Archive for June 2023

“Nothing irritates me more than chronic laziness in others. Mind you, it’s only mental sloth I object to. Physical sloth can be heavenly.”

June 11, 2023

The house is cooler than outside. It is already 73°. The air is calm without even the whiff of a breeze. Earlier, I was in the yard looking for something Nala stole last night, but I had no idea what I was trying to find so I just did a spot clean-up of a bit of trash. Nala did zoomies over and over until she started panting and her tongue hung out. She is now inside with me getting cool. I took the cover off the table and chairs and left it spread to dry. I want to open the deck this week. It is time.

This morning I enjoyed my coffee from Uganda with Bob’s bread toast slathered with black fig mission jam. It was the perfect way to start the day. I’m thinking I need another cup of coffee.

Our house in South Yarmouth didn’t have a deck. It did have a big backyard. My father used to barbecue near a back window. He’d get what he needed for cooking through the open window. He’d also have a few drinks. We’d hear, “Pop me,” his request for more so one of us would pop him through the window. He was the happiest of cooks.

My father was a big believer in using a lot of charcoal starter fluid. He’d squirt it at the fire if it wasn’t burning fast enough for him. A huge flame usually whooshed into the air. He did set his shoes and the bottoms of his pants on fire a couple of times. We’d keep the hose handy.

When I was young, we had hot dogs and hamburgers or cheeseburgers. My mother made her potato salad and peppers and onions. The rolls for the dogs were top-loaded New England rolls. I always had mustard and piccalilli on my dogs. On my burgers I put mayo. I am not a big ketchup fan except I sometimes dip my fries in ketchup. When we got older, my father cooked chicken, ribs and steak tips. My mother still made her potato salad. We were not a green salad family.

I have a few chores for today, uncommon chores like cleaning a couple of cabinets. I may even paint the small chest of drawers, but I’d hate to go too far, get too, too busy. The sloth in me complains loudly.

Rhythm Of the Rain: The Cascades

June 10, 2023

Into Each Life Some Rain Must Fall:  Ella Fitzgerald and Bill Kenny  

June 10, 2023

Fool In The Rain: Led Zeppelin

June 10, 2023

Have You Ever Seen The Rain?: Creedence Clearwater Revival

June 10, 2023

June 10, 2023

“I think I am typical in believing that the Peace Corps trained us brilliantly and then did little more except send us into the bush. It was not a bad way of running things.”

June 10, 2023

Yesterday there was thunder and heavy rain, but the rain didn’t last long though its remnants did. The morning was cloudy and damp, but the sun will make an appearance. It will be warm at 61°. We had no concert today due to illness, someone else’s, not mine. I have another day of leisure.

This is the rainy season in Ghana. It was my favorite season. The millet filling the fields was tall. When I rode on back dirt roads, I couldn’t see compounds, only millet and the road ahead. The traditional food in Northern Ghana is t-zed, short for tuo zaafi, a sticky ball of millet you eat with soup. It was not one of my favorites. The soup was. I ate okra soup, my first okra. I didn’t even know okra existed before Ghana. I loved groundnut stew, made with peanut butter, groundnut paste. It was best with chicken. Light soup too was a favorite.

Peace Corps started in 1961. I began serving in 1969, still the early days. I always think of them as the wild, wooly days. Africa back then was mostly peaceful, Ghana especially. Peace Corps never kept tabs on us. We were on our own but nobody minded. We got mail from Peace Corps, the Week in Review from the New York Times and medical, Peace Corps and in-country up-dates. I remember the medical updates. Come on down to Accra. There has been a yellow fever outbreak and a bit later a cholera outbreak, and you need shots. The cholera was especially bad. Medical also reminded us of the usual shots we needed, especially gamma globulin every six months. We needed Aralen refills, the nasty tasting anti-malaria pills we took every week. Peace Corps never knew but we didn’t take it in the dry season, no mosquitos.

We left our schools to travel to Accra, Togo and other countries in West Africa. Peace Corps had no idea where we were. We didn’t care and they didn’t mind. I stayed in Bolga my first year from September to April. Peace Corps sent a nice letter saying I needed to check in with the office as it had been a long while. I guess they wanted to make sure I was healthy and they hoped happy. I went to Accra during Easter holiday as I was going to travel to Togo and needed my dollars from Peace Corps, a re-entry permit from Ghana and a visa to Togo. Peace Corps was relieved I was alive and well.

The world is different now. Peace Corps is cautious, and the safety and wellness of volunteers are prime. I understand the necessity, but I am glad I served in the wild and wooly days. They were perfect for me and my friends.

Dust Pneumonia Blues: Woody Guthrie

June 9, 2023

Gold Dust Woman: Fleetwood Mac

June 9, 2023

Fog On The Tyne: Lindisfarn

June 9, 2023