tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-145978382024-02-07T16:44:47.268-05:00Make Life Funner - bbq, hot sauce, cool music and other comforts for the body, mind and soul.Sullicomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02038988410026039009noreply@blogger.comBlogger275125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14597838.post-10943357678644123602023-06-01T07:46:00.004-04:002023-06-01T07:46:52.895-04:00Adventures with dressing in the dark<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEwxE85J7tDK7NPaahiSs_fLAGXIP6PukuW49_iNF5jlvh1DLZFthcnVdrrnhtCRmbvVsFaJIARmnkUYSn1wMr28hv_1cWro777-uADQmllaHLFFJIClMPtn_ATIoY0rvrm8i00tGRtt9KoBOzX-7LGduMT5cjbcGYtxYkHBo-NF4G7j32MA/s3264/20230601_065151.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2448" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEwxE85J7tDK7NPaahiSs_fLAGXIP6PukuW49_iNF5jlvh1DLZFthcnVdrrnhtCRmbvVsFaJIARmnkUYSn1wMr28hv_1cWro777-uADQmllaHLFFJIClMPtn_ATIoY0rvrm8i00tGRtt9KoBOzX-7LGduMT5cjbcGYtxYkHBo-NF4G7j32MA/w480-h640/20230601_065151.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><span id="docs-internal-guid-10d57d6e-7fff-9014-3d03-b28433e4d1b7"><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.5pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">As I usually do, I got dressed for work in the dark this morning. My shoes are neatly lined up under my dresser in a particular order so I know which ones are where. Today I accidentally paired a brown with a black. Contributing factors, along with the dark, include a long-handled shoehorn that I use so I don’t have to bend down to slide into the shoes. I’m not sure I’ve ever done anything like this before.</span></span></p>Sullicomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02038988410026039009noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14597838.post-63546133291079433152022-11-21T07:00:00.002-05:002022-11-21T07:10:40.195-05:00Daddy's wallet<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJROFjwVDagxkZSghX4n6OYXKJ8epxxy52s3TVGqRiQcYhfMnwXZ0kdi0lvvFvsZF5tVDeDm1L0vTxYScyz1tKGL8w_74W0n-u7oEXUCBEQIYyUg-gDBtD1SOxhRtTCH90Z-SJsGpCn7NqjAIDfvTGv-SUhK3tmdo51e-37YjpHaMblFPUwA/s3264/20221119_080854.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJROFjwVDagxkZSghX4n6OYXKJ8epxxy52s3TVGqRiQcYhfMnwXZ0kdi0lvvFvsZF5tVDeDm1L0vTxYScyz1tKGL8w_74W0n-u7oEXUCBEQIYyUg-gDBtD1SOxhRtTCH90Z-SJsGpCn7NqjAIDfvTGv-SUhK3tmdo51e-37YjpHaMblFPUwA/w640-h480/20221119_080854.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><span style="font-family: Arial; white-space: pre-wrap;">Today marks 60 years since my dad died. </span><span style="font-family: Arial; white-space: pre-wrap;">A few years ago when my brother and sister-in-law were downsizing, I was given 3-4 boxes of family mementos. Included among the items were many personal belongings of my father, who died when I was five. Daddy was a salesman, spending most days traveling the roads of Western Kentucky, where we lived, for Armco Steel. He’d usually return home on Thursday or Friday, then leave again on Monday. Even though I was only five when he died, my memories of him are vivid. He was tall, maybe 6’ or 6’1” and probably weighed around 230-240 pounds. I can make a fairly accurate guess about this because I am now the spitting image of him. Maybe I’m a little heavier, but our height, weight and bald head testify to the DNA we share. I am, however, at this point in my life 16 years older than he was when he died from a heart attack on Nov. 21, 1962, the night before Thanksgiving.</span></p><span id="docs-internal-guid-b4e6fa75-7fff-bb5d-5819-51b551e56110"><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">As I said, my memories are vivid, and that day is among them. I remember it was a typically gray November day. He got home midday, and went right to bed. I recall standing outside the room and seeing him lying in the bed, then leaving in an ambulance in the afternoon. My mother went with him and I was left home with my grandmother - mother’s mother - who was there for the holiday. It must have been a couple of hours because it was near dark, when my mother returned home with our pastor. As soon as my grandmother saw them, she started sobbing. Our pastor, Brother Loy, knelt down to me and said, “Your daddy has gone to live with Jesus.” That’s the point when I started crying, too. I was then sent to stay the night at our neighbors, the Calhouns, who had children my age. I remember them going over and above what they had to do to make me feel welcome and loved that night.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I don’t remember much about that weekend. I never saw daddy in his casket, but do remember being at the funeral. The burial I don’t remember.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">For the rest of my childhood, we didn’t talk about that night and rarely talked about daddy. When we did, it was painful for me, and I suppose for my mother, too. As I got older, though, he was often on my mind and anything I could find to remember him I was always grateful for. When I got the boxes from my brother, there were many of daddy’s possessions. His Navy uniforms from WWII, lots of letters and other items. The one that has taken me the longest to really investigate is the wallet he carried up to the day he died.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The wallet is a tan, pebble-grained Prince Gardner Registrar. It’s a bifold wallet and inside on the left is a section with seven clear plastic sleeves inside a button-snap leather cover. To the right is a pocket to slide other cards and notes into.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Here’s what’s in the wallet:</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In the money holder:</span></p><ul style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-inline-start: 48px;"><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A business card from an Armco colleague, Albert C. Schue of Washington, IN. On the back of the card, written in pencil is an address for the Lamp Lite Inn (city not specified)</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A business card from another Armco colleague, James Layer, of Middletown, OH.</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A sheet of note paper from the Orrington Hotel in Evanston, IL. My brother, David, was in 1962 in his freshman year at Northwestern. In early November, mother and daddy made a visit and took in a football game. I know this from seeing some home movies shot during that trip. This note contains an agenda with times and locations they must have visited during the trip. Among the things listed are the Armco Steel office in Chicago, the Kungsholm Scandinavian Restaurant, Conrad Hilton Hotel in downtown Chicago, Carson Pirie Scott, a note about a 6:30 showing of Sound of Music. On the back are notes about expenses - elevated train fare, taxi, dinner, room, tips, lunch, etc. Also, what looks like David’s dorm room address and his room, board and tuition expenses for 1962-1963 school year.</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A sheet of note paper from the Owensboro River Sand & Gravel Company with an address in pencil for the county engineer’s office. </span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A sheet of note paper from Kentucky Discount, Inc. in Central City, KY, with the multiplication table for 9s.</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A clipping from a newspaper for a recipe for Italian Eggs, submitted by Mrs. Brank Neal of Greenville, KY.</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A yellow copy of an order form with the address of Armco’s Denver office written on it.</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A receipt from The Hotel Ritz in Paducah, KY, dated Nov. 21, 1962. This was the day he died. He must have checked out that morning and made the two-hour drive to Madisonville. This one hits me hard. I find myself wondering how he must have felt. Did he feel bad during the drive? Did he have any sense of what was going on? Was he feeling ill the night before? There are times when I can close my eyes and give in to my memories and go back to that afternoon. Five-year-old me standing outside his bedroom as he lay on the bed. I can see it, hear it, feel it and even smell it. It feels almost as if I’ve transported back. I always wonder what was running through his mind. If he thought he was going to die.</span></p></li></ul><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In the right-side pocket:</span></p><ul style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-inline-start: 48px;"><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A Prince Gardner identification card in a plastic sleeve. It’s not filled out.</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A business card for Bar B. Q. Heaven in Louisville, KY. Daddy’s name is on the back and he’s listed as an Honorary Member of Colonel Morris Ravitz’s Piano Bar-Club.</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Daddy’s Armco business card. His name is listed as C.B (John L.) Sullivan. The card lists him as the District Engineer and has the address for the regional office in Lexington and our home address and phone number in Madisonville.</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A clipping from a newspaper about a product available at Madisonville’s Ruby Lumber Company, called DRAMEX to patch cracked plaster walls and ceilings, a common problem in town due to subsidence from the underground coal mines in the area.</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A sheet of note paper with a line drawing of a man and woman making love with the words, Things to do today printed beneath. Nothing written on the paper.</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A blue card with the words, “I have gone to… P. Leave my drink alone!” printed on it.</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A clipping of a poem titled, Dot Little Fur Cap. It’s a racy little poem written in pidgin German.</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A piece of note paper with hand-drawn silhouettes of a man and a woman walking their dogs. Reminds me of the scene from Lady and the Tramp where the man and woman meet in the park.</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A postal receipt for a package sent to Frankfort, KY.</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A business card from George Cummins of Brighton Engineering Company in Central City.</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Four blank personal checks from his and mother’s account at the Kentucky Bank & Trust Co. in Madisonville.</span></p></li></ul><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In the plastic sleeves:</span></p><ul style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-inline-start: 48px;"><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">His membership card for the Society for the Preservation and Encouragement of Barber Shop Quartet Singing in American, Madisonville Chapter.</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">His 1962 Kentucky Resident Statewide Fishing License.</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">His 1963 VFW membership dues receipt.</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">His 1963 VFW membership card.</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">His 1962 VFW membership dues receipt.</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">His 1962 VFW membership card.</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">1955 card listing him as a Charter Member of the Research Institute of America, Selling and Merchandising Division.</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">His 1961-1962 Elks Club membership dues receipt.</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A photo of me, I’m guessing around age 3.</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Two photos of me, maybe age 4.</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">High school senior photo of David.</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Junior high photo of David from 1955-1956 year.</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Another school photo of David, maybe age 10.</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A school photo of our cousin (daddy’s sister’s son) Bill Ralston, probably late elementary school or early junior high.</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Insurance card from The Travelers Protective Association of America for 1962.</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Another Travelers card for 1960</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">1962 Automobile Liability Insurance Card for his Armco company car, a 1962 Chevy Impala.</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Two Texaco gas credit cards, one for 1962, the other 1963.</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">His Armco ID card for the company car.</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Two State Automobile Mutual Insurance Company ID cards.</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A receipt for a $10,000 life insurance policy on David.</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">1961 membership card for the Society for the Preservation and Encouragement of Barber Shop Quartet Singing in America.</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">1962 Armco company credit card for Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co.</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">1961 pocket calendar from Johnson, Depp, & Quisenberry Consulting Engineers in Owensboro.</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">1961 pocket calendar from Armco.</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">1961 Travelers insurance card.</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Kentucky Peace Officers’ Association supporter ID card.</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">1962 pocket calendar from Armco.</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Firestone Tire Road Hazard guarantee card.</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Blue Cross Hospital Plan Insurance ID card.</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">1962 membership card for the Calhoun, KY Vienna Lodge of the Masons.</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">1962 membership card for the Madisonville masonic lodge.</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">His driver’s license.</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Another 1962 Masonic membership card for Madisonville.</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Rizpah Temple 1962 ladies courtesy card.</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">1962 membership card for Rizpah Temple Shriners Club.</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A cardboard trivia card with information about Mississippi’s population, capital and largest city.</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A clipping from the July 9, 1961 Louisville Courier Journal about a WPA reunion in Henderson, KY. </span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A “back-seat-driver’s license” from Pat’s and Anna’s Dinette in Kinzel Springs, TN.</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A piece of metal foil.</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Another clipping about the WPA meeting in Henderson.</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A clipping of a quote: The world is divided into people who do things and people who get the credit. Try, if you can, to belong to the first class. There’s far less competition. - Dwight Morrow.</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A newspaper clipping of a letter to the editor written by David, supporting President Kennedy in the wake of religious-based bickering in the 1960 election.</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A 1959 receipt from the Union Carbide Nuclear Co. in Paducah.</span></p></li></ul></span>Sullicomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02038988410026039009noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14597838.post-48530581815410821972022-11-10T07:42:00.003-05:002022-11-10T07:42:29.405-05:0030 Covers, 30 Days<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4vqL8g3qZKSodVZgkGAdG637Z50P0t3HAsXkFPOqJXkdWcw8mBiXwVZfSlHUD7v2DcTyXoGshXW5SBeLuvO2cn40l3Zk8ZHRLE5BhJoQwA9GC-TmAU4wr_prAoTz0z3QA1KGuM_-NM7J-Mn6049kEfzDPTZAOOVB9mhhqbWTYXsO_isVpdw/s1900/NaNoWriMo__Mockup_Simmons.