Here is One to Make You Sex People All Mad....Males and Females

Now, I know this is a different generation. I know someone will probably read this and say, " Okay Boomer."

And that's your prerogative to do so...

Here is my body count.

ONE

Here is my wife's body count.

ONE

And don't get all upset saying how do I know about her? ( First if you knew my wife, you'd understand, some of you do, and understand when I say this...)

Trust me, if we were in Tudor-Stuart England( 1485-1603 for the Tudors, and 1603-1714 for the Stuarts) where they had people who stood outside the honeymoon bedchamber to check for virginity and the marriage was consummated, we would have passed the test on both during that time period, and they were pretty strict examinations.....

It was important to both of us we had not been with someone else.

BOTH of us. It was part of the deal. 

And as goofy as we first were, well, it was a good excuse to...practice, practice, practice.

And trust me, it was difficult to wait. Wasn't just a religion reason, we did it for ourselves, and it was difficult waiting.

And don't say, well, we was never offered " it" before.

Ha! I taught adult education immediately after I graduated from university. I had the school most days of the week by myself, and most of the students were middle 20 to early 40s. And at one time in my 20s, I was almost an attractive boy.

There is nothing more on the prowl and scary, than MILFs, and trust me, a motel key was left on my desk more than once.

That said, it is their business what they want, not yours.

If they are okay with a woman who worked in a brothel, and she makes them happy, who am I to judge.

If she is okay with a man that has screwed everyone in 3 adjoining counties, their sisters, their moms, their grandmas,  who am I to judge.

But don't be telling people who they want. That is their business, not your business.

If they want a virgin, well, believe it or not they are still out there. Both sexes.

I have never cheated, and as far as I know my wife has never cheated. And if you knew my wife, she'd confess, as would it.

But telling someone what or who they should marry and what they should or shouldn't accept in their sexual background, well, that's none of your damn business. That's between them and their partner.

Male Comments from the Blog

Men were slow to the "comment" section of the blog, and I have received a number since this morning's blog.

I have included several in this blog.

Please, don't get mad. I've had people lose their minds. 

- " I was dating a young lady and we were starting to get pretty serious. We'd been dating to the point that we even discussed marriage. Somewhere in the discussion, she admitted when she had slept with over 50 men. No I don't expect a person to be a virgin, I'm certainly not one. But the number was much for me. I'm trying to work up the courage to either marry her or cut bait and find someone new. I am afraid she'll compare me to number 39 at some point. At what point am I not enough?" 
 
- "Was dating a girl and thought we were exclusive. She said we were. Found out she was seeing others."
 ( All I could think of was the old Johnny Cash song, Cocaine Blues, " I thought I was her daddy, but she had 5 more.")

- "Can't find a girl without kids. I would never be FIRST at any point in the relationship."

- " Porn is just porn, and 50 shades of grey is a movie. Women are just as bad as men with all this shit. I had a lady force me to choke her once, I freaked and kicked her out. Shit is crazy and becoming the norm with society."

-  " I am not a knight in shining armor. I don't know what these girls want? I can't remember the last date I had." 

- " These girls are as bad as the boys. They're so nasty you have to wonder, where did you learn that shit at?" 

- "Most of em we’re screwing their husbands buddies lol"

 And here is one from the same thought process as me....

-"Seriously though I have been so sheltered my whole life.  I have some friends who are of that younger set late 20s early 30s. It’s crazy what they have to figure out these days."

Comments- Yesterday's Blog

I had planned on getting this out earlier but I got to watching another video on YouTube on Tudor-Stuart England....You want to distract the old Govteach? Get him reading or watching something on the English Reformation or Stuart England, especially the English Civil War or the Interregnum.

No, I was disturbed by a number of comments I received about what is going on in the dating/sex scene in this country.

And in truth, I am glad I am old, I am glad I no longer have to date.

Here are some examples of what I received.

- "When men spend a ton of time watching porn and furiously jerking it, it starts taking more and more for them to finish in real life even if that means nonconsent and rape."

- "Briefly dated a man who had been in a longterm relationship with XXXXXXXXXXX. After dating him for a time, we stepped up our relationship to include being intimate. He wanted to go into the bathroom. It was there I discovered why. He wanted me to urinate on him while he was in the bathtub. I left quickly. I will never look at XXXXXXXXXX( the ex girlfriend) in the same way. "

- "So right about boys expecting sex after dinner at a Mexican place. "

This is from a guy

-  "So many girls are damaged right now. I can't find one without some sort of baggage. Most of the baggage caused by the ex."

From female readers

- "I'm personally really heavy into BDSM and enjoy CNC (consensual nonconsent) but CONSENSUAL is the key word. A lot of guys around here think they're a "dom" because they've seen 50 shades."

-  "It's like basically being told 'you aren't enough for me'. People are so delusional about sex. And it's not just men."

- "I've not had a date in 3 years. I stopped after I was convinced to have sex without a condom and he gave me chlamydia." ( She also knew the ex-girlfriend)

- "Boys don't understand the concept of opening car doors, or doors to the restaurant, or even paying for the date. I can't tell you how many times I've been expected to pay for my part of the date. And then, he wanted sex afterwards. Guess what, I didn't submit and they did not call for a second date". 

( Confession, Deb and I went Dutch on our first date. She asked me out after a Lamar football game and I didn't have much cash, we pooled our funds for chili-cheese tots, and cokes at the Sonic on Washington Blvd. Of course, I paid for the second date, but the first date, I wasn't expecting to go out and was thrilled when she asked. One of the great moments in my life.) 

