Somehow those 4 letters seem to have been providing me no end of aggravation. No need to recount the impact of the full version, but what about the “hold the N” part? Well, that leaves you with MCI. For one, they’re the telephone people that provide me with land line long distance service. I have no idea what it stands for, but they send me a bill every month. Then there are the folks who provide my cable, HD, and occasional internet connectivity. I pay a princely sum to Metrocast Communications Inc., for the various digital and HD packages. But, when you watch the Masters on that big LCD with sparkling colors, you don’t regret a penny (at the moment). Anyway, last Friday revealed yet another combination of those letters that affects our psyche.
We did attend the lecture at St. Mary’s College on “the Aging Mind”. We were expecting a light hearted look at losing the car keys, or forgetting the name of the person you met 3 minutes ago, finding your glasses on your head, with maybe some tips or exercises for offsetting the onset of those types of things. Of course, “plenty of time” turned into being late, and the presentation had started by the time we arrived. Opening the door to Cole Cinema revealed an almost full house, mostly populated by obvious students with laptops and note pads. Uh oh. The was a viewgraph on the screen which at first appeared to be a bowl of oatmeal, but we had never seen oatmeal with arrows labeled “hippocampus” along with others pointing out arcane names for various lumps of the oatmeal. What followed was slide after slide comparing rats to humans, clips of rats trying to find a platform in a swimming tank, together with a load of acronyms and phrases which were foreign to us. And, then, to cap it all off, there it was. Those same three letters, M, C, & I. You know what? We have Mild Cognitive Impairment. We sure were glad we went…
What else? Well, I spent most of the weekend making the beds by the gray lagoon fit for a (planned) planting of ornamental grasses, and MFO toiled to get the screened in porch fit of habitation and consumption of cocktails this evening. The boat traffic behind the digs was almost at summer season high, with all sorts of water craft scooting, planeing, plowing, plugging, tacking along. The opening of the Tiki bar might have had something to do with it. Speaking of which I just went to a local on-line newspaper article on the opening of: “the Solomons Island iconic Tiki Bar” and it claimed that people “around the globe flocked” there. My goodness. Around the globe? Wow. They also included some 103 images of the revelry, giving you 103 reasons why you don’t want to be there. Profanity laced T shirts, lurid shots, mostly containing pictures of cans of beer, my goodness. Journalistic integrity?
After spending the day mucking about in the dirt, scrubbing tile and removing spider webs, we scrubbed ourselves and took dinner at Brome Howard Inn. We enjoyed a lovely leisurely paced dinner with gracious service, good conversation, and along the way confirmed that IMHO (remember crab cakes are subjective) they still serve crab cakes that rate right at the top in the area. Consisting of lump meat, just enough filler to hold them together then finished in the broiler with a nice brown surface with succulent white crab showing through. Nice dish. We also met some a couple from Wisconsin who were staying at the Inn, and it turns out they were VanSweringens! Alert readers will remember that Garrett VanSweringen played a big part in the early days of St. Mary’s City, and was further depicted in that wonderful HBO series “Deadwood”. They greatly enjoyed their visit to Historic St. Mary's City. A very rewarding evening. Good food has it's rewards.
Did you see that our (1 and 10) local baseball team actually took the field the other day in uniforms with “Natinals” emblazoned on the front? No further comment required.
And, I can’t help but comment that sitting in your bed Monday morning with the laptop propped on your lap while the wind driven rain pelts the windows is better than going to work
maintain your resolve to DFD
Monday, April 20, 2009
Friday, April 17, 2009
Friday Stuff
A week that gave us all sorts of weather is concluding with some warming temps and bright sun, meaning that the excuses have gone, and you should be out in the yard pulling, clipping, pondering plantings, and generally enjoying the outdoors. And, with the advent of spring comes more stuff to do around "nothing to do Southern Maryland". A small attempt at the beginnings of a list highlighting some culturally rewarding upcoming events for your consideration:
Today:
Tiki Bar opens at noon (okay, this is culturally rewarding only in the sense that it’s a tradition like no other – no, wait, that’s something else) but maybe you cultured ones might plan NOT to be on the island, or, go ahead and wallow like a kid again. Beware of increased Security measures..