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1900" data-original-width="1300" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4vqL8g3qZKSodVZgkGAdG637Z50P0t3HAsXkFPOqJXkdWcw8mBiXwVZfSlHUD7v2DcTyXoGshXW5SBeLuvO2cn40l3Zk8ZHRLE5BhJoQwA9GC-TmAU4wr_prAoTz0z3QA1KGuM_-NM7J-Mn6049kEfzDPTZAOOVB9mhhqbWTYXsO_isVpdw/w438-h640/NaNoWriMo__Mockup_Simmons.jpg" width="438" /></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505;">Honored to have my book project selected as one of the "<a href="https://blog.nanowrimo.org/post/700471414564814848/30-covers-30-days-2022-day-9">30 Covers in 30 Days</a>" during this year's National Novel Writing Month (<a href="https://nanowrimo.org/" target="_blank">NaNoWriMo</a>). Last year, more than 400,000 writers around the globe took part in NaNoWriMo. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505;"><a class="x1i10hfl xjbqb8w x6umtig x1b1mbwd xaqea5y xav7gou x9f619 x1ypdohk xt0psk2 xe8uvvx xdj266r x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r xexx8yu x4uap5 x18d9i69 xkhd6sd x16tdsg8 x1hl2dhg xggy1nq x1a2a7pz xt0b8zv xzsf02u x1s688f" href="https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/nanowrimo?__eep__=6&__tn__=*NK*F" role="link" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; border-color: initial; border-style: initial; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; cursor: pointer; display: inline; font-weight: 600; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-align: inherit; text-decoration-line: none; touch-action: manipulation;" tabindex="0">#NaNoWriMo</a></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505;"><a class="x1i10hfl xjbqb8w x6umtig x1b1mbwd xaqea5y xav7gou x9f619 x1ypdohk xt0psk2 xe8uvvx xdj266r x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r xexx8yu x4uap5 x18d9i69 xkhd6sd x16tdsg8 x1hl2dhg xggy1nq x1a2a7pz xt0b8zv xzsf02u x1s688f" href="https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/30c30d?__eep__=6&__tn__=*NK*F" role="link" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; border-color: initial; border-style: initial; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; cursor: pointer; display: inline; font-weight: 600; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-align: inherit; text-decoration-line: none; touch-action: manipulation;" tabindex="0">#30c30d</a></span></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">NaNoWriMo is a great way to develop good writing habits and wring your novel from your head onto the page. I've been working on this thing for three years now. The first draft is done and now I'm taking reviewer feedback, working through some sticking points and should have it in shape to start querying agents and/or publishers by month's end.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Stay tuned!</span></p>Sullicomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02038988410026039009noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14597838.post-53054313666809307552022-08-26T08:43:00.002-04:002022-11-10T13:18:46.584-05:00"Study Hell" produced as podcast on Haunted Montreal<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhugIhhVS9w9D7MDJaR1Ah76guHBUZbSgYfTLEgO7r_2-S7bXpF7n3NY8YfJrniUBtTLHPySDKM8sckNw5EmyHs8qrZEfJLyrLptNM2Pqxagir6-fHlK6EeTGLnXVgagB0PuTRhZKJ3wep1GczHRCtzv9Jw5zCo7J0zzTSq0udRoH7cldRGiA/s720/StTimSwan.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="537" data-original-width="720" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhugIhhVS9w9D7MDJaR1Ah76guHBUZbSgYfTLEgO7r_2-S7bXpF7n3NY8YfJrniUBtTLHPySDKM8sckNw5EmyHs8qrZEfJLyrLptNM2Pqxagir6-fHlK6EeTGLnXVgagB0PuTRhZKJ3wep1GczHRCtzv9Jw5zCo7J0zzTSq0udRoH7cldRGiA/w640-h478/StTimSwan.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>(NOTE: This story was included as part of the <a href="https://hauntedmtl.com/">Haunted Montreal</a> site's <a href="https://hauntedmtl.com/podcast/3-weird-school-miss-peregrines-home-for-peculiar-children/">Byte Size Horror</a> podcast. It's a little hard to understand, so here's the original copy of the story.)</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: right;"><br /></div><span id="docs-internal-guid-ffae1fb0-7fff-c2fa-c9cf-e35a362677ca"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Julia awoke to a pair of eyes staring at her through the window. “Jeez, get out of here!” she screamed as she hurled her pillow at the voyeur.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“What the heck’s going on?” asked Julia’s roommate Claudia, in a still-sleepy voice.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“It was that damn swan again, staring in the window. God, this whole place is so fricking creepy.”</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This place was St. Brown’s Academy for Young Women, a prestigious boarding school nestled deep in the lush hills of New Hampshire.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“You worry too much,” said Claudia.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Julia sat up and lit a cigarette. “You don’t? What about those girls who just suddenly are gone one day?”</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“They flushed out,” said Claudia, eyes closed again, hoping in vain that she could fall back to sleep.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Julia blew smoke out the window. “Yeah, right.”</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Come on,” said Claudia, finally conceding that sleep was over. She pulled herself up, took the cigarette from Julia and inhaled. “It’s just too demanding for some. They’re not able to handle the academics or the stress. They go home. Plus, it’s a religious school. They’re looking out for our best interests, right?.”</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Julia laughed sarcastically. “Religious? Come on. Who the heck was St. Brown? Patron saint of Cleveland? There’s nothing religious about this place.” She snatched back the cigarette from her roommate.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Having already slept through breakfast, the girls got up and readied themselves to go to their classes.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">When lunchtime came, Julia waited outside the commons for Claudia. After 15 minutes, her roommate still had not shown up. Julia peeked into the lunchroom to see if she had somehow missed her arrival. No Claudia. Julia then walked back to the dorm room to see if maybe Claudia had instead opted to take a nap or squeeze in some extra study time. When she opened the door to the room, not only was there no Claudia, but all of Claudia’s belongings had been cleared from the room. Julia looked for a note, anything that might suggest what had happened to her friend. But there was absolutely no trace that the other girl had ever been there.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Julia went off to her next module, a study hall. The study hall monitor, Ms. DiGardi, saw that Julia was upset and motioned for her to come into her office.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“What’s wrong, Julia?’</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Tears started pouring from the young woman’s eyes. “Claudia. My roommate. She’s gone. I know something awful happened to her. She would have told me if she was leaving.”</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Claudia?” asked Ms. DiGardi.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Yes. We were just talking this morning about all the weird stuff that happens around here. Now it’s happened to her.”</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Come now. Calm down, dear. I’m sure everything’s alright. Why don’t you put your head on the desk for a few minutes and settle down.”</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Julia rested her head on her arms atop Ms. DiGardi’s desk and was soon asleep.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">When Julia’s eyes next opened, it was dark outside. She had no idea how long she’d been sleeping. “Ms. DiGardi!” she yelled.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">From outside the room, the monitor responded, “It’s okay. I’m out here.”</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“What time is it?”</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“It’s a little after 7. You were sleeping soundly.”</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The rumble in Julia’s stomach reminded her that she had missed breakfast and lunch. “Did I sleep through dinner?”</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Ms. DiGardi said, “I’m afraid so dear.” Julia heard footsteps approaching the office. When she turned, she saw DiGardi and several other teachers with her. All had the solid black eyes of sharks and their skin had taken on the ghoulish pallor of corpses. “No need to worry, though. We’d love to have you for dinner.”</span></p><br /></span><p></p>Sullicomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02038988410026039009noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14597838.post-75026218168418623712022-05-04T07:49:00.002-04:002022-05-04T07:49:44.258-04:00Fancy Schmancy Curried Cauli<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /><br /><span face="Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheS7IUX4EVVcaO3TR7l2CPycW_U37Y7lx0sFtLNAI02Lp09xGf8_2lv0fvkRser9_bIHjPHWOFGWO5kgmnSOdsHoLWGdoQcY8XNVTqBMELwlGmwmVP44ZO8h2u5GkOwWy2d5c2-bjw8DCcrNoKCBm62DKG8FG7fetBunZCbl6f0U2tPaQlqA/s3264/20220503_194113.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2448" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheS7IUX4EVVcaO3TR7l2CPycW_U37Y7lx0sFtLNAI02Lp09xGf8_2lv0fvkRser9_bIHjPHWOFGWO5kgmnSOdsHoLWGdoQcY8XNVTqBMELwlGmwmVP44ZO8h2u5GkOwWy2d5c2-bjw8DCcrNoKCBm62DKG8FG7fetBunZCbl6f0U2tPaQlqA/w480-h640/20220503_194113.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br />Recently at work we hooked up with a local Community-Supported Agriculture (CSA) organization - a collective of local farms that provides members with fresh, locally grown veggies, eggs and whatever else they happen to have available. We can order every week or as often as we want or need.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span face="Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span face="Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Each box is pretty full and we have a Facebook group in which we share recipes. This is helpful because it's easy to become overwhelmed by all this fresh produce. I made my first post to the page last night.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span face="Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span face="Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>Fancy Schmancy Curried Cauli</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span face="Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span face="Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">It's only fancy schmancy because I added frozen peas to it. Peas make anything fancy, you know. Otherwise it's easy-peasy. Half head of cauliflower and chopped leeks tossed into a pan of hot EVO. Let it go for a few minutes, then add a pour from whatever liquor you have within reach. We used some white wine. Add at least a TBL of curry powder (beyond that, to taste), some salt, then leave it alone to simmer for a bit. We served it over jasmine rice with a couple of shakes of tamari on top. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span face="Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span face="Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">I really expected to hate it, but it was okay.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span face="Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div>Sullicomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02038988410026039009noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14597838.post-17428233535332760272021-10-31T10:45:00.003-04:002021-10-31T10:45:47.158-04:00"They'll Do," Published on Trembling with Fear<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx32ZuZhsqHGqjv3kMffcWTaoqAplGCURoGEeKTyjv3h8v1dG_XoJTPJC49LVkPov_EKYkbvklYidibJtVJFbZLMXMXx16G_Kuh_o337g6VfHbGmTT1aSwtfHzTrnFoQ3xiFSZ/s2048/jackson-simmer-bvY24bV_2Xs-unsplash.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1638" data-original-width="2048" height="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx32ZuZhsqHGqjv3kMffcWTaoqAplGCURoGEeKTyjv3h8v1dG_XoJTPJC49LVkPov_EKYkbvklYidibJtVJFbZLMXMXx16G_Kuh_o337g6VfHbGmTT1aSwtfHzTrnFoQ3xiFSZ/w640-h512/jackson-simmer-bvY24bV_2Xs-unsplash.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Photo by <a href="https://unsplash.com/@simmerdownjpg?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText">Jackson Simmer</a> on <a href="https://unsplash.com/s/photos/scary-house?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText">Unsplash</a></span></div><p></p><p>My Halloween flash-fiction story, "They'll Do," is included in <a href="https://horrortree.com/trembling-with-fear-halloween-2021-edition/#more-616857" target="_blank">Trembling with Fear</a>'s Halloween Edition. Enjoy!</p>Sullicomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02038988410026039009noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14597838.post-75040015488058607642021-10-19T06:52:00.002-04:002021-10-19T07:54:56.787-04:00"The Roar" published on Tranfigured Lit<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqNj0MMChAqofskmfXVeul8NeC8JJIilNhsdadRwU8qpr_6Sa1V1w_it447dx97jVrgMlC21DwJVhbRPtvRXAsy1V9HBWMM_ZjFQ8VIstEHgEuhyMaWG1Idb1uUmqdDd6X_I4d/s2048/aaron-burden-xG8IQMqMITM-unsplash.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1538" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqNj0MMChAqofskmfXVeul8NeC8JJIilNhsdadRwU8qpr_6Sa1V1w_it447dx97jVrgMlC21DwJVhbRPtvRXAsy1V9HBWMM_ZjFQ8VIstEHgEuhyMaWG1Idb1uUmqdDd6X_I4d/w640-h480/aaron-burden-xG8IQMqMITM-unsplash.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: right;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Photo by <a href="https://unsplash.com/@aaronburden?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText">Aaron Burden</a></span></div><br /> I've been exercising my fiction muscles after many years of not using them in any disciplined way. <a href="https://transfiguredlit.wordpress.com/2021/10/10/the-roar-by-steve-sullivan/">"The Roar"</a> is a flash-fiction Christian story that was recently published on <a href="https://transfiguredlit.wordpress.com/">Transfigured Lit</a>. I hope you like it.<p></p>Sullicomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02038988410026039009noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14597838.post-6850294247357681432021-08-25T21:40:00.006-04:002021-08-25T21:40:44.884-04:00Meet the Toes<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-sy0A92D9OrbWdc70ian3RmQEscDUZGWkBnutohSOAjbm6Ec5c7oRBfh4BEV3fJV7v8cAH7VJcV5QWTtKrhSbGeXWH6MTr_kI0tuNlrTJZJ6a7T9G175CMkRoWKUVzakZR6SA/s2048/20210825_200912+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-sy0A92D9OrbWdc70ian3RmQEscDUZGWkBnutohSOAjbm6Ec5c7oRBfh4BEV3fJV7v8cAH7VJcV5QWTtKrhSbGeXWH6MTr_kI0tuNlrTJZJ6a7T9G175CMkRoWKUVzakZR6SA/w640-h480/20210825_200912+%25281%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 6pt 0pt 0pt 0pt;"><span style="color: #050505; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.5pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">Meet the toes (L-R): Luther, Logan, Laurence, Lem, Lumpy, Roland, Ronald, Ra’Shaun, Rob and Rick Sullivan.</span></p>Sullicomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02038988410026039009noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14597838.post-25544427296878714382021-06-29T08:22:00.005-04:002021-06-30T08:01:32.698-04:00Peaches<p> </p><br /><p></p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_YqDIaOgb8vnGRY81ZowfZehvQLIF3cOUW_DYnSvo529LiycA0Au88Ln7MmxV318iafjvLu4wU9JqJxLthICU4OtpaaK_aqZ1vr4UvAgF2pJmtx0qxp2qFXlpI2jHWdHj8-qJ/s2048/20210629_195018.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_YqDIaOgb8vnGRY81ZowfZehvQLIF3cOUW_DYnSvo529LiycA0Au88Ln7MmxV318iafjvLu4wU9JqJxLthICU4OtpaaK_aqZ1vr4UvAgF2pJmtx0qxp2qFXlpI2jHWdHj8-qJ/w640-h480/20210629_195018.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr></tbody></table><br />If you get a good peach you really don't need anything else to make it better. But recently, Marcy bought 25 pounds of peaches from the <a href="https://thepeachtruck.com/?gclid=Cj0KCQjw5uWGBhCTARIsAL70sLJy0tXxjsssC7VmcV8J1FdKkjRLOBDrWO9RN3TLXNaXbne99CY8Ti4aAkr5EALw_wcB" target="_blank">Peach Truck</a>. They're frickin' delicious, but we can't eat enough of them raw to keep up with spoilage, so we're experimenting with various recipes. I feel like the peach version of Forrest Gump's friend Bubba - "We can make peach cobbler, peach pie, peach ice cream, peach soup, peach etouffee...</p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><p></p></blockquote><p>We settled on a couple of things - peach preserves and grilled peaches with a buttery cinnamon-sugar sauce. (recipes below)</p><p><u>Peach Preserves</u></p><p>When in doubt, make jelly. Or jam. Or preserves. I went with the preserves so we could enjoy the chunky bits of the fruit. </p><p>12 ripe peaches</p><p>4.5 cups of granulated sugar</p><p>Packet of pectin</p><p>Blanch the peaches and remove the skins and pits. Cut into chunks and put into a pot. Bring to a low boil, stirring occasionally for 20 minutes. Gradually stir in the sugar, then add the pectin and return to a low boil for another 1-2 minutes. Ladle into sterilized pint jars, cap and put into boiling water for 10 minutes. Remove and let cool.