Morning all:

Quote Of The Week:

“School’s out for summer…
……Out for summer
Out till fall
We might not go back at all “ — Alice Cooper

Funny week this week. Since it was a short one it felt a little like vacation in that the days quickly got jumbled, yet, it seems that I worked harder. Well, today is Saturday; things will be back to normal as soon as the coffee finishes perking.

Summer is here and this week the schools closed their doors. Monday being Memorial Day, the first holiday of the summer, became quite special. Starting in the cool of the morning three generations of my family – Jason, Marin, and I – climbed into Jason’s canoe and set out on the Little Miami River.

Aside from seeing an occasional fisherman it was only wildlife that was heard and seen. Songbirds were twittering everywhere, then, all three of us spotted the amazing bright orange of a Baltimore Oriole streaking across our bow (4-year old Marin did point out that he had black wings). A large Blue Heron played a game of “catch me if you can” by taking wing and then landing just a little bit farther down – after all, we were intruding in his yard. The ducks and their little ones were everywhere and occasionally a silent turtle could be seen sunning while keeping watch on an old log.

Far fetched as it sounds I do believe I have a chance of achieving sainthood. However, believe me when I say that the prospect doesn’t keep me up at night. And I really don’t plan my day by constantly asking myself “how will this add/detract from my beatification”. In fact until very recently I hadn’t given it any thought at all. It was not until I read that to be beatified you have to do three miracles and they can’t be intellectual miracles.

On the intellectual part – no worry – I’m out in the cold. But, it was reading something about Aquinas and the fact that one miracle ascribed to him in order to make him a saint was the Miracle of the Herrings. It seems that on his deathbed he asked for herrings. Being that he was near the Mediterranean which does not breed herrings his caregivers had a distinct problem. Instead they fudged it and he was brought pilchards. Aquinas promptly declared them to be the best herrings he had ever eaten.

See, I would just declare him a gracious man who did not want to further upset his friends. But no, there is another interpretation offered by the selection committee, and the fact that we all refer to Aquinas as “Saint” says it all.

Marcia, the Tilapia we had last night I have just declared to be wonderful herring. Please note that this is the first of three.

Last Thursday evening we tasted some red wines which fell under the label of “Big Fat Hairy Red Wines”. Since a couple of these wines approached that of 10W40 motor oil we also needed some special ‘grub’ to compliment them, and that we got. Broadbent Peppered Bacon, smoked duck breast, Spanish Serrano ham, Vermont butter with sea salt, and French Baguette bread all means that for the rest of the weekend I only eat raw veggies.

Make it a great week everyone. Remember that if your weekend consists of just ‘lazing’ about that the cure for an obsession is to get another one. Go get active.

Cheers,
Dirk