29 August 2020 - Plague Journal Day 169

Micah 6:8
Luke 15:20-25
Yes, your life matters.

We all are still sheltering in place, but I'm here to keep you sane and entertained.
One could hardly ask for much more than that, now could one?

If you can find one, go shop at a record store today, because it's Record Store Day. Even if you buy a CD, I think that's close enough. 

Record Store Day brings me a couple sets of memories.
First, I remember Village Records and Tapes here in Grosse Pointe. It was a locally owned shop, not part of a chain, so it didn't last as long as some of those managed to do. I used to have a great time browsing the bins and discovering new artists and new music - and having someone there who could actually talk about the music I was browsing and buying. Once I finally broke down and bought a CD player (yes, we're talking a few years ago), I went in and ordered a Louvin Brothers disc. Imagine my surprise when it showed up - and it was only available in vinyl! That's what I get for not asking, I suppose, but it was (and is) a great album nonetheless. 

Next, this day (and those memories of Village Records) makes me miss Stuart McLean and Dave of the Vinyl Café. Stuart would always contact record stores across Canada on Record Store Day, and it was a delight to hear how the different towns supported their record stores - and how the record stores supported their towns. You know, We may not be big, but we're small, and that programme was a part of my Saturday life for many years. Stuart, Dave, Morley, really all of the Vinyl Café family are well and truly missed.

Keep Calm and Stay Away.
I'll be back tomorrow.
The mental health issues related to our lockdown and the pandemic are especially hard for people with depression. NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness, has a 24 hour helpline: 800-950-6264.

28 August 2020 - Plague Journal Day 168

Micah 6:8
Nehemiah 8:1-8
Yes, your life matters.

We all are still sheltering in place, but I'm here to keep you sane and entertained.
One could hardly ask for much more than that, now could one?

When I was growing up (now be nice!), the only reference I had to bow ties was the late Irving R. Levine on the NBC Nightly News. Oh, maybe I saw James Bond in a tux and thus a bow tie, but that's about it. Still, I do enjoy the occasional bow, although I haven't really learned to tie it myself. To celebrate those who wear bow ties, please join in acknowledging today as National Bow Tie Day. 

I did have far more contact with comic books than bow ties. I remember looking through (mostly) Marvel the titles on display in a rack of comics at Merit Woods Pharmacy near the front door. At 12¢ a copy, it was some very efficient reading shopping. I seem to recall flipping through most of an issue before deciding whether or not to buy it, so today's other major fête is an occasion for nostalgia: International Read Comics In Public Day!

You know I like to try to combine celebrations wherever possible, so how about this?

Keep Calm and Stay Away.
I'll be back tomorrow.
The mental health issues related to our lockdown and the pandemic are especially hard for people with depression. NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness, has a 24 hour helpline: 800-950-6264.

27 August 2020 - Plague Journal Day 167

Micah 6:8
Genesis 1:11-13
Yes, your life matters.

We all are still sheltering in place, but I'm here to keep you sane and entertained.
One could hardly ask for much more than that, now could one?

First off, today marks the anniversary of one of my favorite changes in status. It was on this day quite a few years ago that I became a father. Happy Birthday, Christian!

Now for the bloggier stuff. This is the story Marcel and the Microwaved Avocado.
I will admit that I'm a Food Network junkie. I watch far more of their programming than I really should, but I enjoy most of it quite a lot.

Aside: I remember when the TV Food Network was first launching, and I thought it was a foolish project. Why would anyone watch that all day? Then I was sitting with Christian trying to find something fun to watch on TV one Saturday morning, and I asked him, "Isn't there a cooking show on somewhere?" Well, the light went on, and I got it (and they got me).

Anyway, we were watching one of the seemingly interminable list of cooking competition shows, this time it was the Tournament of Champions. In this competition, a "randomizer" assigned protein, style, sides, equipment, all kinds of stuff. The particular challenge I'm remembering included avocadoes and the microwave oven. Most of the chefs one sees in these competitions claim they never use microwaves, or at least that they avoid them as much as possible. (On occasion one will admit that "Chef Mike" is an indispensable help in the kitchen, but that's the exception.) Still, the microwave oven was the requisite piece of equipment here, and Marcel Vigneron boldly popped his avocado in the microwave for 30 seconds or so.

When he was asked why he was doing that, he explained that, much like blanching vegetables, microwaving the avocado would set the chlorophyll and keep it from browning. The reporter getting that story seemed unconvinced, but the avocado did look nice when it came time to plate and serve.

