Resolutions

I like you just the way you are.

However, if you are hell bent on making New Years Resolutions have the decency and courtesy to avoid those self esteem destroying, I'm gonna lose 25 pounds by swimming suit season, types. I'll all for self improvement, but a bit of self delusion goes a long way.

Allow me to offer the hardest resolution suggestion that you will ever encounter. It is in fact mind numbingly easy to do, it only requires that you change your entire way of looking at the world. You will find that if you utilize its simple principles, over time it will improve every aspect of your life. And its free.

With heartfelt thanks to my old boss, Hap Lignoul, and author Douglas Adams I call it NMP. NMP should become your mantra. NMP, as in Not My Problem.

Imagine you're sitting at home wondering if your doofus high schooler remembered his homework, or scheduled 3 calendar conflicts. Instead of stewing about it, remember NMP. You're not paying the price, so do not give it another thought.

Co-workers flight leaves in an hour and he hasn't left for the airport yet? Bummer. NMP

Is your neighbor about to lose his job? NMP

Did Karen order the office supplies? NMP

What I am suggesting is, that if everyone worried about their own small piece of the world, and kept their nose out of everyone else's business, the world would be a much better place. Your stress levels fall instantly. Your blood pressure falls. You live a longer and healthier life. Your near adult children may learn the value of price paying, once they figure out you love them enough to let them fail, HARD. Focus on those things you are responsible for, and leave the rest.

Try it, I dare ya.

Toad

Happy New Year

The Irish tradition, known as first footing, says that your year will be blessed if your first visitor of the new year is a red headed child. For those not so fortunate to have one of your own, I'll share my annual New Years visitor, a little red headed girl.

Scottish tradition, believing that the fair haired are the dreaded vikings, accept that your year will only be blessed if a dark haired man is your first visitor. Women are not welcome as first visitors. For you Scots (or female) I present Sir Sean.

May you each have a wonderful 2009.

Toad

Toad's Gratitude Journal

The end of a year seems to require list making. I neither make nor keep resolutions, but I do sometimes keep a gratitude journal. This is what is in mine for 2008.


Mrs. T. I am the happiest married man, anywhere, ever. I know what it is to love and be loved. I can't fathom a happier life.

Health. We've tried it both ways in 2008, being ill, and healthy. Health is vastly under rated.

Our families. They add such mirth to our days.

Chuck and Barney. For all their hard work on the kitchen replacement project. It looks lovely.

Before

After,but still during renovation



Google, and each of you. Google for making Blogger available, for free. I hope to get the hang of this sometime soon. And to each of you. I appreciate the time you spend here, and your valuable comments. I trust we'll continue down this road for a while.

The Humane Society. For taking Gus back. Gus was Mrs. T's dog. She adored that dog while, every other sentinent being despised this evil cur. Sadly, Mrs. T became dangerously allergic to him, so he had to go. Health trumps love. As much as I disliked this dog, I cried like a baby when I dropped him off.




Our tailor Kaz. It's good to be the best dressed man at the poorhouse.




Mikey. For saving us from the aftermath of the hurricane.

That I'm a luddite. I am not an early adaptor or even a late adaptor, and may be the last adult in the world without an answering machine, cell phone, IPOD, or GPS. I leave home untethered and live to tell the tale.

Women. Women are about the coolest invention ever. I do not want any more than the one I have, and don't want to appear unseemly or raise the spectre of the green eyed monster, but...

Happy New Year to each and every one of us.

Toad

Ever Buy a Pagan Baby?

Most of my childhood education was spent in the hands of parochial schools, back in the days when nuns ruled the universe. The nonsense they taught made you almost unfit for humankind.

For those of you whom your parents loved enough to send you to public schools, or those who came in the pre-post reform days, think of Jake and Elwood Blues at the hands of the good sister in Blue's Brothers. The scene in the movie where the boys go back to see the penguin was not a joke to anyone educated in 1960's catholic schools.

Somehow they got away with the most egregious crap, but even the nuns knew they could carry it only so far, so to test the boundaries, they invented buying pagan babies. Let me explain.

One thing Catholic churches love is money, hard spendable cash, and someone, somewhere saw that the Easter Seals had a cash cow. RC's needed a similar scheme, so stole the idea, and moved the season to Christmas. Just after Thanksgiving, thousands of little Catholic kids were given books of missionary stamps and told to sell them to support foreign refugee camps and missionary priests, at a penny a pop, or a whole book for a buck. Money was due, and collections took place on Friday mornings.

Once your class collected a fin, you were entitled to buy a pagan baby. Best of all, it came with naming rights, and a certificate of authenticity.

