TRAVEL
I have a good friend, who, like me has done a bit of traveling in his day. He does a fantastic job at putting photo's together to music. I would like to know your opinion (only this time) as to what you think about possibly more simular attachments to my blog. You can email me your thoughts.
Here's one about Barging the Nivernais Canal
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dOPORy_zY_8
Also if you would like to know the 5 best romantic things to do in Tuscany.......check this out but make sure for those that do not speak or read Italian, go all the way to the right and click on the British Flag.
http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.turismo.intoscana.it%2Fallthingstuscany%2Faroundtuscany%2Ftop-5-romantic-tuscany-partner%2F&h=mAQDgu86iAQDD-ylndrWUAkXLC6ttSQgO-_ihKxt0DpTlsw
Cooking
Cooking With Chef Karl
Post: Creamy Broccoli Soup (serves 4 )
Link: http://cookingwithchefkarl.blogspot.com/2011/01/creamy-broccoli-soup-serves-4.html
SILENT QUESTIONS THAT STIMULATE THE BRAIN
Is it just me..................or is it my age..............or could it be that I'm the only one that can answer these questions.............of life??
I find that working in the garden which, by the way, I do not like, often raises questions that I truly believe there are no answers to. Has it ever happen to you. The worst part is that I'm talking to myself and that alone does not answer the question.......".What's the problem"
1. Why do the squirrels bury their nuts in MY flowers?
2. I dug this weed out last week.........how did it grow back............without water?
3. How do dandelions grow in the middle of my lawn.............but do not grow in just the soil around the flower beds where they are easily dug out?
4. How come the birds poop all over the railing of my deck but I can't seem to find any poop in the barked area of my yard.........or on my lawn.?
5. The ...already filled plastic bottle of weed killer and lawn fertilizer....one buys to attach to your hose.. How does it know just what power you will turn the water on to be properly mixed? I would think that if you turn the water on full blast.........you would water down the product and make it weaker?
6. If you follow the trail of ants, how do you know exactly where the queen ant is? They seem to be walking in all directions. Are they looking for her too?
7. Why is it that weeds grow better UNfertilized than plants grow fertilized?
It's very confusing to me and it really racks the brain. Guess the only way for me to relax this pressure is not to work in the garden.
8/22/11
LESSON'S OF LIFE...............or not
Growing up.......when I did........was quite easy and simple. We not only had the constitution to protect us (which btw, we never used it......as they do today) we had something stronger, we had parents with very well established rules and will power to make sure ...................we did as we were told. The rules were very simple...............
from the religious leaders: Do as I say.....don't do as I do
from the teachers: Do as you are told and you will succeed
from the Authorities: Put you hands up and behind your head
from your parents: Do the very best that you possibly can.......and NEVER tell me a lie.
But........but the things Mom taught me will always remain a part of my brain.
What my Mom taught me:
Religion - "You better pray that comes out of the carpet"
Logic - "Because I said so, that's why"
Irony - "Keep crying and I'll give you something to cry about"
Wisdom - "When you get to my age you'll understand"
Justice - "One day you'll have kids, I hope they turn out just like you!!"
Now........to me the ultimate was..........................."If you don't do things .....MY WAY I'm going to tell your farther when he gets home"
That to me......was the clincher. I really can't explain why but just the thought of my dad getting involved scared the holy crap out of me, even though I knew he would never harm me, it was the thought of what would happen ........if he did.
I grew up with THAT one phrase that constantly was out there. "Wait until your father comes home" That automatically put another light on the whole subject. Mom always said "watch dad's fists, if he starts to clinch them.............stop what you are doing or saying...............immediately" and take one step back. Thank goodness it never came to that point!!!!!! I only saw my dad clinch his fists twice. My dad wasn't doing so well and Margot and the kids left Seattle for New York. After being there two days, Margot called me and suggested that I make my way home to New York. I knew the reason and jumped on a flight, flew through the night and arrived in NY early in the morning, got a ride with a friend and sat down to talk with dad. At one point he started to clinch his fists........but I knew it was from the pain he felt and not........anything I had done . This time was different I did not listen to mom's advise to take a step back.......this time I stepped to him put my arms around him and whispered in his ear "Dad, you will always be my hero." The fists lost their tight clinch for the second and last time.
JOKE OF THE DAY
A police officer in a small town stopped a motorist who was speeding down Main Street.
