Family Gathering

Happy Saturday morning. Here’s my earnest wish that Thanksgiving was a delightful gathering for everyone. We gathered here yesterday and it was wonderful. Thursday, Marcia stayed at home, and I did a 5k through the city center. For our get together, the Ongoleas with their vast collection of grills did the ‘bird’ (Adrianne ended up using the oven). Marcia did her sought-after baked beans, Cathy deserts and vegetarian protein. See, all bases were covered. And, yes, we live in the mid-west so therefore a green bean casserole did make it to the table. Add to the eats a few sit-in-a-circle games with much laughter – how good can it get?

And this past week really would not be Thanksgiving Week with the cast of WKRP in Cincinnati making it special – for the 46th year since the time everyone started talking about it, Turkey’s Away!

The whole family knows me. Therefore, I guaranteed that no politics would be discussed.

In the meantime, the people who manage the ‘Limber-Lost’ camp a couple of kilometers north of our “Northern Comfort” cabin showed people riding around on snow mobiles. It does prove that Jason and I timed the closing of the cabin perfectly.

What comes around – When Covid 19 first spread I became quite vocal that based on what I knew and what I learned was that there was no way I would subject my body to the primarily untested mRNA-based vaccines by Moderna and Pfizer. I believed we were being hoodwinked and made ‘lab-rats’. So decided that I’d take the older technology vaccine offered by J&J.

At the time all other input was were excluded and censored, Thousands of scientists too had their input censored, similar to what we were being subjected to. This included the idiotic lockdowns.

Now, it’s come full circle. The CDC has been ‘punched in the nose’ and Stanford senior scientist, Professor of Health Policy, Dr. Jay Bhattacharya will head up the N.I.H. under the new administration. I am THRILLED.

5k – Thanksgiving morning our town held its 115th Turkey Trot, both 10k & 5k (I did the 5k). Over 11,000 participants from 46 states and 5 nations joined in the fun. All was made even more enjoyable with an after-race party at the FC Cincinnati soccer Stadium.

Thoroughly pleased I placed 1st in my (geezer) age bracket with a 49.17 time. Bottom line, I wouldn’t have missed it for the world.

Monday evening will be special – During my walks I listen to any of number of podcasts. In my top five are discussions/interviews held by a Dr. Jordan Peterson. Peterson is a tenured clinical professor of psychology at the University of Toronto who also conducted research at Harvard University.

Monday, he’ll be in the ‘Nati and I snagged a ticket to the event (in case you wonder, yes, I did ask Marcia to come along and received that “you got to be kidding?” slant-eye look).

“In We Who Wrestle with God, Dr. Peterson guides us through the ancient, foundational stories of the Western world. In riveting detail, he analyzes the Biblical accounts of rebellion, sacrifice, suffering, and triumph that stabilize, inspire, and unite us culturally and psychologically. Adam and Eve and the eternal fall of mankind; the resentful and ultimately murderous war of Cain and Abel; the cataclysmic flood of Noah; the spectacular collapse of the Tower of Babel; Abraham’s terrible adventure; and the epic of Moses and the Israelites. What could such stories possibly mean? What force wrote and assembled them over the long centuries? How did they bring our spirits and the world together, and point us in the same direction?”

I am both enthused and excited.

Quote – “To learn is to die voluntarily and be born again, in great ways and small.” and this “Don’t be a slave to stupid rules.” ~ Jordan Peterson

Closing – Since I started the Rambling with a mention of walking, let me close likewise. Earlier in the week I came upon this scene. I have no idea why the cop was standing by the driver’s window – we can only guess. Maybe he was getting a warning. Maybe he was getting a ticket. Maybe he was being asked for an autograph for being amazingly clever. I should have stopped and asked but didn’t.

This week we lost our neighbor up north, Bob Baxter. Many an evening was spent next to a campfire. Bob spent 30 years as a Forest Ranger and always had some insight to pass along on those evenings. In fact, it was Bob who taught me how to skin a bear (then he donated the hide to an Amish family to serve as a seat cover for their kids on the cold winter buggy rides to school). We all did enjoy a spectacular Bear roast dinner after that event. RIP Bob, it was a good ride I should say, paddle.

Life is AMAZING!

Slán agus beannacht (Irish for: Goodbye and blessings to you all)

Dirk

BONUS POINTS:

The Secret Service uses code names, prominent folk, Presidents, and First Ladies. The following First Lady names are all the correct code names, except for one. Good luck pinpointing that false one.

