.....Back again. Sorry it's been a while...medical issues for both me and RH+. I'm still having problems with the sore on my heel which is painful if someone touches it or if it comes into contact with anything...like a mattress, and that's why I need to have two pillows under my knees at night. I saw my doctor at the wound care center on Wednesday, and he wanted me back on hyperbarics every day. I told him "no way". I did make an appointment for three times a week. This time I won't need Val to drive me...I can drive myself which, for me, is a huge step forward. I even drove to the VA last week. Rho's problem is a different story. She suffers from parathyroidism and needs surgery which she is very antsy to get it over with. She does need to go back to Hollywood for an ultra sound test on her thyroid so that the doctor can see how to operate. She needs to feel better, have more energy and an improved appetite; perhaps surgery will help.
.....The progeny and I have been having a bitter debate via email lately as to what is proper manners in matters of proper wear to trendy restaurants...or any restaurant for that matter. My claim is that t-shirts and tank tops are OK for dining at Wendy's, MacDonalds, Burger King, Shake & Bake, and IHOP...but not for a fine restaurant.
We had a vote and most all voted that t-shirts and tank tops were perfectly OK...It's a new generation, and they live differently, and blah, blah, blah. My claim is that every generation needs to learn good manners and civility. JR sent me a photo claiming that Simon Cowell was at a "trendy" restaurant wearing a t-shirt. To me, it had little or no resemblance to that TV moderator, and his "t-shirt" had long sleeves, and it appeared that he was in the men's room, and perhaps he had his meals sent in. He really needed a good tailor to shorten his pants for they were hanging over his shoes like a circus tent. In other words he was dressed like a slob. But I suppose JR thought it was a fine outfit and appropriate for a man of his stature. The only positive vote I got was from Rhoda. Oh...maybe Cuzzin Ruthie and Unca Phil might have a viewpoint??
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It's odd that the Baron -- someone who is very liberal, is very accepting of diversity, and has been a warrior for individual rights and choice -- can be such a fascist fashionista when someone has a different opinion about style.
ReplyDeleteAlso, the details he provides of the "bitter debate" includes a number of factual errors, so it might be hard for Ruth, Phil, and others to grasp what the debate actually was about.
The Baron invites Joel to lighten up. Don't make this such a serious matter. I respect your opinion & any others that have one, but the Baron expects the same. Why keep this silly discussion alive by sending photos providing gusto to your views? I only use the word "bitter" for hyperbolic...fun. The discussion of who wears what to where with all the email byplay was fun & voting was not for the President. So the Baron invites JR not to be so grumpy and try a little harder to understand your father.
ReplyDeleteWelcome back! Best wishes to RH+ re surgery.
ReplyDeleteUnless you have a career in television, you probably neither stop in "hair and make-up" before walking out the door each day, nor have the luxury of a personal fashion consultant. It is perfectly acceptable to care about and respect how you look, though. Your outward appearance is not only an important aspect of how you present yourself-it reflects the importance you attach to the situations and people around you.
ReplyDeleteJust took inventory of Home of the Red Baron blog. Nine books have been published containing 2065 pages from Aug. 8, 2007 to July 29, 2011. Titles include PaterNoster in Condoland Volumes I to V, Fires in the Heart Volumes I & II, Condo Credo and Condo Capers. My Memoirs has 375 pages. Lots of writing from ages 82 to 87. If you know anyone else with same volume of work at same ages, let me know. Good reading;Read 'em and weep.
ReplyDeleteMy personal opinion is that fashion has deteriorated since Elizabethan garb went out of style. Bring back the doublet and the farthingale; bring back the petticoat and the ruff!!!
ReplyDeleteMost of my relatives through marriage believe that it is unfashionable for women to wear slacks or any other form of trousers, and that it is proper to eat with one's hat on.
The standard of proper dress is set by the restaurant or by the home in which you dine. If the host accepts what one wears, then we should also OR dine elsewhere.
Tolstoy's WAR & PEACE is only about 1,200 pages.
ReplyDeletePhil: Good points. Each person certainly has his/her own standards, likes, and dislikes. I think a problem is created when one person feels his/her standards are the only ones acceptable and offers unsolicited negative criticism against others who have different standards. I believe this attitude created most of the religious wars in history. One man's respectable hat-wearing in a restaurant is another man's disrespect in the same establishment.
ReplyDeleteJoel, for a young fellow, you certainly are a sound thinker.
ReplyDeleteEvery day I taught, in high school or college, I wore a tie, dress slacks and shoes, and a jacket; most other teachers did the same.
One day, at the start of a school year, I heard a commotion in the hall of what used to be the junior high wing. A new student was blocking the passageway, and noisily conversing with his fellows. He was wearing a short-sleeved dungaree shirt, blue jeans and sneakers.
Taking him gently by the arm, I explained that NSJHS students respected the rights of others and therefore kept the volume down and the passageways clear. He looked somewhat startled, then said, "I'm a new teacher." That was my introduction to Jack Loew, who became a lifelong friend. Point is that clothes do make the man, but only in context.
Fortunately, the Baron is very liberal about style and even stood up for students who wanted to wear their hair long, setting a good example by maintaining a mane of which a lion would be proud.
More important than all this fashion business is the plight of Rhoda Ross. Let us all pray that she will solve her health problems with a minimum of pain and inconvenience, and a maximum return to the good health that is the divine right of a baroness.
