No shopping today

I need a few things from Trader Joes but won't go because it's nuts there on Sundays. All the label studiers and contemplators are out and filling the aisles pondering their decisions on steel cut or rolled oats.  This week its worse because of the holiday shopping.  Making lasagna and sausage and peppers for Christmas dinner this year.  All my ingredients are bought and ready to go.  It will be a simple, low keyed event this year, but should be enjoyable.

Our dear friend Anthony Taylor lost his sister and we attended the funeral yesterday.  He takes wonderful care of Shannon at her residence.  He and I operate on wheelchairs in their family room when needed, always getting them running.  This is a guy that always steps up when he is needed.  Anthony will be there, no excuses.  Their family started out with six kids and only two are left.  We felt badly for him and his relatives. 

The service was an outpouring of faith and grief, ultimately with an uplifting message for all to carry on in her memory.  I am sure she will be missed.

We completed "Playing Nice" a four episode mini series from BritBox yesterday. Its premise was disquieting but subtle like all the series from across the pond.  Two couples have premature infants that are switched at the hospital only to be discovered when the little boys are three.  The story that ensues bounces between the trauma for the parents and custody battles all taking place in Cornwall with the raging sea as the backdrop.  It's worth a look on Amazon Prime.

Still quiet here at nearly 8am with a few Christmas decorations up. 

Had to include these guys, slower but still kicking.

Our Iron Butterfly tree, somewhat indestructible

 

Nice Guy

Rob seemed like an incredibly nice guy, one you could have a beer with  Yeah I agreed with him politically and he was a rich guy moving with a bunch of people like him.  He and his wife desperately tried to save their son, from mental illness, from drug addiction and himself. In the end, all of it wasn't enough and they perished at his hand.  We have solved nothing in this country in this realm.  All the medications don't cure anything in mental illness.  These folks for all their success, had to watch the train wreck happen.  Until this kind of tragedy happens, no one wants to know of the family's suffering

We just celebrated being married for 50 years on Saturday.  We had a lovely luncheon with family and friends at Tavern on the Main, the site of many of our family's notable occasions.  I don't really remember that 25 year old guy from 1975.  He was taller (a little), brown haired and a bit rounder.  Judy still looks the same to me.  Longer hair (pandemic) but still the same beauty enhanced by her sparkling smile.  She still puts up with me for the most part and has stood by my side thru happy times and sad with dogged loyalty.  Still love her as much as 50 years ago.

New Gateways is having their holiday party today.  I am bringing roasted potatoes and an appetite. the staff there are the real holiday heroes with their caring attitudes.  We always feel that Shannon is safe there and well cared for.  

Giving my face a break from shaving for a while.  Don't know what will come of it.  We will see.

Some photos of the occasion. 

a bag of broken parts

I am now officially a bag of broken parts clanking around.  Partial dentures, and hearing loss are here to stay.  The audiologist says I need hearing aids. At this point all I need is a walker or cane to keep my balance and I will have the trifecta of old age.  It is tiresome especially having a quick witted wife that out paces me on every walk.  That however is the 75 year old me and I will have to move forward from here.

On a completely different topic, I was on the couch early this morning contemplating a variety of things.  The most profoundly sensual and sexual film I ever viewed was "The Year of Living Dangerously" starring a young Mel Gibson and Sigourney Weaver with an Oscar winning supporting actress, Linda Hunt (as Billy Kwan).  There was an absence of actual intimacy but a profound passion in a steamy Southeast Asian locale.  Gibson is as journalist covering a revolution and Kwan was his diminutive but profound photographer.  For a few bucks, you can view it on Amazon Prime.

Harry is always worth a look

thats it

Head Examined

So I am going to have my head examined for any shortages in cognition based on past events, notably strokes, falls and long ago beat downs. This is gonna start next week.  Memory issues and napping at the drop of a hat along with a series of stupid mistakes are the drivers to these evaluations.  

We are changing providers in Medicare Advantage coverage because the current company has shortened their coverages to improve on their bottom line in order to better satisfy their shareholders.  These days, insurance has less to do with health and well being and more to do with shareholder value.  In my continuing effort to stay upright, I have a few medical practitioners that I really like because along with what they prescribe, THEY LISTEN TO ME.  Don't want to lose them to the insurance malaise. This will be an ongoing saga.

