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Wednesday, July 1, 2020

Youngest Son and I just watched a historic moment (on a livestream news broadcast). The city of Richmond, Virginia, our state’s capital, has removed the statue of Stonewall Jackson from its pedestal at the intersection of Monument Avenue and Arthur Ashe Boulevard.

Finally.

The crowd grew as the afternoon went on and anticipation built. A thunderstorm rolled through Richmond just as workers were finishing up removing the pins that held the statue on the base. The sky opened and the rain poured down, but the crowd didn’t mind. The chants and cheers kept coming. And then, slowly, the crane lifted Jackson and his horse up, up, and away. And the rain kept coming.

The statue ended up resting safely on the ground right as the 5 o’clock news went on the air. A young reported interviewed a bystander, who spoke eloquently about his emotions and then suggested that the rain had come to cleanse the pain from the crowd and from the city–the former capital of the Confederacy.

And that empty space on Monument Avenue? Our nation has so many heroes, and Richmond has so many artists–I believe finding a replacement should be easy. I know a few Virginia Commonwealth University art school graduates who could come up with some preliminary sketches…

Today’s drink is my version of the Stormy Weather cocktail.

In a shaker filled with ice, combine 1 1/2 ounces red wine, 1 1/2 ounces dark rum, 1/2 ounce lime juice, 1/4 ounce maple syrup, and 2 dashes bitters (I used spiced cherry bitters). Shake well, and strain into a tall glass with fresh ice. Top with 2 ounces ginger beer and stir.

Throwback to June 28 through July 4, 2011

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1. Television sets have 2 settings, “off” and “full blast.”

2. Poise pads come in a variety of thicknesses.

3. Staff members are undoubtedly underpaid.

4. Accessible showers leave puddles all over the bathroom floor.

5. Seventy-eight degrees is an acceptable room temperature. Warmer is better.

6. The stereo in the lobby should not play “Don’t Get Around Much Anymore,” even if it is an old standard.

7. If you let Mom pick the lunch location, she will pick the Chinese buffet, although you were just there 2 days ago.

8. Next time rent a sedan. Getting Mom in and out of sister’s Hummer is difficult and undignified.

9. Even though Mom has not had a valid driver’s license for 6-7 years now, she is still a skilled backseat-driver.

10. Dollar GENERAL and Dollar TREE are two unique shopping experiences and are not interchangeable.

11.It is acceptable to walk out of a restaurant once you realize it does not serve breakfast around the clock. Plus it was too dark in there, anyway.

12. A nap in the afternoon is beneficial for all ages.

13. No matter how tired you are, you are never too tired to stop and buy a lottery ticket.

14.Red jello snack packs go in the cupboard, not the mini-fridge, because jello is best at room temperature.

15. Even a man in his 80s will do that sneaky guy thing and look at a woman from toe to head to toe.

16. When the nurses tell you your mom is a sweet lady, just smile. A closed-lipped smile, so they can’t see your clenched teeth.

17. Do not listen to the Broadway Channel on the car radio–you will hear “Sunrise, Sunset” and “Circle of Life” and will get teary and be unable to drive safely.

18. When a man wearing only Depends and a tee comes to stand by you as you work on a puzzle, simply answer him politely, pray a nurse finds him soon, and absolutely do not look directly at any part of him.

19. Love is patient, love is kind. It is not jealous, (love) is not pompous, it is not inflated, it is not rude, it does not seek its own interests, it is not quick-tempered, it does not brood over injury,it does not rejoice over wrongdoing but rejoices with the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails.

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Throwback to June 29, 2015

1. “You used me to teach 3 kids to drive. I took great care of them, didn’t I?”

2. “You also allowed all 3 of those kids to drive me throughout their high school careers. I took great care of them, although I am not so sure they took great care of me.”

3. “Those dings in my fenders and doors and side panels? High school parking lot souvenirs.”

4. “The huge patch of purple paint covering the carpet in the trunk? Eagle Scout project souvenir.”

5. “Those stains on the floor mats? Those were your fault since you allowed juice boxes and snacks in the car.”

6. “Youngest Child never felt cool and sexy when he was behind my wheel, but he did love my power to accelerate.”

