SANTA BABY




written by J. Javits and P. Springer
originally sung by Ertha Kitt


Santa baby, slip a sable under the tree, for me
I've been an awful good girl
Santa baby, and hurry down the chimney tonight

Santa baby, an out-of-space convertible too, light blue
I'll wait up for you dear
Santa baby, and hurry down the chimney tonight

Think of all the fun I've missed
Think of all the fellas that I haven't kissed
Next year I could be oh so good
If you'd check off my Christmas list
Boo doo bee doo

Santa honey, I wanna yacht and really that's
Not a lot
I've been an angel all year
Santa baby, and hurry down the chimney tonight

Santa cutie, there's one thing I really do need, the deed
To a platinum mine
Santa cutie, and hurry down the chimney tonight

Santa baby, I'm filling my stocking with a duplex, and checks
Sign your 'X' on the line
Santa baby, and hurry down the chimney tonight

Come and trim my Christmas tree
With some decorations bought at Tiffany's
I really do believe in you
Let's see if you believe in me
Boo doo bee doo

Santa baby, forgot to mention one little thing, a ring
I don't mean a phone
Santa baby, and hurry down the chimney tonight

Hurry down the chimney tonight
Hurry down the chimney tonight




(Visit my other SANTA BABIES at 87 Gentle Street and read my family's personal Christmas greeting to all.)

(Prada Mama's NOTE: We are now in the middle of HANUKKAH, the Jewish "Festival of Lights", which falls on December 7 to 15 this year. My eldest son, Max, is now eleven and is being raised in a proper Jewish manner by my ex-husband in Toronto. He is probably in the middle of celebrations right about now, too old to be spinning dreidels, but never too old to be receiving gelt.

Another Jewish member of the family is my stepfather, Ira Wollen. Ira and my Mom live in New York, and to me, he represents the quintessential New Yorker. In fact, my stepdad reminds me of another New York icon, Woody Allen, quirks and all. Ira is a wonderful person, a kind and gentle man, and a gentleman to boot. He is also one of the most talented people I know: a musician, a painter, a sculptor, and a poet.

My Mom and Ira got married eleven years ago on his birthday, November 3, 1993. For MY birthday this year, Ira wrote a poem for me, "For Rima", which I included in "IRA'S POETRY", a blogsite which I, in turn, created for Ira for HIS birthday. Yes, the season of giving started EARLY this year.

To my lovely son, my wonderful stepfather, and to all other Jewish people out there, Happy Hanukkah!




Meanwhile, in Modesto, my younger kids are having their own field day with lights. The tiny, colored, blinking kind. Here's Troy (and Daddy) with a glowing handful...




And here's Reanna (also with Daddy), awash in a sea of them.




Yes, the season is upon us, and it's time for some good old-fashioned...)


HOUSE DRESSING




The Sereno Family Christmas 2004

COMMITTEES:

1. Technical:




Chair: LORENZO SERENO, Sr., aka Daddy
Co-Chair: RENEE SERENO, aka Mommy

Members:

LORENZO CHRISTOPHER SERENO, Jr., aka Lance
LORENZO TROY SERENO, Jr., aka Troy
REANNA LOREN SERENO, aka Daddy's Girl

2. Creative:

Chair: RENEE SERENO, aka Mommy
Co-chair: LORENZO SERENO, Sr., aka Daddy

Members: (shown with Co-Chair)




LORENZO CHRISTOPHER SERENO, Jr., aka Lance
LORENZO TROY SERENO, Jr., aka Troy
REANNA LOREN SERENO, aka Mommy's Girl


MATERIALS:

1 monster 9-foot pre-lit Christmas tree




6 additional strings of colored lights




1 Father Christmas Bear tree topper




1 electric train set




8 stockings




1 winter bear wreath




1 gingerbread door hanger




wire-edged ribbon




assorted candles and ornaments





TASKS:

Technical Commiteee:

1. Assemble The Family Tree.




2. Untangle additional colored lights




3. Crown tree with Santa bear topper.




4. Drape wire-edged ribbon on Family Tree branches.




5. Assemble electric train set.




6. Install at base of tree.





Creative committee:

1. Hang stockings on mantel.
2. Hang winter wreath on door.
3. Hang gingerbread door hanger on door handle.
4. Hang ornaments...











