Well, the electricity’s been out for about twelve hours now. It’s 11 p.m., Monday night, December 7th.  Looks like I’ll be writing this by candle light – kinda like good ole Abe Lincoln. What a snowstorm!!! You’ve heard of the East Coast getting a blast from a “Nor’easter”; well, we got hit by a “Nor’wester”!!! When I told people on my distribution route that it was going to snow down to sea level and that there’d be a foot or more of snow at 3,000 feet and that the Mother Lode was going to get absolutely slammed, they all said, ‘I’ll believe it when I see it.’ It also looks like I’ve won several friendly bets regarding the amount and elevation of the snowfall! Ya man, I admit it: I had some insider information. My personal guru/meteorologist/prognosticator, Mahat, told me just what to expect. I was also closely monitoring several sources that are available to everyone: The Weather Channel, MyMotherLode. Com (which posts winter storm advisories, watches and warnings from the National Weather Service), radio stations Star 92.7 FM, KVML (1140 AM) and Today’s Country 93.5 FM – in addition to Good Day Sacramento (every morning on CW31). They all said this snowstorm was coming! Furthermore, Indian folklore tells us that when the acorns are very heavy and fall more frequently then we’re in for a colder winter. And several people on my route have observed those acorn indicators! If you haven’t already, get the rest of your firewood, pronto! Go out and get your tarps and tire chains/cables/Spike Spiders, pronto! Get that insulation for all your exposed pipes, pronto! Get either lots of candles or a couple flashlights – and lots of batteries! Have either a battery-operated radio, or a “Dynamo” radio (crank radio)! This snowstorm is just the beginning of Winter Season 2009-2010! (It probably wouldn’t hurt to get a winter-time brake inspection and/or new tires and wiper blades.) So there’s my hippy dippy checklist!

Speaking of radio, I’ve been grovin’ on The Christmas Star 92.7 FM! I’m just digging all the Christmas music on that station (continuous through Christmas Day)! Ya know, the musical artists who are smart, will record at least one Christmas song. That guarantees that they will be played on the radio – forever! The Beach Boys knew that. Elvis, Sinatra, Melissa Etheridge, Sheryl Crow and many other artists knew that too! But some artists missed the boat. Why didn’t the Moody Blues record, say, “Blue Christmas”? Black Sabbath could have recorded “It’s The Most Wonderful Time of the Year”. And Jimi Hendrix could have performed an awesome instrumental version of “Silent Night”! But anyway, tune into The Christmas Star 92.7. It’ll get you in the Christmas mood for sure! They’ll also give you important ski and chain control reports along with updates about dangerous situations on the road. Thank you, Star 92.7. You’re awesome!!

Another way to totally get into the Christmas mood is to visit the now-famous Christmas lights exhibit and tour at the Kutch’s family farm at 10833 Golf Links Road in Jamestown! Their awesome display – which easily includes 3,000 individual Christmas figures of all sizes (with many new decorations this year!) – is open to the public nightly, from 6 to 11p.m.! This is the 18th year the Kutch’s have presented their dazzling Christmas display and tour! The family greets you with smiles and candy canes – and they even have a “countdown to Christmas” clock at the entrance! Their exhibit simply has to be seen to be believed! They’ve added a couple of 6-foot tall toy soldiers, an elaborately decorated archway, and an additional four feet to their incredible miniature Christmas village! “We’ve enlarged our exhibit by ten percent this year, easily!” Eric Kutch, the family’s patriarch exclaimed. And it takes a lot of work and expense to put up the Kutch Christmas Exhibit! “Normally, it takes about a month,” Mr. Kutch explained. “…and our electric bill goes up about five times the average for the month of December! Every year, it’s a miracle. We just about make the electric bill! It usually increases to about $500!” But the Kutch family enjoys making Christmas a merry time for all! “When groups come (by appointment), like when the 4-H comes, pre-arranged, we’ll have hot chocolate and cookies for the kids! Individuals and single families need not make reservations, but if there are a lot of people coming, it’s a good idea to call ahead. Last year, one 4-H group came 70 strong!! They even have a petting zoo with goats, rabbits, chickens, exotic turkeys and other little critters! The Kutch’s Christmas light exhibit/petting zoo is open nightly (weather permitting) until 11 p.m.! Admission is FREE, but donations are cheerfully accepted. (This hippy dippy reporter has gone to see the “Kutch Christmas” three times now and I must say one thing: there are indeed, many Christmas light displays in the Mother Lode. But Christmas is not complete until you’ve seen the Kutch’s Christmas lights!!!) For info, and/or directions to get there, call 984-4773. 

