Our State Primary

My State Primary Ballot, registered Democrat, sits unopened on my kitchen table.  Some campaign literature has arrived.  Covid-19 prevents rallies but the candidates have allotted time for themselves on the phone to call candidates directly.  I've received three personal calls, answered two.  Only one race interests me, the state senate, held by an incumbent of long standing, who inherited the seat from her late husband who I am told was a prince of a fellow.  Though she is a Republican, she is not a Trumpanzee by any means, and stands for very little publicly beyond making sure the traffic lights in her district have all three colors and maybe some arrows.  We could do a lot worse.  The Democrats have three people vying for that seat.  One of them might be a lot worse and that one has the endorsement of my party's politicos.

Delaware elects mostly good people.  Scandals are few but not zero, abuses of position and threats to opposition have come mostly from Democrats, unlike nationally, and those have been few and largely corrected by the voters.  We have good people.  I've met most of them.

Much to my surprise, our Senator, Governor, and Insurance Commissioner, each competent and popular, have primary challenges.  So does my state representative sho I have gotten to know.  He's one of the state's electoral prizes, a man of competence, insight and energy.  Our US Congresswoman, another individual I greatly admire, has no opposition.  Neither does our County Executive, the son of a friend, who unlike his predecessor has no hint of misconduct.

So the only one to dispatch in November, other than the President of the US, is the State Senator, not that she is a bad person, she's not, but because her party demands some loyalty that could move this nice lady to not such a nice lady.  So I look at three individuals.  One I know personally, a likable fellow from synagogue, one of our Kohanim.  I knew nothing about him until his campaign literature arrived.  Apparently a retired teacher who now does tutoring professionally.  Have no idea what he taught or why he retired, as he seems a little younger than most retired teachers.  And like most people in my synagogue, he seems to stand for very little.  I guess I am for effective classrooms.  Have yet to meet a candidate who is opposed to effective classrooms.  I am for road maintenance.  Don't think anyone wants to have to replace a tire prematurely due to a pothole.  I am in favor of people being able to go to the doctor.  There you will find some opposed.  But he's for, just like me.  

The endorsed candidate I think will qualify as a prototypical Tax & Spend Libtard, as long as it is somebody else who pays.  Agree that the minimum wage increase is long overdue.  Don't agree that police funds should be diverted to preschool day care.  There's a fair amount of what strikes me as moral relativism in her statements.  She's not Jewish, but strikes me as one more sharp manipulative entitled lawyer who would become an opportunist Federation Operator if she were.  I won't vote for her in the Primary.  Will I vote for her in the General Election, as she is the party endorsed candidate?  As much as I want a blue wave, the lady who's there now is not dangerous and not objectionable.  This lady may be objectionable.

And then there's one that I actually found favorable from her campaign literature.  Retired police officer who works for a non-profit now.  One of those people who raised her family, stands for decency and equity,  Looks like she gets my vote, if only by default.

Will take my chances on a Mail Ballot on this one, dress up like King Arthur in armour to unseat the President.

Prepping Thanksgiving Dinner

Thanksgiving dinner has been my challenge for a long time.  I would make it, planning the menu weeks in advance, then transport the whole thing to my in-laws.  Since my mother-in-law's passing, it made more sense for the people to come to us, which is how it has been.

The day and the meal have their traditions, American ones and personal ones.  Like many families, the gathering has become less populated for a host of reasons ranging from kids who have moved away to Trumpanzee relatives who avoid hostility or hard feelings by not coming.  I will cook for whoever comes.

My menu has its fixed and variable points.  Turkey remains a centerpiece, though no longer the big glorious bird which has gotten rather expensive with not enough people to eat it.  Empire makes a half-breast which I will make for shabbos sometimes and in recent years for Thanksgiving as well.  Appetizers vary.  I made something with Tofu last year.  Soup varies, typically mushroom and barley.  This year tomato with Israeli couscous seem the top choice.  Salad varies less.  Greens now come already cut and triple washed so I have made garden salads.  Israeli salads are easy to make.  I think I'll make a cabbage slaw this year.  Cranberry sauce come from the berries that I boil myself.  There are variants of this but mostly sugar, water, and cranberries.  Sweet potatoes come in a variety of preparations but there is always something with sweet potato.  I've been making stuffing in the crock pot because it is easy and keeps the oven clear for other things.  For a vegetable I get what is on sale that week.  I do not know why brussels sprouts dominate on line searches of Thanksgiving menus.  I like them but not everyone does.  And I've never made a green bean casserole.  Green beans on sale can be made plain or dressed with nuts or sauces.  For dessert, I usually make something with apples.  Strudel or apple cake this year.  The apple cake is a lot easier.  And beverage is usually soda or sparkling cider.  Last year I got wine and might again this year.

It challenges me.

Senior Day at State Fair

It's been a few years since I've been to the Delaware State Fair.  It usually runs the last 10 days or so in July, has special attractions ranging from well-known performers to demolition derby, none of which I have ever, paid extra to see.   For my admissions free, waived for Seniors like me yesterday, it's a day to admire what my state has done for its citizens, which exceed what other states have done for theirs, and admire some of our agriculture, less than most other states but impressive just the same.  I promised myself not to have sticky fingers for freebies, as I am downsizing and already have too many pencils, note pads, plastic cups, and key rings.  My wife took a couple of tote bags, partly to carry this type of loot, partly to tote a soda that I bought, and partly to prepare for the demise of plastic bags from Shop-Rite in the near future.  I spun some wheels at the state exhibits which rewarded me with a fly swatter and a hand fan.  And I took a pen.

There are commercial exhibits with hucksters, from current Presidential trumpanzees to demonstrations of over-priced cookware to representatives of the Divine Revelation.  I remained friendly, keeping a successful 20 year promise to myself to not respond in a hostile way no matter how deserved.

But I'm there to admire agriculture, starting with plants.  Some have blue ribbons attached.  All look more luscious than the same vegetables currently in progress in my garden.  Sheep, some dressed as Klansmen, though without any Presidential seal.  In previous years, recently shorn sheep have been protected by a white canvas gown and a white hood with openings for eyes and ears.  The shepherds probably got some negative feedback from this, and maybe even lost sales, so for the first time I saw a fair number of body coverings in vivid pinks and greens.  Preppy sheep probably give better wool than racist sheep.  Pigs all seemed to be on siesta time during our tour through their pavilion.  I skipped the horses except the Budweiser Clydesdales on tour,  Cows all seemed contented.  And my favorite have always been the goats.  I have goat cheese in my refrigerator.  Goat milk is too expensive.  Kosher goat meat has never been available to me, though I have a recipe from an Italian Kosher cookbook.  These animals are more like pets.  Of all the livestock there, the goats are the most interactive.  They seem to like being petted.  It beats being schected.

Finally we saw the most distant pavilion with poultry and rabbits.  Delaware has a big chicken industry in our southern county.  The University teams are named the Blue Hens, and some real blue hen roosters were on display.  Presidential campaign dinners undoubtedly opt for the Plymouth Rock Whites, a very pretty bird.  It comes to those plates plucked, though so are we when their voters prevail.  Commercial ducks are raised and a variety of waterfowl, also on display, are available to hunters.  The rabbits seemed larger than those cute Easter Bunnies or the ones that run in front of my car.  More selective breeding than gene insertion most likely.


Not only was it Seniors Day, but it was Governor's Day.  The Governor made an appearance somewhere, some photo ops enjoying a ride in the midway and his wife sharing my fondness for petting goats.

Mostly fun for me and others in quest of the carnival element.  Though for the farmers, this was as much their convention as the annual Endocrine Society Meeting is mine.