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7pL2oHD-_1jAPLAmmVAdBrXzrai9KysWQh2quXJjRkJchr5xsV-pbunlWcmjf1qN3_wZhbFqkESCLpkaRPsUhTQQdMa8OxbVme7vg4U59lG84PYadSsshEm7o5dd2SUCRf9ma/s2048/20210626_194208.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7pL2oHD-_1jAPLAmmVAdBrXzrai9KysWQh2quXJjRkJchr5xsV-pbunlWcmjf1qN3_wZhbFqkESCLpkaRPsUhTQQdMa8OxbVme7vg4U59lG84PYadSsshEm7o5dd2SUCRf9ma/w300-h400/20210626_194208.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><p></p><p><u>Grilled Peaches</u></p><p>As I suggested above, the peaches by themselves are great and need no additional flavors. I have to admit that the smokiness they picked up from the grilling ended up competing with the peachiness and I think this might be better simply baked in the oven. But the cinnamon-sugar butter sauce was a great complement.</p><p>4 ripe peaches, halved and pitted</p><p>1 stick butter at room temperature</p><p>2 tsp granulated sugar</p><p>1 tsp brown sugar</p><p>1 tsp ground cinnamon</p><p>Canola oil</p><p>Heat the grill to hot and make sure it's clean. Combine butter, sugars and cinnamon. Lightly coat the peach halves with oil and put on the grill. Don't overcook the peaches. It will only take two or three minutes per side to heat them through. Remove from grill and place skin side down in a dish. Place a dollop of the cinnamon butter in the center. Once the butter has melted, serve and enjoy!</p><p><br /></p>Sullicomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02038988410026039009noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14597838.post-58663664294550318122021-06-06T09:36:00.003-04:002021-06-06T20:00:19.917-04:00The Sound of Summer 2021<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguIUvAZ1P2qcXeAbIWHSR0TiJCla6su_HlrxPNL6jWU_q4rPnuJl4tklOUzRq7ls0HKNHbar-WXIZrYY8xdb1ec-8sdEK0RqfToug8ACfpVnRhjL7ZGq8OgRzYb_z4pzqYBfEm/s2048/20210606_084132.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1463" data-original-width="2048" height="286" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguIUvAZ1P2qcXeAbIWHSR0TiJCla6su_HlrxPNL6jWU_q4rPnuJl4tklOUzRq7ls0HKNHbar-WXIZrYY8xdb1ec-8sdEK0RqfToug8ACfpVnRhjL7ZGq8OgRzYb_z4pzqYBfEm/w400-h286/20210606_084132.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>We saw our first sign of them back in March. Lots and lots of little holes in the ground where they had emerged after sleeping for the past 17 years. Then in early May, we started seeing the shells along the sidewalks. A couple of weeks after that, we saw our first red-eyed beauties. Finally, the days warmed up enough to hear them start to sing. The cicadas were back!<p></p><p>This is the third cycle I remember of what's being called Brood X. The time before, in 2004, we were in our third summer in Maryland. The kids were still young and my most vivid memory is knocking several off a tree branch so that they fell onto Flannery's softball teammates. Several cried. A true bad-dad moment. </p><p>The time before, 1987, was the first time I can recall any buzz (sorry) about the bugs. Marcy and I were living in Chicago, pre-kids. I don't remember a lot of them being around Oak Park, but I do remember hearing them loudly singing when we stopped at a gas station on the way to a baseball game in Milwaukee.</p><p>Going back another 17 years would put me in 1970 Madisonville, Kentucky at age 13. No recollection of them whatsoever. That would have been my first cycle.</p><p>If it's meant for me to be around for the next one, that would come in 2038. That year I'll be 81 but hopefully still acting like the world's oldest 12-year-old. If you need to find me then, just look around the softball fields where I'll be putting bugs on little girls' shoulders.</p><p><br /></p>
<iframe width="100%" height="300" scrolling="no" frameborder="no" allow="autoplay" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/1062617626&color=%23ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&show_teaser=true&visual=true"></iframe><div style="font-size: 10px; color: #cccccc;line-break: anywhere;word-break: normal;overflow: hidden;white-space: nowrap;text-overflow: ellipsis; font-family: Interstate,Lucida Grande,Lucida Sans Unicode,Lucida Sans,Garuda,Verdana,Tahoma,sans-serif;font-weight: 100;"><a href="https://soundcloud.com/steve-sullivan-14" title="Steve Sullivan 13" target="_blank" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;">Steve Sullivan 13</a> · <a href="https://soundcloud.com/steve-sullivan-14/cicadas-2021" title="Cicadas 2021" target="_blank" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;">Cicadas 2021</a></div>
<iframe width="100%" height="300" scrolling="no" frameborder="no" allow="autoplay" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/1063240951&color=%23ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&show_teaser=true&visual=true"></iframe><div style="font-size: 10px; color: #cccccc;line-break: anywhere;word-break: normal;overflow: hidden;white-space: nowrap;text-overflow: ellipsis; font-family: Interstate,Lucida Grande,Lucida Sans Unicode,Lucida Sans,Garuda,Verdana,Tahoma,sans-serif;font-weight: 100;"><a href="https://soundcloud.com/steve-sullivan-14" title="Steve Sullivan 13" target="_blank" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;">Steve Sullivan 13</a> · <a href="https://soundcloud.com/steve-sullivan-14/cicadas-2021-part-2" title="Cicadas 2021 part 2" target="_blank" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;">Cicadas 2021 part 2</a></div>Sullicomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02038988410026039009noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14597838.post-67874388143017917092021-04-22T10:23:00.005-04:002021-04-22T14:32:53.617-04:00About Those People in Drug Commercials...<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.tvcommercialad.com/watch/zARUpKEu3d1nZVX" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="830" data-original-width="1548" height="344" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPzibGoGGM5IAqSJCvohSQaOE7x4dOr6L2OJ36FCUd0tIuqLQ30pqe9StliBEWWaORutwnp3Cd5kFVCUOdk6FXMyAgNAfnSnE77_-4hH_Hsu784wHvSN4nRmZjSkvZF2bQd4eO/w640-h344/jardiance.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 6pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 6pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 6pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 6pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 6pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 6pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 6pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 6pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 6pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 6pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 6pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><div class="OutlineElement Ltr BCX0 SCXW202785140" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph BCX0 SCXW202785140" lang="EN-US" paraeid="{94eb091b-cb0e-4a71-a8b0-774b2ca6cab8}{39}" paraid="516254206" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="TextRun BCX0 SCXW202785140" data-contrast="none" face="Arial, Arial_EmbeddedFont, Arial_MSFontService, sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; color: #222222; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 18.3458px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">Every time I see a pharmaceutical commercial on TV, my mind goes into a zone as these scenes of seemingly normal people move about as a narrator explains a little about what the drug does, but mostly about how it might kill you. </span><span class="EOP BCX0 SCXW202785140" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":1,"335551620":1,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}" face="Arial, Arial_EmbeddedFont, Arial_MSFontService, sans-serif" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; color: #222222; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18.3458px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p><p class="Paragraph BCX0 SCXW202785140" lang="EN-US" paraeid="{94eb091b-cb0e-4a71-a8b0-774b2ca6cab8}{39}" paraid="516254206" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="EOP BCX0 SCXW202785140" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":1,"335551620":1,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}" face="Arial, Arial_EmbeddedFont, Arial_MSFontService, sans-serif" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; color: #222222; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18.3458px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"><br /></span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr BCX0 SCXW202785140" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph BCX0 SCXW202785140" lang="EN-US" paraeid="{94eb091b-cb0e-4a71-a8b0-774b2ca6cab8}{54}" paraid="1876810103" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="TextRun BCX0 SCXW202785140" data-contrast="none" face="Arial, Arial_EmbeddedFont, Arial_MSFontService, sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; color: #222222; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 18.3458px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">I really can't distinguish one ad from another. However, recently Marcy and I have started playing a game in which we come up with backstories about the people in the commercials. This one is about Diane, Randy and Julie the names we've given the characters in a Jardiance ad that runs during NBC Nightly News. In the commercial, a woman who appears to run a community garden, is seen during her </span><span class="TextRun BCX0 SCXW202785140" data-contrast="none" face="Arial, Arial_EmbeddedFont, Arial_MSFontService, sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; color: #222222; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 18.3458px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">workday</span><span class="TextRun BCX0 SCXW202785140" data-contrast="none" face="Arial, Arial_EmbeddedFont, Arial_MSFontService, sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; color: #222222; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 18.3458px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">, including when a cartload of vegetables upends, spilling all over. There are other scenes showing her family - a man who appears to be her husband and a young girl we think is the granddaughter. </span><span class="EOP BCX0 SCXW202785140" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":1,"335551620":1,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}" face="Arial, Arial_EmbeddedFont, Arial_MSFontService, sans-serif" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; color: #222222; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18.3458px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p><p class="Paragraph BCX0 SCXW202785140" lang="EN-US" paraeid="{94eb091b-cb0e-4a71-a8b0-774b2ca6cab8}{54}" paraid="1876810103" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="EOP BCX0 SCXW202785140" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":1,"335551620":1,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}" face="Arial, Arial_EmbeddedFont, Arial_MSFontService, sans-serif" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; color: #222222; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18.3458px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"><br /></span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr BCX0 SCXW202785140" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph BCX0 SCXW202785140" lang="EN-US" paraeid="{94eb091b-cb0e-4a71-a8b0-774b2ca6cab8}{60}" paraid="1862448395" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="TextRun BCX0 SCXW202785140" data-contrast="none" face="Arial, Arial_EmbeddedFont, Arial_MSFontService, sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; color: #222222; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 18.3458px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">The woman we've named Diane. She was a high school beauty in this small Kansas town. A cheerleader and very popular. Her husband in the ad is Randy. He went to high school with Diane and, like every other boy in the class - and some girls - had a huge crush on her. Randy, though, was a bit of a loner in high school. Nothing bad. Good student, physically gifted but uninterested in sports. Diane was very popular and ran with the in crowd. She only knew that Randy was in a couple of her classes, but aside from that, she didn’t know a thing about him. </span><span class="EOP BCX0 SCXW202785140" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":1,"335551620":1,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}" face="Arial, Arial_EmbeddedFont, Arial_MSFontService, sans-serif" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; color: #222222; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18.3458px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p><p class="Paragraph BCX0 SCXW202785140" lang="EN-US" paraeid="{94eb091b-cb0e-4a71-a8b0-774b2ca6cab8}{60}" paraid="1862448395" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="EOP BCX0 SCXW202785140" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":1,"335551620":1,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}" face="Arial, Arial_EmbeddedFont, Arial_MSFontService, sans-serif" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; color: #222222; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18.3458px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"><br /></span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr BCX0 SCXW202785140" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph BCX0 SCXW202785140" lang="EN-US" paraeid="{94eb091b-cb0e-4a71-a8b0-774b2ca6cab8}{66}" paraid="1833365679" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="TextRun BCX0 SCXW202785140" data-contrast="none" face="Arial, Arial_EmbeddedFont, Arial_MSFontService, sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; color: #222222; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 18.3458px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">After high school, Diane went away to college, a small school about 60 miles from home. Randy stayed around town, working for his dad’s construction company. At college, Diane met Ricky, a junior who played football at the school. They started dating and soon after, Diane discovered she was pregnant. Diane and Ricky got married and she dropped out of school to work until it was time to have the baby. Later that year, she delivered a little girl named Deborah. Diane proved to be a good mother, but Ricky was not a good father. He was, however, adept at becoming one. Just three months after Debbie was born, Diane was pregnant again. During the second pregnancy, Diane began to put on weight, much to Ricky’s displeasure. He left Diane and Debbie two months before Dacia was born.</span></p><p class="Paragraph BCX0 SCXW202785140" lang="EN-US" paraeid="{94eb091b-cb0e-4a71-a8b0-774b2ca6cab8}{66}" paraid="1833365679" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="TextRun BCX0 SCXW202785140" data-contrast="none" face="Arial, Arial_EmbeddedFont, Arial_MSFontService, sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; color: #222222; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 18.3458px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"> </span><span class="EOP BCX0 SCXW202785140" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":1,"335551620":1,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}" face="Arial, Arial_EmbeddedFont, Arial_MSFontService, sans-serif" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; color: #222222; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18.3458px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr BCX0 SCXW202785140" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph BCX0 SCXW202785140" lang="EN-US" paraeid="{94eb091b-cb0e-4a71-a8b0-774b2ca6cab8}{72}" paraid="1653155068" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="TextRun BCX0 SCXW202785140" data-contrast="none" face="Arial, Arial_EmbeddedFont, Arial_MSFontService, sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; color: #222222; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 18.3458px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">Soon after, Diane and the girls moved back to hometown. They moved in with Diane’s mom and dad until she could find a job and get an apartment for her little family. She found a job working in the produce section of the grocery store. After two years, she worked her way up to produce manager and held that job for the next 37 years until leaving to become the executive director for the community garden. However, with the added weight and the stress of being a single, working mom, Diane developed type 2 diabetes and a heart condition, for which her doctor prescribed Jardiance.