We are a commune of inquiring, skeptical, politically centrist, capitalist, anglophile, traditionalist New England Yankee humans, humanoids, and animals with many interests beyond and above politics. Each of us has had a high-school education (or GED), but all had ADD so didn't pay attention very well, especially the dogs. Each one of us does "try my best to be just like I am," and none of us enjoys working for others, including for Maggie, from whom we receive neither a nickel nor a dime. Freedom from nags, cranks, government, do-gooders, control-freaks and idiots is all that we ask for.
Wives returning from work to an apartment or house are expecting their husbands to fulfill all the emotional and conversational needs that were once fulfilled by other women of multiple generations throughout the agrarian workday in the fields or at home (where the burdens of childcare and eldercare were group shared).
Two full days in, and a third about to start. It's 8am and no sun yet (not until 9:40, and only until about 4:30). Some quick comments.
Very expensive, as we expected. Not even by a little bit. Dinner at a good restaurant in Grundarfjord was $200 for four people. The starter of seafood soup was phenomenal, and probably all we needed. That alone would have run us $100. Second night was fish and chips and beer for all. $150 all in. Bakeries are less expensive, but also less filling. We brought energy bars, to fill ourselves in the event of timing issues.
Heading to the Golden Circle today. We did Snaefellnes Peninsula, a raw beauty that is overlooked by most tourist books. It's a full day, but you stop to hike, too. 2 hours hiking to Eldborg Crater, 30 minutes at Saxholar Crater, the Black Church, the rocky beach at Hellnar, waterfalls everywhere (literally everywhere). Kirkufjell Mountain is particularly interesting (especially for people who follow Game of Thrones, which I don't but my boys do).
Yesterday did Stykkisholmur, climbed Helgafell and made our wishes (make sure you don't speak, don't look back, and face East). We stopped at 2 fjords, then drove down to Reykjavik and walked most of the city at night. My son wanted to see the Phallogical Museum. It's a real thing, and I guess it's worth about 20 minutes. Personally, I wanted to visit the Punk Rock Museum and my family indulged me. It resides in a transformed public restroom, which seems fitting. It was opened by the Sex Pistols' Johnny Rotten.
The city is active and beautiful at night. Lots of people out and about. The Opera House is gorgeous and fun.
No Aurora yet, and the weather reports aren't being kind. My main reason for coming here may not be fulfilled (I guess that's good...reason to return since we're only doing the western side).
Along with whatever meds you usually take (I do BP pills, a statin, and baby aspirin for good luck), I always carry a bottle of amoxicillin, a Z-pak, and about ten 10 mg Ambiens (Zolipidem). I break Ambiens in half as needed.
Flying west to east, I need them to help me recalibrate my sleep. 5 mg works like a dream. I get on local time overnight.
Any doc who knows you will give them to you for travel. Lots of people use them to sleep on planes but neither wine nor Ambien help me do that. Nothing works on planes for me. Torture.
Flying east to west is no problem for me. Going home feels good!
(Caveat: Some people, very few, have strange reactions to Ambien. Just to make sure, try one before your trip if you have not used them before.)
12:38 As he taught, he said, "Beware of the scribes, who like to walk around in long robes, and to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces,
12:39 and to have the best seats in the synagogues and places of honor at banquets!
12:40 They devour widows' houses and for the sake of appearance say long prayers. They will receive the greater condemnation."
12:41 He sat down opposite the treasury, and watched the crowd putting money into the treasury. Many rich people put in large sums.
12:42 A poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which are worth a penny.
12:43 Then he called his disciples and said to them, "Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the treasury.
12:44 For all of them have contributed out of their abundance; but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on."
It has plenty of kale to which I am ideologically opposed, but whatever. I've made it a few times, and it is blandly good. Filling for sure. I tried it twice in Tuscany a couple of weeks ago. In Italy, lunch is typically the big meal and supper is soup or something light, but tourists like something light at lunch so I made a small study of local ribollitas.
It's the second time smoke and horror have driven him from his home, if you recall his writings from Brooklyn Heights about 9-11. He was done with The Hive after that horror.
I wonder what it's like to lose your home, your neighborhood, your town, and everything you own. I'm sure he will let us know because he likes to write.
Sometimes it was a Triathlon with biking, but most often just a Biathlon, 7-10 mile run race and a one mile swim race across and back Long Pond in Wellfleet. Last time I did that I almost drowned trying to keep up with my brother, who is a Master Swimmer, a world competitor. We have Bookish-Athletes in my family. And Good Olde Cape Cod. Bob loved it. Heaven for him. We always angled our morning runs through the ancient graveyards...
Looking forward to getting away from the madness of the last few months. Huffpo is now assuring me that the Dem's minor victory was a massive rebuke of Trump. I still don't see how outspending the Republicans by about 15% and only gaining a slim House margin while losing seats in the Senate is a massive rebuke. Democrats seem to live in a dream world. I know they felt a lot of pain on Wednesday and now they are just trying to rearrange chairs on the deck of the Titanic. Bernie Sanders and Alexandra Occasional Cortex are the new face of their party, and it's sure to cause them problems nationwide. I don't expect much to change for the Democrats.
In NYC, the self-righteous and self-assured were absolutely certain the 'blue wave' was coming. The only blue wave I'm looking for is in a thermal pool in the next few days. I'll simply take in some fjords, the Aurora Borealis, see Glacier Bay, lava fields, etc.
It was supposed to be a relaxing trip with me and the Mrs. Once we'd booked (cheap - $320 per seat R/T all in) flights and our AirBnb, we added our sons. Sticker shock upon arrival with food and drink, I've heard. The boys follow "Game of Thrones", filmed in Iceland, so that will be an enjoyable portion of the trip for them.
Maybe I'll even learn to pronounce some of their words.
"Tucker Carlson, Fox News host and author of "Ship of Fools", joins Ben to discuss the social impact of rapid technological advances, what role government should or shouldn't play in the economy, and how both Donald Trump and Bernie Sanders are able to appeal to the same voters..."
Carlson is too humble. How is diversity a strength? Tucker's brain runs on high octane. Enjoyable interview by the annoying but smart-as-heck Shapiro:
I'd like to do a Maggie's Scientific Survey of the cost of unskilled labor where y'all live. I mean jobs like lugging and hauling and lifting indoors and outdoors, barn and garage clean-up, and jobs like paper-filing, house-cleaning, and junk-removal.
Around here, these jobs cost 20-30/hour. They will ask for pay in cash. Apparently high school kids no longer are willing to do this work. It's too hard for their delicate selves. I would like to think that in Ohio or Missouri American youth would jump at a couple of hours' work for gas money.
Along with whatever meds you usually take (I do BP pills, a statin, and baby aspirin for good luck), I always carry a bottle of amoxicillin, a Z-pak, and about ten 10 mg Ambiens (Zolipidem). I break Ambiens in half as needed. 
Many if not most classic recipes had their origins in humble peasant food. Ribollita is 
Coffee Is Awesome for Your Health, 
I'll be heading out to Iceland this evening. 