3:00p Cole Cinema (St. Mary’s College Student Center) – Dr. Michael Gallagher of Johns Hopkins will present a lecture entitled: “The Aging Brain, The Bad News and the Good News”. We might go if we don’t forget….
8:00p Naomi Iizuka’s “Polaroid Stories” a production by St. Mary’s College. Sounds intense. Also tomorrow at 8 and Sunday at 2p. Bruce Davis theater which I think is in the arts building on campus
Tomorrow:
8:00p Port Tobacco Players Theater (LaPlata) Anthony Zerbe’s one man show of recital of poetry, speeches and writings of e.e. Cummings.
Upcoming of Note:
April 25th and 26th. Garden Fair at Sotterley – 30 Speakers, Historic Tools, plants,etc., sounds fun. 10 bucks (or 15 both days).
May 2nd; Annual Maryland House and Garden Tour, featuring many stops at Historic St. Mary’s City and St. Mary’s College.
Other blatherings:
Speed Cameras – lots of passion out there. Still bothers me that law breakers somehow deserve consideration.
ADMIN: “Frank” (and others) – I appreciate your comments but I don’t think I can reply directly which bothers me. If you post a comment to a blog entry I see it, but not sure I can get back to you unless you send an e-mail with a real e-mail address to “bill @ billsbottomfeeder dot com”. If any smart bloggers out there with better intel, I’m listening..and learning.
DFD
Today:
Tiki Bar opens at noon (okay, this is culturally rewarding only in the sense that it’s a tradition like no other – no, wait, that’s something else) but maybe you cultured ones might plan NOT to be on the island, or, go ahead and wallow like a kid again. Beware of increased Security measures..
3:00p Cole Cinema (St. Mary’s College Student Center) – Dr. Michael Gallagher of Johns Hopkins will present a lecture entitled: “The Aging Brain, The Bad News and the Good News”. We might go if we don’t forget….
8:00p Naomi Iizuka’s “Polaroid Stories” a production by St. Mary’s College. Sounds intense. Also tomorrow at 8 and Sunday at 2p. Bruce Davis theater which I think is in the arts building on campus
Tomorrow:
8:00p Port Tobacco Players Theater (LaPlata) Anthony Zerbe’s one man show of recital of poetry, speeches and writings of e.e. Cummings.
Upcoming of Note:
April 25th and 26th. Garden Fair at Sotterley – 30 Speakers, Historic Tools, plants,etc., sounds fun. 10 bucks (or 15 both days).
May 2nd; Annual Maryland House and Garden Tour, featuring many stops at Historic St. Mary’s City and St. Mary’s College.
Other blatherings:
Speed Cameras – lots of passion out there. Still bothers me that law breakers somehow deserve consideration.
ADMIN: “Frank” (and others) – I appreciate your comments but I don’t think I can reply directly which bothers me. If you post a comment to a blog entry I see it, but not sure I can get back to you unless you send an e-mail with a real e-mail address to “bill @ billsbottomfeeder dot com”. If any smart bloggers out there with better intel, I’m listening..and learning.
DFD
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
I just don't get it....
I wasn’t going to post today, but I can’t help it. This has always bothered me.
There is an article in the newspaper today under the headline: “Cameras allowed to catch speeders close to schools”. I’m sorry - I never have understood this speed camera controversy. Let’s see if I have this straight. The law says that the speed limit is (for the sake of argument) 45 Mph, so if you’re going faster than that (whether you agree with the limit or not) you are breaking the law. Period. Breaking the law. We are not supposed to break laws. So why then, every time a municipality puts up cameras do people rise up in righteous indignation? Big brother is often mentioned. Other complaints are that it doesn’t help safety it’s just a “cash cow” providing a windfall for the community. Okay, fine. That should be good thing one would think.
