"YOU CAN TAKE THE BOY OUT OF THE COUNTRY........."

A Facebook correspondent from Fayette County posted the following:

  "I'm glad I live alone so I don't have to deal with the tacky things during Autumn.
   Maybe it's an Ohio thing, but they wear "hoodies", sit in the freezing cold for
   football (something else I dislike), break out their tacky, ugly primitives that smell
   like cinnamon and pumpkin-nasty spice.  They rave about the disgusting lattes from
   Starbucks, knowing that the nearest Starbucks to their hick town is 45 miles.  They
   wear ugly, fuzzy boots and sit in checkered shirts that lumberjacks wear while sitting
   inches away from burning garbage, aka a "bonfire".  Meanwhile, they have that
   fugly metal star on their house."

I found it amusing that he could have become such a sophisticate by being away from Fayette County a scant six months!  For a minute, I even thought he might have been to the James Beard Institute!

This is my response:

Dear Bon Vivant:  I'll be generous and file your rant under the category: "YOU CAN TAKE THE BOY OUT OF THE COUNTRY, BUT YOU CAN'T TAKE THE COUNTRY OUT OF THE BOY!"

Since you are NOW such a sophisticated epicurean, perhaps you can instruct all of us unsophisticated FAYCO people about the finer points of Japanese cuisine!

As you must NOW know exactly what kind of fish/seafood are used in the pictured sushi, perhaps you will share which are your favorites.  I doubt that the ingredients were FRESH as you weren't at a coastal location. Perhaps they don't use CARP or MULLET in the super-sophisticated Memphis sushi bars!  [Remind me to tell you of a personal faux pas involving MULLET and my pronunciation!]

As for myself, I much prefer the green seaweed rather than the black. It's been really beneficial to have an Asian as my sister-in-law to educate me!

My "mullet moment":  we were in Mobile, Alabama, at my brother Bode's favorite seafood restaurant. We had walked over a footbridge to get to the restaurant and I looked into the pond and asked, "Are those mullet down there--are they on the menu?"  The maitre d, obviously offended (although I attributed it to his lack of humor), imitated my pronunciation of "mullet" ("MULL-UTT") as he said, superciliously, "WE pronounce it MUH-LET!"

To this day, in remembrance of that, I say "MUHLET" using his rather condescending tone!

RICH AND SNOOTY

I am fairly certain that I do NOT look "rich and snooty" but quite often in stores, I have had people ask me if I worked at the store and ask for information.

If I know about the request, I always respond with an answer but then I look at the clothes I'm wearing and wonder if what I am wearing resembles a uniform.

I am always on the lookout for movies that I, Gerald and a number of friends and family might want. Just yesterday, I was sorting through a bin of $3.00 movies and I have a specific method of sorting: I take out approximately 20 movies, put them in my cart, then stack the remainder in piles in the bin and then work my way around the bin, thus enabling me to see all the titles.

A woman came up to MY (yes, I realize that I become very territorial during my pursuit!) bin and began looking at the movies but she was ruining my method as she was tossing the movies willy-nilly around the bin. I asked, "Are you looking for something in particular?" She answered, "Nah." I said, "I have a list of ones I'd like to find." and I produced my fat notebook of "lists" which I maintain and she looked at me as if I were the craziest person she'd ever met!

She said, "Oh, I thought you work here."  Fortunately, for me, she left quickly.

Within a few minutes a man and woman approached me and the woman was in a wheelchair and she asked, "Do they have any craft supplies here?" I immediately directed them to the proper location.

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THE FIGHTING MCKINLEYS

The name of "Mt. McKinley" has NOT been changed! The mountain was DENALI before it was RENAMED as "Mt. McKinley". William McKinley was NEVER in Alaska and was NOT President when Denali was RE-NAMED.

When William McKinley was nominated by the Republicans to be their standard-bearer for President, a prospector in Alaska had heard that McKinley supported the gold standard, and "named" the ALREADY-NAMED peak in his honor.

As Mr. Boehner and his colleagues are so upset b the President's restoring the rightful name of Denali to the mountain, I suggest that they channel their anger and find a suitable avenue for their desire to have something  named for their NEWLY-IDOLIZED former president.


I think it would be appropriate to re-name THE O.S.U. sports teams "The Fighting McKinleys"!