Well, we had to give it a try, and there's not an avocado that comes into our kitchen now that doesn't get the microwave treatment. It actually does work - for days and days after being cut, the flesh stays beautifully green and tasty. I don't know if Marcel knew that already or if he made it up out of desperation and it just turned out to be a great idea. Either way, try it - it's a great kitchen hack for a fruit that you don't want to waste.

Speaking of fruit, today is National Banana Lovers Day. I read recently that the banana is America's most popular fruit. Still, I'm pretty sure that All the nations like banana! (but don't buy the wrong bananas!)

Keep Calm and Stay Away.
I'll be back tomorrow.
The mental health issues related to our lockdown and the pandemic are especially hard for people with depression. NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness, has a 24 hour helpline: 800-950-6264.

26 August 2020 - Plague Journal Day 166

Micah 6:8
James 1:22-25
Yes, your life matters.

We all are still sheltering in place, but I'm here to keep you sane and entertained.
One could hardly ask for much more than that, now could one?

On the news front, our Governor is taking a stand against bullying, refusing to be bullied into reopening the economy. I wonder where she got that bullying imagery....

On a lighter note, harking back to earlier blog posts where I shared fun videos for no particular reason, here is a Russian music video that I assume is a Eurovision song.
I'm sorry that I missed Taco Tuesday, but maybe we can make this Wet Burrito Wednesday!™  Many thanks to my good friend Pee-wee Herman for unearthing this soon-to-be classic music video.

Keep Calm and Stay Away.
I'll be back tomorrow.
The mental health issues related to our lockdown and the pandemic are especially hard for people with depression. NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness, has a 24 hour helpline: 800-950-6264.

25 August 2020 - Plague Journal Day 165

Micah 6:8
Genesis 6:21
Yes, your life matters.

We all are still sheltering in place, but I'm here to keep you sane and entertained.
One could hardly ask for much more than that, now could one?

Here's some fun news. Yesterday, Christian finally got to celebrate Can Opener Day! Frankly, I had no idea he'd been left out in the cold, as it were, all this time, but now he's moved solidly into the world of cannned food (tinned for those of you of that persuasion, but please realise that there hasn't been tin in those cans for a long time, it's far too expensive).

Today is National Banana Split Day! I wonder how many of you remember hearing Stan Freberg turn Lake Michigan into a giant hot chocolate topped with whipped cream and a maraschino cherry? Sadly, it wasn't a banana split, but that seems like the ideal lake to become one, simply based on its shape. Opportunity missed, Stan!

In addition to the celebration of the dessert du jour, today is also National Park Service Founders Day when we commemorate the founders of the National Park Service. The National Parks are a wonderful feature of these United States (as are the Canadian national parks a great aspect of Canada). We have spent many a great vacation in various National Parks on both sides of the border. Here's hoping we'll be able to cross that divide again one of these days and get back to camping in the Great White North, eh?!

 
I'm working on another novel (a sequel to A Rune With a View) where some of the action takes place in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. How about an excerpt from an upcoming book? The working title is Clyffwode Is Cinders, and I'm hoping to get it out in time for Christmas.

     It was the last full day of their visit to the Smokies, and Jerry and Barbara were making sure it was full in every sense of the word. Driving through Cade's Cove one more time (this time watching even more carefully for deer and other wildlife), actually spending money to ride horses in the Park. Jerry was surprised to find that not only did he not mind having spent that money once they had returned their horses, but he hadn't really minded much even before they were assigned their mounts.
     "Mine's named Baron," said Jerry. "What's your horse's name?"
     "I'm riding Badon," said Barbara.
     "Hmm. Sounds like they only have a few names and just change a letter here and there to keep it almost interesting. Baron. Badon. Who else is in that stable, I wonder? Maybe they have Bacon and Baton too!"
     Barbara chuckled at Jerry's pretty typical word-play. "And with just a little more thought they could have Bassoon and Buffoon. I didn't actually notice any of the other horses' names when we were by the stable, though."
     "I didn't either," was almost the last thing said as they set out on their ride. Almost, because there were so many beautiful flowers and mushrooms and birds and trees that caught their attention that both Jerry and Barbara were constantly repeating things like "do you see that bird over there?" and "that mushroom is the most beautiful shade of orange, isn't it?" and "now I understand the 'not seeing the forest for the trees' idea – there are just too many details that catch your attention to make it easy to see the whole picture."