</span><span class="EOP BCX0 SCXW202785140" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":1,"335551620":1,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}" face="Arial, Arial_EmbeddedFont, Arial_MSFontService, sans-serif" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; color: #222222; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18.3458px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p><p class="Paragraph BCX0 SCXW202785140" lang="EN-US" paraeid="{94eb091b-cb0e-4a71-a8b0-774b2ca6cab8}{72}" paraid="1653155068" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="EOP BCX0 SCXW202785140" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":1,"335551620":1,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}" face="Arial, Arial_EmbeddedFont, Arial_MSFontService, sans-serif" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; color: #222222; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18.3458px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"><br /></span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr BCX0 SCXW202785140" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph BCX0 SCXW202785140" lang="EN-US" paraeid="{94eb091b-cb0e-4a71-a8b0-774b2ca6cab8}{78}" paraid="1638139311" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="TextRun BCX0 SCXW202785140" data-contrast="none" face="Arial, Arial_EmbeddedFont, Arial_MSFontService, sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; color: #222222; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 18.3458px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun BCX0 SCXW202785140" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Meanwhile Randy enjoyed working with his dad. The construction business was </span><span class="NormalTextRun ContextualSpellingAndGrammarErrorV2 BCX0 SCXW202785140" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-image: url("data:image/svg+xml;base64,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"); background-position: 0% 100%; background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom: 1px solid transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">good</span><span class="NormalTextRun BCX0 SCXW202785140" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> and they ran a successful company. After 10 years, Randy proposed to his dad that they expand the company’s focus to also include rehabs. Pops agreed and put Randy in charge of that. It quickly became the more profitable wing of the company and Randy became quietly very wealthy.</span></span><span class="EOP BCX0 SCXW202785140" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":1,"335551620":1,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}" face="Arial, Arial_EmbeddedFont, Arial_MSFontService, sans-serif" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; color: #222222; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18.3458px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p><p class="Paragraph BCX0 SCXW202785140" lang="EN-US" paraeid="{94eb091b-cb0e-4a71-a8b0-774b2ca6cab8}{78}" paraid="1638139311" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="EOP BCX0 SCXW202785140" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":1,"335551620":1,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}" face="Arial, Arial_EmbeddedFont, Arial_MSFontService, sans-serif" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; color: #222222; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18.3458px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"><br /></span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr BCX0 SCXW202785140" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph BCX0 SCXW202785140" lang="EN-US" paraeid="{94eb091b-cb0e-4a71-a8b0-774b2ca6cab8}{84}" paraid="339949538" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="TextRun BCX0 SCXW202785140" data-contrast="none" face="Arial, Arial_EmbeddedFont, Arial_MSFontService, sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; color: #222222; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 18.3458px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">When Diane had finally saved enough money for her and the girls to move from their apartment to a house, she found a fixer upper that was well within her budget, although needed lots of work. She needed to hire a contractor to do the upgrades and guess who she called?</span><span class="EOP BCX0 SCXW202785140" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":1,"335551620":1,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}" face="Arial, Arial_EmbeddedFont, Arial_MSFontService, sans-serif" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; color: #222222; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18.3458px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p><p class="Paragraph BCX0 SCXW202785140" lang="EN-US" paraeid="{94eb091b-cb0e-4a71-a8b0-774b2ca6cab8}{84}" paraid="339949538" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="EOP BCX0 SCXW202785140" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":1,"335551620":1,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}" face="Arial, Arial_EmbeddedFont, Arial_MSFontService, sans-serif" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; color: #222222; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18.3458px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"><br /></span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr BCX0 SCXW202785140" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph BCX0 SCXW202785140" lang="EN-US" paraeid="{94eb091b-cb0e-4a71-a8b0-774b2ca6cab8}{90}" paraid="1634667660" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="TextRun BCX0 SCXW202785140" data-contrast="none" face="Arial, Arial_EmbeddedFont, Arial_MSFontService, sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; color: #222222; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 18.3458px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">When they met, Randy was immediately taken by how beautiful Diane still was, even though she had put on weight. Diane vaguely remembered that Randy had been in some of her classes. But she was impressed by the great work he had done all over town.</span><span class="EOP BCX0 SCXW202785140" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":1,"335551620":1,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}" face="Arial, Arial_EmbeddedFont, Arial_MSFontService, sans-serif" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; color: #222222; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18.3458px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p><p class="Paragraph BCX0 SCXW202785140" lang="EN-US" paraeid="{94eb091b-cb0e-4a71-a8b0-774b2ca6cab8}{90}" paraid="1634667660" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="EOP BCX0 SCXW202785140" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":1,"335551620":1,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}" face="Arial, Arial_EmbeddedFont, Arial_MSFontService, sans-serif" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; color: #222222; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18.3458px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"><br /></span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr BCX0 SCXW202785140" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph BCX0 SCXW202785140" lang="EN-US" paraeid="{94eb091b-cb0e-4a71-a8b0-774b2ca6cab8}{96}" paraid="1433801527" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="TextRun BCX0 SCXW202785140" data-contrast="none" face="Arial, Arial_EmbeddedFont, Arial_MSFontService, sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; color: #222222; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 18.3458px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">Diane’s two daughters grew up to be as beautiful as their mother. In high school, both were good students and very popular. Debbie began dating a football player named Keith. Diane could clearly see the parallels between Debbie and Keith and her and Ricky. In senior year when Debbie became pregnant, it did not surprise Diane. Nor did it surprise her when Debbie told her she and Keith were getting married. Debbie dropped out of school to get married and have the baby, a girl they named Julie.</span><span class="EOP BCX0 SCXW202785140" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":1,"335551620":1,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}" face="Arial, Arial_EmbeddedFont, Arial_MSFontService, sans-serif" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; color: #222222; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18.3458px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p><p class="Paragraph BCX0 SCXW202785140" lang="EN-US" paraeid="{94eb091b-cb0e-4a71-a8b0-774b2ca6cab8}{96}" paraid="1433801527" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="EOP BCX0 SCXW202785140" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":1,"335551620":1,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}" face="Arial, Arial_EmbeddedFont, Arial_MSFontService, sans-serif" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; color: #222222; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18.3458px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"><br /></span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr BCX0 SCXW202785140" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph BCX0 SCXW202785140" lang="EN-US" paraeid="{94eb091b-cb0e-4a71-a8b0-774b2ca6cab8}{102}" paraid="2118469176" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="TextRun BCX0 SCXW202785140" data-contrast="none" face="Arial, Arial_EmbeddedFont, Arial_MSFontService, sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; color: #222222; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 18.3458px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">Dacia finished high school and graduated with honors. She went off to college where she earned a degree in elementary education, met a doctor and married. They had a loving relationship that brought three children - a boy and two girls.</span><span class="EOP BCX0 SCXW202785140" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":1,"335551620":1,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}" face="Arial, Arial_EmbeddedFont, Arial_MSFontService, sans-serif" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; color: #222222; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18.3458px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p><p class="Paragraph BCX0 SCXW202785140" lang="EN-US" paraeid="{94eb091b-cb0e-4a71-a8b0-774b2ca6cab8}{102}" paraid="2118469176" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="EOP BCX0 SCXW202785140" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":1,"335551620":1,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}" face="Arial, Arial_EmbeddedFont, Arial_MSFontService, sans-serif" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; color: #222222; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18.3458px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"><br /></span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr BCX0 SCXW202785140" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph BCX0 SCXW202785140" lang="EN-US" paraeid="{94eb091b-cb0e-4a71-a8b0-774b2ca6cab8}{108}" paraid="589034855" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="TextRun BCX0 SCXW202785140" data-contrast="none" face="Arial, Arial_EmbeddedFont, Arial_MSFontService, sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; color: #222222; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 18.3458px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">Meanwhile, Debbie’s marriage was not so happy. Keith’s frustration at being a young husband and father soon became obvious. He drank, did drugs and fooled around. Debbie also started drinking and doing drugs and soon it grew beyond her ability to control it. One night, while high and drunk, Debbie crashed the car. It was a minor accident, but Julie was in the car with her when it happened. Debbie was cited with DUI and possession. She faced a mandatory stint in rehab and Diane assumed custody of Julie until Debbie </span><span class="TextRun BCX0 SCXW202785140" data-contrast="none" face="Arial, Arial_EmbeddedFont, Arial_MSFontService, sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; color: #222222; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 18.3458px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">could prove</span><span class="TextRun BCX0 SCXW202785140" data-contrast="none" face="Arial, Arial_EmbeddedFont, Arial_MSFontService, sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; color: #222222; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 18.3458px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"> to social </span><span class="TextRun BCX0 SCXW202785140" data-contrast="none" face="Arial, Arial_EmbeddedFont, Arial_MSFontService, sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; color: #222222; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 18.3458px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun ContextualSpellingAndGrammarErrorV2 BCX0 SCXW202785140" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-image: url("data:image/svg+xml;base64,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"); background-position: 0% 100%; background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom: 1px solid transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">services</span></span><span class="TextRun BCX0 SCXW202785140" data-contrast="none" face="Arial, Arial_EmbeddedFont, Arial_MSFontService, sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; color: #222222; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 18.3458px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"> she was responsible enough to resume the role of parent.</span><span class="EOP BCX0 SCXW202785140" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":1,"335551620":1,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}" face="Arial, Arial_EmbeddedFont, Arial_MSFontService, sans-serif" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; color: #222222; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18.3458px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p><p class="Paragraph BCX0 SCXW202785140" lang="EN-US" paraeid="{94eb091b-cb0e-4a71-a8b0-774b2ca6cab8}{108}" paraid="589034855" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="EOP BCX0 SCXW202785140" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":1,"335551620":1,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}" face="Arial, Arial_EmbeddedFont, Arial_MSFontService, sans-serif" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; color: #222222; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18.3458px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"><br /></span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr BCX0 SCXW202785140" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph BCX0 SCXW202785140" lang="EN-US" paraeid="{94eb091b-cb0e-4a71-a8b0-774b2ca6cab8}{114}" paraid="1652714072" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="TextRun BCX0 SCXW202785140" data-contrast="none" face="Arial, Arial_EmbeddedFont, Arial_MSFontService, sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; color: #222222; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 18.3458px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">One day, Keith showed up at Diane’s house. He was drunk or high or both. He demanded to see Julie. Diane refused and Keith became louder and more belligerent. Randy, who was at the house overseeing part of the rebuild, heard the commotion and went to see what was going on. When he saw Keith becoming more aggressive toward Diane, Randy stepped in. He told Keith to calm down and leave the property. When Keith took a wild swing at Randy, Randy deftly stepped aside, causing Keith to fall and hit his head, knocking him out. Randy asked Diane if she wanted to call police. She said no. Minutes later, Keith came to. Randy checked on him to see if he was okay. Keith started cursing and threatening Randy, who simply grabbed Keith by the balls with all the force of a vise grip and calmly told Keith to leave and not come back unless he wanted to get arrested or worse. </span><span class="EOP BCX0 SCXW202785140" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":1,"335551620":1,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}" face="Arial, Arial_EmbeddedFont, Arial_MSFontService, sans-serif" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; color: #222222; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18.3458px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p><p