MOON CHILD

So, you might ask, "What's your sign, Sue?"

Depending on my mood, I answer either: "STOP!" or "YIELD!" Gerald suggests "DANGEROUS CURVES AHEAD!"

ALEX TREBEK'S COMEUPPANCE

Although I am a faithful Jeopardy! viewer, having watched it in both iterations--when Art Fleming was the host and for the past thirty years with Alex Trebek-- but I find Trebek to be insufferable and wish that he would retire.

I was gleeful when I saw this contestant's Final Jeopardy question.  The contestant was particularly annoying throughout the program--with her goofy mannerisms, incorrect replies, decolletage, bra showing through her blouse, and the worst transgression of all--the HEART above the "i" in her signature!

A 'Jeopardy!' Contestant Tricked Alex Trebek Into Saying Turd Ferguson
A 'Jeopardy!' contestant used her Final Jeopardy answer to trick Alex Trebek into saying the name of the host's 'SNL' nemesis.

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"MEETING" ANDRE GIDE

Whenever I read quotes shared by other Facebook friends, I am always hopeful that those quotes inspire further interest in the works of the authors.

As a teenager, I "met" Andre Gide--through reading--because of my interest in Oscar Wilde whom Gide befriended during Wilde's travails. Gide was also very influential with Sartre and Camus and Gide was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature.

My great-niece posted a quote by W. Somerset Maugham and I commented that Maugham was a very popular writer of his generation but I doubt that many people know of him nowadays. I also admitted that I had read "The Razor's Edge" and "Of Human Bondage" only AFTER seeing the movies, which is the opposite of the way it's supposed to be.

IRISH EXIT

My friend Mona Lisa called and asked, "Have you ever heard the term Irish Exit?" I laughed and said, "Yes, one of my brothers does it all the time; it means leaving a gathering without telling anybody you're leaving."

She said, "Yeah, I've noticed; one of you will look around and ask 'Where's Neil?'; I didn't know there was name for it!"

click here to read about IRISH EXIT

YOM KIPPUR

This evening, members of the Jewish community will commence the observance of Yom Kippur, the most sacred Holy Day on the Jewish calendar. Yom Kippur is a day of fasting, prayer, and atonement. To those observing, we extend warm wishes for a meaningful day and an easy fast. ‪‬

OLIVE KITTERIDGE

I was very pleased by the EMMY awards for the miniseries "Olive Kitteridge": Frances McDormand as Lead Actress, Richard Jenkins as Lead Actor, Bill Murray as Supporting Actor and the Writer and Director also won.

One of my favorite actresses Margo Martindale won as Guest Actress in a Drama Series "The Americans" and the delightful Joan Cusack won as Guest Actress in a Comedy Series "Shameless".

I hoped that William H. Macy would win for "Shameless" and although he did not win it was good to see him there with the lovely Felicity Huffman.

"THEY CAME TO PLAY!"

My brother maintains a list of sports cliches but I seldom hear them on television because I seldom watch any sports. However, yesterday I was in a "CAPTIVE AUDIENCE" during THE O.S.U. football game and the sports commentator actually uttered the phrase about N.I.U.: "THEY CAME TO PLAY!"

I screamed with delight and immediately called my brother to tell him I'd heard THE cliche! He chuckled and said, "ONE GAME AT A TIME; you should watch "Bull Durham" where Kevin Costner tells Tim Robbins all the sports cliches."

"OH, SO RETRO!"

A young Facebook friend posted that whenever he went to yard sales and auctions he usually returned with records.

A friend's son wanted album covers to frame to decorate his walls in his first apartment. I am NOW his absolutely favorite person because I gave him TWO albums by the Beatles.

When my husband and I married in 1971 we had numerous duplicates of records but I am glad I never disposed of them;  they were stored in the well above the armoire since we moved here in 1984.

When I presented the albums to the young man, he exclaimed, "They are SO RETRO!"

It made me feel ancient to have favorites of my youth to be considered as "RETRO" but it is also very funny!

ONE PERSON'S ABOMINATION MIGHT BE ANOTHER PERSON'S DELICACY!

Yes, I sinned last night by having the "Endless Shrimp" dinner at Red Lobster and I plan to sin again this weekend by having CEVICHE at a Mexican restaurant.

