A De-cluttering Milestone

 

Some milestones are smaller than others.

I had gone through the pantry and removed the things I am unlikely to use – much of it was for Neal only. It’s all been sitting on the dining table for weeks now because I cannot carry heavy things down the stairs and no local food pantry has anyone who can pick it up. I was stuck for a solution.

There was also a collection of stuff that I wanted to get rid of. Today a junk removal guy came to get the stuff.

The great news is that he also took the food items and will see that they get to a food bank.

I regained some floor space and table-top real estate. HOOORAY!!!

 

 

Grief

 

My husband, Neal, passed last month. It felt as if part of me just evaporated. I have learned just what grief really is. It is not weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth.

It is the loss of those common everyday things that I took for granted. I miss his presence of course but it's the loss of the little things that brings on grief: the daily interactions:

·      Did you see the rabbit in the yard?

·      What do you think about the ……

·      I just read an interesting article.

·      Do you want to …..

·      Should we spend the money for ….

·      I’d like your opinion on ….

·      Can you give me a hand with ….

·      Should I do this? Or that?

·      Where should we go?

·      What if?

·      I love you.

These are the things that make up the fabric of a life together. They are gone. GONE

I thank God for the wonderful memories we made together. Neal will always live in my heart.

Revival

I'm reviving this blog to give me the outlet I need right now. Much has changed since my last post.

The DNA Explosion

When did humans first wear garments?  How long ago did humans drink milk? Inquiring minds want to know.

Most of us look to DNA to learn about family and ancestry. But scientists of many disciplines are studying DNA, learning about the past, and making remarkable discoveries  Paleo(fill in the blank) research has found the residue in ancient pottery indicates that we drank milk perhaps 6,000 years ago.

DNA found in dental plaque from fossil teeth can indicate ancient diets and even diseases. Ancient seeds found in the dusty basements of museums are rich in information.

My first thought is that I’d like to be a participant in some of that research, but I’m a big picture person who’d chafe at the slow pace and miniscule details in laboratories. I like being on the outside where I can read the results of research from all disciplines.

Here’s an interesting online article.

Food

Arby’s serves gyros. A local Greek restaurant serves breakfast burritos. The gyros are reminiscent of the real thing. Likewise, the breakfast burritos. Close but no cigar.

Why do people who insist on organic and/or natural food use margarine?  Standard supermarket table butter contains cream and salt. Period. Pretty natural stuff

I simply do not understand fad diets.

On a related note, what ever happened to moderation? It is not necessary for people in good health to avoid ALL fats and salt.  Let common sense prevail.

Innovation and originality taken to the extreme. I am interested by chefs who combine unlikely ingredients. Are they trying to appeal to the pseudo hipster?  I do like adventure in food, and certainly would order some of the unusual combinations I’ve seen but…

 Here’s my contribution:  Octopus sautéed in balsamic vinegar with onions, cantaloupe, nutmeg and celery served on a bed of chocolate sauerkraut. Coming soon to a trendy restaurant near you. If the right people say they like it, it will spread like wildfire.

Disclaimer: this comes from someone who loves dill pickle soup and eats cottage cheese with potato chips.

50 Weird Food Combinations Which Sound Gross But TasteAmazing

Now I'm hungry.

Politics Then and Now – What’s the Difference?

Quick answer: Not much.

Then: Spies, plots, deception, fake news &, execution of rivals

Now: Spies, plots, intrigue, deception, fake news & character assassination of rivals.

I’ve been reading history and historical novels.

Ten Caesars by Barry Strauss begins with Augustus whose reign began in 27 BCE, and concludes with Constantine who ruled from 306 CE to 337 CE.

Roman rulers ranged from reasonably benevolent to tyrannical. A common thread through all was the imperative to gain and hold power. Advantageous marriages, divorces, and courting those already in power were key. Political alliances came and went as power shifted.  Plots, deception, murder, trickery and conspiracy were standard tactics. False stories were circulated to discredit rivals. Rivals and pretenders were executed, forced to commit suicide, or exiled to remote provinces.

Things were pretty much the same in the 15^th and 16^th century reigns of the Plantaganets and Tudors.

Here, too, rivals and pretenders were executed or imprisoned or both. Advantageous marriages were vital to retain control and ensure the desired succession. The Tower of London was either a lifetime prison or the last step before beheading.

Intrigue included spies in every noble household, among merchants, and at every port of entry. A non-technical equivalent of today’s bugging technology. At one point, many nobles had their private conversations only where there was no chance for eavesdropping False stories were circulated to discredit rivals.

So here we are today – from municipal to national politics.  Spies are planted in rival’s campaign organizations, etc. Electronic bugging happens.  False stories are planted in our vast media community.  Assassination today is figurative, not literal, but still destroys rivals.

Today’s politics are just the modern version of ancient Roman, and not quite so ancient, English monarchs.

Only the names and the faces have changed.

One immortal quote from The Ten Caesars:

 “Emperors come and go but the bureaucrats provide continuity.”

Getting to Arkhangelsk (Archangel) Russia (The joy of surfing)

I got there by reading about Soviet deportations of Poles to Kazakhstan in 1940-41 and going to Google earth to see just where that is. Doing some exploring of Russia, led me to  Arkhangelisk (Archangel) Russia.

                                           Archangel: Lat - 64̊ 35’ N, 40̊ 27’ E

The city has a long history. Vikings knew the area around Arkhangelsk as Bjarmaland. Ohthere of Halogaland told circa 890 of his travels in an area by a river and the White Sea with many buildings. This was probably the place later known as Arkhangelsk

In the 12th century, the Novogorodians established the Archangel Michael Monastery in the estuary of the Northern Dvina River.  Wikipedia

It is a thriving city with a population of about 350,000. Arkhangelsk is also home to the Northern State Medical University, Makarov state Maritime Academy, and a branch of the All-Russian Distance Institute of Finance and Economics.

The city’s website is http://www.arhcity.ru/  (Google will translate)

There’s a 24 hour webcam

Here’s the view I had on December 28. 2019

Definitely a place I’d like to see.

Portland, Maine is one of Archangel’s sister cities.