- "My former husband wanted to bring other people into the marriage, and it was always another male. He just wanted to watch. Acted like a cheerleader. I did it to please him. I left him when I had a pregnancy scare and he blamed me. Now I have a wonderful spouse. He knows about my ex-spouse, and hates him. "

And this, I received earlier, but should be included here....
- My wife and I like to dress up and our favorite is dressing up in Mickey and Minnie Mouse outfits. My wife likes to sew and we have several different outfits......There is a hole cut in the bottoms. 

( Once again, good for y'all. keep it spicy. Never thought of cartoon characters as sexual, but hey, if it turns you both on, go for it...And I taught both parties in question and I can see her dressing as Minnie Mouse.Just fits her personality...... I'm not personally interested in cartoon characters in a sexual sense, but hey, whatever floats your boat.)


 


 

 

Guys, This One is For You

I am hesitant writing this blog. It was suggested about 3 weeks ago before Christmas by a couple of female blog readers.

At first, I thought it was some sort of a trap until I spoke to one of the persons who suggested the blog.

Both who suggested the blog are friends, so I am sure, they dared each other to write me and request the blog.

You would be amazed at the private messages I get....They amazed, shock me.

One is single, one is married and I spoke to the one who is married. And they were serious when I spoke to them and started to cry.

And again, I am hesitant writing this blog.

As most of you know, whatever a couple agrees upon in the bedroom, well, you have at it. Swing from the chandlers. Dress up as wookie. Do it in the garage. You know, if it makes you happy and BOTH agree, have at it.

Both of my writers were concerned with more stuff becoming involved in their sex like that the male partner has seen in some porn movie online.

The internet is wonderful. It is the Library at Alexandria.....At the same time, it is Satan on earth.

It seems his latest is making her deep-throat his pecker. It is so bad, he shoves it down her throat by grabbing the back of her head, or grabbing her hair, or her ears, and sticking down her throat, making her gag, and apparently, a few times, vomit......Then, if that isn't bad enough, he shoots his baby batter on her face and in her eye, to which she has already had pink eye from it and had a visit to the doctor.

And this seems to be getting worse.

Both wrote about guys now wanting to choke them during sex. The single one was dating a guy who choked her so much one time she passed out.

And the single one was amazed at the number of guys who expected sex after the first date, or they expected the girl to pay for the date in "that manner." ( Even had a girl ask for "her half" of the date for not having relations with the guy afterward...)

This is a guy who grew up in an era who thought he was lucky if the girl gave him a kiss after the first date, heck I fell off the porch into the Azalea Bushes after he'd walked a girl up the steps to her door, went to kiss her, and she'd already walked away, with him doing a nose dive into the bushes. 

I'm also a guy who waited until marriage, and I understand how lucky we got there compatibility wise.  And I don't expect people to be so in 2020. It's a different world. Look, I dated a girl whose family had a chaperone on all dates, and well, that did not work so well because after 6 months, we knew nothing about one another's true personality. ( we broke up after the 6 months)

But, that needs to be agreed between both parties and honestly, you need to discuss this stuff.

The married one said that her husband has been "hinting" about bringing another person into their bedroom life, a friend of his, I am assuming a male.( I am guessing a threesome) And she's upset about that. And I don't blame her.

I told her, you need to say no, and if you are that unhappy and afraid, apparently,  some of the stuff if scaring her, you may need to "get out."

But I don't know about this seeing stuff online in and trying to incorporate it into your bedroom life. It's between both you, and if both of you enjoy it, more power to you, but some of this stuff online, well, it is not the real world, positions are done for camera angles. Raping your mate thinking that is okay? Well, you know, stuff hurts. Why? Makes me wonder about your psychological make-up.

I am writing this because I know a this will be read by one's significant other. And I am thinking one who is dating, person they are seeing.

In truth, I don't know if I want comments or not. And no, not going to tell you who they are, and to be honest, the messages sort of surprised me who had written them. 

Okay Ladies, This One is for You

So, again, I am minding my own business when I see on the Facebook, several posts that go something like this....

" It is the 20s again in about 2 days, men, it is time to start wearing tailored suits again. "

And it has a picture of the guys from the TV show Peaky Blinders, dressed in traditional winter type fare.

Tweed jackets, pants, a waistcoat ( that's a vest) and the guys wearing not only a flat cap like I often wear this time of year, a fedora type hat, and the men with watch chains, ( silver or gold) with I assume a pocket watch in the pocket of their vests.

Very well dressed for the time. And everyone male dressed that way.  Tweed is a warm fabric because the TV show takes place in England, and England is cold year round. ( We would have to wear a linen suit or a cotton suit or a tropical wool suit during our summers.)

And to be honest the tweed worn by the British really was seen as a more academic or "country" type dress. Academic because tweed was an inexpensive fabric and professors/teachers have never been paid well no matter the time period. The patches on elbows traditionally were repairs so the teacher could keep the jacket, as the elbows were normally the first thing to wear out.  ( Leaning on a desk, grading papers. Leaning on podium lecturing.... One elbow wears out, patch both so it won't look 'funny.' )

Hey, I am all for it....I love tweed and often wore it when I was teaching in the Fall-Winter. I often told my wife when I put tweed on in the morning, I was " Putting on the uniform."

The real question is this.

Ladies, would you be willing to go back to the dress of women in the 1920s?

Always a dress or a skirt, often they wore hats. And always wore stockings. Not pantyhose, stockings. Which means a garter belt to hold up the stockings. ( Suspenders is what the English call a garter belt)....And trust me, I grew up and was in high school when the change from stockings to pantyhose occurred. Heck, girls could not wear pants until I was in like 7th-8th grade and then it had to be a matching pantsuit. Top and bottoms had to match.

And honestly ladies, there is nothing sexier than a glimpse of a leg with a garter holding up a stocking.

Nothing.

I doubt many of you reading this have even worn a garter or stocking of that fashion, that were not worn in an outfit for your significant other.( And I hope he ( or she) appreciated it...If not, shame on them.)

