Wolves and Sheep

You know I figured out a long time ago that this world was made up of wolves and sheep.  When  you're born into this world, you're either a wolf or you're a sheep.  You either take or you're taken.

I guess one could equate wolves and sheep with good and evil.  But I think this equation is a bit more complicated than that.  

Both wolves and sheep seek to survive.  Wolves are made that way, aggressors.  Sheep are made the way they are too, to be meek and submissive.  

If you're born a sheep you quickly figure out the best way to survive is to stay in the middle of the mob (what a gathering of sheep is called).  Stick your neck out and some wolf is going to take you down.  

Wolves don't look at you as an individual put only part of a mass of meat, to be eaten.  They have no feeling other than to take.  And there are always a mob of sheep around, with some sheep hanging around the edges of the mob, ripe for the picking. 

I'm a sheep.  I don't take.  I used to hide in the middle of the mob, hoping the wolves circling the sheep would miss me.  So far so good.

I've had some close calls though.  A few times I thought I was with other sheep and they turned out to be wolves in sheep's clothing.  You all know those folks don't you?  

You think they're one of you and they're not.  They're wolves only out to eat you.

Now I'm not sending a cryptic message to anyone here.  I'm proud to say that my friends today are all sheep like I am.  Wise sheep, but sheep all the same.  They're not out to eat someone else.  I've known those wolves and I've eliminated them out of my life.  

But, every day my phone rings.  Usually the caller ID says "Out of Area".  Oh my, who could that be?  Oh yes, it's another wolf wanting to "help" me.  Calling me out of the blue to "help" me.  Oh sure.  

As I said, these days I have great neighbors, co-workers and wonderful friends.  How lucky am I? I even have some relatives who still like me after I got married to my same sex partner.  

But I still have to be on my guard.  Each day I open my e-mail, there's another "free" offer for me. Another phone call.  Or someone, who I don't know, who is going to coat my driveway cheap or wants me to contribute to his college fund, "just buy this magazine subscription."  

Even the ads on TV who promise you amazing results if you only buy their product.  Politicians who promise you everything if you only vote for them.  Beware, make sure you're not buying from a wolf or voting for a wolf.  They're all over, sometimes in sheep's clothing.

So folks, just remember that although a wolf sometimes is beautiful and exciting, they will devour you if you let them.

Downton Abbey Season 3

Oh yes, I'm one of those "Downton Abbey" addicts.  

Last night season 3 of "Downton Abbey" began on my local PBS channel.  Oh my, oh my.  I am in heaven.

The staff of Downton Abbey

So why do I love "Downton Abbey" so much?

Well, I've always like costume dramas, especially English costume dramas since that is my ancestral background on both sides of my family (Tipton, Lewis, Hughes, Warrick, Bennett, Hadfield, Hickman, Hannum, Darlington, and Dutton).  There is no family surname in my ancestral tree that ends in a vowel. None. Nada.  

Susan Darlington Hannum - my great-great grandmother

But that's not to say that any of my English ancestors ever inhabited such a grand manse a Downton Abbey.  In fact, I doubt if any of my ancestors even were the servants.  But it is nice to fantasize that they did.  

Earl Granthom and Carson, the Butler

No, what I love about "Downton Abbey" is the human drama.  "Downton Abbey" to me is a metaphor for life in general.

Societal acceptance.  Survival.  Love. Rejection. Happiness.  Sadness. Disappointment.  Great joy. Success.  Failure.  Life. Death.  All of it.  

There is the Earl and Countess Grantham, lord and lady of Downton Abbey, a Yorkshire country house.  The series follows the lives of the aristocratic Crawley family and their servants during the reign of George V. 

The Countess of Granthom and her daughters

Just like real life, there are winners and losers,  saints and scoundrels.  And some who are a mixture of both.  There are the phonies and the legitimate. 

This series follows the lives of the "haves", who live upstairs (think of the old series "Upstairs, Downstairs" years ago which I also loved).  It also follows those who live "downstairs", the servants.  I you want a parallel to modern life think of the Mitt Romney family living in their California house with four car elevators and the servants to keep that 1% clan afloat in their privileged existence.  Oh wouldn't I love to see a series about the Romney family.  Hint, hint!

