Two Months into a Permanent Vacation
I love being semi-retired. This is the greatest thing in the world. As one friend said to me, “You seem busier now than when you were working.” It’s true. All…
The Guérins of Acadie: An Acadian Tragedy
Evangeline: A Tale of Acadie (Prologue) – by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1847) This is the forest primeval. The murmuring pines and the hemlocks,Bearded with moss, and in garments green, indistinct…
My Acadian Roots: Marie Modeste Doucet
As we North American Francophones celebrate National Acadian Day on August 15, I want to celebrate the memory of my 5*ggm, Marie Modeste Doucet, and recall the forced migration from…
A New Voyage Begins
I’m in a good spot. Mentally, physically. As I sit here on my porch, sipping an Eventide Gin Cocktail as Claire prepares the evening meal, the rigamarole of the past…
The End of the Pesky Day Job
(Me at Work: 2009) This week marked the end of a 25 year career run across six companies. The last one, Qualcomm, decided to let quite a few very experienced…
Québecois Heritage: Marie Rollet
Who Was Marie Rollet? Marie Rollet was born about 1580 in Paris, France. She was the daughter of Jean Rollet and Anne Cogu, an upper-middle-class family. As part of her…
Québecois Heritage: Louis Hébert
Who Was Louis Hébert? Louis Hébert was born in Paris, France in the parish of Saint-Germain-l’Auxerrois about 1575. His father, Nicolas, was an apothecary and Louis continued the family tradition.…
Widow’s Kiss: Cocktail Recipe #4
The Recipe The Description The recipe for this cocktail first appears in George Kappeler’s book, Modern American Drinks, published in 1895. It is an enticing blend of three French liquors.…
Irons in the Fire
The drawback of having so many interests is that I keep myself way too busy. The challenge is knowing what to prioritize. Brick Mill Games, LLC The work at Brick…
Monte Cassino: Cocktail Recipe #3
The Recipe The Description This cocktail was created in 2010 by Damon Dyer, a bartender at (the now defunct) Louis 649 in New York City. Damon won the Bénédictine 500th…