Assembly the Dessert

Chop the bread into small  pieces in the food processor

Toast the breadcrumbs in a skillet with butter and a little sugar.  Heat applesauce with a little sugar and cinnamon

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Alternate layers of breadcrumbs and applesauce in a bowl (see to the right)

Full bowl

Refrigerate over night with heavy plate of the dessert

Makings of Danish Apple cake

I headed to my local Smith's Grocery Store for my fixings for my Danish Apple Cake.  I could find everything except for the Zweiback or Melba Toast.  Some folks at the store did not what I was talking about.  Found one of the eldery check-out person that could help me - but noting on the shelves.  Not even sure they make it anymore, I was told.

Over to the bakery - for unseasoned breadcrumbs. They were out and hoping to have a delivery later.  That did not happen.  So the next morning (day before Thanksgiving) check in at the local Walmart (hate to do business there).  They had and sold me a big bag of french bread breadcrumbs.

I have never used french breadcrumbs, but I was desirate.  It was that or I have to slice and dice a loaf or two of white bread.

Spinns Burgers

Halloween Geezerz lunch was at Spinns Burgers.  I have eaten here a couple previous times. When I was riding my bike on the Bosque trail, I would park at Montano  and Coors.  Spinns was the closest for a post ride brew and burger.

Another thing I like of Spinns Burger - you have the option for a 1.4 pound, half-pound, or a large double burger,  I found that as we get older, we don't need that much food - so generally prefer a 4oz or 6 oz burger.  The 8 oz is mostly time, too much food.

I opted for the BBQ bacon-cheeseburger with fries.  Burger was good, the fries were a little cool and soft.  For brew, I started with a pint of Bosque Brewery Amber Ale.  My secong pint was Bosque's Scottish Style "Scotia" brew.

Relections on the Wall

You may ask "what wall" or ask what I an talking about.  To Vietnam Veterans, there is no confusion.  the "Wall" is the Vietnam Veteran's Memorial on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. I wrote the following after a visit to the Memorial in 1988.

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On December 13, 1969, a scared young man got off of a plane at Bien Hoa Air Force Base in Vietnam. Thirteen and a half months later on February 1, 1971, that same young man – older and wiser – returned home to McGuire Air Force Base in New Jersey. In those months, a lot happened that took years to accept. The real acceptance of that experience started on July 28, 1988, over 17 years later. That’s when I visited the Vietnam Veteran’s Memorial (“The Wall”) for the first time.

My experience in ‘Nam was different than most, I wasn’t out in the boonies carrying a rifle, nor was I totally a “REMF” at a rear base camp. I was a “71M20” Chaplain Assistant. That meant I was the Chaplain’s bodyguard, driver, secretary, chapel organist, and chapel builder. In addition, I visited our wounded at the evacuation hospitals and assisted in memorial services.

That may not sound like much to you. I didn’t see actual combat – instead, I saw the aftermath. I haven’t talked much about it except to other Vietnam veterans – we’ve had a propensity to keep our feelings to ourselves. At the most, we’ll discuss it with other Vietnam veterans. Recently, with the building of “The Wall” and some of the programs on TV we’ve started to let our feelings come to the surface. They call it “Delayed Stress Syndrome” or something like that.

In the meantime, we’ve kept to ourselves. I have a very close friend in Des Moines who saw a lot of combat. We’ve spent several nights just talking. Occasionally he will have a flashback. Our mutual friends know that’S the time to leave us alone. I know I’m one of the few men who understand what he's going through.

When I visited “The Wall”, my first thoughts were that I wished he could have been there with me to share our feelings and, yes, cry on each other's shoulders. The memorial invokes those feelings, It is truly a moving experience.

As you approach the memorial, it's almost like entering the sacred ground. Signs request “No Smoking”, “No Food”, “No Running”. 

