Forget the NBA lockout for a moment

From last Sunday's NYT Magazine

In a field with an endless river of new talent emerging and an average career of about 4 years, the NBA players recalcitrance is madness. A prolonged strike will likely cost all marginal 4+ year guys and this years draft their livelihoods. Its the owners ball, and their game, when play resumes, players will be earning less than last year.

Toad

( I wrote this before hitting the road. If circumstances have changed while away, my bad)

Annie - opening night

On the road for the next few days, gotta catch the Annie finale tonight, then Friday find a hospital with liberal visiting hours near Denver so I can visit my bride, the Olympic ski hopeful.

I may be slow following up, but I surely will... eventually.

Toad

Beaujolais Day III

One of the great marketing coups in the world was continued this morning when at 12:01 Paris time as the 2011 vintage Beaujolais Nouveau, the first wine from the new harvest, was released to an undeserving public.

In the days of the Concorde trendy New York restaurants would have it available for luncheon. Now it may take until dinner, and certainly by Saturday it will be in your local grocery store.

If you have trendy or sophisticated friends you may be invited to a Beaujolais Nouveau party this weekend. I beg you to reconsider going, or at least to take proper precautions. I think the British say it best. This is plonk. Before you take that first sip remember that these grapes were on the vine in September. Many of the less fastidious amongst us will quietly admit to having grape juice in the fridge older than this wine. Our more experienced readers will recall that Boone's Farm aged longer and tasted better, since it was aged in transit, typically by truck from far away.

Happy International Philosophy Day!!!

Toad

Stars and stripes

One of the earliest classes in military basic training is "Rumors and Propaganda". Based on the premise that whoever knows what is going on isn't telling you or anyone you know, so keep your nose to the grindstone and do your job. Still rumors are rife due to the uncertainty which surrounds military life, and the not so so hidden agenda of the armed forces to make conditions appear to outsiders in any way the military wants to.

Lost in all the excitement of the past week was our celebration of the 150th anniversary of Stars and Stripes, the US military daily newspaper. Born on November 9, 1861 by members of several Illinois regiments then bivouacked in Bloomfield, Missouri who finding an empty newspaper office (that most likely would have been a secessionist paper on hiatus while Yankee soldiers were nearby) took matters into their own hands by creating a newspaper about their activities. Stars and Stripes has published in every war since.

Today, Stars and Stripes is a daily publication, published by but editorially separate from the Department of Defense, targeted to military service members, their families, DOD employees and its contractors.

Although published by the DOD, unlike command publications which toe the party line, Stars and Stripes uniquely has its editorial independence and guaranteed Freedom of the Press status established by law. An ombudsman representing readers regularly reports to Congress. Printed in several editions around the globe, and on line it's a pretty good read.

Toad

The Song of Lunch

I do not read enough poetry. I blame misspent youth, unfocused education, uncritical reading skill. I do love words however, and wordplay. Storytellers hold me in thrall. Who needs television when a story is told in pictures?

Last Sunday, PBS aired the Christopher Reid poem, The Song of Lunch starring Alan Richman and Emma Thompson. If you missed it, kick yourself, then make amends. Find when it will replay. Stay up late, tape it if you must or watch it on line here, but please do not miss it.

Says PBS:

"He," the failed poet and unnamed copy editor at a publishing house, eagerly makes his way through London to meet up with his old flame 15 years after the end of their affair. He arrives to find their kitschy old haunt Zanzotti's now upscale and trendy, having changed with the times. But he is steadfastly unchanged, and he is bitter, adding Zanzotti's to a long list of perceived betrayals and abandonments.

In contrast, the unnamed "she" sweeps into the restaurant, matching its pace and glowing with luxury and tranquility. Married to a successful and respected author, she has not, like him, been ravaged by time; neither is she vulnerable to the temptation of wine, while he is by now well on his way to drunk. Was he hoping their lunch would be prelude to a sexual liaison? Was she hoping for reconciliation or forgiveness? He opens a second bottle, the recriminations fly, and lunch is served.

The story is a "What if", a situation not unknown to the wistful, the lonely, the unhappy or viewers of the "I Hate Men Channel". The narrative is mostly HIS inner dialog. Snape and Emma have a magical chemistry, the story is mesmerizing, the poetry lyrical.

