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10/4/10

AM I BORED.........OR JUST STUPID?????

The day is starting off, as usual,  two cups of coffee, daily ritual paper in hand.......yup still alive and kicking.  Got so many things to do, just can't decide what to do first...........so guess I'll just rest today and think on how to aggravate Margot. The more I think about what I just wrote, the more I feel I should run for an elected office.  I've got all the qualifications that our present officials have. I check my pulse.....or polls every so often, I spend time in the rest room so apparently I am full of (you know what)  I have an opinion, (and theirs is wrong) I do very little (daily) or nothing at all,  I criticize what the other side is doing but am keeping my (correct) thoughts to myself until I'm able to find another person with the same idea as mine and most importantly I know what the constitution says.........and if I forget for a moment, I can always look it up on Google.
I must admit, that I do read the paper each day with the interest of a dead fish.  I only look at what I think is going to lead to me laughing.....I hate reading about bad news, needless to say the paper for reason, is getting smaller and smaller in size. Nowadays, it seems that our politicians are becoming better at trash talking than some of the greatest basketball players that stood on the hardwood. It seems that whenever I open the paper, turn on the TV or radio, all I hear is "he promised but he lied" "he hasn't kept his promise" they just don't understand""they did not do their job"   So many negatives!!! I sure did a lousy job in my voting.  This time I promise to do better........oh oh! another promise..........but this time I will VOTE FOR MYSELF!!!!!!   that way , I know what I'm really getting.  Then again, do I really want to divulge the things that I don't really think matters?   Am I willing to have people question why I didn't have a passport before the age of 18? Why I made 547 trips outside the USA over a period of 50 years?  Am I willing to have people look at my high school scores or why I went to a university outside the USA or why I didn't graduate from University (like it really makes a difference) I know two of the riches men in the world that didn't graduate, but instead can BUY THIS COUNTRY. Do I really want people to know...........how many women, I MAY  have been with...........Or why I never considered TAKING DRUGS,   or why I drive a foreign car. Will they question my religion, I was born into?  If I'm a true Catholic, why do I believe in pro-choice, why don't I go to church each and every Sunday and why do I eat meat on Friday?   If I am a true American, why don't I carry a gun to the Seattle Mariner baseball games, or worst, If I'm really a New Yorker, why am I not a Yankee or Mets fan. The answer is  very simple,   BECAUSE!!!!!

We did have one man promise to be a uniter.............not a divider...........low and behold, he divided not only his country,  BUT THE WORLD.  Yet, I heard no comments. We also had a man, that promised change....that didn't work either,  simply because there are those that do not want change.......or at least change that they don't want..........Keep things the same.  they say

  Looking back, I can now understand the true meaning of     " Monday morning quarterbacking"   Do nothing, until the other team does it and then..........CRITICIZE IT.  Tell everyone how terrible it was, how stupid and dangerous it was..............BUT NEVER, NEVER OFFER A SUGGESTION!!!!!  Just keep saying    The American people don't want this........never, never say  who those American people are. 

Shall I run for office?  Do I really want to be water commissioner? Will I use this powerful position to intimidate?........."""".The next time your dog craps on my lawn.........I'm gonna shut your water off!!!!!""""
YOU BET I WOULD!!!!  BUT THEN I WOULD BE LIKE EVERY OTHER POLITICIAN. 

So guess I'll just stay the same old lovable guy I am, wake up each day, check the newspaper, have my two cups of coffee, figure out how I will aggravate Margot today,  Think about how ........I.......and Ms. America can bring peace to the world..............but,  like the Liberal in me, keeps pressing my button, I will continue to offer my suggestions...to myself.............like it or not.

KEEP SMILING   :)

9/30/10

MIRACLES ARE REAL!!!!!!.......or NOT

This morning started off as usual,  up at 7AM,  downstairs, turned off the alarm,  opened the front door and there it was in it's usual spot............The daily "blow me out of the sky"   newspaper.  Checked first the obituary to see if I was listed before me having my first cup of coffee.  A little rainy today, so guess I have to sit inside with my cup and my paper.  Ichiro, our star right fielder had just set another record of getting 200 hits or more per season for the past 10 CONSECUTIVE years.  WOW!!! amazing.  Nothing really new on the front page........some grandmother just shot her 2 granddaughters, husband and herself.    Guess she just went birzurk.   SSSOOOOO might as well have another cup of coffee before I proceed with the reading of the daily " Whatcha say bro"................WOW! the coffee seems to be working a little faster than usual today.........so better take my paper ............to the reading room with me.       Just opened to page 2 ...........HOLY CRAP!!!!!!!!!  IS THIS REALLY TRUE.?...... The Republicans have got a plan.....and it's in writing???????   Maybe they had this all along but were holding it secret for the right moment.   WOW!!!!  PLEDGE  TO AMERICA............like the sound of it already.  Lets see now what does this all mean!!!!!    Well, Boehner is looking good,  tan, tall and what's that he has in his hand.........a tea kettle??  and he's making this announcement from where?................a lumberyard?   must have a secret meaning.     Got to read this.

