I’m getting in the mood to cook some hearty cool-weather fare myself. Beef Burgundy sounds about right. I think this strip from 2011 tells a simple truth, at least when I’m in the kitchen. Despite washing bowls and utensils as I go, the culinary detritus eventually gets ahead of me, even with those classic “one-pot” dishes that I love so much. Boeuf Bourguignon, in the French, is beef simmered in wine, of course. The great Julia Child’s recipe is a go-to standard for this dish, and it reminds me of one of my favorite quotes from Julia: “I often cook with wine; sometimes, I even pour it in the food I’m cooking.”
Behind the Scenes
By Jimmy Johnson
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218 responses to “Behind the Scenes”
Debbe: Regarding the Springsteen song… I have to wonder whether the two gals in black are jealous or disgusted by the 3rd gal?
Thanks for the good wishes, Jackie. While it’s true that certain librarian tendencies (like looking up “the rest of the story” or verifying its accuracy) may never go away, I’ve been surprised by just how quickly I’ve lost interest in my former workplace (of 43 years). Being able to sleep past 5:30 am probably has a lot to do with it 🙂
Ruth Anne, being able to sleep in was probably the nicest part of my own retirement, too. You are not alone in this…!
Good goin’, Rick! I wish I were as light as you.
eMb: I couldn’t use “factu” as I only observed and related the event.
The Board has directed me to tender on its behalf this update of the events outlined in our last communiqué. Interestingly, the Roma King (ycleped Boiko Lacko) has been most persistent in his prayers for a speedy commencement of negotiations with the Board regarding the return of Nigel Arbuckle to the Orphanage. In fact, that worthy has let slip a bit of information which would explain his eagerness to rid his tribe of the presence of young Master Arbuckle. Apparently the boy became persona non grata when the daughter of King Boiko, who is his only child and therefore the cardinal prospective successor to the gypsy “throne”, became smitten with the lad.
Even with the paucity of particulars provided by the putative potentate, the Board in toto has come to the conclusion from the context, if not the content, of Lacko’s remarks that the youngster has in fact come to know Lyubitshka, the Roma Princess, quite well indeed (and in the Biblical sense, if one catches my drift). As Board Member Inez Laytham-Bolger sniffed, “With our combined knowledge of how young men began to behave at a certain age, divining that detail was not precisely aeronautical engineering.” So it seems that Master Arbuckle does in fact possess at least one talent, the existence of which was not heretofore common knowledge at the Orphanage.*
One of the King’s comments which immediately elevated the collective antennae of the Members of the Board was that there was a potential for “things of great value” to accompany Nigel, should he make a speedy return to the Orphanage. The Board is resolved to let the Roma King marinate in his concerns for at least a fortnight, if not a bit longer, in the hope, nay, the anticipation that he will again broach the subject of “things of great value” and this time indicate what those “things” might be. If he does not, the Director will unilaterally declare that the “things of great value” must be “gifts of gypsy geld” in the form of gold coins. (As is always the case, the Orphanage has no dearth of babies who need new shoes.) Board Member Frances Fields-Tumbler cautioned that a fortnight would mayhap be an excessive delay and would perhaps even increase the likelihood that Master Arbuckle might himself be gelded. After a short period of debate and reflection, the Board arrived at the decision that Lacko’s steeping period would last only until the 30th instant.
I have the honor to be, &c.
(s) Rosamund Wainwright-Altringham
for the Board of the Village Orphan’s Society
*As a sidebar, the Board has voted to informally censure Head Nurse Agatha Hosgood-Funderbotham for her rather crude comment, as overheard by Board Member Eunice Jayneway-Sunderstrom, that, based on Nurse’s numerous physical examinations of Nigel in clinic over the years, Lyubitshka, the gypsy lass, “is probably getting her cognitive functions smitten out with great regularity”.
Huh?
Very clever posting from the Village Orphans — you have such an imagination! Or maybe it’s all perfectly true! And speaking of cleverness, today’s Arlo and Janis in real time, makes me wonder if Mr. Johnson has been planning this all summer. The marketing that the kids tried didn’t work out, but they hadn’t thought of opening a farm stand at their place. Is it too late this season? Did they grow any pumpkins? Stay tuned for developments!
Maybe the kids need to try something like this: http://www.mannamkt.com/
For all I know, this is what inspired the storyline, since they are an Alabama organization.
Yay, Nigel!
I suspect Gus has been retired about long enough by now to be thoroughly sick of doing nothing. (Not his style.) While the kids think in terms of a small produce farm operation, he’d more likely be thinking in terms of starting a produce brokerage operation. I had an uncle in south central Florida who got stupid rich as a produce broker.
Since The Dock (and the dock) where the apparently-never-named A&J schooner was berthed has probably been demolished by developers by now, and there have been no reports of the boat here for some time, I suggest it be christened “The Flying Dutchman II”.
Of course, I suppose it could be tied up in the river bordering the farm, and we just haven’t seen it.
OF due 1824[now]-1844 CDT. emb
http://www.mprnews.org/story/2015/09/25/npr-eclipse
Webcam operator on supper break? We’re view conifers across the valley. emb
Lovely blow, ideal wind direction, but another time when the operator forgot we did not come to watch the crowd. Tops of the highest jets were out of sight. Grumble. emb
Everyone:
Thanks for the compliments – they are a great motivator.
One of the reasons that I post occasional comments about my weight loss is that I am concerned that I might fall off the wagon into a vat of gravy and eat my way out. I don’t want to humiliate myself by putting weight back on and having to admit defeat.
