Life On A B-I7

Rosemary Apple Pie

• ¼ cup granulated sugar
• ¼ cup water
• 2 large sprigs fresh rosemary plus 1 tsp. finely snipped fresh rosemary
• ½ cup packed brown sugar
• ¼ cup all-purpose flour
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• 6 cups cored, peeled and sliced Granny Smith apples
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• 3 tablespoons whipping cream
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• ¼ cup butter
• 1 recipe Rosemary Pastry, see recipe
• 1 egg white, beaten
• 2 teaspoons granulated sugar

Directions

• Step 1 - For rosemary syrup, in small microwave-safe bowl combine 1/4 cup granulated sugar, the water, and 2 sprigs rosemary. Microcook, uncovered, on 100% power (high) for 2 minutes. Let stand 30 minutes; remove rosemary sprigs and discard.
• Step 2 - In small bowl combine brown sugar, flour, salt and 1 teaspoon finely snipped rosemary; set aside. In very large bowl toss apples with lemon juice. Add brown sugar mixture; toss to coat. Add whipping cream, vanilla, and rosemary syrup.
• Step 3 - In large skillet melt butter over medium heat; add apple mixture. Cook over medium heat for 8 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat and set aside.
• Step 4 - Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. On lightly floured surface, slightly flatten one Rosemary Pastry ball. Roll it from center to edges into a circle 12 inches in diameter. Wrap pastry circle around the rolling pin. Unroll pastry into a 9-inch pie pan or plate. Trim pastry even with rim of pie pan; spoon in apple mixture.
• Step 5 - Roll remaining ball of pastry into a circle 12 inches in diameter. Cut large slits in pastry. Place pastry circle on apple filling; trim to 1/2 inch beyond edge of pan. Fold top pastry under bottom pastry. Crimp edge as desired. Brush with egg white and sprinkle with 2 teaspoons sugar. To prevent overbrowning, cover edge of pie with foil. Place on a foil-lined baking sheet. Bake 35 minutes. Remove foil. Bake 20 to 25 minutes more or until fruit is tender and filling is bubbly. Cool on wire rack; serve slightly warm. Makes 10 servings.

Rosemary Pastry

• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• ½ teaspoon finely snipped fresh rosemary leaves
• 1 cup shortening, chilled
• ⅓ cup ice water
• 1 egg yolk, beaten
• 1 tablespoon vinegar

Directions

In a food processor combine all-purpose flour, salt, sugar and fresh rosemary leaves. Add shortening. Pulse until mixture resembles cornmeal. In a small bowl combin ice water, egg yolk, and vinegar. Add liquid mixture, 1 tablespoon at a time, to flour mixture and pulse until a soft dough forms. Divide in half; form into balls. Wrap in plastic wrap and chill 30 minutes.

Mom

I recently ran across this photo and I couldn’t resist sharing it. It came out of a cookbook that my Sister published. Mom was a beautiful woman. It’s no wonder Dad worked as hard as he did to capture her. He used to go over to her home when she was living with her mother to court her. There were times when she wouldn’t even come downstairs to see him. Dad persisted and eventually she relented. Of course, I’m happy things turned out the way they did… here I am, and my sisters, and all our children too.

A Question

How do I know if my loved one truly loves me?

It’s completely normal to wonder this, and there’s no single perfect sign—but there are patterns you can look for. Love tends to show up more in actions than in words. Here are some ways to get a clearer sense:

1. They show consistent care

They check in on you. They notice when something’s off. They try to make your life easier, not harder.

2. They make time for you

Even busy people make some space for those they love—time, attention, or emotional presence.

3. They listen and remember

They pay attention to what you say, remember small details, and take your feelings seriously.

4. You feel safe being yourself

Love usually feels like acceptance. You shouldn’t have to walk on eggshells.

5. They include you in their life

Introducing you to friends/family, talking about future plans, or wanting you involved in decisions.

6. Their words match their actions

Someone can say “I love you,” but real love shows in consistency. If their behavior aligns with their words, that’s meaningful.

The above insight was brought to you by ChatGPT. Believe or not, that is the first time I have asked CharGPT a question. I have to admit, the answer is not bad, but what does it truly mean to have a large language model provide you with insight and answers to important questions instead of searching for those within yourself? I can’t help but think this tool will move society in a direction that will ultimately stymie debate, discussion, and reflective thought. I hope I’m wrong. Just in case, this blog is going to remain exclusively my thoughts and my thoughts alone… excluding this post of course…

I followed that question up with another: “How many times has ChatGPT been asked that question.” Here is the (excerpted) answer:

“Because ChatGPT is used privately by hundreds of millions of people weekly, and conversation content is not centrally logged or released in detailed form for privacy — it’s virtually impossible to retrospectively count all the times a specific prompt was used. What we can say is that according to OpenAI-backed usage data published this year, about 1.9% of all ChatGPT messages fall under ‘relationships or personal reflection’ category.”