Seems, like I heard all of this before.............let's see now......OH YAH!!!!!!1994  Newt Gingrich.....outside some ice cream parlor or something like that..................CONTRACT WITH AMERICA................  great titles.  Lets see what the difference is.   NNNOOOTTTHHHIIINNNGGG!!!!!        Well  in all fairness.....the cover is different, the presenter is different, the place it was presented from is different, but the inside is IDENTICAL.   Could it be that it was duplicated??????NAH, the Republicans wouldn't do that. They can't believe that the people that they want to protect are that stupid.  OH WEll  I would like to see the title as  PLEDGE TO AMERICANS.

NOW FOR SOMETHING YUMMY
Put some excitement into your kitchen and try these little puppies from Sweden.  They are tart tins or in Swedish Sandbakkelse(almond tarts)
1 cup butter
1 cup sugar
1 beaten egg
2 1/2 cups flour
1 teaspoon almond extract
Cream softened butter and sugar, add beaten egg and extract, mix well.  Gradually add sifted flour, mix well, (dough will be Using a pastry brush, butter tins with melted butter, Press walnut size pieces of dough into tins working from middle until dough is spread uniformly up to edges of tin, Put tins on baking sheet. Bake 375 degrees until golden brown, about 10 minutes,  Cool in tins.  Remove carefully by tapping bottom of tins.

Serving suggestions

Serve them just as they are.  For dessert:- Fill with jam, lemon or chocolate pudding, cream cake fillings, etc.  Top with whipped cream.

See you next week!!!!!!!!

9/20/10

DREAM ALONG WITH ME!!!!!................or not

Doing a double-take on the title??? I don't blame you, but to use a phrase from the Terminator of California, just because it sounds girly man doesn't mean it is. It solely depends on your DREAMS!!

Under 10 years old........I constantly thought about being a great baseball player........well that ended very abruptly at the age of 19. Just over the 11 years old mark, I dreamt about having the hottest looking chick in school just following me around all the time. That ended a lot sooner than the baseball dream. Now, the only dream in my mind is to be able to open the newspaper each day and not find my name listed in the Obits. Mind seems to be OK .......still able to APPRECIATE.......women........however they no longer have to be the best lookin in the class as long as they have a brain.............and willingness to take care of me in my old age. I guess while I'm dreaming, they might as well have some kind of an awesome bod......if for no other reason than to just keep me DREAMIN'
 I guess, different people have different dreams. It seems that the miss America's all seem to have the dreams of spreading peace over the earth along with feeding the children of the world or..............bringing all people together for one big party!!! Well, I'm happy to hear that they are interested in that.... perhaps they can spread some sense to our lawmakers about getting off their fat asses and do something for the people they keep talking about protecting......then again.......some times I think those young, good looking Ms. America's do have a brain bigger than those politicians I speak of.............along with a dream!!

THINGS I REMEMBER..............FROM HIGH SCHOOL

Dr. Suchoff----- could never figure out why we had to call him DOCTOR ....he flunked medical school........get over it. OH!!!!! a PHD!!!!........in music?

Jacket or Sweater clubs........if I remember this correctly, Jackets were for the girls clubs. Sweaters were worn by the guys (Athletic letterman sweaters). If a guy wore a jacket or v.v. the meaning was that those two were........."going steady"

Having your lunch at: Tiny's.......could never get over how they got their name. Neither Lester (Albert) or his dad were TINY.............. Woodmere Diner, Schneiders,Cafeteria or brown bag heaven depending where your group ate....................

Fishing off the dock at Woodmere dock at the end of Woodmere Blvd. I remember my dad would love to take me there just to hang my feet over the edge of the dock, throw my line in, which was a stick with a long piece of string on it and topped off with a safety pin and a worm. Never caught anything but it was just the thrill of being there, with my dad.

Becoming a member of the Hewlett Fire Dept during my senior year, and a member of their tournament team. Racing off to fire's during class. WOW! what a thrill!!!!!!!!

