My sister sent me a text. “When you’re feeling down, just remember there is a flower called Hanging Naked Men. Isn’t nature wonderful!” She attached a picture. She was not kidding. Oh, my gosh. The little flower looks just like, well, hanging naked men. You should probably look it up right now, just so you’ll have something to talk about at dinner this evening. So funny. This orchid comes in all sorts of shapes and, umm…sizes. The Naked Man Orchid is classified as threatened status, perhaps because of its popularity as an anti-diarrheal, anti-flatulent, and aphrodisiac. They’re also used in making the drink Salep (also called Turkish Delight). Because the Naked Man Orchid has a threatened status, it is illegal to export true salep powder from the Mediterranean regions, so put down your credit card.
There is also a plant called Sexy Lips (aka Hooker’s Lips, Hot Lips, Flower Lips). It belongs to a tropical tree found in Central and South America, and the plant apparently changed to look bright and lip-like to attract pollinators. It is beautiful. Another one is the Peter Pepper. I remember my grandma growing these when I was a kid. A few months ago, I ordered some of the seeds. I’ll let you know. But wait, there is more. The Devil’s Hand is native to Mexico where the Ancient Aztecs held it in especially high religious regard and harvested the claw-like flowers for use in treating a variety of conditions. There’s the Parrot Flower and the Bee Orchid and Swaddled Babies. All of these are worth a look, I promise. Nature IS so wonderful!
The trees are about to show us how lovely it is to let things go.
Ten years ago, honky-tonk and country music superstar Alan Jackson was diagnosed with a degenerative nerve condition affecting his ability to walk. (Upon hearing this news, I immediately let my sister know, especially since she has told us numerous times that he will be her next husband. I felt that she should know before the wedding.) Jackson said his late father also had the disease with no cure, as did his paternal grandmother and older sister. Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT) affects the nerves that control muscles, and is relatively common, affecting an estimated 2.6 million people worldwide. Jackson said that he wanted people to know why he stumbles and loses his balance on stage sometimes, but it hasn’t affected his voice. “It’s not going to kill me,” Jackson added. “It’s not deadly, but it is related to muscular dystrophy and Parkinson’s disease.” I will mention that he has been married to his high school sweetheart for 41-years. I need to tell my sister.
Hey, remember when you didn’t need coffee to function, and buying jeans didn’t make you cry? Good times.
The Biden administration is to require all companies with 100 or more employees, to ensure their workforces to be inoculated or face being tested weekly. Once the policy is in place, businesses that ignore the policy could face up to $14,000 per violation. It will also be required that all health facilities that accept Medicare or Medicaid funding to vaccinate their workforces. All federal employees would be vaccinated without an option for those that prefer to be tested instead, hoping this will create a model that state governments and private companies will adopt. I wish.
Eight-million tons of plastic enter the world’s oceans every year. EVERY year. 121 stranded juvenile sea turtles from Queensland Australia were examined for plastic ingestion. They all were full of plastic. A starving turtle from the Indian Ocean had eaten 343 pieces of plastic. In one turtle. A hundred young turtles washed up dead in Florida and all of them had plastic in their stomachs. What can you do? Ask your favorite restaurant to swap out plastic and Styrofoam take-out containers for paper, then leave the plastic utensils behind, which btw, will wash up nicely in your dishwasher. Once you start washing out your plastics and/or taking them to a recycle center, you will have a difficult time ever putting that plastic into the trash again. We all have to do something starting now.
RECENT BIRTHDAYS: Singer Chubby Checker is 80. He is credited with the popularity of the Twist and the Pony dance style, because of his songs. Singer-guitarist Lindsey Buckingham of Fleetwood Mac is 72. Blues singer Keb’ Mo’ is 70. Singer Gwen Stefani is 52. Author Anne Rice is 80. Actor Lori Saunders of Petticoat Junction is 80. Bobbie Jo Bradley. Actor Susan Sarandon is 75. Actor Glynis Johns of Mary Poppins is 98. Mrs. Winifred Banks. Singer Arlene Smith of The Chantels is 80. Singer-guitarist Steve Miller is 78. Astrophysicist and “Cosmos” host Neil deGrasse Tyson is 63. Actor Britt Ekland is 79.
Author R.L. Stine of Goosebumps is 78. Musician John Mellencamp is 70. Actor Paul Hogan is 82. Actor-comedian Chevy Chase is 78. Actor Sigourney Weaver is 72. Singer Robert “Kool” Bell of Kool and the Gang is 71. Actor Stephanie Zimbalist of Remington Steele is 65. Singer Jackson Browne is 73. Actor John O’Hurley of Seinfeld is 67. Singer Sean Lennon is 46. Country singer Scotty McCreery is 28. He won the 10th season of American Idol in 2011. Actor Jill Larson is 74. Opal Cortlandt on All My Children.
Publicist Bobby Zarem died at 84. In his career, he represented countless stars including Kirk and Michael Douglas, Jack Nicholson, Diana Ross, Michael Caine, Al Pacino, and Mick Jagger, but was best known for the “I Love New York” campaign. In 1978, Donald Trump said Zarem was responsible for every cent he had ever made after Manhattan property values tripled in the six months after the launch of that I ♥ NY campaign.
