Freuchen

Dropped by the local second hand store, to see what was new.  And I found a cookbook by Dagmar Freuchen, Cookbook of the Seven Seas.  I grabbed it because something about it struck and ancient memory- and irretrievable at the moment.

So last night, as I continued to recover from a horrible dialysis, I opened the book and was transported back to 1966.  It was spring break and I went to Denmark to see what was there.  Like my Danish uncle, the people of the country were very friendly and helpful to this almost teenage tourist!  I loved my week in Denmark!  Though everyone seemed to furnish their bed and breakfasts in Danish Modern and I am more of an antique kind of guy.

My highlight of the trip were the museums!

In particular, one dedicated to Danish explorers.
Amongst the heroes of Scandinavia is Peter Freuchen.
He was an Arctic explorer, but really traveled the world!
His writings fired my imagination, of places I knew I would never go.
But, then I am a dreamer at heart.

And here was a cookbook by his wife! 
Of things he liked to eat from his travels and at home!

As I read through the recipes, I was saddened.
Almost none of them are on my rather strict diet.
But it was a fascinating read and memory.

I will definitely go back and reread it when I able to go five minutes without having this unbelievable dizziness and nausea problem!

Yeah, your prayers are really needed .....

What To Do?

I am in the throws of indecision!
What to do, what to do, what to do?

Back before my next to last surgery, in December, my cousin sent me a book.
Her husband had a book published and sent me an autographed copy.
My reading was a bit backed up at the time.
The concussion and further brain loss in October really set me back!

So, last weekend, I had a chance to start on it.

First went well.
Easy to follow along.
Then came a passage, which I did not appreciate.
And rather quickly what had been a good read, tuned into a slasher/porno work!!!!!

What am I to do?

I see him in a few weeks.
What do I say?
I have no intention of reading further of this POC!
But do not wish to insult him !

email me your thoughts on this!

Blow-up

GG is back at it again!
For weeks she has been acting weird, I figured building up to something ... shudder!
And yesterday she blew!, all .over me.

She needed a 100 foot power cord and told me to go get one.
No, her knees were hurting too badly, she was going to just rest.
So, I went off to McLendon's in White Center.
But everyone, and their mother, were standing in line there, for a plant sale!
One and a half hours in line!
Gasp!
It was as bad as buying cheese in Russia.

So, 3.5 hours later, I was home again.
And she is busy ransacking my stuff.
And mad, as only a redhead can be!

Yes, she found my coin collection.

As I pointed out to her, the was from my inheritance.
Didn't matter, I was spending money she did not approve of.
Apparently, my retirement money is now hers and not mine.
As are my patent royalties.
My inheritance is hers and not mine as well.
Seemingly, her money is hers and not mine either!
Nice double standard there.
But, she has had this problem for decades, though to a lesser extent than yesterday!

Doesn't matter, I am dying and it will all be her's and the kids at some point in the next year or so ...
In any event.
It is just so sad.
She really does not understand.
And she does not listen, at least to me.
 
I guess the product of never having had any respect for me .....

Freedom To Be A Slave

The Peace Prayer of St. Francis, is a famous prayer which first appeared around the year 1915 A.D., which embodies the spirit of St. Francis of Assisi's simplicity and poverty.

According to Father Kajetan Esser, the author of the critical edition of St. Francis's Writings, the Peace Prayer of St. Francis is most certainly not one of the writings of either of the St. Francis's. This prayer, according to Father Schulz, in Das sogennante Franziskusgebet. Forshungen zur evangelishen Gebetslitteratur (III), (1968), pp. 39-53, first appeared during the First World War. It was found written on a card jn the observance of St. Francis, which was found in a Normal Almanac. The prayer bore no name; but in the English speaking world, on account of this holy card, it came to be called the Peace Prayer of St. Francis.

The Peace Prayer of St. Francis

by an anonymous Norman c. 1915 A.D. Peace Prayer

Lord make me an instrument of your peace Where there is hatred,
Let me sow love;
Where there is injury, pardon;
Where there is error, truth;
Where there is doubt, faith;
Where there is despair, hope;
Where there is darkness, light;
And where there is sadness, Joy.
O Divine Master grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled
As to console;
To be understood,as to understand;
To be loved, as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive,
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
And it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.

