What I Like About Mad Men And The 60s

I enjoy watching Mad Men and wish its season ran longer.  It's interesting how few of the other characters know anything about Don Draper, the show's lead ... and how the themes of identity and trust run through the series.

Another aspect of the show I like is, it takes place in the 1960s, a time when Camelot and excellence were admired.  Celebrities and successful people rarely left home without looking glamorous.  Everybody dressed up for an outing, and most tried to be on their best behavior.  Airing your dirty laundry in public was scandalous, not rewarded.

At the time, there were no reality stars.  Entertainers were famous for their talents, not their antics; and one was distinct from another.  Not only were Frank Sinatra, Jimmy Durante and Elizabeth Taylor at the top of their game, but they were all one-of-a-kind.  When you think about other actors, singers and comedians of the era, no two were alike.

 As much as appearances mattered back in the 60s, there was an authenticity about it, that also runs through the fictional television show.  And ignorance was bliss.  Wouldn't we all like to drink and smoke like the characters do on the show and not think anything of it? Oh, go ahead, admit it ... flicking ashes off of a cigarette, with experienced fingers, looks debonair and grown-up.  Mad Men's fifth season is set to premiere on AMC in March, 2012, but that's a longtime to wait.

 Meanwhile, let's salute the show with a Mad Men-like drink, a whisky sour … in moderation of course ... since we don't live in the 60s anymore:

Whiskey Sour

2 ounces bourbon (whiskey)

½ oz fresh lemon juice

½ teaspoon sugar

1 cherry

½ lemon slice

Directions:  Put all ingredients in mixing glass and add ice cubes. Strain into highball glass. Add lemon slice and cherry to garnish.


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Rosweeta: A Fairy Tale

Neuschwanstein Castle, The Black Forest, Bavaria

Fairy tales have been popular for centuries. Authors and scholars, Wilhelm and Jacob Grimm, took German folklore and retold it as the fairy tales we hear as children. Their stories are timeless.

In college, I had to write either a Brothers Grimm-style fairy tale, or an Aesop-like fable. Fortunately, I was weaned on the Brothers Grimm. 

[Not only did I have books, but my poor parents had to listen to records of the stories over and over again. Be careful what you buy your kids. Always ask, can I tolerate the sound of this toy, or recording for hours at a time. If not ... and you don't have a separate wing to put the little children in, leave it on the shelf :). But, I digress.]

My fairy tale, while staying true to tradition (Hey, I wanted a good grade!), mentions my heroine's bearing, as well as, her beauty. The story is about overcoming limits ... with a little help from her friends. Rarely in life can a person achieve anything alone. It usually takes teamwork, or at least a few good ideas and the support of others.

Here is my old, freshman English assignment, a Brothers Grimm-que fairy tale. Mr. Jerry Rogers made me write it. Notice, I was ahead of my time ... I knew trolls were bad before the internet. Just saying! :) --

ROSWEETA

by  Debra Turner

Once upon a time there lived a beautiful young Princess named Rosweeta, who had long chestnut brown hair and lovely green eyes. The Princess was sensitive, kind and loved by everyone.

One summer day Rosweeta wandered into the forest, not far from the palace. As she walked, her eyes beheld a striking sight -- flowers of all different colors. 

“Oh, what beautiful blossoms,” Rosweeta thought!

As the Princess picked a handful of bright, red roses, deep blue irises and white, delicate baby’s breath, a wicked, old troll came up from behind and forced the frightened Princess away deep into the woods.

The wicked, old troll locked the beautiful, shocked Rosweeta in a hollow tree trunk high off the ground. The hollow tree trunk had no door nor staircase, but only a round window.

The troll came to see Rosweeta daily. Often the wrinkled, old troll was accompanied by his nephew, who was as ugly and wicked as he. To get inside of the quarters where the Princess was imprisoned, the troll and nephew walked sideways up the trunk with their magic shoes.

After visiting Rosweeta, the two went off into the forest to await and plunder weary travelers.

One day the troll announced to Rosweeta that she was to wed the nephew soon!  

The thought of marrying that horrible nephew made Rosweeta very unhappy. When the troll left later in the day, the poor Princess leaned her arms on the round window and stared at the distance that separated her from the ground. Rosweeta could think of nothing to prevent the dreadful event. As the hours passed, the Princess grew more frightened, until at last she burst into tears.

The sparrows in the forest heard Rosweeta crying and took pity on her. A group of black sparrows devised a plan to help the young Princess. Knowing the greed of the old troll and nephew, the sparrows planted what appeared to be a lost satchel filled with shining stones of every hue in a rainbow.  The crafty sparrows laid the leather satchel on a wooden raft just off the shore in the deepest part of the river, where the evil pair were sure to pass. The sparrows then hid in the trees, which surrounded the river.

One late afternoon as the troll and nephew were out looking for loot, the nephew spotted the heavy purse.

“Look Uncle,” he cried, “a raft and on it a satchel filled with jewels!”

