Summer Slush - 25 August 2021 - Plague Journal Day 531

Micah 6:8
Psalm 147:16-18
Yes, your life matters.

Some of you are still sheltering in place, but fear not: I'm here to keep you sane and entertained.
One could hardly ask for much more than that, now could one?

Today is National Whiskey Sour Day. My Aunt Peggy used to make frozen whiskey sours, or whiskey sour slush, as many might call it. She filled her blender with ice cubes and dropped in one of those tubes of frozen lemonade concentrate. Then she filled that tube with whiskey and added it to the blender. All that remained was to blend it all till slushy and enjoy. I think that is still my favorite whiskey sour of all time. Simple, cheap, tasty, and refreshing.

She had a lot of fun stuff like that - like what she called Dinner on a Breadstick. Basically it was loose, browned hamburger (like meat from a coney hamburger if you're familiar with those) with cheese and onion on half a hot dog bun toasted under the broiler. She also made really good scalloped corn. She's the one to whose house I was going when Mom (her sister) took us around 5 of the four leaves of the cloverleaf at I-94 and I-69 near Marshall, MI.

I'm pretty sure she was the cool Mom in Clint and Christy's circles of friends.

Keep Calm and Don't 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.

Just Keep Going! - 15 July 2021 - Plague Journal Day 490

Micah 6:8
Jeremiah 31:21-22
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?

I heard the traffic report on the radio this morning. Apparently there was a problem at the intersection of I-94 and I-69, "that's in Port Huron," the reporter explained. That explanation actually was helpful, because, despite their being purportedly-perpendicular Interstate Highways, I-94 and I-69 actually intersect in two places. The problem one of this morning - in Port Huron - is where they simply don't make sense: I-94 Eastbound is actually Northbound there, and I-69 Northbound is actually Eastbound.
The other, more reasonable intersection is at Marshall, and it - more specifically its cloverleaf - holds a special place in my memory.

Today would have been my Mom's 87th birthday, so having this reference came on a very appropriate day. When I was a kid, I got to go spend a week with my cousins in Indiana (originally Fort Wayne, later Warsaw), and at least once we met my Aunt Peggy at about the half-way point, Marshall, where friends of hers lived.

This trip was special, We took the I-69 exit from I-94 and the first loop was the one to head us South on I-69. We didn't get over quickly enough to merge onto the highway - we were stuck heading for the next loop. Well, to make a long story short (too late!), we ended up doing all four leaves of the cloverleaf, bringing us back to that first loop which we then navigated correctly, ending up on I-69 as we intended. Five loops of the cloverleaf rather than one! We were enthusiastically delighted. Mom was embarrassed. It was a great day.

Hey! Bonus Celebration and Fun!
Today is National Tapioca Pudding Day! I really like tapioca pudding. It's not terribly common these days, but if you have the chance to celebrate with a bowl, raise a spoon to Ryan, Colin, and Ricky. 

You're welcome.

Keep Calm and Don't 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.