Toad

Happy Birthday Chuck

"Trust not," warned Carlyle, "the heart of that man for whom old clothes are not venerable,"

For those interested in clothing, today's birthday boy, Prince Charles, the original clothing recycler, is heaven sent. Consider his wardrobe. Poster boy for keeping your size in check, much of his wardrobe is older than his children. It's alleged that most of his tweeds belong to his grandfather, King George VI.

Below are a few photos of his favorites through the ages.

The photos above from Maxminimus and the Anderson Sheppard book, taken certainly within the past several years. A handsome jacket. Ever seen it before?

HRH is not above getting full use from his John Lobb Oxfords. Going on 40 years now, and just about broken in.


Something sporty for Royal Ascot? Charles isn't amongst the wear it once crowd.





Tweed coats?



Hatter James Lock is next door to John Lobb. Not that he gets there often.

Early on he latched on to what was then the unfashionable double breasted suit, and made it his own. His style, was no style yet over time it became HIS style. It works beautifully.

He is rightfully one of the best dressed men on the planet, due primarily to unerring consistent taste nurtured over a long time.

Happy Birthday Sir.

Toad

Evelyn Lauder

Thank you for your tireless efforts fighting breast cancer. May your legacy will last forever.

Toad

A canary in the mine shaft? an editorial

Forgive me, I've given most of the Occupiers a pass, figuring it will soon be cold in North America and living rough won't have the appeal it did in early October so everyone will go home. Most big city mayors have the same expectation, at least until the golden rule kicks in.

But then I saw this YouTube video taken at UC Berkeley last Wednesday.

From: the wrong sports

The students were protesting higher fees on campus, the same thing that set off riots in the UK this summer. You'll notice there weren't a lot of students and the campus riot police weren't trying very hard, whupping coeds first, but I can't help but wonder if this isn't a harbinger of things to come on campuses for spring 2012.

"Stop beating Students" has a familiar ring to those who grew up in the 60's.

Harry Beale we miss you.

Toad

I hate that I love them so

Growing up I never owned a pair of Weejuns. They were too expensive, I was a Thom McCann acolyte. Didn't stop me from wanting them though.

My first job was as a shoe dog in a now long lost haberdashery. Weejuns went from $8 to $10 then $12 in the 2 years I worked there. I purchased my first pair, in oxblood with my first pay check and company discount, and have had a pair ever since.

ADG shouted from the roof tops when he found the blue 75th anniversary edition Weejuns became available, so I bit.

They came out of the box as much black as blue, with a 10 foot shine found only on a cheap paint job on an old jalopy. The finish needed finishing. ADG's method was a tad harsh for my tastes, so I used the modified - rubbing alcohol, followed by leather softener then blue polish- format. I'm well satisfied with the now Scottish blue results, and the blue's natural affinity for pissing people off.

I remember that Weejuns were once available in widths, if so, no longer. Even adjusting my sizing to accommodate a fatter foot, these are a struggle to install, but they feel really good once on. Quality isn't what it was either, but I hate that I love them so.

Toad

Veterans Day

Standing watch over the Tomb of the Unknowns

during Hurricane Irene

I've always believed Veterans Day to be a World War I memorial. In my youth the day was known as Armistice Day in recognition of the truce between the good guys and bad signed on this date in 1918 stopping the carnage of World War I. As we learned earlier, World War I did not officially end until October 3, 2010.

Due to the post WW2 efforts of Emporia, Kansas merchant Stephan Riod, with the support of his local congressman, and a sitting President/war hero also from Kansas, by act of Congress the holiday's name was changed in 1954 to Veterans Day, in recognition of the service of all American veterans.

We owe our vets our gratitude.

Toad

The Wall

Perhaps the most moving experience I've ever had was visiting the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, The Wall, which celebrates its 29th anniversary today.

I was searching for one name amongst the 58,000 plus inscribed, the father of the girl I adored while in 8th grade, an Air Force Colonel killed in the air over Pleiku. One of the earlier ones, he was listed on Panel 6E.

