Recently, I heard that this year's best Christmas gifts (besides the XBox 360)

were "homemade gifts from the heart".  Personally, I'll take the jewelry, but to each his own.

Unlike most good little boys and girls who have visions of sugarplums dancing in their heads,

Fred's dreams are filled with the thrill of catching "the Big One".

So in the true spirit of Christmas, I dedicate this little ditty I wrote to Fred and all his fishing fantasies.

Merry Christmas Love!

"The Twelve Days of Fishing"

(to be sung to the tune of the 12 Days of Christmas)

On the first day of Fishing, my true love gave to me,

a boat for the open sea.

On the second day of Fishing, my true love gave to me,

two filet knives and a boat for the open sea.

On the third day of Fishing, my true love gave to me,

three fishing rods, two filet knives and a boat for the open seas.

On the fourth day of Fishing, my true love gave to me,

four feather lures, three fishing rods, two filet knives, and a boat for the open seas.

On the fifth day of Fishing, my true love gave to me,

five... golden reels, four feather lures, three fishing rods, two filet knives, and a boat for the open seas.

On the sixth day of fishing, my true love gave to me,

six margaritas, five... golden reels, four feather lures, three fishing rods, two filet knives, and a boat for the open seas.

On the seventh day of Fishing, my true love gave to me,

seven rocket launchers, six margaritas, five...golden reels, four feather lures, three fishing rods, two filet knives, and a boat for the open seas.

On the eighth day of Fishing, my true love gave to me,

eight pounds of squid bait, seven rocket launchers, six margaritas, five...golden reels, four feather lures, three fishing rods, two filet knives, and a boat for the open seas.

On the ninth day of Fishing, my true love gave to me,

nine bluefin tuna, eight pounds of squid bait, seven rocket launchers, six margaritas, five...golden reels, four feather lures, three fishing rods, two filet knives, and a boat for the open seas.

On the tenth day of Fishing, my true love gave to me,

ten fins a flashing, nine bluefin tuna, eight pounds of squid bait, seven rocket launchers, six margaritas, five...golden reels, four feather lures, three fishing rods, two filet knives, and a boat for the open seas.

On the eleventh day of Fishing, my true love gave to me,

eleven lines a whizzing, ten fins a flashing, nine bluefin tuna, eight pounds of squid bait, seven rocket launchers, six margaritas, five...golden reels, four feather lures, three fishing rods, two filet knives, and a boat for the open seas.

On the twelfth, day of Fishing, my true love gave to me,

twelve fish flags flying, eleven lines a whizzing, ten fins a flashing, nine bluefin tuna, eight pounds of squid bait, seven rocket launchers, six margaritas, five...golden reels, four feather lures, three fishing rods, two filet knives, and a boat for the open seas.

Merry Christmas

2005