2011.12.04 19:00 - Ways of Remembering

The Guardian for this meeting was Calvino Rabeni. The comments are by Calvino Rabeni.

Lucinda Lavender: Hmmm...Hi...Do I appear not to be wearing a shirt?
Lucinda Lavender: brb...
Calvino Rabeni: Hello Cinda, you look fine
Lucinda Lavender: odd.. appearance to me for a minute
Calvino Rabeni: well, the dress is sleeveless, but it looks proper and elegant
Lucinda Lavender: oh good then
Lucinda Lavender: how is the evening finding you
Calvino Rabeni: Well enough, lass, I'm doing a bit o' bachelor cookin' in the galley
Lucinda Lavender: :)))
Lucinda Lavender: can you describe it me matey?
Lucinda Lavender: we had swedes for dinner ourselves
Calvino Rabeni: Nautical fare
Lucinda Lavender: hmmm let me guess...a fish?
Calvino Rabeni: French toast and buttered peas
Lucinda Lavender: yum!
Lucinda Lavender: love buttered peas
Lucinda Lavender: and the toast
Calvino Rabeni: Yes the old dry bread gets a new youthfulness
Calvino Rabeni: And you know what they say about peas
Calvino Rabeni: peas for the working man
Lucinda Lavender: we had a crock pot dish with chicken, rutabaga, leek, onion, carrot, and dumplings
--BELL--

Lucinda Lavender: hmmmdid not know they say that...
Calvino Rabeni:

You can talk of beef and spuds
when you're frocked in fancy duds
and sitting there as pretty as you please
But when some heathen demon
in you stomach starts a-screamin'
You'll sell your bloomin' soul for buttered peas

Lucinda Lavender: :)))

First you shell 'em to the man
then you dump 'em in the pan
then you boil them 'till the bugler blows a halt
Then you dish 'em neat and clean
and you yell "GOD SAVE THE QUEEN!"
and you serve 'em with some butter and some salt.
Well it's peas, peas, peas!
They're enough to bring a blighter to his knees!
It's you I give my pay for!
Walk the road to Mandalay for!
To the God above I pray for,
Buttered Peas!

Lucinda Lavender: lovely peas..
Lucinda Lavender: who wrote that poem?
Calvino Rabeni: It could be Rudyard Kipling I think.
Calvino Rabeni: The last stanza goes like this:
Lucinda Lavender: that sounds right
Lucinda Lavender: Hi to Tess who skated by...
Lucinda Lavender: Luci goes looking for a poem with rutabagas...
Calvino Rabeni: A pea is a small thing, isn't it?
Calvino Rabeni: As is a mustard seed
Lucinda Lavender: yes
Lucinda Lavender: :)
Lucinda Lavender: Rough and Ready Rutabagas Rough and ready Rutabaga no matter what you chant, greeted through the ages by either rave or rant. Some say bitter, others sweet arguing at every meal, on only one thing they agree, the ’baga has no sex appeal. And though its uses are diverse whether diced or chopped or raw, whether boiled or fried or roasted, votes are either “ahh” or “blah“. But the rough and ready ’baga stands up to each rebuke asking only that you try them even if you puke!
Calvino Rabeni: Indeed
Lucinda Lavender: :))
Calvino Rabeni: the rutabaga is the rough-and-ready cousin of the turned-up turnip
Lucinda Lavender: :)
--BELL--