1) Jackie Kennedy: Lace
2) Edith Wilson: Grandma
3) Mamie Eisenhower: Springtime
4) Lady Bird Johnson: Velvet
5) Pat Nixon: Starlight
6) Betty Ford: Pinafore
7) Eleanor Roosevelt: Rover
8) Hilary Clinton: Evergreen
9) Michelle Obama: Renaissance
10) Melania Trump: Muse

Hope is Alive

Happy Saturday morning. And luckily, it’s of no concern that my morning glory will be disrupted by the ‘coffee sniffer’ (see below: a job of yore, especially under the rule of Frederick II of Prussia). Therefore, in between keying The Ramblings, I’ll ease back and enjoy my coffee in peace and quiet.

By the way, I thought you’d like to know that yesterday’s morning temperature here in the ‘Nati was 10-degrees colder than at our little place in Canada.

It’s been a quiet week here in the ‘hood. After a chase, I re-connected with my Optometrist – he moved over to the Cincinnati Eye Institute (CEI) which did all my past eye surgeries. Our reunion was only just a wee bit short of man-hugs. Anyway, it appears that everything about my eyes is hunky-dory and just some low-level pharmacy cheaters required. Yay!

DOGE – President elect Trump has approved the initiation of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to be co-chaired by Elon Musk & Vivek Ramaswamy. Their charge? Reduce governmental waste and reduce it dramatically! Along with waste they plan to introduce a major shrinkage of the annual increase of a myriad (tens of thousands of pages) of new rules, orders, laws and restrictions.

Were you aware that at the time of Queen Victoria’s 50th jubilee, when Britain ruled the seas, had an empire where the ‘sun never set’, they ran the whole enterprise on a mere 10% of Britain’s GDP? Currently, our government’s last record was at 34.4 percent of GDP in 2023. Even at that unreal number we’ve grown the national debt exponentially. How much? The national debt grew $2,410,000,000,000 over the last 365 days; that’s an increase of about $6.6 billion a day.

How would you describe this out-of-control debt fiasco? I’d use words such as “obscene”, “frightening”, “criminal”, “crazy”, “unlawful”, sick, or “alarming”.

The 1920s were known at the time as the “Coolidge prosperity”. Now, we look back affectionally at the ‘Coolidge Prosperity’ renamed as the “Roaring Twenties”. Maybe because our 30th President, Calvin Coolidge, cut taxes in half, and then for his second term, did it again. Also, he managed to balance our nation’s budget every year of his Presidency. That feat has never been achieved since.

Can it still be done today when we’re so out of control? Apparently we’re going to give it a try!

Blueprint – During the latter part of the last century we were blessed with the amazing insights, humor, and knowledge of one of our most revered economists and statisticians, a staunch Libertarian, Dr. Milton Friedman (1912 – 2006). Winner of the 1976 Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences for his research on consumption analysis, monetary history and theory and the complexity of stabilization policy. Whew, I have no idea what he researched.

Anyway, thirteen years ago he had a discussion with Peter Robinson at the Hoover Institute thinktank. At the close of the interview he, in 4 SHORT minutes, laid out and assessed the viability of 14 government cabinets. He laid out exactly what Elon & Vivek are about to embark on – the Blueprint exists!

Want to watch the whole interview click this link:

Friedman made the selection portion for the DOGE-boys a snap! Now, does it make sense? The reason I am giving a chunk of this morning’s Ramblings to the potential of DOGE?

Vendée Globe – As I aged I had completely forgotten just how difficult and strenuous a sport sailing is. Here is a short of Brit entry, Conrad Colman, doing his thing, gybing in calm waters:

Quote – “Where the heart is not singing there is no melody, there is only the dreadful medley of human self-praise.” ~ Dietrich Bonhoeffer.

Screenshot

Dietrich Bonhoeffer – Yesterday I went and saw the movie; Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Spy, Assassin. Bonhoeffer (4 February 1906 – 9 April 1945) was a Lutheran Minister. At his death at age 39 he had written 37 books including his writings during two years of imprisonment. He was put to death at the very end of the German Nazi regime.

He’s celebrated by some churches as a saint and by others as a 20th Century Martyr. The movie runs a fine line between ‘movie’ and ‘documentary’. It’s a powerful film and made me question how I would function under similar circumstances. If you can’t check out the film, then read his “The Cost of Discipleship” it’s a masterpiece.

