Roger’s View of the World, Love and Seafood Gumbo!

I noticed that  one of Laura’s blogs “I wanna hold your hand” was getting a lot of interest lately, I recognized it and it made me smile. Laura discussed how it was a simple means of communication and a sign of affection. She also hinted at how some people view it as ‘control’ and ‘oppression’, which might be the case in dealing with a 2 year old trying to run in a crowded airport… but less so here.

Personally, I have always found walking holding hands to be relaxing, a silent form of communication and comforting. Laura said that she had noticed more and more folks holding hands and viewed this as a good sign for relationships and I agree. On reflecting, I do remember when Laura first held my hand, it was on our first date in 1969 at a USC- UCLA football game and she sighed that her hands were cold. I held her right hand with my left as we walked and we both felt warmer and I could feel her pulse….  I knew her statement was ‘a line’… but it was a good one!

Over the years, I have found walking and holding hands to be a link into someone’s heart. Because, if you walk holding hands with someone for 30 minutes, you know all about them.

Share on Facebook

I have always admired new immigrants, people willing to give it all up and try for a better life on another land. What always amused me in history was that after the trail was blazed, civilized and made safe; then others followed bringing with them their bureaucratic class ideals and ineffectual old fashioned ways. In fact, the later wave brought with them those same values that the original settlers found so repugnant and desired escape.

In a marvelous book that I was fortunate to acquire by William James, America’s eminent Psychologist of the last century, entitled  ‘Memories and Studies’ (1911) published a couple years after his death, James was concerned that we were adapting some of the failed ways of thinking that handicapped much of Europe at the time. Ironically, it does seem like we are facing the same challenge again today. I have linked the entire essay on the photo above. Here are a few of his observations.

“…whatever evolution our state-examinations are destined to undergo, our universities at least should never cease to regard themselves as the jealous custodians of personal and spiritual spontaneity. They are indeed its only organized and recognized custodians in America to-day. They ought to guard against contributing to the increase of officialism and snobbery and insincerity as against a pestilence; they ought to keep truth and disinterested labor always in the foreground, treat degrees as secondary incidents, and in season and out of season make it plain that what they live for is to help men’s souls, and not to decorate their persons with diplomas.”

“It is indeed odd to see this love of titles — and such titles — growing up in a country of which the recognition of individuality and bare manhood have so long been supposed to be the very soul. The independence of the State, in which most of our colleges stand, relieves us of those more odious forms of academic politics which continental European countries present.”

“But are we Americans ourselves destined after all to hunger after similar vanities on an infinitely more contemptible scale? And is individuality with us also going to count for nothing unless stamped and licensed and authenticated by some title-giving machine? Let us pray that our ancient national genius may long preserve vitality enough to guard us from a future so unmanly and so unbeautiful!”

Genius is obvious to all who see it; however, it needs development and encouragement.  food for thought.

Roger Freberg

Share on Facebook

One of the many recipes from the site of King Oscar Sardines

Sardines don’t always make it to the top of the culinary list for many people, which I really find amazing. Frankly, they are enormously satisfying as they come in the single serving case! I think it was the ancient Greek traveler and historian Herodotus who observed that people are shaped by the land where they live . So, although we may move and transport ourselves hither and yon, there is something innate — especially of our food — that clearly speaks of home. As strange as this sounds, there is something in the preparation and enjoyment of sardines that speaks to my history.

The King Oscar site is truly a marvel in the consumer products world.  I have visited many sites and this is quite complete and entertaining. They include videos of the history, the products and teach even the proper technique for opening a can of sardines. BTW, Laura has already warned me that when we visit Norway and Scandinavia, it will not be a vacation filled with sardine fishing boats and canneries. Oh, I guess we can fit a few other things in.    The picture above is a few frames from a couple of movies on the site , the two pictures on the left show  the ‘double layer’ of sardines being processed and the second are pictures from the recipe section of a  Lefsa wrap. ( Lefsa is a wonderful soft and tender Norwegian flat bread made with flour and potatoes, eggs, butter and sometimes a little cream.

Another popular company is Crown Prince Seafood is actually a third generation American Company. The small sardines are canned in Scotland.

I have yet to intrigue my daughters with the joy of sardines in olive oil. Allow me to share one attempt. When my eldest was serving in the invasion of Iraq, I thought this might be the best time to get her hooked and I sent her cases! She didn’t eat any, but she did make good use of them! I heard that these ‘gifts’ became ‘the coin of the realm’ to getting things done as there were a lot of men, mostly from Samoa, who also felt this dish ‘spoke to them’ of home as well.

So, what foods call to you?

Roger Freberg

PS. I buy my ‘double layer’ of ’2 layer’ sardines (the BEST!) via Amazon.com

0r try this direct link to  King Oscar Sardines at Amazon.com

Share on Facebook

This is my daughter’s favorite picture… for reasons I cannot explain. I think they would hang it in their dorm rooms to scare off all but the most worthy… which is fine by me. When I see this picture, I think of them.

A good friend of mine wanted to do a chrome shoot ( help his students learn how to photograph chrome) and needed two things: 1) a Harley motorcycle and 2) a great looking male model.   So, I felt a bit like ‘Zoolander’ but a bit out of place since none of my suits fit. I was still a big boy at the time ( over 400) and lifting (weights) and a bit cranky at having to pose for hours. It was worth it as they detailed my bike which had been on a long trip.

Happy Valentine’s Day, Ladies!

Roger Freberg

PS. Ladies, if you need to scare someone off, print off this picture and tell the fellow that this is your dad and his new motorcycle that the bro’s gave him for getting out early!  Use what works!

Share on Facebook

You could say that I have had three lives. I grew up in the ‘middle of the pack’ as a child always a bit wirey priding myself on my ability to sprint and jump. As I got older, I grew to be on the tall side  (6-04) and found sports more in sync with my new body type. My third life was a struggle to stop growing out since I already stopped growing up…. this is a constant battle.

Recently, I ran into an old friend I haven’t seen since grad school and he commented typically on how much we had changed and that he jokingly always thought of me as his ‘fat friend.’ He moaned about how much bigger he was than me today. He then pried my secrets of weight reduction (Jenny Craig) but — I confess — I didn’t have the heart to tell him that I actually felt too heavy after the holidays and I was in the process of taking off the excess Christmas cheer.

So, the moral is that I don’t think everyone needs a fat friend to make them feel better, but slim friends ( or ex-fat friends) help make the transition back to normality easier. My guess that the next time I see him he will be as I remembered him… and without all his medication.

Roger

Share on Facebook