Gordon Lightfoot

WFUV just played Peter, Paul and Mary’s version of Lightfoot’s “In the early morning rain”. Great writer, and great trio. I did jump a few freight trains, back in the day, so this song’s lyric, “you can’t jump a jet plane the way you can a freight train” resonated. That, and waking up cold and drunk a few too many times back then.

Mary Traver’s daughter lived here (and she still may, so I won’t blow her cover) and I met her at a party, years ago.  I looked at her and said something silly (but sincere) like, “don’t I know you?” “Mary Travers is my Mom”. Spitting image. Mary died a year or so ago, and what a loss.

Colonel Sanders is kicking Ronald McDonalds butt in China

Okay, it’s not real estate, but if you like business news, this Bloomberg article is fun.

NYC’s teachers’ union

$100,000 a year for a pervert sitting in “the rubber room”.

Braised lamb shanks

I was at Stop & Shop with Ma yesterday and saw lambshanks, inexpensive, and imported from Australia. But when I got them home, they smelled “off”, despite their shelf date of January 31, and when I started browning them today, the stench grew pronounced. My menu was set in my head, however, so those suckers went out to freeze on the front porch (I’ll return them tomorrow for a refund) and I went to ShopeRite to procure new ones.These are American (and cost twice as much, which is why I prefer the Aussie’s, generally), but were bright pink and smelled sweet.

They’re slowly cooking as I write, in a broth of chicken stock, white wine, a couple of anchovy filets. salt, pepper, mushrooms, onions, garlic, lemon and mint. By dinnertime, they should be fall-off-the-bone tender. Serve them with garlic mashed potatoes and a salad, and life will be good. I’d make someone a wonderful husband, wouldn’t I?  After eight years off, I really should try dating again. : )

A dismal Hartford

The place wasn’t exactly a hot spot when I attended law school there in 1978-81, but they now have a 30% office vacancy rate, and growing. What do you do when a city dies?

(Another) good reason to stay away from hospitals

Medical students practice rectal, vaginal examinations on sedated patients.

Sarah Palin: Panama Canal is in Egypt

Oops! No, it was Mr. Tingley Legs himself, Chris Matthews, who said that. No word whether he can see the ditch from his back porch.