Beginning of 2018.. Trump; Words; Viagra; Creativity

Today, we are into the third week of 2018.  For two and a half weeks of that time, Elaine and I have had violent sinus infections... or colds.. not flu thought, because we haven't had fevers.  We are still coughing a lot, but not as violently.

Of course, now we are into celebrating Trump's first (and hopefully last) year as the President (to some people,)  At the beginning of the year, I thought that he might change his ways and become presidential.  Boy, was I wrong!  This year has been a disaster.  Lots of time spent trying unsuccessfully to get rid of Obamacare.  Lots of time, pushing the Republicans in Congress to forget that there was a Democratic minority which should be consulted in order to get rational bills passed.  ETC.

Now we have the Trump Shutdown of the Government.   The Republicans, under McConnell and Trump, have shown that they have no idea on how to run the country.  God help us.

Meanwhile...  let's jump to other things.   How about "words?"

Susan Silverman (from the book: Casting Lots) quotes an adopted boy who wants to know: "Who's my tummy mommy?"  In my case, I'm still trying to know "Who's my baddy daddy?"  He could be any one of five brothers.  DNA has proven who my grandfather was... but which one of his sons "did the deed?"  My family has narrowed it down to one guy, whose name just maybe appropriately  is Philander.  I hope that I can solve this mystery before I sail off to that whaleboat in the sky.

......................................................................................

A recent issue (November 2017) of Readers Digest had some food terms in its Word Power section, where my acrostic friends, Emily Cox and Henry Rathvon reign.  Some terms were new to me:

mesclun .. a mix of greens

chiffonade ..  shredded herbs or veggies

sous vide .. cooked in a pouch  (sounds good.. I'll have to look this up..  supposedly this method of cooking retains moisture and allows meat to cook evenly.

tempeh .. a soy cake

fricassee ..  cut and stew in gravy (I had heard the word but did not know what it meant.)

fondant ..  cake icing

.....................................................................................................

"Are you glad to see me?"

Oh, those rascals who live in the Irish village of Ringsaskiddy!  They claim that the fumes from their neighborhood Viagra factory are causing an overabundance of sexual activity in their village.  This needs to be investigated further in order to get to the hard facts.

 

...........................................................................................................

Rewarding Creativity in England

Chuck Shepherd reports that in 2015, the Selby, North Yorkshire, England, management company WLCT sponsored a contest to name a new "leisure center."  The prize was a  year's free membership. Local guy, Steve Wadsworth was the winner.  His winning entry:  "Selby Leisure Centre!"

.................................................................................................................

Enough!