Also, let us all continue to pray for the health of the Doc who bears his burdens cheerfully and with practically no complaints. He remains young in mind and in heart although a step slower than he once was.
Although the Doc has been granted considerable respect for his wartime feats, he has not been given enough for winning his gallant fight against post traumatic stress disorder.
ReplyDeleteIt is not uncommon for victims of this disease to be in and out of veteran's hospitals for their entire lives.
One NSHS student we both knew was a star athlete, a good student, and a talented musician. His experiences in 'Nam, while objectively far less disturbing than what the Baron went through, turned him into a basket case to this very day.
I was able to see, close-up, what NR was going through, although he hid it from everyone else in school. His courage and gallantry enabled him to lead a productive life for which his students are most grateful.
Better still, he helped raise four outstanding children who are aware of how much he did for them. Norman Ross aka various akas--a tribute to our country!
Baron is confused. JR states that "...problems are created...when one person offers unsolicited negative criticism." Does this mean that when one has an opinion which he feels needs to be voiced that he has to wait for a solicitation to voice it?
ReplyDelete...Is it JR's belief that Republicans need to wait for Obama to solicit their negative criticism? As for me, the Constitution allows me to write whatever I wish in my blog, & to speak my mind. Baron has his own opinions and he does indeed respect those who differ, but reserves the right to disagree...vehemently, if necessary. It's a free country...Baron fought to make it so. He needs no lessons on manners or civility, & resents the implications in JR's convoluted comment. He flits from the "attitudes that cause religious wars" to wearing hats in restaurants. Confusing??
Yes, you are allowed to write whatever you want in your own blog. You are King here (or is it Baron?). And, yes, we know you are confused.
ReplyDeleteBaron (or is it King?) says JR knows Dad's confused because he confused him. How can his Dad be called a Fascist for simply voicing his (unsolicited)disapproval of what one wears in a restaurant?
ReplyDeleteWoody Hochswender, NSHS '68, has had a distinguished career as a journalist. He has been Fashion Editor of the NY TIMES and ESQUIRE, and is currently Fashion Maven of SPORTS ILLUSTRATED GOLF. Whatever he may believe about proper dress in a restaurant is irrelevant; the Baron still has the right to his INFORMED opinion, especially on his own blog.
ReplyDeleteNR's promotion to King is righteous and has been too long coming. That would make RR "queen" so we must continue to show due respect.
To all my relatives on this blog and elsewhere--have a lovely day and do your best to make the days of your loved ones as pleasant as possible.
Uncle Phil is once again correct, as he is 99% of the time (he has provided only 99 opinions, so I can't be sure about the next one): The Baron ("Red Baron" somehow sounds better than "Red King") has a right to his INFORMED opinion. However, he also has a right to his UNinformed opinion, especially on his own blog. He has invoked that right on a number of occasions -- most recently regarding what is acceptable attire in a trendy restaurant.
ReplyDeleteWell, who died and made JR the supreme judge of what is INFORMED & what is UNINFORMED? What a joke! What nerve! What chutzpah! The bottom line is that he thinks his kids can do no wrong and he thinks his shit doesn't stink.
ReplyDelete1) My kids sometimes do wrong.
ReplyDelete2) My father sometimes does wrong.
3) His shit stinks. Phew!
OMG. If this doesn't stop AT ONCE, we will have tryouts for KING LEAR in the Theater tomorrow at noon, to accommodate the King's schedule. We shall, in the Shakespearean tradition, only permit males to play roles, and all will wear stomachers as well as ruffs.
ReplyDeleteJoel, now that your father has assumed his rightful position of king (which I have always granted him), you and the other sibs are elevated to prince. That is a serious honor.
NR, Joel's kids are magnificent and part of their success is attributed to the positive manner in which JR and BR raised them. Like you, the Varosses have always been supportive of their children's aspirations.
The result has been two fine young people--Adam and Eve, er, Hannah, of whom anyone would be proud. In fact, one of your "grands" is very much like you were back in the day, and I mean that as the highest compliment.
Remember also that Adam went way beyond the call of duty when he had his mitzvah barred, which was against all his principles. Adam NEVER goes against his principles, an indication of the love he has for his grandpa.
One caution. Since NR is now The Red King, RR is the Red Queen. Do not anger her or you may lose your head.
Let us not waste time in useless bickering. Life is too short and regret is forever. Thank you for your understanding.
Yes, JR's Dad has informed Baron that he admits to being much more often wrong than right; but Baron notices in JR's comment that he fails to admit to his ever being wrong. His son is a gentleman, but his daughter has been very, very wrong, and disappointingly so.
ReplyDeleteMy credo has always been that the King (formerly the Baron) is always correct. I will not acknowledge that he is ever wrong.
ReplyDeleteBut the same is true of the Ross sibs and their progeny so what to do when they are in conflict? The solution is that they are all correct, and that semantics is responsible for their seeming differences.
Up the Ross and especially THE KING!
The Baron has been offered a crown three times and each time has refused. Instead he opted for a mere filling and a cleaning. Consequently, he remains a Baron without a crown.
ReplyDelete2a) Sometimes I do wrong.
ReplyDelete"The Baron has been offered a crown three times and each time has refused." But NOT on the Lupercal.
ReplyDeleteWhether you refuse or not, you cannot deny your destiny. Since the Post Office delivers mail addressed to EMPEROR Norman Ross, obviously that is who you are because the Postal Service is never wrong, even when they go postal.