PS:
I’m wondering what the marketing and advertising companies will come up with next – we’ve seen so many holidays imported into Europe:
Not only Valentine’s day, Halloween, Women’s day – all unknown when I was young …
Today is also Ash Wednesday, so we did our gift exchange yesterday (Valentine’s Day 1987 was our “official couple” day—so we’ve been together 31 years today): cards & chocolates—our wedding anniversary was Sunday, so we did bigger gifts then. We went out to dinner last night, tonight I plan to go get ashes on my forehead.
/in the penitent spirit of Lent, I will forebear to mention your continued use of my private photographs!
Deb, the big controversy here is that Ash Wednesday is also Valentine’s Day. One local TV station has a poll of Catholics about whether they will fast and not eat meat today…or NOT. So far 55% say they will eat meat today.
Jeff, same here. I’m taking Diane to her favorite local restaurant for dinner tonight. They’re having a harpist play while we eat. The desserts are heavenly!
Yuck. Harp is my least favorite instrument. I would rather listen to a bagpiper.
wolf
Now this reminds me of my first business trip to the USA almost 35 years ago. We started in New York City and then went on to visit several of the IBM factories in NY state and a laboratory in Poughkeepsie (or maybe it was one of the others, no longer sure).
Since alcohol is forbidden on IBM grounds the guys always took us out to some restaurant and in one evening we went to a place that was decorated like a monastery – the waiters in brown monk outfits (like Franciscans?) and somewhere a lady played the harp to entertain the guests …
All very posh and expensive – but I didn’t enjoy the food, it was really bland, though of course I didn’t say so …
On the way back to our hotel (the IBM guys had left) our boss asked:
Did you enjoy the food? Mine was just so so … (He’s a vegetarian)
And then everybody broke out: It was lame, no good for that price!
That’s when I realised that price and atmosphere don’t necessarily mean good food …
Dan
And what are YOU giving up for Lent?
I myself am giving up self-discipline. You know that satisfaction you get when you get some unpleasant job done? The good feeling when you deny yourself something you really shouldn’t have? Well I intend to do without that particular satisfaction and good feeling, so that I may feel I have shared in the Lenten Spirit.
On the Holiday topic, I’m still pushing for DANNY DAY — to celebrate all the great men in History named Daniel, Danny, Dan, etc.
Dan, you might get a phone call from the White House. They’ve got a lot of jobs open and you just might be the Right Guy for one of them. Of course, the job might only last 40 days and 40 nights…
We went out to a nice breakfast after I picked up my new reading glasses, then went to a fabric store where Barbara bought some fabric for a new quilt project. In the evening, we watched some Olympics and went to bed early. Thursday is our 12th wedding anniversary.
Rick, congratulations on your 12th Wedding Anniversary!
Cap'n Bob
When I was in high school they’d let us take an hour on Ash Wednesday to walk down to The Assumption church and get an ash smear on our foreheads. Some of us less-than-devout types would bum around for an hour and use our cigarette ashes to anoint ourselves.
Lead us not into temptation, dear George!
Happy Valentine’s day to all of you!
PS:
I’m wondering what the marketing and advertising companies will come up with next – we’ve seen so many holidays imported into Europe:
Not only Valentine’s day, Halloween, Women’s day – all unknown when I was young …
Wolf, you’re right about the marketing of Holidays. We also have Grandparents Day, Secretaries Day, and Dingus Day.
Don’t forget talk like a pirate day.
Steve, or Pets Day.
Celebrate responsibly, my friend.
Jerry, I won’t do anything you wouldn’t do!
Today is also Ash Wednesday, so we did our gift exchange yesterday (Valentine’s Day 1987 was our “official couple” day—so we’ve been together 31 years today): cards & chocolates—our wedding anniversary was Sunday, so we did bigger gifts then. We went out to dinner last night, tonight I plan to go get ashes on my forehead.
/in the penitent spirit of Lent, I will forebear to mention your continued use of my private photographs!
Deb, the big controversy here is that Ash Wednesday is also Valentine’s Day. One local TV station has a poll of Catholics about whether they will fast and not eat meat today…or NOT. So far 55% say they will eat meat today.
Deb knows how to do holidays up right.
Those redheads call to you every time, George.
Patti, I’ve always had a weakness for redheads!
Nice photo, Deb!
We don’t make a big deal out of this one, the way we did when we were younger.We’ll go out to a favorite restaurant and have a special dessert.
Jeff, same here. I’m taking Diane to her favorite local restaurant for dinner tonight. They’re having a harpist play while we eat. The desserts are heavenly!
Yuck. Harp is my least favorite instrument. I would rather listen to a bagpiper.
Now this reminds me of my first business trip to the USA almost 35 years ago. We started in New York City and then went on to visit several of the IBM factories in NY state and a laboratory in Poughkeepsie (or maybe it was one of the others, no longer sure).
Since alcohol is forbidden on IBM grounds the guys always took us out to some restaurant and in one evening we went to a place that was decorated like a monastery – the waiters in brown monk outfits (like Franciscans?) and somewhere a lady played the harp to entertain the guests …
All very posh and expensive – but I didn’t enjoy the food, it was really bland, though of course I didn’t say so …
On the way back to our hotel (the IBM guys had left) our boss asked:
Did you enjoy the food? Mine was just so so … (He’s a vegetarian)
And then everybody broke out: It was lame, no good for that price!
That’s when I realised that price and atmosphere don’t necessarily mean good food …
And what are YOU giving up for Lent?
I myself am giving up self-discipline. You know that satisfaction you get when you get some unpleasant job done? The good feeling when you deny yourself something you really shouldn’t have? Well I intend to do without that particular satisfaction and good feeling, so that I may feel I have shared in the Lenten Spirit.
On the Holiday topic, I’m still pushing for DANNY DAY — to celebrate all the great men in History named Daniel, Danny, Dan, etc.
Write your congressman TODAY!
Dan, you might get a phone call from the White House. They’ve got a lot of jobs open and you just might be the Right Guy for one of them. Of course, the job might only last 40 days and 40 nights…
Happy Valentine’s Day, George and Diane.
Nothing to say about the passing of our friend Bill Crider?
Rick, my thoughts about Bill Crider will be up on this blog tomorrow.
Rick, do you and your wife have any Valentine’s Day plans?
We went out to a nice breakfast after I picked up my new reading glasses, then went to a fabric store where Barbara bought some fabric for a new quilt project. In the evening, we watched some Olympics and went to bed early. Thursday is our 12th wedding anniversary.
Rick, congratulations on your 12th Wedding Anniversary!
When I was in high school they’d let us take an hour on Ash Wednesday to walk down to The Assumption church and get an ash smear on our foreheads. Some of us less-than-devout types would bum around for an hour and use our cigarette ashes to anoint ourselves.
Bob, you were quite a scamp in your Younger Days!