Resolutions for The New Year

Good resolutions are simply checks that men draw on a bank where they have no account. - Oscar Wilde

 

"There is nothing which we estimate so fallaciously as the force of our own resolutions, nor any fallacy which we so unwillingly and tardily detect. He that has resolved a thousand times, and a thousand times deserted his own purpose, yet suffers no abatement of his confidence, but still believes himself his own master; and able, by innate vigor of soul, to press forward to his end, through all the obstructions that inconveniences or delights can put in his way." - Samuel Johnson

 

All the neighbors have returned, safely, thankfully. Beatrix and Jeremy went all the way to England, Charlotte and Max went to Belgium to be with her family, and Marie Christine and Jean-Paul went to France, while others traveled to other states but didn't leave the country. We are so used to having the house full of people for dinner and conversation. Remember, we normally have around 50 people gathered here for dinner every night, so when some of the couples and their children leave for a while, the house seems wistful, as if it too missed the controlled pandemonium of our large "gang." We're glad so many were able to travel to be with their families, but we're vastly happy that they're back. Schuyler kindly, as always, prepared our cocktails. Tonight, the first night we've all been together again after the holiday hiatus, he made a simple but pure vodka "martini," called a Kangaroo. Always the purist, he only let the vodka look briefly at the vermouth, and stirred, never shook, the cocktails. As usual, he had nonalcoholic choices for those who prefer not to have an alcoholic beverage.

 

Now, About Those Pesky New Year's Resolutions
Many of us had, probably in the spirit of the holidays, decided that some of our dialogues had become profoundly critical and negative and hoped to be more positive beginning with the ringing-in of the New Year. Well, up here on the farm, we don't have any Pollyannas, and those "kill the U.S. Constitution" people in Washington just won't stop, so we reached a real cononundrum. How can you be all "sweetness and light" when Washington right now is all "darkness and evil?"

 

I, for one, resolved that the topics of our conversations would center more around the positive than the negative aspects of politics and the way we are governed. After all, I thought, amazingly wonderful things do come out of Washington, right? Well, as you can see, my New Year's Resolution lasted, give or take a second, twenty-four hours. I don't know if that's a record, but in just the week that I decided the above-mentioned kind-hearted decision, and decided that our group would be more gentle in our opinions about the government, Washington just kept rearing its nasty snout, reminding me that we were promised by the smirking, squinty-eyed Commandrix-in-Chief, that under his administration we would have a more dignified administration. Yeah, and I still believe in Santa Claus, so, buddies, up here on the farms, it's going to be business as usual. Up to and even including the subject of impeachment.

 

Message From Abroad: We Are Truly Hated
Those who traveled to different parts of the globe for the holidays returned with chilling accounts of how deeply, how profoundly hated we are everywhere. Sadly, it's probably not the United States that is so horrifically hated, but rather the hatred is most likely aimed squarely, with no exceptions, at every member of the administration. But, even Bubba would have to admit that the administration is the face of the nation (and we've already told you that as kids, each person in this administration was so repulsive their mothers had to tie rib-eye steaks around their necks just so 'n the dogs would play with 'em.) So; and even the commander-in-chief-mired-in-corruption-scandals should appreciate the fact that we're back at the O.K. Corral and it's back to no holds barred.

 

Scary Holiday Visits Because of Hate-Mongering Born-Agains
Finally, Alex and Jane, although they had really looked forward to visiting their combined families over the holidays, returned completely horrified and repulsed by what they had witnessed. Seems their holiday was ruined by the near-insane, unbelievably repulsive aggressiveness of their "born-again Christian" relatives. They gave us just two brief examples, but we very quickly understood why they had returned so saddened by relatives whose religions should have brought nothing buy joy. We've mentioned that we have a deeply psychologically scarred neighbor we all look after. Well, a rough and tumble über-macho-type farrier who takes care of our neighbor's horses' shoes is always concerned about the welfare of our neighbor and very kindly, calls him weekly to check on his health, comfort, food needs and mood.

 

To us, this farrier is like an angel (a rough, grizzled angel, but an angel nevertheless), but when Alex and Jane mentioned that the farrier was a Tibetan monk in soul if not in practice, their relatives just up-chucked their dinner in disgust. If he wasn't a "born-again Christian" then no amount of kindness this man bestowed on our beloved but quite disabled neighbor counted. Needless to say, Alex and Jane were incredulous at this degree of extreme right wing "religion."

