October 30
I don’t know that I can disrespect someone more than J. D. Vance. ~ Mitt Romney
Josh Hawley is one of the smartest people in the Senate, if not the smartest, and Ted Cruz [R-Texas] could give him a run for his money. “They know better” (than to believe Trump’s claim that massive fraud cost him a second term). ~ Mitt Romney
No one has been more loyal, more willing to smile when he saw absurdities, more willing to ascribe God’s will to things that were ungodly than Mike Pence. ~ Mitt Romney
[‘Tis the season . . . ]
Ron (Senator Johnson), is there any conspiracy you don’t believe? ~ Mitt Romney
A very large portion of my party really doesn’t believe in the Constitution. ~ Mitt Romney
Almost without exception they (GOP colleagues) shared my view of the president. ~ Mitt Romney
Trump is an idiot. ~ Mitt Romney (quoting Mitch McConnell)
September 17
What’s the point of having a book club if you don’t get to eat brownies and drink wine? ~ Jami Attenberg
In the end, we’ll all become stories. ~ Margaret Atwood
[Nonfiction book club talking about “real” stuff . . . ]
If you’re going to do a job, do it right. If you’re going to throw a birthday party, make it amazing. ~ Jimmy John Liautaud
I first met Erik Jacobson when he played at our wedding 26 years ago, and another thanks to Erik — this time with a couple Southside Aces compatriots and other friends — for helping usher in a new decade! (Thanks also Matt and Amber for the gumbo and fixings and Tom Obert for photos!) ~ Michael Tisserand
[The Tisserands enjoying the dance floor . . . ]
In the world of online invitations, nothing is sacred. People will invite all 500 of their ‘closest’ friends to their birthday party – and 485 of those people will RSVP ‘yes’ without intending to show up. ~ Susannah Cahalan
It’s odd the things that people remember. Parents will arrange a birthday party, certain it will stick in your mind forever. You’ll have a nice time, then two years later you’ll be like, ‘There was a pony there? Really? And a clown with one leg?’ ~ David Sedaris
My second play, The Birthday Party, I wrote in 1958 – or 1957. It was totally destroyed by the critics of the day, who called it an absolute load of rubbish. ~ Harold Pinter
In January 1962, when I was the author of one and a half unperformed plays, I attended a student production of ‘The Birthday Party’ at the Victoria Rooms in Bristol. Just before it began, I realised that Harold Pinter was sitting in front of me. ~ Tom Stoppard
I had the worst birthday party ever when I was a child because my parents hired a pony to give rides. And these ponies are never in good health. But this one dropped dead. It just wasn’t much fun after that. One kid would sit on him and the rest of us would drag him around. ~ Rita Rudner
I gave a funny speech at my wife’s birthday party, and I’m thinking, ‘Hey, I’ve still got it.’ ~ Larry David
[Ragtime music provided by the Southside Aces . . . ]
I had a wonderful childhood, which is tough because it’s hard to adjust to a miserable adulthood. ~ Larry David
As a kid, I would wake up, and there’d be a jazz funeral while I’m walking to school. And when I come home, you can find Rebirth band playing for a birthday party the same day. ~ Trombone Shorty
[I’ve been advised this is called dancing . . . ]
Sinatra invited me once to his birthday party in L.A. I was young, and I felt great about it. But when I got there, the Rat Pack were all in the kitchen laughing their heads off. ~ Tony Bennett
One of my favorite memories was one time Prince picked me up and said we were going to Michael Jordan’s birthday party. ~ Tamron Hall
September 20
To reminisce with my old friends, a chance to share some memories, and play our songs again. ~ Ricky Nelson
[The Boys of ’65 hit the road Wednesday for another new venue – Hot Shots Bar & Grill in New Munich (population 320). Bradley decided it was a tad too far for him to handle (94 miles round trip), so it is was just Mayo and me again. We did not know the bustling main street had been all torn up since May, but Mayo & I were able to find out way there by deftly following the detour signs. The detours were so much fun, I decided to take the back roads on the way home. On the way I passed past dining spots for the boys from Sidewalks in West Union; to the old Corral site in Nelson; to the legendary Carl’s; Sonny’s; Weston Station on the far outskirts of Alex. Mayo suggested a place for next month that I can’t find on maps issued after 1795.]