So ladies, you want us men to dress better, look like we are in the 1920s, 1930s, 1940s, hey, it isn't too much for us to ask the same.

The Airing of Grievances

I know that the "Airing of Grievances " was supposed to take place on Dec. 23rd, during what "Seinfeld" coined as "Festivus for the rest of us."

But I have complaints.

Christmas Eve and I should been in the PNG community, but I have an aging mother and well, I felt like I need to go with her to church services North of Vidor. She is 90 her next birthday.

So, I did not go with my in-laws to church in PNG area for the Christmas Eve services, and slowly we are working on my daughter in law.

Apparently, the PNG church service services were go and go until you can go no more.

Over an Hour and a Half in PNG.

We had 30 minutes North of Vidor, sang Christmas hymns. Had communion, and went home. It was a nice service.

The service in PNG set back everything we had been working on for over a year in one felled swoop.

And the time period wasn't just the problem. 

No, the church in PNG has united with another group and the new pastor is a member of an organization that believes in church discipline. And church leadership is all important. ( There is a movement in this organization that makes members sign contracts. You can't leave the church without permission....There is another word for that, but I am trying to get through this without cussing.)

I have a friend who remarks whenever this organization is mentioned ( He's also a seminary alumni) saying, that of said organization, " Who needs Jesus when we have church leadership."

So, everything we did over the last 1+ years was undone in about 100 minutes.

You've got to remember she grew up in a system that was anti-church, and it is a slow process.

Thank you church leadership in PNG, you undid our work. You made it all about you.

You have to remember, on Christmas Eve, people are visiting with family.  It is a time to impress, not to repress them....They are not going to come back.

Merry Christmas!!

Just wanted to wish everyone a "Merry Christmas" from the Compound here in Lemonville.

We expect the " Chinese in da House" in about 6 hours and have soirees to attend from now until December 26th, so this will be the last  blog I will write for a while.

For my Fop/Dandy readers, yes, I have my dress picked out, for each of the evenings.

Tonight, a light tweed jacket with slacks, OCBD shirt and a tartan tie, not sure which tartan yet, I may wear my "Clergy" tartan as I am wearing sarum blue sock and sarum blue shoelaces in the oxblood shoes I am wearing.

Tomorrow a 3-piece navy blue suit, with yes, the waistcoat, I even will pull out the Churchill-ian silver watch chain and pocket watch. Oxford shoes, with Advent purple shoelaces and of course purple socks to match. Of course bow-tie and a grey fedora hat.

Christmas Day, will be at my Mother's, in Vidor, so I'll lighten up, OCBD light blue Brooks Brothers shirt, khaki slacks, boat shoes, and depending on the warmth of the weather, a tan sports coat with a glen plaid checked stripe, or a brown herringbone tweed.  Nothing fancy.

I seriously have to dress up, to keep up with my daughter-in-law now.

I hope everyone has a great Christmas.

And to the two who have sent me information on an area, well, I hesitated at first going there, I will go there and let the chips fall as they may. Give me a few days to think about how I will write it after the holiday.

Buna Beacon

I read the Beacon's posts on a fairly regular basis. Especially, when a news worth event takes place in the community.

It's not a secret that I know the publisher and know people who work for the paper from time to time.

Honestly, I think they do a really great job for a small town weekly.

Earlier today, the Beacon posted on its Facebook page, a story about a former employee of the Buna ISD getting into trouble and being arrested for an alleged crime.

I was amazed at the number of people who were upset about the posting.

Folks, it is called "NEWS."

Yes, sometimes people who are not involved in the alleged crime, are embarrassed. I am sorry it happens.

I don't hear most of these people say " What about the kids and parents?' When it is someone they do not know.

I'm sorry the Beacon is a responsible paper.

If they don't do news, they'll be down to scores from the ballgame and recipes. And even there, people will be upset because the team lost, or my kid's name wasn't mentioned, or I'm allergic to the recipe they printed because it contains peanuts. 

Many of you only support the First Amendment when it suits you.

They generally print unbiased news. Rarely do I see a great deal of controversial opinion pieces.

As I have said for years, read The Govteach Part Deaux if you want an editorial, it's about 80% opinion.

You want to keep the Beacon. Seriously. Support the businesses who advertise in the paper, and tell management you either found the sale in the Beacon, or you appreciate them supporting the local press. I was in a commercial supported media for a period of time, and the businesses who advertise like to hear the people are reading/listening to what their business have to offer.

Beacon, keep up the good work. 

Don't Be a C*nt for Christmas

I know I am "borrowing" this from the British Ladies' Trio who sing this, during the Christmas period.

"Don't be a Cunt for Christmas."

Yeah, I know, some of you can't help your dumb-ass self.

We are about to come apart in this nation.

Half against half.

And don't say, "well, we got the guns, we'll win."

Guess what, the other side is starting to acquire same weapons and train.....Get out of your little insulated world and look around.

Look at one time in America we had more stuff to unite us than divide us.

At one time, we had compromise in this nation. Both sides were willing to meet halfway. Sorry, but that's the way stuff generally gets done in society.

Everybody is a fuckin' snowflake now.

You got it too fuckin' good. Seriously.

Don't give me all this Boo-Hoo, Waaaaah....Your ancestors were all dead by age 30.

I blame the media, talk radio, and the fuckin' internet. 

At some point this Impeachment business could have been stopped if both sides had come up with some sort of compromise. I'm convinced of it. Humility on both sides goes both ways.

Whoever they are, they're everyone's president whether you like them or not.  ( I know some of you still call Obama "that n*gg*r president." And don't tell me otherwise. )

You know, both sides are saying stuff well, generally at your workplace if you'd say it, you would be fired....( I know we had a "cuss porch" but I even held my tongue out there.....I never said what I really was thinking..." Boy, you'd fuck up a wet dream." Or, " You're a damn walking abortion."  Or, " The best part of you ran down the crack of your mother's ass and wound up as a shit stain on the mattress."  I ran with some rough people for a couple of years during college. One of which is doing them "all" in Huntsville.)