The Dowager Countess - Dame Maggie Smith

I would love to review all the characters and their story lines but this space is much to small for that here and besides, so many other writers are writing reviews much better than I ever could.  But what I did want to say is that perhaps my favorite character is the Dowager Countess, played by Maggie Smith.  Oh my, oh my.  She is a delight!  I just wish she had more time on the screen.  

Thomas - gentleman's valet (and closeted gay man)

One other character I want to mention is Thomas, the valet.  Thomas is a closeted gay and is he ever a nasty, vile bitch.  I'm not sure what to think about this portrayal of a gay character.  While I didn't think a "Jack" type character (think "Will and Grace") would be appropriate on a Masterpiece Theater series, I'm not sure if I appreciate a gay character such as Thomas.  Of course I've known gay men like Thomas; bitchy, selfish, predatory and evil but still.  Of course it's no new flash that not all gay men are heroes or saints but.....I would like to see a touch of humanity in Thomas.  After all, no one is totally bad....or good.  And that is what I like about "Downton Abbey", it generally presents all of its characters with all of their strengths and weaknesses and how they survive and seek happiness.  And after all, isn't that what we all seek to do?  Survive and find happiness?

Can Thomas be redeemed? Stay tuned.

So Why Wasn't I Invited?

Cars gathered at an Oyster Rocks house for a party or something earlier this evening

Been to any parties lately?  Me neither.

A few minutes ago, as I was rounding the corner of Clamshell Drive in Oyster Rocks, the development behind me where I take my early evening walk, I observed a goodly number of cars parked out in front of one of the houses.  First thought that came to my mind "Why wasn't I invited?"  


Granted, I have no idea who the people are who live in that house but during past walks, I have passed them and exchanged non binding pleasantries the way one does with strangers to let them know you're not casing their neighborhood for a future robbery.  I've been walking in Oyster Rocks for about six years now so I assume most of the long time residents know who the tall, bearded, round shouldered, "older man" is who walks in their development almost every evening when the weather is decent.

Me in full Halloween regalia October 2007

Seriously though folks, when was the last time you went to a party?  The whole six years I've lived in Gayberry, I've been invited to one party.  That was a Halloween Party that doubled as a house warming (bring a gift) held by my former Computer Guy.  When I got the invite I was all excited because I thought "Hey!  Someone likes me, they really like me!"   Little did I know that I was but one among hundreds who was invited to said Halloween Party.  Once I got there and was directed where to place my house warming gift and saw the stack of housewarming loot on the dining room table, I was brought back to reality.  Still, I managed to make the best of the situation and mingled with the crowd, none of whom could of cared less if I was there or not.  I was never invited back.  Maybe because one can only have one housewarming or maybe because I was a colossal bore.  Who knows?  Who cares?

Me sans monster mark (do I look better with the mask?)

Roman Centurions - these guys throw a lot of parties - I'm never invited

Pirates - I don't know if these guys throw parties but I sure would like to be invited to theirs

Me and my "date" - I was asked to one of his parties - ONE

So here I am tonight , talking my daily evening walk in Oyster Rocks on this very pleasant, almost summer evening and I see folk gathered together seemingly having a good time although I heard no raucous sounds emanating from their house.

I used to have an occasional Saturday night dinner that I prepared for a former friend (he dismissed me as a friend after he read something in my blog that offended him).  Bill even stayed up for that dinner.  I used to enjoy putting together something special.  I sort of miss all that was involved in putting on a dinner but it's perhaps just as well that Bill and I are back to our regular routine.  Bill goes to bed early (7 or 8 o'clock) and I stay up late watching one of my Netflix rentals.

I remember my Mother saying that when she got older she had no desire to put together a big dinner like she used to every day for years and years.  I know how she feels.

Thus my dinner tonight was meat loaf made from the Cracker Barrel recipe that I swiped from the Internet. I made one small change in the recipe, I added Chipotle bread crumbs just to see how that would taste.  OMG!  Delicious!  I now have a new Favorite Recipe.  So for dinner tonight I had my homemade red potato salad and TWO slices of my Cracker Barrel Chipotle meat loaf.  I washed it down with Turkey Hill Died Orange Decaf Ice Tea.  I sliced up the rest of the meat loaf and put them in Seal-a-Bag and froze them for dinners during the week.

So you see there, I don't need to go to no damn stinking party, I make my own party.  And for dessert tonight I'll have some of that bread pudding I made yesterday with the Panera bread baguettes that came with all that soup that I bought at Panera yesterday.

Life is good folks.