Category Archives: Editorial

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Fragility

Life is fragile. We “lose” people. they’re not lost, they’re gone from us forever. We lose some and they’re still living, but still lost in a way.

When we’re young we think we’re invincible, in our 30’s and 40’s we go along and get along, doing all we can for our families. In our fifties we could be on top of the world but still faces and bodies begin to sag.

Then, I guess we’re to choose between Botox and plastic surgery or just getting old, hopefully together with someone we love. I prefer the latter.

Just as we become comfortable, parents begin to age and there are flights here and there in these times. We also begin to think of our own aging.

A good thing comes with this if one is lucky, and that is wisdom. It’s even better if someone else benefits from that wisdom that we can share. Luckily we are at an age where we can still obtain wisdom from our elders and impart it to a younger generation.

Many of our friends and family are gone but others remain and we hope to remain close to them for the rest of our lives while remembering those who went before us.

I will try my best to be closer to the family and friends I have. I will not make Christmas cookies, because they’d be overcooked or burned and I don’t make cookies. I may try a pannetone bread pudding this year but only if I buy the cake.

OK, I may make a trifle for Jim’s office, and dinner for any office and neighborhood “strays” or adult “orphans” from the neighborhood for Christmas dinner. It’s the least I can do. Hear than Andrew? And J, you can bring the girlfriend!  We’ll initiate her to the inevitable parent situation.

No, I’m not a matchmaker, just want your roads to be less bumpy than ours. Cheers and happy holidays to you and yours. Dee

 

Mr./Ms. Smith, Please Step Up

Rent it, or watch Mr. Smith Goes To Washington on cable tv. Forget Mr. Smith, we actually need Jimmy Stewart to bring our nation back to its roots, its citizens.

There have been too many years of lobbyists buying the lifestyles of prominent politicians, and their votes, too.

If it is a case of money, as the salaries aren’t great enough to buy a home in D.C. and keep one back home, that gap should be met, but that is not the case. Those who vie for office now can afford to finance their own campaigns, and there’s the rub. Only rich people can run for office.

No-one who has to raise the money can challenge an incumbent, and those who’ve won the position have sold out or bought the seat outright. Only the right scandal can bring one down for a well-heeled or well-funded candidate to come in.

I got out of politics over 20 years ago. Even on a  local basis there were red flags, for me, anyway. I was a policy person, or so I thought.

People think politics has to be changed at the presidential level. Please, you have to start with dog catcher and sewer guy. Better yet, start at the voters. If we demand better we’ll get better and some reformers (no party affiliation) will start shaking things up.

Oh, you big guys won’t like that. I kind of enjoy your pain, so will keep pressing you to keep our issues at the forefront because we are the voters. This is not about you getting box seats to the big game, it’s about us. It’s time to send Mr. Smith back to Washington. Check out the movie. Dee

Dear Jewish Grandmothers

We are in need for a special recipe for Matzo Ball Soup. I know you know special secrets. I never knew a grandmother until my husband’s, ten years ago.

I talked to David Sax (“Save The Deli”) about it and he doesn’t have a recipe either. There was one in the NY Times probably in the 1970’s or 80’s that called for a bit of seltzer and vodka. I now now seltzer is for lightness and vodka instead of water to prevent development of gluten.

May a bubeleh arise and answer this request of a shiksa who grew up loving Montreal smoked meat (family history at the former Ben’s) and now is learning to make latkes and my husband loves matzo ball soup.

Oh, if you have it, please send it to David, too. Just so if we make mistakes, we can fix them over email and make a good meal for our spouses. A dank, Dee

Interesting Gratin

I made a great one that got rave review at a holiday party last year. Tonight I did a seat-of-the-pants version with what I had on hand. It was tasty and colorless, crispy and had a lingering cruciferous vegetable smell. There’s a lot left so I’ll have to punt tomorrow to make something new out of leftovers. Jim, my husband, hates leftovers.

I used cauliflower and potato. But the other day I creamed pearl onions (the ones you hate to peel, to delight to find them frozen and already peeled) by sauteeing them in a little butter, then adding chicken stock. They still needed to cook through so I alternated a bit of stock and cream as needed.  I did put the bag of onions out for an hour or two to get to room temp before starting.