This shit is not going to end well. And take this next quote seriously.

We'll all be lucky to live through it. 

2020, is shaping up to be a damn mess.

So, Christmas, and it is next Wednesday, be civil. Don't talk politics at the dinner table. Grandma generally doesn't want a knock down drag out over turkey-n-dressing and pecan pie....

Look, you only get so many Christmases. You got to enjoy every one that you get. Enjoy your kids. Enjoy your grandkids. Enjoy Mom and Dad. Enjoy Grandma and Grandpa. These people might not be with us come Christmas 2020.

Be civil, at least for the holiday. 

Most Humble Apologizes.

My most humble apologizes. I messed up bad this morning.

I know I meant it as good natured teasing this morning to Mrs. Laramore and Mrs. Stanley, but not everyone viewed it as such. Both whom I have great affection for.

And I apologize for using "bad language" in this morning's blog. I was reminded by a " Person in the Know" that today starts Ember Days.

Ember Days- Or in Latin, jejunia quatuor temporum.... For you Baptists and other folks in the Evangelical world, in the churches that use the liturgical calendar, this marks the 3 days of fasting and prayer during Advent, preparing for the coming of the Christ Child....Even though I grew up in your Evangelical world, I now consider myself a part of Protestant Liturgical World. ( Anglican/Episcopal, Lutheran, Presbyterian/ Reformed, High Church Methodists.)

 ( Even though I am now 60+ and the fasting rules no longer apply to senior citizens, I will modify my food intake the next 3 days.)

It is also a time of pastoral ordination, and I was reminded that I was ordained during this time period in a denomination with roots very similar to my friend, Lisa Collins' denomination.

I once again apologize for getting off the rails this morning.

I'm Just Mad...Or.....

I started to write a blog explaining why I am mad at Tara Laramore, Mrs. Stanley up at the high school.....

So mad, I cussed yesterday at about 3:30pm.

I'd fight both of them, but at this point, I figure they'd both whip me, so, I'll stay away.

I also am wanting to write a blog about what is going on in Virginia and what is going on with the 2nd Amendment.

I am sure it will make my more liberal readers mad at me, but I've had a 62 year love affair with firearms, and it continues. I am sitting writing this with a Smith & Wesson pistol within reach.

I am wanting to write a blog about behaving this Christmas, and why you need to do so, I am already going to borrow from the British Ladies' trio the title, " Don't be a Cunt for Christmas."

But, maybe I need to wait on writing that one, or perhaps not, holidays for some have already begun.

That said, I am going to the doctor this morning. And don't really feel like starting any of the blogs, yet. ( Oh they are coming.) Don't look forward to the visit.

 So, if you would remember me as I go in for my appointment.

Story Time From Uncle Thomas

I was inspired to write this story this morning. True story, as I have said for years and years.....

"Don't write  this down."

"You can't make this up."

When I was a lowly still " wet behind the ears" undergraduate at the Lamar University, I was required to take a "Political Philosophy" class in order to get a teacher's certificate from the university.

My last semester at the university, I took the class. I waited until then to take the class. Procrastinate, procrastinate....

Anyway, the fucking class was a damn nightmare.

The professor was a PhD grad of a European university in which the courses were taught in French, and the notes he used for the course were in French, so he translated as he taught and about half the time he'd read orally in French, then say it in English......Fuckin' nightmare.

Anyway, the class started out with about 30 people and ended up with about 8 by the end of the semester, which this term, led to the Christmas break.

On the day of the finals, in strolled a kid who hadn't been in the class all semester.

He was from a wealthy family from Beaumont that, well, they name streets after.

The final starts and about 5 minutes, the kid whose family they name streets after gets up and walks out the door.

Me and my longtime friend, Leonard look at each other in amazement.

An hour and a half later, at the close of the final, Leonard and I turn in our Blue Books. ( A Blue Book, was what you used to write your essay tests. Not sure they are still used in 2020?)

Anyway, Leonard, maybe the brightest historian I was ever associated with, went to Kampus Korner to get a bite to eat, and wait our fates in the class.....( I had a chicken fried steak "sammich," fries, and a grape drink.... I went through a period of grade sodas in the 70s, "Big Ed" Anderson another history major got me started on them back in the day.....Leonard had the lamb kabobs. I remember this like it was 20 minutes ago.)

About 90 minutes later, Leonard and I summoned the courage to go to the professor's office to see if we passed.

As we knocked and walked into the professor's office, we didn't have to say anything, he immediately got out tests out of the drawer of his desk.

We both had made an "A."

And that son of a bitch Leonard beating me by 2 points.....

And Leonard, having  the " devil may care"  attitude he always had asked the professor....

"What's the deal with the Guy Whose Family They Name Streets After?"

To which the professor reached into his drawer and pulled out " Named Streets After" Blue Book, and the professor opened the book and pulled out....

Two First Class Tickets to Paris.

To which Leonard replied, " Well, I guess he passed?"

To which, the professor replied, " No, he didn't...But my wife and I will be in Paris when he gets his grades."

There's Worse Than This....

I'm mean seriously. Have you been paying any attention to what is going on?

I mean seriously.

From the network that brings us, 690 Christmas movies this time of year, all with one plot line.....

Hallmark

It seems Hallmark ran an ad for a wedding planning company in which 2 women get married, and kiss.

And the One Million Mom organization throw a fit about it, so the commercial is taken off the air.

Come on, there is much worse now.

Most channels you can watch ten deaths, often in brutal and bloody fashion, but see two women kiss, people lose their damn minds.