     Jerry's ride that afternoon was one of those transcendental experiences that seem to come back to completely fill one's consciousness with no apparent or obvious prompting. From the look on Barbara's face, Jerry thought she was sharing that experience. As they rode along the paths, every turn revealed something new and beautiful. Every glance at something seen out of the corner of his eye was rewarded with something unexpected – yes, with something new and beautiful.
     He had competing desires – almost needs – that probably served to focus his attention and memory all the more. With each new expression of beauty, he wanted to slow down, to pause, and to let that experience soak in. With each new expression of beauty, he wanted to hurry on, to press on to the next surprise, the next delight. The two impulses warred in him, each being ignored on occasion, only to push to the fore suddenly as a turned corner revealed a colorful mushroom or a rotted tree or a jay sitting on the path, insolently asking what right Jerry had to be in his forest.
     Jerry almost described it to Barbara, but it was too involving to step out and analyze. Later, Jerry would compare it to reading the works of Charles Williams. "The writing is so dense and perfect that I wanted to linger on each sentence, enjoying the thought, the structure, the word choice; but the thoughts flowed so brilliantly from one sentence to the next, one paragraph to the next, that I wanted to read as quickly as I could. It was frustrating and delightful at the same time."

     The ride lasted almost long enough for them to be tired of the idea and the surroundings (but only almost), and almost ended in time for them to avoid that soreness of leg that seems peculiar to riders who simply don't ride enough. Almost, but not quite in both cases.

Keep Calm and Stay Away.
I'll be back tomorrow.
The mental health issues related to our lockdown and the pandemic are especially hard for people with depression. NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness, has a 24 hour helpline: 800-950-6264.

24 August 2020 - Plague Journal Day 164

Micah 6:8
Psalm 148
Yes, your life matters.

We all are still sheltering in place, but I'm here to keep you sane and entertained.
One could hardly ask for much more than that, now could one?

Today marks a dark day in astronomical history - it's Pluto Demotion Day. Today we mark the anniversary of Pluto's demotion from planet to minor planet. One of the saddest results of this change was that these days my very excellent mother just serves us nothing. She used to serve us nine pizzas. You decide which is better.

grr.

At least there is something worth celebrating, rather than lamenting - today is also National Waffle Day. Why not play a dinner-time game of "Will It Waffle?" tonight. Thanksgiving stuffing/dressing is a delicious waffle-able side. Meatloaf waffles nicely, as do "grilled" cheese sandwiches. Go for it! Challenge the status quo! Stick it to the man! 

Waffle something tonight!

 Speaking of cooking, I was commenting to Heidi the other day that it sure is nice to work with a sharp knife. She agreed, adding that having a great knife sharpener is a good thing. I heartily agree with that, and the knife sharpener we have - a present from my Dad - is a joy to use. It's one of those spring-loaded X-shaped things where you simply draw the knife through a few times to hone the blade. Simple, easy to use, and it works well. There's not much more you can ask of a tool, is there? Oh, I brought that up because today is also National Knife Day, so pull out a knife and sharpen it - they like to be their best, just like everyone else. And why not watch Knives Out, tonight, just to celebrate? (Note: I haven't actually seen this film, so I'm not willing to recommend it, just to note its existence and title-appropriateness.)

 

Keep Calm and Stay Away.
I'll be back tomorrow.
The mental health issues related to our lockdown and the pandemic are especially hard for people with depression. NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness, has a 24 hour helpline: 800-950-6264.

23 August 2020 - Plague Journal Day 163

Micah 6:8
Romans 12:1-8
Yes, your life matters.

We all are still sheltering in place, but I'm here to keep you sane and entertained.
One could hardly ask for much more than that, now could one?

As always, we invite you to join us for worship at Grosse Pointe United Methodist Church:

If you can't be there in person (we meet outside around the Memorial Garden in front), watch our YouTube live stream. Worship (and the stream) start about 9:30AM.
Also, here's a link to our channel with past worship services and other videos as well. 

In addition to that, today is Buttered Corn Day, so grab some ears, cook them and slather them in butter and enjoy! The only thing better than fresh, buttered corn on the cob is homegrown tomatoes.


Keep Calm and Stay Away.
I'll be back tomorrow.
The mental health issues related to our lockdown and the pandemic are especially hard for people with depression. NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness, has a 24 hour helpline: 800-950-6264.