class="Paragraph BCX0 SCXW202785140" lang="EN-US" paraeid="{94eb091b-cb0e-4a71-a8b0-774b2ca6cab8}{114}" paraid="1652714072" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="EOP BCX0 SCXW202785140" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":1,"335551620":1,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}" face="Arial, Arial_EmbeddedFont, Arial_MSFontService, sans-serif" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; color: #222222; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18.3458px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"><br /></span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr BCX0 SCXW202785140" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph BCX0 SCXW202785140" lang="EN-US" paraeid="{94eb091b-cb0e-4a71-a8b0-774b2ca6cab8}{120}" paraid="863148963" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="TextRun BCX0 SCXW202785140" data-contrast="none" face="Arial, Arial_EmbeddedFont, Arial_MSFontService, sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; color: #222222; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 18.3458px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">Randy then took Diane and Julie out to dinner. The conversation was nice and comfortable and soon after, Diane and Randy began a courtship that blossomed into love and a year later, marriage. </span><span class="EOP BCX0 SCXW202785140" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":1,"335551620":1,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}" face="Arial, Arial_EmbeddedFont, Arial_MSFontService, sans-serif" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; color: #222222; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18.3458px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr BCX0 SCXW202785140" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph BCX0 SCXW202785140" lang="EN-US" paraeid="{94eb091b-cb0e-4a71-a8b0-774b2ca6cab8}{126}" paraid="551843454" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="TextRun BCX0 SCXW202785140" data-contrast="none" face="Arial, Arial_EmbeddedFont, Arial_MSFontService, sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; color: #222222; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 18.3458px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">Debbie finished her stint in rehab, but she and Diane decided that Julie should remain with her grandmother and step-grandfather until Debbie was employed and felt like she could cope with the responsibility of motherhood.</span><span class="EOP BCX0 SCXW202785140" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":1,"335551620":1,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}" face="Arial, Arial_EmbeddedFont, Arial_MSFontService, sans-serif" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; color: #222222; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18.3458px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p><p class="Paragraph BCX0 SCXW202785140" lang="EN-US" paraeid="{94eb091b-cb0e-4a71-a8b0-774b2ca6cab8}{126}" paraid="551843454" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="EOP BCX0 SCXW202785140" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":1,"335551620":1,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}" face="Arial, Arial_EmbeddedFont, Arial_MSFontService, sans-serif" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; color: #222222; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18.3458px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"><br /></span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr BCX0 SCXW202785140" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph BCX0 SCXW202785140" lang="EN-US" paraeid="{94eb091b-cb0e-4a71-a8b0-774b2ca6cab8}{133}" paraid="694883366" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="TextRun BCX0 SCXW202785140" data-contrast="none" face="Arial, Arial_EmbeddedFont, Arial_MSFontService, sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; color: #222222; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 18.3458px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">It was the success of Randy’s business that allowed Diane to leave the grocery and take the job with the community garden, a job she loved. Julie would often help her pick and distribute the foods they grew. They moved into Randy’s house, a </span><span class="TextRun BCX0 SCXW202785140" data-contrast="none" face="Arial, Arial_EmbeddedFont, Arial_MSFontService, sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; color: #222222; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 18.3458px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">large, renovated</span><span class="TextRun BCX0 SCXW202785140" data-contrast="none" face="Arial, Arial_EmbeddedFont, Arial_MSFontService, sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; color: #222222; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 18.3458px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"> </span><span class="TextRun BCX0 SCXW202785140" data-contrast="none" face="Arial, Arial_EmbeddedFont, Arial_MSFontService, sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; color: #222222; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 18.3458px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">farmhouse</span><span class="TextRun BCX0 SCXW202785140" data-contrast="none" face="Arial, Arial_EmbeddedFont, Arial_MSFontService, sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; color: #222222; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 18.3458px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"> with plenty of room for hosting the large family dinners Diane loved making. Dacia and her family would often come over on the weekends and Debbie would join, too. Randy loved Diane’s girls and was a dutiful stepfather and -grandfather.</span><span class="EOP BCX0 SCXW202785140" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":1,"335551620":1,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}" face="Arial, Arial_EmbeddedFont, Arial_MSFontService, sans-serif" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; color: #222222; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18.3458px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p><p class="Paragraph BCX0 SCXW202785140" lang="EN-US" paraeid="{94eb091b-cb0e-4a71-a8b0-774b2ca6cab8}{133}" paraid="694883366" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="EOP BCX0 SCXW202785140" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":1,"335551620":1,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}" face="Arial, Arial_EmbeddedFont, Arial_MSFontService, sans-serif" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; color: #222222; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18.3458px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"><br /></span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr BCX0 SCXW202785140" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph BCX0 SCXW202785140" lang="EN-US" paraeid="{94eb091b-cb0e-4a71-a8b0-774b2ca6cab8}{140}" paraid="1906656885" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="TextRun BCX0 SCXW202785140" data-contrast="none" face="Arial, Arial_EmbeddedFont, Arial_MSFontService, sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 18.3458px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">A</span><span class="TextRun BCX0 SCXW202785140" data-contrast="none" face="Arial, Arial_EmbeddedFont, Arial_MSFontService, sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; color: #222222; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 18.3458px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun BCX0 SCXW202785140" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">ll was going well until one night when a drunken Keith showed up, with a gun. Randy went out to confront him and Keith fired and wounded him in the arm. As Keith approached Randy on the ground, looking to finish him off with a point-blank shot, Diane </span><span class="NormalTextRun SpellingErrorV2 BCX0 SCXW202785140" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-image: url("data:image/svg+xml;base64,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"); background-position: 0% 100%; background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom: 1px solid transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">came</span><span class="NormalTextRun BCX0 SCXW202785140" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> up </span><span class="NormalTextRun SpellingErrorV2 BCX0 SCXW202785140" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-image: url("data:image/svg+xml;base64,PD94bWwgdmVyc2lvbj0iMS4wIiBlbmNvZGluZz0iVVRGLTgiPz4KPHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iNXB4IiBoZWlnaHQ9IjRweCIgdmlld0JveD0iMCAwIDUgNCIgdmVyc2lvbj0iMS4xIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHhtbG5zOnhsaW5rPSJodHRwOi8vd3d3LnczLm9yZy8xOTk5L3hsaW5rIj4KICAgIDwhLS0gR2VuZXJhdG9yOiBTa2V0Y2ggNTYuMiAoODE2NzIpIC0gaHR0cHM6Ly9za2V0Y2guY29tIC0tPgogICAgPHRpdGxlPnNwZWxsaW5nX3NxdWlnZ2xlPC90aXRsZT4KICAgIDxkZXNjPkNyZWF0ZWQgd2l0aCBTa2V0Y2guPC9kZXNjPgogICAgPGcgaWQ9IkZsYWdzIiBzdHJva2U9Im5vbmUiIHN0cm9rZS13aWR0aD0iMSIgZmlsbD0ibm9uZSIgZmlsbC1ydWxlPSJldmVub2RkIj4KICAgICAgICA8ZyB0cmFuc2Zvcm09InRyYW5zbGF0ZSgtMTAxMC4wMDAwMDAsIC0yOTYuMDAwMDAwKSIgaWQ9InNwZWxsaW5nX3NxdWlnZ2xlIj4KICAgICAgICAgICAgPGcgdHJhbnNmb3JtPSJ0cmFuc2xhdGUoMTAxMC4wMDAwMDAsIDI5Ni4wMDAwMDApIj4KICAgICAgICAgICAgICAgIDxwYXRoIGQ9Ik0wLDMgQzEuMjUsMyAxLjI1LDEgMi41LDEgQzMuNzUsMSAzLjc1LDMgNSwzIiBpZD0iUGF0aCIgc3Ryb2tlPSIjRUIwMDAwIiBzdHJva2Utd2lkdGg9IjEiPjwvcGF0aD4KICAgICAgICAgICAgICAgIDxyZWN0IGlkPSJSZWN0YW5nbGUiIHg9IjAiIHk9IjAiIHdpZHRoPSI1IiBoZWlnaHQ9IjQiPjwvcmVjdD4KICAgICAgICAgICAgPC9nPgogICAgICAgIDwvZz4KICAgIDwvZz4KPC9zdmc+"); background-position: 0% 100%; background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom: 1px solid transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">behind</span><span class="NormalTextRun BCX0 SCXW202785140" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> Keith and conked him on the head with a shovel. Keith fell to the ground, dropping the gun in the process. He groggily stood up and saw Diane. He cursed and started to stumble toward her, arms outreached. Just as he reached her and put his hands around her neck, there was a shot. Keith released his grip from her neck. His eyes widened and he stumbled backwards, then fell. As Julie stood there, smoking gun at the end of her outstretched arms, a red stain spread around a black hole in the front of his shirt.</span></span><span class="EOP BCX0 SCXW202785140" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":1,"335551620":1,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}" face="Arial, Arial_EmbeddedFont, Arial_MSFontService, sans-serif" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; color: #222222; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18.3458px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr BCX0 SCXW202785140" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph BCX0 SCXW202785140" lang="EN-US" paraeid="{94eb091b-cb0e-4a71-a8b0-774b2ca6cab8}{12}" paraid="738692707" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="TextRun BCX0 SCXW202785140" data-contrast="auto" face="Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun BCX0 SCXW202785140" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"></span></span><span class="EOP BCX0 SCXW202785140" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}" face="Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div>Sullicomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02038988410026039009noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14597838.post-15961845809787813492021-04-18T20:16:00.009-04:002021-04-20T13:33:33.591-04:00Say, "Cheese"<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6K3JocT-5E4hIpRuBykx46jurpYjsg1AgYosyrxHkoN75FC-21tn2iWmaWBlkA1TUkLER43E9FcBXC1uNEn07kJZ1ZMFblxjRdqsjr-rasyvLzvtizAMYR5Pi-C1YBbvhvc_S/s2048/cheese.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1650" data-original-width="2048" height="516" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6K3JocT-5E4hIpRuBykx46jurpYjsg1AgYosyrxHkoN75FC-21tn2iWmaWBlkA1TUkLER43E9FcBXC1uNEn07kJZ1ZMFblxjRdqsjr-rasyvLzvtizAMYR5Pi-C1YBbvhvc_S/w640-h516/cheese.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><br /></div><p></p><p>My latest pandemic hobby is cheesemaking. Flannery got me a starter kit for my birthday and I finally feel comfortable giving it a go. I've read the instructions over and over, watched several YouTube videos and figure my confidence level is about as high as it's going to get without trying it.</p><p>I'm making Pepper Jack, which seems simple enough. I decided to go with a half recipe, which is a good idea since the cheese mold I bought is too small for a whole batch. I'm also not sure that a full-size mold would fit on the cheese press I made. Another potential benefit to this half batch is that if I totally screw it up, I've only wasted half as much stuff.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg3F7IptBVBkGbpM-sVpE__QwYKyufghCVn-wnwkaCSaCK4KGmyfllq9Oo8e2H2MFPTX0iTWe8VS-I1tsBGkwlBh7VvyxQeQsSeKjZ9kh8kLWWbV1i7_fRMSyVL4ZP391FD63h/s2048/20210418_092537.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg3F7IptBVBkGbpM-sVpE__QwYKyufghCVn-wnwkaCSaCK4KGmyfllq9Oo8e2H2MFPTX0iTWe8VS-I1tsBGkwlBh7VvyxQeQsSeKjZ9kh8kLWWbV1i7_fRMSyVL4ZP391FD63h/s320/20210418_092537.jpg" /></a></div>I started with 3/4 gallon of whole milk, which I had to heat to a precise 80 degrees. I added some sodium chloride solution diluted in chlorine-free water, then it ripened for 45 minutes. Next I added some Mesophilic Culture that was stirred into the milk and raised the temperature slowly to 90 degrees and let it ripen another 45 minutes after which I checked for a clean break in the curd. After getting the clean break, I used a knife to slice the curds into cubes and raised the temperature to 100 degrees for another half hour. Then it was time to pour off the whey and transfer the curds into a colander for a 10-minute draining. After draining, I moved the curds into a pot, where I added salt and minced jalapenos. Then it was into the cheese cloth-lined cheese mold for the first pressing in my homemade press. It remained in the press for 15 minutes, then I took it out, flipped it and put it back in the press for another 15 minutes. Once the second pressing was done, I increased the pressure in the press and let it sit for the next six hours.<div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0eLCoK09DeR0RzyDmTySRkhD1_MdONfh827uSWoQXkxywh1g7AyXm2MTg0V4tFIuVWc9B-9bs69WPHQv1MpS5iAUcJsDJgqinc9oJ1AIcFVyuC_p72cOHF82__Z8IInWSlNmb/s2048/20210418_113134.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0eLCoK09DeR0RzyDmTySRkhD1_MdONfh827uSWoQXkxywh1g7AyXm2MTg0V4tFIuVWc9B-9bs69WPHQv1MpS5iAUcJsDJgqinc9oJ1AIcFVyuC_p72cOHF82__Z8IInWSlNmb/s320/20210418_113134.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>After six hours, I removed the cheese from the press. Using a brine solution of kosher salt and water, I brushed the outside of the cheese and sat it on a rack, where it will spend the next two-three days drying. Once it has sufficiently dried, I'll coat it in cheese wax and will set it aside to cure for at least the next month.</div><div><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdqTU3y6qPf00SyHVwGZwFhzh9BHn5A4_YDGhlVpekqgaMKkRCP4lhnjlv2HPpe2LO5asFFAG26owGHnocFVp13OYzfL1dqXoc5GBtxMEutnWIOth62V1fFML9_AmYfVI-xfJE/s1930/20210420_132922.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1388" data-original-width="1930" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdqTU3y6qPf00SyHVwGZwFhzh9BHn5A4_YDGhlVpekqgaMKkRCP4lhnjlv2HPpe2LO5asFFAG26owGHnocFVp13OYzfL1dqXoc5GBtxMEutnWIOth62V1fFML9_AmYfVI-xfJE/s320/20210420_132922.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p></div>Sullicomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02038988410026039009noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14597838.post-77505788918885754762021-04-02T08:46:00.001-04:002021-04-02T10:14:40.243-04:00Starlings<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQowY5Sn5rcRtczhyphenhyphenes8Satog6mte18wUeeTMAICe5y8S4hKUZU9hp2pQ1c7DwRnIdvycFNxybUrI60L-njjSriXcoU2l-QtfY5YsP3gF3LbxdkeV-g25gZNcliXA_tLNDJRRb/s1966/20210402_094211.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1037" data-original-width="1966" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQowY5Sn5rcRtczhyphenhyphenes8Satog6mte18wUeeTMAICe5y8S4hKUZU9hp2pQ1c7DwRnIdvycFNxybUrI60L-njjSriXcoU2l-QtfY5YsP3gF3LbxdkeV-g25gZNcliXA_tLNDJRRb/s320/20210402_094211.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br />This is my latest poem. I call it "Starlings." <div><br /></div><div>The birds don’t care.</div><div>They’re unaware </div><div>Their nest is in our fan vent. </div><div>But if there’s smoke, </div><div>This ain’t no joke. </div><div>They’ll wonder where their nest went.