SHORES.......or was it Shore's......or was it Shores' well whatever it was, the burgers and shakes were great but could not compare to the peer friendship that ended up there after the games. OK! Lets meet at Shores!!

"Give me a bucks worth  ( 5.75 gals ) " and check the oil and water.........OH don't forget to wash the windows and put new air in the tires. THOSE WERE THE DAYS!!!!!!!!!!


Ever since my first REAL........job with Scandinavian Airlines..........I have always believed in how much education and insight travelling gives a person. No matter what I read in books, the sheer experience of ..........BEING THERE............and seeing, talking, and listening to the people was by far more than one could learn through books. With this experience I have always encouraged others to do the same. Over that period of some 50 plus years now, I must say that I have had the opportunity to visit many cities in many parts of the world and there have been many cities that I have missed. I always enjoyed the little towns rather than big cities primarily because I always considered the big cities as tourist centers,  I wanted to get out amongst the locals.  This year, we visited a city, I have always wanted to go to but never did............I would like to share a little of that city with you now.  More than likely you have been there but I wanted to share with you the experience of not only seeing the city but looking at the handy work of putting it together for you.............something new for me and I found it to be a lot of fun.    Welcome to  Venice, Italy.   ENJOY!!!!
                                     http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p073JLHOKlY

Hopefully there will be more of these or something like it.

9/13/10

I NEED.........WORK............OR SOMETHING!

GOOD ADVICE: 

The correct way to treat a good wine...

Open the bottle to allow it to breathe.

If it does not look like it's breathing, give it mouth-to-mouth resuscitation....................I've just resuscitated my 1.5L   bottle of  Montipulciano

PRACTICE DOES MAKE PERFECT

I'm sure you will get a kick out of this.................or at least it will bring a smile to your face.  Only in Italy.
                        http://www.youtube.com/watch_popup?v=hN8CKwdosjE



WHAT'S FOR DINNER???

After spending the past year and a half, looking at this lump growing between my chest and my hips, I  really feel that I have to do something about it.  What?...........I really don't know .  Margot, is constantly telling me to........cut down on my portion size.............SAY WHA!!!!! If you want me to cut down serve me my food on a smaller plate. This is one thing that really bugs the hell out of me in France.  They bring you food on a 10" plate and only the middle 4" has any food on it...........the rest of the plate has all kinds of sprinkles, squirts of different  condiments and your plate looks like it is a painting.....It looks so pretty I certainly don't want to eat it, but I do!!!!.........with a smiley face.     Portion control, surprisingly is the trick.   Each portion is not to be larger than the size of your hand when made into a fist..........does it count if I wear my boxing gloves??   I really like it when my meat........steak or fish....covers at least 7" of my 10" plate, my potatoes are served on a separate plate and my veggies on another..........THAT'S THE REASON THEY ARE CALLED.............SIDE DISHES!!

Now.....you name the diet and I have been there, and done that.........even to the point of being inoculated with urine from pregnant women..............OH WOW!!!!  perhaps that's the reason for this big pouch!!

Here again,   not only did I not like sizing my portion but I also did not particularly like reducing the number of meals per day.....................I did like increasing them though. so, here I sit waiting for lunch...........speaking of which why not try out this sandwich.      I will have a DIET coke with it though, to cut down the calories.


HAM & CHEESE  SANDWICH

1. Spread slices of rye bread with pepper jelly and top with sliced ham, Jack cheese and thinly sliced cucumbers

OK!    only 6 hours to dinner.

9/6/10

FALL IS........IN THE AIR!!!!

Beginning of September..........Chill and a little wind as I sit on the deck, More coffee weather than wine weather.  Usually September, October are very good months in the Pacific Northwest ...........BUT.........some farmer sitting on his deck in unknownsville, Kansas that writes the FARMERS ALMANAC each year has now predicted the upcoming weather for the country.  His prediction for the PNW is more than usual rain, colder than normal and some snow.   WOWWIE!!!!!!!  talk about getting all up in arms........not only that but this guy must really have it in for us in this part of the country by giving us a worst than normal beginning of Fall.

After visiting for the past month, Lisa, our daughter, has now departed for her home in Hungary.  She was here attending two weddings and was expecting to participate in the Seattle Triathlon but spent that weekend out at the lake summer house of our son Scott and his family. One wedding took place in Bozeman Montana, so Margot drove over with Lisa so that gave them the chance to visit Yellowstone and spend some mother, daughter time together. It was a lot of fun having her here and it gave us all some time to sit back and talk.