 Galatians 5:13-26

In Jesus we are called to freedom from:
- Obedience to the Law of Moses for salvation.

- Desires of the flesh
(Idolatry, Sorcery, Fits of anger, Disagreements, Drunkenness, Orgies, etc)

- Devouring one another
(Serve one another, Not judging one another)

In Jesus we are called to freedom to:
- Serve one another, through love.
(Service in the form of slavery to one another)

- Live by the Spirit
(Learning to listen, Using your heart, Learn to know His voice)

- Love as Jesus would love
(Servants heart, Sacrifice)

- Do as He did
(see Philippians 2)

What's In A Name?

I have been cursed with many names through my lifetime.
Originally, the product of living under Cold War rules.
It was like living in witness protection.
Only the bad guy you are hiding from is the product of American paranoia, not reality.
Though father lived in fear the majority of his life!
Soviets, Americans, ex-wives .....
Only the Soviets and ex-wives were actually a danger to him!
And father lived under at least half a dozen names that I know of.

So, every 3 years, roughly, we were moved to new locarions.
New homes, new friends, new names!
I never actual have gone by my name except until father's death.
Much easier not having to explain US laws which governed us as Paperclip citizens!
So complicated!
And no one believes you until they actually look into the maze of law and rules we are governed under.

So, I went by nicknames for the whole of my life.
Chip, Scotty, Chris, Kris, Cris, Flake, Dork, Nerd and a host of derogatory terms!
Yeah, the first five by family, the remainder by teachers and co-workers!
When you are not exactly on this planet mentally, well I was lucky to get Flake.
And my friends all went with Dork usually....
It is easy to tell the difference between derogatory and affectionate - "dork-isms"!
Well, and then there is, Bird-Beak!

As I slowly work on laying out a series of paintings, which name do I use?
I finally have decided on my Grandmother's.
Her birth name was Scott.
I was called Scotty because of my flaming red hair.
Of course around 15 all of that beautiful red hair turned - brown!
My mother was so freaked out she took me into emergency.
And Scotty no longer fit real well.

And I want to honor my favorite step-mother's name, Ivie.
Hmmm, Scotty Ivie?
Only way to get more Scotch would be to use Angus MacAngus!
MacIvie?
Scott MacIvie ..... ?
Luckily, I am months away from finishing another picture.

But what of my Plattner grandparents?
My father dishonored them in life.
I was never allowed to even know them!
His brother and sisters were my only key to there being any living family in Switzerland.
It stung when I found out the grandparents had died.
The death of my cousin and uncle hammered me hard.

I guess there is always Ivie Plattner.
But that might sound a little non-male-ish.
One of the artists I talk with, suggested KJP.
But that was used back before World War I by an Austrian Plattner.
And there are tons of painters named Scott.
Even Tschech, my ultra secret birth name the Americans gave me.
The government changed our name following my birth, no idea why.
But there are noteworthy Tschech painters.
And I am not related to anyone named Tschech!
Sigh ...

Well, I have time to figure it out.
But I am pretty sure I do not want to use my name or initials
I really do not want to even be identified with my father ....
As my pastor told me one time, when I asked how do I honor my parents?
His reply was, "don't tell anyone you have parents!"
Yeah he had crossed swords with them a few times .....

Well sorry for the blathering.
It is the only thing on my mind today other than the tremendous pain I am living in because of the dialysis.
Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday I am in good shape though.

Musical Saturday Morning

Car Back!

On Tuesday, I dropped my new Toyota off for parts installations.
I got it back last night!
As I told my oldest daughter, "I pimped my ride!"
Then I had to tell her to ask her husband what that meant!
LOL !

SO, I:
Had side moulding installed to protect against door damage from others.
Door edge protectors to protect other from my doors.
Threshold stainless steel plates to protect against feet.
Stainless steel side stair so grand kids can get in!
Mud and snow moulded floor inserts to keep the carpet from disaster.
Rear storage area cover.
Rear cargo net to keep inside when the rear door is opened.
Rear bumper stainless steel guard topper.
Undercoating.
Paint coating.
Full roof rack.
And the real pricey item was a 3,500 pound hitch and wiring so I can tow  a small trailer next year.

All that is left to do is a winch and full skid plates!
But that will wait to see if I survive into next year first!

My long term goals are hazily to play in the mountains again, running amok with my sluice box and teaching bigfoot to play cards ....