::skh:: family holidays

Christmas was lovely - the husband and grandma busted out an amazing feast, the wedding albums went over really well. Although, when my mom got a little whiney and dissapointed about a couple pictures that don't exist, I felt a blood vessel in my eye about to burst.

We got to my parent's house on Friday morning. It was my dad's 50th birthday. He was supposed to have the day off, then he was supposed to work a half day. He ended up working a full day. But, we got to go out to dinner, and in typical skh family style, we all drank too much. Came home from dinner and had a dance party in the living room...until my dad passed out. Signs of a good time.

He wasn't feeling so hot the next day, but he gave us money to go gamble at one of the Indian Casinos. The husband and grandpa played black jack, grandma headed for the nickel slots and mom and I went to play video poker. It felt a little wrong to be drinking cheap champagne and gambling while listening to the more religious of the Christmas songs. The gambling gods must have felt my frustration because as soon as that thought entered my mind, we were treated to such great hits as "Donde Esta Santa Clause?" and my personal favorite, "Dominick the Italian Christmas Donkey." I'm not a big gambler and I am happy to play a quarter at a time and I generally loose. Saturday was no exception. But, I did walk away with a song I will never forget:

DOMINICK THE DONKEY (THE ITALIAN CHRISTMAS DONKEY)
(Allen / Merrell / Saltzberg)
Lou Monte - 1967


Hey! Chingedy ching,
(hee-haw, hee-haw)
It's Dominick the donkey.
Chingedy ching,
(hee-haw, hee-haw)
The Italian Christmas donkey.
(la la la-la la-la la la la la)
(la la la-la la-la la-ee-oh-da)

Santa's got a little friend,
His name is Dominick.
The cutest little donkey,
You never see him kick.
When Santa visits his paisons,
With Dominick he'll be.
Because the reindeer cannot,
Climb the hills of Italy.

Hey! Chingedy ching,
(hee-haw, hee-haw)
It's Dominick the donkey.
Chingedy ching,
(hee-haw, hee-haw)
The Italian Christmas donkey.
(la la la-la la-la la la la la)
(la la la-la la-la la-ee-oh-da)

Jingle bells around his feet,
And presents on the sled.
Hey! Look at the mayor's derby,
On top of Dominick's head.
A pair of shoes for Louie,
And a dress for Josephine.
The labels on the inside says,
They're made in Brooklyn.

Hey! Chingedy ching,
(hee-haw, hee-haw)
It's Dominick the donkey.
Chingedy ching,
(hee-haw, hee-haw)
The Italian Christmas donkey.
(la la la-la la-la la la la la)
(la la la-la la-la la-ee-oh-da)

Children sing, and clap their hands,
And Dominick starts to dance.
They talk Italian to him,
And he even understands.

Cumpare sing,
Cumpare su,
And dance 'sta tarantel.
When jusamagora comes to town,
And brings du ciuccianello.

Hey! Chingedy ching,
(hee-haw, hee-haw)
It's Dominick the donkey.
Chingedy ching,
(hee-haw, hee-haw)
The Italian Christmas donkey.
(la la la-la la-la la la la la)
(la la la-la la-la la-ee-oh-da)

Hey! Dominick! Buon Natale!
(hee-haw, hee-haw)
(hee-haw, hee-haw)
(hee-haw, hee-haw)
(hee-haw, hee-haw)
(hee-haw, hee-haw)
(hee-haw, hee-haw)