</div>Sullicomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02038988410026039009noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14597838.post-38276269664691817252020-08-24T20:11:00.010-04:002021-02-15T14:58:48.469-05:00Sauerkraut<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipH-NxLhZYJpXvmHmZFHWNl1gLj8VxW1M6gt70EODeGzcrWvs8vC38KF1ehR1rXr3jeCVASUkZv_55XAw-f1tx1kl5ICR_dq4tEmgQLuHQxBiLj2Y_7qjqq9v4s0CQZ3mBa7yM/s2048/20200905_144234.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipH-NxLhZYJpXvmHmZFHWNl1gLj8VxW1M6gt70EODeGzcrWvs8vC38KF1ehR1rXr3jeCVASUkZv_55XAw-f1tx1kl5ICR_dq4tEmgQLuHQxBiLj2Y_7qjqq9v4s0CQZ3mBa7yM/w375-h500/20200905_144234.jpg" width="375" /></a></div><br /><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I've been on a fermented-food kick this year. I've been a pickler for some time, making them with a vinegar/water brine. But this year I've concentrated on regular fermentation, salt, water (either added or drawn from the vegetables by the salt) and various spices. I've had great luck with pickles (lots of practice) and with Mo in the lead, kimchi. But the one I'm happiest with is sauerkraut.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I bought a fermentation container early in the year and have been using that. My first batch didn't go so well. I don't think I used enough salt and the kraut was bland and crunchy. Batch two went to the other extreme - too salty and mushy. Then I hit the Baby Bear level - literally the best kraut I've ever had. A perfect amount of salt, with some caraway seed and crushed red pepper added.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This past weekend Marcy and I stopped at a farm stand and I bought a nice head of cabbage, about five pounds worth. Sunday morning I pulled out the food processor and shredded it up, added the salt and seasonings and put it in the fermenter. We'll see how it turns out in a week or so.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqeS-3rB6JZSlSNvnK8N7WxvuEYZJ5kr9-qZPA_h_j3V171JQ-cqRjJ03xRr__QQOzMmNcmcKr3KWnaaL4xDV2hFHS7WUezX-B4PXqIBRL1prHsyY8ZiNHJWY-WV2uoEglrewp/s2048/20200823_094025.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqeS-3rB6JZSlSNvnK8N7WxvuEYZJ5kr9-qZPA_h_j3V171JQ-cqRjJ03xRr__QQOzMmNcmcKr3KWnaaL4xDV2hFHS7WUezX-B4PXqIBRL1prHsyY8ZiNHJWY-WV2uoEglrewp/w384-h512/20200823_094025.jpg" width="384" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">In the meantime, here's my very loose guidance on how to make your own kraut:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">- Shred a 3-5 pound head of cabbage.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">- Put in a large bowl and sprinkle with kosher salt. The rule of thumb I originally followed was that you add 1-1/2 - 2 tsp of salt for every pound of cabbage. Since the kosher salt is a little more potent than sea salt, I usually use a little less.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">- Let the salt sit atop the shredded cabbage for 15 minutes to an hour. It will start to draw water out. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">- With your hands or a kraut mallet, squeeze the cabbage for about 10 minutes to get as much water out as possible. The volume of cabbage will reduce significantly. Don't discard the water. This is the brine that will ferment the cabbage into kraut. In the event the cabbage tastes too salty at this point, pour out a little of the brine and replace it with water (dechlorinated, if possible) to dilute it.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">- Add seasonings of your choice. Don't overdo it - the fermentation process tends to make these flavors really stand out.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">- Transfer into a fermentation container or jar, making sure that the cabbage is completely covered by the brine. People will often use a whole leaf left over from the cabbage to put on top of the shredded kraut to help keep it submerged.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">- Cover your container loosely and put it in a cool, dark, room temperature location.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">- Check the progress every day or two, making sure that the kraut is still completely submerged. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">- After 3-5 days, you should start to notice that it tastes like sauerkraut. Continue to let it ferment until it reaches a taste and texture you prefer.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Enjoy!</div><p></p>Sullicomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02038988410026039009noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14597838.post-61358303846607680812020-08-24T15:46:00.008-04:002021-03-12T14:35:38.569-05:00Never Too Old to Learn<div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXsK5DoTT8CYQo6MgDM8rbYjGxlp3vPElo1Mc-YEXve9u7pBi1n2lWoFySgSCnwa4EZutTfWeK2SO7-u7lXinR5XTAxUeteXWtjdvWnWMvT3K1cPIspnKxoW8Q9UOsdFz5pYFf/s2048/20200824_155232.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXsK5DoTT8CYQo6MgDM8rbYjGxlp3vPElo1Mc-YEXve9u7pBi1n2lWoFySgSCnwa4EZutTfWeK2SO7-u7lXinR5XTAxUeteXWtjdvWnWMvT3K1cPIspnKxoW8Q9UOsdFz5pYFf/s640/20200824_155232.jpg" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><iframe allow="autoplay" frameborder="no" height="300" scrolling="no" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/881307715&color=%23ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&show_teaser=true&visual=true" width="100%"></iframe><div style="color: #cccccc; font-family: interstate, "lucida grande", "lucida sans unicode", "lucida sans", garuda, verdana, tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 10px; font-weight: 100; line-break: anywhere; overflow: hidden; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap; word-break: normal;"><a href="https://soundcloud.com/steve-sullivan-14" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank" title="Steve Sullivan 13">Steve Sullivan 13</a> · <a href="https://soundcloud.com/steve-sullivan-14/sin-city" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank" title="Sin City">Sin City</a></div>
<p><br /></p><p>Got tired of sitting around watching reruns of old baseball and football games during quarantine. So, at the age of 63, I decided to learn how to play the guitar. I asked the kids to get me lessons for Father's Day and they hooked me up with Scotty "Guitar" Mize, a terrific and very patient guitar coach in Kansas City. I took two months (eight, total) of weekly lessons. Starting from "absolutely suck," I am now probably at the "still sucks but maybe not as much" level.</p><p>Scott started me off with the basics, but he asked me to come up with a list of 10 songs I wanted to learn. Before the first lesson was over, he had taught me how to play a 12-bar blues riff, the very recognizable riff from Smoke on the Water and the chords I needed to play Wild Thing.</p><p>After the lesson, I sent him my list - mostly a collection of blues and country songs I like. Each week, he would mark up a simple chord sheet for one of the songs. Of course, we continued working on the basics, like how to play various chords and making the transitions between them. </p><p>To my credit, I was dedicated to practicing between lessons, generally putting in about 30 minutes to an hour each day. I guess Scott heard more improvement than I did, because he moved me along pretty quickly, sharing some more complicated techniques like bass runs, primary/secondary bass strums and barre chords. </p><p>Now I can play about 30-40 favorite songs. Still pretty badly at this point, but they get a little better and more recognizable each time. The one above is an old favorite by the Flying Burrito Brothers. The one below is my cover of Freddie Hart's Easy Lovin'.</p><p>There's a good version of Sin City by Beck with Emmylou Harris. And John Hammond's version of Easy Lovin' hooked me on that song. But these days, better or worse, I really like these posted versions of the songs best.</p><p><br /></p>
<iframe allow="autoplay" frameborder="no" height="300" scrolling="no" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/881701978&color=%23ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&show_teaser=true&visual=true" width="100%"></iframe><div style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Interstate, "Lucida Grande", "Lucida Sans Unicode", "Lucida Sans", Garuda, Verdana, Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 10px; font-weight: 100; line-break: anywhere; overflow: hidden; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap; word-break: normal;"><a href="https://soundcloud.com/steve-sullivan-14" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank" title="Steve Sullivan 13">Steve Sullivan 13</a> · <a href="https://soundcloud.com/steve-sullivan-14/easy-lovin" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank" title="Easy Lovin'">Ea</a></div><div style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Interstate, "Lucida Grande", "Lucida Sans Unicode", "Lucida Sans", Garuda, Verdana, Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 10px; font-weight: 100; line-break: anywhere; overflow: hidden; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap; word-break: normal;"><a href="https://soundcloud.com/steve-sullivan-14/easy-lovin" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank" title="Easy Lovin'">sy Lovin'</a></div>
<p><br /></p><p>UPDATE: I'm still playing guitar and getting much better. For Christmas, Courtland got me a mandolin and now I'm working on that. Today is March 11, less than three months since Christmas. I just recorded a version of the song "Cold Water" to post here. Still pretty rough, but not bad. I can do a few other songs, including "Ripple." A long way to go. Working on some finger picking and tremolo techniques and must say that I've having a shit ton of fun, be it with the guitar or the mandolin!</p><p><br /><p>
<iframe width="100%" height="300" scrolling="no" frameborder="no" allow="autoplay" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/1005635245&color=%23ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&show_teaser=true&visual=true"></iframe><div style="font-size: 10px; color: #cccccc;line-break: anywhere;word-break: normal;overflow: hidden;white-space: nowrap;text-overflow: ellipsis; font-family: Interstate,Lucida Grande,Lucida Sans Unicode,Lucida Sans,Garuda,Verdana,Tahoma,sans-serif;font-weight: 100;"><a href="https://soundcloud.com/steve-sullivan-14" title="Steve Sullivan 13" target="_blank" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;">Steve Sullivan 13</a> · <a href="https://soundcloud.com/steve-sullivan-14/cold-water-mandolin" title="Cold Water (mandolin)" target="_blank" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;">Cold Water (mandolin)</a></div>Sullicomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02038988410026039009noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14597838.post-1505331621354426942020-08-03T18:15:00.004-04:002020-08-03T19:33:53.224-04:00Bigfoot's Slippers<span id="docs-internal-guid-b5828bb4-7fff-5c1c-08ea-a2a748a854ee"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj__ROAONKVpioi43iYIsvWZFy2D71N-j3Ca4TNV-EJUxTLzkhS7MtF5Rb0LPHfFH5JPGOKPPFVpD1gEhp_qZfYu0Ys5X7vwNvbEm49TAqspvzX6JCWoRAZGx4Gg27wkROHrc_K/s642/Screenshot+2020-08-03+at+6.06.29+PM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="270" data-original-width="642" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj__ROAONKVpioi43iYIsvWZFy2D71N-j3Ca4TNV-EJUxTLzkhS7MtF5Rb0LPHfFH5JPGOKPPFVpD1gEhp_qZfYu0Ys5X7vwNvbEm49TAqspvzX6JCWoRAZGx4Gg27wkROHrc_K/s640/Screenshot+2020-08-03+at+6.06.29+PM.png" width="640" /></a></div><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">ordered a pair of slippers. Got a great deal on them, too. Back on June 1, while locked up in the house during quarantine, I saw an ad on Facebook for a clearance on LL Bean footwear. I love LL Bean clothing. It’s good, sturdy and fits round guys like me. The price on these shoes was phenomenal. I needed a pair of slippers and found a great pair of elk hide slippers that regularly sell for $99 going for $30. That's a catalog photo of them above. I resisted the temptation to buy other boots and shoes and just limited myself to this slipper purchase.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The purchase itself was a little odd. When I entered my card, it told me at first that the transaction did not go through. I tried to re-enter, but the site did not reload properly, so I thought it was a fluke of some sort and just figured I’d forget the whole thing. A while later, I checked my email and saw a message that the transaction went through. Okay.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A week and a half goes by and I’ve heard nothing else from the company I purchased from. So I go back to the original payment confirmation email to see if there’s contact info. There’s an email address and I write to them requesting an update. No reply for days. I check the email URL and try to go to the site - and there is no site. At this point, I’m starting to get suspicious about it. I’m thinking, “Who gets $99 shoes for $30? NOBODY! If a deal sounds too good to be true, it probably is. How many times have I heard that or said that? I got scammed!”</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">So I Google the company and the results that come up pretty much mirror my experience. Bought shoes at a great price, never heard from them, never delivered. Chinese company. Scam, scam, scam, scam. So, I call the bank, tell them what happened, and explain that I’m pretty sure I got scammed. They credit me the money and start an investigation. I go on the Better Business Bureau website and report the incident on the scam tracker. Sweet revenge.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The following week, I’m in my email again and I check the spam filter. There sits an email saying, “Your order has shipped.” There’s a tracking number and I check it. It takes me to a Chinese tracking site that shows the package had arrived in Shanghai two weeks earlier. No update since then. I continue to check for the next two weeks, but there are no further updates, so I give up.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Another couple of weeks go by. On July 12, I’m checking my email and I get a tracking update from the US Postal Service. My package has arrived at the sorting center in Queens, NY. Whoo-hoo! I start doing daily checks and it’s just sitting in Queens. Finally, it starts moving and on July 15 it shows that my shoes have reached the sorting center in Baltimore, expected to be at my home in two days. Two days come and no shoes. On July 18, I get another update showing the package was delivered to the post office in Rising Sun, Maryland - about 35 miles away. Thinking, optimistically, that this is just some weird procedural route all mail takes, I wait, expecting the shoes to arrive any day. But they just sit in Rising Sun for a week, at which point I go on the USPS site and fill out a missing mail report. Two days later I get a response saying they’ve investigated and the situation is resolved. The package is being sent to the correct post office. Another couple of days go by and I get an update saying the package is back in the Baltimore sorting office. Yay! Here come shoes! They’re there through the weekend and I figure I’ll get them on Monday, Tuesday at the latest. Then I get another update. The shoes are back in Rising Sun. WTF!</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I’ve been developing this conspiracy theory that this is all part of a Chinese hacking effort. The original scam involves taking my money, then manipulating somehow the Chinese tracking site and the USPS tracking site so that people just think their shoes are bouncing around various post offices near the customer’s house. Probably an easy hack to pull off with some clever programming. I even carried it out to include this as a dry run to screw with the mail system prior to the election since it seems there will be a significant amount of voting by mail. As I play out this scenario in my head, I never get my shoes, but I do wind up being a hero for helping expose this large-scale international scheme.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I called the Towson post office and explained that my shoes are traveling back and forth between Baltimore and Rising Sun and how can I get them to come to Towson. They tell me to call the Rising Sun post office, which I do. The first person I spoke to was pretty useless. Then a nice woman got on the phone and actually went and found the package and held it in her hands. She read off the address. It was correct. She offered to let me come up and pick it up, but not feeling like driving 35 miles from work to get it, I told her to just try to resend it to Towson. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Now, I am again waiting. Buoyed somewhat by the fact that someone has actually laid eyes on the package. It was beginning to take on mythic proportions, kind of like Bigfoot. Or at least Bigfoot’s slippers. But someone has actually seen it. Or at least claimed to have seen it. Maybe they’re part of the conspiracy.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">UPDATE: 8/2/2020 - The tracker reports that my package has once again been received at the Baltimore sorting unit. Timestamp 9:52 p.m. on 8/1. Says it’s in transit to the destination (again). If it ends up in Rising Sun again, I will just drive up and get it. At this point, if I ever lay hands on it, I bet it turns out to be those Chinese mystery seeds instead of my slippers. Funny that all this movement took place after I filled out a customer “satisfaction” survey the USPS begged me to fill out. I did. I was not kind, although I credited the people I’ve dealt with directly as being helpful, but noting that the process sucks big time.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">UPDATE: 8/3/2020 - The tracker tells me that my package arrived at the Towson post office in the wee hours of the morning - 2:40 a.m. Encouraging, but how long will it sit there before it gets delivered. Another consideration is that tomorrow we’re scheduled to be hit by Tropical Storm Isaias. My guess is that it will be delivered mid storm and the wind will pick it up and carry it away. Probably all the way to Rising Sun.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">UPDATE: 8/3 - THE PACKAGE ARRIVED! However, my excitement quickly turned to bewilderment. How there could be any room left for bewilderment at this point, I don't know. It was too small to be slippers. Maybe it really was mystery seeds. I opened it and found - Ray Bans. Probably not real ones, but a pair of aviator-style sunglasses, in a case, with a bonus polishing cloth included. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB5iEQgT_nrMOt2YbCXPQxgRLpZiysnzURPs7Q5gfkIuSNadMtRu30rTRiAEA1KaPfJDGvU4L6zpYWbWGD4cCDCfYF72IHKmLKenoytb4i0z09Ip_8rnini-5aXt3lVHvfPdHN/s2048/20200803_173529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB5iEQgT_nrMOt2YbCXPQxgRLpZiysnzURPs7Q5gfkIuSNadMtRu30rTRiAEA1KaPfJDGvU4L6zpYWbWGD4cCDCfYF72IHKmLKenoytb4i0z09Ip_8rnini-5aXt3lVHvfPdHN/s640/20200803_173529.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><p></p><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">So, yeah, I got scammed. Sort of. I think I'll stand pat on the BBB scam report and the contested charge with the bank, even though I got some merchandise. No sense trying to return them. I'm blind as a bat without my prescription, so these things are no good to me. I guess I got a good story out of it. But the fact remains - I still need slippers.</span></div></span>Sullicomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02038988410026039009noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14597838.post-56462557236263396382019-11-21T19:46:00.001-05:002022-11-22T13:14:22.968-05:00November 21, 1962<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnGE4tyG8CEP7boh8IBDnB3dlONI4ABcRgHOuR2Wtabj8ywN3MHe_-WQUJ_nv07cA6OidYKbs8p2QU1M8Ci2KtU8cK0bWkFOgSXgdiNeAAzM0MAD9wY6QAg2gGxGEA4Ozuo1Lc/s1600/24d172a9-e535-4ca4-af1f-cb4a62919a28.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="641" data-original-width="625" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnGE4tyG8CEP7boh8IBDnB3dlONI4ABcRgHOuR2Wtabj8ywN3MHe_-WQUJ_nv07cA6OidYKbs8p2QU1M8Ci2KtU8cK0bWkFOgSXgdiNeAAzM0MAD9wY6QAg2gGxGEA4Ozuo1Lc/s400/24d172a9-e535-4ca4-af1f-cb4a62919a28.jpg" width="390" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span id="docs-internal-guid-4bf25037-7fff-a5cc-a569-a2300d1d1704"></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt;">
