Chinese/Lunar New Year

Today is the Chinese/Lunar New Year! One of the most important holidays in Asia it inaugurates the new "Year of the Snake." So stop absent-mindedly writing "Year of the Dragon" on your checks. :)

New Year festivals have many traditions, my favorite of which is to eat dumplings. They're a symbol of health and prosperity; plus they taste good. There are several exceptional dumpling restaurants on Long Island; the best is near me in Syosset. Their dumplings explode with bold flavor and sumptuous warmth.

For the first time, schools are closed throughout New York State today in honor of this holiday. It's customary for adults to give younger adults and children "red envelopes" containing money. If you want one from me you'll have to wear something red and show some interest in foreign culture. 

May everything you wish come true!

Spicy Felafel Pocket

I stop at Starbucks as reward for walking a mile and enjoy several of their offerin. Like the "Americano" (espresso and hot water) and "Impossible Breakfast Sandwich." Eager to expand my favorites I leapt at a chance to try two new options, one a sandwich (good!), the other a drink (not for me).

The "Spicy Felafel Pocket" is tasty with nice flavor and medium heat. My only complaint is its small size. I need two of them to be sated. The sandwich is described as "vegan-friendly" which means it waves at vegetarians when they walk by. :)

The new drink is "Cortado." It's espresso (50%) and steamed milk (dairy/oat) (50%). Despite being served in a small cup (8 oz.) the Cortado packs a powerful punch of caffeine: it contains THREE shots of espresso. (My Americano has only one shot.) After drinking the deceptively potent Cortado my heart raced all day like a rabbit on speed.

As we bikers say, YMMV (your mileage may vary).

The Value of Libraries

Public libraries help many of us. My local library, threatened with budget cuts, is inviting patrons to share stories of library experiences to illustrate their value. I answered the call with a paean to my library. It confirmed the piece will be included in its next publication.

Here's a copy of that short essay:

= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = X

For six decades the South Huntington Public Library has been an invaluable source of education, entertainment and companionship. Moreover, at pivotal moments in my life the library played a critical role in providing assistance unavailable elsewhere. I am deeply grateful for public libraries; they are effulgent institutions in our society.

When I was young (8-10 years old) I knew I was different from other children. Different in a fundamental way but which was not well-known. There was no public discussion of my situation and adults I questioned conceded confusion. So I turned to my local library which had a shelf full of books on the subject. After reading every book on that shelf I had a better understanding of who I am, of the existence of others sharing my condition, and of the then-current state of scientific knowledge.

My parents were immigrants and our family was working class. We had no money for luxuries like books so I learned to ask to be taken to the local library where I could explore its wide range of publications. The diversity of magazines alone astonished me and opened doors in my mind. Art! Adventure! Archaeology! And those were just the "A"s! I consumed books voraciously and was the only child on our block whose mother complained I read too much. "Put down that book and go outdoors!"

I continued patronizing the library throughout my adulthood. During a 42-year career as a litigation attorney I frequently researched law at the public library and investigated facts in its reference publications. 

Last year I turned 65 and was stricken by a sudden attack of glaucoma; it destroyed 80% of my eyesight. Coping with unexpected vision-loss I again looked to my local library -- and found help. Now facing two obstacles (visual impairment and inability to drive) I use an e-reader. I discovered reading on a Kindle is easier for me than taking in a printed book due to the electronic device's capacity for adjusting brightness and word-size. Plus the Libby program enables me to borrow e-books without having to travel physical distance. That matters now.

Finally, I've attended several musical concerts at the South Huntington Public Library since losing vision. These events enrich my life. The comfortable library setting, friendly patrons and accommodating library staff enable me to enjoy live music close to home. 

No social institution has done more to benefit me than the local public library.

Logical Deduction

It's possible to deduce conclusions by observing facts. For example, you can tell which of my neighbors tipped the garbage men for Christmas and which did not.

After the holidays I noticed something: at some homes (like ours) garbage men empty our cans and carefully return them to the driveway with lids neatly on top. At other homes cans are tossed pell-mell down the street with lids strewn in every direction.

Garbage men may not be educated but they're not dumb. And they know how to communicate.

My Pet Rock

I just commented on a friend's post (about the recent craze for Stanley cups) and thought you  might enjoy hearing a piece of my past. You are probably too young to remember this. Here's what I wrote:

In the history of commercial idiocy I plead guilty to spending real money ($4, back when they meant something) to buy a "Pet Rock" in 1975. It was an ordinary rock, like one you'd find on the ground, packaged in a cardboard box with air holes in it for "ventilation." What made the purchase sensible was an included brochure on "How To Care For Your Pet Rock," a funny piece of satire. In my defense I was a high school senior with an eccentric outlook on life. 

The guy who sold pet rocks became a millionaire from the idea.

More info: link and a second link 

Janus/January

Did you know that January is named for the Roman god Janus? 

Two thousand years ago Julius Caesar established the modern calendar and chose the first month of the year to be "the Month of Janus." The reason for this is because Janus, always depicted with two faces, represents transition: the end of an old year and beginning of a new one. Janus's two faces display his ability to view both the past and the future.

The last motorcycle I bought was named Janus. It was custom-built by a small company in Indiana. When my eyes went bad I gave away my two BMW motorcycles but clung to my first and last bikes (Kawasaki Vulcan and Janus Halcyon). I retained these motorcycles for sentimental reasons and hope to display them in a future private museum

You'll note from the picture below that the gas-cap on the motorcycle shows the two faces of Janus. Happy January!