The wicked, old troll snarled with delight, “Some clumsy fool must have fallen into the water and drowned. How lucky for us that he has left his gems to be retrieved!”

The wicked, old troll and nephew carefully removed their magic shoes and laid them on the riverbank.  The evil pair then stood at the edge of the river and frantically tried to recover the raft with the use of a long, thick branch. As the troll  and nephew bent over, the sparrows flew out from hiding and pecked at the evil twosome. The troll and nephew were so startled, they fell into the water and drowned. 

The sparrows then took both pairs of magic shoes to Rosweeta. To the Princess’ distress, she soon discovered the shoes were several sizes too small.

Many lonely days passed. Not even the faithful sparrows could cheer her with their daily visits and fresh food.

One sunny afternoon, a tall, dark-haired, blue-eyed Prince was riding through the forest. The Prince saw the Princess gazing out of the round window of the hollow tree. The Prince was so enchanted by the Princess' demeanor, he knew he had to meet her.

He rode close to the hollow tree, but could find no entrance. The Prince introduced himself and asked the Princess to come down out of the hollow tree. And so, Rosweeta sadly revealed her misfortunes to the Prince and explained how she was unable to free herself with the magic shoes.

The tall, dark-haired Prince asked Rosweeta to throw the two pairs of magic shoes down to the ground. The Princess did so and the Prince, taking his knife, cut the tips off the magic shoes and placed a pair on his feet. Then he boldly climbed up the hollow tree trunk, gave Rosweeta the second pair of magic shoes to put on her feet and walked, hand in hand, with her down to the ground.

Rosweeta smiled. What a joy to be free!

The Prince returned with Rosweeta back to the palace. A year later, they married and lived happily ever after.

🌹The End.🌹

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The Voice Premieres On NBC

A new reality show is about to hit the airwaves tonight.  The Voice, a singing competition, looks promising ... and for all the right reasons.  It's based on talent.

Allow me to digress momentarily:  Most reality shows are dreadful.  Just as processed foods are food-like substances, a show such as Kate Plus 8 is a show-like substance.  I have zero interest in it, or in pseudo-celebrities like Kate Gosselin.  She seems perfectly nice, but I don't need to know about her life.  When I see her being interviewed on The Today Show, I use that time to blow-dry my hair.

I am amazed by how much time legitimate journalists spend on scandals and meaningless news.  Everyday a barely recognizable name is speaking out about fluff.  Fine.  But why are Meredith and Matt and Barbara interviewing them?

It's not like we're short of issues that could be examined on the air.  Aren't we wondering how to extricate ourselves from a war in Iraq?  What about the popular uprisings against tyranny in the Middle East?  What's going on with that oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico?  Oh, and how are the Tea Partiers faring in Congress?  Has anybody on Capitol Hill solved our economic woes yet?

Now back to The Voice.  Of course, not everything on the small screen has to be hardcore.  There are times when we watch television for the pure joy of it.  Entertainment has its place, and we need it to unwind.  But please, no more banal show-like substances.  Personally, I'm a sucker for shows that provide spotlights for someone with a God-given talent to be discovered.  Even after years of hard work, it's an uphill battle for any singer to get a lucky break.  And it's exciting when a gorgeous, but totally unknown voice, steps up to a mike and SHINES!  That's the kind of reality show I want to watch.

On The Voice, the singers will do their auditions blind and be judged solely on their voice.  Nice.  The Voice will have four “coaches” all currently successful in the music industry, namely: Christina Aguilera, Adam Levine, Cee Lo Green and Blake Shelton.  The music pros will mentor the amateurs through all the phases of the competition until America selects a winner.  If the show lives up to it's potential, everyone wins.  Viewers get a show featuring real talent and the best performance.  And the contestants will have a chance to gain experience and confidence in front of a national audience.  I like the concept.  Let's hope America, along with a few TV execs, take notice.  We need a reality with beautiful voices, genuine talent and a few goosebumps. Hosted by Carson Daily, tune in tonight at 9pm for the two-hour premiere.

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Calling all History Buffs

It's likely you don't think watching 2 maps changing for a duration of 19+ minutes (each) is interesting, but you are wrong! There is a ton of information to absorb, and they move very fast, but are most fascinating! 

If you click to watch, I guarantee you'll sit through the videos until the end. After a break at the end of the 1st, you will return to watch the 2nd one! I know it!

Readers, I present to you the history of our manificant world ... all the changes and upheavals, as well as, the unifying stability.

Should we be anxious about the Coronavirus? Absolutely! The key is to block your exposure to the virus. Respond by being smart and turn to science: Wash your hands constantly, don't touch your face, and stay at home as directed.  We've got this!

Remember our long history in times of uncertainty. We will endure! ❤️📚🍷

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Drink Bravely With Wine Writer Mark Oldman

Photographer: Marc Serges

If you enjoy wine and want to increase your current knowledge and tastes, let wine writer Mark Oldman expand your wine horizons.  Not only does he have an information-packed website, called: Mark Oldman, drink bravely, he teaches a number of “Outsmarting Wine” courses and seminars -- from private tastings to large corporate events.

