Some days you get what you need . . .

 

So.

Did we lift our glasses in a toast to the judge, the jury, the Manhattan DA and the American justice system just after 5:00 p.m. the afternoon of May 30, 2024.

Damn right we did.

Drank a little, smiled a little, even danced a little, while watching MSNBC.

Because that guy is a criminal, a crook, a thug, a racist and a rapist.   And a felon.  A convicted felon.

A disgrace.

(Feel free to enter your own word of choice:  _________________________________ )

And dangerous to our country.

It took only minutes for the headlines to start shouting the news

And then came memes, and political cartoons, and the political columnists having their say.

And I participated.  

Watched the interviews and applauded.  

Shouted "Oh, hell yeah," at the TV.

Posted and shared more than my share of vitriol and contempt in regard to a man who deserves every insult, curse, gesture, and stream of invective thrown his way.

But still, even with a celebratory glass of bubbly in hand, there was sadness.  So much sadness for this country.  

Those 12 brave men and women were in agreement regarding all 34 counts.  

I wish I could tell each of them how much I appreciate them and what they did.

But.

As you well know, we have some very tough days ahead.

The Republican party has lost its collective heart and soul along with its spine.  This is NOT our parents' Grand Old Party.

And we know for sure that the Supreme Court won't be any help in the days ahead, quite the opposite. (Yet another huge concern that needs tackling).

It's up to us.

And I am hopeful.

But.

You all know all of of this.  I am preaching to the choir.

Once again, I forgot one of my goals in writing this post (imagine that).

Where I was going with all this before all my detours was to say that after hitting a wall today and needing to back away from the disgust of seeing that monster's face and reading the garbage he spews and exhausting myself by reacting, a little bit of serendipity found its way into my path.

In the words of The Great Rolling Stones . . .

"You can’t always get what you want

But if try sometimes, you just might find

You get what you need,

You get what you need."

Yes.

Poetry is, for me, an escape.

An entirely different sort of escape than immersing myself in a novel.

And it was just what my tired old self needed today.

And, thanks to NetGalley, I have been able to put my mind at rest, and my heart in a soft place to focus on the joy of the words of Billy Collins.

And was able to remember that, by golly, Life is good.

Description from NetGalley

From the former Poet Laureate of the United States and New York Times bestselling author of Aimless Love comes a wondrous new collection of poems focused on the joys and mysteries of daily life.

"[Billy] Collins remains the most companionable of poetic companions." —The New York Times

In this collection of sixty new poems, Billy Collins writes about the beauties and ironies of everyday experience. A poem is best, he feels, when it begins in clarity but ends with a whiff of mystery. In Water, Water, Collins combines his vigilant attention and respect for the peripheral to create moments of delight. Common and uncommon events are captured here with equal fascination, be it a cat leaning to drink from a swimming pool, a nurse calling a name in a waiting room, or an astronaut reciting Emily Dickinson from outer space. With his trademark lyrical informality, Collins asks us to slow down and glimpse the elevated in the ordinary, the odd in the familiar. It’s no surprise that The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal both call Collins one of America’s favorite poets.

The Monet Conundrum

Is every one of these poems
different from the others
he asked himself,
as the rain quieted down,

or are they all the same poem,
haystack after haystack
at different times of day,
different shadows and shades of hay?

May serendipity do the same for you.  ❤

In the meantime . . .

A Toast

May 30, 2024 - As it should be

 

How to Be Old

 

It is easy to be young, (Everybody is,
at first.) It is not easy
to be old. It takes time.
Youth is given; age is achieved.
One must work a magic to mix with time
in order to become old.

Youth is given. One must put it away
like a doll in a closet,
take it out and play with it only
on holidays. One must have many dresses
and dress the doll impeccably
(but not to show the doll, to keep it hidden.)

It is necessary to adore the doll,
to remember it in the dark on the ordinary
days, and every day congratulate
one's aging face in the mirror.

In time one will be very old.
In time, one's life will be accomplished.
And in time, in time, the doll––
like new, though ancient––will be found.

            -  -  -  May Swenson

Still here

 

Anniversary Dinner - Out or At Home?

 Dinner (lasagna) at home won the toss -

So i had fun doing an Anniversary Tablescape

Fun and whimsical with Williams-Sonoma Heart Dishes, a hodge podge of silver, china, pottery, crystal, and candles.

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY TO US !

❤

Thirty-Eight Years

 

Life is Good

❤

What's Cooking in Meat Camp?

Today I have two crockpots hard at work.

I may be retired, but I still rely (heavily) on my slowcookers.

I've heard people say they don't use/don't like crockpots because everything tastes the same.

To that, I'd have to say, "you're doing it wrong."

Today's menu - - -

https://showmetheyummy.com/slow-cooker-flank-steak/

Slow Cooker Flank Steak

This Slow Cooker Flank Steak is ultra tender and coated in a flavorful brown sugar chili powder rub. This easy weeknight dinner requires less than 10 ingredients!