<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW47509533 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;">
<div class="Paragraph SCXW47509533 BCX0" paraeid="{a05da707-00d6-4c57-b752-f9111e9d862d}{151}" paraid="547925555" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span class="TextRun SCXW47509533 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" face="Arial, Arial_MSFontService, sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-kerning: none; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">57 years </span><span class="TextRun SCXW47509533 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" face="Arial, Arial_MSFontService, sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-kerning: none; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="ContextualSpellingAndGrammarError SCXW47509533 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: inherit; background-image: url("data:image/gif; background-position: left bottom; background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom: 1px solid transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">ago</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW47509533 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" face="Arial, Arial_MSFontService, sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-kerning: none; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"> today, my dad died. Heart attack. 49 years old. Less than three months before his 50th birthday. I was five. </span><span class="EOP SCXW47509533 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}" face="Arial, Arial_MSFontService, sans-serif" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></div>
<div class="Paragraph SCXW47509533 BCX0" paraeid="{a05da707-00d6-4c57-b752-f9111e9d862d}{151}" paraid="547925555" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span class="EOP SCXW47509533 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}" face="Arial, Arial_MSFontService, sans-serif" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW47509533 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;">
<div class="Paragraph SCXW47509533 BCX0" paraeid="{a05da707-00d6-4c57-b752-f9111e9d862d}{159}" paraid="235257546" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span class="TextRun SCXW47509533 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" face="Arial, Arial_MSFontService, sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-kerning: none; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">It was the day before Thanksgiving, Nov. 21, 1962. He spent a lot of time on the road in his role as a sales engineer for a steel company. That morning he had been in Paducah, Kentucky (see <a href="https://sullicom.blogspot.com/2022/11/daddys-wallet.html">Daddy’s Wallet story</a>) and drove home. Even though I was very young, I have some - at least a few - very vivid memories of him. That day, unfortunately, is among them. I remember him lying in bed. Still dressed, but obviously not feeling well. I did not go into the room, but remember seeing him from the hallway. It was a gloomy November day </span><span class="TextRun SCXW47509533 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" face="Arial, Arial_MSFontService, sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-kerning: none; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="ContextualSpellingAndGrammarError SCXW47509533 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: inherit; background-image: url("data:image/gif; background-position: left bottom; background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom: 1px solid transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">and in my memory</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW47509533 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" face="Arial, Arial_MSFontService, sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-kerning: none; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">, everything is dim. I remember the ambulance coming and them taking him away. He was still conscious when he left. I don’t recall how long it was until my mom returned, in the car with our pastor, Brother Loy, I think his name was. It was dark by then, but not yet dinnertime. When my grandmother saw Brother Loy, she knew what had happened and she started wailing. Brother Loy came in, knelt down to me and said, “Your daddy has gone to live with Jesus.” I really hadn’t been touched by death up to that point in my life. But I immediately grasped his meaning and, like grandmother, started to cry. I don’t really remember my mom in this, but I’m sure she was no better, if not worse, than grandmother and me. </span><span class="TextRun SCXW47509533 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" face="Arial, Arial_MSFontService, sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-kerning: none; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="ContextualSpellingAndGrammarError SCXW47509533 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: inherit; background-image: url("data:image/gif; background-position: left bottom; background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom: 1px solid transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Somehow</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW47509533 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" face="Arial, Arial_MSFontService, sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-kerning: none; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"> I got packed up and sent down to our neighbor’s, the </span><span class="TextRun SCXW47509533 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" face="Arial, Arial_MSFontService, sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-kerning: none; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="SpellingError SCXW47509533 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: inherit; background-image: url("data:image/gif; background-position: left bottom; background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom: 1px solid transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Calhouns</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW47509533 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" face="Arial, Arial_MSFontService, sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-kerning: none; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">. Not only were they our neighbors, but Dr. Calhoun was our doctor and was present when daddy suffered the fatal heart attack. </span><span class="TextRun SCXW47509533 BCX0" color="windowtext" data-contrast="auto" face="Arial, Arial_MSFontService, sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; font-kerning: none; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">The </span><span class="TextRun SCXW47509533 BCX0" color="windowtext" data-contrast="auto" face="Arial, Arial_MSFontService, sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; font-kerning: none; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="SpellingError SCXW47509533 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: inherit; background-image: url("data:image/gif; background-position: left bottom; background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom: 1px solid transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Calhouns</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW47509533 BCX0" color="windowtext" data-contrast="auto" face="Arial, Arial_MSFontService, sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; font-kerning: none; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"> had three children at that time, including my best friend, Rosie, just two days younger than me. I ate dinner with them and they went over and above to make me feel welcome. I went to bed that night at their house and I remember praying to God that I wanted to die when I was 49, just like daddy. Now that I’m 62, I’m happy that didn’t come to pass. But thinking about it, it was a powerful thing for a child to yearn for. </span><span class="EOP SCXW47509533 BCX0" color="windowtext" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}" face="Arial, Arial_MSFontService, sans-serif" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></div>
<div class="Paragraph SCXW47509533 BCX0" paraeid="{a05da707-00d6-4c57-b752-f9111e9d862d}{159}" paraid="235257546" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span class="EOP SCXW47509533 BCX0" color="windowtext" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}" face="Arial, Arial_MSFontService, sans-serif" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW47509533 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;">
<div class="Paragraph SCXW47509533 BCX0" paraeid="{a05da707-00d6-4c57-b752-f9111e9d862d}{179}" paraid="608637048" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span class="TextRun SCXW47509533 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" face="Arial, Arial_MSFontService, sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-kerning: none; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">I don’t remember anything else about that Thanksgiving. My older brother, David, was a freshman at Northwestern. He had not yet arrived home when all this happened. I remember a little about daddy’s funeral, in particular a man named Paul Baber, who had a wonderful baritone voice, singing. But my memory has a gap that extends to Christmas. It was unusually bountiful for me that year. I didn’t understand why at that time. We really didn’t talk about daddy much after he died. I know it was painful for me to have his loss put in front of me. I’m sure it was even more so for my mom. </span><span class="EOP SCXW47509533 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}" face="Arial, Arial_MSFontService, sans-serif" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></div>
<div class="Paragraph SCXW47509533 BCX0" paraeid="{a05da707-00d6-4c57-b752-f9111e9d862d}{179}" paraid="608637048" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW47509533 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;">
<div class="Paragraph SCXW47509533 BCX0" paraeid="{a05da707-00d6-4c57-b752-f9111e9d862d}{191}" paraid="1080507221" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span class="TextRun SCXW47509533 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" face="Arial, Arial_MSFontService, sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-kerning: none; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">As I’ve grown older, I’ve also come to resemble daddy more and more. I guess that’s to be expected. I look in the mirror and see his face looking back. When I turned </span><span class="TextRun SCXW47509533 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" face="Arial, Arial_MSFontService, sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-kerning: none; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="ContextualSpellingAndGrammarError SCXW47509533 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: inherit; background-image: url("data:image/gif; background-position: left bottom; background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom: 1px solid transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">49</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW47509533 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" face="Arial, Arial_MSFontService, sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-kerning: none; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"> I thought about him a lot. When our son was born in 1991, we gave him my dad’s name, Courtland. And now, aside from the memory of that Thanksgiving Eve, another memory visits me often. That’s sitting in a chair in our living room. He has recently returned from the road. He’s wearing khaki pants and a white dress shirt (a uniform I now frequently wear). He’s smoking a cigar. I am in his lap, rubbing his cheek, feeling the stubble on his face. I can smell the cigar smoke. It’s all as real to me now as when it happened. I like that.</span><span class="EOP SCXW47509533 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}" face="Arial, Arial_MSFontService, sans-serif" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></div>
</div>
<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW47509533 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;">
<div class="Paragraph SCXW47509533 BCX0" paraeid="{a05da707-00d6-4c57-b752-f9111e9d862d}{199}" paraid="576989171" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span class="TextRun EmptyTextRun SCXW47509533 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" face="Calibri, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-kerning: none; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"></span><span class="LineBreakBlob BlobObject DragDrop SCXW47509533 BCX0" face="Calibri, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"><span class="SCXW47509533 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text; white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun EmptyTextRun SCXW47509533 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" face="Calibri, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-kerning: none; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"></span><span class="EOP SCXW47509533 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}" face="Calibri, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></div>
</div>
<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW47509533 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;">
<div class="Paragraph SCXW47509533 BCX0" paraeid="{a05da707-00d6-4c57-b752-f9111e9d862d}{201}" paraid="1891378798" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br /></div>
</div>
</div>
Sullicomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02038988410026039009noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14597838.post-83070452524141419822019-10-11T13:43:00.006-04:002020-11-19T11:27:25.024-05:00Pearl and Carl Butler<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7NSDrMU-f7YIYwGtrks_9q3Rx6wb89htGoggQ_wAiKdBEtzjAheLiZwAmflAWqtii5rkrvb9gjvrN6Knhyphenhyphentl4iVn0Qe2lwqwFJvciZw-HM-wt5n9ZNFLJxH6nt2_KDvIF0K5K/s1600/39091338474_ec3e0e38fa_b.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="653" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7NSDrMU-f7YIYwGtrks_9q3Rx6wb89htGoggQ_wAiKdBEtzjAheLiZwAmflAWqtii5rkrvb9gjvrN6Knhyphenhyphentl4iVn0Qe2lwqwFJvciZw-HM-wt5n9ZNFLJxH6nt2_KDvIF0K5K/s640/39091338474_ec3e0e38fa_b.jpg" width="408" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/u6_a9qliS4g" width="560"></iframe><br />
<br />
I thought I had posted this before, but when I went to look for it I discovered that I had not. But - IT NEEDS TO BE POSTED!<br />
<br />
Carl and Pearl Butler were unknown to me until a few years ago when I was drilling down through YouTube suggestions. I was immediately captivated by Pearl's bouffant, then subsequently by Carl's facial contortions which suggest that he has smelled something foul. Interestingly, the music is actually very good and the song title, well, "Punish Me Tomorrow"? Wow!<div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/nmvSwy-pHM8" width="320" youtube-src-id="nmvSwy-pHM8"></iframe></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br />
They bubble to the forefront of my mind every couple of years and when they do, I CAN NEVER REMEMBER THEIR NAMES! Then I look through the blog, thinking I surely must have posted this before. But I hadn't. Fortunately, today their names fell off the top shelf of the storage shed in my brain. I decided before I once again misplace it to post these wonderful videos.<br />
<br />
Enjoy!<br />
<br />
<br />
</div>Sullicomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02038988410026039009noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14597838.post-37608386303336208712019-10-10T13:10:00.002-04:002019-10-10T13:10:34.471-04:00Why Marketing Was Invented<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYHnYOcDIZxg19KwUEixPt1RnAXK78osW4IPn5CJwrceTSfkfOiibYl8Lh5lOQ5remTFAHkid1f6WBrvcQj70T9f4hvcpCDTnFiiNaGk50N3PhPvuUJC0zrzJQj5ndGKMHsx_C/s1600/toiletmask.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="608" data-original-width="452" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYHnYOcDIZxg19KwUEixPt1RnAXK78osW4IPn5CJwrceTSfkfOiibYl8Lh5lOQ5remTFAHkid1f6WBrvcQj70T9f4hvcpCDTnFiiNaGk50N3PhPvuUJC0zrzJQj5ndGKMHsx_C/s640/toiletmask.JPG" width="474" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Madam Rowley: Look, I've invented a really useful thing!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Mister Rowley: Let's come up with a couple of names for it and try to sell it.</div>
<br />Sullicomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02038988410026039009noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14597838.post-77502764535189657562019-10-04T10:34:00.000-04:002019-10-04T10:35:30.935-04:00Halloween Joke<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdk69ds23S8ovFOpuicPBHwjyiKyNTmfJM_qCU5zAZMErnSm0qcWcLqIlQ0xAbovhrZwT6Z2P4Hz64BOwS0fKGkEM16zsfjbALE8ulPrKbwtGoxltballbHFRZYD33UDQcpYwW/s1600/scaryokee.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="703" data-original-width="1066" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdk69ds23S8ovFOpuicPBHwjyiKyNTmfJM_qCU5zAZMErnSm0qcWcLqIlQ0xAbovhrZwT6Z2P4Hz64BOwS0fKGkEM16zsfjbALE8ulPrKbwtGoxltballbHFRZYD33UDQcpYwW/s320/scaryokee.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Q: What do you call it when ghosts go onstage to sing along to popular songs?<br />
<br />
<br />
A: Scary-okee<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Sullicomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02038988410026039009noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14597838.post-46270870112115665802019-10-04T08:26:00.003-04:002019-10-04T09:15:48.623-04:00Treat Yourself to a Trick this Halloween<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVwCxDWZoVZBroyr0CAyOXY2LbUkPrruL1ItmPsUW3-I4mYD6G_YrByCbbpjul9RCY04JrMYAKMJoyqHUXEaP8sUY3mxpZLu6ev2YyD_uKM_m_Vl41pqLrBFokXR3UGufG5p-A/s1600/flat%252C550x550%252C075%252Cf.u1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="550" data-original-width="458" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVwCxDWZoVZBroyr0CAyOXY2LbUkPrruL1ItmPsUW3-I4mYD6G_YrByCbbpjul9RCY04JrMYAKMJoyqHUXEaP8sUY3mxpZLu6ev2YyD_uKM_m_Vl41pqLrBFokXR3UGufG5p-A/s400/flat%252C550x550%252C075%252Cf.u1.jpg" width="332" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Come close. Closer. No, closer. Let me whisper something to
you. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;">BOO!!</span></b><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Got you, didn’t I?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
That’s annoying, but an even more annoying aspect of
Halloween is the constant interruption of cheaply costumed children ringing
your doorbell as you sit on your couch eating your bags of candy while watching
TV.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Sure, you send your own children out to beg for candy that
they bring home for you to eat later that evening. But that’s different.