Guess what, the country is changing. Quicker than we can imagine. No political, religious, well, any organization is going to stop it.

Oh there might be an interregnum, but the results in the end will be the same.

Ain't nothing you, me, we can do anything about it.

Apparently, Hallmark has changed their mind and is returning the ad to their line-up. 

Live your life, and if they're not physically bothering you, leave it alone. They're not after your kids.... There is a bigger threat of family members to your kids, than LGBT folks kissing on TV ever did.

But that's another story....

You Gotta A Lot of Damn Nerve

I was minding my own business this morning when I got up. And I got an UGLY note and then, I saw all the pictures.

And it is the Christmas/Advent Season and I am trying to cut back on my cussin'. ( It's not good to get up at 3:30am to do your morning prayers, yeah, I am doing intercessory prayers for many of you and my list is pretty long. I have 57 people I mentioned talking to the Divine this morning.) And then, I look at a message I receive, and then look at Facebook

And I use bad words.

Real bad words.

I am afraid my intercessory prayers may have been negated this AM.

Someone wrote and asked " Do you miss doing the dances?" I am assuming they were talking about Buna's Jingle Bell Ball, which occurred last evening.

I ignored the note, and stroll through Facebook.

It's full of JBB pictures.

Full

I even see a photo of young attractive female faculty members.....And this isn't PC.....Where were these ladies when I taught school? Might have kept male faculty morale up. ( No letters, I don't give a good  cornbread fuck this morning. Perhaps I've slipped out of Grace this morning..... Actually, if that's the case, I would "Fall from Grace" every 2-3 minutes. While I have strong Episcopalian/Anglican tendencies, I still cling to the P in Calvin's TULIP or "Preservation of the Saints", or as you Baptists say, "Once Saved Always Saved." )

No, I've done my time.

34 proms

27 Jingle Bell Balls, Winter Formals, Santa's Dance

Who knows how many other dances......

About 100 in total.

The photos, well, everybody " Cleaned Up Good."

But miss going to a dance? You know it was long over when Miss Debbie stopped going, because, well, enough is enough.

Night in Paris, Hollywood Nights, Night in Paradise, Slippin' Down Gum Slough,  Nekkid in Gist, Gang-Bang at the Flame Afterwards, whatever theme...Well, they all run together.

Hell, I can't even remember the theme of my own prom....And don't give a good shit what it was....

Christmas Ain't What You Think.....

I know you're all worried what to buy Uncle Skeeter and Aunt Nancy this year, you know they got more crap and their house already looks like hoarders live there.......

But you know, while we are supposed to celebrate the birth of the Christ Child, it is well, secondary. And in truth, it always has been.

Hundreds of years before the birth of Christ, Romans exchanged gifts, sang songs and decorated their homes with evergreens. Instead of Jesus Christ, though, Saturnalia celebrated the Roman god Saturn. In fact, December 25 was the winter solstice on the Roman calendar, the shortest day of the year.( There was a different calendar back then.)

Early Christians really didn't care about Christ's birth, only two of the four Gospels even discuss his birth, Matthew and Luke. And they were written 80 years after Jesus.

It wasn't until 330 years after Jesus that the early Roman Christians celebrated his birth. ( That's longer than America has been around.) And they did it to coincide with the other Roman holiday.

As historians would tell you, they doubt Christ was born on Christmas. The government wouldn't have their people out traveling in mid-winter. Plus, according to old rabbinical law, there would be doubt that sheep would be grazing in Bethlehem in mid-winter,  and besides, shepherds wouldn't have the grass on the ground to feed the sheep. So, we're talking about a post-February- pre-November birth.

And besides, neither Luke nor Matthew mentioned a day. Or time period.

Christmas hasn't always been a popular holiday, before 800 A.D., it was overshadowed by the Epiphany. The time the 3 wise men visited the Christ-Child.

It gained prominence after 800 A.D., when Charlemagne was crowned emperor of the Holy Roman Empire on Christmas Day.

During the 17th Century, Oliver Cromwell, Lord Protector of England, banned Christmas. Shops were told to remain open, food made for Christmas was confiscated. This lasted for 18 years.

People found with a goose on Christmas, holly in their house, or attending a Catholic Mass on Christmas could be jailed, whipped, or put in the stocks. It was too associated with the Papacy, drinking, having a good time and the Puritans well, they didn't believe in a "good time."

The same thing occurred in America. The Pilgrims did not celebrate Christmas. For 20 years in America Christmas was just another day. And many Americans frown upon the holiday for years.

And honestly, the Christmas Holiday was not "officially" a holiday in America until 1870 when it became a Federal Holiday.

It was Victorian England that shaped Christmas that we know today.

 Clement Clarke Moore's 1823 poem, "A Visit from St. Nicholas," helped transform Santa Claus from a minor 4th century saint into the right jolly old elf we all know today.( St. Nick before this time was known as a Turkish Saint who had paid the dowry of 3 daughters of a poor man, so they could be married. Rather than be forced to work in a whorehouse. Tough times back then.)

Although some Christmas customs have pagan roots, others have more mercenary beginnings... Charles Dickens' 1843 novel "A Christmas Carol " was conceived as a way for the skint ( British slang for being broke) author to make a quick buck. Dickens took what he saw in 1840s London and added a bit of sentiment and the story became a best seller. 

It was the Coca-Cola Corporation that made Santa look like what we think Santa should look like today. Before then, there was no "universal" view of the Fat Man.

Some complain about the war on Christmas.....An attempt to remove the holiday from its Christian roots. But in reality, Christmas it is a celebration that has snowballed from our earliest cultures, gathering new meanings and rituals as it's traveled across the world and through time.

Sorry, but Christmas, has never been what you always "thought it was."

