I told Peggie, freshly back from a cruise to Cuba, that I was thinking of buying a Karaoke Machine for the Mansion. I have this fantasy of having a Karaoke Christmas, where the residents sing Christmas Carols to one another and sing any other songs they might like, whenever they feel like it.

I know of five Mansion residents who dearly love to sing and this way, they could perform their own musical concerts, and wouldn’t just have to hire people from the outside to play music for them.

I believe this kind of involvement is both healthy and uplifting, and I’ve been researching Karaoke machines for weeks now, I’ve been all over the B&H website and think I have found my machine, a Pyle Pro for about $200 plus cables.

It’s got a nice screen and according to the reviews, great sound. I’m calling B&H tomorrow to talk it over with them, I’m not confident about just buying one online, although they look easy enough to assemble and use.

I asked Kasse, the Acting Mansion Director about this today, she was thrilled. The staff thinks it would be wonderful for the residents, and the residents are excited too. Think of the videos. More later. I never buy anything for the residents without running it by the staff and the aides.

I have enough funds on hand to buy the machine, but contributions to the Mansion work are always welcome, especially around the holidays. Jon Katz. P.O. Box 205, Cambridge, N.Y., 12816, or via Paypal, [email protected].  You can also donate by clicking on the button below this one, it says “Support The Army Of Good. That money will go right into the Mansion fund.

Just mark the payments “The Mansion,” thanks.