I realize that this week’s writing has little lightheartedness, but instead it is a more thoughtful and serious Rambling, hence this close:

Does your State or country alert everyone whenever a DUI driver checkpoint is being set up? The location and times? Here is where a nearby checkpoint was located last night. For some levity, fool the police, place an empty Bourbon bottle across the passenger seat.

Wishing everyone a spectacular THANKSGIVING!

Life is AMAZING!

Slán agus beannacht (Irish for: Goodbye and blessings to you all)

Dirk

BONUS POINTS:

Time does move on doesn’t it? As it does, we see new jobs put into play and it’s the old ones that fade into the fog of history. Here is a list of those jobs, all but one that is (hint: it’s still being plied – to a degree – in my neighborhood):

1) hurrier
2) Uinyo
3) coffee sniffer
4) sluggard waker
5) night soil men
6) shorthand secretary
7) aircraft listener
8) human computer
9) groom of the stool
10) lamp lighter

Clickety—Clack

Happy Saturday morning. Every time I believe that I am traveling at ‘jet’ speed I get knocked back into reality. It’s been less than two weeks since I was in Chattanooga, TN and then with Jason closing the cabin in Canada. Whew!

[working the water line – delivering the new canoe – testing the standby generator – ready for my “walk on the water’]

At about the same time I learned that our newly elected President has nearly completed filling out all the slots in his Cabinet, making a cabin closing seem small potatoes. My hat off to you sir! Since you don’t drink, please share a mug of coffee with me would you.

Friday a week ago Jason and I arrived at our cabin – Northern Comfort. It was 10:45pm and we wanted to quickly unload and climb into our sleeping bags. Minutes later Jason hurried in, “Dad, quick, outside, look”. For once I had the good sense to grab my camera. Great view of the Northern Lights don’t you think?

Two men and their meal – Marcia thinks that when we’re away from home life revolves only with a slab of bread slathered with Peanut Butter. Wrong!

Truth be told, Jason is an incredible expert preparing Tofu. The photo below shows me enjoying an amazing Tofu Ramen w/Onion dish topped with a hefty ladle of Kimchi. A brilliant meal! Yes, it was a wee-bit chilly in case you think it odd me eating while wearing a Toque.

Quote – “Every Time you quit, somebody else gets your prize.” ~ Andrew Tate.

Clickety-Clack – For the election it became clear that winning Pennsylvania would be critical. Team Trump went all out. Team Harris was lukewarm. Add that the current administration’s fully armed Marshall’s Service raided an organic Amish Farm causing an uproar within that community. That and Elon Musk’s PAC funding door-to-door workers proved a winning combination. 80,000 new Amish voters climbed on board (or is it buggies?).

Vendée Globe 2024 – It few short years ago I became mesmerized with a 10-week around the world sailing race – the Vendee Globe. As their site states. it’s “is a single-handed, non-stop, non-assisted round-the-world sailing race that takes place every four years. It is contested on IMOCA monohulls, which are 18 metres long (60 feet). The skippers set off from Les Sables-d’Olonne in Vendée and sail around 45,000 kilometres around the globe, rounding the three legendary capes (Good Hope, Leeuwin and finally Cape Horn) before returning to Les Sables d’Olonne, France.”

Years ago a friend and I sailed a day Sailer (Highlander, primarily) and did regional races and once did nationals – all on inland lakes. It’s a great sport. Now, watching these magnificent boats transports me into a world I can only dream about – and dream I do.

The 40 boat race started on November 10th and here is a bit of an intro of the first 5 days of racing. Enjoy!

Filling the acronyms – Our elected President (Trump) has wasted little time filling all the key slots of our acronym riddled government departments. I think that in today’s world he won’t have the standard 100 day introduction period, and he knows it.

He’s ready to create change. His two ’axe’ bearers, Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy, have already begun to create notice.

However, there is one person who, if successful, will create truly substantive change, now, and well into that of future generations. The position of Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) will be a Democrat with a beloved family name, Robert Kennedy, Jr.

I’ll close out by letting RFK, JR tell us with the immense power of his own words:

Life is AMAZING!

Slán agus beannacht (Irish for: Goodbye and blessings to you all)

Dirk

BONUS POINTS:

Every nation has them, slang insults; and British English has a very rich such vocabulary. All of these are British slang insults (all without swearing). Which is the one word that is not one of these expressions

1) nutter
2) numpty
3) daft
4) pofertje
5) plonker
6) bonkers
7) manky
8) scally
9) wazzock
10) chav
11) prat

Finally some sleep – Huh?