Author's Note- This blog is somewhat a "blast from the past" and my old friend Jo Griffith will appreciate it. I wrote this to a band I often listened to while writing history papers( Especially my The Reformation and 20th Century Europe classes under the late Dr. Bill MacDonald) as a lowly undergrad in the 1970s. The English band "Trapeze" and their album " Medusa."

Xmas! Xmas! Xmas!

I am sure some people are convinced now that Mr. Thomas is going to hell.....Well, if you actually believe that, and about 20-25% of you believe that, well, I'll see you down there then. Because you're no better a Xtian than I am. Your sin is just manifested in a different way.

So, for the last few years the usage of Xmas instead of Christmas has been under attack for the last few years, which brings us to the question.

What seminary did the pastor who came up with this malarkey attend?

Did they not teach Greek?

I know some of you think that the Bible fell from the heavens in English, but it wasn't until about the late 1300s the first English Bible appeared, and even it wasn't very widespread.....Around 1500 the first "common" man Bible appeared the Tyndale Bible....And the Tyndale Bible was condemned and its distribution was stopped by " The Church."

The King James Version which most of you are familiar with wasn't produced until 1611.

So, let's talk a little about Χριστος.

Χριστος is the Greek word for "CHRIST."

In Greek, the first letter for the name of Christ is X, which is actually pronounced with a C/K sound. That funny “p” looking letter is the Greek equivalent of an “r”....( Again, I'm a waste of a seminary education)

In the early Greek manuscripts around 200-300AD of the New Testament,  the word Christ was simply substituted as " X." The first letter of Χριστος.

And the usage of "Xmas" dates back to Europe in the 1100s. Hardy a bunch of people trying to get rid of Christ in Christmas.

By the way, Christmas was originally spelled Christmass. The 25th of December was a Mass celebrating the birth of Christmas.

So, the next time you see Xmas used, don't get all bent out of shape. Remember what it has always meant.

And do a little research people.

Often

Vote early, vote often is the saying that is often used in places like....Chicago.....I don't think it's the same way in Great Britain....

Tomorrow the British are holding a general election for a new "government" as they call it.

And unlike here, the party who wins the majority of seats in the House of Commons elects the "Government" in other words, the leadership including the Prime Minister.

Trouble is, they may not win the majority, if that occurs, the leader of the party tries to organize a coalition between the majority party and other smaller parties.

Complicated?

Yes.

There are 650 seats up for grabs in Britain.

Many will go to minority parties.

Including, if I lived in Scotland, I'd vote forthe Scottish Nationalist Party( SNP)...I am predicting 41-44 of Scotland's 56 seats in the House of Commons will go to the SNP.

The SNP of course supports the breaking of the 1707 Acts of Union which united Scotland and England into Great Britain.

In other words, the SNP pushes for independence.

Perhaps it is time.

Scotland now has oil in the North Sea to rely upon for funding.

In that light, I put this up over the Compound....It's the Cross of St. Andrew, the patron saint/flag of Scotland.

And may wear this button I may have picked up in my travels.

The media is blacked out in Britain on election day....Perhaps we need to adopt that here?

Prediction? I look for the Tories ( Conservative Party to squeal out a win....So close, his government may be calling another election in a short period. But seriously, close....The Tory's opponent leader in the Labour Party is half a Commie or I'd expect an even closer election.   )

Sorry Buna, Ain't Nothing I Can Do About It

Sorry, ain't nothing I can do, nor would I dare to do anything, nor in truth, do I care to do anything.

Sorry, I'm retired.

Oh, from time to time, I'll blast the hell out of what is going on there, but you know, it's just an opinion. ( Even when I am dead right.)

I know you're upset about the position changing hands, 3-4-5 times since I have left, but you know, it isn't my worry.

Besides, if I was still there, I'd be bringing up shit you did when you were there. And I can't just imagine that first teacher conference with one of y'all.

Beside, I could see me getting mad in the middle of a meeting, conference, and calling Teacher Retirement and walking out and retiring. ( Don't have to put up with this Bullshit, Horseshit, Chicken shit , whatever fecal matter, anymore.)

No, I'm done. Been done. Already have our next trip(s) planned for in the middle of the school year. ( To paraphrase TV's Paladin " Have Passport, Will Travel" )

Stop writing me about it. Your child will be fine. Trust me.

Reason Number 257 NOT to Travel to the Mall

I am telling you, I not longer care. I am getting closer and closer to becoming a total hermit. I know Tara Laramore teases me about not going anyplace, well, the older I get, the more I realize, " Nothing good happens when I leave the house."

This weekend at the McDonald's by the mall in Beaumont, it was like the old "Gillette Friday Night at the Fights."

Beaumont Police were called to the fast food establishment 3 times within 2 hours.  

I'm too damn old to get in the middle of something like that. 

I don't know, the more I look, the more I might need to just start ordering most stuff I need online. Hell, Amazon has deals people can't beat.

I am looking more and more at ordering stuff online at the grocery stores, Pulling into the parking lot, and having them, bring it out to the car.

Hell, I am seriously looking at ordering a suit online from Indochino because, well, I want one and on an occasion, I actually have to leave the house for a soiree.( If it wasn't so bloody hot here, I'd order a tweed suit, look like a History Don at Oxford.) It would keep me from even going to Beaumont.  And if I make it to Beaumont on I-10, why not go ahead and drive to Houston?

But I am done Christmas shopping. Waiting on the Brown Truck and USPS.

And I never left the house.

Christmas Purge

The cold winds of winter are coming, specifically, a Christmas Purge is due.

It will probably be done in a few days.

It will probably be a dozy.

I am tried of all the politics that keep coming up over and over, and it not being true. ( Both sides.)