Calvino Rabeni: a turnip with a tan and a bit of dirt, just in from the land
Lucinda Lavender: HI aph!
Aphrodite Macbain: you two
Calvino Rabeni: Good evening!
Aphrodite Macbain: It is isn't it? Clear skies
Aphrodite Macbain: for a few days
Lucinda Lavender: cold and clear yes
Calvino Rabeni: I noticed a sign of the season, that If I want to go somewhere at night, I'm going to have to want it enough to scrape a layer of ice off the car windows
Aphrodite Macbain: nods
Lucinda Lavender: nodding
Aphrodite Macbain: and I'm going to have to put three layers of exta clothes on
Calvino Rabeni: I'm thinking of doing a grocery run to Trader Joe's - you know the place?
Lucinda Lavender: yes:)
Lucinda Lavender: tonight?
Aphrodite Macbain: I think I've heard of it. What does Joe trade?
Lucinda Lavender: many good foods:)
Calvino Rabeni: It's a grocery chain - a great place for foodie-on-a-budget shopping
Calvino Rabeni: and cheaper than the mega chain Safeway
Aphrodite Macbain: great. does it have organic/100 mile diet kind of stuff as well?
Calvino Rabeni: organic yes, don't know about the 100 mile concept?
Aphrodite Macbain: buy food that is produced within 100 miles of yourself
Calvino Rabeni: hmm I don't think they grow mangos that near here
Aphrodite Macbain: saves the planet- less carbon in the air to ship
Lucinda Lavender: oh..ah...
Lucinda Lavender: I do not think this store does that...
Aphrodite Macbain: The 100 mile diet - argues tha t we shop in season
Aphrodite Macbain: some stores let you know where the produce comes from
Calvino Rabeni: Any season is sprout season ... many things can come from zero miles
Aphrodite Macbain: right on
Calvino Rabeni: That would be a good title - the Zero Mile Cookbook
Aphrodite Macbain: It's a bit harder in Canadaand if you lived in Newfoundland, all you would eat would be root vegetables and fish
Aphrodite Macbain: I think there is on Cal!
Calvino Rabeni: Rutabagas
Aphrodite Macbain: right
Calvino Rabeni: Beets, Turnips, Potatoes, Parsnips, Carrots
Aphrodite Macbain: yum!
Calvino Rabeni: and winter squash
Lucinda Lavender: :0 I had rutabaga in my soup tonight
Calvino Rabeni: and the onion types that keep all winter long
Aphrodite Macbain: right. and local protein
Aphrodite Macbain: see- you could do it!
Aphrodite Macbain: Barbara Kingsolver wrote about this about 10 years ago
Calvino Rabeni: Backyard Eggs
Lucinda Lavender: :)
Calvino Rabeni: with help from our friends the micro-organisms
Aphrodite Macbain: how do they help?
Calvino Rabeni: They preserve, add nutrition and flavor
Calvino Rabeni: http://wildfermentation.com for example
Aphrodite Macbain: like what's in cheese?
Lucinda Lavender: yes:)
Aphrodite Macbain: or whiskey
Calvino Rabeni: Cinda's well experienced in this area
Aphrodite Macbain: lol
Aphrodite Macbain: whiskey or cheese?
Lucinda Lavender: so now my husband lets the oats ferment overnight before cooking for the morning...
Aphrodite Macbain: does the taste change?
Calvino Rabeni: whiskey would take a little extra work ... funny how it's illegal in the USA so only hardcore DIY people do it
Aphrodite Macbain: Illegal?
Calvino Rabeni: Indeed, distilling is not legal
Aphrodite Macbain: I thought that went out with prohibition
Calvino Rabeni: One would have thought so
Aphrodite Macbain thinks of Joan Baez song - "My grandfather made whiskey, and my father did too; they aint paid no whiskey tax since 1792"
Lucinda Lavender: :)
Calvino Rabeni: heh
Aphrodite Macbain: so they lay there by the juniper, while the moon is bright...
Calvino Rabeni: my parents were in Iron and Steal .. my mother would iron and my father would steal
Aphrodite Macbain: watch them jugs a fillin in the pale moonlight
Aphrodite Macbain: lol
Lucinda Lavender: don't know that song but...sounds good
Calvino Rabeni: "in the pale moonlight"
Aphrodite Macbain: you're too young!
Lucinda Lavender: maybe not:)
Aphrodite Macbain: Part of Joan Bez repertoire
Aphrodite Macbain: Baez
--BELL--