They’re bothering someone else. It’s that you simply need a solution to other
people’s kids disturbing your Halloween enjoyment.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Of course, you could
turn off the lights and pretend you’re not home. However, that’s soooo
unoriginal. Here’s what always works for me. I prominently place a sign on my
lawn that all children can see. The sign has to do with our dog, a large and
frightening beast that you would think would send any sugar-fueled kid into a
screaming retreat. The sign, though, doesn’t read “Beware of Dog.” No, children
love dogs and if you warn them to be careful, that just means they’ll pet the
dog without asking first. The trick (see what I did there?) here is to make the
sign read, “Beware of Dog POOP.” If there’s anything kids hate more than
church, it’s stepping in dog poop. Put that sign on your front lawn and maybe
enhance things by investing in several pudding cups that you can dump in
several places along the walkway to your door and children won’t dare approach
your home. Not only that, but the word-of-mouth marketing that they’ll do for
you will likely keep other kids off your entire block.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It’s easy to prepare this at home and your kids can help. Here’s
how:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
- Get a poster board, a stick, a hammer and some nails, some
child-safe paint, six pudding cups and one or two beers.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
- Open a beer and start to drink it.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
- Have your kids paint the words, “Beware of Dog Poop. (lots
of it, be careful)” on the poster board.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
- Have your kids nail the sign to the stick.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
- Have your kids plant the sign in a prominent spot in the
lawn, close to your walkway, being careful not to damage your grass.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
- Drink another beer.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
- Have your kids take five of the pudding cups and dump them
on your walkway so that they’re easily seen and evenly spaced between the
sidewalk and your front door.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
- Eat the sixth pudding cup.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
- Send your kids out to collect candy they can bring back to
you for later.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
That’s it! Enjoy your Halloween!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Sullicomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02038988410026039009noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14597838.post-10064940203156312882019-10-03T16:00:00.002-04:002019-10-03T16:01:27.397-04:00Favorite Dad Joke<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2J5dyEXR42LXfgzHeAby9C-sdU-flJTzOnxQ0aoSXnpZJR7aJilJBW7oOAK1YHz2qF9F-ISyAjHGt4Z_eLMEzVwJFlZGGPTsBFZQm4KlvHCT4efOs6w0ExIuO1PwXmDkrIXFE/s1600/20191003_154843.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2J5dyEXR42LXfgzHeAby9C-sdU-flJTzOnxQ0aoSXnpZJR7aJilJBW7oOAK1YHz2qF9F-ISyAjHGt4Z_eLMEzVwJFlZGGPTsBFZQm4KlvHCT4efOs6w0ExIuO1PwXmDkrIXFE/s640/20191003_154843.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
Q: What's this?<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
(scroll down)<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
(keep going)<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihv36uY8MO6nrxNmcBVvoyNDOAy6D3kPdsClbbrOWVbZOPtCJVNqrMnvYz5GEFLjTtGUAkMwP5pECXj2Jm539zjvJytXKoW-t7N5TPbDK-idbJMJ_rf3BWdhRdKLEuvji85bWd/s1600/20191003_154919.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihv36uY8MO6nrxNmcBVvoyNDOAy6D3kPdsClbbrOWVbZOPtCJVNqrMnvYz5GEFLjTtGUAkMwP5pECXj2Jm539zjvJytXKoW-t7N5TPbDK-idbJMJ_rf3BWdhRdKLEuvji85bWd/s640/20191003_154919.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
A: A dead that.<br />
<br />
<br />
Ta da!<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Sullicomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02038988410026039009noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14597838.post-65504935797574532232019-09-06T10:07:00.001-04:002019-09-06T10:07:18.098-04:00Nut Physics<span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span>
<span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span>
<span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtko6ErZ5T6gU128VmjG1toiXAqz-pUQwvsBtUEM7xFxDW2P2brPRFTNLRJLCJtzUYW9rtSiIeh_F4d9aa-XYBG4w70eSO2lftcbZy-xyiob7vEpUhlwLTtYNWtU8h50q5w-qo/s1600/20190906_100051.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtko6ErZ5T6gU128VmjG1toiXAqz-pUQwvsBtUEM7xFxDW2P2brPRFTNLRJLCJtzUYW9rtSiIeh_F4d9aa-XYBG4w70eSO2lftcbZy-xyiob7vEpUhlwLTtYNWtU8h50q5w-qo/s640/20190906_100051.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span>
<span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span>
<span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span>
<span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span>
<span id="docs-internal-guid-c701ff27-7fff-aee2-8bce-9dd2581e5fda"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I try to keep a jar of peanuts in a desk drawer at work so I’ll have a sort-of healthy snack if I need it. Because I have shaky hands and because I am generally clumsy, every now and then I’ll drop a peanut or two on the floor. If it’s easy to reach, I’ll bend down, pick it up and throw it away. However, the nuts often bounce or roll way back under my desk so that I can’t pick them up without getting down on hands and knees to do so. Most often, I chose to don’t so. What I’ve noticed recently is that those runaway nuts tend to accumulate in pretty much the same place. Not sure if it’s due to some strange gravitational force - or tilt in the floor - or if nuts tend to seek out other nuts when on the run. Simply an observation that perhaps I’ll explore more deeply in the future.</span></span><br />
<span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span>
<span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Pictured above: (L) Two nuts contemplating a run under the cubicle wall to my neighbor's desk. </span></span><br />
<span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">(R) Two nuts seeking refuge among the cords of my power strip.</span></span><br />
<span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span>
<span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span>
<span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span>Sullicomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02038988410026039009noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14597838.post-10882264885313305352019-08-31T15:56:00.003-04:002019-09-06T07:58:34.069-04:00Homemade Sriracha Sauce<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizPmj8cq_e6p53S6GyauhwW2633m_-GkPTRP5LRQT2PJ-XbuaNpiDh032bEvwVjhuFv_QD9fv27LUmbKtKmDi26FneltV4j1CNoKyYw4sk_C9j5BmIQRAKsfl5P5CYBFonI6Wo/s1600/20190831_142821.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizPmj8cq_e6p53S6GyauhwW2633m_-GkPTRP5LRQT2PJ-XbuaNpiDh032bEvwVjhuFv_QD9fv27LUmbKtKmDi26FneltV4j1CNoKyYw4sk_C9j5BmIQRAKsfl5P5CYBFonI6Wo/s640/20190831_142821.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
This is an easy, delicious and potent hot sauce that's good to make when your pepper harvest is in. It has a nice balance of heat and sweet and is better than store-bought sriracha.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTxGJOfMYXgLNzT1KXmBgpdAhxRDPILiW1su8QqTQHvXKFlgn-TTN8bxE9e2AJ7hpfvf9WPiDWo9oH7GHkN2L5u9B5hGT-XRAaizoPiVDOGdyQQtScl0jpB-teHQRTFj18Q1gD/s1600/20190906_075209.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTxGJOfMYXgLNzT1KXmBgpdAhxRDPILiW1su8QqTQHvXKFlgn-TTN8bxE9e2AJ7hpfvf9WPiDWo9oH7GHkN2L5u9B5hGT-XRAaizoPiVDOGdyQQtScl0jpB-teHQRTFj18Q1gD/s320/20190906_075209.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
I try to use cowhorns if I have them, but I've also used salsa peppers and jalapenos and it's great no matter which you use.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCgtVJKaG1g4EjOQgAtcoyebSMuAhlOePG2PgYrRKmkszTgAswiIt__jDY-V-_5y4dUS40XwVwCFkmO0gJT3ws0VfJDpi2An6gsK5_fRiCy6bjJDQa2c0KSbglRMc1MJ-UuNVB/s1600/20190831_160431.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCgtVJKaG1g4EjOQgAtcoyebSMuAhlOePG2PgYrRKmkszTgAswiIt__jDY-V-_5y4dUS40XwVwCFkmO0gJT3ws0VfJDpi2An6gsK5_fRiCy6bjJDQa2c0KSbglRMc1MJ-UuNVB/s320/20190831_160431.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
5-6 ripe peppers (salsa or cowhorn peppers work best), coarsely chopped<br />
4-5 garlic cloves, peeled and crushed<br />
1 tsp kosher salt<br />
1 cup white vinegar<br />
2 Tbl sugar<br />
<br />
Place all ingredients except sugar in a glass bowl and cover with plastic wrap. Let sit overnight.<br />
<br />
Put the sauce-to-be, along with the sugar, in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Reduce heat to low and simmer for 5 minutes. Remove the pan from heat and let cool to room temperature.<br />
<br />
Puree the mixture with a blender until the sauce is as smooth as you would like. Transfer into jars and refrigerate.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Sullicomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02038988410026039009noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14597838.post-87466898712860737242019-08-23T09:51:00.000-04:002019-08-23T09:59:09.377-04:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<b id="docs-internal-guid-1a293cdf-7fff-04a2-947c-8c33ba9dcbc1" style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfWZuRaYrBRR6GkSS86q6JkHjkDxULCvOCHvk4DPdPpMSDvM_B89-sTZoM52CNZ5bCKFDx2Dm6sPVsU88HWMsMG9x3vin69cMwX5DqiQvKQam5vcxgspk8x-NhshffjAiWRrSn/s1600/memo2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="591" data-original-width="1202" height="314" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfWZuRaYrBRR6GkSS86q6JkHjkDxULCvOCHvk4DPdPpMSDvM_B89-sTZoM52CNZ5bCKFDx2Dm6sPVsU88HWMsMG9x3vin69cMwX5DqiQvKQam5vcxgspk8x-NhshffjAiWRrSn/s640/memo2.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">In an effort to add efficiency and more effectively manage costs, management is excited to</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre;">announce that we will be consolidating the current roster of 12 months into six “super months.” </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre;">Henceforth, the calendar months will be known as:</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"> Janruary</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"> Mapril</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"> Mune</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"> Jugust</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"> Septober</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"> Nocember</span></div>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">To mark this important moment in our history, you are invited to a celebration on the </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">CEO’s yacht. BYOB.</span></div>
Sullicomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02038988410026039009noreply@blogger.com0