her up and almost tossed her into my arms. I guess I should have figured whe wanted a picture of Santa AND the baby. Of course, my arms were full of packages for the wee one. I fumbled those away and got to hold her. And was that beard a fascination for her - I think she even smiled.

My joy for this week - and this season - is the look on sick kids faces when Santa shows up. And the gratitude I have for health care workers who watch over the tykes. But also for the great stories it creates.

Happy New Year to all -