The Star-Spangled Banner Protection Act went into effect in September. Ten of the 13 Senate Democrats joined all 18 Republicans and voted in favor of the conservative-backed bill which Lt. Governor Dan Patrick named a legislative priority, after the Dallas Mavericks stopped playing the national anthem before games. Hmmm. Something that both Republicans and Democrats agree on. That’s a first. It specifies that teams need to return government funding if they don’t play the song. I guess we will know when pre-season begins. The NBA says every team must play the national anthem in their arenas.
Thank you: Debra for the Monarch and Swallowtail butterfly chrysalis. Later she handed me the butterflies so I could release them. True magical moment. To Julie for being so patient at Office Depot, when my coupon wouldn’t work. To Stacie at Haak Vineyards in Santa Fe, for the donation of a tour for 10. The Brazosport College Scholarship Soiree appreciates you and will put it to good use at the Friday evening fundraiser. Thank you, Amber, for delivering mail to our office door because no one mentioned that there are mailboxes on this street.
The activist is not the man who says the river is dirty. The activist is the man who cleans up the river. Ross Perot
On what I guess was a less than newsworthy day, I pulled up movies about food. I just love to watch people cook. I had just finished the movie Chef, and I was enthused. I found this list. Dinner from Frenzy (excellent), Lady and the Tramp, The Art of Food, Tortilla Soup, The Lunchbox, Babette’s Feast, Chef, Tangerines, Eat Drink Man Woman, Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, Soul Kitchen, Phantom Thread, Tampopo “A Ramen Western”, Ratatouille (I dare you not to like this one), Eat Pray Love, and Big Night with Stanley Tucci rated 96% on Rotten Tomatoes. Some of these I have seen, some I have not, but I’m going to watch them all again. I would add Chocolat with Juliette Binoche to this movie list even though it’s about chocolate, which is, I guess, is still a food. A very delicious food. The filming is incredible on these movies, and most have subtitles, but as I get older, I seem to like subtitles on anything I’m watching. It means I don’t have to go back if I miss a word or comment.
Speaking of Stanley Tucci, I have been watching his new show, Stanley Tucci: Searching for Italy, an American travel and food show. The series follows Stanley Tucci traveling around Italy uncovering lesser-known places, exploring their culture, cuisine, and history. Italian food is not just Italian food, it all depends on where you are in the country. The history and stories he shares with you are fascinating. The series received two Primetime Emmy Award nominations, including one for Outstanding Hosted Nonfiction Series, and was renewed for a second season. It is great to watch while you are cooking.
An elderly hospice patient on a stretcher was delivered to the wrong house. It was all captured on a door security camera while the patient can be heard saying, “This is not my house.” A pill for covid. Dr. Anthony Fauci announced that the White House is investing over $3 billion to advance the development of antiviral pills to treat Covid-19 early in the course of infection as well as future virus outbreaks. This has been a neglected area of research. After being incarcerated for 32 years for the death of his roommate, John Tiedjen left the county jail with his fiancée, who also happens to be the sister of the man he was convicted of killing. He has long maintained his innocence and now awaits a new trial. Laci Peterson was a missing person in 2002, which quickly changed to a murder investigation. Then it was discovered that Laci was pregnant when murdered. Until now her husband, Scott Peterson, has been awaiting execution on death row for the crime. Now because of problems with jury selection during his original trial, in November he will receive a new sentence of life imprisonment.
For most of life, nothing wonderful happens. If you don’t enjoy getting up and working and finishing your work and sitting down to a meal with family or friends, then the chances are you’re not going to be very happy. If someone bases his happiness or unhappiness on major events like a great job, huge amounts of money, a flawlessly happy marriage, or a trip to Paris, that person isn’t going to be happy much of the time. If, on the other hand, happiness depends on a good breakfast, flowers in the yard, a drink, or a nap, then we are more likely to live with quite a bit of happiness. Andy Rooney
What are Disco Fries? Big thick steak cut French fries covered in gooey, melted, mozzarella cheese, then smothered in savory brown gravy. They gained their name in the 1970s for being a favorite of late-night diners, who often came from dancing at disco clubs. But, Cajun Poutine is a dish of French fries and cheese curds topped with a delicious brown gravy. This dish was created in Quebec in the late 1950s. You can tell that I’m hungry this week.
Recently I have been experimenting with salsas, using fresh peaches that my neighbors brought back from Fredericksburg, and fresh mangos. Then the next day I take the leftover salsa, add boiled shrimp, crab, or both, for campechana, a Mexican shrimp and crab cocktail. It’s just such a light and refreshing meal for hot days. Lime juice, orange juice, red onion, avocado, shrimp, or crab, cilantro, green onions, tomatoes… the list is long on what you can use. My favorite meal in the world, is the campechana from Goode Company Seafood. They use fresh oregano, Clamato juice and big chunks of crab. So, while rediscovering the sweet taste of mangoes, I was reminded of the beautiful meal that Pat Shell (former BISD Superintendent) brought to our house when my son was born, 25 years ago. She cooked a perfect beef tenderloin, still pink in the middle, asparagus, and mango salad. Lately, I was craving that salad, so I put one together this weekend. I have been looking for her original recipe but haven’t found it. It’s pretty complicated. Mangos, cream cheese, boiling water, and lemon Jell-o. I told you it was complicated. I’ll keep looking for the exact recipe so I can print it next week. And remember, if you are looking for something to celebrate this weekend, it just so happens that it is Fat Bear Week. 😊
LISA