7. “Remember how, on the fourth day you owned me, that microburst put a tree on top of me and broke the windshield and some windows? You found pieces of safety glass in your grass for years afterwards.”

8. “You were my first and only owner. Aren’t you feeling a tad guilty about selling me?”

9. “Maybe it’s like organ transplanting….my soul will live on if my parts get used in other vehicles.”

Saturday, June 27, 2020

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“Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” 

Yes, Jesus taught us this during the Sermon on the Mount, and this moral is likewise a tenet of almost every religion, from Buddhism to Hinduism to Zoroastrianism. We call it “The Golden Rule” because this show of respect for fellow human beings has universally proven its great value since the beginning of civilization.

It’s simply the right thing to do.

In the context of our current pandemic, and because we now have substantial evidence that wearing masks properly does reduce the spread of the virus, why aren’t people following The Golden Rule? Or, more specifically, why aren’t people wearing masks?

I know the answer is complicated. And I know that many authority figures are not setting a good example, to put it politely.

Wearing a mask is a sign of kindness and caring. I wear one in public, and I want all the people I encounter to extend the same courtesy to me, and to everyone.

“What’s that other adage?” asks the she-devil sitting on my shoulder. “What goes around comes around?” I reply. “Yup! They’ll get theirs!” answers that sassy little devil. I have been having way too many conversations with her lately, and believe me, she is pissed.

Today’s drink is my version of a Mezcal Mule.

In a shaker, muddle 3 cucumber slices with 3/4 ounce lime juice. Add 1 1/2 ounces mezcal, 1 1/3 ounces passion fruit juice, and 1/2 ounce honey (or agave syrup if you have it). Add ice and shake. Strain into a copper mug. Top with 1 1/2 ounces ginger beer, add fresh ice, stir, and garnish with a cucumber slice and a pinch of chili powder, if desired.

Thursday, June 25, 2020

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Have yourselves a Merry Little Half-Christmas! First thing this morning, Dear Husband asked the music device to “play Christmas carols,” because he always does this on June 25. Always. We find it amusing and endearing. I do believe this date has become significant to our family members because it is a milestone: the future Christmas is now closer to us than the past Christmas. We focus our attention on moving forward, with hope and high expectations, and a longing for the joyful celebrations to come.

But this is 2020, after all, and the “new normal” surrounds us. My family hasn’t really moved forward in months, and we have only a few events to anticipate during this summer-at-home. (I always start buying Christmas gifts during our summer travels, by the way, so that’s not happening, either.)

So today, as the holiday tunes play in our home, I wonder what Christmas 2020 will look like. What will the fates bring us? Will we all be healthy? Will we all gather together in person? Will we sing? Will we go to church? Will our gifts to each other be more meaningful? Will we all finally have the time to send out personalized greeting cards and to bake cookies from scratch?

Last Christmas, we bought too much eggnog, so we shoved an unopened half-gallon into the basement freezer, and then forgot about it. I discovered it a few days ago, and today I am using it! A few ounces will go into our cocktails, and I will use the remainder in Saturday morning’s pancake batter and in my morning coffee.

Today’s drink is my version of an eggnog martini. As much as I love my December eggnog with bourbon or even dark rum, I wanted a “lighter” drink to sip in June.

Dip a chilled martini glass into caramel syrup and then into brown sugar. In a shaker filled with ice, combine 3 ounces eggnog, 1 ounce vanilla vodka, and 1 ounce amaretto. Shake and strain into the martini glass, and garnish with a cinnamon stick.

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Throwback to June 24, 2013

1. The ability to account for each plate/glass/utensil that needs to go in the dishwasher.

2. Husband’s grumblings as he assumes the role of trash-taker-outer.

3. The cardio workout I get when I have to unload the groceries all by myself.

4. All the extra hot water available for morning showers.

5. Even the dirty laundry doesn’t smell that bad.

6. The gentle whir of my appliances is audible since no one is blasting that thudding, bass-heavy Electric Dance Music.

7. The leftovers at breakfast.

8. The leftovers at lunch.

9. The leftovers at supper.

10. College Girl’s self-proclaimed glee about being an only child for the week.

June 21. 2020

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Happy Father’s Day! My father had a great sense of humor, and he loved to entertain people with his stories, his songs, and his goofy facial expressions.