[Main Street, New Munich . . . ]
The essence of nostalgia is an awareness that what has been will never be again. ~ Milton S. Eisenhower
Friendship is born at that moment when one person says to another: ‘What! You too? I thought I was the only one. ~ C. S. Lewis
Friends: people who borrow my books and set wet glasses on them. ~ Edwin Arlington Robinson
Some people only get called by their nicknames. Usually, it sounds weird to even say their real name. ~ Kishore
Honestly, I just go to restaurants to eat so I won’t die. If there was a pill I could take in January and then I wouldn’t have to eat again for the rest of the year, I would take it. Of course, I wouldn’t want to sacrifice my chocolate cake and ice cream. ~ Steven Wright
[Sidewalks on West Union . . . ]
Murals in restaurants are on a par with the food in museums. ~ Peter De Vries
[Where the Corral in Nelson used to be . . . ]
I think fine dining is dying out everywhere… but I think there will be – and there has to always be – room for at least a small number of really fine, old-school fine-dining restaurants. ~ Anthony Bourdain
[Carl’s Fireside Steakhouse, then Sonny’s, then Weston Station, enjoyed a 50-year+ run . . . ]
Neighborhood restaurants matter. ~ Ayanna Pressley
[Lure Lakeside Bar in the west shore of Lake Le Homme Dieu . . . ]
True friends don’t judge each other, they judge other people together. ~ Emilie Saint-Genis
[The Wednesday night fine dining crew had moved on since the Alexandria Golf Club closed for the season . . . ]
There are three faithful friends, an old wife, an old dog, and ready money. ~ Benjamin Franklin
September 21
Friends make you smile — best friends make you giggle ’til you pee your pants. ~ Terri Guillemets
[Fine dining at Longtrees Woodfire Grill with the Prince and Princess of Ashby after another addition of Senior College . . .
When we think of classic American desserts, we tend to imagine apple pie and ice cream. However, the most classic American dessert of all might be the chocolate chip cookie. ~ Homaro Cantu
Eating a lot is an occupational hazard but it’s a pretty great problem to have. I spend a lot of time eating sweets on TV – cake, cupcakes, donuts, and pudding. It’s a dream job, but at the same time there will be days where I wake up knowing I will eat 15 desserts! ~ Gail Simmons
I don’t think I’ve ever seen pie advertised. That’s how you know it’s good. They advertise ice cream and other desserts. They advertise the bejeezus out of yogurt, but I haven’t seen one pie commercial. ~ Adam Carolla
September 22
Women and cats will do as they please, and men and dogs should relax and get used to the idea. ~ Robert A. Heinlein
[The Super tending to the babies on their daily search and destroy missions . . . ]
The more cats you have, the longer you live. If you have a hundred cats, you’ll live 10 times longer than if you have 10. Someday this will be discovered, and people will have a thousand cats and live forever. It’s truly ridiculous. ~ Charles Bukowski
There are two means of refuge from the misery of life — music and cats. ~ Albert Schweitzer
‘Meow’ means ‘woof’ in cat. ~ George Carlin
Sleep is like a cat: It only comes to you if you ignore it. ~ Gillian Flynn
To err is human, to purr is feline. ~ Robert Byrne
September 25
I like storms. I would say I actively like stormy weather. I would not be afraid of them. I think that if I had not pursued journalism, I think storm-chasing would’ve been a really fun career. ~ Chuck Klosterman
[Just because it’s an interesting sky . . . ]
Rainbows are birthed in storms, not in sunshine. ~ Matshona Dhliwayo
September 29
When a cat adopts you, there is nothing to be done about it except to put up with it until the wind changes. ~ T.S. Eliot
[The babies waiting for Mom to come home . . . ]
September 30
Age appears best in four things: old wood to burn, old wine to drink, old friends to trust, and old authors to read. ~ Francis Bacon
[The music group at Rolling Folks Vineyards for Anthony Miltich . . . ]
A bottle of wine contains more philosophy than all the books in the world. ~ Louis Pasteur
The perfect lover is one who turns into a pizza at 4:00 A.M. ~ Charles Pierce
Unless you are a pizza, the answer is yes, I can live without you. ~ Bill Murray
[The group and the aforementioned Anthony all in one picture . . . ]
There’s no better feeling in the world than a warm pizza box in your lap. ~ Kevin James
[It was a tad breezy as usual situated many goldfarbs above Lake Minnewaska . . . ]
If the king loves music, there is little wrong in the land. ~ Mencius
Music is a moral law. It gives soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination, and charm and gaiety to life and to everything. ~ Plato