A brochure published by the Parks and History Association fittingly describes the memorial “Like a roll call of time, the memorial lists casualties by date of loss, starting at the vertex. The first name, Dale R. Buis is inscribed under the date 1959 on panel 1E. Names continue eastward to panel 70E, reaching May 1968 at the end of the east wing. The sequence continues at the walls opposite end on panel W70 as if the memorial has circled underground and surfaced again At the vertex, the toll ends with Richard Vande Geer at the bottom of panel W1 above the date 1975. End meets beginning; the circle is complete.”

On my visit to the memorial, I noted an envelope sitting against one of the panels. A soldier’s name had been copied from the memorial. Written on the envelope was “Dear Dad, I’m sorry I never got to know you. Love, …

It is a memorial not only to those who lost their lives but all who served. This is best described by the inscription at the base of the memorial’s flagpole “The flag affirms the principles of freedom for which they fought and their pride in having served under difficult circumstances…”

Anyone visiting Washington DC, whatever their political stance during the Vietnam war, should visit the Vietnam Veteran’s Memorial. Take in the wall with the veteran standing beside you, tears in his eyes and try to understand the necessary healing of the nation that is taking place. We the Vietnam Veterans, do not expect the general public will ever fully understand what we went through. We only ask that you accept that we served our country as have other veterans.

More Boots?

My new cowboy boots arrived from Boot Barn - a day early!  Usually, I do not order online things like boots.  But Boot Barn has a great return policy where I can return them if I do not want them.  There is a store just a few miles from me at Cottonwood Mall.

Anyway, these beautiful bootsa were on sale (close-out) and in my size.  When I slipped them on my feet, they fit like a glove.  I have learned that my feet fit either 12EE or 13D boots.  These are 13D.

The wife on one of my radio friends suggests I should were the boots tucked into (bloused) jeans.  It is a shame to hide the beautiful boots under jeans.  So - that's what you see, here.

Nothing special of the two shirts that also arrived.  One, each, short and long sleeve western shirts.

With my new boots, again it was time to line up my boots for a "family photo".  Gathered all of my boots on the living room floor. and took a couple photos.  While I was at it, took the time to photography each pair of my boots individually.  Here's the skinny on the collection - 1 pair of hiking boots, 2 pait of military boots (black leather, and jungle boots)  Work boots (new-buck 8" and 16" black loggers), and 14 pair of cowboy boots from several manufacturers. Most were purchased from the Boot Barn.

Club Coffee and ARISS

Headed out for Ham Radio coffee/breakfast.  Most of those that attended were there on ther way to Valley High School to participate in the radio contact with the International Space Station.  There was on other member beside me not work the contact, I had nothing to talk with him after his stints working at Balloon Fiesta. 

Settle into my office chair at the computer to watch the YouTube broadcast of the contact.

The contact came off as planned.  I was very proud of the club's ARISS crew.  They and the school produced an awesome show.

NOTE - the QSL card was from the previous ARISS contact in April 2016.  I hope to be able to post the new card once it is received.

The Laguna Burger

This week's "Geezer" lunch was a The Laguna Burger on 12th st near I-40.  I was not impressed.

I was a little early, as usual.  Another of our group arrived aand we got in line to order our food.  This was about 12:30, the normal time we arrive for our luncheons.  The place was a zoo.

I ordered my food and looked for a pint of /Amber Ale.  The server said they did not have any Amber Ales and did not make any suggestion.  So, I settled for water.

The test of our group started arriving and we were able to move to a larger table. One ordered what looked like a amber ale, which was actually Sam Adam's Oktoberfest.  Not a local "craft" beer, but I have had it and works as a substitute in a pinch.  I went and got a pint about the time my food was arriving. 

Not excited about the food.  The french fries were limp and "soggy".  My 1/3 pound chile-cheeseburger was acceptable.  By the time we were all served out food, the place was almost empty.  Maybe if arriving about 1pm for lunch would be better.  As it was, I was not impressed with the food nor service.