Scott and his family have been spending time out at the summer place, doing all the water sport  things one does with a place on the lake. Since Cormick and Bryson are starting school this week, it will be time to lift the boat and bring it on home.  The seadoo will stay until possibly next weekend.

Looks like the guys are having a little pow wow while mom Traci takes the picture.


Hey Traci,   while your up...........bring me another beer!!!!





anybody see the dog?

 


              she's......... where??


I'm not taking her for another ride right now.     We just got back and she refused to hold onto the ski rope!!!!!





Now, this winter, Margot has some  things to do around the house
so guess I'll have to begin some of those things.











Lisa and Scott.............
SEEDOOOOOO'N





       Gabi....................and..............Traci................just coolin off.

SUMMER  TIME   AND THE LIVIN' IS EASY!!!!!!!!!!

9/1/10

PIECES OF FIVE....................

Doing the amount of travelling that I did while employed and having continued that after retirement, one tends to meet many, many people.  Along these paths, I have made many lasting friendships and to this day still correspond with many.
Some are friends, relatives, business associates and just drinking buddies, but never the less they will always be close to my memory.
T..I..D..B..I..T....

One of them, to which, I promised to make mention off in this blog is the nephew to my wife.  Stefan, will always remain in my mind as a young man, who played a hell of a game of golf, but now as a upcoming photographer. He has studied photography in the States and started his career here also. Having now moved back to Stockholm, Sweden, at least for a while, he has taken this career with him. I ask you to check out some of his photo's at:

http://www.stefansvensson.com/ 


DRINK OF THE DAY!!!!

If you have ever had .....and IRISH NUT DRINK......you know that they are .....ssmmootthh....... but here's  the recipe from a favorite spot of mine in Seattle.
one mug of your favorite choice of coffee
add 3/4 ounce of Bailey's Irish Cream
and 3/4 ounce Frangelico
top with fresh whipped cream
sit back and relax!!!!!!!

T....I....P..
When going into a bank in the dead of winter.......NEVER, NEVER wear a ski mask or hooded jacket .....above all NEVER put your hands in your pockets!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


P..L..A..C..E......T..0.......V..I..S..I..T

As I look back in time, I recall very little about vacations growing up.  My mom and dad really left little to wonder about as far as what other people did with their private time.  They spent... I would say.... 99% of our non working time enjoying family and family outings.  I can only remember one true " vacation" taken upstate NY where we actually checked into a motel.........that even had a pool.  The total time spent there was 3 days.....enough time for my mom and dad to see some property they wanted to buy, make a bid for it and signing the papers for it.  "But  dad.....when can I play in the pool?  "Another time Vito, now it's time to pack up and head home." Nine years later on my 19th birthday, mom and dad gave me a airline ticket to Miami Beach and I stayed with an aunt and uncle.  Now, my uncle was the leader of a band playing at the Fountainbleu Hotel and was able to get me into the pool there.......... It wasn't until I joined SAS that I started to travel.  
My personal opinion about this is that the earlier one starts to travel, the more respect they have for how others live, since children seem to find it easier to see the best in people.  Seeing different cultures and understanding something about each one tends to educate how a person feels towards their fellow man.  Going back to the same spot each year, really doesn't do it,  exposure to others will. Having a summer home or a winter cabin is fine to spend time with family but going off to other places really has a lot to do with how you feel towards others in the world.
I would like to occasionally, submit a short story, video or just some photo's about my journey ..............through life


JAMACIAN STYLECHICKENTHIGHS
KEEP PLENTY OF WATER..........or .........BEER    nearby.

Complete the menu with mashed sweet potatoes and a mixed green salad. For more heat, leave the seeds in the jalapeño.
Yield: 4 servings (serving size: 2 chicken thighs)
Ingredients
1/4 cup minced red onion
1 tablespoon sugar
1 tablespoon finely chopped seeded jalapeño pepper
2 teaspoons cider vinegar
2 teaspoons low-sodium soy sauce
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground allspice
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1/4 teaspoon ground red pepper
8 skinless, boneless chicken thighs (about 1 1/2 pounds)
Cooking spray

Preparation

1. Combine first 10 ingredients in a large bowl; add chicken, tossing to coat. Heat a grill pan over medium-high heat. Coat pan with cooking spray. Add chicken to pan; cook 4 minutes. Turn chicken over; cook 6 minutes or until done.