Prep Time15 mins

Cook Time4 hrs

Total Time4 hrs 15 mins

Course: Dinner, Lunch

Cuisine: American

Keyword: 15 minute prep, easy, slow cooker

 

Servings: 4 people

 

Calories: 511kcal

 

Author: Jennifer Debth

Equipment

• Crockpot

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1/2 cup dark brown sugar packed
• 2 tablespoons chili powder
• 1 (1 oz) packet ranch seasoning mix
• 2 teaspoons paprika
• 1 teaspoon salt plus more to taste
• 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper omit if you don’t like spice
• 2 pounds flank steak
• Honey mustard for drizzling, if desired

Instructions

• Grease a 6 quart crockpot with cooking spray, then pour in olive oil. Set aside.
• In a medium sized bowl, whisk together brown sugar, chili powder, ranch mix, paprika, salt, and cayenne. This is our spice rub.
• Rub a few spoonfuls of the spice rub onto the steak to fully coat it.
• Place steak into the prepared crockpot, then sprinkle on remaining spice rub.
• Cover and cook on HIGH for 4 hours or LOW for 8 hours.
• Remove steak from the crockpot and use a sharp knife to slice it into strips against the grain (this will basically shred your steak, but will prevent it from creating long and stringy pieces).
• Serve as desired - on a bun, in a quesadilla, over mashed potatoes, on top of Mac and cheese, as nachos, etc. with a drizzle of homemade honey mustard sauce, if desired!
• Take 5 seconds to rate this recipe below. We greatly appreciate it!

Nutrition

Serving: 1person | Calories: 511kcal | Carbohydrates: 34g | Protein: 49g | Fat: 19g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Cholesterol: 136mg | Sodium: 1307mg | Potassium: 913mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 27g | Vitamin A: 1731IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 87mg | Iron: 5mg

 

https://www.simplyhappyfoodie.com/slow-cooker-green-beans-bacon-potatoes/

Slow Cooker Green Beans with Bacon and Potatoes

Slow Cooker Green Beans with Bacon and Potatoes is a delicious Southern style side dish. Tender green beans seasoned with bacon, garlic, and onion makes the best crock pot green beans recipe!

Course Dinner

Cuisine American

Keyword crock pot green beans bacon potatoes recipe

Prep Time 10 minutes

Cook Time 4 hours

Total Time 4 hours 10 minutes

Servings 6

Calories 283 kcal

Author Sandy Clifton

Ingredients

• 2 lbs Green Beans (fresh or frozen, ends trimmed)
• 1 sm Sweet Onion, sliced
• ½ lb Thick Cut Bacon* (cut in 1.5" pieces)
• 1 lb Potatoes (new or baby potatoes, or larger ones cut)
• 2 cloves Garlic, minced
• 1 tsp Kosher Salt (or ¾ tsp table salt)
• ½ tsp Pepper
• 3 cups Chicken broth, low sodium

Instructions

1. Add all of the ingredients to the crock and stir gently.

2. Cook on High for 3-4 hours, or Low for 6-7 hours.

3. Serve with some buttered cornbread.

Recipe Notes

*You can use ham or smoked turkey wings or legs in place of the bacon.

And what will I be doing while dinner's cooking?

Reading  TABLE FOR TWO by Amor Towles.  Oh, how I love being retired.

Happy Reading

and

Bon Appétit!

Tell it. Tell it like it is.

 Joyce Vance tells it like it is in regard to the unending lies from that guy.  You know who I mean.

If you don't read Civil Discourse With Joyce Vance, i urge you to give it a look.

This particular column is about the lies.

How refreshing is it to finally have someone unafraid to call him (you know who I mean) out 

My hero - Judge Merchan.

"Judge Merchan got right to the point Friday morning in court, before the jury was brought in. He told Trump the gag order “does not prohibit you from taking the stand.” He continued, “As the name of the order indicates, it only applies to extrajudicial statements.” That means Trump is only limited in statements he makes outside of the courtroom. In other words, Trump is free to testify in court; the choice is his."

Read the entire story here.

Character Matters

Variation on a Theme by King David by L.B. Thompson

 Not everyone loves poetry.  And will say so.   To me, that seems a little unnecessarily dismissive.

I will say that I love some poetry.  Just as i love some books and some music.  Because there is music which is truly, to my ears, awful, it would never occur to me to tell anyone I don't like music, or that I don't listen to music.

That said, there are certain books, as well as certain songs, that are particular favorites.  As is this particular poem.

Variation on a Theme by King David

Praise to you!
Praise to you my snappy love!

Praise you in clean socks on a Queens-bound
train; praise you
for your famous avocado
sandwiches; Praise you from Brooklyn to blasphemy!

I've called the mayor to praise you; & a third-
base coach; even
that no-neck accountant
who doesn't have the decency to nod hello
has agreed to praise you!

Praise you with bongos and fine fancy
tea; praise you
with rhumba, tango & marmelade; praise
you with your knickers at your knees!

I praise you on Flag Day, & on whichever equinox
allows for the balancing of eggs;
I praise you with eggs!
Brown ones & jumbo & Faberge Tiffany blue!

On the white of your wrist I praise you;
on the vaccuumed throw rug; I praise you full-
page on Sunday! With faxes
& foxgloves & brushed cotton sheets;
with sky-write & timbrel &

wink! Let every soul
in the Battery Tunnel honk
her horn to praise you! Praise you
with ripe limes & wrestling mats;
praise you tax-free with agates and tin foil
& all sparkly things!

Praise you with foggy spectacles and Wisconsin green cheese!
Praise you to the afternoon of orthopedic sneakers;
praise you from poinsettia to piccolo!
Praise you & praise you & praise you!

My love,
from Brooklyn to blasphemy I praise you!

--L. B. Thompson