Now, Catholic teaching is very particular about naming options for children. Either the first or second name had to be the name of a saint. No exceptions. When in doubt read a map of France. The Church there put an St or Ste. in front of every pagan location name, and created innumerable saints.

So imagine its getting close to the holidays. The kids are wound up, its Friday, they've collected their fiver and its time to name their new pagan baby. The rules were the kids raised the money, the kids got to name. If you think there are a lot of post pagan adults in central Africa/Asia named Mary Catherine or James Joseph guess again.

My class and most people I have talked to went all out. Depending on how much your teacher would let your class get away with, some of the names were spectacular. Especially the Asain kids who had many r's in their names.

Many Catholic school educated adults of my generation live in great fear of getting that knock on the door late at night. You open the door, an African or Asian man or woman a bit younger than you is at the door. You ask how may I help you?

Daddy, its me Joseph Vanilla Wafers, don't you remember me?

Wishing, won't make it go away.

Toad

Did ya Ever....

Did you ever want to pull up the draw bridges, throw 'gators in the moat, turn off the telly, and tell the world to go to hell for a while? Want to be Emperor or Empress of your own little part of the world?

Ladies and Gents have I got a deal for you. Vladi Private Islands for sale. Private Islands, Islands for Sale, Islands for Rent, Privatinseln.

Scenic and not so scenic locales made available by desperate hedge fund managers from around the globe. Happy shopping. The US choices are about half way down.

Should you find a property here, Mrs. T and I get to visit for a bit. You are on your honor.

Toad

Have you seen?

Last Sunday's NY Times Magazine did a brief story on street fashion blogs and those who take the photographs. Scott Shuman of the Sartorialist got an honorable mention and ever the opportunist he subsequently posted the story on his blog.

One of the sites mentioned was garance doré . Admittedly, I am too old, too male to spend any time here, but there is something captivating about Paris. Only recently has Garance begun posting in English, but scroll back awhile. Many of her exclusively French posts are stunningly beautiful. Take a look periodically.

2. This from EBAY. Two year Garden and Gun subscription . $6.99 Garden and Gun: The Magazine - eBay (item 280296870897 end time Dec-30-08 11:21:28 PST)

3. I know that there is a word for this, and perhaps knowing is half the illness, but there are 3 words I misspell EVERY time I type them. Should I blame my keyboard, my fat fingers, or the parochial school nuns who instilled in me a great abhorrence to sloppy spelling and grammar?

4. ?GOOD Magazine Goodmagazine - The 51 Best* Magazines Ever There are a few I think he missed including M, 80's edition. Whatta ya think?

Once again, Happy Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Happy day before Boxing Day.

Toad

Happy Christmas

One of my favorite writers is Dylan Thomas. To best understand his iambic I need to read or hear his work aloud to catch the cadences, rhythm and the alliterations. Like many of his brothers in pen, he died far too young.

On behalf of our Welsh friend, Meg at Pigtown-Design http://pigtown-design.blogspot.com/
I present:

A Child's Christmas in Wales by Dylan Thomas
Part 1




Part 2



Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good night.

Toad

Merry Festivus

May the airing of grievences commence! I promised no more rants this month, (can't wait 'till January) so I'm out. See you at the feats of strength.

Happy birthday BBC!

Toad

Who's got the power?

This is one of two posts about television, a subject I know next to nothing about. It's tempered a bit by economics and I do know that part.

I do not think I am alone in having that 1 utility bill each month which gives me apoplexy, every time I write the check. You may hate the phone company or the gas folks, I hate Charter Communications, our cable, phone and Internet provider.

Charter, while ostensibly a public company is primarily owned, operated and funded by Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen, so they have too much money available to fail, but not enough to spend wisely.

Approx. 2 years ago, Charter got into a pissing contest with the local CBS outlet run by Belo Communications. Belo told Charter, you're paying everyone who competes with us for eyeballs, we want to be paid too. Until then you may not rebroadcast our HD signal.

Charter figured they had 'em since a number of folks spent a great deal of money for HDTV sets last year and the Super Bowl was broadcast by CBS. Not here on HD. The fans bitched but there was no HD Super Bowl locally.

So finally this year, after years of very stiff competition the local CBS gang won the rating wars against the NBC folks. How did BELO respond?

They told Charter they have until the end of December to cough up, or to stop carrying their signal all together Jan 1. Charter told them to ******* off.

So, who wins? I have no idea what is on CBS so I don't suspect I miss much TV. Who broadcasts most of the Bowl games? Few local customers get their reception off air or via satellite. No broadcast via cable, no ad sales?

America at its finest. My money is on Charter. Allen can wait em out.