My husband has a different sense of humor, but he likewise loves it when he gets a reaction from people, especially his family. He also loves trying to get me to laugh when I desperately want to stay somber, such as during church.

To all the dads out there, especially the ones who love sharing a corny joke: Cheers! To your health and prosperity! We may be rolling our eyes, but we are dying of laughter inside.

Husband chose today’s cocktail. We made a pitcher of our version of Bourbon Punch.

Please note that this recipe makes about half a quart of punch, unlike my recipes for single servings.

In a pitcher, combine 3 cups chilled black tea, 3 ounces of dark rum, 1/2 ounce vanilla extract, 3 ounces bourbon (Maker’s Mark is our choice), 1 ounce orange liqueur, 1 1/2 ounces orange juice. 1 ounce lemon juice, 1 ounce simple syrup, and 1 teaspoon cinnamon. Mix well, and add one orange, thinly sliced. Pour into glasses filled with ice.

Please remember to drink responsibly.

Saturday, June 20, 2020

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Today our family celebrates Dear Husband’s birthday. I also celebrate my love of Dear Husband, because on the eve of his birthday in 1983, our relationship moved from platonic to romantic. I’m without a doubt, I say, the best birthday gift he ever got.

The kids will be joining us on Zoom later for a virtual birthday party, but Husband and I kicked off the fun with a few brunch-time cocktails on our deck. We almost always go “out” for part of the birthday festivities, but this year we chose to avoid the weekend crowds at breweries and re-opened restaurants. (We are instead using Friday early afternoons to visit breweries with outdoor seating and physical distancing procedures.)

Dear Husband came up with the recipe for his version of a spicy hot Bloody Mary. I couldn’t resist the perfect strawberries I bought at the drive-through farmers’ market this morning, so I made my version of a strawberry martini. Both cocktails include freshly ground black pepper, which is a favorite of the Birthday Boy.

1. For the Bloody Merry, use a pint glass and a large ice cube. Add 2 ounces vodka, 1 ounce fruit-based liqueur (Husband used paw-paw flavor), a generous dash of Worcestershire sauce, 3 dashes of Tabasco, and a dab of wasabi sauce (he used a leftover packet from sushi take-out). Stir well, and fill the glass to the top with V8 juice. Top with black pepper. Garnish with celery stalk.
2. For the Peppered With Love cocktail, wash and hull fresh strawberries. Cut each berry into quarters until you get about 1/2 cup. Add 2 ounces vodka, 1/4 ounce lime juice, and 1/4 teaspoon balsamic vinegar (trust me on this–it brings out the bright strawberry flavor). Muddle in a glass until the berries are thoroughly mashed. Add a few ice cubes and stir. (Strain if you don’t like the pulp.) Top with black pepper. Garnish with a strawberry.

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Throwback to June 19, 2015

1. Text my child.

2. Take photos of my child from afar.

3. Brag to others that I was taking photos of my child from afar.

4. Ask lame questions about meal plans and dorm room furnishings and parking decals and other such information which was readily available in the printed brochures provided and on the website and in all the literature that has been mailed to our homes.

5. Inquire if parent chaperones were needed on the marching band trip to Ireland. (Nope.)

6. Tell the parents at the lunch table that I would be cleaning my child’s dorm room over parent weekend.

7. Laugh when the director of dining services who boasted of his Polish surname announced that kielbasy and pierogi would sometimes be on the menu, because getting these recipes right is simply not a matter to be taken lightly.

8. Turn down the chance to drink a few glasses of wine at the afternoon reception.

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Throwback to June 19, 2013

1. Joined by only one companion–Youngest Child

2. Took a Chicago Architectural Foundation walking tour of early skyscrapers

3. Shook my head in disbelief as I walked through the State Street Target (!!!) in the architecturally glorious former Carson Pirie Scott building

4. Ate at the Walnut Room (the signature chicken pot pie!) on the seventh floor of Marshall Field’s

5. Enjoyed Frango Mint ice cream pie

6. Uttered the phrase, “Let’s take selfies in front of the Bean!”

7. Sat on the floor in front of a window on the Skydeck of the Sears Tower, gazing at the lights of the night from 103 stories up, until security informed us the building was closing.