 Happy Saturday Friday morning (again). Please take note. Seriously, do take note. I will make every effort to try not to gloat unbearably. Should you have any insights into our collective immediate past I shall try not to gloat too insufferably. I’ll be happy to entertain your thoughts (those on any viewpoint say the last three days or so) – or of the prior four years for that matter.

Quote – “I want to hang a map of the world in my house. Then I’m gonna put pins into all the locations I’ve traveled to, but first I’m gonna have to travel to the top two corners of the map, so it won’t fall down.” ~ Mitch Hedberg.

Traveling – has been part of the ‘drill’ since late summer, first it was Kirstin in Austin. Then Dinah rowing in Chattanooga. And today it’s Jason and I traveling to Canada to screw snow covers over the cabin windows. Giving this last bit of labor some thought has me thinking that maybe I’m the one getting screwed.

The way home from Chattanooga was filled with “Sturm und Drang”. It all ended up with Marcia stretched out on the back seat with a pillow. The event became a bit like a version of “Everybody Loves Raymond”. The difference being, as a paraphrased Paul Rudd says, “Everybody Loves Raymond” lasts 22-minutes: our tense version lasted six hours.”

But first some coffee to prep for nine plus hours of driving.

Brilliant – Read anything and you’ll be inundated by a wealth of opinions on the why of ‘winning’ and ‘losing’ at this week’s election – so let me add to this mix.

A few weeks ago, I posted in The Ramblings how the Douglas/Lincoln debates were run: open discussion lasting three hours. I think that we’re quickly coming full circle. The most watched event this election cycle was a couple of long discussions (3-hour) podcast by Joe Rogan. CBS Austin has the podcast being viewed 40-million times. And three hours of conversation cannot be made while relying merely on talking points; the unedited podcast can’t help but show the human side of people.

Unlike Trump and Vance, Harris refused Rogan’s offer to sit down (except possibly for a much shorter version with others in the studio which Rogan nixed). The inability for people to really get to know/understand Harris through such a medium cost her dearly.

Election thoughts – Addressing the events of Tuesday evening, Marcia advising tells me to stay away from politics in this week’s Ramblings. She’s right of course. Even in my own family it’d be difficult to stay with civil discourse were we to discuss.

So here is my solution. It won’t matter how you filled out your ballot. It won’t matter if you chose not to participate in the elections at all; for EVERYONE here is one of the great anthems of the 1980s. This captures, regardless whether it was Love or Despair, all the election – Foreigner; “I Want to Know What Love Is”.

Turn up the volume & however you judge the outcome of the election you’ll find meaning and comfort with this wonderful masterpiece recorded by Foreigner. ENJOY!

And if you can’t do politics at all – when even listening to Foreigner does you harm, then maybe you are someone who just needs a total break from all the ads and blather, etc. If so, read no further. Just sit back and focus on a calming and fun Sudoku puzzle:

Life is AMAZING!

Slán agus beannacht (Irish for: Goodbye and blessings to you all)

Dirk

BONUS POINTS:

Every organization needs a cadre of surrogates to oversee the organization’s various functions. The White House being no exception. Now, again, it’s President-elect Trump’s turn to pick. From this list of past stalwarts and new faces which two would never be invited to his 2025 cabinet.

1) Ken Paxton

2)  Vivek Ramaswamy

3)    Tulsi Gabbard

4)    Peter Navarro

           5)    John Bolton

          6)    Steve Mnuchin

          7)    Robert Lighthizer

          8)    Elon Musk

        9)     Linda McMahon

       10)     William Barr

       11)     Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.

Hoochie-Boo

Happy Saturday Friday morning. I know, I know, you’re probably saying something such as “it’s Dirk, yes Dirk of that ilk” messing with us and publishing The Ramblings on Friday.

Chattanooga, TN – Head of the Hooch regatta; “The Head of the Hooch regatta is one of the world’s largest rowing regattas, with more than 2,000 boats and 5,000 rowers competing over two days.”

As my French cousin, Guillaume, would say; “sorry, so sorry”, before beginning any explanation. Truth is, Saturday morning Marcia and I will be in Chattanooga, TN. We’re attending the ‘Head of the Hooch’ regatta. This will be granddaughter Dinah’s last major regatta while still a highschooler. Her next venture in the rowing world will be as a member of the Syracuse University rowing team.

Add to that the fact that Marcia has a love affair with the town of Chattanooga. And I must confess that I too think that it is a neat place.