Lucinda Lavender: :)
Aphrodite Macbain: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UDxvfU6tIKM
Aphrodite Macbain: this is better
Aphrodite Macbain: but not great
Aphrodite Macbain: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MLf1fDfSMN8
Aphrodite Macbain: BEST!!
Mona Heliosense: Hi
Aphrodite Macbain: Joan Baez did it best
Aphrodite Macbain: Baez
Aphrodite Macbain: Hi Mona
Lucinda Lavender: sorry had to go looking for cat who was crying
Aphrodite Macbain: Hope you found her
Lucinda Lavender: oh yes...I know this song sort of
Aphrodite Macbain: Love Joan Baez. I had a guitar in the 60s and knew all her songs
Calvino Rabeni: :)
Aphrodite Macbain: and played them even
Lucinda Lavender: me too:)
Aphrodite Macbain: singing outloud to this!
Calvino Rabeni: I remember attending what I think was the first ever rock festival
Aphrodite Macbain: make my neighbours nervous
Lucinda Lavender: really where Cal?
Aphrodite Macbain: where? Cal
Calvino Rabeni: definitely the Baez era:

On Sept.2,1968, in Washington state, a year before Woodstock, the first of what was to be an annual event called Sky River Rock Festival, took place near the towns of Sultan and Gold Bar in Washington state, at Betty Nelson's Organic Raspberry Farm. This may well have been the first multi-day outdoor rock festival ever held. The site was near the Skykommish River, hence the name Sky River. Some of the bands to play that first festival were, Big Mama Thornton, Santana, James Cotton, and Country Joe and the Fish. The Grateful Dead showed up on the last day of the festival. Also rumored to have played were Pink Floyd, and Allman Joy (early Allman Brothers). Balloon rides contributed to make the fair "lighter than air."
http://skyriverlives.com/page1a.php

Aphrodite Macbain: sigh
Lucinda Lavender: wow did not know you did that!
Lucinda Lavender: cool
Calvino Rabeni: heh
Calvino Rabeni: I had to get parental permission ... they thought it was a Geology Exhibition
Lucinda Lavender: :)))
Aphrodite Macbain: lol
Lucinda Lavender: Hi Mona
Aphrodite Macbain: Wow. Lucky you. Did you realize these bands would make it big?
Calvino Rabeni: Hm, I suppose at the time it seemed like they would ALL make it big
Aphrodite Macbain: Sky River Rock...:-)
Lucinda Lavender: There was a recent festival there I think...this summer maybe
Calvino Rabeni: Yes I remember hearing about that
Aphrodite Macbain: I remember seeing Joan Baez and Bob Dylan in Montreal in the late 60s
Aphrodite Macbain: somethings happening, and you don't know what it is, do you Mr Jones?
Aphrodite Macbain: :-}
Calvino Rabeni: "A time ago crazy dream came to me..."
Aphrodite Macbain: Those were the days..
Aphrodite Macbain: Mona - do you like any of these groups?
Aphrodite Macbain: we're getting a little sentimental
Calvino Rabeni: By the way, Mona, the chat from these meetings get published on the group's Wiki, so we like to inform visitors and get their okay
Aphrodite Macbain: have you been here before?
Aphrodite Macbain is away right now and has not broken her neck
Aphrodite Macbain: guess she's afk
--BELL--