While statistics about questions may not be released, it is the nature of LLMs to track this sort of thing nonetheless. Be careful what you ask, and by all means, be careful what you believe.

Skiing

Skiing is like life.

There is a right way and a wrong way.

You can do it either way you want.

It’s your choice.

Keep in mind, the choice you make,

Will have a huge impact on your success.

Not only that,

It will determine how people judge your skiing…

And your life.

Health Care

If you’re an Evangelical Christian, and you believe people that can’t afford health insurance, shouldn’t have health insurance, good for you.

If you believe the government has no role in providing basic health care, good for you.

Even if God allows suffering, there’s no reason for Man to allow suffering. The Bible clearly states that God wants man to aspire to be good. That means doing good.

Basic Healthcare is a gift from Man to Man. It is a good thing. It is a gift that God would approve of.

Skiing Mantra

Bend the downhill knee.

Hands forward.

Zipper downhill.

Pole plant out.

Hip over boot.

What Matters

When loyalty is more important than legality, you have lost your way.

The Real Enemy

Donald Trump’s demand to punish anybody who he says deserves punishment, regardless of the circumstance or facts surrounding his claim, vindicates the charge that he is the Constitution’s greatest enemy.

Hall of Mirrors

Elon Musk’s X is a worthless poisoned hall of mirrors. Those are not my words, but if you look at where the posts on X are coming from, you’ll discover that those posts that claim to be “America First” are coming from places like the Middle East, China, Eastern Europe (non-NATO countries) and Russia, to name just a few. You get the idea. If you believe in America first, and if you are a patriot, you will get off X! Musk is not concerned about America, he is only concerned about becoming the first human with a financial portfolio worth one trillion dollars.

Evolution

I’m starting to evolve. It’s about fucking time. I’m starting to feel love for (almost) everyone… For those that don’t inspire love in me, I’m finding in myself the capacity to grant them space, with modest amounts of scorn and very little hate.

Russian Interference

Russia helped Donald Trump get elected. Russian hackers spread Democratic emails under false pretenses to influence voters. It’s hard to imagine this was done without Trump’s acknowledgement and consent considering the company he chooses to keep. This makes Donald Trump a traitor to his country.

Don’t take my word for it. Read the book “Cult of the Dead Cow,” by Joseph Menn. His writing can be trusted, if you read his book, you will understand.

Toast To The Bride

As father of the bride,
who adores his daughter,
let me just say…

…a few words about Scott.

Scott has a creative mind

and is very talented,
he’s also an accomplished

skier and climber…

An accomplished skier…
for a guy that skis on strange bindings,
and funny shaped skis…
but don’t try to follow him down Mid-Cirque,
unless you know what you are doing!

I’ve hung-out enough with Scott,
that I can say without reservation,
He’s a terrific guy,
I couldn’t ask for a better son-in-law.

Least I fail to mention…
You’re pretty cool too Kelsey!

Let me finish very simply…

May your love guide you,
May your love sustain you,
and may your love fulfill you
for all the days of your lives!

Somewhere around 2022

Brahma Muhurta

I acknowledge the Creator and give thanks for the opportunity to greet another day. It is my intention to honor this day by presenting my best self to the world. It is my goal for today to be kind to everyoneI meet. I will look for the best in everyone and treat everyone I meet with kindness and respect. I will share a smile whenever I can because I believe a smile has the power to make lives better.

A Skier’s Prayer

I acknowledge the Creator and give thanks for the opportunity to ski another powder day. It is my intention to honor this day on the mountain by presenting as much of my skis to the snow as possible. I will strive to present my skis to the mountain through all three phases of every turn. I will honor this day by remaining in an athletic stance. I will show respect to the mountain by always looking ahead. This will allow me to choose the path the mountain wants me to take.

What is the Meaning of Life?

That is the question that everyone should ask themselves. We should be seeking the answer constantly, recognizing that it can change over time. There is no one answer out there to be found. The meaning of life is different for everyone.

I believe the meaning of life is simply to practice justice, and courage, and avoid those things that might bring harm to others.

Father Forgive Me

Father forgive me for I have sinned. I have looked at people that profess to be righteous and I have called them out in my mind as sinners. This shows a lack of compassion on my part. To be more specific…

I think Donald Trump is a sinner. I think Mike Johnson is a sinner. I think Pete Hegseth is a sinner. I think all those people that have given money to Donald Trump are potentially sinners. I have no compassion for any of them. Yes I realize all of us are sinners, but let’s face it, it comes down to a matter of degrees does it not?

