Sunday Drive: Early Morning Rain

I did not know till recently that this classic Peter, Paul and Mary tune was written by Gordon Lightfoot.

We had several gloomy, overcast days in a row this week, punctuated by downpours. But this morning it's bright and sunny outside, though just above freezing.

Bonus:  "The Amplitude of Love," a different kind of Christmas sermon, by the Rev. Sean Mullen at St. Mark's Episcopal Church in Philadelphia.

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Waitin' for the Weekend

Need a lift?

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In Memoriam: Charles Osgood, 1933-2024

Your Head Trucker has fond memories of veteran CBS newsman Charles Osgood, who died at his home in New Jersey yesterday, age 91.  He was a thorough professional who delivered the news along with a little something extra - warmhearted humor.  And often a charming poem, a rare thing to hear on a news program, as his trademark bow ties were rare to see.

 

Osgood will, of course, long be remembered for his brilliant contribution to American speech as the man who popularized the acronym POSSLQ: Persons of the Opposite Sex Sharing Living Quarters. Or at least, I had never heard of it until he broadcast a poem about it way back when:

 

And yet, Osgood had deep thoughts to share, too - and here is a most appropriate example:

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Bishop Gene Robinson: "God called me out of the closet"

I had wondered whatever happened to Bp. Gene - CBS Sunday Morning ran an update on his life and faith yesterday:

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Waitin' for the Weekend

The eyes have it.

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The Marble Map of Rome

Last week, a fascinating new archaeological park opened in Rome, displaying the surviving fragments of the Forma Urbis Romae, a giant map (60 by 43 feet) of the city created around A.D. 200 by order of Emperor Septimius Severus.  No, the Dark Arts had nothing to do with it; it was a bureaucratic production of the city property records office, or so it seems.  Read more about it here or just watch the video below.

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Sunday Drive: Toys and Soldiers

Click to enlarge.

It's a terribly cold morning in Texas - temperature outside is 12 degrees F. and the wind chill is -3.  BRRR!!  The temp inside is pretty low too, despite the furnace and an electric fireplace running full blast.  I think I'll just spend the day in bed under my nice warm covers.

But if you have to be up and about, here's a happy medley to get you moving,  I don't know this iorganist, but he does a fabulous job with these two classic pieces on an Allen concert organ.  (Allen is a Big Name in electronic organs - they make all kinds, from small to ginormous.)  My favorite is the second selection, which always makes me smile.  Enjoy.

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Waitin' for the Weekend

Got wood?

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The Pork Boys Do the Holidays

As usual, the Pork Boys enjoyed a raft of delicious meals for Christmas, New Year's, and Epiphany, all made from scratch by M.P., resident chef extraordinaire.

Unfortunately, your Head Trucker has gotten pretty lax in the picture-taking department, so we don't have a comprehensive set of pics.  I'm posting these here mainly just for our own future reference.

M.P. knocks himself out cooking these holiday meals, but now he is pooped and swears he won't cook another thing the rest of this month.  But he always comes up with some new culinary idea before February arrives.  I wish all my truckbuddies, and everyone in the world, could enjoy such delightful repasts.

Yule Dinner for M.P.'s kids and grandkids:

M.P. made a beautiful charcuterie platter with meats, cheeses, nuts, olives, and dried fruit.

M.P.'s clever rearrangement of the front room makes it possible now to seat 14 without crowding at the holidays.

Sunday Drive: I Can See Clearly Now

The great Anne Murray starts us off in the new year with an upbeat groove from her 1999 album What a Wonderful World:

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Waitin' for the Weekend

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