I could barely see the stage; but the sound was going fine for me. The music was again exquisite and penetrating. Sipping my drink, overlooking the cr...mped conditions, I immersed myself in the music. There was virtually no space behind my table; but yet I heard several muffled voices. I turned my head casually to look back, seeing a group of three men sitting close to me in a filthy table.They all smiled as I glanced at them and tilted their drinks up toasting me. I quickly faced the band. Ken had taken me out to our favourite restaurant which is a part of a small country hotel about 25 miles from where we live. He drove us there in his Jaguar and of course it was expected that I would be driving back, he having had too much to drink as usual. When we arrived I was not very pleased to find that our small intimate restaurant had been taken over for the evening by a large party of rugby supporters who were on their way to (or from) a big match somewhere. I think there must have. Finally, Jude, Cindi, and Sharon agreed it would be more fair for Ken's family to go since our family had made the last excursion away from home. Everyone agreed that the trip shouldn't be made until after Christmas.Tuesday, December 25, 1979Christmas just doesn't seem to mean as much when the cost of the things you are buying isn't significant to you. I think O. Henry had the right idea when he wrote of Della and Jim in "The Gift of the Magi". If you have to sacrifice something that is. “Were they ambushed?” Saubath wondered, worried for the soldiers.“No, sir. It appears the pirates set their core for a timed detonation. If they didn’t have someone inspect the systems, the trap would have wiped out half the planetside security team. Captain Fitch and what personnel he could muster are double timing it back to the villas,” the operator replied.“Have landing teams been scrambled?” Williams questioned.“Aye, ma’am. They’re in their pods and ready to drop. Oh, and ma’am, you asked.