I'd visited military cemeteries and battlefields, everything from large National Cemeteries to tiny long forgotten Civil War battlegrounds, in obscure out of the way places, before visiting the Memorial, but having arrived single mindedly it took a while for the power of the wall to set in. Planning to stay just long enough, only knowing three names, I was there several hours and could have spent all day there. If you do not have an opportunity to visit the Memorial, a traveling exhibit has been criss-crossing the country for the past 20 years. A searchable database of the names may be found here.

The Vietnam war feels a million years ago, but I wish everyone who has the power to send young people to war spends a day at the Wall before committing them.

Toad

Ski Bunny

Ever have a conversation with your better half begin,"Do you remember how well I skied the week before our wedding? Well, I think I should try it again."

"What's 12 years?", I said.

We are planning a road trip. There is a first rate production of Annie scheduled in Topeka, Kansas next week, and I'd like to see it, especially since Annie is my darling granddaughter.

While organizing our adventure, I was presented a convoluted plan that included racing home after the play so that Mrs. T's second born, who lives in Wisconsin, and is moving to Denver, could drive to Mayberry, pick his mother up and whisk her away to Denver to help him get settled.

I suggested that since Topeka was almost half way, why don't we simply continue our drive together to Denver. Without the detour #2 kid saves several hundred miles of driving, and we needn't hurry. I also reminded Mrs. T that my first born, who also lives in Denver, is having a birthday while we are there. That's when the normal voice of reason in our family mentioned skiing.

insidesocal.com

I envision Thanksgiving dinner in a hospital cafeteria.

toad

roll on christmas

I know it's too early, but when the times comes you'll be too caught up in the season to ever catch up. That's why I'm here.

I've mentioned before one of my favorite web sites is Ship of Fools, the self described magazine of Christian unrest. I find it irreverent, funny, and politically incorrect.

To get their readers into the spirit of the upcoming holidays, Ship of Fools has created a Facebook game that all may play, Roll on Christmas. You select which of your Facebook friends gets what role in the Christmas pageant, and their visage will appear as a character, in a 2 minute video. In the end the message is serious and all is well.






Begins November 18, and might even get me to Facebook, but I wouldn't count on it.

Toad

Dreaming during harvest

Living in the woods does not negate the necessity to deal responsibly with fallen leaves. Managing our harvest is my favorite fall chore. Weather permitting, some part of every other day I spend with my trusty steed, the iron horse, as we mulch the leaves into powder. It beats hell out of raking.

The trick is not to take the job too seriously. Whenever I get too full of myself and my progress, I look up. There are plenty of leaves still to fall. Most of the oaks don't lose their leaves till spring, and this season has seen a bumper crop of acorns which provide plenty of excitement as I lose traction approaching the lake. I scare a day off my life's allotment each time I climb on the mower.

Since driving a tractor around a yard is fairly mindless I have plenty of time for daydreaming. Reading about Simon Dale's hobbit house, I've been fantasizing about building a cottage near the lake. There is something fundamentally right about cozy spaces, be they homes, offices, cabins, writing nooks.

Simon, without prior experience, built his hobbit house in Wales with scrap lumber and 3 months hard labor for 3000GBP. It looks snug as bug.

Timber and stones, moss we've got. No experience, certainly. Time, plenty. Still somehow, I couldn't envision a harder sell.

Enjoy your day, scheduled afternoon rains are certain to wipe out my weekend efforts.

toad

butch and sundance died today

thanks to buzzy's country store. Of course they're wearing the wrong hats.

toad

Bonfire Night

First, Happy Birthday to MOTR of Abnormally Normal.

Bonfire Night

Remember, remember the fifth of November,
Gunpowder treason and plot.
We see no reason
Why gunpowder treason
Should ever be forgot!


Guy Fawkes, guy, t'was his intent
To blow up king and parliament.
Three score barrels were laid below
To prove old England's overthrow.


By god's mercy he was catch'd
With a darkened lantern and burning match.
So, holler boys, holler boys, Let the bells ring.
Holler boys, holler boys, God save the king.


And what shall we do with him?
Burn him!

The celebration of bonfire night, or Guy Falkes Night is practically unknown of the in the US, and few bonfires will be set tonight.

