Perhaps because the Universe has a sense of humour, I suspect it does, I have something of an empirical streak in me. I’ve always been interested in what I drink. Its history, nature, and thus the quest for the best. Not THE BEST as in experts and pundits and lifestyle magazines for men declare, but my best, my favourite I should say. Okay, enough kidding myself, more likely that tendency is just a fancy excuse for trying a lot of different alcohols. I figure it looks a lot less disreputable to be engaged in a exploration of rums and the search for how provenance affects taste, at ten in the morning, than just swilling back a shot in your underwear and making pirate jokes.Read more
I have not posted as much as I like lately and not much about diving. My brain is a little scattered by a new contract, where I’m encountering a steeper learning curve than expected, or perhaps I’m a touch slower than advertised, jury is still out on that, but meh. Also we have not been diving in a while (I’m not ready for ice diving, doubt I will ever be) and most of you already know all of my scuba stories.Read more
Ultimately of course the sugar shack maple syrup making experience would be pointless if it wasn’t about food. Well, food and family. You don’t prepare 50 000 calories worth of dishes for yourself, at least I hope not.
Logging is a traditional occupation for the winter months if you’re a farmer, it’s also bloody hard work. It keeps you in shape provided you don’t loose any fingers, you should see the tough as nails 80 year olds around here. Even today it’s hard work and we have hydraulic splitters, gas powered chainsaws, plus quads and tractors to lug the wood around. I really have a hard time imagining the amount of sheer strength and hours it took a mere 70 years ago to turn trees into firewood. Lumberjacks were the original cross-fitters, but probably less douchey. I mean I’m sure they could talk about other stuff. Cheap shot, I know.Read more
Less Pirates of the Caribbeans more Hounds of the Baskervilles.
In a previous post I banged on a little in my ham-fisted way about the importance of traditions. If you have ever been to the northern New England or southern Quebec woods in the spring, the odds are good you saw some buckets hanging on trees and smelled the sweet sweet aroma of boiling sap in the air. It’s maple sugar time baby.Read more
Key West from a haunted roof top that’s also a bar.
Otium cum dignitate is the Roman expression of a Greek concept (as is much of Roman culture, but not all, plus the Romans tend to bring something unique to their Greek appropriations) that translates into leisure with dignity.