Nutritional Information                  (WHO REALLY CARES)
Calories:187 (27% from fat)
Fat:5.7g (sat 1.4g,mono 1.7g,poly 1.4g)
Protein:27.5g
carbohydrate:5g
Fiber:0.5g
Cholesterol:115mg
Iron:1.6mg
Sodium:503mg
Calcium:21mg












8/24/10

SHORT TOPICS

A good friend passed this on to me and I thought it a realistic opinion of our politicians,      so off to print it went!  I know he is a conservative, although he says he is more center..........than I consider him.   Anyway, this is fun.
ON THE LIGHTER SIDE

Cannibal Lunch

A cannibal was walking through the jungle and came upon a restaurant operated by a fellow cannibal. Feeling somewhat hungry, he sat down and looked over the menu.

Tourist: $5.00
Broiled Missionary: $10.00
Fried Explorer: $15.00
Baked Democrat or Grilled Republican: $100.00

The cannibal called the waiter over and asked, "Why such a price difference for the politicians?"

The waiter replied, "Have you ever tried to clean one? They're so full of s__t, it takes all morning."

GROWING UP IN HEWLETT

Growing up in a town of.......oh.........I would say about 7,000 people (back in the late 40's early 50's) was really great.  Can't really think of to many things, that one had to stand in any great line for, perhaps a couple of minutes at the A&P or at Wall's bakery...especially after church on Sunday morning.  They made absolutely the best rolls, bread and especially coffee cake.  I might even say they were slightly, just slightly better than my mom's.  I can't for the life of me now, remember the name of the upscale food store on Broadway located in between Wall's bakery and St. Joseph Church.  I do remember working there for a while as a shelf restocker.......or whatever we called ourselves..........and a bagger.  Loved to help the ladies out to the car, since it was always a quarter tip to help put another gallon of gas into my car.  Worked there alongside another student from Woodmere.......Wally Johnson.......he,at that time dating a gal by the name of Joan  Materiale.    OH YAH!    BIG APPLE FOODS.......I think. I think it was Steve Garfinkels dad that owned the Amoco station on West Broadway at the tip of Mill Rd and Hewlett Pkwy.  Wonder why they called it Parkway?    was it because it had a grassed medium separating the two roadways?? well anyway.  The big hangout in those days was SHORES  where Broadway met W. Broadway especially after the football games on Saturday's that were usually played at Hewlett elementary field.  I lived right around the block from Dick McSweeney (Mill Rd) the son of Dan McSweeney (director of athletics and baseball coach for Woodmere High) and Billy Hicks (Sturlane Place)  so needless to say, entering High School my walking to school partners were those two guys.  Every so ofter Paul Edelstein (Sturlane Place) would join us.  Steve Garfinkel also lived on Mill Rd having moved there from  up around Hewlett elementary. I also remember working at the Esso Station on the corner of Mill Rd. and Penninsula Blvd for a buck an hour.  That was an experience and a half.........can't write to much about that on the blog. All I can say is...........the guy would spend his whole life at Jamaica Racetrack and leave some 16 year old kid and the guys father who must have been 70 at that time to run the station. Now ........when I say Jamaica Race Track .........I certainly did not mean he was a jockey!!!!!!  The guy did have one good idea.......one summer.......he hired a young lady.....name slips my mind but she was one grade ahead of me,   put her into a tight t-shirt and had her washing each cars windows.   Noticed an increase of revenue from  $1 please--------2--------fill it up!

DO YOU REMEMBER?????

STUDYHALL with Mr. Gregory (shop teacher) loved to have fun with one specific lady, I know who she is but do not want to say, but he would call her up to the his desk just to send her back to her seat again.  Wonder why he loved to see her walk???  I remember there were two rather large pictures of airplanes that hung on the wall in the back of the class.  Some guys would stand back there and swing the pictures back and forth and make airplane sounds, at the start of study hall.  Mr. Gregory had the habit of coming into the room, grab a ruler or the blacboard pointer and smack it on the side of the desk to call the study hall to order.  Now.......to make it interesting, I remember the teachers desk sat on a platform perhaps 8" off the floor so that the teacher and desk was always perched higher than the students...........anyway..........long story short.........one day some genius students decided it was time to stop this ruler routine and placed the front legs of the desk just over the front edge of the platform.  Students were talking as usual, airplanes flying as usual, Mr Gregory walks in, grabs the wooden blackboard pointer and  gives the side of his desk ONE BIG WHACK!!!!!,  THAT moment, that desk fell forward off the perch leaving a grin on all of the students faces, but one ..........angry as all hell.............study hall teacher.   Now, he couldn't send all of us to  Mr. Pringles office but that bloody study hall was one quiet place...........AND NO ONE WAS EXCUSED TO GO TO THE RESTROOM.! ...........................................FOREVER.......................