Monthly Archives: January 2009

I understand one of my grandmothers used to sing to me, “Bye Bye Blackbird.”  So I can pack up all my cares and woes and say that both of my grandmothers died before I was a year old.

My mother’s mother didn’t lend us too much in the way of culinary lore.  I think all the meat she cooked was grey.  My father’s mother, on the other hand, taught my Mom how to cook good German food.

Here I go, singing low, many years later.  Before I married my husband his grandmother, the infamous Nanny, agreed to be mine as well.  We have such good talks and it’s always great to have a one-on-one visit with her.  Of course she interviewed me first, in 2002, and told me what she wanted her grandson to do.  Of course he didn’t do it.  But no-one stays with a company to get a gold watch these days!

Bye bye Blackbird.  Mom is gone, ten years younger than Nanny.  It took me a while to get to know my brother-in-law but now he actually calls me “Sis.”

Whatever happens on Jim’s interviews this weekend, Texas has become a home for me.  I never thought it would be, or wanted it to be.  The weather stinks six months of the year (100 degrees and humid) but we have family here.

Where somebody waits for me, sugar’s sweet, so is he, bye, bye blackbird.  My love will be home tonight and we’ll talk about our options.  Blackbird, bye bye.  Dee

Six years of marriage.  We met October 3, 2001, right after 9/11 and I was stuck in Europe, unable to get home.  So it’s more like 7.5 years.

Why?  He interests me with his musings and scientific pursuits.  Yes, sometimes we have the same conversations over and over again on long trips, like how he wants to be a pilot and fly to see his folks, or what the emissions from the nearest plant contain.

He interests me with conversations on topical subjects, like the inauguration and economic affairs.  He is so darned smart that the smartest girl in school (I never fulfilled that promise test-wise or grade-wise but did well) yearns to keep up with him.  It’s my job to keep him informed, engaged, and clean.  On the eve of our sixth wedding anniversary I pledge to keep to the same as well as keeping the marriage vows that Captain A.J. Hodder (USN, Ret.) swore us to uphold.  We love you and Joan and family, always!

We are still in love, are the best of friends, have dear friends and family and a dog with whom we share our lives.  I thank you, dear readers and contributors, for being in my life and enhancing my opportunity to share recipes and cooking ideas with you.

Every day my life is a challenge. I awaken and anything could happen and I have to be ready for it.  No, younger folks are on the ground in Iraq and Afghanistan, I’m talking about life in an economic morass.  As long as we’re together, we can deal with anything thrown our way.  Yes I’m the feminist turned nurturer.  What else is new? Hope your forecast is sunny, Dee

Have you ever had that feeling that something was going to turn out a specific way?  Where you know everything is lined up and is going to go in a certain direction.

I get that  from time to time.  It’s a really strange feeling that the ground beneath you is going to shift.  I’m not feeling it yet but in two months I’d be surprised if we’re in Texas.

If we’re headed toward moving there are a lot of items in the freezer and pantry we need to eat.  Brother John’s deer, Wobbly (a chuck steak from a farm animal), fries, pizza. Lots in the frig as well.  And the ersatz pantry includes babas au rhum from Sicily (a gift from Rocco), hearts of palm, artichoke hearts, dried cranberries, mincemeat, plus tons of pasta, rice (Arborio et al) and legumes.

Any ideas would be appreciated.  I don’t feel the moving vibe quite yet, but times are a’changing. Dee

This has nothing to do with President Obama’s call for volunteerism.  I’ve volunteered consistently and spent many years of my life in service to others.

After fifteen years of volunteering, when I moved to TX I called a local organization and told them of my experience and desire to volunteer.  They told me I could come in if I wanted to, but basically they believe that volunteers are useless.  Point blank, true!  The other day they sent me an email begging for money.  I responded by stating that if they don’t want me, certainly they won’t want my money either.

Today I heard from Val the Vet with a cause I’m interested in.  A farm down the road from Jim’s parents has an excess of non-papered Arabian horses that need homes.  I worked the internet and phones and am working on a solution.  Why?  Because I can.  I may not find one but I’ve created enough projects and volunteered and placed volunteers in enough places to lend a hand.

My worst volunteer job was serving dinner to the homeless on Thanksgiving.  First they made us fold urine-soaked blankets in the shelter.  I did get to wash my hands before serving dinner from a steam table line.  The power went out three times and each time the staff held us so we wouldn’t be raped by the diners.  Fun, Yeah!

Yesterday I fully read the email sent to husband Jim for his eight hours of interviews tomorrow.  I printed out the Agile Manifesto for him to read for a group discussion.  I’m a smart gal, available for the right volunteer job in whatever city we end up in.  Treat me well and give me challenging work and I’m a volunteer, and donor, for life.  Here’s to making the world a better place!  Dee