I can’t help but think that the real reason is that some people feel that they have an inaliable right to exceed the speed limit, and by good gosh, I’m smart enough not to get caught. It’s my right. Nobody can tell me what to do. Radar detectors are rampant to avoid getting “caught”. “Damn it, why should I have to slow down?” Simple truth: if people obeyed the law, it would be moot. No tickets, no fines, no cows of cash, the whole thing goes away. Not only that, the thing doesn’t nab you unless you’re going more than 12 miles over the limit (a whole new argument there)! So, Jeff Burton, if you see the evil camera, knock that speed down to only breaking the law by 10 mph. Gee, maybe there won’t be as many accidents.
Get those taxes in, but don’t speed doing it!!
DFD (dinner, not driving)
There is an article in the newspaper today under the headline: “Cameras allowed to catch speeders close to schools”. I’m sorry - I never have understood this speed camera controversy. Let’s see if I have this straight. The law says that the speed limit is (for the sake of argument) 45 Mph, so if you’re going faster than that (whether you agree with the limit or not) you are breaking the law. Period. Breaking the law. We are not supposed to break laws. So why then, every time a municipality puts up cameras do people rise up in righteous indignation? Big brother is often mentioned. Other complaints are that it doesn’t help safety it’s just a “cash cow” providing a windfall for the community. Okay, fine. That should be good thing one would think.
I can’t help but think that the real reason is that some people feel that they have an inaliable right to exceed the speed limit, and by good gosh, I’m smart enough not to get caught. It’s my right. Nobody can tell me what to do. Radar detectors are rampant to avoid getting “caught”. “Damn it, why should I have to slow down?” Simple truth: if people obeyed the law, it would be moot. No tickets, no fines, no cows of cash, the whole thing goes away. Not only that, the thing doesn’t nab you unless you’re going more than 12 miles over the limit (a whole new argument there)! So, Jeff Burton, if you see the evil camera, knock that speed down to only breaking the law by 10 mph. Gee, maybe there won’t be as many accidents.
Get those taxes in, but don’t speed doing it!!
DFD (dinner, not driving)
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
This and That Tuesday
With MFO ensconced in Wisconsin, and the rain preventing any thought of yard work (darn it!) at the digs, Tuesday turned out to be a very enjoyable day. It started out with a visit from some dear friends I hadn’t seen since last year, and we had a delightful time over coffee discussing (among other worldly subjects) potential landscaping around the gray lagoon. There’s just something pleasing about a gentle rain, clouds, and fog.
It’s odd how living on the water always produces something to catch your attention. Even though it’s the same view, there’s always something different. Like today, I noticed that (poorly depicted – I gotta get a better camera) line of “white stuff” just beyond the pier. There’s enough breeze that wave action should move it down stream, but it has persisted in the same location for over a couple of hours. I always write these things off to interaction of wind, tide, and current, but who knows.
As part of my retirement “mind improvement” program, I am trying to read more. I am gradually getting over my guilt at “just sitting reading” (another discussion topic of this morning) and looking at it as enriching my narrow brain. At any rate, the current book is McCullough’s “John Adams”. Most of the book is told through letters from and to John and Abigail, their family, Thomas Jefferson, and other characters associated with Independence. While the volume of correspondence is impressive, what is even more amazing is the time factor. Months would pass for delivery of a letter from London or Paris to America and it’s return. Like “how’s it going with the constitutional convention?” and not a reply for half a year. Time is relative. It’s hard to for us realize how much life was slower then..
Speaking of which, it’s beginning to dawn on me that probably people are tired of hearing ramblings about retirement. It’s time to stop looking inward and begin to look outward (although a personal comment will appear now and then – I live my life in public anyway). So, we’ll try to pay more attention to food and stuff again. Much better subject.
Also speaking of which, it's gratifying to see that most of the readership won't be standing in line waiting for Olive Garden to open it's doors.
