The oldie lyrics are true.

"They say that all good things must end, some day!"  And today would be that day.  My week of birthday celebrations comes to a close, with a passel of home made french fries and Chester fried chicken.  It has been an amazing run, but the fat, salt and carbs now have 11 months and 3 weeks to leave my body.  It may take that long, but oh, what a ride it has been.  Withdrawal starts tomorrow as I eschew the left over chips!  But the smile will linger.  Always embrace your happiness and know you are loved!

The heartbreak of...

It's that time of the year.  If you are mature (at least calendrically) you understand of what I speak.  From my ankles to my nose, I itch.  The dry weather incites in my skin a need to be touched, preferably with fingernails...over and over until I grow weary, or I start to bleed.  And let's face it.  When it comes to forebearance, I suck!  So I scratch...and regret...and scratch again.  What's that, you say?  Try lotion?  I have.  And it works, but sometimes I'm just not lotion available.  So I scratch.  I could of course sublimate.  I could eat.  But that only increases the amount of skin to scratch.  So I'm doomed.  Alas.  But like all impossible maladies, this too shall pass.  Winter shall turn into spring.  Spring shall turn into summer.  And summer my skin succumbs to the humidity, and I quit scratching.  Unless...let's just learn to live with it.  You scratch my back and I'm scratch my back!  But you are loved!

The crust is in the oven

I thoroughly enjoy making pie dough.  I'm never sure how it might turn out.  I use the same recipe every time.  I follow the same procedures every time.  Sometimes, it rolls out.  Sometimes, I piece it together.  Either way, it provides a receptacle for some pretty amazing flavors. And by the time it's filled, no one knows exactly how it got to be the way it is!  Tonight, it's in preparation for a coconut cream pie to be assembled tomorrow morning.  Milk, sugar, vanilla, eggs, butter, and coconut--with a fluffy meringue on top.  And all because there was something in which to put it.  I like pie dough!  And I love you!

My educational thesis

As a former educator, a motivational speaker, and a man unafraid to state his beliefs, categorically I would maintain the very best thing ever to come out of an in-service is the basket we learned to weave one cold February day.  I still use it for coffee filters.  It was an amazing experience.  We started with raw materials--completely without any utile form or substance.  By following directions, we ended up with a cute little basket.  I could easily demonstrate that I learned the concepts.  I could prove that I could follow the directions.  And I could proudly point to the result.  In that one hour session, I learned more about teaching than in the all the technology workshops, behavioral workshops, new strategies workshops, lesson planning workshops, and motivations speakers!  And the concept is so simple.  How do you prove you have learned?  You DEMONSTRATE.  The tech schools have known this for years.  Technical classes in high school have known this for years.  Arts and crafts teachers have known this for years.  Music teachers have known this for years.  In the "educationally based classes", we set standards, and then, we use pencil and paper to regurgitate information. And that's how we measure what a student has learned?  I don't get it!  My transcripts will attest to the fact that I could prove my education traditionally.  But what do I remember?  Not the prologue to Canterbury Tales (although I can still recite parts of it)!  Not how to determine if a train left San Francisco at 2:00 am, would it collide with the space shuttle?!  No.  I remember a basket.  A lesson I hope I can pass on before I die!  Show me you know...and know that you are loved!

Aesthetically pleasing, despite the "grease"

The 27th of January, 2015.  Temperature...upper 50's.  Pierre, SD?  Yup!  A truly unique lobby day experience.  Between lunch and session, my significant other and I revisited our memories of Australia and did a walk about.  Avoiding the GE (that would be goose excrement, or referred to colloquially as grease) we circumnavigated our state Capitol.  Note:  along with the unusual temperature, there was no wind.  NO WIND,  even more of a chance to reflect(!) on the building and its grounds.  We South Dakotans are a fiercely loyal group.  Ask anyone about the Capitol and they will extol its aesthetic attributes.  And today, there could be no argument!  It's ours.  And it's beautiful!  The only thing missing?  You!  Find your own aesthetic, and know you are loved!

Birthday Happiness

I am, apparently, a man easily pleased.  A smile.  A compliment.  A meal.  Friends.  It is in these simple things I find my greatest joy. 

• When I come across someone I know (or should know, or have never met) and I am greeted with a smile, my day improves. 
• God knows I have always sought  approbation (a character flaw I to which I readily admit), and when it happens, my day improves. 
• When days become long and tedious...when life becomes presumptive of my time and effort...when Pollyanna leaves my soul, I plea "feed me", for the meal improves my day. 
• When I can unequivocally give my heart to another, and know that reciprocity exists, my day is made. 

Today I am 65.  I smile because I am able to enjoy it. I give my compliments to those around me that make EVERY day special.  I plan to celebrate with food (in copious amounts).  And I thank God for the friends who make every day a celebration of being.  On my birthday, I give to you the greatest gift that I have:  You are loved!

It's not about the food.

Five words that would belie a significant number of my posts!  True.  I love to cook.  I love to eat.  Some would say I live to eat.  They would be accurate.  But last night reminded me of the Paul Harvey portion of the story.  Last night was the start of our 20th year of gourmet club.  10 of the 12 charter members were in attendance.  The two missing have moved away and were unable to attend.  Charter members would be a misnomer, because in the 20 years we have been together, the 12 of us have been the only members!  I'm curious as to how many "social groups" could say that?  Last night was special.  Okay...more special than usual.  The food was amazing.  The wine, a perfect complement.  But as usual, it was the company.  Our hostess had a surprise for us.  Let me regress a moment.  Prior to last evening, she had asked each of us to submit a baby picture.  When we arrived, the pictures were posted and we had to guess who was who.  I think I got three right...and two of them were my spousal unit and I!  Anyway, there was a participation prize.  She, being the official photographer of our group, had compiled pictures over the last twenty years into a spiral book for each of us!  We have aged.  Some of us more than others.  We have gone through weight reductions, increases, and reductions.  We've watched their kids grow up into amazing young adults.  And, since we are the geriatric components in this group, we've watched them grow up as well.  You see, 5 of them are former students!  And when you realize I had them when they were ninth graders, they have changed a bit!  Physically!  They will always be our kids.  The non students?  They married well and are a great fit.  We are, for all intents and purposes, a family.
There have been times our culinary efforts have fallen short of spectacular.  Coconut milk and plantains seemed to be the overwhelming memory of "oops" last night.  There have been times when finding a time has been bothersome!  But little problems are far outweighed by great experiences.  And 20 years of love outweigh any kitchen misfortune.  Early on, one of our creative members named our group.  We are the "Eating Friendsy" and we are more than the food!  Hopefully, you have similar stories!  They make life, life!  And you are loved!