Also, I am hopeful that I might encourage one or two to exercise and change diet before a doctor says to do it – – or else.
My doctor was nice as well as subtle about it, but I knew what he was saying.
GR6:
I am 6′ 1″. (I used to be 6′ 1.5″, but age has its effects.)
How about you?
Rick: I’m 6 feet 2.15 inches tall, but I used to be 6 feet 2.25 inches tall. 🙂
You’re already at a BMI of 23.09, putting you well below the upper limit of a “Normal” BMI (24.9). Your goal of 166 pounds will put you at 21.90, which is getting down toward the lower “Normal” limit of 18.5. Below 18.5 is considered “Under Weight”, which has its own set of problems. Is 166 what your physician recommended for you? (That is just about in the middle of the “Normal” range, and I’m guessing your doc picked that weight for that reason rather than giving you a range of weights to shoot for.)
Debbe 😉 Here’s another Mood song for you. I miss Harry.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_bQGRRolrg0
What the heck…one for “Anonymous”, too.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iYss3Fw9unQ
I am 6 1½ and the last time I was 175 I stuck my tongue out and people thought I was a zipper.
195-200 is where I feel best.
Found one of my College sweat shirts – I can still get into it, though a little tight.
It is marked Xlarge though when I held it up to a young fellow that wears a small
it was more his size. Either it shrank in 50 years or today’s sizes are more generous.
Not a hoodie – more like a pull over.
Sort of like
hollisterco.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Search?storeId=10251&catalogId=10201&langId=-1&top=10201_12551_Guys&search-field=sweatshirts&sort=bestMatch&filter[]=ads_f36002_ntk_cs:”Short+Sleeve”&filtered=true
“Wizard of Id Classics” for yesterday (9/25/15) – anyone here get the humor? It missed me.
Good morning Villagers….
And a happy belated birthday Ruth….my one sister is the librarian at the Loogootee school system and has been for years….she loves the little ones. She was reading “Dick and Jane” to them one day and it got out of control with the boys….giggling and all….Brenda finally shut the book and said, “the boy’s name is Dick and that’s all I’m going to read”…she was surprised that she didn’t hear from any of the parents. Oh, the minds of little ones have changed so much in all the years since I read “Dick and Jane”.
TR…could be a toss up on the women in black. I wonder where it was photographed at….not over there you can be sure of that!!
Emb…didn’t offend me, personally I thought it was funny….as I had a nice white dress and a party for my confirmation…10 years of a Catholic education. I remember when the mass was said in Latin.
Cxp….that’s the first time I’ve clicked on the ‘classics’….you’re right, didn’t make sense and what doesn’t make more sense is why is it considered a ‘classic’?
Ah…the Village Orphanage Society…well done, great thought and creative writing, but ya lost me at “paucity of particulars provided by the putative potentate”!
Going to be cloudy today, and tomorrow….doesn’t look good for viewing the ‘blood’ moon tomorrow night. Doesn’t matter, I’ll be asleep in the recliner by 7ish, wake up, and be in bed by 10ish.
And a Happy Caturday to ya’ll
GR 😉 not exactly ‘mood’ music, but to get ya ready for the weekend….
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ahvSgFHzJIc
only I’m working the weekend….again. I’ll take that paycheck 🙂
Mark…good one 🙂 …then there’s a group called “Mister, Mister” isn’t there? Didn’t they have a one hit wonder? No time to look up now….your turn.
I am proud of the weight loss among certain Villagers, so here is some more advice, put this on your refrigerator door 🙂
https://i.chzbgr.com/full/8567273472/h6C6D2636/
Jerry:
Because the doctor claims that I have Type Two diabetes and because I humor him, I avoid sweetened drinks, but I recently began drinking hot green tea at least twice a day.
I also added a half teaspoon of cinnamon to my daily diet.
According to all of the reputable sites that I could find, green tea and cinnamon not only help one lose weight but also either control or eliminate diabetes.
I checked with my doctor before I began using them, and he said that they are okay. He didn’t offer an opinion as to their efficacy, though.
GR6:
Thanks for the information about my BMI; I really appreciate. I hadn’t thought to check it.
The last time that I checked my body fat percentage (“BMI” wasn’t used then), I was in a phys ed class in my freshman year at Western Kentucky. I was a typical skinny teenager and weighed about 160 or 165. My percentage of extra body fat was zero. That gave me a laugh.
The doctor never suggested an amount. I started eating properly and exercising, and the weight disappeared. That’s all there is to it.
When I reached 190, I thought that I would try for 180 because I had read several years ago that, according to official government studies, 180 was the proper weight for a man of my height and skeletal build.
180 might be right if it’s all muscle, but that isn’t my case, yet. It looked as if I still had about 15 pounds of fat around my middle.
When the weather becomes too bad around here for outdoor running, I plan to join a local gym and begin using their treadmills, etc. I will also begin a light regimen of weightlifting so that I can stretch the spine a bit, along with toning the upper torso some. I know that, at 62, the results will not be what I had when I was 20, but it will still be good for me. I am also hopeful that the combination of running and weightlifting will take care of the abdomen.
Going to the gym and being surrounded by younger people who are well muscled and in great shape doesn’t bother me. At my age (and all my grey hair), I doubt that they will have disparaging thoughts about me. Instead, they’ll most likely look at me and think, “Yeah! I hope I can do that when I am his age.”
I apologize for writing so much. I’ll keep it shorter in the future.
Don’t apologize, Rick! I enjoy reading about your very productive efforts. Yes, it is encouraging. Now – If I can only get those “encouragement” seeds to bear fruit.