"But, officer," the man began, "I can explain!"
"Just be quiet," snapped the officer. "I'm going to let you cool your heels in jail until the chief gets back."
"But, officer, I just wanted to say..."
"And I said to keep quiet! You're going to jail!"
A few hours later the officer looked in on his prisoner and said, "Lucky for you that the chief's at his daughter's wedding. He'll be in a good mood when he gets back."
"Don't count on it," answered the fellow in the cell. "I'm the groom."
Have you ever spent .....................some time in a restaurant................watching people eat? Not very interesting but ..................some people just eat like ANIMALS! Hope you enjoy the following.....
http://www.youtube.com/watch_popup?v=EVwlMVYqMu4&vq=medium#t=125
See you next week!!!!!
from the religious leaders: Do as I say.....don't do as I do
from the teachers: Do as you are told and you will succeed
from the Authorities: Put you hands up and behind your head
from your parents: Do the very best that you possibly can.......and NEVER tell me a lie.
But........but the things Mom taught me will always remain a part of my brain.
What my Mom taught me:
Religion - "You better pray that comes out of the carpet"
Logic - "Because I said so, that's why"
Irony - "Keep crying and I'll give you something to cry about"
Wisdom - "When you get to my age you'll understand"
Justice - "One day you'll have kids, I hope they turn out just like you!!"
Now........to me the ultimate was..........................."If you don't do things .....MY WAY I'm going to tell your farther when he gets home"
That to me......was the clincher. I really can't explain why but just the thought of my dad getting involved scared the holy crap out of me, even though I knew he would never harm me, it was the thought of what would happen ........if he did.
I grew up with THAT one phrase that constantly was out there. "Wait until your father comes home" That automatically put another light on the whole subject. Mom always said "watch dad's fists, if he starts to clinch them.............stop what you are doing or saying...............immediately" and take one step back. Thank goodness it never came to that point!!!!!! I only saw my dad clinch his fists twice. My dad wasn't doing so well and Margot and the kids left Seattle for New York. After being there two days, Margot called me and suggested that I make my way home to New York. I knew the reason and jumped on a flight, flew through the night and arrived in NY early in the morning, got a ride with a friend and sat down to talk with dad. At one point he started to clinch his fists........but I knew it was from the pain he felt and not........anything I had done . This time was different I did not listen to mom's advise to take a step back.......this time I stepped to him put my arms around him and whispered in his ear "Dad, you will always be my hero." The fists lost their tight clinch for the second and last time.
JOKE OF THE DAY
A police officer in a small town stopped a motorist who was speeding down Main Street.
"But, officer," the man began, "I can explain!"
"Just be quiet," snapped the officer. "I'm going to let you cool your heels in jail until the chief gets back."
"But, officer, I just wanted to say..."
"And I said to keep quiet! You're going to jail!"
A few hours later the officer looked in on his prisoner and said, "Lucky for you that the chief's at his daughter's wedding. He'll be in a good mood when he gets back."
"Don't count on it," answered the fellow in the cell. "I'm the groom."
Have you ever spent .....................some time in a restaurant................watching people eat? Not very interesting but ..................some people just eat like ANIMALS! Hope you enjoy the following.....
http://www.youtube.com/watch_popup?v=EVwlMVYqMu4&vq=medium#t=125
See you next week!!!!!
8/15/11
LEAVE ME ALONE!!!!! ....with my entitlements
Don't like gay marriages? Don't get one.. Don't like cigarettes? Don't smoke them.. Don't like abortions? Don't get one.. Don't like sex? Don't have it.. Don't like drugs? Don't do them.. Don't like porn? Don't watch it.. Don't like alcohol? Don't drink it.. Don't like guns? Don't buy one.. Don't like your rights taken away??? Don't take away someone else's. See, isn't that simple??
NOW ! why can't the conservatives take a lesson from a grumpy old man ........still with a full head (and back) of hair and a will to LIVE AND LET LIVE!!!! And what's this crapola about you saying that you speak for the American people....................you don't speak for me or the other 90% that didn't vote for you. Stay out of the business of my district since you apparently can't even handle the business of your own district to any satisfaction. Just because you signed some stupid allegiance to some Grover clown.....don't put that on my grave.........because that's where your driving me.
WOW! ! NOW THAT I have that off my chest, I better go back to taking my nap, so I have enough strength to eat dinner.