I have also eaten the banned pork and venison and committed that most egregious of transgressions: WEARING MIXED FABRICS!

RECALCITRANCE

This happened to me and to demonstrate what a recalcitrant person I am, I turned off the ignition, got out of the car, opened the trunk, took out my bag of Armor All cleaning supplies, and began cleaning my already-clean windshield!

The person who had been honking at me rolled down HIS window and mentioned the pedigree--or lack thereof--of my birth but I merely responded with my manic laugh!

When I related the incident to my brother, I received his customary lecture about the stupidity of my behavior and about the probability of "idiots packing heat"!

THE MORE THINGS CHANGE, THE MORE THEY STAY THE SAME

The French always have a perfect quote: "Plus ca change, plus c'est la meme chose." THE MORE THINGS CHANGE, THE MORE THEY STAY THE SAME.

Back in the Dark Ages, when I was a fifth grader, my teacher actually said that Custer was a hero. I spoke up and said that Sitting Bull was the hero of the Little Big Horn because he was defending HIS land.

I was taken to the Principal's office where the Principal telephoned my mother and told her that the teacher thought I should be expelled for being "disrespectful" toward her. My mother defended my right to have my own opinion and I was allowed to return to class, albeit mortified.

When I went home that day I felt especially triumphant, only to be met with my mother's remonstrances:  "Why are you always getting into trouble?  What do you know from Indians?"  I wailed, "But you told them I was RIGHT!"  She answered, "Well, of course I would tell THEM that you are right!"

That's all you ever need to know about my mother!

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TURN ABOUT IS FAIR PLAY

Although I find AD HOMINEM remarks distasteful, I post this under the "TURN ABOUT IS FAIR PLAY" category:

During the 2010 U.S. Senate race in California, Carly Fiorina commented about Barbara Boxer: "God, what's that hair? It is SO yesterday."

Fiorina's comeuppance came from Trump's comment about HER face!

Oh, by the way, Fiorina was TROUNCED by Boxer in that race!

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THE HIGH HOLIDAYS

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The Jewish High Holidays, also called the High Holy Days, begin with Rosh Hashanah, which is also referred to as the Jewish New Year.  It is observed for two days. In Jewish tradition, Rosh Hashanah marks the anniversary of the creation of the world as described in the Torah.  It is also the day on which God inscribes the fate of each person in the "Book of Life" or the "Book of Death," determining both if they will have a good or bad year and whether we will live or die.



Rosh Hashanah also marks the beginning of a ten-day period on the Jewish calendar that focuses on repentance or teshuvah.  Jews mark the holiday with festive meals  and prayer services, and will wish each other "l’shanah tovah," meaning a "good new year."



The Ten "Days of Awe"

The ten-day period known as the "Days of Awe" (Yamim Nora’im) or the "Ten Days of Repentance" (Aseret Yamei T’shuvah) begins with Rosh Hashanah and ends with Yom Kippur. The time between these two main holidays is special in the Jewish calendar. Jews are required to focus on repentance and atonement during this period. While God passes judgment on Rosh Hashanah, the books of life and death remain open during the Days of Awe so that Jews have the opportunity to change which book they are in before it is sealed on Yom Kippur. Jews spend these days working to amend their behavior and seeking forgiveness for wrongs done during the past year.

The Shabbat that falls during this period is called Shabbat Shiva. This Shabbat is ascribed special importance as a day during which Jews can reflect on their mistakes and focus on teshuvah even more than on the other "Days of Awe" between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur.

Yom Kippur

Often referred to as the "Day of Atonement," this is the holiest day in the Jewish calendar and concludes the period of the High Holidays and ten "Days of Awe." The focus of the holiday is on repentance and final atonement before God before the books of life and death are sealed. (For this reason, on Yom Kippur Jews wish each other a "chatima tovah" or "Good Sealing"). As part of this atonement, adult Jews who are physically able are required to fast for the entire day (though not all Jews observe this ritual) and abstain from other forms of pleasure (such as wearing leather, washing, and wearing perfumes). Most Jews, even many secular Jews, will attend prayer services for much of the day on Yom Kippur. At the end of Yom Kippur, Jews who have atoned consider themselves absolved of their sins from the previous year, thus beginning the new year with a clean slate in God's eyes and a renewed sense of purpose to live a more moral and just life in the year to come.