Calvino Rabeni: Yes, thanks
Aphrodite Macbain is away right now and has not broken her neck
Aphrodite Macbain: I have to do somethng about that- every time I say afk my avi does that
Calvino Rabeni: afk
Aphrodite Macbain: lol
Calvino Rabeni: nothing happened :)
Aphrodite Macbain: yes it did you slumped over!
Calvino Rabeni: I didn't feel it, I must be numbed!
Aphrodite Macbain: you're cracking up Cal
Calvino Rabeni: Thank you
Calvino Rabeni: I don't think I'm very sentimental ... what are the characteristics of being sentimental, do you think?
Aphrodite Macbain: How are the rehearsals going Luci
Aphrodite Macbain: sentimental
Lucinda Lavender: I will respond about rehearsal in a second..must go afk...be right back tho
Aphrodite Macbain: I always attach sentimentality with nostalgia. Dont know why
Aphrodite Macbain: attach wistful emotions to occasions
Aphrodite Macbain: when others do not?
Aphrodite Macbain: call me sentimental...
Calvino Rabeni: Call me, unpredictable
Aphrodite Macbain: Hi unpredictable
Lucinda Lavender: ok back
Lucinda Lavender: just call me
Aphrodite Macbain: call me tomorrow
Aphrodite Macbain: but take one aspirin
Lucinda Lavender: thanks Aph for posting:) yesterday I mean...
Aphrodite Macbain: No thank you for taking my session
Calvino Rabeni: Did you take care of it, Cinda? Thanks
Aphrodite Macbain: I really appreciate it- it was so last moment
Lucinda Lavender: yes...and it was fun
Lucinda Lavender: the Berliners were there
Aphrodite Macbain: yes- all those Berliners
Calvino Rabeni: Yes, that was yesterday, ... things were good yesterday, I'm feeling nostalgic
Lucinda Lavender: they were having fun
Lucinda Lavender: it seemed:)
Lucinda Lavender: nostalgic is an interesting word
Calvino Rabeni: http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?allowed_in_frame=0&search=nostalgia&searchmode=none
Aphrodite Macbain: :-) feeling nostalgic for tomorrow
Lucinda Lavender: I got nostalgic myself because it reminded me of our having a retreat
Calvino Rabeni: if they were having fun, their stress must have flown to the winds
Aphrodite Macbain: "considered a disease"
Lucinda Lavender: wistful yearning for past...
Aphrodite Macbain: whistful yearning for the past
Lucinda Lavender: that part I was not having exactly...
Aphrodite Macbain: wistful
Lucinda Lavender: just excitement at remembering
Lucinda Lavender: like probably about going to sky river rock festival
Calvino Rabeni: nods
Aphrodite Macbain: Is that nostalgia or envy or empathy?
Aphrodite Macbain: the presence of absence
Aphrodite Macbain: a hollow, unfilled feeling
Aphrodite Macbain: a nasty emotion
Lucinda Lavender: ah...different than for me...
Lucinda Lavender: mine was a filled feeling
Lucinda Lavender: like the thick frosting on the cake of life
Aphrodite Macbain: then I wonder whether it was nostalgia
Aphrodite Macbain: :-)
Aphrodite Macbain: that was such a great quote
Lucinda Lavender: :)) thanks for finding it...
Aphrodite Macbain: It stood out like a thick frosting
Aphrodite Macbain: yum
Aphrodite Macbain: When can I come down and visit?
Lucinda Lavender: any old time
Lucinda Lavender: concert the 18th
Aphrodite Macbain: Have another commitment
Lucinda Lavender: ah
Aphrodite Macbain: What are you both doing beween Christmas and new year?
Lucinda Lavender: that will be busy for me...that is the week my daughter comes
Lucinda Lavender: but after that would be great
--BELL--

Calvino Rabeni: I don't really know ... I tend to live one day at a time .. in contrast to my sister-in-law who has running 1- 3- and 5-year plans (plus a long range strategy)
Lucinda Lavender: yes...I am more like you cal...
Calvino Rabeni: I think it's good to keep your retreat connection going, though
Aphrodite Macbain: No point in a 5 year plan although now that I am retired I want to do things that I may not be able to do in 15 years
Lucinda Lavender: Yes, about the retreat connections
Aphrodite Macbain: I want to maximize my time and energy and meet people I like
Lucinda Lavender: :))
Calvino Rabeni: Have a great evening, Aphro and Cinda
Calvino Rabeni: :)
Calvino Rabeni: Actually I have a 4 hour plan ... I have a date with Joe (Trader Joe that is) ... would you excuse me?
Aphrodite Macbain: Say hi to Joe for us cal!
Calvino Rabeni: heh okay
Lucinda Lavender: same to you cal..say hi to Joe
Calvino Rabeni: Bye !
Aphrodite Macbain: Bye
Aphrodite Macbain: Bye! cal