Bush-Carole Coleman interview revisited

This is a link to the complete RTE television interview.

Carole Coleman of Irish State Broadcasting interviewed Mr. Bush, in the White House, in the summer of 2004, prior to the president's visit to Ireland. The 10 minute interview received much attention at the time for Ms. Coleman's "muscular" journalistic approach with Mr. Bush.

I revisited the interview via a radio piece with Carole Coleman in April on WNYC, New York Public Radio. Some interesting phone calls came in during the interview. It's 18 minutes long.




WNYC also has a link to the White House transcript of interview.

Victor Borge and Marilyn Mulvey Have Fun with Verdi

The coloratura is Marilyn Mulvey.

An Outstanding Horse

I took a walk and passed this horse out standing in its field.

Good Morning

Mozart For Morning Coffee, a CD of what you might imagine. Worth buying just for cover. It's available at a number of places on the web. Excuse me while a make my second cup and turn the thermostat up a degree or two.

I think I mentioned the new furnace. Actually, new boiler. I've been calling it a furnace, but the guy who installed it corrected me. Boiler. We have radiators in our house. Whatever it is, it does a much better job than the old one. It cost enough. It should. My wife and I think of it as our Christmas present---for the next 15 years or so. We're thinking of having pictures made with us and all the animals standing next to it to send to friends for Christmas.

It is a lovely thing to look at. My wife refuses to go to the basement to see it, though. So I took some pictures. She fell in love with right away, and the next day she mustered the courage to go down to the basement and touch it.

This is the general idea of how a boiler works.




Out of my shoe box of old pictures I give you this one.



One of my favorites.

There's a moon out tonight...

I you haven't been outside tonight, you should go. There's a nip in the air and you won't need a flashlight. Wear a warm jacket and gloves. Ear muffs if you've got 'em. When you get back, have a nice cup of tea or cocoa.

Mecca of Romance, Yuma, Arizona

Another picture out of the yard sale shoe box.

"Wedding Bell", Mecca of Romance, Rev. D. Pryce Gillis, Yuma, Arizona"
This is the what's written on the back:

"This is a town where one can secure a marriage license immediately and they have several places like this where couples from all over the South West get married. Many movie stars come here to marry. They have very large signs along the highway coming from Calif and just inside the city of Yuma to advertise the ease with which once can get married." (No date.)

Gas prices?

Have you noticed that since the election, gas prices have gone up. I passed a Citgo on my way to purchase the Pinot Noir and noticed that regular is now 2.49 a gallon.




The day before the election it was 2.34 a gallon.

Undoubtedly, just a coincidence.

Chocolate Chip Cookies

I got tired of opening those packages of Toll House cookie dough, so I decided that--with the aid of The King Arthur Flour Baker's Companion--to make them from scratch. Not being able to find any scratch, I resorted to flour, chocolate chips, baking powder and all the usual ingredients. I didn't use butter, for although the cookies were ostensibly for the boys and their mom, I knew I'd probably succumb to temptation. I used Smart Balance instead.

They turned out great. Just one of the side effects of the Christmas spirit. What the heck is the matter with me?! They were too sweet, in my opinion, so I think I'll use a little less brown sugar next time. That will probably be this afternoon, since my very social eleven year old son is having a "few" friends over.

And btw, I did succumb--just a wee bit.

Christmas in Wales

"Take a photo tour of what has to be the best dressed house in Pantperthog!"

Christmas Tree Mittens

If you like quilts and Christmas take a peek.



Thank you www.quilttownusa.com:
"A holiday tradition of decorating Christmas trees with mittens for donations to needy children inspired Virginia Jones of Taunton, Massachusetts, to create "The Mitten Tree" (51" x 59"). Mittens do not have to come in pairs when you make your version of this delightful wintertime quilt."

Singing Christmas Tree

In the spirit of the season, from the Hendersonville, NC News.

A Hobbit's Tale

If you are a fan of the Hobbit and Tolkien, you might enjoy this site. Can you believe that such a pleasant looking chap as Andy Serkis played creepy and sad little Gollum in the Lord of the Rings films? Mr. Serkis is married and has three children. Wonder if they've seen dad at work?

Thanksgiving gifts

I got out of bed on Thanksgiving. Early. As usual. Before the break of dawn.

I went for coffee and sat down to start writing.

Much to be thankful for and eager to say so.



The computer started and almost immediately broke out into a terrible clattering sound. Instinctively, I turned the thing off. The next day when I phoned Dell, the very bright and helpful young woman told me that the problem was my power supply and that I shouldn't worry because a power supply isn't expensive. And she assured me that I could exchange the bad for the good with ease. All I needed was a screwdriver. This afternoon the part came and just as the nice lady had promised, I did it all by myself. I think having the vodka and orange juice helped a lot. Joke.


The sudden loss of access to a computer made for a very quiet and peaceful few days.
I was forced to write using a pencil and pad of paper. How strange it is to see my own handwriting after, what seems like years. Very odd to watch my thoughts come to life on paper as my hand effortlessly makes all those intricate squiggly moves. Easy as falling off a bicycle.


The weather was about as good as it could be these past few days. (There is no such thing as global warming.) Perfect for walking and taking pictures.


So that's just what I did.













Thursday is our regular garbage pickup day, but because of Thanksgiving the collection company changed the day. We got this card from them on Tuesday




On Wednesday this card arrived.



On Friday, we found this in our post office box.

















Thanksgiving was a fine day. I spent last Thanksgiving in the hospital following my surprise bypass surgery. As far as hospitals go, it was OK, but it sure felt pretty good to be in my nice warm home with my family this year. Thanks.


"I'm the decider. I can bite this turkey's head off if I decide to."

Quebec City in August

It's beginning to feel a lot like winter. These photos I took in Quebec City in August put me in a warmer state of mind.

Tootsie the cat

Meet Tootsie, one of our four cats.

Sunday Morning

My Backyard

67 degrees on the 17th of November. I am reminded of this--a few short weeks ago. The furry bumblebees working so hard to prepare for winter.



The music is Ray Lynch's "Ralph's Rhapsody". Is it not beautiful?
His site has samples of his music.

The Winds of Change

"We're living in a kindergarten. It should be (politics) on issues, and that's the thing that makes you sick about the political scheme of things right now, regardless of which side."

Clint Eastwood, Entertainment Weekly, October 27, 2006

"You live around here, or ride a bicycle?"

A Remote Farm, Thomas Nason

The old lady looked down at the kid standing on the other side of her screen door.
He was holding a large paper bag, his arm extended towards her. "You wanna buy some termaters? he said. "Termaters?" she asked. "You got termaters in that big old bag, boy? How much you reckon you want fer 'em?" He grinned. "Ten cents. They're fresh. Just picked 'em from my mama's garden." She opened the screen door and stepped out. "Let me see them expensive termaters" she said, reaching out to take the bag. "Well", she said, "I reckon you must have about 5 pounds of tomaters in this here bag". "Yes'm", he replied. "Only 10 cents a bag." She held the bag up with both hands. "Now you say they's fresh? Just picked? Does yo mama know you out selling her termaters?" she asked. "Yes'm", he said. "We got some shelled butter beans too."

"Tell me boy. How come I never seed you before? You live around here, or ride a bicycle?"

"Yes'm. I live right down yonder, four a five houses. Next door to ms. Mack."

She stood there holding the bag of tomatoes, thinking. "I reckon they's worth a dime." she said. "Let me get ya one." The hinges squeaked when she opened the screen door.