DFD (and let OG get what it deserves)
It’s odd how living on the water always produces something to catch your attention. Even though it’s the same view, there’s always something different. Like today, I noticed that (poorly depicted – I gotta get a better camera) line of “white stuff” just beyond the pier. There’s enough breeze that wave action should move it down stream, but it has persisted in the same location for over a couple of hours. I always write these things off to interaction of wind, tide, and current, but who knows.
As part of my retirement “mind improvement” program, I am trying to read more. I am gradually getting over my guilt at “just sitting reading” (another discussion topic of this morning) and looking at it as enriching my narrow brain. At any rate, the current book is McCullough’s “John Adams”. Most of the book is told through letters from and to John and Abigail, their family, Thomas Jefferson, and other characters associated with Independence. While the volume of correspondence is impressive, what is even more amazing is the time factor. Months would pass for delivery of a letter from London or Paris to America and it’s return. Like “how’s it going with the constitutional convention?” and not a reply for half a year. Time is relative. It’s hard to for us realize how much life was slower then..
Speaking of which, it’s beginning to dawn on me that probably people are tired of hearing ramblings about retirement. It’s time to stop looking inward and begin to look outward (although a personal comment will appear now and then – I live my life in public anyway). So, we’ll try to pay more attention to food and stuff again. Much better subject.
Also speaking of which, it's gratifying to see that most of the readership won't be standing in line waiting for Olive Garden to open it's doors.
DFD (and let OG get what it deserves)
Monday, April 13, 2009
Rapture!
Be still my beating heart! Could it be? Is it possible? Can the never ending soggy salad bowl and mushy combi-oven bread sticks be heading our way at last? YES! It’s true! That paragon of journalistic truth, the Emptyprise reports that an Olive Garden is on its way. Roberto Donna’s BeBo Trattoria in DC is now closed, Galileo is yet to re-open, but no matter, Italian food lives, “when you’re here, you’re family” is about to arrive in Lexington Park. Not only that, we’ll also be treated to a Red Robin and a Buffalo Wild Wings. And, with their arrival, another piece of natural beauty leaves. The land on the right side of 235 North past Shady Mile will provide the chance to guzzle beer, eat burgers, and have that bowl of soggy salad. I always enjoy that particular piece of land nestled in between shady mile and the remaining patch of real woods just before the ugly current condition nearer the corner at 4. Bye Bye trees, grasses, flowers, hello asphalt.
As for the eateries, let’s take a little culinary trip south of Rte 4 and 235 (ignoring the places in Wildewood, Lennies, etc. ). We’ll not include WaWa (and ignore Blue Wind Gourmet which stands by itself), so starting to move south looking right, we find Quizno’s, Starbucks (a little reach), then Burger King, Ruby Tuesday’s, Bob Evan’s, Chick Fil-A, Panera, Five Guys, Applebees, Checkers, Rick’s, Nicolletti’s, and by some counts, there are 12 or so eateries in San Souci, so that’s about 25 venues. So good, let’s add more places, find more “Hi, I’m…” incompetents and launch more places to suffer bad service and mediocre food.
It would be nice to get another fine dining place here, although I’m not sure we could support it. Instead we continue to flood the market with almost every mid-range churn it out chain there is. What are we missing?
As for the eateries, let’s take a little culinary trip south of Rte 4 and 235 (ignoring the places in Wildewood, Lennies, etc. ). We’ll not include WaWa (and ignore Blue Wind Gourmet which stands by itself), so starting to move south looking right, we find Quizno’s, Starbucks (a little reach), then Burger King, Ruby Tuesday’s, Bob Evan’s, Chick Fil-A, Panera, Five Guys, Applebees, Checkers, Rick’s, Nicolletti’s, and by some counts, there are 12 or so eateries in San Souci, so that’s about 25 venues. So good, let’s add more places, find more “Hi, I’m…” incompetents and launch more places to suffer bad service and mediocre food.
It would be nice to get another fine dining place here, although I’m not sure we could support it. Instead we continue to flood the market with almost every mid-range churn it out chain there is. What are we missing?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