Mark's books, including Oldman's Guide to Outsmarting Wine, will teach you a tip or two as well.  It is a best seller, won a host of awards, and collected glowing reviews from publications including, Wine Enthusiast, Businessweek and The New Yorker.  The book points you to “insider wines" at reasonable prices that taste great!

Although Mark is passionate about wine, he writes with a touch of irrelevance and makes learning fun.  He cares very much about taking the mystery and snootiness out of drinking wine.  Enjoying fine wine should be accessible to anyone (and everyone!) who takes the initiative and raises a glass.

Recently I had the pleasure of meeting Mark.  He introduced me to 4 delicious wines (red and white) that I will share after he publishes his new finds -- all lesser-known-vintages, and all balanced and favorful gems!  Check back later for the link.  Meanwhile, take a look at his entertaining videos uploaded on his site and YouTube.

Update: May 8, 2012 - The video is up - click South African Wine to watch.

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Eggnog, An Old Holiday Tradition

Eggnog has oodles of calories, too many to mention.  But since we only drink it once a year, I want the real thing.  Down through history, people weren't afraid of fat or sugar, they just didn't overdo it.  Processed foods didn't exist until modern times, and the majority of people weren't rich enough to be couch potatoes.  So let's learn a lesson from our ancestors.  Enjoy a few holiday treats, but in moderation.  And whenever possible, make them yourself using the finest ingredients.  Trust me, if you prepare eggnog from stretch, you won't get fat, because you won't make it that often!

Eggnog comes to us from England, although some historians think it aquired its name in the New World.  The drink became popular with the British upper class, who could afford milk and eggs in an age before refrigeration.  They mixed it with brandy, Madeira wine or sherry.  When the beverage crossed the Atlantic, the colonists, in an effort to avoid a wine tax, used rum and later bourbon to make the brew.  Egg and grog (i.e. spirits, rum) got shortened to eggnog.  Ha! Alcohol has that effect!  

In Great Britain, Canada and the US, eggnog is served to celebrate Thanksgiving [USA], Christmas and New Year's.

Traditionally, it is a social drink.  When quality matters, and you want to give your guests the very best, make this recipe:

Old Fashioned Eggnog

Ingredients: 

6 pasteurized eggs  {sold at 7 Eleven, C-Town, Associated, Whole Foods and many grocery chains.  Or pasteurize the raw eggs yourself. Here's how.}

¾ cup sugar

4 cups whole milk

4 cups {whipping} cream

½ cup brandy

½ cup rum

3 tablespoons vanilla extract

½ cup confectionery sugar

sprinkle cinnamon

sprinkle nutmeg

Directions: 

1.  Separate the eggs: yolks and whites.

2. Beat the yolks, then add ¾ cup sugar, a little at a time.

3. Add in the brandy, rum and vanilla.  Beat, beat, beat.

4. Next add and whisk in the milk and half of the cream.

5. Set aside until serving.

6. Then beat the egg whites until stiff, and fold the whites into the eggnog mixture.

7. Combine the rest of the cream and confectionery sugar, and whip until thick.

8. Pour the eggnog into 8 glasses, and top each serving with the {whipped} cream.

9. Garnish with cinnamon and nutmeg. (Extra points if you grind your own.)

++++++++

I also make a tasty, easy, low-fat eggnog custard.

Ingredients:

6 eggs

¼ cup sugar

12 ounces evaporated skim milk

3 cups skim milk

2 tablespoons vanilla extract

½ teaspoon cinnamon

¼  teaspoon nutmeg

Directions:

1) Combine all the ingredients into a mixing bowl, one at a time, and beat with an electric mixer.

2) Pour into a sauce pan and heat on the stovetop, stirring continuously.

3) Simmer about 5 minutes until it thickens.

4) Let the custard cool a bit before pouring the mixture into a blender and mix for a minute or so.  This step produces a light custard.

5) Pour into 8 custard dishes.  Serve it warm, or refrigerate and eat cold.

You can turn this custard recipe into a low-fat eggnog drink by not cooking it, but be sure to use pasteurized eggs.  To make a beverage, you also have to separate the eggs; whisk the yolks and whites, separately, as well as, slowly add in, then beat each ingredient.  Enjoy!

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Is It One Space, Not Two?

Photo: The Unpaid Marketer

THE SAVVY SHOPPER needs to break a bad habit. Starting right now! Look at past posts. Most of the time, I use two spaces after a period to separate sentences. That was correct at one time, but with the arrival of computers and more fonts than we know what to do with, it no longer is. And to tell you the truth, I've been struggling with the question for a while. This morning I decided to check several sources for correctness. All say one space only. If you'd like an explanation, go here.

It takes repetition to replace an old habit with a new one. But starting today, I'm on it! Want to play a game? Going forward, let's see how many times I slip-up.

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