So now a coffee will be a quick White Castle stop as we head out (along with their egg-on-Rye sandwich) at the highway entrance. This time it’s I-75 for half the trip and then, or so is my plan, to take 2-lane through a series of small towns in southern Kentucky and northern Tennessee (can’t get into our hotel till 3pm).

Guy Fawkes Day – Is November 5. Wait a gosh darn minute, isn’t that also Election Day? Not being a conspiracist, but was this date set on purpose? You remember the bit of history dealing with Guy Fawkes?

Guy Fawkes is remembered for the Gunpowder Plot in Britain. That day (also known as Bonfire Night) remembers an event from in the late 1500s when Fawkes and his gang placed a large amount of gunpowder underneath Parliament. Without being totally obvious, the idea was to blow up Parliament. The plot was discovered, Parliament was saved, Fawkes was not saved.

What is it with all this talk of insurrection, mayhem, ‘storm the government ‘Bailey’’ during each first week of November –dating back to 1500s?

Happy Halloween – Last evening it was not the realm of Counts in Transylvania, nor foot-dragging ‘undead’ which shook the little darlings. No, it was the dreams a President biting/eating the little dears which caused sleepless nights.

But on to even more of an incident which occurred over 80 years ago, and which brought people into a ‘tizzy’ (1930s terminology). Listen to a 2 ½ minute opening of the 1938 Mercury Theater show. This I created as a time saver. Want to listen to the whole show that shook the world, click on the YouTube below.

First played 86 years ago as part of the CBS radio series; The Mercury Theatre on the Air presented the War of the Worlds directed and narrated by Orson Welles. This was the Halloween broadcast, first aired October 30, 1938. Overnight it became a moment of panic for millions.

Halloween goodies? I have been strongly advised to not even think of executing on any thought I might have of gifting each costumed little urchin stopping by a copy of Maurice Sendak’s “In the Night Kitchen”.

Having said that, I think that were I to do it, this ‘treasure’ could go down in the annals of North Avondale neighborhood for future generations to discuss. Oh well.

Quote – “I was proud to have served my nation as a sailor on a destroyer. Now I am proud to have served my nation in a Federal Prison for four months.” ~ Steve Bannon at a 10/29.2024 Press conference held at his prison release.

He was sentenced for 4 months for a misdemeanor (magically to coincide during the run-up of the 2024 election): this under a law where he should have been released in mere days assuming any lock up at all. His crime? He refused to attend the prejudicial J6 Committee meeting to divulge what he and then, President Trump, discussed – he was an advisor and strategist to the President and argued that any discussions were private.

Brilliant – Is what I thought of the following solution. I spent some time with Kirstin and the kids in Austin. In part to do some common bits of repair work. Back home I was determined to build on the success of the stuff done in Austin.

Earlier this past summer traveling Holland and Germany with Kirstin I lived out of my favorite suitcase. Since the traveling of my working days, I had settled on a TravelPro Crew5 roller bag as being the best fit. Year after year it served me without fail. However, probably miles of cobblestone and brick streets, railroad and airport halls and stairs, add schlepping through hotel lobbies in quaint old Dutch and German towns, and it finally happened. The wheels on the thing blew apart. And so, my roller bag and I limped back home.

This past week I was determined to attempt a viable fix. First it was a stop at a nearby Goodwill Thrift Store. Success! I snagged a pair of pink and black roller blades for $6.00 (+ evened it up to $7.00 by adding some coins to a charity fund).

That evening, I removed the TravelPro Crew5’s wheels. Removed the two center wheels from one of the roller blades. Put the ‘new’ wheels on the bag, and in less than 30-minutes, voila, good as new!

One minor bit I hadn’t realized. The fancy pink and black roller blades were for kids. Once I had the wheels installed and Marcia looked at me parading around the room pulling the thing, it was the bright sparking wheel lights which created quite an unanticipated ‘mood’ lighting show. She howled with laughter. I can’t wait for my next trip to show it all off.

Wait a minute, this evening I’ll have a whole hotel lobby and hallway to put on a show! Such luck.

Life is AMAZING!

May Peace prevail! Shalom.

Dirk

BONUS POINTS:

Archaeologists have discovered a Maya city beneath the jungle canopy in Campeche, Mexico, according to a study released this week. The ancient site contains more than 6,600 structures, including pyramids and ball courts. It is believed to be one of the largest Maya sites in Latin America (possibly 50,000 people). The discovery team opted to give the site what name?

1) Whynot
2) Placentia
3) Valeriana
4) Fries
5) Canadian
6) Uncertain
7) Popejoy