**************************
Each year during the last week of May, I make a trip over to Sweden. I go over for one SPECIFIC reason. To meet, 13 men for lunch. WHA?.... WHY YOU MAY ASK? simply because this luncheon with this specific group is so fantastic! !. Same food to eat..........something called Stromming which is herring ......fried. Two slices of Herring fried with parsley and whatever else in between. This is served along with .........mashed potatoes. At first just the thought of eating Fried Herring put a question mark over this lunch..............but after experiencing the taste...............WOW!, I love it. The best part is ..that it get washed down with nothing else but a potato based schnapps called...........AQUAVIT. now the salt of the herring induces thirst... which induces more drinking. What a excellent way to spend a lunch. Since this is a men's only social club I cannot divulge the membership.list......but I guarantee that just from their photo........a lot of Swedes would know who they are...........if only by sight. This year, I,,,,,,,,,,,,Vito was treated to something special...........this group held their lunch at one of the members summer home in the Archipelago of Stockholm. This Archipelago is made up of approximately 34,000 islands, islets and skerries. Some large enough for several homes some as small as to be privately owned with just one home. Mode of transportation to 99.9% of the Islands is by boat. SSSSSOOOOO let me take you for a two hour tour.
The summer house of the host....from the dock
3 floors high about 3000sq'
the table setting, with REAL cloth napkins ......
deckside from the formal dining room.
NOW ! why can't the conservatives take a lesson from a grumpy old man ........still with a full head (and back) of hair and a will to LIVE AND LET LIVE!!!! And what's this crapola about you saying that you speak for the American people....................you don't speak for me or the other 90% that didn't vote for you. Stay out of the business of my district since you apparently can't even handle the business of your own district to any satisfaction. Just because you signed some stupid allegiance to some Grover clown.....don't put that on my grave.........because that's where your driving me.
WOW! ! NOW THAT I have that off my chest, I better go back to taking my nap, so I have enough strength to eat dinner.
**************************
Each year during the last week of May, I make a trip over to Sweden. I go over for one SPECIFIC reason. To meet, 13 men for lunch. WHA?.... WHY YOU MAY ASK? simply because this luncheon with this specific group is so fantastic! !. Same food to eat..........something called Stromming which is herring ......fried. Two slices of Herring fried with parsley and whatever else in between. This is served along with .........mashed potatoes. At first just the thought of eating Fried Herring put a question mark over this lunch..............but after experiencing the taste...............WOW!, I love it. The best part is ..that it get washed down with nothing else but a potato based schnapps called...........AQUAVIT. now the salt of the herring induces thirst... which induces more drinking. What a excellent way to spend a lunch. Since this is a men's only social club I cannot divulge the membership.list......but I guarantee that just from their photo........a lot of Swedes would know who they are...........if only by sight. This year, I,,,,,,,,,,,,Vito was treated to something special...........this group held their lunch at one of the members summer home in the Archipelago of Stockholm. This Archipelago is made up of approximately 34,000 islands, islets and skerries. Some large enough for several homes some as small as to be privately owned with just one home. Mode of transportation to 99.9% of the Islands is by boat. SSSSSOOOOO let me take you for a two hour tour.
3 floors high about 3000sq'
deckside from the formal dining room.
passing between two islands with a boat approximately 13' wide
The boat
the lunch
Stromming with Mashed Potatoes
The Sandholm hotel on the resort Island of Sandhamn
A family owned island
A small privately owned island
Typical little private island
The town on Sandhamn
passing through two islands
Time for a drink........Hi ladies!
Just part of the group
All in all, a beautiful trip and much appreciated .....by this old member.
Adjo, but I will return
8/12/11
LOOKIN'........WAY.......BACK!
In the last posting, I brought to light , a friendship, that scaled about 47 years. Just after that I kept thinking back and came up with one that scopes some 57 years. One that goes back to my high school days. Oh sure, it did have a bit of time where we all lost contact but once that contact was reestablished .......it brought to mind that indeed there was no time lost. We just began where we left off. The important thing in this case , simply was, that during this "lost time" nothing really stopped .......time seemed to just take a break but memories lived on.
