Throwback to May 16, 2016.

1. “I am so glad College Girl is sitting with the band on the stage, because now we can clearly see her during the whole ceremony.”

2. “I am glad the band is playing other music in addition to Pomp and Circumstance. I like it classy.”

3.”Those robes and caps and hoods look so anachronistic. Or even silly, really, when you think about it.”

4.”The commencement speaker wants all the grads to kiss their mommas? Brilliant advice.”

5. “Wow, look at all the smart, hard-working graduates out there–doctors and engineers and all these PhDs…”

6. “Oh my goodness, she doesn’t realize she is graduating with honors, does she?”

7. “Why are those people waving and screaming at their kids? Show some dignity, people!”

8. “Brown hoods for the Art School grads? Brown? For all those creative people? They should be sparkly and colorful! Even the engineers have bright orange and the dentists are wearing lavender. Geesh!”

9. “The announcer is doing a fabulous job with all of these difficult names.”

10. “Aw, I like how they mentioned that the VCU School of the Arts is the number one ranked public school of art and design in the country.”

11. “I didn’t think I was going to cry, but I am.”

12. “No, she is not meeting us afterwards, because she needs to pack up her music and hurry back to campus for the next part of graduation.”

13. “I am so proud of my baby girl!”

 

 

Friday, May 15, 2020

The governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia, Ralph Northam, has given permission for most of the state to reopen today. It’s Phase 1 of a long process. Some businesses and customers are delighted, but polls show that many citizens are worried that we are moving too quickly. I have mixed emotions–of course I want the economy to get going!–but I am still very wary of going out in public. Yes, the family will still support curbside pickup and/or deliveries (buy local!), but no, we don’t want to sit on any restaurant patio just yet.

Today’s drink is my version of a cocktail called “Cherry Bomb.”  Do I mean the name to portend the possible dangers of the weeks ahead?  Perhaps, but I would be happy to be proven wrong.

In a mixing glass, combine 4 fresh sweet cherries (halved and pitted), 1/4 of a lemon, 1/4 a teaspoon of lime juice, 5-6 fresh mint leaves, 1/2 ounce simple syrup, and 1 dash Angostura bitters.  Use a muddler to smash the fruit.  Pour into a smaller glass, add 2 ounces of dark rum, and stir. Add ice to fill the glass. Top with a splash of club soda, if desired.

 

 

 

Throwback to May 15, 2015:

1. I could bribe each of his teachers to flunk him. Cash, food, potent potables–all would probably work.

2. I could write him his first-ever Disciplinary Report. It would have to be a doozy, though, to ensure weeks of In School Suspension.

3. I could convince the school’s morning news crew to film me singing something super-sentimental, like the opening lines of “Sunrise, Sunset.”

4. I could wear a sign on my front that says, “Ask Me About My Awesome Senior.”

5. I could wear a sign on my back that says, “Don’t Kick Me, Because I Am Feeling Down Enough Already.”

6. I could think of ruses to get him to come to every one of my classes, so I could hug him in front of my students. And maybe even kiss him very loudly. On both cheeks.

7. I could ask the School Resource Officer to arrest him, since he is 18, on charges of Breaking (his mommy’s heart) and Entering (his mommy’s every thought today).

Throwback to May 15, 2013:

1. Screens on screen doors and in windows? Optional.

2. Girls can be as oblivious to dust bunnies as are guys.

3. An acceptable apartment will have space to store bicycles.

4. Hipster neighborhoods by definition need gourmet grocery stores, ethnic restaurants, chic bars, and thrift shops.

5. Old kitchen appliances can be overlooked as long as there is enough counter space for a state-of-the-art coffee maker.

6. Good internet access is more important than good laundry facilities.

7. Even girls use PBR cans in their decorating.

8. To every thing there is a season, and my season is for living in a house that I own, so I should remember not to take that for granted.

Today, May 14, is the feast day of Saint Corona according to the Roman Catholic calendar of saints.

Feast days, or name days, are a bigger deal than birthdays in some cultures. My Polish family would celebrate the feast of St. Monica on May 4, for example, with a small gift or a special treat for me.  My mom celebrates her name day on March 2, and heaven help us kids if we forget to send her our best wishes! And tomorrow is my sister’s name day, so I had better be sure to call her.

I don’t actually know anyone named Corona/Korona (the name means “crown” in Latin). Do you? But Saint Corona was a real person!  She was tortured and martyred for her faith by the Romans about 1800 years ago.  Her remains (or relics) are buried at Aachen Cathedral in Germany.

Saint Corona has been regarded as the patron saint of butchers, treasure-hunters, and even people with financial problems. Residents of the small Austrian town of St. Corona would appeal to her to protect their livestock from contagious diseases.

Has she now become the patron saint of humans suffering from infections, specifically the coronavirus? Or the patron saint of the unemployed? Why not? Couldn’t hurt to pray for her help, could it?

Today’s drink is my version of a cocktail called “The Saint.”