Notwithstanding the severe storm we just had, it’s actually been a pretty groovy week! I attended the famous Twain Harte Christmas Parade, and it was outtasight! Lots of entries, and lots of famous people in the parade! Mark Corona, Big Joe and Bridgette from “Today’s Country” 93.5 FM/Clarke Broadcasting, Sonora graduate, Phil Coke – who is now a World Series Champion New York Yankee pitcher, and even Michael “Mark Twain” McCaffrey! This week also saw the “re-opening” of The Rock Restaurant and Pub” at its temporary locale, the old Courtside Bar & Grill location in the Twain Harte Village Shopping Center. (You’ll recall that the Rock on Fuller Road was recently damaged by fire.) Even in their temporary location, they’ve got the same great service, same great food!!!    

GROOVY HAPPENINGS: Important benefit for the Rose Wolf Animal Rescue and Rehabilitation Center, Inc.: Friday and Saturday, December 11th and 12th, at the Kutch Family Farm’s Christmas Light Exhibit! Go there and enjoy the phenomenal Christmas lights tour – and help a good cause! It’ll all be at 10833 Golf Links Road in Jamestown! If you need a little get-away, Christmas-style, you might want to take in the Central West Ballet’s production of The Nutcracker, at the Gallo Center for the Arts (downtown Modesto)! It will take place December 11, 12, 13, 18, 19 and 20; with evening performances at 7pm and matinees at 2pm! For tickets/info, call (209)338-2100, or log on to www.galloarts.org! On another Christmas-related topic, if you’d like to let your kid(s) talk with Santa, he’ll be hanging out at his “Santa’s Workshop” annex in Courthouse Park (downtown Sonora), December 13th, from 3 to 6:30 p.m., and December 14th-19th, from 4 to 6:30 p.m.! (Keep reading the SMT for more dates and times!) If you want to rock out, be at Diamond Jim’s (in Mi-Wuk Village, on Hwy 108), for a D.J. / karaoke session hosted by the renowned Touch the Stove Productions, Saturday, December 12th! Show starts at around 8:30 p.m. No cover charge, 21+. And over at Lupita’s Eproson House and Salsa Club, the same night, Full on Fergus will kick out the jams at 9 p.m.! Don’t forget to get your tickets early for “Christmas with Sonora’s Black Irish Band (and many special Celtic guests) – featuring the Scottish Bagpipes & Dancer, Saturday, December 19th at the Sonora Opera House!! Show’s at 7 p.m., and should be awesome! Get your advance tickets at Mountain Bookshop in The Junction Shopping Center, or at Sonora Music on S. Washington Street! BREAKING NEWS: Any Event, Inc. has just announced: There will be a New Year’s Eve Party Bus, transporting revelers between the “hot spots” along the Hwy 108 corridor! This Party Bus is the only one of its kind in the entire tri-county area! For more info, call Any Event at (209)352-6267!

Before I boogie outta here, I’d like to say “Happy Birthday” to Paul Rodgers; you know, the lead singer with Free, Bad Company, The Firm and now Queen! Paul was born December 17th, 1949. He’s turning 60!  Also, happy birthday to The Rolling Stone’s guitarist, Keith Richards! Born, December 18th, 1943; he’s 66 and STILL rockin’!!! It is so inspiring to see our seniors still kickin’ it! Hey, I gotta go water my Chia Christmas Tree! Ch, Ch, Ch, Chia! Till then, peace, love and rock salt!