High school, was certainly a period of my life that turned me into a true extrovert. My personality took the fork in the road that led to many, many friendships. One, of course, led the way. There happened to be many people that.........I hung with...........but only four................that I was constantly seen with. These four led to many, many good times and many,many more friendships. It was never realized until I attended the 50th year reunion in Cedarhust, Long Island. That night was just magical, looking back over all these wonderful years. A gathering of .....the old crowd.....in a class that was so closely knit. As the dinner bell was sounded so many smaller groups headed off to the tables of their choosing, I guess they had not expected the turnout they had, since the restaurant had to bring in more table to accommodate everyone. It was then that I personally realized A MIRACLE. Five people from visiting with many people all showed up at the same table, at just about the same time and low and behold it was the same five that appeared in many, many photo's together in high school.
A SIGN........that all was well with the 5 Amigo's. We had all gone separate ways after high school and had lost contact with each other....................but 50 years later ..............we all ended up at the same table and from that day we are all in contact with one another...............not as much as I would prefer but with the advancement of email we do have the possibility to say HI at anytime.
Not to forget the rest of my fellow classmates, there are many more that email has brought closer. I only now wish that more people would be on skype and with that we could enjoy group visits. What a great thought!!!
Recently, Stan Sklar posted the following on Facebook. How appropriate.......especially at this moment
"It has been said that everlasting friends go long periods of time without speaking and never question the friendship . These friends pick up like they just spoke yesterday, regardless of how long it has been or how far away they live, and they don't hold grudges. They understand that life is busy...... and...you will ALWAYS love them. They will know who they are...so true."
High school, was certainly a period of my life that turned me into a true extrovert. My personality took the fork in the road that led to many, many friendships. One, of course, led the way. There happened to be many people that.........I hung with...........but only four................that I was constantly seen with. These four led to many, many good times and many,many more friendships. It was never realized until I attended the 50th year reunion in Cedarhust, Long Island. That night was just magical, looking back over all these wonderful years. A gathering of .....the old crowd.....in a class that was so closely knit. As the dinner bell was sounded so many smaller groups headed off to the tables of their choosing, I guess they had not expected the turnout they had, since the restaurant had to bring in more table to accommodate everyone. It was then that I personally realized A MIRACLE. Five people from visiting with many people all showed up at the same table, at just about the same time and low and behold it was the same five that appeared in many, many photo's together in high school.
Not to forget the rest of my fellow classmates, there are many more that email has brought closer. I only now wish that more people would be on skype and with that we could enjoy group visits. What a great thought!!!
Recently, Stan Sklar posted the following on Facebook. How appropriate.......especially at this moment
"It has been said that everlasting friends go long periods of time without speaking and never question the friendship . These friends pick up like they just spoke yesterday, regardless of how long it has been or how far away they live, and they don't hold grudges. They understand that life is busy...... and...you will ALWAYS love them. They will know who they are...so true."
8/11/11
LOOKIN' BACK.............
This past weekend sure brought back some memories, even though many weren't brought into conversation.
Some weeks ago, I had received an email from an old friend......who I, by the way, hear from several times a day by email, that .......we'll name him "B" and his wife, we'll name her "D" were heading into Vancouver,BC for an Alaskan cruise. "B" said that they would be staying in Vancouver for two days before heading home and , that if there was anyway that we could touch bases to meet that we should . Well now, Knowing that I travel to Stockholm, Sweden each May for a luncheon, it was almost certain that I could drive 3 hours for a dinner. As that day approached, "B's" wife "D" and Margot started to correspond about hotels, restaurants etc. Finally the day arrived and Margot and I started out for Vancouver, BC. the Canadian side of the border was like clockwork and we arrived at our hotel just about 3:PM just time to freshen up, get out of the shorts and T-shirt , give "B" a call, drive over to their hotel and there they were. "B" has always bragged about his "toonies" and I must admit, that after we went into the hotel concierge room, which was stocked with snack foods and boos, "B" put together a martini (toonie) that was dee-lic-ous, even for an old vino lover as me.
I had first met "B" about 1962 when I had transferred from SAS head office out to customer service at JFK. Even though, we never really hung around together, we did go skiing together and became good friends. He did move faster up the ladder, than I had, going into sales, and than marketing management, advertising and left SAS for better positions with other companies..................we were able to remain in contact. A few years passed when we did not have any contact with each other and I eventually ended up in Seattle..........but .........."B" was able to visit Seattle a couple of times . Our biggest benefit was ...............email and we find that we do email each other several times a day with discussions that range from ...................."do you remember?" ......................to politics..........................to just about anything one can think of.