They were very tasty with some thyme, salt and pepper. I actually put a few on top of a homemade burger last night. Anyway, it’s cold out here, no snow, sorry to say, but it will come. We’re all hoping and praying for it! We still grill out whenever we want. Mostly short-term things so there is less of getting on jackets and hats and gloves….

If there are any recipes you’d like or any you want to share, please ask or write in. Thanks and happy holidays! Dee

 

Tiring of Old Political Arguments

Part of what we see in the interminable, now over 2-year build up to a presidential election is what people are made of, a candidate and his (aside from our female Secretary of State Clinton) staff are judged.  But only the candidate is judged for the most part.

Governor Rick Perry’s latest ad, which must be highly targeted as I don’t see it even in Republican Country out here, condemns President Obama for allowing gays in the military (this issue was ultimately decided by the judiciary and signed by the President and military Chief of Staff).

This ad also states that our children are not allowed to experience Christmas. I happen to know that four generations of our Texas family went to two Christmas parades this weekend, one in town and another where family drove a few hours  to see a grand-daughter in the band and grandson in Scouts in the parade.

If Christmas parades are alive and well in Texas towns, they must be elsewhere in small towns thoughout the US of A. While I saw Chevy’s Freedom of Texas fireworks every year from next door and even know the owner of the pyrotech company, my favorite fireworks are by the local fire company at the lake, in a Yankee state, where we sit on the grass for 15 minutes then go back home.

Perhaps Mr. Perry is preaching to a choir that hasn’t been there since Ronald Reagan or he’s showing that he really doesn’t care about any American voter who doesn’t hate soldiers in harm’s way that happen to be gay, or any American voter who doesn’t like purported Christians who aren’t, like Mr. Perry.

Zealots and haters should not be presidents of anything but hate groups. Not of our United States. Not cheery right now, Dee

Good Zoe!

Patriotic Dog

Just come when called, or I’ll have to call Cesar Millan! Dee

Abandonment

Zoe will be eight years old next month. She’s a smart herding dog who can hunt and kill a mouse in seconds. She behaves indoors, but outside, she knows what she’s being asked/told and chooses not to respond.

This morning a ball came her way and the dog for which it was intended let her get it. I took her off leash and they chased the ball for five minutes. When she got it he was an absolute gentleman and didn’t take it from her, even though she cheated and stayed in the outfield.

When we were ready to leave she stayed behind. Knowing she hates separation from her pack I just walked home, shut the door behind me and began peeling off the layers of hat, scarf, layered jackets, boots and gloves. A few moments later I opened up the door and guess who was sitting on the mat? Zoe.

I silently let her in and we didn’t talk for several hours after that. She knew that if we had a dog house or even a crate (it’s being lent around the neighborhood for new pups) she’d be in it.

Bad dog mom? I don’t know. I knew she’d be right back, she just didn’t want to come when called. So, we’ll work on that. Perhaps she’ll have to do more than wear the jingle bell and wreath collars this year. Antlers may do the trick! Dee

Favorite Shirt

Has Stetson Logo

This shirt, worn all day as free advertising for the Stetson company, is ready to go to the cleaner’s to be laundered and pressed. It is my favorite shirt for my husband and goes nicely with dark brown corduroy pants for work.

It has a light blue Stetson hat logo on the pocket. And on this shirt, all the buttons are intact. Not like the others.

The blue goes nicely with his eyes. My husband’s eyes, that is. So whenever you get around to sending me those buttons, Stetson, let me know. Dee

Another Holiday Song

Stetson night, buttonless night, all is calm, all is bright. ‘Round big hats we have great light. Seamstresses work all day and night. Buttons are scarce and tough to sew on. Sleep, ye seamstresses sleep. Button maker will come and make peace.

Have yourself a peaceful, silent night. Turn off the tv, go out to dinner and get in the holiday spirit, at least if you’ve got buttons! Cheers, Dee

Holiday Song

Stetson elves, won’t you come out tonight, come out tonight, come out tonight,

Stetson elves, won’t you come out tonight, and send me some buttons ‘fore noon.

Happy holidays! Dee