Gentlemen.
Eleven more sleeps! The anticipation of Santa’s arrival must be unbearable for Bill Greatorex and Mike Dort, who, in the spirit of Christmas each merrily married a merry Mary. They say they’ve been good (well, not at crib) and have a wish list bigger than the egos of Shane Carson, Fred Dobson, and John Hilchey put together. Hopefully Saint Nick Russell can accommodate them. There’s big week coming up at the Club so let’s get to it.
Mike Dort and Bill Greatorex teasing Santa in 1947.
TGIF DRAW
Friday the 13th was unlucky for 92 of the 93 Club members, but very lucky for President Gus Claveau whose name was drawn. Il était inscrit et présent et a gagné deux cent vingt-huit dollars. That’s 228 dollars for the 88% of Club members who didn’t get past grade eight French class. Gus can now go to Jean Coutu and get Suzanne something nice for Christmas. Good news with the draw, the boys once again balanced with 45 signed in and $90 in the feline. However, there were two Euros in the cash. Last week it was American quarters. Look for Cuban convertible pesos in next week’s change.
Friday the 13th proved to be lucky for Gus Claveau.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Wednesday, December 18th
Speaking of Gus, the President’s reception is next week and is one of the bigger Club events of the year. The dress is smart casual, and festivities get underway at 6:00 pm. There will also be a cash donation basket for Margaret’s House. There are no plans for music, however John Guildford and Graham Whiteman plan to bring Carols.
Rick Powell rocks the president's reception in 1978.
Friday, December 20th
Next Saturday morning, two dozen Owls will swear off alcohol (for a few days anyway) as that is the forenoon after our annual moose milk TGIF. Nothing else need be said, but make sure you have a drive planned for that evening as that concoction can sneak up before a man can say Jack Robinson.
Santa had the pleasure of attending the Owls Club moose milk TGIF last year.
Wednesday, January 1st
The Club will be ringing in the new year with a Club levee. The festivities get underway at 12:00 noon and are scheduled to go to 4:00 pm. Members, wives, partners, and guests are all welcome. Members should feel free to sneak down earlier in the day for some bonding time.
The Month of January
The annual month-long cribbage championship gets underway starting in early January. This is a four-handed tournament and Fred Dobson and Shane Carson will be out to defend their title. Leigh MacDonald will be running the tournament, and the results will be updated regularly through the Club’s email and web site.
No, these are not the four ghosts that appear in The Christmas Carol. It's past-principal Mike Brownlow, recently effectuated honorary member Dennis MacDonald, Club jester Fred Myers, and tournament organizer Leigh MacDonald.
Thursday, January 9th
The Club’s monthly meeting, normally scheduled for the first Thursday of the month will be held on the second Thursday in January of next year.
This picture has absolutely nothing to do with Club activities.
Friday, January 10th
Johnie Lad, Cock Up Your Beaver. Honest to God, that is the title of one of the poems penned by the person we’re celebrating at the Burns supper hosted by Fred Leafloor and some other men dressed in blouses, skirts, and flats. The menu will consist of haggis (sheep guts) and the most ungodly tuber and root vegetables known to man. However, last year was a great time and this year should be even better. Details to follow.
Strange rituals are performed at the Burns supper.
Tuesday, January 21st
Both the December and January Birthday Boys parties will be held that afternoon. Make it a priority to get there and support the band.
CLUB NEWS
F-1 Race
Last Sunday Joe Zareski hosted another F-1 breakfast featuring sausage and pancakes. The food was excellent, and the race was fast. The attendance was a bit sparse, but there are plans to continue with F-1 breakfast and brunches in the new year as there is real potential for Club events like these in non-traditional time slots.
CLUB DUES
There is only 108 days to get your Club dues paid.
SPOTTED OWLS
It was nice to see Greg Baker make his way to the Club for yesterday’s TGIF.
HE’S OFF THE LIST
Amazing. No, seriously, The Amazing Kreskin passed away last Tuesday at the age of 89. In the 1970’s when the populous was limited to three channels (ATV, CBC, and CBC French), unless you could afford the three extra American stations (ABC, NBC, and PBS), Kreskin often competed with fellow illusionists and magicians Doug Henning, David Copperfield, and Peter (the man they call) Reveen for the airwaves.
The Amazing Kreskin as a guest on The Tonight Show.
HEALTH and WELNESS
“♫♫Two doors down, they’re laughin’ and drinkin’ and having a party.♫♫” Well, not really. Paul Dares is in the hospital with a bout of the flu and he’s just two doors down from Mike Thomson. We wish them both a speedy recovery. There is a rumour started by Sean Clancey that his father-in-law, the inimitable Howard Court, will be present at the president’s reception this coming Wednesday. It would be great to see him.
CLUB BANTER
Healthy Snacks
A big thanks to Jim Schreuer for providing the boys with cholesterol-inducing mock onion rings at yesterday’s TGIF. This is just one week after Dr. Chester Wyman provided the Club with diabetes-inducing peanut butter pretzels.
Club members participating in Stephanie Olive's yoga after two years of Jim and Chester's snacks.
There’s No Such Thing as a Stupid Question
This proverb was challenged at yesterday’s TGIF when Dave Mattatall asked Don Ellis if he’s ever been to the Tacoma Drive NSLC.
The most recognized sign among the Club members.
The second most recognized sign among the Club members.
Hair Apparent?
Speaking of Dave Mattatall, he had some tasteful red and green streaks in his hair yesterday and is in firm contention for the “title”.
AI generated look at Dave's hair from the back.
ERRORS AND OMISSIONS
Club Grammarian Don Ellis had a prompt and direct response to the scribe’s discourse last week. “Utter rubbish” he declared in an antiphon as harsh as accurate. There were too many grammatical blunders to bother to take the time to point them out. Like Mike Carter and Jeff Conrad, I must do better next year.
Don Ellis has a gift for his brother.
REFERENCES
· Jean Coutu is a Quebec-based discount department store.
Jean Coutu has a more sophisticated clientele than Walmart.
· The expression “before a man can say Jack Robinson” appears in Charles Dickens A Christmas Carol and in a cruder colloquial form in the movie Slapshot.
· Named in honour of Robert Burns, Scotland’s national poet, a Burns supper is sometimes called a Burns dinner, or simply part of Robert Burns Day, Rabbie Burns Day, or Robbie Burns Day. Personally, I feel Robert Burns is over-rated and receives way too much credit for the popularity of Auld Lang Syne.
· The “title” refers to The Mane Man designation currently held by the undefeated Steve Piggott.
· Two Doors Down is a 1978 country/pop crossover song by Dolly Parton that reach number 19 on the Billboard Chart.
Somehow Dolly Parton never had back issues.
Just a quick note that the Weekly Roundup will be taking a holiday break, returning on Saturday, January 4th. In the interim, the members will be apprised of Club happenings during the holidays through the Club’s email.
All for now.
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