Povey Prattle

I was happy to be a guest today at a surprise birthday party.  It took place at Sarasota's "Flemings Restaurant" -  which, as they say, is not too shabby.  (My first ever visit there). We were in one of the private dining rooms. Here is the party menu I chose the Crab Cakes  -  they had more than a passing acquaintance with a crab  (i.e. not much filling and a whole lot of crab). The "sides" were excellent.  I had some Spinach (to be a good boy), and a ton of Lobster Macaroni and Cheese ('cause it was so darn good)! I am not a great fan of Cheesecake, but the Flemings version was utterly good. The guest of honour was the always fabulous Charlotte Thompson. She and her husband Ron became my friends shortly after I moved to SRQ in 2006.   Charlotte was well and truly surprised -  even shocked! --------------------------------------------------------------------- Charlotte and Ron danced toge...

pronounces the name of our State as if it were I shouldn't let this bother me, but it does! In  similar vein a WUSF (Tampa, St. Petersburg, Sarasota) broadcaster pronounces "con" words as "can"  - e.g. consummate becomes cansummate.   I yell at the radio every time he does so! I wonder if he would pronounce canticle as conticle! tee hee -  the first four letters of my last name might rhyme with love .  Indeed some benighted folks have pronounced it as if it were puvey .  Those who do so receive a withering look and a stern warning.   It is Pove y as in Pope. I issue similar warnings if and when people call me Mike instead of Michael. On the other hand, for as long as I can remember people have gifted me with the nick-name Pove. I love it -   hence my e-mail address is retiredpove at comcast.net. (As you might guess -  I've had a very quiet day!) luvpove

Most mornings I am up and at it long before the crack of dawn. Zion and I take a twenty five minute walk around the neighbourhood at 5:00. By 6:30 we are at Sarasota's Bayfront Park for our second walk. From there we drive to Arlington Park via Bahia Vista Street for our third walk. That's where it gets difficult in the winter months.   We are driving east on Bahia Vista at a time when the sun is low in the sky.  It's just about blinding. Stock photo' After our Arlington Park walk I have to drive east again, crossing the traffic lights at Tuttle Ave., and later turning left at the lights at Beneva. I always hope to be second or third in line at these lights so that I am not the one who has to squint up into the sky to look for a green at the overhead traffic lights. Oh to be in France. Of course there are overhead traffic lights, but they are supplemented by eye level lights to make driving  easier for the first and second in line on green...

Now Is The Month Of Maying. Video https://youtu.be/AccCFMJQYA4 Lyrics Now is the month of maying, when merry lads are playing, Fa la la la la la la la la, fa la la la la la la. Each with his bonnie lass, a-dancing on the grass, Fa la la la la la la la la, fa la la la la la la . The Spring, clad all in gladness, doth laugh at Winter's sadness, Fa la la la la la la la la, fa la la la la la la . And to the bagpipe's sound, The nymphs tread out the ground, Fa la la la la la la la la, fa la la la la la la. Fie, then, why sit we musing, youth's sweet delight refusing? Fa la la la la la la la la, fa la la la la la la. Say, dainty nymph, and speak, shall we play barley break?, Fa la la la la la la la la, fa la la la la la la.

https://youtu.be/zEKYQ4GOqmk The People's Flag is deepest red, It shrouded oft our martyred dead, And ere their limbs grew stiff and cold, Their hearts' blood dyed its every fold. Chorus: Then raise the scarlet standard high. Beneath its shade we'll live and die, Though cowards flinch and traitors sneer, We'll keep the red flag flying here. Look round, the Frenchman loves its blaze, The sturdy German chants its praise, In Moscow's vaults its hymns were sung Chicago swells the surging throng. (chorus) It waved above our infant might, When all ahead seemed dark as night; It witnessed many a deed and vow, We must not change its colour now. (chorus) It well recalls the triumphs past, It gives the hope of peace at last; The banner bright, the symbol plain, Of human right and human gain. (chorus) It suits today the weak and base, Whose minds are fixed on pelf and place To cringe before the rich man's frown, And haul the sacred emblem down. (chorus) ...

My nose, tongue, and palate created a longing yesterday. They reminded me of Waldorf Salad, so rarely seen on restaurant menus these days. So I made my own. So darn good. Mine included apple, raisins, and walnuts, (with Duke's Mayonnaise of course). G.........O.....O......D!

Some will remember that I got the news of this tragedy when I was in San Antonio  in March. Other will remember that I officiated at the wedding of  Justine and Luke. "Answers still elusive" says the Berkshire Eagle. That's the case, but no "answers" will assuage the heart searing grief of Justine's family;  and of Luke's family -  I know many of them. I often wake up in the morning thinking  "that didn't happen, did it?"  The light of day reveals the darkness of grief, not just in this instance, but for so many of our deepest sorrows. https://www.berkshireeagle.com/stories/as-an-entire-family-is-laid-to-rest-answers-still-elusive-in-sheffield-tragedy,571894

"He told stories readily and repeatedly (filling them with vivid, convincing, detail) about the year he spent in California as a teenager, about his college girlfriend and the denouement of their relationship, about his father,whom he often sought to portray as a drunken ne'er-do-well - about, in fact, a hundred aspects of his youth. And not merely many but most of these stories were false. Aiding in his success, moreover, was an aspect of his temperament, with which, during his Presidency, Washington was to become familiar: and extraordinary preoccupation with, and talent for, secrecy.  This talent was striking even in his youth, and in the concealment of his own life story the President outdid himself" .----------- ------------"In a sense, Lyndon Johnson not only attempted to create, and leave for history , his own legend, but to ensure that it could never be disproven" Robert Caro, In his introduction to "The Years Of Lyndon Johnson. The Path...