For those unfamiliar with the story, on November 5, 1605 Guy Falkes was amongst a group of catholic conspirators disappointed that England's King James I was not more lenient towards members of his faith. The conspirators planned to assassinate the king, and install his daughter Elizabeth as monarch, by igniting 36 barrels of gunpowder they secreted in the cellars of the House of Lords.

Supposedly, an anonymous letter was sent warning one of the Lords of the plot. His Lordship notified authorities who found Fawkes guarding the stash of explosives. Fawkes was questioned somewhat forcefully and in little time admitted his part in the plot and expressed his regret that the plan (the gunpowder plot) had failed.

The king admired Fawkes resolution but wanted the names of the co-conspirators, and on November 6, 1605 ordered Fawkes's torture, light at first, then stronger if he remained defiant. By November 9 he broke, giving the names of his associates and the full plan.

Fawke's trial began January 27, 1606, execution set for January 31. Fawkes and his accomplices were ordered hanged until near death, drawn, genitals removed and burned before their eyes, bowels and heart removed, decapitated and dismembered. Fawkes climbed the scaffold, asked for forgiveness and jumped, breaking his neck in the fall. Although dead, his sentence was carried out.

The bonfire tradition began the night the plot was discovered, November 5, 1605. Thankful Londoners lit bonfires to rejoice in the news their King had been spared. The anniversary was celebrated annually. In time effigies of Guy were made and added to the fires. Effigies of the Pope and unpopular politicians are tossed in as well.

Toad

Odds and Ends

1. Halloween Photos



The photo above first appeared on the New York Social Diary last Tuesday. Should you ever encounter this mask in real life, for sale get in touch quickly. I want it!

II.
Yesterday was the first day it truly felt like fall in Mayberry. It was cold, damp, blustery. One of those days the dogs, and me, needed to be pushed to go outside. I stayed curled up with Ralph's big book dreaming of tweed and wool blankets,all the while dealing with the wet dogs on my lap. Overall a good day, especially for catching up.

III.

One thing leads to another around here and this week was no exception.

We have a small case clock, in the family room. I love listening to its rhythmic patter, especially while reading a book. Sadly, I'm the only one who cares to hear it chime, so the quarter chime and hour gongs remain muted.

In our previous house the clock lived on a landing in the stairway to the upper floors. Allegedly, clocks were once put there so that the face would be visible to anyone in the hallway. Great in theory, poor in practice especially if you have a precocious grandson. You'll never see a 3 year old move so quickly as when a clock he was just climbing is now rolling down the stairway towards him. All ended well, the only damage was to the clock face and little boy's fear of whatever was coming next.

We have never done anything about the clock face, so I have taken it upon myself to build a replacement, the clockmaker has nothing to offer, so for several nights I've been reviewing photos of grandfather and grandmother clocks searching for just the right mix of whimsy and gravitas. If you have a favorite send along a photo.

Photos 2 and 3 from Ralph Lauren

Toad

Female skirted boxers

Christine Brennan of USA Today chimed in on skirt wearing women boxers yesterday.

Toad

The Nativity Factor

Would 5000 GB Pounds help to get you through the holidays? Do you have a sense of the absurd, or are you at least somewhat creative? That part is important.

Enter the Nativity Factor competition. Submit a video retelling the Nativity Story as creatively as possible. Michele Williams, late of Destiny's Child will be one of the judges. Competition will be tough.

Good Luck

Toad

The Ninth Month

Samhain, or in Gaelic Scots: Samhuinn, the end of summer, the Celtic new year, is celebrated today.

Samhain marked the time for shepherds to move their flocks from their summer pasture closer to the protection of home and stable. Fodder for the animals had been stored, the harvests preserved and meat salted, firewood and peat stacked for the long winter months. Field work stopped and all hands were busy indoors. It was this time of forced family togetherness which helped to foster the Celtic storytelling traditions.

In early times, local families would extinguish their hearth fires early on Samhain, a ritual ending of the year. In the evening the local healer would build the Samhain fire, a bonfire upon which gifts symbolizing wishes, prayers, sacrifices were tossed. Each family would return home with a torch lit from the fire to rekindle their hearth with the blessings of the new season.

Samhain was repurposed by the Christian church as All Saints Day, a day to honor the saints newly created in the last year.

toad