Culture, Family, Friendship

What Else Happened on September 20?

Well. In addition to the birth of the "One-Woman Positivity Machine" which I've previously mentioned, your humble correspondent was born 69 years ago today. But, enough about me.  What do you think about me? LOL.  Someone actually said that to me (not sarcastically or ironically), once. In other news: Virgil, the Roman poet best known… Continue reading What Else Happened on September 20?

Biography, Friendship, History, Literature

Happy Birthday, Dr. Johnson!

I don't know if I'd want to adjudicate a competition for "most quoted man in English literature" between William Shakespeare and Samuel Johnson, but I thought I'd celebrate the 314th anniversary of the great man's birth with a few of his bon-mots.  (Or should that be bons-mot?  There is a rule about such things, but… Continue reading Happy Birthday, Dr. Johnson!

Culture, History, Music

The Wabash Cannonball–On Relatives and Crazy Hillbillies, if not Much Else

On what would have been Roy Acuff's 120th birthday (September 15, 2023) here's his greatest hit, from 1936.  A much-loved family favorite, one which I've lost count of the live performances of which (by so many others) I've viewed over the years: https://youtu.be/kpQBiyNCeXc When it comes to "Crazy Tennesseans" I can't help noticing that many… Continue reading The Wabash Cannonball–On Relatives and Crazy Hillbillies, if not Much Else

Book Review, Family, Family Matters, Plain Speaking, Truth, Uncategorized

On Family Memories and the Meaning of “Gift”

Several months ago, I wrote a "very preliminary" book review of John Blashford-Snell’s From Utmost East to Utmost West: My Life of Exploration and Adventure.   Happily, someone took me up on the challenge to read the entire book and write the actual whole thing, and the result is this post on the Ricochet main feed.  (Worth… Continue reading On Family Memories and the Meaning of “Gift”

Culture, History, Literature, Quote of the Day

Unlike Francesca, I Always Remember the Happy Hours with Gladness

Nessun maggior dolore Che ricordarsi del tempo felice Ne la miseria--Dante Alighieri, The Inferno It's been translated six ways from Sunday over the years.  A few examples: Oh! how grievous to relate Past joys, and tread again the paths of fate--tr. Henry Boyd, 1802   There is no greater pain than to recall a happy… Continue reading Unlike Francesca, I Always Remember the Happy Hours with Gladness

Britishness, Cooking, Food and Drink

Turtons All The Way Down

I’m proud to come from a family that values its traditions.  Sometimes, those traditions take the form of my dropping everything, getting in the car in all my sweat and filth, racing up the road to Lowes or Home Depot before it closes, and buying the $.50 item which is the only thing preventing me from completing a major home remodeling… Continue reading Turtons All The Way Down

common sense, Entertainment, Music, Poetry, Reality Check, Womanly Feminism

Do I Really Want “A Tiger by the Tail?” Not At My Age 🙄

LOL.  Just listening to my boyfriend Willie Nelson's latest-but-one album (I Don't Know a Thing About Love)  which is a compilation of the works of country music songwriter/genius Harlan Howard. It includes such gems as Streets of Baltimore (otherwhere recorded by Gram Parsons and featuring a very young Emmylou Harris): https://youtu.be/VjAMoU6es-8 and She Called Me… Continue reading Do I Really Want “A Tiger by the Tail?” Not At My Age 🙄