...with Co-Chair's help.











Special Duties Assigned to Technical and Creative Committee Members:

1. Make Chair/Co-Chair smile.




2. Watch...




3. ...and learn.




Happy holidays!

(Prada Mama's NOTE: This monster Thanksgiving post is brought to you by The Sierra Railroad's GOLDEN SUNSET DINNER TRAIN.)





THINGS TO DO IN THE THANKSGIVING TRAIN WHEN YOU'RE...

A. Mommy:

1. Pose for pictures with your family before boarding the train.




2. Start eating your 4-course Thanksgiving turkey dinner.




3. Take care of Reanna.




4. Request Fleetwood Mac's "Landslide" from the travelling entertainer. Tip her.




B. Daddy

All of the above, and

5. Ask the travelling entertainer to sing "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star".




6. Show Lance and Troy how to spread gourmet cream cheese on melba toast.




7. Eat the melba toast when the kids lose interest.




8. Wheedle, cajole, demand that the kids eat their pumpkin soup. Give up. Finish the soup yourself.




9. Hold Reanna so Mommy can eat her turkey dinner. Pass Reanna back. Enjoy your prime rib dinner.




10. Spend the rest of the trip taking Lance and Troy to the bathroom.

(CENSORED.)



FUN THINGS TO DO IN THE THANKSGIVING TRAIN IF YOU'RE A KID...

A. Aged five:

1. Pose for pictures. Spread gourmet cream cheese on top of melba toast. Refuse to eat it. Refuse to eat pumpkin soup. Yell "It's hot in here!". Take off sweater. Wait for trukey dinner. Eat ONLY the mashed potatoes.




2. Drink strawberry smoothies with brother.




3. Gulp down smoothie. Ask brother if you can have his. Mommy says no.




4. Pester Daddy to take you to the bathroom. Every five minutes.

(CENSORED.)

B. Aged three:

All of the above, and

5. Dance to "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star".




6. Wait patiently for Daddy and Lance to return from the bathroom. Tell Daddy you need to go potty too.




7. Return from bathroom. Notice salt shaker sitting on the table.




8. Make faces at salt shaker.




9. Laugh at own reflection.




10. Make faces at Mommy.




11. Spill salt on table. Deliberately.




12. Lick salt from table.




13. Lick salt from salt shaker.




14. Ask Mommy if you can take salt shaker home with you. Mommy says no.




15. Use salt shaker as fly swatter instead.






THINGS TO DO IN THE THANKSGIVING TRAIN WHEN YOU'RE A BABY GIRL

1) Pose for pictures.




2) Fuss and complain about your carrier. Fuss and complain about your warm clothes. Smile as Mommy strips you down to your bodysuit. Let Daddy kiss you.




3. Read the wine list.




4. Grab everything you can lay your hands on. Refuse to let go.




5. Show off your killer gams. And your six-month shots.




6. Endure more kisses from Daddy.




7. Pose for one last picture.




8. Sleep for the rest of the trip.






THINGS TO DO AFTER TAKING THE THANKSGIVING DINNER TRAIN

1. Pose for pictures.




2. Buy souvenirs.




3. Take more pictures of the train.




4. Take more pictures of the train from the parking lot across the street.




5. Take pictures at the parking lot across the street.




6. Take pictures in the mock jail at the parking lot across the street.




7. Send Daddy and the kids to prison.




8. In the mock jail. At the parking lot. Across the street.




9. For going to the mock saloon. Also at the parking lot.




10. Pull out of parking lot. Head to theater to watch "The Polar Express".




11. Then join the rest of the Sereno family for Thanksgiving dinner.




Traditional, this time.