Combine 3 ounces dry white wine, 1 1/2 ounces ginger simple syrup (I actually dissolved several pieces of ginger candy in the wine instead), 1/2 ounce dry vermouth, and 1/2 ounce lemon juice in a cocktail shaker filled with ice. Shake well and strain into a short glass. Top with club soda and 3 dashes of citrus bitters (I used grapefruit). Garnish with lemon peel and/or mint.

Wednesday, May 13, 2020

Husband took a break from mowing the backyard this afternoon, so I joined him on the porch swing we have hanging under the deck. The back and forth, to and fro movement of the swing was very soothing, as were the sunshine, the green trees, and the smell of freshly-cut grass. And of course, the pleasure of his company made it even sweeter.

Yesterday I ventured out to the garden center at Lowe’s (wear your masks, people!) and brought home several plants to add to the pots on the deck. Fixing up the deck is part of my late spring routine. Yes, a routine! Yes, warmer temperatures! Yes, life is moving forward!

Please take time for some self-care, my friends. Find something or someone to soothe you, and to calm your spirit. (Lavender is good for that.)

This is my version of a Lavender Collins drink. Add 1 1/2 ounces gin, 1 ounce lemon juice, and 1/2 ounce lavender simple syrup to a cocktail shaker with ice. (I made the lavender syrup with some dried lavender I had among my spices. Make sure it’s edible lavender!) Shake well and strain into a tall glass with ice.  Top with club soda and stir gently.  Garnish with lemon slice and/or lavender sprig.

Tuesday, May 12, 2020

Here’s a sample of things we heard Dr. Fauci tell the US Senate today: reopening quickly is going to create a second wave of CoVid-19 infections; the death toll is “almost certainly” higher than officially reported; children are developing mysterious illnesses related to the virus; and there will likely not be enough “treatments” in place to safely open college campuses in the fall.  All this, plus the federal deficit is setting records, large American retailers are filing for bankruptcy, and unemployment figures grow higher daily. No wonder tempers are flaring in the White House.

And no wonder I seek comfort in the simple pleasures, like sipping a glass of wine on our sunny deck while I watch Husband grill today’s supper.

Today I opened a bottle of sauvignon blanc “Monticello” from Dave Matthews’ winery, Blenheim Vineyards, here in Charlottesville.  BUY LOCAL!

Several months back, I bought a jar of Cocktail Caviar (imported from Taiwan)–basically little gelatin balls filled with apple vodka.  I thought adding the “bubbles” to the wine not only looked pretty, but was also fun to drink.  Pop!

And I couldn’t help myself–Dave’s lyrics kept circling in my head. Was he talking about social distancing?

The Space Between
The tears we cry
Is the laughter keeps us coming back for more
The Space Between
The wicked lies we tell
And hope to keep safe from the pain

Will I hold you again?

 

 

 

Monday, May 11, 2020

I try to limit my time on Twitter.  I try, but often I get sucked in and get progressively more annoyed with each latest “trending” hashtag.   Some of today’s trends included “TrumpGate,” “Obamagate,” and even “Watergate.”

Today I will calm my soul with the ButterGate, a drink I invented to use up my bottle of butterscotch schnapps. I thought “butter” was an apt modifier for our recent unfortunate “churn” of events, namely the “spread” of the coronavirus.  And Trump is still not wearing a mask–how “dairy!” My ranting is making this post longer than I planned–I was thinking about “shortening” it, but nah.

In a short glass, combine 1 ounce butterscotch schnapps, 1/2 ounce Frangelico, and 1 ounce unsweetened almond milk (or regular milk).  Add one scoop of coffee ice cream and drizzle with caramel syrup.  Enjoy this one with a spoon, since this is definitely a dessert.

 

Sunday, May 10, 2020

Happy Mother’s Day to all the moms out there, and especially to my own 94 year old mom, who still tells me to drive carefully and to get plenty of rest. Hang in there, Mama, and maybe I will be able to get to Indiana this summer, if the nursing home lets me in to see you. Thank you for being my mother.

Only Youngest Son is home with me, for part of the day (Essential Employee that he is), so I have asked Beloved Husband to make today’s cocktail.  Of course, he is making my all-time favorite.  After 31-plus years of marriage, he knows what to do.

In a shaker full of ice, combine 2 ounces Polish vodka with 1 ounce dry vermouth. Add “enough” (about 3 teaspoons) juice from the olive jar, stir, and strain into a chilled martini glass. Garnish with at least 2 blue-cheese-stuffed olives.

 

Saturday, May 9, 2020

Little Richard died today at the age of 87. Not only did he show us how to scream (a skill I need lately to channel my frustration), but he was also a gay black man who took gospel and blues and made it into rock-n-roll.  And society didn’t seem to mind.  I have been sorrowful over the last several days as our nation hears about continued acts of racism and hatred that end tragically.  Good golly, Miss Molly–why can’t we all get along?

Today’s drink is my version of  the Tooty Fruity cocktail.

In a shaker with ice, combine 1 ounce vodka, 1 ounce triple sec, 1 ounce orange juice, 1 ounce pineapple juice, and 1/2 ounce grenadine.  Shake well, and strain into a tall glass with more ice. Garnish with fruit.