One of the funnies moments, looking back, was "B's" first marriage to a gal from SAS. Both Margot and I knew her and when it was discovered where they were planning to go on their honeymoon, we made sure that .................after a few days........................................we knocked on their door .................in Hawaii and spent some time with them.....................on their honeymoon. I remember, going out for dinner to the International market one night and after dinner we are walking back to our hotel. "B" and I are walking about 5 steps in back of the ladies and low and behold.......it wasn't long....before two sailors.....one on each side of the ladies were walking with them and talking up a storm. What nerve???
At dinner in a nice Chinese restaurant on Sunday, we planned our next day and decided on a nice drive up to Whistler resort. We picked up "B" and "D" the next morning and off we went. Whistler is beautiful anytime of the year and this day was not different. We went up the gondola to the top of Whistler and then I turned chicken in going over to Blackcomb mountain on the Peak 2 Peak gondola, which happens to be the highest gondola in the world..........so I sat myself down and people watched while the other 3 took the 40 minutes ride (approximately) round trip. Well, it was now lunch time. After lunch and nice conversation , a little walk around the village and we then started the drive back to Vancouver.
The next morning "B" and "D" headed back to the east coast of the States and Margot and I started back to Seattle. Border crossing no problem and eventually back home. Our visit with these two friends were most relaxing and full of memories. It sure is nice to have friendships last as long as this one has. Thanks "B and D" it was a nice 12 hours or so.
FLOW CHART
I recently received this from another friend and thought about it for .....................a quick minute and realized how relevant it was...............at this time. !!!!!!!
Some weeks ago, I had received an email from an old friend......who I, by the way, hear from several times a day by email, that .......we'll name him "B" and his wife, we'll name her "D" were heading into Vancouver,BC for an Alaskan cruise. "B" said that they would be staying in Vancouver for two days before heading home and , that if there was anyway that we could touch bases to meet that we should . Well now, Knowing that I travel to Stockholm, Sweden each May for a luncheon, it was almost certain that I could drive 3 hours for a dinner. As that day approached, "B's" wife "D" and Margot started to correspond about hotels, restaurants etc. Finally the day arrived and Margot and I started out for Vancouver, BC. the Canadian side of the border was like clockwork and we arrived at our hotel just about 3:PM just time to freshen up, get out of the shorts and T-shirt , give "B" a call, drive over to their hotel and there they were. "B" has always bragged about his "toonies" and I must admit, that after we went into the hotel concierge room, which was stocked with snack foods and boos, "B" put together a martini (toonie) that was dee-lic-ous, even for an old vino lover as me.
I had first met "B" about 1962 when I had transferred from SAS head office out to customer service at JFK. Even though, we never really hung around together, we did go skiing together and became good friends. He did move faster up the ladder, than I had, going into sales, and than marketing management, advertising and left SAS for better positions with other companies..................we were able to remain in contact. A few years passed when we did not have any contact with each other and I eventually ended up in Seattle..........but .........."B" was able to visit Seattle a couple of times . Our biggest benefit was ...............email and we find that we do email each other several times a day with discussions that range from ...................."do you remember?" ......................to politics..........................to just about anything one can think of.
One of the funnies moments, looking back, was "B's" first marriage to a gal from SAS. Both Margot and I knew her and when it was discovered where they were planning to go on their honeymoon, we made sure that .................after a few days........................................we knocked on their door .................in Hawaii and spent some time with them.....................on their honeymoon. I remember, going out for dinner to the International market one night and after dinner we are walking back to our hotel. "B" and I are walking about 5 steps in back of the ladies and low and behold.......it wasn't long....before two sailors.....one on each side of the ladies were walking with them and talking up a storm. What nerve???
At dinner in a nice Chinese restaurant on Sunday, we planned our next day and decided on a nice drive up to Whistler resort. We picked up "B" and "D" the next morning and off we went. Whistler is beautiful anytime of the year and this day was not different. We went up the gondola to the top of Whistler and then I turned chicken in going over to Blackcomb mountain on the Peak 2 Peak gondola, which happens to be the highest gondola in the world..........so I sat myself down and people watched while the other 3 took the 40 minutes ride (approximately) round trip. Well, it was now lunch time. After lunch and nice conversation , a little walk around the village and we then started the drive back to Vancouver.
FLOW CHART
I recently received this from another friend and thought about it for .....................a quick minute and realized how relevant it was...............at this time. !!!!!!!
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