I think music in itself is healing. It’s an explosive expression of humanity. It’s something we are all touched by. No matter what culture we’re from, everyone loves music. ~ Billy Joel
Music is the divine way to tell beautiful, poetic things to the heart. ~ Pablo Casals
If music be the food of love, play on. ~ William Shakespeare
And although our bodies are bounded with skin, and we can differentiate between outside and inside, they cannot exist except in a certain kind of natural environment. ~ Alan Watts
[The aforementioned Lake Minnewaska in the far background . . . ]
October 1
Champagne is appropriate for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. ~ Madeline Puckette
[Long overdue visit to Polly and Dave at L’Etoile du Nord vineyard on Lake Irene . . . ]
Either give me more wine or leave me alone. ~ Rumi
[Said Lake Irene . . . ]
The discovery of a wine is of greater moment than the discovery of a constellation. The universe is too full of stars. ~ Benjamin Franklin
Give me wine to wash me clean of the weather-stains of cares. ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson
I can certainly see that you know your wine. Most of the guests who stay here wouldn’t know the difference between Bordeaux and Claret. ~ Basil Fawlty
[Polly planted these red pines some 60 years ago . . . ]
Accept what life offers you and try to drink from every cup. All wines should be tasted; some should only be sipped, but with others, drink the whole bottle. ~ Paulo Coelho
[The road home . . . ]
But there was a kitten on my pillow, and it was purring in my face and vibrating gently with every purr, and, very soon, I slept. ~ Neil Gaiman
[Catnapping trio . . . ]
Cats are connoisseurs of comfort. ~ James Herriot
October 2
The sky is the daily bread of the eyes. ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson
[Coming out of the Y one morning at sunrise . . . ]
The sky is an infinite movie to me. I never get tired of looking at what’s happening up there. ~ k. d. lang
Anybody can sympathize with the sufferings of a friend, but it requires a very fine nature to sympathise with a friend’s success. ~ Oscar Wilde
[Making a mockery of not wearing white after Labor Day . . . ]
October 4
After a day’s walk, everything has twice its usual value. ~ G.M. Trevelyan
[With Friends of the Alexandria Nature Trail (FANT) . . .
Hiking—much like drinking—is something that sounds more fun to the uninitiated than it actually is. ~ Mindy McGinnis
[The meeting place for a walk of the part of the trail behind Discovery Middle School. I had no idea a lovely ballpark was hidden in the woods behind the school . . . ]
Hiking’s not for everyone. Notice the wilderness is mostly empty. ~ Sonja Yoerg
[“Friends” gathering for the walk . . . ]
Fact: Hiking is actually just walking, only on dirt or rocks or other uneven surfaces. Or walking where an animal larger than you can kill and eat you. ~ Brendon Leonard
[The ballpark from the outfield side looking back at where our walk began . . . ]
I took a walk in the woods and came out taller than the trees. ~ Henry David Thoreau
[We’re rolling now . . . ]
It isn’t the mountains ahead to climb that wear you out; it’s the pebble in your shoe. ~ Muhammad Ali
[Approaching the back of the school was football practice was taking place . . . ]
Wilderness is not a luxury but a necessity of the human spirit. ~ Edward Abbey
Hiking is just walking where it’s okay to pee. ~ Demetri Martin
Never follow someone else’s path unless you’re in the woods and you’re lost, and you see a path. By all means, you should follow that. ~ Ellen DeGeneres
[John Riggle, a member of the Audubon Society among other things, narrated the walk . . . ]
Let’s not mince words: Everest doesn’t attract a whole lot of well-balanced folks. The self-selection process tends to weed out the cautious and the sensible in favor of those who are single-minded and incredibly driven. Which is a big reason the mountain is so dangerous. ~ Jon Krakauer
[Appears to be a wasp nest . . . ]
I can’t understand why men make all this fuss about Everest — it’s only a mountain. ~ Junko Tabei, first woman to climb Everest
[Meanwhile, back at practice . . . ]
If we were meant to stay in one place, we’d have roots instead of feet. ~ Rachel Wolchin
[It’s a wrap!]
I don’t understand how someone who has said and done such mean things can win. ~ Adam Russell Taylor’s 5-year old son
Nazism has nothing to do with race and nationality. It appeals to a certain type of mind. ~ Dorothy Thompson
Up Next: More o’ the same . . .
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