Author: tallthinman72

Food and Family

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Daily writing prompt
What aspects of your cultural heritage are you most proud of or interested in?
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One thing that comes to mind is what looks to be a healthy understanding of work/rest/recreation.

Through the geneological efforts of a cousin-in-law, we learned that we had many relatives in north central Sweden, about 250 miles from the Arctic Circle. There was a period in the early to mid-80s when we were visiting one another with some regularity. My father learned that his father’s sister– his aunt– was still alive, and he got to meet her and a bunch of cousins when he and my mom traveled there in 1983. They got there in time to celebrate Midsummer, held in June, when the sun dips below the horizon and comes right back up, and the revelry lasts for multiple days, often into the wee hours of the morning.

I think I’d like to experience that for real– actually travel there and share that time with whatever family is still around.

Here in the USA, we’ve embraced the concept of fika, which for us was and occasionally still is a daily ritual/tradition of taking a break mid-afternoon for coffee and pastries with friends and family. My mom was a big advocate for this, always ready to break for one more cup of joe and just a little something to eat, usually sweet. It’s never spoiled our appetite for supper.

My Money’s Worth

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Daily writing prompt
What brands do you associate with?
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I’ve never thought of it in terms of an association, but in general, brands historically known for build quality and a modicum of style and appeal– Hoka, Brooks, most anything from LL Bean. Tool-wise, I’ve been buying my share of Wen tools because they get decent reviews on Amazon and the ones I already have have served me well. It’s not top-of-the-line in price, but there seems to be a consistent quality and dependability. There’s also Bosch, MIlwaukee, and Dewalt.

I’ve always liked Toyota, and lately Mazda, as vehicles of choice. And I appreciate the over-engineering that goes into just about any Yeti product. My 20-ounce tumbler would survive Armageddon.

Mas

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Daily writing prompt
What could you do more of?
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More listening, more exercise, more reading, more thoughtful processing of the political climate, which I hope would result in improved understanding and unpacking; more cooking and more research of healthy recipes; more around the house.

I could always do more golf, too, except that would get expensive.

State of the Union

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When a whole lot of people cry over and speak in hushed, reverential tones about the death of someone who valued his own free speech, who unapologetically spewed hate and passed judgement, then it is clear that an unbridgeable divide exists, that there is no accounting for our choice of heroes, and the chasm between MAGA and the rest of the country will remain, if not widen.

Violence is of course unacceptable, not the answer. But the same goes for ignorance and calculated (or mindless) provocation, especially as these are paraded about as Christian faith.

Wisdom and Experience

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Daily writing prompt
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received?
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Maybe it was the Boy Scout Motto: Be Prepared. Or maybe it wasn’t spoken or written advice, but more something my mom or dad or grandparents modeled in their own behavior.

I’m grateful for the seeds of musical interest planted by any number of people in my immediate and extended family, along with regular reminders that I’ll never improve if I don’t practice.

Or it might have been the poster in my third grade classroom which reminded us that Maturity is the ability to forego the immediate pleasure in favor of the long term gain. That’s stuck with me for over 60 years, though I’ve not always adhered to it.

I may think of something more pertinent after I publish this. If I do, I’ll update.

Vile

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It’s a gut-level revulsion. It stirs hatred and frustration in me. It has me wondering if we’ll be around long enough to see movement away from such tendencies.

When I read that Ukraine is being pounded in an unfair fight, that Russia is sending fighter jets into NATO territory, or when I read of horrendous conditions and brutality in Sudan—not to mention all that’s happening here at home—I feel like things aren’t moving fast enough, that we haven’t learned anything, that we are no different than the warring, unenlightened factions in history books.

Dominating and conquering are still things, apparently.

Sadly, it appears there will always be a supply of “leaders” who are slaves to the past, with chips on their shoulders and twisted visions and god complexes, people who have no regard for individual rights or autonomy or self-determination, who regard fellow humans as impediments, as property or incidental or expendable, just pieces in some ongoing, unsanctioned chess match.

It galls me to think that someone else believes they have the right to take life away, to dictate terms, to make life miserable while they exist in their bubbles of protection and luxury, isolated from the suffering, and indifferent to it. There must be a special place in hell for such animals– the ones who gave up, who in the most extravagant and hateful of ways were and are just plain selfish. And lazy.

Fuel

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Daily writing prompt
What things give you energy?
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Coffee and certain foods, and the right amount of exercise. Besides those things, the prospect of visits from or to family, having a project to work on, coming up with a good topic for a blog post, and, as it turns out, the grandchildren. They aren’t things, but as much as they can tire me out, they also provide a spark. Often times, their energy is contagious.

Tough Call

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Daily writing prompt
What’s your all-time favorite album?
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This is about as subjective as it comes, but there are several contenders, mostly relatively ancient but from the same decade: Abbey Road (Beatles), Bridge Over Troubled Water (Simon and Garfunkel), Deja Vu (CSN&Y), Dark Side of the Moon (Pink Floyd), Court and Spark (Joni Mitchell), Desperado (Eagles), Goodbye Yellow Brick Road (Elton John), Chicago VII (Chicago), The Stranger (Billy Joel), 52nd Street (Billy Joel), and Hotel California (Eagles). Also, In the Digital Mood— Glenn Miller music, released in 1991.

Since I have to pick one, I’ll go with Abbey Road.

Be Curious

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Daily writing prompt
Which topics would you like to be more informed about?
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Music theory, particularly as this applies to piano and guitar; vocabulary enrichment, if that’s even a thing; creative writing; how to be a better conversationalist; astronomy; political science; gardening; woodworking and carpentry; cooking and meal planning; first aid; developing a decent golf swing; how to avoid or at least keep diabetes at bay; and how to make a good coffee/espresso drink.

Guess I better pick two or three and get busy.

Goose and Gander

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So, next is Kimmel. Can’t say as I’m surprised. A similar set of circumstances to Colbert—Jimmy says something that paints the Trump administration in a less-then-flattering light, there’s some sort of merger/acquisition at stake, and voila! Another attempt at silencing dissent.

People on the Right who claim the importance of free speech need to take a closer look at the concept. Is it sacrosanct or not? Is it free speech for all, without caveats, or not?