For the record I’m not particularly religious, but that really has no bearing on my feelings and certainly no bearing on how I treat my fellow citizens. Treatment which hopefully is of a kind and generous manner, even if they are “sinners.”

Flaw

We need a Constitutional Amendment to prevent the Speaker of the House from keeping the House in Recess for more than two weeks in any given year.

Article I, Section 4, Clause 2 of the Constitution reads:

The Congress shall assemble at least once in every Year, and such Meeting shall be on the first Monday in December, unless they shall by Law appoint a different Day.

Let’s wait and see what happens, but it seems to me that Speaker Johnson could convene for one day and then dismiss. If that happens it is the end of Democracy in America and also a gaping flaw in our Constitution. I suspect the authors never expected anyone to use the power to dismiss as a means to give the Executive the ability to rule like a dictator.

Sadly, we are now in an era where Constitutional Amendments are functionally impossible.

Apology

If you are accustomed to coming to my blog and seeing stories about what is going on in my life and now you have noticed a different slant, you’re not imagining it. I am distressed about what is going on in our country and I’m using my site more-and-more as my way of speaking out against what I see happening. I still publish entries on other topics, stoic aphorisms, adventure stories, and simple musings, which I will continue to do more or less daily. But there is no escaping the fact that my writing has also become more political, I believe for good reason. All I ask is that you read what I have to say with an open mind. I will do my best to keep the invective to a minimum, after all, that is one of the things that has caused me distress, even though there will be days when avoiding invective will be difficult to do.

Professor Jack Lynch, Associate Professor of English at Rutgers University has written that it’s okay to start a sentence with the word “but,” as long as it enhances the flow of your writing. In fact there is no rule against starting sentences with a conjunction. Probably the only reason you were taught not to do that in school was because teachers didn’t want children to write the way the talk.

Mentally Ill

This summer Chicago recorded the fewest number of killings in 60 years. So why is President Trump sending the Texas National Guard to Chicago? There is no reason, other than his grand scheme to turn “red” against “blue” in the hope of starting a civil war in America. You probably think I’m being melodramatic, but I’m not. Trump is mentally ill, this is a manifestation of that disease.

Hate Speech

“I hate my opponents.” The President of The United States spoke those words. You couldn’t ask for words that would do more to discredit a leader than those. I wish more people understood that. Hate is corrosive. It not only destroys your health, it will destroy the health of your country.

Another indication of this President’s lack of health is his continuous bragging about himself. To hear him talk you would think he’s a combination of NFL Quarterback and Nuclear Physicist. That’s ridiculous of course, and so is his incessant bragging. Not the sign of a healthy mind.

Everyone around him needs to ask themselves, what am I doing to limit the damage this man’s declining mental health is reeking on America.

The Answer

If you find yourself disillusioned with America, the answer is, get on your bike and ride. Ride across America. Your experience and the insight you gain will be inspirational. Along the way you will meet real people and have the opportunity to share with them. You can share your experiences and they can share theirs. That’s how you make a difference, one person at a time. If all goes according to my plan, that’s what I I’ll be doing next year.

Let Your Voice Be Heard

It is better to be a tiny voice in the wilderness than to have no voice at all. Speak your mind. We are now living in a time when it is more important than ever to encourage people to participate in their governance. Without participation, all will be lost.

Everyone Has Intrinsic Rights

“In the ancient empires of Babylonia, Egypt, Greece, and Rome, only those whom rulers regarded as their peers had value, or what the Romans called dignitas.” —Elaine Pagels

Rights were bestowed at the discretion of the ruler. So here we are 2,000 years later, and an exclusive group of bigots, ostensibly holding power in Washington D.C., wants to take us back to that era so long ago. It would be disgusting if it weren’t so repulsive.

Month in Review

This closes out the month of October. It’s been a terrific month. I’ve been able to spend time with my daughters, including celebrating the birthday of one that lives out of town. I’ve also had the pleasure of attending the baby shower of a close friend’s daughter. I spent time camping on the North Rim of the Grand Canyon with good friends. I was also able to get back on the bike this month. Of course, not the least of my pleasures this month has been spending time with my wonderful companion. I cherish each and every day that is given to me with her. Who could ask for more? Showing gratitude makes these experiences even more memorable. I’m a very lucky person.

Pickleball for Real?

I saw this book and was immediately intrigued. It is a history of Pickleball. I have no reason to doubt the author, but I am curious to know if the author got the story right. The reason I say that is because a good friend and companion, dare I say love-of-my-life, is intimately familiar with the origins of the game. She is closely related to one of the founders. I think it will be fun to surprise her with a copy of this book and see what she has to say about its accuracy. I don’t have to worry about spoiling the surprise by mentioning my intention here — she doesn’t read what I write… and who can blame her!