wagging a finger

[job]

All:

We've been having all kinds of fun over at Inside Catholic with the new Hansen novel on Hopkins....

Whither the DP gang?

Not a scolding - especially if you showed up and I'm just too much of a lunkhead to realize you were there. But please help us continue the discussion.

www.insidecatholic.com

Help make dappled things count...

JOB

[Bernardo]

I guess the scolding is in order, but I think I can provide some good excuses for myself. The first is that unfortunately I am in the middle of a very intense semester and simply had no time to pick up Exiles, much as I want to read it. To give you an idea, during the past for weeks I've had to read -- in whole or in part -- Plato's Meno; Aristotle's Physics, Metaphysics, and De Anima; Descartes' Meditations on First Philosophy; Genesis; Exodus; Job; Matthew; John; Romans; St. Augustine's Confessions; and, last but not least, Don Quixote. Then you have to add some pre-publication duties for DT, and THEN add the fact that I just got engaged two weekends ago and -- unlike most men -- I actually have had to contribute to lots of planning details since then. So I hope you won't be too hard on me if I sit this one out.

I did stop by once and read your contribution, as well as Matthew's, and found them both very interesting, but I figured that at the moment, without having read the book, it was probably not the best use of my time. So those are my excuses. What are everyone else's?

[job]

Bernardo,

First of all, I don't want to hear any exuses: as a newly engaged man, it's you and your fiance's obligation to get your ontological selves to the farm ASAP so we can celebrate in good style.

Second of all - you're excused.

Third of all. Once the keg of Bass is done, will it be Wild Turkey or Sangre de Toro?

You see, I will start the dinner with primo: Shrimp Diablo, of course, preluded with a fine antepasto of smoked beef and pork (farm raised) with artichokes and spring onions (this of course after the community takes a communal afternoon nap and a short post-somnolentwalk around the estate in preparation for cocktail hour - which will consist of martinis pucker-dry to break whatever ice might be lingering). Next will come secundo: Saltinbocca alla Roma with a side of home-churned butter-fried garden-fresh green beans (or kale - depending on the season), to be followed by cheeses, lime sherbert, sherry/port and, retiring to the front porch, cigars for the hombres (with bourbon). Rejoining the chicas, we shall all have a half bottle (each) of fortified mead (works well as a digestive), at which point I hope we will all speak well of our own digestive systems.

Then we will all retire to the back 40 where a rather large bonfire awaits (there may be a dead piece of livestock needing cremation... oh well, I'm sure, the only downer the whole weekend) and, if my brother in law doesn't commit accidental immolation in the bonfire's lighting, we shall sing ethnic songs until the cows, literally, come home.

And so, back to my original question: Wild Turkey or Sangre de Toro (to be enjoyed during the immolation/bonfire)?

JOB

p.s. By the way, if ever DP folks needs a retreat, I and my 110 acres are an open invitation, as long as you help with the cost of the keg and the priest's per diem.

[katycarl]

I've been having great fun reading, though a little too busy at work these days to comment. Though if a man with a farm and seven children has time to comment, I suppose I have no excuses.

Your retreat sounds amazing. I think my ontological self just fainted with joy, then came to its senses three and a half minutes later, wondering "What am I doing on Expedia? When did I ask to see all these flights out West?"

[Bernardo]

Job, your description of the festivities is so amazing that reading about them is almost as good as actually partaking in them. Your awesome post also reminds me of another reason why I don't participate in such interesting discussions: I am a rather boring person and I run too much of a risk of running into thoroughly interesting people in boards like that. Finally, your post reminds me that I should be more careful about referring to myself as a "man" when actual men -- men who run farms, have children, and can hold their liquor -- are lurking about.

And now that I've said that let me answer your question: it'll have to be the Sangre de Toro. My reasons:

1) The four nights in my life during which I've consumed any form of whiskey have been followed by the four worst mornings I've ever had.

2) I can imitate a Spanish accent for everyone's amusement as I drink the Sangre de Toro.

3) The wine's name would give me a perfect excuse for starting a conversation about the art of bullfighting and other crazy Hispanic traditions. My fiancee has compelled me into considering bullfighting cruel and immoral, which it is, but that does not mean there isn't a mad, brutal beauty about it.

P.S.: How does one go about getting a farm? Running it? This all sounds rather awesomely romantic.

[ebdonlon]

Apologies from me as well. At first I deliberately avoided the conversation because I was writing a review of the novel for the StAR and was afraid my frazzled articulation of ideas would become even MORE frazzled if I jumped into the fray. Later I was kept from participating by thoroughly uninspiring work deadlines. And now I find that the conversation (which was wonderfully spirited) is well-nigh over! Ron Hansen's contribution is really quite wonderful; fitting in so superb a writer.

I'm a big fan of all the libations provided in your feast plan. I've only enjoyed whiskey as a whiskey sour, and something beyond two drinks generally puts me to sleep, but I'll willingly do it with gusto if you allow me to observe the livestock cremation.

(Bullfights put me in mind of Hemingway's "The Sun Also Rises"...)

Best,
EBD

[job]

All,

Glad to hear liver irrigation is a high priority among the DP gang. Bernardo, the fact that you collated your particulars into a universal from four attempts tells me that Ockham's razor will always be refuted by the pure pleasures of whisky... And rightfully so.

But Sangre de Toro it is.

I have to admit, I help at the farm (mostly cooking and cheap Irish farm hand labor) and my more experienced inlaws do the livestock and agricultural stuff. It's all fairly hard work and demands commitment and not a little love for the land. I fell into it accidentally, really (I'm a NJ native), when my wife and I moved back here to her family home in her native Wisconsin (Well, actually, she's a native of Papua New Guinea, but that's another story altogether...).

As for farm plans, the best is yet to come - as a chapel on the property, with full ecclesial permission is in the works...

As for the Exiles discussion, the conversation is ongoing - and the main question remains to twist in the breeze - what is Catholic fiction? Go thou and respond!

And thanks for all who stopped by to read! It was really quite fun to be a part of it.

JOB

[ebdonlon]

A comment has been made (by a DT editor who cleverly disguised herself by misspelling her own name!).

Now may we have the Sangre de Toro?

[job]

Ebdonlon,

Duly noted - you may claim your free bottle at any time....

But participants must appear in person and be willing to spend some porch time at farm to claim prize...

JOB