I have overwhelming cognitive dissonance (Leon Festinger) concerning eating meat, even though I see it as immoral.  These tastes and textures have been with me for most of my life.  My father was a part time butcher, hence we had steaks and chops for every dinner with few vegetables and always potatoes and bread at the meals.  There was a fifties mentality that defined this type of diet as a healthy one without question. Again, an ongoing saga.

I don't care about the Epstein files, released or not.  Our government employees that we are paying handsome wages to are spending far too much time on the information surrounding this dead child molester.  If Trumps name is splashed all over these files, nothing would happen to him or his presidency.  I am weary of Democratic speeches saying what a bag guy this is and spelling out all his lies.  The bottom line is that short of death, he will be our president for the next three years. We will all have to get thru it. 

The Lions won over the Cowboys this week but have so many injuries it is hard to see them going to far in the post season. We all love the coach and applaud his inspirational post game speeches.  This is definitely a team of brothers.

Snow is with us and I am not ready to be comfortable with it yet.  Sick of the cold grey days and we are just beginning.   Tired of the animated visuals on the TV weather.  Yes I know we need to bundle up.  But we still have to go to school/work and buy milk and bread.

thats it

 

Morning

So, it's Thanksgiving morning. At about 5:15am I took out the partially defrosted bird of about 12 pounds and dunked it in a cold water bath in the sink.  After a couple of water changes, it was thawed enough to remove. Took out the neck and giblets, boiled them for a broth for gravy later.  Drinking my coffee from my Homeland Security mug from Katey.  Clearly states that I am a Special Agent and an investigator.  Mostly, I am investigating where all my hair has gone after Andrew clipped me last night.  Judy's only comment was that she could see a lot of pink where the hair once was. 

My one job today is the turkey.  I have read extensively on line as to the correct procedure. Still racked with nerves as to the outcome.  Will it be dry? Will it have flavor at all?  I take this all too seriously.  Well, Happy Thanksgiving to all.

 

Long ago memory

About this time of the morning, in 1963, John F Kennedy was shot and assassinated in his motorcade on the streets of Dallas TX by a lone assailant, Lee Harvey Oswald.  I was in junior high math class, taught by Richard Kekovich when the news was announced.  School was quickly dismissed and we all walked home.  This was one of the most life changing events for me and others.  We all went home to our families watching the news on our black and white televisions sets.  It was the first time I ever saw Walter Cronkite lose his composure on air.  As of today, this has become a mere footnote in our past.  Younger generations know little of this event other than the single line in a modern American history book.  

During that era, we got shots and TB tests at school, administered by the school nurse.  This was a needle placed under the skin and stuff was shot in to be reviewed in two days.  If the area was red,  you tested positive for the disease or at lease exposure.  I did not test positive.  In today's world,  could you imagine schools injecting students?  In the sixties, it was commonplace and was not questioned.

My seventh grade homeroom teacher was a big burly guy, Mr. George Depillo. This guy had forearms the size of ball bats and was a former minor league baseball player.  Mr. Depillo took the needle and whimpered in front of the class to the delight of the students watching.  He was a good teacher that went on to become a school district superintendent.  

It's a sunny cool day and the day after Andrew's 45th birthday which we will be celebrating. 

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Diners

So Phil Rosenthal (Everybody Loves Raymond, Somebody Feed Phil) is opening a diner called Max and Helens. They were his parents that appeared on his latest show.  Phil would have comedian pals send a "joke for Max." in many episodes.  As all parents do, they died.  I saw a recent interview with him where is was shared that the diner and is concept is a dying tradition.  It's really an eastern convention that serves regular home style meals like you may get for breakfast or dinner.  Coffee that flows like a river of life is served in thick ceramic cups and never is empty.  

In New Jersey there still are many of these places.  Old men gather there in the mornings to meet with their life long friends.  Men in work clothes shuffle in for breakfast before starting their labors.  Discussions over the work ahead and last nights sports event fill the air.  No one is fancy.  Everyone has their favorite waitress looking like your favorite aunt, that recognized them by name.  This was a place that just felt like home away from home.  

When I was out as a salesman,  I would stop to eat at diners always noticing mood of the places and leave quite satisfied full of the spectacular cheesecake.  

Eating together is an important ritual that has fallen off with everyone being so busy, getting thru the day jamming something in the mouth and running out the door..  Family dinners are more of a rarity because all are going in multiple directions at once. Cooking and plating and placing it in front of family members does not occur enough.

So, make soup or spaghetti or blintzes or shawarma sandwiches and eat together.  That is the key word.

thats it