LONGEVITY OVERRATED?

On slow news days, some reporter will interview an extremely old person to find out their secret to a long life. Their answer, invariably, includes some combination of the following: don't smoke, don't drink alcoholic beverages, don't over eat, don't eat red meat, don't have unprotected sex, don't engage in hazardous activities, don't quit working, don't break any laws, and don't forget to wash your hands. That's a lot of "don'ts" just so you can live long enough to experience pain in your joints, loss of memory, regret for not having any fun and enjoyment in your lifetime. I don't think "don'ts" are the answer. One of my heroes is George Burns. He lived to be 100 years of age and while drinking a martini and smoking a cigar every day. Not all of us can be that lucky but whatever age we can attain while we DO ENJOY  life is the right age for us. That is my recommendation and I am sticking to it!


p.s. Some moderation should apply to your favorite vices.

DID SHAKESPEARE HAVE A RELIGIOUS FAITH?

We do not know the religion practiced by William Shakespeare. He could have been a Catholic, a Protestant, an Atheist or who knows what. The scholars, who study his works and his history, have not been able to determine his religion. To me, this is a surprising mystery. He is the most influential literary figure of the last 500 years but we know very little about this genius. He left no memoirs, he did not write an autobiography. Through the characters in his many plays, he commented on religion in all its aspects but what were Shakespeare’s beliefs? He was a dramatist who made his characters express opinions that were suitable for them, but which may not have been those of the poet. Knowledge of his religion would be very helpful in understanding the man and his works. All he left us is, “Shakespeare’s Complete Works”. No personal notes and no clues as to his private beliefs. He is the greatest playwright who ever lived but his religion remains a mystery.

DID YOU KNOW?...

Presidents, Spies, Poets, Cowboys, and common men, they all played poker but Wild Bill Hickok was, perhaps, the most famous poker player of all. He died in Deadwood, South Dakota in July of 1876. He was playing draw poker in the Nuttal and Mann’s Saloon #10. There were a lot of gamblers and gunmen in town, including Johnny Varnes, who had lost all his money to Hickok in a game at the Senate Saloon of Denver, Colorado. Varnes was afraid of Wild Bill and he tried to hire quick draw artists to kill Wild Bill but they all turned done the offer. So, he hired “Crooked Nose” Jack McCall to do a cowardly, sneak attack. He shot bill in the back of his head as he sat at the poker table with Mann, the gunman Charles Rich, the Irish Wrestler Con Stapleton, and Captain Willie Massie, a steamboat pilot. Bill’s fingers were still holding his poker hand_two pair, aces and eights and a kicker, nine of diamonds. Thus was born the legend of the dead man’s hand.

The name of the book is, COWBOYS FULL, THE STORY OF POKER. The author is: James McManus. I found this book to be a wonderful history of how poker has affected America from Teddy Roosevelt to Barack Obama. The riverboat gamblers were fascinating! The story is filled with interesting history. Yes, I recommend this book.

I BET YOU DID NOT KNOW…

There are 5000 varieties of potatoes and they are one of the most cultivated vegetables in the world. Because of their high nutritional value, it is possible to live on only a diet of potatoes. They enhance the function of the brain. They are recommended to cure intestinal inflammation. The antioxidants from potatoes make your skin healthy. They strengthen your immune system and help protect you from cancer. They are rich in vitamin B6, which enhances brain cell activity, which can keep depression away. It is impossible to gain weight by eating potatoes unless you make French fries out of them. If you have a weakened digestive system, it is beneficial to eat potatoes because the rich carbohydrate content is easily digested and gives you energy.

When I climbed the Andes to reach Machu Picchu, my Inca Indian guides fed me delicious potato dishes on the trail. Nobody knows potatoes like the Inca Indians. After all, they discovered and cultivated them thousands of years ago in Peru. Ireland has some wonderful potato recipes but the potato did not reach Ireland until the sixteenth century. I have enjoyed famous potato dishes in Dublin, as well. The Spanish like potatoes and they became popular in Spain after a sudden belief started gaining ground that the potato tuber contained aphrodisiac qualities. I did not like the potatoes that I had in Barcelona.

Today, I have harvested some beautiful red skin potatoes from my garden. I will prepare them for tonight’s dinner. I am certain they will keep me healthy and sexy!


I love potatoes, they're awesome, they're great,
I eat potatoes when I awake,
Dream of potatoes as I sleep,
Oh how many potatoes I will eat,
Mashed potatoes, baked potatoes,
For everyone, friend and foe,
Never can you have too many,
God forbid you not have any,
Potatoes with every meal,
Even eat them when you're ill,
French fries, and tater tots,
I love potaoes with all I've got!