I am tired of people and that is ALL they post is politics. Heck, I rarely if ever do national, much less state politics on the blog anymore. Whatever side I take, I am speaking to an echo chamber. We have decided we are " right in this nation" even when we are dead wrong.

I think I may need to cut down my Facebook to about 150-350 souls. I think we may all be happier.

I can no longer watch one of the "Big 3" National 24 hour News channels. It is all "Trump bad" or the opposite " Trump good."  There is no news discussed.

It's why I watch British News now. They're in the middle of a national election and often their top story is something other than the election, often American in nature. 

Sorry folks but neither side is all good, or all bad. We are not getting anything done in this nation and at some point, it is going to become all unraveled.

Folks, do a little research before you post stuff. It doesn't take 5 minutes to do a little research and discover if what you are saying is right, half-right, a total fabrication.

If you want me to go ahead and delete you, let me know, send me a PM and it will make my job ahead easier.

More Netflix Suggestions

Okay, I know many of you spend more time looking on Netflix for something to watch, then actually watching stuff.

Here are a couple of suggestions.

" The Confession Killer." It is about Henry Lee Lucas. He confessed to killing between 200-600 people mostly in Texas.

Five episodes. It makes the William County ( Texas) Sheriff's Office, the Lubbock Police,  the Texas Rangers, the Department of Public Safety( DPS), FBI, WFAA out of Dallas all look bad.

Lucas confesses to killing all these women and in reality, police agencies are looking to clear up cold cases.

Lucas probably only killed 3 people including his Mother. He played the system to avoid sitting on "Death Row" in Huntsville. Or just being in prison. People brought him food, Strawberry milk shakes, Pall Mall cigarettes and in exchange, he'd confess to murders.

Henry Lee Lucas story is a true story.

The movie "Suffragette" is now on Netflix. It shows what it was like to "get the vote" in Great Britain in the early part of the 1900s. True story.

Also, " The Great Raid" is on. Set in WWII, it is about US Army Rangers trying to liberate American Army/Navy/ Marine POWs held by the Japanese in the Philippines before the Japanese execute the prisoners. Also a true story.

Then, Outlander, Part 3 will be on Netflix Dec. 10.

Some good shows this month. 

Bad Christmas Gifts

I know some of you are thinking, " Just what the hell, will I give my wife/ my husband this year for Christmas."

Now I know, some have asked for specific things....

Others, well, they have not....

There has been a controversy about an advertisement for a Pelatron exercise bicycle.

In the commercial, which the Roku Channel has "played to death" the ads for this $2200 dollar exercise machine.

The wife who received the bike from her husband, looks terrified by the machine. In terror period. It's like if she doesn't lose down from the 115lbs she weighs now to the 110lbs her husband wants, he will beat the shit out of her....Or worse.

No where in the ad does she say " A Pelatron, just what I wanted."

It even has her getting up to workout, while he stays in bed. 

In the end she tells her husband, she "didn't know she could accomplish this much." ( That and she hadn't had a dessert in a year)

BTW- Pelatron's stock has gone down....

It's sort of like giving your wife a vacuum cleaner for Christmas she didn't ask for.....Come on man....

I know sometimes you need stuff for the house, but you kind of need to agree that's what we're getting.

Boys and girls, even if it something small, get something for your significant other that's fun this year for Christmas.

Give your wife a $2200 exercise bike? You might not be getting "any" until next Christmas...

Market Basket You Disappoint Me....

So, I am minding my own business this morning, and saw I was out of a product I needed for tonight's supper, so, Duke's Mayonnaise was for sale and it seems to run out of stock quickly, when on sale, so, I make a flying trip to the store to go ahead and pick-up a couple of items.....

When I do so, I walk down the dry bean aisle and find this "jewel" below.

Say what you want to, and I understand the original "China Doll" was a pale porcelain doll sold in the early to mid 20th Century, and I am sure the company wanted to let people know that their beans are white and pure, but not all of their beans are white beans. 

You know, I remember in the 1970s seeing a product on the shelves called "Negro Head " canned oysters. Even back then I knew it wasn't right.

In the picture of the lady is yellow. Trust me, they're not yellow. They don't look like the Simpsons. Trust me, I did not see a yellow type person while there. ( Most were whiter than us white folks.)

And then worse, she's dressed as a 19th century Courtesan....That's right, a Chinese whore from the 1800s.

You don't see stuff like White Trash Meth Whore Condoms.

Perhaps we need to do so?

And here is the strangest thing of all. The Chinese don't even eat beans.( Some black beans, some odd red bean in a paste, but others, they hate.... Literally, they hate them. ) The Soybeans we sell China are all turned into other products from oil to milk, to tofu....

Goodbye Bad Children

Tonight by tradition, Krampus will visit tonight, Dec 5th, and take away "Bad children."

This of course is a tradition in Central Europe, particularly, Southern Germany ( Bavaria) where my wife's people originated. ( Also Austria, Hungary, Czech Republic, Northern Italy)

Krampus is a half-goat, half demon, often a brown or black in color, has cloven hooves, horns of a goat, and his tongue lolls out, and is pointed...Krampus has fangs.

The origin of the figure is unclear; some folklorists and anthropologists have postulated it as having pre-Christian origins.

And Krampus has often been known to visit with St. Nicholas on Dec. 6th.

St. Nick of course brings gifts to "good children."

Krampus in depending on the community either beats the children with birch branches, eats them, drowns them, or in Germany chains them up and carry them off to hell.

In some communities, especially, in N. Italy,  Krampus supplies coal for Santa to put in bad kid's stockings...

The birch branches and coal have carried over to popular " American Culture" particularly the branches in the South becoming, " You've been so bad, Santa ain't bringing you nothing but a sack full of switches." 

So, for the 3 dozen of you who've been particularly bad, it's been good knowing you....( Then again, in parts of Germany and Austria, Krampus can be bribed with Schnapps.....But I don't know, some of y'all have been irredeemably bad...)