Toad

Raising my game

I was watching Elvis Costello's program Spectacle the other day (recommended) and his guest was Lou Reed, with film maker Julian Schnabel showing up towards the end.

Now I love Lou Reed. The Velvet Underground was the band that finally got me over the Beatles. Maybe it was Nico, but who cares? Lou is a national treasure.

So along comes Schnabel. And suddenly, I'm curious. How does one elevate (if that's the word) their game so high, that your signature purple PJ's with white piping (as designed by his wife) becomes acceptable attire? Throw on a sport coat and you're out the door.

I can picture it the first time. Your not feeling well, need a cup of coffee, or something from the drug store, so you throw on a jacket, run in and go home. How, several days later and feeling better, do you come to the conclusion that the jammies were a pretty snazzy outfit, and decide that is your signature look? How do you get it past the wife? How do you get past the derision of all you meet.

So I'm game. It's a new year and new years prompt new beginnings. PJ's have been done, and Hef has the silk robe market locked down. So what do you recommend? I'm thinking knee length Hawaiian shirts.

Toad

Winter Solstice part deux

Stopping by the Woods on a Snowy Evening




A winter solstice gift from America's favorite poet, Robert Frost

Happy Hanukkah Jake, Becky, Haley, Steve and Vicki

Also, for those whose peeps have been here longer than mine, on this date in 1620 the Mayflower landed at Plymouth Rock.
Toad

Winter solstice part 1

One of the indeterminable beliefs surrounding Stonehenge is that ancient Celts built this magnificent observatory thousand of years ago to welcome the Winter Solstice. (the sound you hear in the background is Mrs. T saying BS, they don't know that)

Mrs. T and I were sorely at odds the day this photo was taken. Arriving at the car park near the monument I felt like I had come home. It was one of those places with which I immediately connected. It was mid May, pouring rain, very cold and the wind was biting. I found the stones powerfully uplifting. Ever the skeptic, my adored bride walked a few feet with me and then ran for the gift shop. She was having none of it. I spent an hour walking round and round soaked to the skin. She was dying for a cig. Mentioning Stonehenge to her is waving a red cape to a bull.

Whether an observatory or not, I dedicate this solstice to my favorite astronomer, Dr. Richard Schwartz. Get well soon my friend. In these troubled times the world needs your dry wit and boundless curiosity.

Toad

I need a recommendation please

Friends, I am searching for a new cookbook.. Something long on vegetables, low fatish.

Our two go to books include the Cooking Light Series and most importantly, The Best Vegetable Recipes by the editors of Cook's Illustrated.

I would appreciate your suggestions.

Toad

Hunter's Hollow

I have had several questions about the picture used in the banner. Its known as "Holiday Time at Hunter's Hollow" by Dee Dann of New Haven, Missouri.


The image depicts a fanciful image of the town of Labadie, Missouri, which is not terribly far from Mayberry. Hunter's Hollow was the scene of Mrs T's wedding reception some years ago. It burned down several weeks after the blessed event.



Toad

Someone is going to buy this. Why?

http://www.endless.com/dp/B001AZSOAM/184-3503002-0017738?ie=UTF8&ref_=pe_34380_10942800_pe_end_em_120808&suppressRedirect=1

I don't know why.

These are known as wooly mammoth crocs. Fleece lined for extra warmth, same number of holes for extra snow. Nothing says winter like wet fleece on the feet.

Achoo!

Toad

window snow

Remember when you were a kid wiping on those waxy snow stencils onto the corners of your window panes?

I vaguely remember that the snow eventually evolved into an aerosol spray, and became a flock to spray on Christmas trees. Do they still have it any more?

I can remember, more clearly than this mornings breakfast, coming home from Kindergarten, the day Christmas break began and helping my mom stencil our few windows. In my mind's eye I can still see it, smell it, I can remember the stencils. I remember the excitement. As I recall, it was a genuine pain removing this stuff. The memory is so real, yet it happened 50 some odd years ago.

I hope they do still have it. We have a lot of windows.

Have a great,and happy weekend. If you have any great weekend weather stories let us know. Mt. Hood has had 32+ inches in the past 2 days.

Toad

Mindy's coming home

The Lass above is my bonus daughter Mindy. She is a Junior, matriculating in Boston, and is expected to arrive this evening for her Christmas break.

Mind has been gone since late June which Mrs. T finds very upsetting,as she would prefer her youngest to be within striking distance at all times. They do have their mother/daughter contretemps, but all in all they get along pretty well.

If you have children away at school while having some at home, you know that there is a whole new definition of stress in a house when the college kid comes home. Fortunately, M being the youngest we escape that for now, except...