 

Also, they told us, it proved that if these modern-day zealots met the real Jesus, they'd find him quite repulsive, since he believed in acts and not labels or bible-babble. The only other faux pas during their stay was Jane's mentioning something about having been lucky during the hay-growing season, and that too set off her relatives into paroxysms of disgust; apparently, these people hate the word "luck." Everything is pre-ordained. If you dare say the word "luck" in their presence, well, you're damned. So, the gang agreed that just as with the present administration, we will have to continue to deal with these out of control fanatical religious zealots who, given the chance, would set off World World III.

 

Just imagine, Liz said, if the born-again Christians are hell-bent on conquering the fanatical Muslims, who are hell-bent on annihilating every non-Muslim, where is it going to end? And then, do we really need a "president" who always has the word Crusade, on the tip of his slimy tongue?

 

No More Resolutions: Just Dinner
While so many of the gang were away, we didn't use the dinner gong, but tonight, with all the teenagers back, arguing about whose turn it was to bang it, we realized how much we had missed the sound of the dinner gong.

 

As is our custom, because there are so many of us sitting down for dinner at the same time, the adults head to the separate dining room and the younger set remains in the great room, at the dining table set up for them there.

 

Liz and Judy's Dinner
Tonight, both Liz and Judy wanted to be in charge of most of the dinner preparations. Max, still suffering from a bit of jet lag didn't object, and let the ladies take over for tonight.

 

Their first course was Provençal Toast Points, served as a Tapa, with an excellent just-chilled Lustau sherry. The dish, though it sounds simple, involves many delectable ingredients, such as anchovies soaked in milk and rinsed, garlic, tomatoes, bay leaves, oregano, capers, olives and potatoes. The addition of tuna was an excellent finishing touch that brought the appetizer to sublimity.

 

The next course was a delight that Liz and Judy had just read about on our friend Peter Hertzmann's exquisite French food web site. It was an interesting salad of Scallops with Apples that was just perfection. If you're interested, you can find it at http://www.hertzmann.com/articles/2006/pommes/
We had our salad with a bone-dry, assertive, high-acidity Alsatian Riesling from Zind-Humbrecht.

 

The next surprise Liz and Judy served delighted not only the adults, but also the teenagers, who are all "gourmets-in-the-making." They served Prawns In Zucchini Wraps. The prawns were pan-grilled with a touch of goose fat and cooked to perfection. On the plates, Liz and Judy served braised porcini and shiitake mushrooms with very tender haricots verts. Paired with the dish was a magnificent dry white wine from Burgundy, a Puligny-Montrachet. You could also serve the dish with a good California Chardonnay

 

After dollops of mango sorbet, Liz and Judy surprised us by the perfection of their Roast Chicken Stuffed with Lemon and Garlic. Instead of opting for a red wine, tonight they elected to serve us a delicious Spanish white wine from Rioja, a Finca Allende 2003 Rioja Blanco with pronounced oak flavors.

 

Carmen had baked some more than exquisite Vanilla-Orange Zest Madeleines which we joyfully sipped with some 2004 Moscato d'Asti from Palladino, a dessert wine with apricot and kumquat flavors with a dry finish.

 

Winding Down
We had after-dinner coffee in the great room so we could spend some time with the kids. We enjoyed hearing their views on how the holidays had gone for them. Since they have dinner over here every night, they're pretty much a family, and so they enjoyed seeing each other after the holiday break. In a day, they'll be back in school, and in a day we'll settle back into our regular farm and ranching routines. Sorry about those New Year's Resolutions promising to be Pollyanish about the world, but Washington just isn't interested in keeping its nose clean, and Liz told us via this quote from Mark Twain, those resolutions just aren't meant to be. Here is the Mark Twain quote Liz told us about:

 

"Now is the accepted time to make your regular annual good resolutions. Next week you can begin paving hell with them as usual - New Year's is a harmless annual institution, of no particular use to anybody save as a scapegoat for promiscuous drunks, and friendly call, and humbug resolutions."

 

To all of you, we wish you a very, very Happy New Year!

 

Summary:
New Year's Resolutions, wonderful flights of fancy with a tenuous hold on reality or on the ability to see them through an entire year. Here on the farm, our resolution to be kind and gentle with those in power lasted just under 24 hours, meaning that the New Year just rang-in the same curmudgeon host of a group of highly intelligent neighbors who give national and world affairs a high priority in their lives. The White House could have cleaned up its act over the holidays, but they chose not to. And, voilà.

©Copyright 2005 Grindstaff Chronicles. All Rights Reserved.
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Reprinted from The Grindstaff Chronicles Newsletter which is published in the USA by farmers, ranchers, and neighbors.

It is intended to share the thoughts and lifestyle of people who work hard, like to relax and enjoy life, and are often dismayed by news, politics, and the events of the day that defy common sense.
http://www.GrindstaffChronicles.com
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