Netflix

So, I know most of us spend as much time searching for something to watch on Netflix as we spend actually spend watching shows.

But, when we find something, we spend days on the that program.

But yesterday, I got to watching " The Irishman."

Based on a true story, revolves around Jimmy Hoffa, the former President of the Teamster's Union ( Trucker's Union) and his disappearance.

Of course, the death of Hoffa in the movie is speculation.

Has a lot of the story about the mob and its alignment with the Teamsters,  especially getting Teamster money to build casinos in Vegas.

It is worth the time to watch. It is a good movie. It is violent, it does have rough language.

DeNiro, Pacino, Pesci all do a good job, I enjoyed their acting.

It is long, 3 hours and 29 minutes.

4 out of 5 stars. 

"Mr. Thomas, are You Actually a Queer?"

Write a blog and you get questions like this. I am in the middle of writing a blog that should upset a number of people on Christmas and historical background, and sometimes, doing "actual history" without just boring the hell out of people is well, time consuming.

I get all sort of messages like this. I think some folks think that somehow they will be able to "sweep in" and save my soul.

I think the fascination with men's clothes is part of it. Say what you want, we are in a society that think " the sloppier the better."

The older I get, the more I wonder what that is saying about us in general?

Then, the same person who wrote the message about my possibly actually being a homosexual was concerned about me " performing the gay marriage."

Hey, was maybe the fanciest wedding yet. I just thought I was dressed "to the nines." I may need to see about getting a tuxedo for such soirees. Perhaps one in Midnight Blue?

Heck, I even stayed for the reception, steak and shrimp.....

The only thing, an extremely distinguished older gentleman( in a gorgeous lamb's wool glen-plaid Cambridge grey and black sports coat.)  sat across from me at the table and he and I struck up a conversation.

I enjoyed his views and ideas of stuff, and I assume he did mine.....

Trouble was, dumb-ass me, I didn't "snap" to the fact later that he was flirting with me.( That was my fault. I asked to feel the lapel of the lamb's wool jacket....Naive old Kerry...)

Not sure, but I " think" I was flattered.

Look, as I have said many times before, when it comes to actual interaction face-to-face with people, I don't "get it."

I think it is why I think I did not have a date for 2 and 1/2 years while in university. That and going to school full-time and working 2 jobs cuts into social time. ( Part of it was, I went through a period of bad, just awful first dates. And just threw myself into work/school.)

And believe it or not, and I know I do not act like it, especially if I am "in-charge"  but the ole Govteach is actually painfully shy. Especially around the opposite sex.

Literally, if my wife had not asked me out, I probably would still be single today.

But to answer the question if I am a homosexual?

No, as my late Great Uncle Melvin would say, " I likes the wimmens."

Merry Christmas? Who Cares?

I don't know, we are just to the point in this country we have to be pissed off about something.

The place is going to come to pieces and as the great cartoon philosopher, Pogo one said, " We have met the enemy, and it is us."  

So, we have now started an imaginary war against Christmas in this country. By people saying "Happy Holidays" instead of Merry Christmas.

Do you know how many people don't celebrate Christmas in this country?  And do you know how many people who celebrate Christmas are not even Christian?

Hell, some of the biggest people unhappy about the lack of "Merry Christmas" ain't been to church in years.....

Come on, just because you are in an area where there are a preponderance of Christians, don't think there are people of other faiths...

Or folks of denominations who do not celebrate Christmas. 

Why do you think I had " The Troll" do a Hanukkah door one year at Buna High for the "Holiday Door Decoration Contest?" We had a Jewish kid in that senior class.

Didn't know that did you?

The old Govteach don't miss much...

They did everything to keep you from knowing, including " going with their friends" to church....

I received an invitation to their sister's Bat Mitzvah that Summer.

I went. 

We lost the door decoration as I fully expected because the judges didn't know, or care, or both......

Hell, for years, our ancestors in the "old country" didn't celebrate Christmas at all. Thought it was too tied to pagan roots of the Celts. ( Especially Reformation Scotland) Even they knew Jesus was not born in December.

So, say Merry Christmas, I don't care....

I'll say Happy Holidays, Happy Hanukkah, Happy Boxing Day, Happy Las Posadas, Happy New Year's and yes, Merry Christmas.

Tend your own damn business.

Leave people alone.

Cancelled.....And You'll Never Watch it Again Without.....

So, I am minding my own damn business, watching the now 1,023,456 channels I have on the TV if you include both the Sat dish and the Roku.....If you don't have a Roku, you gotta get one....

And I notice on a news feed that the " Victoria's Secret Fashion Show" has been cancelled.

Hell, I didn't know it was still on. Well, it isn't now.

Seems that it was broadcast for 20 years.

I remember watching the first one back years ago thinking, "Man, I may have to see what my wife's doing after I watch this."

Go and ask her...." Say, you busy?"

Don't tell me that's not happened at your house.....Going both ways....I've heard, "wanna do me a favor?"

Reminds me of the scene from " It's a Wonderful Life" where Violet Bick walks by in the " new dress" drawing the interest of all the boys in town and in the end Bert the cop ( played by one the greatest character actors of all time, Ward Bond) says, " I think I'll see what the wife is doing.."

He ain't checking on what's for supper. 

Pretty racy stuff for 1946.

So, I watched it and when it was all over instead of being " interested."  I was just sad. Outfits you'd never see in "real life."

A bunch of 7 foot tall girls walking on 8 inch heels looking miserable as they walked the catwalk...

Anorexic girls

I wanted to fix ham a ham sandwich with some Nacho Cheese Doritos or maybe some Ruffles, with a couple of cookies for dessert....For those poor girls to eat...

I've not watched it since....