You know those conversations that begin, I may have forgotten to tell you..? Mrs T. and I had one last evening. They never bode well.

Ours went, I may have forgotten to tell you, but I told Mindy she could have your car while she is in town. Mindy's car is in Boston.

There are a couple of ways to look at this. 1. I just got out of a lot of pre-Christmas chores (unlikely). 2. I better finish my shopping NOW. (more likely) or 3. UH oh (most likely). I don't really mind, I drive about 50 miles a month so its not like I can't get around, and Camilla is in the barn if it gets too cold to walk. I would have prefer a bit of notice, but

If you have kids coming in, enjoy them. Be warned, the younger ones at home will not like their routine disrupted. Its a trying time, but I for one wouldn't change it for the world.

On this date in 1865 the 13th Amendment was ratified. 5 points to anyone who remembers what that did without looking it up.

Toad

I love these

I have long wanted Albert Slippers, but have never had the courage to pull the trigger. The darling Ms. Hollister Hovey displayed these on a recent post, and I fell in love immediately.

Displayed are women's, but men's sizes are available, alas in a heavier construction, in all the women's patterns, including monograms.

Cost is $180 and they take 4 months to procure. Oh, but a great alternative to Belgians.

Women's are less dear, are available in many more styles, and are available now. From By Paige http://www.bypaige.com/store/store.php?crn=206&start=3

Toad (respectfully channeling Bunny)

Mt Hood

For several years , #2 son, the forest fire fighter, had a winter job working at Mt. Hood Meadows Ski Resort in Mt. Hood Oregon. Being young, reasonably poor, and/or cheap he lived in a VW camper in a parking lot somewhere near the base of the mountain, and would take a shuttle bus to the ski lift. I think that stopped several days after a major snowstorm which caused him to climb out a window to clear the tailpipe and gain access to the doors of his van. Mt. Hood has truly biblical snowstorms, that is, if they had snow in the OT.

This season, snow has been a bit scarce and the Meadows is barely open. Sunday they had a brief 16 inches, and as the winter progresses it is not uncommon to see them get 50 inches or more in a week.

I am not a skier and never have been. I do not like snow, I break too quickly and heal too slowly. I am impressed though by masses amounts of weather. Especially, if I am very far away.

This season #2 is in Mexico lying by the beach, making up for lost time.

My sole reason for sharing this, is if you too enjoy watching other people get lots of lousy weather check into this link periodically. It really does become impressive at times.

http://www.skihood.com/Mountain/Conditions/Default.aspx

For those who have not been keeping up, today is also the 235 anniversary of the Boston Tea Party.

Toad

Picks pans and Ship of Fools

For many this may be a regular occurrence, but for me it was manna from heaven. I took the picture above at a KC gas station Saturday. Gas in Kansas City is 30 cents per gallon cheaper than Mayberry. I haven't seen prices this low since well before Katrina. Let us give thanks for happier days ahead.

Pick 1

A bit of serendipity. While under the weather a few weeks back, I became absorbed watching Book TV on CSPAN. Drumming his new book was Curtis Roosevelt, Frank and Elly Roosevelt's grandson. His book Too Close To the Sun tells of life at Hyde Park, growing up in and around the grandparents and fun times with the relatives. More on the book later.

Checking the local library web site for the book, I came across "Too Close to the sun, the life and times of Deny Finch Hatton". You may remember him from Out of Africa fame.

What a guy. While not Robert Redford, apparently he was extremely good looking, charming, brave, rich, and bored by conventional life. He found himself and Karen Blixen in Africa. While there he was a planter, land owner and great white hunter.

Out of Africa was apparently more fiction than fact, but he and Baroness Blixen were great lovers for as long as it was convenient for them. In the current vernacular seemingly he just wasn't that into her, while she was too needy for him. In they end, well you know the story.

It is a pretty good read though.

Pick 2

As a lapsed believer, I feel strongly that my life would be bereft if I were not versed in the Judeo-Christian traditions. My suspicion is that growing up in the bells and smells school left me unable to truly appreciate the richness of other alternatives.

To ease my back into the fold, I rely upon The Ship of Fools http://ship-of-fools.com/

If you are unfamiliar with the Ship, it is an Anglican site which in typically British fashion spares no effort in finding sport wherever possible while offering the Christian message. I especially like the Fruitcake Zone and the Caption Competition.

While all in good fun, I find it hard to miss its more important message.

Pan
Only half a pan, but perhaps more a question.

Has anyone else noted that the ink in the current edition of Garden and Guns smears? Over the past several years even the worst offenders (New Yorker esp) have overcome this needless mess. I hope it is only me.

Its good to be back in full vigor. Let the bontemps rollez.

Toad